Cubs 44-42 – 4.5/3.0
Pirates 39-48 – 10/8.5
POTG: SP Ted Lilly (7.1 IP, 8 H, ER, BB, 6 K, W [8/67])
Runner Up: RP Carlos Marmol (1.2 IP, BB, 2 K, 2 Marooned), LF Soriano (3 H, 2 R, RBI, SB), SS-2B (3 H, R, RBI), 3B A Ram (2 H), 2B-3B Mark Derosa (2 H, R, RBI), RF Daryle Ward (H, RBI, R, BB)
3.0 out of a playoff spot, wow. They’re actually tied in losses with Arizona and Atlanta, and only two behind in the lose column behind the Dodgers. How have the Cubs played 3 less games? That seems odd, there hasn’t been that much rainouts.
This game was the complete opposite of the last game. Half the team had really good games, making it just as hard to figure who should be picked. Despite giving up 8 hits, Lilly was pretty dominant and only really got into trouble in the last couple of innings, so I went with him.
The lack of power is still concerning me – only one extra base hit of 14. But I guess if you’re getting 14 hits, and pushing them all together, you can live with them all being singles. They sure could for this game.
I was wondering how Ward would do in RF, and I guess I’m still wondering. He got no putouts, and I don’t remember balls he was unable to get to.
The Cubs will end the first half of the season happy whatever the finish, because they’re going to be in the race in the second half and that didn’t look so likely in early June. However, if they can grab a win today, they’ll finish at their high water mark and position themselves even a little bit better for the second half. I was worried earlier this week that they might mail in this game, but I know the guy on the mound won’t.