Well Cubs fans, it looks like we are going to have a repeat of last year. The Cubs played terrible defense and struggled at the plate once again and were blown out by the Los Angeles Dodgers on Thursday night. A big five run second inning for the Dodgers pretty much knocked the Cubs out of the game probably the series.

Two critical errors in the second inning allowed the Dodgers to score the five runs. Mark DeRosa had a chance to turn an inning ending double play but bobbled the ball as did Derrek Lee later in the inning. Carlos Zambrano then gave up a bases loaded double to Russell Martin who split the left-center gap.

That whole second inning was messed up for the Cubs. Things took a turn for worse when Ryan Theriot attempted to bare hand a hard hit ball to his right as he was moving left to cover the base on a hit and run play. Had he used his glove he would have atleast kept the ball on the infield and possibly had a chance for an out at first. You gotta give the Dodgers credit for putting the ball in play, the Cubs defense just let them down in the game.

Even with the blow up in the second inning, Zambrano didn’t blow up himself. He didn’t pitch that badly at all and did exactly what the Cubs wanted him to do. His only mistakes in the game were the Martin double and then a solo home run to Manny Ramirez in the fifth inning.

Carlos Marmol was charged with two runs in relief while Kerry Wood gave up one run as well.

You have to think why the offense is struggling so bad. They are not being patient at the plate and drawing walks like they did in the regular season. Instead they are up there swinging at pretty much everything, including balls that are 8 to 10 inches outside off the plate. The middle of the lineup had hits but it was never back to back hits or a longball to score some runs really.

Jim Edmonds came close to hitting two home runs in the game but only one of them was a hit as he had a rbi double in the seventh inning to score DeRosa for the Cubs first run. In the ninth inning, the Cubs had a nice rally going as they scored two runs on a rbi double by DeRosa. Pitch hitter Felix Pie then walkedto bring up Geovany Soto who hit a line drive to second base that almost got over the head of the leaping Angel Berroa. Kosuke Fukudome then then struck out as well did Daryle Ward to end the game and the Cubs chances of a miracle comeback.

I have to wonder why Fukudome was still in the game at that point. I don’t think he should have been in for his at bat in the ninth inning or the one before that in the seventh inning. Fukudome looks lost at the plate and pitchers know they can strike him out everytime by the throwing the offspeed pitch low and outside. Lou could have pitch hit for him in those situations with Reed Johnson or even Ronny Cedeno. Atleast they would have probably put the ball in play.

It will be a long off day on Friday as the Cubs travel out to Los Angeles. Now they have to hope to become only the second to ever come back from a 0-2 hole and win a divisional series. Rich Harden will take the mound for the Cubs as they try to get a win and not be swept away once again.

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