It was another good game for the Chicago Cubs as they dominated the Houston Astros by the score of 6-1. Once again, the Cubs pitching shut down the Astros as Ted Lilly had a no hitter into the seventh inning. The Cubs only gave up one hit the entire two game series against the Astros. Talk about domination!

Lilly gave up a sharp line drive to left center in the seventh inning to Mark Loretta before finishing out the inning and getting a standing ovation. Lilly improved to 15-9 with the win as he pitched awesome. I was sitting here thinking “Wouldn’t it be awesome to see two no hitters in back to back days?”, however it wasn’t meant to be but I’ll take that performance any day of the week.

Derrek Lee and Geovany Soto both hit two-run home runs in the game to set the pace for the Cubs. Both of the home runs came in the sixth inning when the Cubs score four runs. Jim Edmonds also went deep in the fourth inning for a solo shot. Aramis Ramirez got the Cubs scoring started with a rbi sac fly in the first inning.

It was a great game all around for the Cubs as they are currently up eight games in the division and will start a series with the Milwaukee Brewers on Tuesday. The Cubs have a shot at clinching the division at home, so hopefully we will see another great series out of the Cubs!

The Chicago Cubs picked up a hige win against the St. Louis Cardinals on Wednesday night. It was a very big win because the Milwaukee Brewers also won and the Cubs remain 4.5 games on top in the division.

On Wednesday night, the game was all about Ted Lilly who tossed eight innings and only gave up one run. Lilly was awesome down in St. Louis and he improved his record to 14-9.

Kerry Wood had some trouble in the ninth inning as he gave up a two-run home run to Ryan Ludwick but then he retired the next batter to secure the save and the cubs victory. Wood needs to have some 1-2-3 innings out there to take off all this pressure!

At the plate for the cubs, Alfonso Soriano, Felix Pie, and Aramis Ramirez all had one rbi each. The other run for the Cubs came via a Felipe Lopez error in the second inning. The Cubs scored all four of their runs in the second inning and then held on for the victory.

The Cubs and Cardinals play one more game on Thursday night. Hopefully the Cubs can win again and win this series down in St. Louis.

Cubs Blogging

It was a terrible night at Wrigley Field for the Chicago Cubs on Wednesday night as they lost to the Houston Astros 4-0. The shutout was the second time in the last three days that the Astros shutout the Cubs offense and went onto win. It seemed like that Astros had no problems sweeping the Cubbies in the three game series.

Ryan Dempster pitched seven innings but gave up a two run home run and a rbi single to take the loss and fall to 15-6 on th season. Dempster just didn’t get any run support as the Cubs offense continues to slump.

The Cubs were very impatient at the plate against Astros starting pitcher Randy Wolf as they struck out eight times and only took two walks in the game. They were up there swinging early in the count and did not have good success. I hope that the offday on Thursday lets the hitters clear their minds and they come back out on Friday and really hit the ball hard in Cincinnati.

Cubs Blog

The Chicago Cubs swept the Pittsburgh Pirates on Wednesday afternoon with a 2-0 victory. The game was scoreless until the seventh inning when the Cubs pushed across to runs to take the lead and ultimately win the game. The Cubs have now won five straight games.

The Cubs got on the scoreboard with a rbi groundout by Ronny Cedeno. The ball was hit slow enough to third base that Reed Johnson was able to score as he took off on contact. The throw was never made to home as the Pirates third basemen elected to just get an out at first. On the very next pitch, Henry Blanco laid down a squeez bunt and Mark DeRosa scored without any troubles.

Jason Marquis pitched seven shutout innings and did not allow a walk as he earned his ninth victory of the season. Marquis was awesome and kept the Pirates guessing all afternoon long. Once again it was Carlos Marmol pitching in the eighth inning and Kerry Wood finishing things off in the ninth as the Cubs went on to win.

Cubs Baseball Blog

What’s going on Cubs fans? The Chicago Cubs continue to play some very good baseball as they kicked off a three game series against the Pittsburgh Pirates with an 12-3 victory over the Pirates. The Cubs came out and swung the bats very well against the Pirates pitchers and really put the the Pirates in a big hole.

Aramis Ramirez hit another three run home run and finished the game with four rbi. Kosuke Fukudome also had four rbi in the game as he went 3-4. JIm Edmonds, Henry Blanco, and Ted Lilly all helped out at the plate as they each had a rbi as well. The Cubs batters took four walks and struck out five times in the game as they were very productive.

Lilly pitched seven innings to get the victory. Lilly gave up seven hits and three runs while striking out seven Pirates to get the victory and improve to 13-7 on the season. Bob Howry gave up a single in the eighth inning but did not allow a run and then Kerry Wood pitched the ninth inning to finish up the game.

The Cubs will try to win the second game of the series Tuesday night. Go Cubs!

Cubs Baseball Blog

The Cubs got a good day out of Carlos Zambrano on the mound and at the plate on Thursday as the Cubs defeated the Reds 3-2. The one run victory is another series win for the Cubs as they just keep on winning series everytime it seems like.

Big Z pitched seven strong innings to get the victory and improve to 13-5 on the season. Z gave up six hits and the one run which came on a solo home run. Zambrano struckout four batters but was also a little wild as he walked four others. he clearly showed his emotion out on the mound today and luckily it didn’t come back to hurt him. Big Z also hit his fourth home run of the season as he went deep in the third inning.

Carlos Marmol gave up a solo home run to Joey Votto in the eighth inning and then Kerry Wood closed the door in the ninth to record his 26th save of the season.

Besides Zambrano’s solo home run, Mark DeRosa stayed hot with a solo home run of his own in the second inning. The Cubs also scored a run in the first inning when Derrek Lee grounded into a douple play. It seems that Lee can’t hit the ball out of the park but sure can ground into the dp’s!

Cubs Baseball

The Chicago Cubs high powered offense was shut down by Bronson Arroyo and the Cincinnati Reds on Wednesday night. The Reds beat the Cubs by the score of 2-1 as the Cubs just simply didn’t have it going at the plate. They were swinging at terrible pitches and the ump had a small zone so they shouldn’t have been swinging like they were.

It was a wasted efford by Ted Lilly who through a no-hitter through five innings but then allowed a run sixth inning and then another one in the seventh inning. Lilly ended up with the loss and is now 12-7 on the season. Neal Cotts and Jeff Samardzija seen action out of the bullpen.

The Cubs will try to win on Wednesday and get another series win as they send Carlos Zambrano to the mound.

Cubs Baseball Blog

The Chicago Cubs won their eighth straight game on the road as they pounded out a 11-7 victory over the Atlanta Braves on Thursday night. The Cubs once again scored a ton of runs and got to the Braves bullpen early in the ballgame. When you knock the opposing teams pitchers out of the game before the fifth inning three games in a row, good things are going to happen and that is exactly what happened for the Cubs as they swept the Braves.

Ted Lilly didn’t have his best stuff as he was charged with four runs but it was good enough to get the win and improve to 12-6 on the year. Bob Howy had some trouble as he allowed a three run home run that got the Braves back within four runs. Carlos Marmol and Kerry Wood then finished up the Braves in the final two innings.

Aramis Ramirez hit a three run home run to lead the Cubbies at the plate with three rbi. Alfonso Soriano added a two run shot of his own as well. Geovany Soto had another great game at the plate as he had three walks and two rbi. Mark DeRosa, Reed Johnson, Daryle Ward, and Ryan Theriot all had one rbi each as well.

The Cubbies will try to make it nine in a row on the road Friday night as they take on the Florida Marlins. Big Z will be taking the mound for the Cubs.

Cubs Baseball Blog

Yeah, it has been a while since this Cubs blog as been updated.  Murphy was doing a great job with his game recaps and I hope he will continue writing as he does a very good job.  Right now I will be trying to cover the games during the week atleast.

Right now I’ll just give you a short recap of game one of the double header against the Braves.  The Cubs bats were swinging and knocking in runs as they crushed the Braves 10-2.  Jason Marquis tossed 5 1/3 innings to pick up the win.  Marquis didn’t pitch too badly as he gave up six hits and two runs, but his pitch count really got up there and that is why he only lasted a little over five innings.  Marquis had to work out of jams quite a few times and that is why the pitchcount was so high.

Neal Cotts, Jeff Samardzija, and Bob Howry all seen action out of the bullpen.  All three pitched great and allowed the team to save Kerry Wood and Carlos Marmol for the second game which will kick off at 6 p.m. central time.

Geovany Soto led the offense by going 3-4 with four rbi.  Soto had a two run double in the second inning and then added a two run home run in the ninth inning.  I would expect to see Soto sit out the second game and Henry Blanco to get the start.  Jim Edmonds also had a good game at the plate as he had three rbi in the game.  Aramis Ramirez, Mark DeRosa, and Ryan Theriot all added one rbi each as well.

Let’s go get game two and hopefully see a Brewers loss later tonight. GO CUBS!

Cubs Baseball

Giants ace, Tim Lincecum, kept Cub’s bats at bay as the Giants prevented the sweep with a 4-2 victory over the Cubs on Sunday afternoon.  Lincecum showed again why he is on the NL All-Star team and a CY Young candidate.  Lincecum threw 8 innings giving up 1 run on 6 hits.  He added to his league leading total of strikeouts by whiffing 9 Cub’s batters. 

The Giants started their scoring in the 3^rd inning when Lincecum helped his own cause by tripling in Omar Vizquel for the game’s first run.  A two out single from Ray Durham would give the Giants 2 more runs in the inning and a 3-0 lead.

The Cubs would plate a run in the 4^th inning on a double from the hot-hitting Cub’s centerfielder Jim Edmonds.  He has proven to be a very valuable and low-risk midseason pickup for Jim Hendry.  The Cubs needed another left-handed batter in their lineup and Edmonds has proved very serviceable.   

The Giants would take a 4-1 lead to the 9^th inning after an RBI triple from Fred Lewis.   The Giants then went to closer Brian Wilson for a chance at a league leading 25^th save.  Edmonds would walk and score leaving a pinch hit chance for Geovany Soto with one out and two on.  Representing the tying run, Soto struck out on a called third strike.  Cub’s shortstop Ryan Theriot, who had extended his hitting streak to ten games earlier, ground out to in the game.   Ryan Dempster was credited with his first loss at home this year giving up four earned runs, seven hits, and striking out six.  Dempster now falls to 10-4 on the season.

Special Notes:  Cub’s reliever, Carlos Marmol, will replace Cub’s closer Kerry Wood in the All-Star game due to a minor blister that Kerry wants to give a chance to heal.