The Chicago Cubs lost once again and this time it was to the Cincinnati Reds by the score of 5-3.  The Reds came into the game with a five game losing streak, but that didn’t matter as they put up five quick runs on the Cubs and then held on for the victory.

The Cubs had their chance in the ninth inning with the bases loaded and only one out but Mike Fontenot was called out at home when he tied to score on a ball that got away from the catcher.  Replays showed that Fontenot was safe, but he was called out by the umpire.  Ryan Theriot then walked to load the bases once again but Derrek Lee grounded out to first base to end the game.

Geovany Soto hit a solo home run in the second inning for the Cubs.  Ryan Theriot and Lee also had a RBI each for the Cubs.

Ryan Dempster took the loss for the Cubs which was his first of the season.  Dempster tossed six innings as he gave up five runs.  Only one of the five runs were earned however as  the Cubs had two errors in the game that really hurt them.

The Cubs need to get back on track and no better pitcher to do that then Carlos Zambrano who will face the Reds tomorrow night.

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The Chicago Cubs looked like they were going to go on for a nice win against the Milwaukee Brewers but the Brewers had other ideas.  Kerry Wood gave up three runs in the ninth inning as the Brewers came back to beat the Cubs 4-3.  With the loss, the Cubs are now a half game out of first place in the division.  They had a bad week of baseball that is for sure.

Wood took the loss in the game and is now 2-1 on the season.  Carlos Zambrano had been in line to pick up his fifth win of the season but got the no decision after Wood blew the game.

Zambrano went deep for the Cubs to put them on the board in the fourth inning.  Mark DeRosa and Geovany Soto both had a RBI each as well.

The Cubs now have to travel to St. Louis and take on the Cardinals who are in first place in the division.  It will be intersting to see how the Cubs come out and play this weekend against the Cardinals.

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The Chicago Cubs rocked the Cincinnati Reds by the score of 12-3 on Wednesday night.  The Cubs rocked Reds starting pithcer Josh Fogg early and often and also had some luck off of their bullpen.

Geovany Soto led the Cubs with three RBI, Kosuke Fukudome and Mark DeRosa both had two RBI.  Mike Fontenot, Derrek Lee, Reed Johnson, and and Carlos Zambrano all had one RBI each.  Zambrabo had a hell of a day at the plate as he went 3-4 including hits from both sides of the plate.

Zambrano did pick up the win as he pitched seven innings.  He did give up eight hits and two earned runs but pitched well enough to pick up the victory.  Kevin Hart pitched the final two innings of the game and allowed one earned run on a Adam Dunn home run.

Good win for the Cubs as they continue to play good baseball.

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The Chicago Cubs finished up a three game sweep of the Pittsburgh Pirates with a 7-3 win on Thursday night.  The Cubs were able to get the win even though Rich Hill only lasted three innings as he was moved up a day in the rotation as Jason Marquis continues to battle the flu.

Jon Leiber picked up his second win of the season as he filled in for Hill and pitched 4.1 innings.  He did allow five hits, but did not allow a run.  Following Leiber, Bob Howry and Kerry Wood finished out the game.

Geovany Soto led the Cubs at the plate as he went 4-5 and two RBI.  Soto was a triple shy of the cycle.  Mike Fontenot also had a good game as he hit a two run home run.  Derrek Lee also had two RBI’s even though he didn’t get a hit in the game.  Reed Johnson chipped in with an RBI in the in the 6th inning as well.

Great win for the Cubs as they improve their record to 6-3 on the season.

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The Chicago Cubs blew a 7-0 lead and then went onto beat the Pittsburgh Pirates in 12 innings by the score of 10-8.  It was a sloppy game played by both teams.  From errors, to walked batters, it seemed like the game would never get over.  Finally the Cubs pushed across two runs in the 12th inning to pick up the win.

Jon Leiber pitching in relief picked up his first win of the season.  Carlos Marmol pitched the 12th inning and picked up his first save of the season.  Kerry Wood wasn’t planned to be used today, and that was why Marmol pitched the 12th inning.

At the plate for the Cubs, Kosuke Fukudome went 3-5 with an RBI, Geovany Soto was 3-7 with two RBI, Aramis Ramirez also had two RBI, and Ronny Cedeno had a bases loaded double that scored three runs for his only hit of the game.  Mark DeRosa was the only other Cub to record an RBI.

It was dissapointing to see the Cubs blow the big lead, but that is what happens when you walk batters and have three errors in the game.  With the off day tomorrow, hopefully they will take some groundballs and get some work in on the defensive side of the ball.

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Two big mistakes by the Chicago Cubs in the 8th inning proved to be too much for them to overcome.  An error to lead off the inning my Mark DeRosa, and then a misplay in left field by Alfonso Soriano allowed the Astros to score two runs in the 8th inning and go on for the the 4-3 win.

The team isn’t hitting the ball that much, so they can’t be making these kind of mistakes on the defensive side of the ball.  They need to make these easy plays that are routine.

On the offensive side, the Cubs struggled for the most part. Geovany Soto did have a two RBI single in the 7th inning and Mark DeRosa hit a solo homerun in the 9th inning.  If the Cubs want to win these games however, they need to score some runs earlier in the ballgame and get into the opposing teams bullpen sooner.

Starting pitcher Rich Hill pitched pretty good for the most part on Friday.  Hill did make a  mistake with two outs in the 4th inning when he walked a batter and then gave up a homerun.  All Hill needs to do is finish off batters, and he would be a very good pitcher.  I look for him to have a good outing in his next performance.

The Cubs record is now 1-3 and will play the Houston Astros again on Saturday.

The Chicago Cubs have finally won a game in 2008!  The Cubs defeated the Brewers by the score of 6-3 on Thursday afternoon as they salvaged one game out of a three series.

Starting pitcher Ryan Dempster pitched a lot better the most fans expected.  Dempster piched six innings while only allowing three hits and one earned run.  He had a bad first inning where the Brewers scored two runs, but after that he settled down and pitched a pretty good game.

Carlos Marmol and Kerry Wood came in and closed the door on the Brewers in the 7th, 8th, and 9th innings.  Wood picked up his first save for the Cubs as well.  That sure was a great sight seeing Marmol and Wood blow through the Brewers the last three innings.

At the plate for the Cubs, Aramis Ramirez hit his first homerun of the season and Alfonso Soriano collected two RBI’s.   Ryan Theriot, Mark DeRosa, and Geovany Soto each had a RBI for the Cubs as well.

The Cubs will now play the Houston Astros.  Another divisional series, and hopefully the Cubs can win a couple of games and stay near the top of the divison.

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