Right-hander Mike Morgan makes his Cub home debut against the Phillies Tuesday.
The ex-Dodger, signed as a free agent in the off-season, is winless in his first two starts but 3-1 with a 3.10 ERA against the Phillies lifetime. The one defeat came in his first Cub start April 9. He allowed six runs on six hits in five innings of a 7-1 loss.
Things were so bad that night that Dale Murphy was 2 for 3 with a homer and RBI single off Morgan, who previously had held him to 5 for 27 (.185).
Take a break: Murphy hasn`t played since April 14 because of a sore left knee, which has been swollen at times to the size of a softball. He says he is ready to play. No wonder. Murphy has 33 career homers against the Cubs, 16 at Wrigley. And they`re the only NL team he`s batting better than .300 against
(192 for 628, a .306 mark).
All accounted for: Doug Dascenzo became the last Cub position player to crack the starting lineup when he opened in right field Monday night in place of Andre Dawson, whose knees are sore. Dascenzo was 1 for 3 with a run scored. He was 2 for 4 in seven games as as a pinch-hitter and defensive replacement.
Diehard Dawson: It takes a lot to get Dawson out of the lineup. He spends hours every day getting his knees treated by trainer John Fierro and assistant Dave Cilladi. And last Sunday he had to have his left knee drained. Still, Dawson says, ”I practically have to be physically disabled before I will take myself out.” Manager Jim Lefebvre did that for him.
Options open: Lefebvre says he and General Manager Larry Himes are talking about what to do if the team doesn`t start winning on a more regular basis. Player moves are an option.
Historic blast: The home run Greg Maddux hit in the third inning was the second of his career and his first at Wrigley.