Close Calls...

This road trip for the Cubs had so many close calls, Chicagoans (well, at least sensible fans of the real Chicago team) lost a good 10 pounds... That's how many EXTRA innings they've played in the last 6 days. And what's incredible is that they've won all their extra inning games on this road trip. The Cubs finish this trip an incredible 4-2.

Monday the Cubs opened up a 6 game road trip at the Pittsburgh Pirates' PNC Park. Ted Lilly and the Cubs got way ahead early taking a 7-0 lead. The Cubs let the Pirates back in the game just an inning later by letting up a 5 run inning. There were a couple fielding errors by 3rd baseman Aramis Ramirez and backup shortstop Ronny Cedeno. By what should have been the end of the game, it was 8-8 in a dead lock tie. Finally, in the top of the 12th inning, with the bases loaded, Aramis Ramirez redeemed himself by hitting a sacrifice fly to score the man from third. The Cubs went on to win it with Jon Lieber (1-1), picking up his first win as a long relief pitcher for the Cubs. Being a winning pitcher for the Cubs is nothing new for Jon Lieber, he was the last Cubs pitcher to win 20 games for them in 2001 before he went on to play for a short time for the Yankees, and then the Phillies. Lieber was certainly the game saver, he pitched more than 3 innings of scoreless relief. The final score after 4 hours and 45 minutes was the Cubs coming out on top 10-8, thus creating a winning season for them at 4-3.

After a much needed off day for both bullpens on Tuesday, a similar outcome followed on Wednesday. The Cubs once again pulled out an early lead, they led 1-0 for most of the game. Ryan Dempster looked fantastic only giving up one hit with no runs charged against him. By the 8th inning, the Cubs had extended their lead to 2-0... Carlos Marmol came to pitch the 8th, and gave up one run. In the bottom of the ninth, converted to closer Kerry Wood came to pitch the bottom of the ninth. He served up a solo homer to Jason Bay. He got out of the rest of the inning, but the damage had been done and on they went into extra innings. In the top of the 14th, Aramis Ramirez hit a 2 run home run to give the Cubs the lead 4-2. But in the bottom of the inning, Adam LaRoche had his very first hit of the season, a 2 run homer off of Cubs rookie pitcher Kevin Hart. On the Cubs went to the 15th inning, with 2 runners in scoring position, Felix Pie hit a 2 run single. Sean Marshall got the save, and the Cubs won their second extra innings game in a row.

Thursday was a little easier, by easier I guess I mean shorter. Rich Hill had a terrible outing giving up 3 runs in the first inning alone. After the third inning, Piniella knew he just didn't have it, that and he had already thrown 70 pitches... He called upon Jon Lieber again, and boy did he step up to the plate. He and the rest of the bullpen didn't give up another run after Hill was taken out of the game. The Cubs had a 5 run inning with 2 2 run homers from Geovany Soto and Mike Fontenot. The Cubs won it 7-3 and it only took 9 innings to play, which was a relief for player who had felt like they had already played that third game. Jon Lieber (2-1) earned his second win in 3 days. After completing their sweep of the Pirates, they had won 5 games in a row going to Philadelphia on Friday.

Friday and Saturday just didn't go as planned for the Cubs. They lost 2 in a row to the Phillies, and really needed to bounce back. They did that today. After the lead went back in forth for most of the game, it went into extra innings yet again with the game deadlocked at 4 apiece. Pinch hitter, Carlos Zambrano (yes, the starter pitcher, arguably the best hitting pitcher in the National League in my opinion), grounded into what probably should've been a double play. The Phillies got the force at second base, and Chase Utley noticed just how fast Big Z was running, and rushed the throw that was way off target allowing Ronny Cedeno to score from 3rd base. Former White Sox closer, Bob Howry, came in to pitch the bottom of the 10th to seal the deal for the Cubs improving their record to 7-5.



The Cubs will open up an 8 game home stand starting on Tuesday night against the Cincinnati Reds.

Go Cubs Go!!!