Get Ready For The Red Birds

Manager Lou Pinella talked before the game about using Wednesday nights’ game as a springboard to propel them to the playoffs.  The Cubs did just that, scoring four runs before recording an out.  Steve Traschsel got his first win since October 3, 1999.  With Milwaukee idle, the Cubs are again on top of the Central.

Hello Woody

Alfonso Soriano started the game off with a bang, hitting his 40th career leadoff homer off of Astros’ starter Woody Williams.  After Mike Fontenot hit an infield single and Cliff Floyd walked, Aramis Ramirez belted a line drive shot into the Crawford Boxes, giving the Cubs a 4-0 lead.  The Cubs added two more runs off solo shots by Cliff Floyd and Daryl Ward.  After suffering through a power drought most of the season, all of a sudden, the bats are coming back to life.  The Cubs now have 20 homers in 12 games in September.

In and Out of Trouble

The third time was the charm for Steve Trachsel.  He pitched decent in his first start for the Cubs, stunk it up in his second start, and was able to somehow make it five innings and gave up only two runs on seven hits.  Both runscame off of solo homers to Carlos Lee and Mark Loretta in the bottom of the fourth to make it 4-2.  The Astros helped the Cubs plenty too.  Hunter Pence led off the game with a double, and move to third on a bunt by Craig Biggio, but Lance Berkman and Carlos Lee both popped up to end the  threat.  With one out in the second, Luke Scott tripled and Mark Loretta drew a walk,  but Eric Munson grounded into a double play to end that threat.  In the bottom of the third, the Astros had runners at first and second with one out, and Lance Berkman grounded into a double play.  After the two solo home runs in the bottom of the fourth, Pence led off the fifth with a single.  Biggio flied out, but Berkman drew a walk, putting runners at first and second with one out.  Lou came out to see if Trachsel had anything left, and he did; he retired the next two batter, Carlos Lee and Mike Lamb, to qualify for the win. 

Bullpen Was Strong

The Cubs used three other pitchers, and did not give up any runs and only gave up one hit and one walk in four innings of work.  Eyre started things off by giving up a single to Luke Scott, but then got Loretta to strike out looking and got Cody Ransom to hit into another double play.  Kerry Wood looked good, getting Chris Burke and Pence to fly out before striking out Biggio.  Carlos Marmol came in after a day off and pitched two inning to finish the game.  Jacque Jones made an unbelieveable catch when Mike Lamb hit a shot to right that Jones brought back into the park.  Definately a web gem. 

Lee MIA

Derek Lee did not play tonight, dealing with a sore right knee.  Lee fouled a ball off his knee in the fifth inning Wednesday and fell to the ground in pain.  Lee could not run well today and was a late scratch, with Daryl Ward taking over first base duties.  Hopefully Lee will be good to go for the Cardinals’ series.

Tony Goes All In

We Cubs fans thought we had problems, look what has happened to the Cardinal.  Ever since the Rick Ankiel/HGH story broke (cheater), the Cardinal have started slowly falling apart.  The Cardinals have now lost seven in a row; a three game sweep to the Diamonbacks, a one game loss to the Cubs, and a three game sweep to the Reds.  Tony decided to put everything on this series against the Cubs.  He pushed back ace Adam Wainwright’s scheduled start, sacrificing Kip Wells to the Reds.  Wainwright has been the ace of the Cardinals staff, going 13-10 with a 3.75 ERA.  He will face Carlos Zambrano in Friday night’s opening series.  That moves Braden Looper to the first gaime of a double header against Ted Lilly.  Joel Piniero will then pitch the second game against Joel Piniero.  Mark Mulder will go against Jason Marquis on Sunday’s finale. Milwaukee will be watching this series with great interest.  With the Cubs battling St. Louis, Milwaukee will be taking on the weak part of the Reds pitching staff, at home where the Brewers are a much better team.  Carlos Zambrano needs to stay calm (how often does everyone have to say this), let his defense do the work behind him, and keep the walks to a minimum.  Look at Steve Trachsel. He doesn’t have half the stuff that Big Z has, but he calmly works in and out of jams and doesn’t walk many batters.  Hopefully the Cubs can take advantage of a tired, beat up Cardinal team and make this a two team race.  All we have to do is keep winning series and we will be playing baseball in October.

Go Cubs!