Ryan Raburn says take that Kevin Gregg!

Well crap, Kevin Gregg gave up another game winning hit as he gave up a two run home run to Tigers pitch hitter Ryan Raburn on Tuesday night. This was not the way the team wanted to kick off a three game series in Detroit against the A.L. central division leaders. Just when the Cubs start playing some better baseball, they give a game right back in walk off fashion.

Good job Gregg, way to blow another game for the team. I’ve blogged over and over that Gregg is not a capable closer for this team. This was the third time this season that he has blown a save and is now 2-2 on the season. I wish I would have been able to start off this article talking about Micah Hoffpauir hitting a go ahead two run blast in the eighth inning but that is pretty much forgotten thanks to Gregg.

Carlos Zambano ends up with a no decision as well in the game. Big Z tossed seven innings and limited the Tigers to just five hits and three runs. Zambrano gave up a two run home run to Brandon Inge and a rbi triple to Placido Polanco in the game. Not a bad outing for Zambrano but not good enough to get the victory in the end.

The Cubs offense wasn’t hitting the ball that well tonight as they faced off against Tigers starter Edwin Jackson. Jackson held the Cubs to just four hits and two runs over his seven innings of action. Derrek Lee did extend his hitting streak to 20 with a double in the sixth inning. Lee also had a rbi in the first inning when he scored Alfonso Soriano on a fielders choice. Geovany Soto added a sacrafice fly in the sixth inning as well.

So now instead of being up 1-0 in the series the Cubs are down 0-1 and will have to face Rick Porcello who is 8-4 on the season. Had the Cubs won tonight, I really liked their chances of winning two out of three in Detroit and winning the series. Not now, I don’t think the Cubs will beat Porcello, but they should win on Thursday.

Keep those heads up Cubs fans. One of these times Gregg will actually do his job.

- Cliff

The Cubs winstreak stops at four

Well all good things had to come to an end and that happened Monday night down in Atlanta as the Cubs lost to the Braves 2-0 and killed their four game win streak. The game was being played as a make up date for the rain out that the teams had on June 4th.

Even though the offense was held scoreless, they had 10 hits in the game, they simply just didn’t get the hit they needed with runners in scoring position. Every player in the starting lineup had at least one hit besides Kosuke Fukudome and starting pitcher Ryan Dempster. Even though Fukudome didn’t have a hit, he did walk twice.

The offense was playing without starters Alfonso Soriano and Milton Bradley as Piniella chose to give them a day off before the team heads to Detroit. Micah Hoffpauir and Jake Fox started out in the outfield for Soriano and Bradley.

On the mound it was Ryan Dempster taking the loss. Dempster threw 6 2/3′s innings but gave up four walks while striking out six Braves. Dempster gave up two runs on eight hits. I really have to think if Dempster’s head was really in the game tonight since he will be flying back to Chicago after the game to spend time with his family. The Dempster’s will be bringing home their little girl that has been in the hospital since she was born in April. We wish the Dempster family all the best as they head home. In the end though, this loss wasnt Dempster’s fault, he pitched a great ballgame.

The Cubs will now jump right back on a plane and head to Detroit where they will begin a interleague series with the Tigers on Tuesday. The Tigers are leading the Central Division so it would be a very good series. If the Cubs can win two out of three before coming back to Chicago and taking on the White Sox on the South side I will be happy.

If you are in the Portland, Oregon area, tune into Sports Radio 95.5 The Game tomorrow morning as I will be on the air talking about the Cubs during their morning show.

- Cliff

Wells and Fox lead the Cubs past the Indians for the sweep

Wow what a week makes! After manager Lou Piniella told media he was close to making some drastic changes to the lineup, the Cubs have some how figured out how to hit the baseball and have went on a four game winning streak. They finished off the visiting Cleveland Indians on Sunday afternoon with a 6-2 victory behind strong performances from Randy Wells, Jake Fox and Derrek Lee.

Wells finally picked up his first major league victory as he pitched into the seventh inning. Randy did a great job all game long as he gave up just five hits and two runs. It was great to see him pick up his first win and improve to 1-3 on the season. He should have already had a couple of wins but the bullpen blew his leads in earlier contests. Congrats Randy!

Fox led the offense for the Cubs as he finished the game with a team high three rbi. Fox got things going in the fourth inning with a sacrafice fly that plated Ryan Theriot and then added a bases loaded two run double in the fifth inning. Fox needs to play third base everyday just so his bat is in the lineup in my opinion. I can live with an error here or there as long as he is swinging the bat good. He is a better option at the hot corner than Mike Fontenot right now.

Geovany Soto also continued to do good things at the plate. He put the Cubs on the scoreboard in the second inning when he hit a line drive home run off of Indians starting pitcher Jeremy Sowers. Soto also walked with the bases loaded to add on another rbi to his stats.

Derrek Lee extended his hitting streak to 18 games when he scored Wells with a rbi single in the fifth inning. Lee is leading this offense right now and if he can stay hot, the Cubs are going to be in contention the rest of the way.

After the three game sweep against the Indians, the Cubs are sitting in third place in the division. Just 2.5 games out of first place however. They will play a make up game down in Atlanta on Monday night, and then catch a plane up to Detroit where they will open up a three game set against the Tigers. Let’s keep on winning!

- Cliff

AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh

Thanks Kerry Wood!

Hope everyone is having a good weekend so far. The Cubs 6-5 win in 13 innings over the Cleveland Indians sure helped out how the weekend is going! For the second game in a row, the Cubs came back and defeated former Cub Kerry Wood who was trying to save the game for the Indians. Wood had to have been nervous out there as he was pitching back at Wrigley Field. The Cubs have now won three games in a row and all three have been come from behind victories.

Andres Blanco hit a sharp single past Indians shortstop Luis Valbuena to score Kosuke Fukudome who scored the game tying run in the 13th off of Wood. Blanco would move to third base on a single by Aaron Miles and he then scored on a wild pitch by Wood. Blanco didn’t have the best day at the plate, but when it really mattered in the 13th, he came through for the team.

Derrek Lee continued to swing a good bat as he hit his fourth home run in three games when he connected on a two run blast in the fifth inning. Micah Hoffpauir also added a two run shot in the sixth inning to account for two of the runs.

Ted Lilly had the start on the mound and pitched alright. Jhonny Peralta did the most damage to Lilly as he knocked in two total runs with a rbi double and solo home run. Luis Valbuena also hit a solo shot off of Lilly who lasted six innings in the no decision.

Jose Ascanio and David Patton each game up a run in relief. Patton gave up the solo home run in the top of the 13th inning to Valbuena (his second of the game) which put the Indians in the lead by one. Lou simply had no other choices out of the pen and had to put Patton in the game. Patton would end up getting the win despite giving up the run in the top half of the inning.

The Cubs will be going for the sweep on Sunday. This could be a huge series for the team as the look to pick up games on the Cardinals and Brewers. Get those brooms out Cubs fans!

- Cliff