Closer Dave Smith was unavailable Thursday night because he had spasms in his lower back before the game. ”It flared up and I could barely stand,”
Smith said.
The Cubs survived without him as Paul Assenmacher pitched a scoreless ninth, fanning two Mets, for his fourth save.
Whatever it takes: Rookie Bob Scanlan, who starts Friday at home against Montreal, is a kung fu devotee who works on the martial art in the outfield between outings.
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”It helps some to keep focus and control my body, which helps with my pitching,” Scanlan said. ”But I don`t take the kung fu to the mound.
”I`ve gotten a lot out of it,” said Scanlan, who learned it from Philadelphia strength coach Gus Hoefling. ”I know Steve Carlton does it, and so did Bob Boone.”
It must be working. Scanlan is 1-0 with a 1.74 ERA, and the Cubs are unbeaten in his three starts.
Home cookin`: Friday`s game with Montreal begins a stretch of 16 out of 19 games in Wrigley Field.