Game Forty-One - Cubs 4 Padres 0
WP - Ryan Dempster (5-1) LP - Greg Maddux (3-4) Save - Kerry Wood (8)
The one-time student out pitched the old professor on Thursday afternoon at Wrigley. To say Ryan Dempster threw a gem would be an understatement. Dempster came within just 2 outs of a complete game shutout, set a new career mark with 12 strikeouts in 8 1/3 innings and earned the praise of his manager following the game. Lou Piniella said Dempster has met expectations in his return to the rotation and with all of the struggles of the rotation early on, Piniella described Dempster's performance thus far this season as a "godsend".
Dempster allowed his first hit to Brian Giles with 2 outs in the 1st inning. Then retired the next 15 batters he faced before giving up a 2-out walk to Jody Gerut in the 6th. Brian Giles recorded the Padres second hit off Dempster to start the 7th and of the 6 hits Dempster allowed, only one went for extra bases....a leadoff double by Giles in 9th. Dempster threw 116 pitches, 77 for strikes, and lowered his ERA from 2.76 to 2.35.
All of the Cubs runs came against Greg Maddux in the 5th inning. Ronny Cedeno (2-for-3 with a walk and a run scored) led off the inning with a single to right. Lou Piniella played a little hit and run with Cedeno and Henry Blanco. Blanco singled to right, Cedeno advanced to 3rd and scored on a single to left by Ryan Dempster....his first RBI of the year and eventual game winner. After a single by Alfonso Soriano loaded the bases, Ryan Theriot hit a sacrifice fly to right that plated Blanco. Derrek Lee broke an 0-for-12 slump with a double to left center that plated both Dempster and Soriano.
Jim Edmonds was 1-for-4 in his Cub debut. Lou Piniella's crew improved to 21-1 in games they score at least 4 runs and with the win improved to 9 games over .500 for the second time this season.
Ryan Dempster and Greg Maddux started the game by throwing a lot of strikes. Both pitchers got into a groove, ran threw hitters at a few quick pace and a rare bounce kept the Cubs from scoring a run off Maddux in the 2nd inning. Aramis Ramirez led off the inning with a double. Kosuke Fukudome advanced him to 3rd with a ground out to 2nd. With Jim Edmonds at the plate, Maddux uncorked a wild pitch that hit the brick behind home plate in the air. The ball actually bounced back to Luke Carlin and Ramirez was tagged out at the plate.....without a slide.
Edmonds ended up hitting a single into right in his first at bat as a Cub. Greg Maddux then responded with a very classy move. Maddux asked Edmonds if he wanted the ball, Edmonds said "yes" and Maddux tossed it to the Cubs' dugout. Ronny Cedeno followed with a single and Jody Gerut robbed Henry Blanco of an RBI single with a diving catch running in from center.
Derrek Lee made a great defensive play to start the game and set a good tone for the afternoon. Ryan Dempster retired the Padres in order in the 1st but both Jody Gerut and Tadahito Iguchi hit the ball rather hard. Lee robbed Gerut of a would-be double on a hot shot down the line on the first pitch from Dempster. The Cubs defense was solid once again on the afternoon and did not give the struggling Padres any extra chances.
The Cubs offense missed an opportunity to add to their lead in the 7th after loading the bases with 1 out. Edmonds struck out and Ronny Cedeno flied out to right center to end the inning.
The Cubs pounded out 13 more hits but Maddux induced two double plays that bailed him out of trouble in the first 4 innings....but for only the 4th time in his career, Greg Maddux posted a loss against the team that he broke in with.
As a lifelong fan of the Cubs, Thursday was a confusing day. Rooting for Jim Edmonds and against Greg Maddux, on the same day....sounds like an episode of the Twilight Zone.
The Cubs open a 3-game series against a team that just won two of three against the Cardinals in St. Louis....the Pittsburgh Pirates. Sean Gallagher will make his second career start against Tom Gorzelanny.
I said earlier that the Edmonds addition can only improve us as a team…if Big Z is ok with him… well so am I. If the experiment goes south then JH can dump him in Baltimore. It feels awkward rooting for him but I have a good feeling about this.
Neil I just wanted to comment on another view of that Twilight Zone you describe...Like many here I followed Maddux since day one and he is in the top of my list as a player. Some how I do not think of him as a Cub. I was always angry at him for going to Atlanta, for beating us and for coming back when almost nobody wanted him…especially Atlanta. Most GMs thought he was done after the Braves decided not to offer a contract. Heck..I believe he resurrected his career in his second time around as a Cub and then became attractive to teams like the Padres, Dodgers and others. He is a class act but he has never hidden that his heart is in Atlanta- he has every right to feel that way especially because he played such a big part of that dynasty but I believe he gave us crumbs compared to the love we gave and still give. What I mean is he feels to me like that Twilight Zone.
How about you guys…Do you see him as a Cub?
The Cubs let him get a way..
I dont see him as "A Cub." I do see him as a Brave. But maybe its because Im an Alabamian.
However, I do see him as one of "my guys" and one of my favorite players. I just like what he is all about.
Twilight zone... rooting against Maddux and for Edmonds... what a great post!
Do you think Dempster gets past being called "Dumpster" for a while? I think some were to0 hard on him early but he has exceeded even what was a realistic projection was for him to date. Keeep it going Ryan!
agustin...The only reason Maddux didn't remain a Cub when he left for the Braves is because Cubs' management refused to match a $400,000 contract differential being offered by the Braves. So we let a young Cy Young award winner go elsewhere for chump change. It's certainly no surprise that he considers the place where he spent the bulk of his career as "home". Our team's management blew the deal with Maddux--rivalling the Brock for Broglio deal for ineptness.
When Maddux left Chicago the last time, I think it was mostly a mutual decision. The Cubs admired him but thought he was replaceable for less money and knew he was on a downhill path. Maddux preferred the West Coast for the end years of his career. I think of him as the Cub who got away.
I did not remember it that way....thanks for
explaining jimk. Nothing but respect for the
guy.
Then there is the rumor that he was having an affair with Ryne Sandberg's wife.
jerljr, that was Grace not Maddux.
Agustin, I see your point but I remember like it was yesterday when Maddux signed with the Braves. I continued to root for him, except when he faced the Cubs...especially in 1995. I actually pulled for the Braves to beat the Indians that fall.
Like everyone else, I hope Maddux goes into the Hall as a Cub.