The Chicago Cubs used the long ball to win their ninth straight game as they beat the San Diego Padres 9-6 at Petco Park.  Petco is not a park where you usually see home runs hits, but the Cubs hit three long balls in the game.

Alfonso Soriano had a three run shot in the eighth inning, Mark DeRosa hit a two run shot in the fifth inning, and earlier in the fifth inning Geovany Soto connected for his tenth home run as he went deep to center field.  Soto would have had another home run in the game as well in any other ball park but it was caughty right at the wall in deep center field.

Soriano led the Cubs with three rbi while DeRosa had two rbi.  Soto, Ryan Theriot, Derrek Lee, and Aramis Ramirez all had one rbi in the game.

On the mound it was Jason Marquis pitching five innings and picking up the win.  Marquis sure didn’t have his best stuff, and I think he was glad he was pitching in the big park as he got hit kind of hard.  Four hits and three runs were charged to Marquis as he improved his record to 3-3.

The Cubs used six relief pitchers for the final four innings of the game as Piniella is trying to not have each pitcher throw to many pitchers as they have been used a lot lately.  Kevin Hart who had just been called up threw the worst as he gave up two hits and three runs while walking two.  Hopefully it was just a case of nerves after being called back up to the big league team.

Michael Wuertz, Scott Eyre, Neal Cotts, Bob Howry, and Kerry Wood all seen action out of the bullpen.  Wood recorded his 16th save of the season in the game.  It would be great to see the Cubs starting throw a complete game or atleast seven or eight innings so the bullpen can get some rest…

As we mentioned Kevin Hart was called up and Micah Hoffpauir was sent down.  It was simply the case of the Cubs needing a fresh arm in the bullpen. Hoffpauir will more then likely be called up when the Cubs travel to Toronto.

Cubs Blog

The Milwaukee Brewers just seem to have the Chicago Cubs number so far in the 2008 season.  Once again, it was the Brewers beating the Cubs on Tuesday night by the score of 10-7.  The Brewers were all over starting pitcher Jason Marquis and the Cubs bullpen.

Marquis only lasted five innings as he gave up ten hits and five runs.  Kevin Hart then came into the game and gave up four hits and three more runs.  In relief of Hart, Sean Marshall gave up a run and then Jon Leiber also gave up a run.  Just a terrible performance by all the Cubs pitchers.

Derrek Lee did connect for his eighth home run of the season in the game.  Too bad it was a solo shot.  Mike Fonenot led the Cubs with three RBI has a he had a bases loaded double in the seventh inning.  Reed Johnson, Felix Pie, and Marquis all had one RBI each for the Cubbies.

The Cubs will try to battle back and pick up a win on Wednesday night as they battle the Brewers once again from Wrigley Field Come back to this Cubs Blog to check out the game recap after the game is over!

Cubs Blog

The Chicago Cubs lost to the Colorado Rockies 4-2 on Thursday afternoon and their six game winning streak is over.  The Cubs had tied the game up in the eigth inning, but then allowed two runs in the bottom of the inning.  The cubs were almost out of the inning but Ronny Cedeno and Ryan Theriot were unable to turn an inning ending double play.

Kevin Hart took the loss for the Cubs as he pitched the eigth inning.  Starting pitcher Jason Marquis pitched ok as he went seven innings and allowed eight hits but only one run.  Marquis should have seen a better result then a no-decision but sometimes that is just how it goes.

Felix Pie and Mike Fontenot both had one RBI each at the plate.  Pie went 2-3 and had half the Cubs hits who could only mange four hits the entire game.

Now the Cubs will fly to Washington D.C. to start a weekend series with the Washington Nationals.

Cubs Blog

The Chicago Cubs were swinging some hot bats once again as they beat up on the New York Mets by the score of 8-1.  With the win on Tuesday, the Cubs swept the Mets in the short two game series, and remained in first place of the central division.

Ronny Cedeno led the Cubs at the plate going 2-5 with a grand slam and an RBI double.  Cedeno finished the day with five RBI and already has 13 on the season.  Reed Johnson finished with two RBI and Mark DeRosa had one RBI.  Up and down the lineup, the Cubs are hitting the ball and being patient at the plate.

Another Cubs player that had a great day at the plate was Kosuke Fukudome who reached base all five times.  Fukudome had three hits and two walks.

Ted Lilly was finally able to pick up a win this season.  He pitched six innings and gave up four hits and only one run.  Great outing for Lilly, hopefully that momentum will carry over and he will go on a nice winning streak.

Bob Howry, Carlos Marmol, and Kevin Hart pitched the final three innings of the game without allowing a run.

The Cubs finished the homestand with a 7-1 record!

Cubs Blog

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.

Cubs Blog 

What an up and down game for the Chicago Cubs as they beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 6-4 in 15 innings of play.  After blowing leads in the 9th and 14th innings, the Cubs were finally able to hold a two run lead in the 15th inning to pick up the win.

The first blow save was Kerry Wood in the 9th inning when Jason Bay hit a homerun to tie the game.  And then in the 14th inning, the Adam LaRoche connected for a two run home run off of Kevin Hart that once again tied the game.  But in the 15th inning, Sean Marshall was able to close the door on the Pirates and pick up the save.

Felix Pie delivered the game winning hit for the Cubs as he singled in the top of the 15th inning with two outs.  In the 14th inning, it was a two run home run by Aramis Ramirez that put the Cubs ahead when they couldn’t hold on.

What gets lost in all of this was the great seven innings that starting pitcher Ryan Dempster through.  He only allowed one hit in seven innings and pitched marvelous.

Both teams are going to be very tired for Thursday’s night game.  We could see another really sloppy game again I think.

Cubs Blog

It was an up and down day at Wrigley Field for the Chicago Cubs and their fans, but in the end they were the one that left happy as the Cubs defeated the Astros 9-7.

Derrek Lee and Kosuke Fukudome led the Cubs during their comback as Lee went 4-4 with two RBI’s and falling just shy of the cycle by missing the triple.  Fukudome hit the game winning runs in with a double in the 7th inning that scored two runs for the Cubs.  Mark DeRosa followed with another double that score Fukudome to add an insurance run.

Jason Marquis was the Cubs start and he sucked it up.   No wonder why so many Cubs fans wanted him traded or even released.  The Cubs might look at pitching Sean Marshall in Marquis spot next time, because Marquis SUCKS!

Kevin Hart picked up the win in relief, and Kerry Wood picked up his second save of the season.