With one out in the bottom of the seventh today at Wrigley Field, in a game with Cincinnati, Cubs third baseman Luis Valbuena singled in Starlin Castro. Cubs fans responded with a standing ovation, even though their team still trailed, 3-1; it was the north-siders' first run since Sunday.

The final was 4-1. Jeff Samardzija, who gave up just one earned run in seven innings, got the loss. With an ERA of 1.29, he has an 0-2 record.

The last Cub to cross the plate before Castro was Junior Lake, who scored on a single in the ninth inning Sunday of a 6-4 loss in Saint Louis. After a day off Monday and a rainout Tuesday, the club was blanked Wednesday in both games of a doubleheader in Yankee Stadium. Another off day followed. The north-siders had put up zeros for 24 innings before Castro scored.

No word on whether the ball, Valbuena's bat, or Castro's shoes were taken out of play after the run.