Cubs fall in the 11th inning to the Cardinals
Alfonso Soriano tied the game with a two run home run in the ninth inning, but the Chicago Cubs still lost to the St. Louis Cardinals 5-3 in 11 innings. It was an up and down game for the Cubs at the plate, on the mound, and out in the outfield.
Starting pitcher Rich Hill was pulled after only recording two outs in the first inning. Hill walked four of the six batters that he faced after having his last start skipped. Manager Lou Piniella didn’t want anything to do with Hill and quickly called on his bullpen. Everyone in the bullpen except for Carlos Marmol threw for the Cubs.
Journey man Chad Fox made his first apperance after coming back from arm troubles to take the loss for the Cubs. Fox was pitching in his second inning of action when he gave up a game winning two run home run to Skip Schumaker.
The Cubs struggled at the plate as they only had one run heading into the ninth inning when Soriano went deep to tie the game. Soriano also had a RBI groundout in the third inning as he had all three RBI for the Cubs. Soriano did have his trouble out in the field as he miss-played two balls once again that really cost the Cubs. Had he caught those balls, the Cubs probably win this game in my opinion. It’s a love / hate relationship with Soriano right now with many Cubs fans.
Dont expect to see Aramis Ramirez in the lineup on Saturday as he left Friday nights game after being hit in the wrist. Ramirez says that it is pretty swollen and having a day game sure doesn’t help. I’d expect Ramirez to set this one out for the Cubs.
Poor Aramis…. He got beamed in the left wrist……. he was hurt pretty bad..the ball was going 90 something
Soriano is the worst outfielder in the Majors. He has not business playing late in the game in a close game. Pinella blew it and it cost the Cubs and Woods the game. Then he butchered two fly balls in Fridays game. He is a cancer on that team and will cost them many games this year with his poor fielding and failure to move runners. He is not a team player. Reminds me of Sammy Sosa and Shawan Dunston. Look how well the team played without him.