The Cubs avoided the sweep and ended the White Sox 11 game winning streak on Sunday, topping the South Siders 8-6 at U.S. Cellular Field. Ryan Dempster went through his usual first inning struggles giving up two runs and putting the Cubs in an early hole. Dempster has now allowed 11 first inning runs in 16 starts. This premise has generally meant disaster for the team, but today was different. The Cubs grabbed control of the game by scoring the next six runs and never looked back. They took an 8-3 lead into the ninth before things got dicey with the normally dominant Marmol on the mound. The White Sox fought back to cut the deficit to 8-6 before Alex Rios struck out to end the game.
Tyler Colvin proved once again that he deserves the increased playing time that Lou Piniella has been giving him. He went 3-5 with a home run and four RBI’s, making it 27 on the year. That RBI mark is just nine below both Lee (36) and Soriano (36) but in far fewer at bats. Colvin has had just 130 AB’s this season compared to 270 for Derrek Lee. The rookie outfielder also has 10 home runs already which is one for every 13 AB’s.
Next week will feature the final home stand for Chicago before the all star break. First up will be the Cubs’ biggest nemesis, the Pittsburgh Pirates. After three with the Bucs, they will play four against the division leading Cincinnati Reds. People keep waiting for the Reds to fade away and for St.Louis to take control of this division, but it just has not happened. The Cubs are currently 33-42, which puts them at fourth place in the National League Central. They are now 8.5 GB which doesn’t feel right with how poorly the first half of the season has gone. It feels like this team should be farther out, but no team has seized control of the division.
