Mixed bag for Silva; Astros 7 Cubs 3; Starter says he felt good but gets roughed up in 5-inning

Carlos Silva already has been more successful than he or the Cubs could have imagined. But the veteran finds himself like many of the young pitchers on the staff, trying to use the final three weeks as a springboard to 2011.
Silva missed more than a month after experiencing an irregular heartbeat nfl throwback jerseys
in his Aug. 1 start at Colorado. His first start since then came Tuesday. The results were mixed in a 7-3 loss, but with Silva feeling healthy.
''I feel really good,'' he said. ''It means a lot [to finish the season strong]. That's what I'm looking for, trying to finish very strong and come into next year. That means a lot for any player, how you finish a season.''
Silva (10-6) was limited to 87 pitches that covered five innings. He gave up six runs on nine hits with a walk and four strikeouts, four of the runs scoring in the first two innings.
Also hoping for a strong finish is right-hander Jeff Samardzija, recalled Tuesday after spending the season at Class AAA Iowa. He was on the Opening Day roster, only to be sent down April 24 and passed over through the season as the Cubs brought up seven others.
It was a far different season than Samardzija expected after a notable major-league Pittsburgh Steelers jersey
debut as a relief pitcher in 2008 and part of 2009. Now a starter, he had success in that role at Iowa and presumably will pitch as a starter before the season ends.
''Larry [Rothschild, pitching coach] and [bullpen coach] Lester [Strode] will spend time with him and watch him,'' manager Mike Quade said. ''There are several options if he starts in the next couple days or weeks. We'll keep an eye on Silva, but there are starts in the offing for Samardzija.''
Samardzija, 25, was 11-3 with a 4.37 ERA overall and 7-2 with a 4.33 ERA as a starter at Iowa.
''I've been starting every fifth day. I'm excited to be up here, and whether it's pitching one inning or nine, that's all you can ask for,'' he said. ''I'm having a great time pitching and getting good results. I just want to pitch in whatever way, shape or form.''
NOTES: Among the Class AAA players recalled Tuesday were infielder Bobby Scales, pitchers Justin Berg and Jeff Samardzija and outfielders Sam Fuld and Brad Snyder, who is in his first major-league call-up after eight minor-league seasons. He hit .308 for Iowa with 106 RBI, second most in the Pacific Coast League. Snyder, 28, was claimed off waivers in September of 2008 from Cleveland, where he was a 2003 first-round draft pick.
The five learned of their promotions shortly after Iowa lost to Memphis on Minnesota Vikings jersey
Monday, failing to reach the PCL playoffs.
- General manager Jim Hendry said Iowa manager Ryne Sandberg, named PCL manager of the year, won't be added to Mike Quade's staff for the last three weeks. Scales and Snyder praised Sandberg, calling him ''awesome'' and a manager who had ''a steady hand'' on the team.
- Pitcher Sean Marshall is the Cubs' nominee for the Roberto Clemente Award for his charitable work throughout the year. Fans can participate in choosing the winner, who is announced during the World Series, by voting at www.chevy.com/ clemente.