Astros 39-51/10.5, 12.0
Cubs 45-43/3.5, 3.0
POTG: 1B D Lee (3 H, 3 RBI, BB, R, HR [7/223], SB)
Runner Up: SS/2B Ryan Theriot (2 H, 2 R, HR [2/5]), C Geovany Soto (H, R, BB), CF Angel Pagan (2 H, 2 RBI, HR [4/9]), RP Carlos Marmol (1.1 IP, H, BB, 2 K, 0 R, 2 Marooned), RP Michael Wuertz (1.1 IP, BB, 2 K, 0 R, 2 Marooned)
How do I say this, politely? Jason Marquis is a piece of garbage. I’m sure he’s a wonderful human being, but right now, as a pitcher who’s goal is to get outs without getting runs, he’s horrible.
05/29: 5 IP, 5 R
06/04: 5.1 IP, 2 R
06/09: 5 IP, 5 R
06/14: 5.1 IP, 2 R
06/20: 1.2 IP, 6 R
06/25: 5.2 IP, 3 R
07/01: 7 IP, 1 R – an actual quality start!
07/06: 4.2 IP, 6 R
07/15: 4 IP, 6 R
That’s 1 quality start in the last 9.
He’s the exact Jason Marquis the Cardinals thought they were getting, so the Cubs probably should’ve known better. And yet, 2.4 years more of this.
The hope is things can turn around, and turn around fast. They turned around for Marquis from the start of the season, and they sure turned around for Michael Wuertz. After his awful performance on Saturday, he might have been done with the team if he gave up Sunday’s game, and it sure looked like he was about to. Even the strike out to get out of the inning was a pitch way out of the strikezone, where he was just very lucky the Astros went fishing. Maybe this’ll get him kickstarted again.
This game was one the Cubs appeared to have no business winning at all, and yet the won. They’re making a habit out of it likely, and that’s what has separates this recent absurdly hot streak from a slight above average win record.
It’s near impossible to pick a player of the game, because so many people had to do excellent jobs to get the win, and they all actually did. I went with Lee because it was the game changer – it meant Wandy wasn’t going to last as long as the Astros needed, it got Lee off his homerless streak, and it finished bringing the Cubs all the way back from their deficit. You could make a case for Pagan or Theriot or anyone in the bullpen (though a couple less walks would be nice.) Or Ram, who didn’t have a huge offensive day but saved a couple of runs twice with plays at third base.
It’s a shame the Rockies couldn’t do more, because it feels like the Cubs have played well enough to earn another game or two off the lead the last couple of days. Still, they’re making steady progress in the Wild Card race (despite the west teams playing against each other), and the real story about the Giants series is a bad team coming to town to face a hot one. Cubs should win 3 more in this next series.