Aramis Ramirez and Jim Edmonds also hit solo home runs in the game. The offense took a while to get going, but when they did it was a great scene!

Kerry Wood ended up with the win and worked his way out of a huge jam in the top of the 12th inning. Wood is now 5-4 on the year. Cubs starting pitcher Rich Harden only pitched five innings but only allowed one hit. The reason he only lasted five innings was because he walked six batters and struck out seven and his pitch count was very high.

Jeff Samardzija struggled out of of the pen once again as he gave up two run. Neal Cotts also allowed one run in relief.

The team found a way to win and that is exactly what they needed to do. I’m pretty sure we will see the Cubs clinch the division this weekend against the St. Louis Cardinals!

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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!

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!

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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!

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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. 

Cub’s fans got exactly what they expected out of newly acquired pitcher, Rich Harden, but it would take an 11^th inning RBI single from Reed Johnson to secure the Cubs second straight victory.  Harden was effective through 5 1/3^rd innings giving up five hits while striking out ten batters and giving up no runs.  It was the third time in his career that Harden had double-digit strikeout totals and the second this year.  He would leave to a standing ovation in the 5^th inning with a smile on his face that was shared throughout the electric crowd on hand at Wrigley. 

The Cubs would give Harden plenty of run support early led by Jim Edmonds 2-run homer in the 3^rd and then a two-run double in the 4^th.  He would finish the day 2-4 with four RBI’s and 2 runs.  The Cubs would then take a 7-0 lead into the 8^th inning before Giant’s catcher, Bengie Molina, doubled in Ray Durham for the Giant’s first run.  They would score once more to make it 7-2 heading into the 9^th inning. 

In the 9^th, with a five run lead, Lou Piniella gave the ball to Carlos Marmol, who has struggled of late.  After a lead-off double to Giant’s shortstop, Ivan Ochoa, things would begin to unravel for Marmol.  After another single and two Cub’s misplays in the infield, the game was quickly tied 7-7.  Cub’s closer, Kerry Wood was unavailable in the game due to a blister so Lou went with Sean Marshall in the 10^th.  Marshall pitched two solid innings before leading off with a single in the 11^th.  Then, with Mark DeRosa at 2^nd and Mike Fontenot at 1^st, Reed Johnson hit a one out, game-winning single which scored Derosa on a very close call at home plate. 

Expect the presence of broomsticks in Wrigley for the series closer Sunday afternoon as the Cubs look for the sweep.  They will be facing Giant’s ace and All-Star, Tim Lincecum (10-2), who has looked like a Cy Young winner despite pitching for a team below .500.  The Cubs will bring Ryan Dempster to mound who has yet to lose in Wrigley Field this season.

Special Note….  Cubs shortstop, Ryan Theriot, went 3-4 on Saturday extending his hitting streak to nine games and upping his batting average to .322 on the year.

Marmol, who hasn’t been throwing the ball that well lately once again struggled as he gave up a three run home run to Ray Durham in the seventh inning that tied the game at 5-5.  Marmol was picked up by his teammate however and actually got the win in the game to improve his record to 2-3.  Kerry Wood finally got a save opportunity and grabbed his 21st save of the season.

Cubs starting pitcher Ryan Dempster got a no decision after throwing six innings of five hits and two run baseball.  Dempster would have pitched longer but he gave up a two run homer to John Bowker in the sixth inning that let the Giants right back in the game.  It was a quality outing for Dempster but still remains winless on the road.

Geovany Soto had a two run single in the seventh inning while Jim Edmonds had a two run home run in the sixth inning as they led the Cubs at the plat with two rbi each.  Matt Murton got the Cubs on the scoreboard in the first inning when he grounded into a double play and Edmonds scored from third.  Murton was not awarded for a rbi on the play however.

The Cubs can take three of four from the Giants if they are able to win on Thursday evening.  Hopefully they can win and then head to St. Louis and take on the Cardinals in a big four game series.

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Lilly improved to 8-5 with the victory.  He didn’t throw the ball that great but pitched well enough to keep the Cubs in the game.  Lilly gave up the two home runs to Jay Payton but those were the only hits that really caused any damage.  Carlos Marmol struck out his final two batters in the eighth inning and then closer Kerry Wood struck out all three batters he faced in the ninth inning to record his 20th save of the season.

At the plate Geovany Soto had a two run double and a rbi single to lead the Cubbies with three rbi.  Jim Edmonds also had two rbi including a solo home run.  Aramis Ramirez and Mark DeRosa both had rbi singles in the first inning of the game as well.  It was awesome to see the Cubs score six runs in the first two innings of the game as that put the Orioles in a big hole that they just weren’t able to come out of.

Jason Marquis will take the mound for the Cubs on Thursday as they try to win the series against the Orioles.  Cubs Blogging

The Cubs attempted a ninth inning rally and had the bases loaded with zero outs but Ronny Cedeno, Kosukue Fukudome, and Henry Blanco all struckout to end the game.  They were swinging at some very bad pitches for some reason.  You have to be more patient at the plate in that situation.

Jim Edmonds was the guy that got the Cubs back into the game as they were down 7-1 until he hit a three run home run in the seventh inning.  Aramis Ramirez then followed that with a two run single in the eighth inning to put the Cubs within striking distance but that was as close as they would get.  Fukudome did hit his sixth home run in the season as well.

Starting pitcher Sean Marshall struggled on the mound in the fourth and fifth innings as he only lasted 4 2/3 innings after giving up seven hits and four runs.  Marshall did strikeout seven batters but the fourt and fifth inning really hurt up.  Michael Wuertz wasn’t much better as he allowed two hits and three runs to score in only one inning of action.

The Cubs will now try to start another winning streak on Wednesday night.  Hopefully they can tie the series up at 1-1 with Ted Lilly on the mound.

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It was unsure if Zambrano just didn’t get settled in, or if he had some sort of arm problem.  He did leave the game after pitching 6 2/3 innings.  He tried to talk his way into staying in the game but that didn’t happen as Lou Piniella brough in Neal Cotts who ended up walking his only batter.

Michael Wuertz was then brought in to record the final out in the seventh inning and he also pitched the eighth inning without letting a run score.  It was  good job by Wuertz, but Cotts has been sucking it up and needs to be sent back down to the minors if you ask me.

Ryan Theriot had two rbi for the Cubs while Kosuke Fukudome had one rbi.  It should be noted that Fukudome will be the lead off man every game until Alfonso Soriano returns to the lineup.  Geovany Soto hit a solo home run to start the top of the ninth but the Cubs couldn’t get another run to tie the game and extend it into extra innings.

Jim Edmonds left the game in the bottom of the fourth inning with soreness in his left foot.

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