It’s hard to believe the Cubs almost swept anyone, much less the 2006 version of the New York Mets. That’s exactly what happened this week. Not sure if the Mets are feeling comfortable with that lead or whether the Cubs are turning a corner, but this was definitely a good sign.
Greg Maddux picked up his first win in a long, long time despite giving up seven runs on ten hits through six innings. The Cubs finally hit for him and a five run fifth inning turned out to be the difference. The inning was capped off by back to back homeruns by the red hot Aramis Ramirez and Jaque Jones. Ramirez hit his 22nd homerun of the season, had two runs, two RBIs and two walks.
The Cubs scored eight more runs yesterday. Carlos Zambrano didn’t have his best outing but he hit a solo homerun to help out his own cause. He improved to 11-3 and he gave up five runs on eight hits with six strikeouts through seven innings. Ramirez hit homerun number 23 and he drove in three runs and Henry Blanco drove in three as well.
Today’s game was the antithesis of the previous two games. John Maine and Mark Prior locked up in a pitchers dual for at least a while. Prior threw 5 2/3 no hit innings but he walked five before the pen took over. The game went into extra frames without either team scoring, and then in the tenth, Glendon Rusch gave up the game winner despite getting the first two batters out in the inning. I guess you can’t win them all, and when you’re the Cubs, you can’t win that many.
Next up is four game set at Wrigley against the second best team in the National League. It doesn’t get much better then this.
