Game One Hundred Fifty-Two - Cubs 3 Giants 2
WP - Aaron Heilman (4-4) LP - Brian Wilson (5-6, BS 7) Save - Carlos Marmol (15)
The Chicago Cubs were on the brink of officially being eliminated late Thursday night in San Francisco. Brad Penny had out dueled Ryan Dempster for eight innings and the Cubs only run scored on a 4-6-3 double play off the bat of Jeff Baker in the fourth inning.
With the Giants up 2-1, Derrek Lee led off the ninth with a walk against Giants' closer Brian Wilson. Micah Hoffpauir and Mike Fontenot both swung at the first pitch and popped out to the left side of the infield. Jeff Baker stepped to the plate representing the Cubs last chance of the night.
Derrek Lee stole second base on the first pitch to Jeff Baker ... Lee's first stolen base and attempt of the entire season. Baker swung and missed at Wilson's next offering then laid off two sliders to run the count to 2-2 with the tying run on second.
Jeff Baker launched Brian Wilson's fifth pitch of the at bat over the wall in left and gave the Cubs a 3-2 lead ... his fourth home run of the year.
Carlos Marmol made it a little interesting in the ninth. After striking out Juan Uribe to start the inning, Randy Winn reached on an infield single. Marmol walked Travis Ishikawa.
With two on and one out, Carlos Marmol struck out Aaron Rowand on three pitches for the second out. Fred Lewis pinch-hit for Brian Wilson and struck out swinging to end the game. Marmol picked up his 15th save of the year, his 12th in a row and is a perfect 11-for-11 in save opportunities since being named the Cubs' closer.
Derrek Lee left the game in the bottom of the ninth. Lee's status was not made available during the game. Lee up-ended Giants' second baseman Eugenio Velez sliding into second in the ninth. Velez was shaken up on the play but remained in the game. Lee ran for himself but Micah Hoffpauir took over at first in the bottom of the inning.
The Giants lost for only the second time all season when leading after eight innings.
Ryan Dempster pitched another very good ballgame. Dempster allowed only two runs on seven hits in seven innings with a walk and six strikeouts. The weak-hitting John Bowker drove in both runs against Dempster, with a little help from the Cubs' defense. Bowker's first double of the year tied the game at one in the fourth and his second homer of the season gave the Giants a 2-1 lead in the seventh.
Brad Penny silenced the Cubs' offense once again ... but the final score is all that matters at this point of the year. The Cubs need just three more wins with 10 left to play to secure their third winning season in a row.
The entire four game series figures to be exactly like Thursday night ... low scoring pitcher's duels. Both teams have very good starting staffs and both teams feature less than stellar offenses.
The Cubs managed only eight hits all night. They left only four on base and finished the game 2-for-7 with runners in scoring position ... and one of the hits did not plate a run.
Micah Hoffpauir led off the fourth with a double to center that short-hopped the wall. Mike Fontenot singled to left on a 3-2 pitch. Hoffpauir had to hold and advanced to third once the ball got past Juan Uribe.
Jeff Baker put the ball in play but grounded in a 4-6-3 double play ... the first of three on the night for the Cubs' offense. Micah Hoffpauir scored, 1-0 Cubs.
The Giants tied the game in the bottom of the inning. Juan Uribe reached on a two-out swinging bunt on the third base side of the mound. Ryan Dempster tried to make a barehanded play.
John Bowker ripped Dempster's 0-2 pitch to left. Micah Hoffpauir misplayed the ball, missed his cut off man and the ball ended up in Mike Fontenot's glove. Fontenot was unsure of the play behind him, held the ball too long and Uribe scored all the way from first. If Fontenot throws home, Uribe was likely out.
The game remained tied until the seventh as Brad Penny retired one batter after the other. At one point Penny retired 11 in a row ....
John Bowker led off the seventh with a towering homer over the wall in right ... it was not a cheapie.
Aaron Heilman replaced Dempster in the eighth. Heilman retired the Giants in order and was the beneficiary of Jeff Baker's homer in the ninth.
While the Cubs' post-season chances have been over for several weeks, at least they have not mailed in the season ... and the Cardinals will have to win on Friday in order to capture the Central Division crown for 2009.
10 ...
Friday night it will be Carlos Zambrano versus Tim Lincecum.
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Lee aggravated his neck sliding into second in the ninth ...
http://www.suntimes.com/sports/baseball/cubs/1789924,CST-SPT-cubnt25.article
Lee was actually injured by Guzman:
http://blogs.chicagosports.chicagotribune.com/sports_hardball/2009/09/would-rowand-fit-in-with-cubs-.html
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Compounding the problem was the fact that Lee got slapped in the head by Angel Guzman, who was congratulating Lee after he returned to the dugout on Jeff Baker's game-winning two-run home run.
"As he came in, somebody tapped him on the head to congratulate him for scoring a run," manager Lou Piniella said with a laugh. "I don't think that helped the situation either. We'll see how he is (Friday)."
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I just want to add my voice to all those thanking you, Neil. The site is outstanding and a daily read for this Cubs fan.
The team has been a disappointment given our hopes this year, but your work is always all-star quality.
I'd also like to say thanks to Aaron, JimK, and SuzyS and all the others for always making me smile (even when the team made me frown - or fume). Here is to a good finish, a winning season, and hopefully a smarter and more productive off-season.
Thanks again. 2010 and begin again...
I actually watched tonight. I never miss these late games. It's nice to have the Cubs play on my clock at least a few times a year.
Shut Lee down for awhile. Let him play during the last homestand and let Fox and Hoffpauir get some more reps to finish the season.
Speaking of Fox...
WHY ISN'T HE PLAYING ON A DAILY BASIS!
I'm starting to believe in Jeff Baker for next season. Dude's a gamer. A less versatile, pre-Texas DeRosa. I'll take it.
I miss you guys on a daily basis. Octobers without the CCO will seem criminal!
See ya'll!
It's nice to wake up and find the Cubs won a thriller. Baker is a keeper.
That was probably the last base we will see DLee steal. It's a "pain in the neck"
problem...lol
Seriously, I had a neck vertebre twisted around in an accicent once. The hot pain was incredible and maked it hard to do many things. I really feel for DLee and worry about him...not just for next season...but as a person after baseball.
Cubs management should make sure they
either keep Hoffpauir or have a good backup for Lee Next season.
Other than finishing with a winning
season and looking at young un's...
these games are meaningless...certainly not worth Lee's neck...shut him down.
Thankyou Derrick...you've been a Lion
for the Cubs.