Game Fifty-Eight - Cubs 7 Padres 6
WP - Carlos Zambrano (8-1) LP - Cha Seung Baek (1-2) Save - Kerry Wood (15)
Lou Piniella's crew held on to win the first game of the road trip after coming back from a 3-0 deficit in the 1st inning. Carlos Zambrano had little to no command, or control of himself, until he picked off Jody Gerut at 2nd base to end the 2nd inning. Zambrano led off the 3rd with a single then settled down. Zambrano turned in a better day at the plate than on the mound. Zambrano was 3-for-3 with a game tying triple in the 4th. As for the 'day job', Big Z did just enough to earn the win. He left after 5 innings with his team up 6-3. Zambrano gave up 3 runs on 5 hits in 5 innings with 4 walks, a hit batsman and 2 strikeouts.
The Cubs' middle relief had problems finding the strike zone with the exception of Jon Lieber. Neal Cotts worked around a lead off walk in the 7th but Michael Wuertz walked 2 of the 3 batters he faced before Piniella had enough. Carlos Marmol got the Cubs out of the jam in the 8th but was not as fortunate in the 9th. Marmol walked Jody Gerut to start the inning, gave up a 1-out broken bat bloop single to Brian Giles and then a 3-run homer to Adrian Gonzalez.
Kerry Wood replaced Marmol with only 1 out and the Cubs up by just a single run. Wood struck out Tony Clark on 3 pitches then Michael Barrett flied out to Reed Johnson on the warning track in left to end the game.
The Cubs offense was the difference on Monday night when the pitching staff just did not have it. Jim Edmonds drove in 2 runs with a pair of doubles and scored the tying run on Zambrano's triple. Ryan Theriot was 3-for-5 with a RBI and a run scored, his 23rd multi hit game of the year. Kosuke Fukudome drove in the go ahead run in the 5th with a sacrifice fly to right and scored twice.
The Cubs came from behind once again to win their 8th in a row, their longest winning streak since 2001. For the first time since the end of the 2004 season the Cubs are 16 games over .500 and improved their road record to 11-13.
On a night that the pitching staff had trouble with their command, the offense's ability to tack on runs and execute at the plate provided the win. All of Piniella's starting nine, with the exception of Alfonso Soriano, had at least one hit....and Soriano came through with a RBI on a sacrifice fly to right in the 6th. Five different Cubs drove in runs (Alfonso Soriano, Ryan Theriot, Kosuke Fukudome, Jim Edmonds and Carlos Zambrano), just another sign of a total team effort.
With the Cubs down by 3, they started chipping away in the 2nd inning. Aramis Ramirez led off the inning with a single to right. Kosuke Fukudome followed with a single to right center. With runners on 1st and 3rd and Jim Edmonds at the plate, Cha Seung Baek uncorked a wild pitch that allowed Ramirez to score from 3rd.
Kosuke Fukudome led off the 4th with a walk and scored all the way from 1st on a double down the right field line by Jim Edmonds. After two unproductive outs by Mark DeRosa and Henry Blanco, Carlos Zambrano hit a 2-out triple to right center that drove in Edmonds with the tying run. Soriano grounded out to 3rd to end the inning.
Ryan Theriot started the 5th with a single to right. Aramis Ramirez just missed a home run with a double off the left field wall. With the game tied at 3, Kosuke Fukudome hit a sacrifice fly to right that plated Theriot with the go ahead run....4-3 Cubs and for the 24th game in a row, the Cubs had a lead.
Mark DeRosa and Henry Blanco reached on singles to start the 6th. Carlos Zambrano attempted to sacrifice both runners into scoring position but beat the throw from 3rd by Kevin Kouzmanoff to load the bases. Alfonso Soriano hit a sacrifice fly to right on a 1-0 pitch to plate DeRosa and Blanco moved to 3rd on the play. Ryan Theriot drove in Blanco with an infield single up the middle. Tadahito Iguchi kept the ball from going into center but could not make the out at 2nd. Derrek Lee hit into a 4-3 (the second of the night) double play to end the inning.
The Cubs added their 7th run in the 7th after a 1-out walk by Kosuke Fukudome. With Edmonds at the plate, Fukudome stole 2nd on the first pitch of the at bat and then scored easily on Jim Edmonds second double of the game. The Padres pen retired the next 8 batters they faced to setup the bottom of the 9th.
Monday was a good win, especially on the road, on a night their ace and best reliever did not have it. Lou Piniella must find another bullpen arm he can rely on soon or risk burning out Carlos Marmol before the All-Star break. With Piniella's reactions in the 8th and 9th innings on Monday, changes will be made....and probably as soon as possible. As stated, this was a good win for a team that needed one away from the Friendly Confines but the next week could be a very long one if the starters cannot give Piniella at least 6 innings.
Jason Marquis is scheduled to face Wil Ledezma in game two on Tuesday night.
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Well, let's see if Jason can do the club a favor and have a great game....go at least 7 innings and save the pen some work. Lou mentioned maybe adding a 13th pitcher as soon as today. With the ability to send Zambrano and even Marquis as a pinch hitter, I think running a man short for a week or so would be the thing to do in order to help the pen. Although who becomes the odd man out?
Many would say Haufpauir, although I'd much rather see it be Fontenot. If Fontenot has options left, I think he may be the choice.
I think options are what has Lou's hands tied with the staff, because Weurtz would be a solid choice to be sent out...but he may not have any options.
With Jose Ascanio unavailable (unless Weurtz could come up with an arm ailment and need a trip to the 15 day DL) for a few more days because of just being sent down, the likely call up would be Kevin Hart. They could bring Marshall, but likely want him to stay and get innings. Two guys that I'd like to see, but the Cubs may not want to "start the clock" on their major league service is Randy Wells or Mike Burns. They both have pretty good numbers down in AAA.
Lou also said that Fukodome is due to sit today so he can be with his familt who came to San Diego. Hopefully we can see Hoffy get a start in RF. Be good to test him outside of Wrigley where he can play without wind and sun.
I'm an Edmonds guy. And I'm really a Pie guy, too...
BUT...
I saw this and couldn't help but think 'what if'
http://www.bleacherreport.com/articles/25674-Ichiro-Suzuki-to-Mariners-Trade-Me
How about some chatter until tonight.
I, too, wondered if the Mariners would dump Ichiro as they fall flat on their faces.....and wouldnt he love to play next to fellow star Fukudome....I would trade damn near anyone they wanted for that to happen.
On a side note....Jason talked about Field of Dreams on a previous post...got me to thinking of some old school names....
LF- Thad Bosley
CF- Jay Johnstone
RF- Gary Woods
3B- Gary Scott
SS- Tom Veryzer
2B- Bump Wills
1B- Scot Thompson
C- Steve Lake
SP- Dick Ruthven
RP- Porfio Altamirano
LOL
FYI
Here's a website that shows the Cubs roster with the number of options left for each player:
http://www.thecubreporter.com/cubs-40-man-roster
Nice link Gucci....
So....Weurtz does have an option, but he can refuse assignment.....
Fontenot does have an option, so they could send him down instead of Hoffy.....
Gucci...thank you. Arizona Phil does a great job!
Thank God no one listens to us. As much as I hate Edmonds, he's become a 2008 Cub hitter. In fact, after he hit his home run on Friday, I yelled as much to him from the left center bleachers (greatest game any person could ever go to that wasn't a playoff game, and had the perfect seats for the game too).
However, we still kinda need that Marquis replacement sometime, but I don't think we need to make a trade to get the replacement. If anything, we can trade Marquis for a reliever or bench guy or prospects or something that's useful down the road. But giving up players for a player doesn't work anymore.
Ichiro is 34 and is owed $68 mil for years '09-'12. He is too costly. The Mariners are imploding from the front office down--which is why I think Bedard might be traded for. He is on a 1 year, $7 mil contract and may not want to sign a long term deal with the M's. The M's won't be good next year either--so they could trade a guy they suspect they can't keep.
The Cubs draft 19th and 41st this week. Does anyone else want to draft 2 top position players who and are capable of 25 or 30 homeruns and are decent defensively? I much prefer position players over pitchers with the early picks this draft.
Iwas at the game last night and let me tell you.
IT WAS PACKED WITH CUB FANS!
It must be pretty special when you ALWAYS play at home(even on the road)
Atendance about 30K plus,more than half Cubbie faithful.
I got bleacher seats tonight and Park in the Park tickets for Wendsday's match against "Maddog"
Go Cubs Go!!!!!
I'm really starting to get worried about the back end of the bullpen. I'd like to see Marmol sit tonight and tomorrow. I know so far he's been great but I worry that he'll be worn out by September.
I agree. As much as Ichiro would be a great fit hear, he cost too much. I think the Cubs are about Maxed out as far as salary. That money is Yankee money. Where they would put him, I dont know but thats were he will go. Or stay a Mariner.
I JUST HOPE THAT THE CUBS CAN KEEP THERE MENTAL EDGE THAT THEY GOT FROM THIS LAST HOMESTAND. THIS IS WERE THEY MIGHT PULL AWAY FROM TEH REST OF THE DIVISION.
THEY WON LAST NIGHT BUT THEY WILL HAVE TO PLAY BETTER THEN THEY DID LAST NIGHT TO KEEP THIS WINNING STREAK GOING.
THEY ARE CAPABLE OF DOING IT, BUT DOING IT IS ANOTHER THING.
I DO SEE THEM BEATING MADDOX TONIGHT AS LONG AS THEY ARE PATIENT AT THE PLATE.
Jim: I agree about Marmol. It scares me to see him pitching so much. He needs a break! Hopefully Wuertz can step it up and start pitching better so we don't have to use Marmol so much. It helps so much that Howry is pitching well too, but Lou seems to still favor Marmol is every situation.
I'm okay with Lou wanting a 13 man staff. I say send down Fonty and bring up Ascanio.
Once the pitchers arms get rested bring the Pocket Rocket back.
As for Ichiro's contract. Most of it will be deferred till 2030..Weird, right?
I feel ya, Jerljr.