Another day, another series lost. Well, it’s not quite that bad but you get the gist. The Cubs hosted the Brewers and they needed a win in the finale to avoid the sweep. And that deficit (currently five games) isn’t getting any better, nor are the number of teams we need to pass to get there.
On Monday, the Cubs jumped out to an early 4-0 lead by the third inning but had given it all back by the eighth. Then in the twelth, Rocky Cherry made his major league debut and served up a solo homerun to Prince Fielder to lose it. Carlos Zambrano had a decent start and gave up just two runs but Scott Eyre blew the save and gave up the two runs in the eighth. Derek Lee was the hitting star. He went three for six with two RBIs. Aramis Ramirez hit the only Cubs homerun and he drove in two in the 5-4 loss.
Yesterday, the Cubs were just shut down. Mark DeRosa drove in the Cubs run and even that didn’t come until the ninth. Derek Lee picked up another two hits and he continued to rake and Rich Hill had his first mediocre start of the season. He gave up four runs on six hits and three walks with five strikeouts in 6 2/3 innings.
The Cubs finally got it done this afternoon. After a rain delay and an early exit by Ben Sheets, the Cubs jumped all over the Brewers pen. Derek Lee hit his first homerun of the season and he went four for five with two runs and two RBIs. Cliff Floyd also had four hits and he drove in two runs while Ryan Theriot went two for five with two runs and two RBIs. Ted Lilly evened his record at 2-2 with seven solid innings. He gave up two runs (one earned) on six hits with three strikeouts.
Next up is three against the Cardinals in St. Louis. It’d be nice to return the favor from last weekend and take this series. Heck, with a sweep, we could bury the Cards in the cellar. Jason Marquis gets the start in the opener and he’ll face Anthony Reyes.
