Game Seventy-Seven – Cubs 6 Brewers 3
Carlos Marmol was tremendous, Juan Pierre hit a home run for the first time in almost a year and Derrek Lee led the comeback in the 8th that saw the Cubs score 5 runs to end their 5-game losing streak and their 9-game home losing streak, it was the first win for the Cubs since May 30th at Wrigley.
Marmol faced just one over the minimum before he took the mound in the 7th. Marmol had allowed just 1 hit, a double to Carlos Lee in the 2nd inning….that he actually picked off. He was in cruise control, he had command and control of the strike zone. The rookie recorded 8 strike outs, a career high, but with 1 out in the 7th, Marmol ran out of gas and Scott Eyre could not keep the tying run from scoring….Marmol received a no-decision but the Cubs recorded the win in comeback fashion led by Derrek Lee….this June day felt more like April from a Cubs standpoint. Juan Pierre got the Cubs on the board with two outs in the 3rd when he hit his first home run since July 7, 2005. In the 7th, Jacque Jones led off the inning with a double and was unable to advance on a ground out to second by Ronny Cedeno, Henry Blanco struck out and Matt Murton, who was 2-13 in his career pinch hitting, recorded an infield single that advanced Jones to third. Pierre could not get the job done to break the tie. After a 2-run homer by Bill Hall that gave the Brewers the lead off of Bobby Howry in the top of the inning. The Cubs came back with a tremendous 8th inning.
Todd Walker led off the inning with a double ahead of Derrek Lee’s first home run since his return and his first home run since April 8th….Lee’s presence does make a difference. Here is where it got interesting. With 2 outs, Jacque Jones singled and on a 3-2 count with Jones running, Cedeno blooped a double just out of the reach of Rickie Weeks in shallow right, Jones scored and Cedeno advanced to third on a throwing error. Then the most unlikely triple took place off the bat of Henry Blanco. Blanco tripled down the right field line, hustled the entire way and made it to third and scored on a double by John Mabry who pinch hit for Bobby Howry. The Cubs recorded 6 hits in the 8th, 5 for extra bases and sent 9 to the plate.
Every position player recorded at least one hit and the two pinch hits is something the Cubs have not had to often this season. While the bullpen did not get the win for Marmol, the offense woke up just in time to spark a comeback win….again something that has not happened that often since April. This was a win the Cubs needed, the Faithful needed….it just felt great to hear the words “Cubs Win, Cubs Win!!!” Since the last time the Cubs beat the Brewer 6-2 on April 28th (Greg Maddux beat Dave Bush) the Cubs have been on a tailspin and was 15-40 since….maybe the boys in blue will start playing better ball after a tremendous comeback on Wednesday afternoon.
Mark Prior takes the hill on Thursday afternoon against Geremi Gonzalez, the former Cub (1997-1998) is slated to make his 4th start of the season….Doug Davis was scheduled to start the game. Can the Cubbies make in two in a row?