Cubs 83-75, +2
Marlins 68-90, -19
POTG: CF Jacque Jones (SF, H, 3 RBI)
Runner Up: RF Cliff Flod (2 H, 2 BB, 2B), 2B Mark DeRosa (2B, 3B, 2R, but a crippling bad throw for an error)
I don’t even know where to start with this game. It was kinda a flashback to last year and earlier starter, where a random unknown starter is the worst thing the Cubs can hope to face – but it was even beyond that. The Cubs did light up Barone to a good extent, scoring 4 in under 4 innings. The bigger offensive problem was the inability to do anything with the Marlins bullpen – they ended up throwing 5.1 IP of 2 hit, no walk, no run ball. The Cubs had to find someone in the nix to actually hit.
Marquis did not have a great day, but the game was derailed by DeRosa’s inability to make a good thru on Hanley Ramirez’ second inning at bat. It seemed to me an accurate throw starts a double play and the Cubs are out of the inning with the game still tied. It’s just one bad day, just like Marmol’s bad outing was just one bad outing, and DeRosa tried to make it for it at the plate. That was just the moment which swung it for this game.
I’d like to see the Cubs finish this out strong, but getting in is getting in, and if the Brewers want to choke it away, it’s fine by me. I kinda actually want to see the Brewers take one of their upcoming games, just because the Padres slipping back into a tie with the Rockies would be awesome for many reasons, but I think I’ll be okay if they want to take care of the Cubs winning number by themselves.
Today might be the biggest start of the rest of Steve Trachsel’s career. Also, besides the playoff things, he could make me look less like an idiot for endorsing that trade. It’d be nice time to get the first win against the Marlins.