The Cubs had their opportunities last night, they just did not finish the job. In the first inning, they loaded the bases, but only managed to get one run. Derrek Lee grounded into what should have been a double play, but he beat it out, and Alfonso Soriano scored, we did not get any more runs in the first. Then sure enough Carlos Zambrano relinquished the lead in the bottom of the first after allowing a triple to Placido Polanco (who was on the DL and was supposed to miss the series).
The game remained tied until the 6th, the Cubs had second and third with no one out, all we got was a Geovany Soto Sac-Fly to put us ahead 2-1. The Cubs would not be ahead for long however as Zambrano beaned the light hitting Don Kelly to lead off the 7th. The HBP was then followed by a Brandon Inge go-ahead HR. It is dumb mental mistakes like this HBP that prevent Zambrano from being one of the best pitchers in the league. Walking or beaning the lead-off hitter late in games almost always seems to burn pitchers, Zambrano knows better. Overall he had a pretty good start: 7IP, 3ER, 5H, 4K, 2BB. This was a quality start, but was not good enough to win. Zambrano had the chance to leave this game with a lead but could not get the job done.
Next in the top of the 8th the Cubs came storming back, Lee got things started with a single off of hard throwing Joel Zumaya. Zumaya by the way struck out Milton Bradley with a 104 mph fastball according to WGN's speed gun, impressive. Next, my boy Micah Hoffpauir got a hold of a Zumaya off speed pitch and hit a HR to deep right field to give the Cubs a 4-3 lead, and that also shut up the loser Tigers fans at the bar. Lee had another good day at the plate going 2-3 with a walk. He extended his career-long hitting streak to 20 games, his BA is at .292 and his OBP is .367. I am very excited that Lee is finally coming around, these are the kind of numbers that I have always expected out of him, this is great to see!
On to the bottom of the 9th and enter "closer" Kevin Gregg, who promptly walked a batter and gave up a two-run game winning HR to Ryan Rayburn, a .235 hitter. Way to go Gregg! He committed the cardinal sin of closers, do not walk the lead-off hitter (who again happened to be Kelly). This was a game the Cubs came back in and should have been wrapped up, instead Gregg pulled a Kerry Wood and blew it. Before the game I was commenting on how well Gregg has pitched recently, but it has really been a lot of smoke and mirrors. He is not a real closer, mainly because he can not over-power hitters or strike them out consistently. This was Gregg's 3rd blown save of the season and his 4.18 ERA is not good. If Marmol can find any kind of consistency with his location and Angel Guzman can come back from the DL and stay healthy, then I would move Marmol to closer, and use Gregg as a set-up man.
The Cubs had their opportunities early last night, but could not take advantage. Ultimately after a clutch HR, it was the pitching that let them down. Losses like last night's can be demoralizing, I am curious to see how the Cubs come out and play tonight. The Cubs are 34-33 and are now 3.5 GB thanks to a Cardinals win. No matter how many games we win in a row, we always seem to find a way back to .500, I have said it before, but this team looks a lot like a team that could finish .500.
Up next: Tonight Cubs vs Tigers at 6:05 on CSN. Rich Harden (4-3, 5.27 ERA) vs Rick Porcello (8-4, 3.54 ERA). Harden is coming off of his worst start as a Cub last Friday. He needs to rebound and come up with his best start of the season, why? Because the Cubs are facing whiz-kid Rick Porcello who was drafted out of high school in 2007, and he looks like the real deal. Porcello is a big reason why the Tigers are in first place. Hopefully he has an off night and the Cubs can get back to winning ball games.
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