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CHICAGO -- Sometimes the value of a player is never appreciated more than when he's not in the lineup. That theory most definitely applies to Chicago Cubs second baseman Darwin Barney. The lone Gold Glove winner on the team missed the first 12 games of the season with an injury and lo and behold the Cubs defense suffered.

Coincidence or not, his return has coincided with an uptick in play in the field for the Cubs. It helped them win Monday night, 5-3, over the San Diego Padres.

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Here’s a quick look at the Chicago Cubs' 5-3 victory over the San Diego Padres on Monday at Wrigley Field.

How it happened: Bottom of the order guys Cody Ransom and Darwin Barney had back-to-back two-out hits in the sixth inning to break a 3-3 tie after both contributed with RBIs earlier in the game. Ransom hit his second home run of the season in the second inning; it was preceded by a Scott Hairston blast for back-to-back jacks. Barney doubled home a run with two outs in the fourth before doing the same in the sixth. Both Barney and Ransom flashed their gloves at third and second with key defensive plays in the seventh to keep the Padres off the board. Jeff Samardzija lasted only five innings, giving up all three Padres runs while throwing 101 pitches. He walked four and struck out eight. Kevin Gregg earned his fourth save for the Cubs.

What it means: Samardzija’s pitch counts continue to be an issue. He’s thrown 619 pitches in six starts, that’s fifth most in the league. It prevented him from going deep into this game. He hung around without his best stuff but, staked to a 3-1 lead, he could have been better in the fateful fifth. He nibbled too much, walking two that inning and four overall in his outing. ... Good news for the bottom of the order as hitters 6-8 had five hits and all five runs batted in. That will take the pressure off the main guys if it can continue. Barney has been solid on defense while his at-bats have been getting better and better. Gregg is the new closer. He’s come out of nowhere to nail down the job, going 1.1 innings for the save. He struck out two in the ninth for his third 1-2-3 save.

Outside the box: All 25 games the Cubs have played this season have been decided by four runs or less. That’s the second longest streak in baseball history to start a season behind the Detroit Tigers' 33 in a row in 1914. ... The Cubs won for the first time this season when their starting pitcher did not throw a quality start.

What’s next: The 10-15 Cubs take on the Padres in Game 2 of the series on Tuesday night when Edwin Jackson (0-3, 4.76 ERA) faces Edinson Volquez (1-3, 6.39) in a 7:10 CT start.

CINCINNATI -- When Chicago Cubs general manager Jed Hoyer lent his support to his manager, Dale Sveum, before Tuesday’s game, he also mentioned that Sveum and his coaching staff are always being evaluated. Progress is what Hoyer wants to see out of his young players. But he never mentioned judging Sveum on his in-game moves.

That’s OK. Cubs fans will do it for him.

Sveum will be second-guessed for his handling of the pitching staff in the ninth inning of the Cubs' 4-2 win over the Cincinnati Reds that needed 10 innings to decide.

With Carlos Villanueva pitching a masterpiece, Sveum decided to pull him after walking the leadoff man, Shin-Soo Choo, and giving up a sacrifice bunt in the ninth inning with the Cubs leading 2-1. Villanueva had thrown 99 pitches.

“The fact that I was able to have a chance to go out there and finish it off, as a starting pitcher, that’s all you want,” Villanueva said afterward. “You want to finish what you start.”

Sveum was faced with a myriad of choices with Choo on second base and one out. Joey Votto was at the plate and Sveum could have left Villanueva in to complete the game. Or he could have walked Votto, setting up a double play. Or he could have had lefty James Russell ready to pitch to the lefty Votto. Sveum chose to go with embattled reliever Carlos Marmol. History dictated it.

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CINCINNATI – Here’s a quick look at the Cubs' 4-2 win in 10 innings over the Cincinnati Reds on Tuesday night:

How it Happened: Darwin Barney hit a 10th-inning home run to break a 2-2 tie after the Reds tied it in the bottom of the ninth on a Joey Votto single off Carlos Marmol. The Cubs added one more as Dave Sappelt drove in Julio Borbon. Carlos Villanueva was masterful in allowing just two runs in 8.1 innings. On offense, Alfonso Soriano singled, then stole second and third on consecutive pitches in the second inning before coming home on a Scott Hairston sacrifice fly for the game’s first run. The next pitch, to newcomer Cody Ransom, left the yard in right center. The Reds pulled within one when Chris Heisey homered in the third inning, but Villanueva shut down the Reds down the rest of the way until the ninth, when he walked the leadoff man. Kevin Gregg struck out Votto with the tying runs on base for the save, and Marmol got the win.

What it Means: The bullpen blew another save and manager Dale Sveum will be second-guessed on his decision to pull Villanueva in favor of Marmol, who had pitched two innings the night before. His numbers against Votto are good, but Votto got the best of him, causing the Cubs' sixth blown save of the year. Still, the story of the night was Villanueva. He painted the corners all night long, mixing speeds from 60 to 90 mph. He walked two batters -- one after an error by Ransom -- then promptly induced a double-play grounder by Heisey. It was a masterful performance against a good hitting team but he just couldn’t finish -- or rather wasn’t allowed to. He left after throwing 99 pitches.

Ransom Debut: Ransom not only homered, but played a stellar third base. Even his errant throw to first in the seventh inning came after a diving stop. He had a few more of those and made a nice first impression.

What’s Next: The rubber game of the series comes Wednesday afternoon, when Jeff Samardzija faces off against Mat Latos.

MILWAUKEE -- Chicago Cubs manager Dale Sveum might be sending a message to his team after yet another sloppy loss on Saturday night to the Milwaukee Brewers.

"We're making mistakes that rookie ball people make," Sveum said after a 5-1 loss. "It seems to be the story every night."

The Cubs made three more bad errors Saturday leading to four unearned runs, and most alarming is they were made by key players -- two of whom should remain with the team if the Cubs become contenders over the next several years.

"It's unbelievable," Starlin Castro said. "I think we're trying to do too much. Trying to be too perfect."

Castro made his fourth error of the season, with two outs and a man on third base, on the easiest of ground balls in the fifth inning. That was preceded earlier in the inning by a fly ball that Alfonso Soriano dropped after thinking he had to go back for it instead of toward the infield. One inning later, Edwin Jackson threw away a potential double-play ball into center field.

"I double clutched," Jackson said. "Once I doubled clutched I didn't gather back up; caused me to open up instead of stay closed."

As always with this team lately, the outcome of the game is secondary. A more important concern is Castro's ability to play shortstop. Another question is whether Jackson can be a mainstay after starting 0-3. He's signed for four years and $52 million. Castro for seven years and $60 million. Sveum was asked if there really is anything he can do about the defense in terms of personnel considering the miscues are being made by his mainstays.

"There's always options if you can't play," Sveum said cryptically. "To win in the big leagues you have to have people that perform, and perform in 162 days and not once in a while. Otherwise you lose your job."

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CHICAGO -- Here's a quick look at the Chicago Cubs' 4-2 loss to the Texas Rangers on Tuesday night at Wrigley Field:

How it happened: A ninth-inning rally fell short as Darwin Barney lined out off of closer Joe Nathan with the bases loaded. Center fielder Craig Gentry made a diving catch on the play. Travis Wood and Derek Holland were locked in a pitchers' duel on another cold night, but reliever Shawn Camp turned a 1-0 Cubs deficit into a 4-0 Texas lead when he threw wild to first on a pick-off move in the eighth inning -- scoring a runner from third -- and then gave up a two-run home run to Adrian Beltre. The Cubs managed two hits against Holland with Nate Schierholtz driving in the Cubs' two runs in the ninth with a bases-loaded single, but that's as close as they got.

What it means: Once again the Cubs wasted another solid effort by a starting pitcher. Their offense did little and their bullpen failed to keep the game close. The Cubs have scored three runs in 36 innings this season when a left-hander has opposed them. Dave Sappelt is 1-for-19 to begin the season having started all four games against left-handers. Scott Hairston is 1-for-14 in four starts as well. Though manager Dale Sveum has been adamant about starting those players against lefties he may have to rethink that strategy.

Barney's return: Barney returned from an injury after missing the first 12 games of the season. He had a chance to be the hero but went 0-for-4.

What's next: The series continues on Wednesday as Carlos Villanueva takes the mound for the 4-9 Cubs.

CHICAGO -- The Chicago Cubs activated second baseman Darwin Barney from the disabled list, one of several roster moves the team made Tuesday before their game against the Texas Rangers.

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Maybe it was more than a coincidence the Chicago Cubs and the City of Chicago finally announced an official plan on Sunday night for renovating Wrigley Field just hours after arguably the worst loss of the young season.

A distraction was needed.

Forget the rebuilding, the talent gap, the future, and yes, forget about what the new-and-improved Wrigley Field might look like for a moment. Two weeks into the 2013 season the Cubs have given new meaning to giving away games.

Getting beat soundly by a more talented team is one thing, but making stupid and silly mistakes to lose games is a whole other. Especially so recently removed from spring training. Really, Scott Feldman? Covering first base wasn't drilled enough in February and March?

And consider this: After 12 games the Cubs have combined to score and give up a total 15 runs in the ninth inning already. That's by far the most in the league and might be a reason alone to extend those beer sales the Cubs are planning on doing after stadium renovation is complete. Something has to get fans through those blown saves. Four different pitchers already have the dubious honor of owning one.

At the top of the list has to be Sunday's finish. One strike away from a pretty good win over the San Francisco Giants, Shawn Camp gave up a home run to Hunter Pence to tie the game 7-7. Balking in the go-ahead run the next inning was just icing on the cake. Add throwing five wild pitches in an inning while walking four batters -- as the Cubs did in the sixth -- and you have what a Hollywood script might look like. But this is Cub reality right now. A horror show for sure.

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CHICAGO -- Cubs catcher-infielder Steve Clevenger was sent for an MRI on his left side after being injured on a strikeout swing to end Saturday's 3-2 loss to the San Francisco Giants.

Clevenger was pinch hitting for pitcher James Russell when he took an awkward swing at Giants closer Santiago Casilla's last pitch. Clevenger fell down and writhed in pain as teammates and training staff came to his aid.

A source said that the first diagnosis by team doctors indicated Clevenger sustained a left oblique injury. The 27-year-old utility man was the team’s third catcher and had added first- and third-base duties to his résumé during spring training. Clevenger started his first major league game at third base Friday and handled three chances flawlessly.

The Cubs will most likely play with 24 players in Sunday's finale with the Giants. The team has an off day on Monday. Second baseman Darwin Barney is scheduled to return from the disabled list Tuesday. Barney is on a rehab assignment at Triple-A Iowa. He has been on the DL since Opening Day with a left knee laceration.

Chicago Cubs infielder Steve Clevenger makes the first start of his career at third base on Friday when the Cubs host the San Francisco Giants.

Clevenger has played a total of two innings in the majors at third, including one on Thursday in the Cubs 7-6 loss to the Giants.

"He (manager Dale Sveum) kind of gave me a heads up yesterday that I would be playing third today," Clevenger said Friday morning before the game. "I got my ground balls in. I feel very comfortable over there. I played infield when I was first drafted."

Clevenger has mostly been a catcher, behind the plate for 53 of the 63 career games he's played in. He's also played first base.

"I thought it was going to take a little bit longer before I got a start at third base but like I said I'm very happy, I feel very comfortable being out there," Clevenger stated.

Clevenger is taking Brent Lillibridge's place in the lineup as Luis Valbuena moves over to play second base. Clevenger will bat seventh.

The Cubs lead the league in errors with 10.

Barney's Gold Glove

Injured second baseman Darwin Barney will receive his Gold Glove in a ceremony before Friday's game. It was to take place on Saturday but Barney will be on a rehab assignment at Triple-A Iowa as he recovers from a knee injury suffered in the preseason. The ceremony was moved up to accommodate his schedule.

"It's exciting to get it and start the campaign for a new one. I plan on holding it for a couple days," Barney joked. "Right now my focus is on getting prepared for Tuesday."

Barney is eligible to come off the disabled list on Monday. The Cubs open a series against the Texas Rangers on Tuesday night. Barney originally hurt his knee chasing down a foul ball on March 30 in Houston.

CHICAGO -- Chicago Cubs second baseman Darwin Barney will have stitches removed from his left knee on Friday before starting a rehab assignment at Triple-A Iowa over the weekend and is expected to return from the disabled list for Tuesday's game against the Texas Rangers.

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PITTSBURGH -- The Chicago Cubs placed second baseman Darwin Barney on the disabled list Monday because of a left knee laceration.

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PITTSBURGH -- Amidst the tiring back-and-forth of the Wrigley Field renovation project (including a silly dalliance with the city of Rosemont), a greater interest in their minor leaguers and the promise of the upcoming No. 2 overall pick in the draft, the Chicago Cubs have a season to play.

It starts Monday in Pittsburgh in case your attention was elsewhere, maybe on the back fields of Fitch Park in Mesa, Ariz. where most of the future hangs out.

Come October it’s more than likely -- heck, it’s nearly a guarantee -- that the Cubs will be a half decade into a second century of futility. One hundred and five years will have gone by without a championship. The good news is they should be a year closer.

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PITTSBURGH, Pa. -- The Chicago Cubs have yet to decide if second baseman Darwin Barney will go on the disabled list with an injured knee, but he won't start in the season-opening game on Monday against the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Barney hurt his left knee chasing down a popup in the Cubs final exhibition game of spring training in Houston on Saturday. Brent Lillibridge will start in his place and bat eighth.

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The Chicago Cubs' infield could be one of the better ones in the National League -- at least on defense.

Manager Dale Sveum truly believes that, and with a Gold Glove winner at second base in Darwin Barney and a two-time All-Star at shortstop in Starlin Castro, it would be hard to argue with him.

Anthony Rizzo is more than capable at first base and although Ian Stewart is a natural third baseman, his replacement for now, Luis Valbuena, showed last season he could play the position. Welington Castillo is the X factor as a first time starting catcher.

The questions come on offense. Can Barney be better? And will Rizzo do it for a full year as most expect? Castro remains the centerpiece. He has all the abilities to put together a breakout year and should be a bigger threat with his speed and power. Castillo has pop but hit under .200 in spring training.

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