With the series tied 1-1 on Sunday afternoon, the Chicago Cubs were hoping to take a one game lead in the four game set but that sure didn’t happen in the 11-5 loss. Lou Piniella was ejected in the second inning when he argued a play at second base and the team just didn’t respond like you had hoped they would.
Despite 17 hits, the Cubs could only muster five runs against the Rockies. Milton Bradley did go 4-5 while catcher Koyie Hill chipped in with three hits of his own but as a team they just didn’t score enough runs to keep up with the Rockies.
The real weak spot for team on Saturday was the pitching staff. Starter Randy Wells who had been throwing the ball very good was rocked for seven runs in just over five innings of action. Wells, who had lost once since June 12, gave up seven runs on eight hits, struck out three and walked two.
Jeff Stevens wasn’t much better than Wells as he allowed five hits and four runs in one inning.
The Cubs stranded 13 runners and tied a season high with three errors. Just a terrible performance. Hopefully they will bounce back with a victory on Monday and salvage a split in the four game series.
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Good morning Cubs fans! I was going to have a blog update up last night after the game but we had a severe thunderstorm roll through town and I was unable to get the post up as soon as I wanted. So here it is this morning.
The Cubs got a great debut performance out of lefty Tom Gorzelanny as he gave up just one run in seven and one thirds innings. Gorzelanny allowed just three hits and even helped himself out at the plate with a rbi single in the sixth inning. Gorzelanny said it’s awesome to have so many fans cheering you on even on the road during his post game interview. Just wait until you pitch in front of the Wrigley Field crowd kid!
Kosuke Fukudome and Derrek Lee both hit solo home runs to pace the Cubs. Fukudome led the game off with a solo shot and then Lee added one in the seventh inning for some insurance. Fukudome would also add another rbi with a single in the sixth inning.
The big blast the broke the game open in the sixth inning came off the bat of catcher Koyie Hill who doubled with the bases loaded. Aramis Ramirez and Jake Fox would both score to make the score 3-0. It was a great performance by the Cubs as they pounded out nine hits against the Reds pitchers.
The downside of the game was the Cubs still can’t close out games without giving up some runs. It was Angel Guzman’s chance on Tuesday night and he didn’t get the job done as he gave up two hits and two runs including a solo home run in just over one inning of action. Guzman was my choice to be closer but it doesn’t look like he is ready to take over that role either.
Kevin Gregg is expected to pitch on Wednesday. Hopefully the Cubs have a nice big lead when he enteres the game because who knows how things will work out.
- Cliff
Randy Wells has been the most surprising player on the Cubs roster this season in my opinion and once again he showed why on Monday night. Wells took a shutout into the eighth inning and he picked up his eighth win of the season with a 4-2 victory over the Cincinnati Reds. Wells could easily have over ten wins this year had he got some offensive support early on after being called up May 8th.
Wells allowed just one run which came in the eighth inning when Alex Gonzalez hit a solo home run. Over 7 1/3 innings, Wells gave up just six hits and recorded his fourth victory in a row.
Carlos Marmol filled in for Kevin Gregg in the closers role and notched his fourth save of the season. Marmol did give up one run as he still isn’t throwing the ball like he is capable of doing. Gregg probably won’t pitch on Tuesday as he says he has a “sore arm”.
The little offense the Cubs had against Reds starter Aaron Harang came in the third inning when Mike Fontenot hit a three run blast to put the Cubs up 3-0. Harang struck out ten Cubs batters but took the loss and is now 5-13 on the year.
Derrek Lee would add a rbi double that scored Kosuke Fukudome in the eighth inning for a little bit of insurance.
With the two run victory, the Cubs are now tied for first with the Cardinals who had the night off.
Blah, what a terrible weekend it was for the Cubs down in Miami where they lost two out of three games against the Florida Marlins. Heck, they were almost swept in the three game set because Kevin Gregg can’t close out a damn ball game. This is not the way the team needs to finish up games especially when they are in a divisional race at this point in the season.
Friday’s Notes:
- Carlos Marmol is charged with three runs in the eighth inning as the Marlins beat the Cubs 5-2.
- Rich Harden strikes out eleven batters but lasts just five innings.
- Jake Fox hits a two run home run for the teams only runs.
Saturday’s Notes:
- Cubs win 9-8 in ten innings.
- Kevin Gregg blows the save in the ninth inning by giving up three runs.
- Derrek Lee saves Gregg’s butt with a solo home run in the top of the tenth for the game winning hit.
- Carlos Zambrano left the game with a stiff back while Aramis Ramirez left the game after being dizzy and having some pain after being hit by a pitch.
Sunday’s Notes:
- Cubs lose 3-2 and lose two out of three games in the series.
- Kevin Gregg gives up back-to-back home runs in the ninth inning to blow the save and lose the game.
- Derrek Lee and Jake Fox both had one rbi each. Fox’s coming on a solo home run in the ninth inning.
- All three Marlins runs came via solo home runs.
- Thanks to a weird start time and not being local to Chicago I was unable to watch the game thanks to some awesome blackout rules and the game not being available on Extra Innings.
So overall it was an ugly series was the bullpen pitched terrible. Especially Marmol and Gregg. The offense didn’t put many runs on the board but they gave the team a chance to win which Mamol and Gregg blew. Hopefully things will turn around Monday when the team begins a series in Cincinatti.
