Cubs lose to Jason Marquis, split series

Jason Marquis got his revenge on the Cubs today with a dominant performance: 7IP, 5H, ER and drove in 2 runs with a crucial two-out single in the 2nd.

The Cubs were brutal. In the 1st inning, Lou Piniella refused to call for a sac-bunt with Ryan Theriot at the plate and Alphonso Soriano at first base. Theriot reached on an error on what should have been a double play. Later in that inning Derrick Lee struck out looking and Fukudome was caught stealing second to end the inning.

Rich Harden sucked. Stats: 3IP, 4R, 8K, 4BB. He would have gotten out of the second if the douche umpire had not blown a call on a close play at first base. Overall Harden wasn't sharp and threw a lot of pitches early. He also struck out looking in his only at bat. He easily could have given up more runs in this game, he was lucky to get out of the 3rd inning. David Patton was impressive in 2IP he gave up no runs. He had good control of both his fastball and breaking pitch, I can see why Piniella likes him, he gets ahead in counts, and does not walk people.

At the plate the Cubs were awful. Micah Hoffpauir had a pinch hit RBI double in the 5th, he hit the ball harder than anything Lee has hit this season. That was until Lee hit a line drive solo HR to left in the 9th, Lee went 3-4 in the game.

Jackass Call of the Day

To paraphrase Cubs broadcaster Bob Brenly in the 2nd inning: 'Take advantage of your environment on a day like today (wind blowing in). When in doubt just throw a high fastball up and over the plate and let them hit it up in the air and the wind will knock it down.'

The next hitter Seth Smith, who was hitting .067, and whose name sounds like it was made-up, hit a high fastball from Harden out of the park to straight away center. Nice call Bob.