The Chicago Cubs defeated the Cincinnati Reds in Dusty Baker’s return to Chicago by the score of 9-5 on Tuesday evening.  The Cubs used three long balls by Derrek Lee, Mark DeRosa, and Ryan Theriot to get by the Reds.  The wind was blowing out and the Cubs sure took advantage of it.

Lee and Derosa both finished with three RBI while Theriot had two RBI.  Aramis Ramirez also had one RBI in the game.  I just have to laugh everytime Aramis is at the plate, the guy just swings for the fences everytime, and I’ll predict that he hurts himself sometime this year swinging the bat the way he is swinginig right now.

Ryan Dempster picked up the win for the Cubs even though he didn’t pitch like he is capable of.  He was a little wild but kept the score close and ended up picking up the win as he pitched six innings of four run baseball.  Carlos Marmol, Michael Wuertz, and Kerry Wood and seen in action to close the game out.  Wuertz sucked it up, Marmol was able to get out of a bases loaded jam, and Wood looked great.

Alfonso Soriano was placed on the disabled list with a calf injury and Eric Patterson has been called up to take his spot on the roster.  Most Cubs fans thought it would be Matt Murton getting called up, but for some reason Jim Hendry choose Eric Patterson.

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

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.

Cubs Blog

Cubs pitcher Ryan Dempster had something pretty funny to say on the first day that pitchers and catchers reported to spring training.  He said that the Cubs would win the world series and end their 100 year draught.  Hmm that is pretty funny!  Especially coming from Dempster lol.

Dempster is a joker in the clubhouse, but he said he was very serious that the Chicago Cubs would win the world series this year.  He said he didn’t work so hard, and his teammates didn’t work so hard, so they could watch the world series from home again.

Time will tell if Dempster’s prediction comes true.