The Friendly Confines turned very unfriendly this afternoon for Cub Fans.  The rain held off but that didn’t stop the Cincinnati Reds from raining 7 HR’s in the Wrigley Field bleachers this afternoon on their way to a 12-7 win.  The loss ended a 3 game winning streak by the Cubs and prevented the Wrigley faithful from an opportunity to wave their broomsticks. 

The Cubs would strike first on a double by Derek Lee scoring Ryan Theriot in the first inning.  Hot hitting Mike Fontenot would double and score on a 2 RBI single from “The Riot” in the 2^nd inning that gave the Cubs a 3-1 lead.  That would not hold for long as Lilly could not make it out of the 3^rd inning giving up 3 runs including the go ahead 3 run shot from Red’s second baseman Brandon Phillips.  The Reds would not look back from that point as they would get 4 more runs in the 4^th capped off by Ken Griffey Jr’s 605^th career HR.  Griffey finished the day knocking in 4 runs on 2 hits.  Fontenot again delivered in the 4^th with a one out 2 run shot to the right field bleachers.  He would finish the day with 2 hits, 3 runs, and 2 RBI’s. 

The Reds just continued to pour it on as catcher David Ross led off both the 5^th and 7^th inning with HR’s, his first multi-homerun game of the season.  Votto capped off the power display when he hit the Red’s seventh and final HR in the top of the ninth inning. 

The Cubs did get their first look at newly acquired RHP Chad Gaudin in the top of the seventh.  He got behind David Ross quickly and Ross made him pay by hitting his second HR of the day.  After Gaudin gave up a single to the next batter he went on to retire 6 in a row.  Maybe Chad just needed to shake off the butterflies he felt pitching for his first time as a Chicago Cub!  Watch for Gaudin to be the real sleeper in the blockbuster trade made Tuesday for Rich Harden. 

Ted Lilly took the loss today and was unsuccessful in his bid to win his 10^th game of the season.  Lilly now falls to (9-6) on the season and will not pitch again until after the All-Star break.  Red’s starter Bronson Arroyo gets the win despite giving up 5 runs and 7 hits in 5 innings.  He now moves to (7-7) on the season with a 5.97 ERA. 

Hold on Cubs fans there is a little brighter news to report…  First Round pick Andrew Cashner, the right-handed closer from Texas, signed with the Cubs today and even got to throw in front of Cub’s pitching coach Larry Rothschild.  He is all set to join the rookie league team in Mesa.  It was also confirmed today that Cub’s fans will get their first look at Rich Harden on Saturday as the Cubs host the San Francisco Giants at Wrigley Field.  The Cubs will most certainly have a packed house on hand to welcome him to his new home on the Northside.  The Giants series begins tomorrow as the Cubs will look to get back on track with Jason Marquis taking the mound in a showdown with talented Giant hurler, Matt Cain.  Let’s go Cubs!

 Carlos Zambrano pitched 8 brilliant innings in route to his 10^th victory of 2008 on a beautiful night in Wrigley.  Zambrano located his pitches very well having both the slider and sinker working nicely.  Coming off the DL only last week, Zambrano gave up a homerun to Adam Dunn, with one out in the 2nd inning, and then sat down the next 20 Reds batters he faced.  

Offensively the Cubs got it going early.  After going down 1-0 on  Adam Dunn’s homerun the Cubs answered as rookie All-Star Geovany Soto led off the second with a double, and then scored from second on an error by Cincinnati Red’s shortstop Jeff Keppinger.  Soto’s hustle was reminiscent of his inside the park homerun in Houston earlier this year.

After Cubs shortstop Ryan Theriot made a brilliant play to end the top half of the 6^th inning, Aramis Ramirez took the very first pitch of the bottom half and sent it to souvenir city to give the Cubs their first lead of the game.  Red’s pitcher Johnny Cueto would then go on to strike out the next two batters and escape any further damange.  The Cubs offense struck again the very next inning.  After Cub’s left fielder Reed Johnson led off with a single, Zambrano attempted to bunt him over to second.  Zambrano was called out at first even though he beat the throw by a country mile.  This brought Lou out of the dugout and sparked the Cub’s offense.  With two outs, Kosuke Fukudome doubled in Reed Johnson to give the cubs a 3-1 lead.  Derek Lee and Aramis Ramirez then both followed with RBI hits off of Red’s reliever David Weathers and the Cubs went in to the 8^th inning with a 5-1 lead. 

Carlos Marmol came in to pitch for the Cubs in the top of the 9^th and got into some early trouble.  After appearing to tweak his foot, while making the second out of the inning, Carlos then gave up a hit and walked the next two batters to load the bases.  Lou then made the call for All-Star closer Kerry Wood to come in for a chance at his 23^rd save.  Wood did not disappoint an ecstatic Wrigley crowd by getting Red’s second baseman Brandon Phillips to pop out to Derek Lee for the last out of the game.

Carlos Zambrano gets the win as he pitches 8 strong innings giving up only one hit and one run while striking out 5.  He moves to 10-3 on the season and looks to pitch next in the All-Star game at Yankee Stadium.  Cueto is credited with the loss as he moves to 7-9 on the season.

Ted Lilly will take the mound tomorrow in hopes of becoming the third Cub pitcher to win his 10th game of the season as he faces Cinicinnati right-hander Bronson Arroyo.  The Cubs will be looking to sweep the Reds and win their 4^th straight. 

Written By:  Murray Shaw

The Chicago Cubs had a 3-1 lead heading into the bottom of the seventh inning but Carlos Marmol and Scott Eyre both sucked it up and the Cubs ended up giving up seven runs in the inning and losing 8-3.  It was the first time in the past four days that Marmol was on the mound pitching so he was well rested but clearly didn’t have his usual control.  He walked two batters and hit two batters before being pulled out of the game.

Eyre on the other hand came in with the bases loaded and quickly gave up a grand slam which blew the game wide open.  He then gave up a triple, double, and a sac fly before finally recording an out.  Jon Lieber then came in and finished up the game by throwing 1 2/3 scoreless innings.

Starting pitcher Sean Gallagher didn’t pitch that bad at all.  He did get out of a bases loaded jam in the second inning with only giving up one out but that was really his only mistake of the game.  He lasted six innings while giving up four hits and one run.  It’s too bad Gallagher wasn’t able to get the win.  Oh well I guess Marmol was due for a loss…

Kosuke Fukudome, Ryan Theriot, and Mike Fontenot all had a rbi for the cubs.  Derrek Lee did go 3-4 to kind of get out of his slump.

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Carlos Zambrano was pretty wild on Wednesday night as the Chicago Cubs lost to the Tampa Bay Rays for the second straight night.  Big Z took the loss as the Cubs lost the game by the score of 5-3.

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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Once again the Chicago Cubs defeated the Atlanta Braves in a night game at Wrigley Field.  The Cubs beat the Braves 7-2 on Wednesday night behind a complete game by Ryan Dempster.  It was the first complete game by a Cubs pitcher this season as he threw 119 pitches to finish the game.

However any celebrating the Cubs wanted to do, they won’t be doing it tonight as Alfonso Soriano was hit on the left hand and actually broke a finger on his hand.  Soriano will miss atleast two weeks but expect it to be three or four weeks.  Micah Hoofpauir would be our guess to be called up to take Soriano’s spot on the roster.

Kosuke Fukudome had three rbi all on a three run home run in the first inning to lead the Cubs at the plate.  Ryan Theriot and Jim Edmonds both had two rbi each in the game as well for the Cubbies.

The Cubs will go for the three game sweep of the Braves on Thursday afternoon from Wrigley Field.

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Kosuke Fukudome delivered the game winning rbi single for the Chicago Cubs in the ninth inning as the Cubs defeated the Los Angeles Dodgers by the score of 5-4.  Fukudome also got the Cubs scoring started in the second inning when he hit a solo home run which was his fourth of the season.

Besides getting two rbi from Fukudome, Ryan Theriot, Aramis Ramirez, and Mark DeRosa all had one rbi in the game.  DeRosa’s rbi came on a solo home run in the fourth inning.  The Cubs should have done more damage in the game but they left 20 runners on base.

Starting pitcher Ryan Dempster didn’t have his best stuff going and ended up getting a no decision in the game.  He was pulled after just 5 1/3 innings as he gave up five hits and three runs.  One of those hits however was a Jeff Kent solo home run.

Neal Cotts and Carlos Marmol got the Cubs into the eighth inning where Bob Howry gave up the lead as Kent hit his second solo home run of the game.  Howry would get lucky however as Fukudome picked him up and scored a run in the top of the ninth inning, and then Kerry Wood came in to record his 17th save of the season.  Wood is really racking up the save as of late!

The Cubs will continue playing the Dodgers through the weekend.  Cubs Blog

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.

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The Chicago Cubs won their eighth straight game as they beat the San Diego Padres 7-6 in San Diego on Monday night.  It was a great start to a West coast road trip for the Cubs.  The Cubs are now 3.5 games up on the St. Louis Cardinals in the division as well.

Big Z – Carlos Zambrano did a little bit of everything against the Padres.  Zambrano went 3-3 at the plate including a triple and rbi.  On the mound, Zambrano only threw five innings but it was enough to get his eighth win of the season.

Everything was going good for Cubs pitchers until the ninth inning when Carlos Marmol gave up a three run home run to Adrian Gonzalez.  Marmol was then taken out of the game and Kerry Wood was brough in to record his 15th save of the season.

At the plate the Cubs were led by ex-Padre Jim Edmonds who had two doubles and two rbi.  Zambrano, Alfonso Soriano, Ryan Theriot, and Kosuke Fukudome all had one rbi in the game as well.

The Cubs will be going for their ninth straight win on Tuesday night when Jason Marquis takes the mound.

Cubs Blog

The Chicago Cubs score two runs in the seventh inning and then three more in the eighth inning as they came from behind to beat the Colorado Rockies 8-4.  That is a great way to start a four game series against the Rockies!  Good teams find ways to win and that is just what the Cubs did on Thursday night.

Geovany Soto had the winning hit for the Cubs in the seventh inning when he hit a sac fly to right field and Ryan Theriot scored.  From there on, it was all Cubs as the scored three more times in the eighth inning.  It was awesome to see Micah Hoffpauir get a rbi in the eighth inning as well.

Alfonso Soriano led the Cubs with two rbi while a slew of players had one rbi each.  Derrek Lee, Aramis Ramirez, Kosuke Fukudome, Soto, Reed Johnson, and Hoffpauir all had one rbi in the game.

Jason Marquis pitched pretty good until the but ran into a tough jam in the sixth inning.  Marquis got a no decision after throwing 5 1/3 innings and allowing seven hits and three runs.  Neal Cotts came in and two runs score that were charged to Marquis.  Michael Wuertz also gave up a run out of the bullpen before Carlos Marmol and Kerry Wood finished off the Rockies in the eighth and ninth innings.

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Chicago Cubs catcher Geovany Soto hit a three run home run in the fourth inning to give the Cubs a 3-0 lead and then the Cubs went on to beat the Astros 7-2.  Soto’s home run was actually ruled an inside the park home run even though replays clearly showed that it should have been home run no matter what.  Soto hustled around the bases anyway and hit the first inside the home run for the Cubs since Derrek Lee did it against the Astros last season.

Aramis Ramirez also had a home run in the game as he hit a shot to left field in the ninth inning to score two runs.  It was about time to see Ramirez go deep as he has been in a home run slump lately.  Derrek Lee and Ryan Theriot both had an rbi in the game as well.

Ted Lilly pitched 5 1/3 innings to get the win.  Lilly is now 5-4 on the season.  Lilly gave up four hits and two runs while striking out six batters and walking two.  Jon Lieber tossed 1 2/3 inning of relief and only gave up one hit.  Michael Wuertz, Carlos Marmol, and Bob Howry all seen action as well in the game.

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