Cubs 81-73, +1.5
Pirates 66-88, -15.0
POTG: 3B A RAM (2 HR, 6 RBI)
Runner Up: LF Soriano (HR, 2 H, 2 R), 2B Mark DeRosa (H, 2R), 1B Derrek Lee (3 H, 3 R, 2B), RF Matt Murton (2 H, R), C Geovany Soto (HR, 2 H, 2 R, 2 RBI, BB), SS Ryan Theriot (2 H), RP Keith Hart (2 H, 2 BB, 3 K)
This is one of those games I was expecting to happen on the road trip. The Pirates delivered in awful team pitching performances where the Cardinals mostly held off. Ram was so close to getting three home runs here.
Meanwhile, the Cubs bullpen was mostly solid after Ohman got out. Dempster pitching the contact because of a big lead is always fraught with danger, but it didn’t really matter this time. Wood was dominant, Eyre snuck in another win, Marmol was good as usual and Hart’s going to be on the playoff roster if he keeps this up.
Soto’s started the month as a guy somewhat lucky to be on the roster (he deserved to be, but it wouldn’t shock if they had went back to Koyie as the third catcher) to a guy who might make the playoff roster to a guy who might make the starting lineup for the most of the playoffs. It’s a new rule: if you hit 464, good things will happen for you.
Two out of three for every series will get the Cubs thru. With the Pirates best pitcher on Sunday and Carlos having trouble in Wrigley, it’d be great to get it out of the way today and keep the pressure on the Brewers.