Gibson on Samardzija: Pitch more, talk less

CHICAGO -- One day later, D-backs manager Kirk Gibson was still impressed by the pitching repertoire of Cubs starter Jeff Samardzija.

Samardzija fanned 11 Arizona hitters over his 6 1/3 innings of work in Saturday's 12-4 D-backs victory, and two of the three runs he was charged with scored after he left the game.

"He's throwing the ball really good this year," Gibson said. "I told [bench coach Alan Trammell] before the game, 'I hope we can hang in there and get his pitch count up.' He used to go shorter distances before it happened. He's really improved a lot. I've been watching him."

Gibson was asked what he thought about Samardzija yelling at third-base coach Matt Williams at one point during the game.

"It's part of the game," Gibson said. "Whatever. He didn't get the win did he? Maybe the next time he should just shut the [expletive] up and pitch."

Samardzija and his counterpart, Ian Kennedy, also seemed to exchange words after Samardzija nearly hit Kennedy a couple of times with pitches.

"You've got to pitch inside," Gibson said. "Samardzija came out [and] his four-seamer was up to 99, his two-seamer 92-94. I mean, he's got good stuff. His split is really good, his slider's good. He threw the way you're supposed to throw. Those two-seamers were disappearing."