Cubs 29-19, 1st (+1.0)
Pirates 22-26, 5th (-7.0)
POTG: SP Z!!!!! (4 H, 2 RBI, R; 7 IP, 6 H, 2R, BB, 6K, W [7/89], QS [9])
Runner Up: CF Reed Johnson (HR, 2 2B, 4 RBI, 2 R), LF Soriano (2B, 2 H, R), 1B D Lee (R, RBI, H), 3B A Ram (3 H, 3 R, BB), 2B-3B Cedeno (2H, 2B, 2R), RF DeRosa (2 2B, 2R, 3 RBI, SF, BB)
This is the opposite of the previous game – there’s two really good choices for POTG and it’s hard to make the call. Reed Johnson had a nice day at the plate, but I think Z makes it up with the pitching. He gave up two runs in the 5th, but the game was already over. It’s funny how, for all his giant swings, all four hits were easy singles. Z must be just playing mind games with the huge cuts, that’s it.
This was a total destruction by the Cubs, and a complete implosion by the Pirates. Pittsburgh played some bad bad baseball to match their bad bad uniforms, and this one was over quick. The Pirates were more concerned about not shredding their bullpen for the rest of the series than trying to stay in this, and that allowed just to pile on some more.
I know Houffpauir is Dunn-like in the field, but he’s shown enough at the plate that the Cubs really ought to find a way of getting him in there. If Kosuke is fine moving to center and has no problems there, Hoffpauir in right with Redd and Pie coming in when the team has leads would sure be a better bet than Edmonds.
Can’t believe the season is 30% over already. Time flies. It looks like the usual NL Central split has started, though I also have trouble believing Milwaukee is part of the second pack. This season is still not out of reach for them and I can’t imagine they’ll go for much longer without really big changes.
Last 16 POTG
4 Soriano
2 Z!
1 Howry
1 A Ram
1 Marmol
1 Marquis
1 Dempster
1 Soto
1 Wuertz
1 Johnson
1 Lilly
no one 1
Season Total
7 Z!
5 Soto
4 D Lee
4 Soriano
2 Fukudome
2 Fontenot
3 Marquis
2 Dempster
2 A Ram
2 Lilly
2 Johnson
1 Lieber
1 Hart
1 Hill
1 The Riot
1 Cedeno
1 Lieber
1 Howry
1 Marmol
1 Wuertz
1 no one