With the Cubs trailing by one run and a man on third base with only one out in the ninth inning, they appeared poised to tie the game. Fukudome had just tripled in a run to make it 4-3 and Ryan Theriot and Marlon Byrd, two of the team’s better hitters, were coming up next. There are numerous ways to score the runner from third base, but the most important thing is to put the ball in play. Neither Theriot or Byrd were able to do it against Octavio Dotel, and the Cubs lost their fifth consecutive game to the Pirates this season. Not many people, not even Pirate fans would have believed before the season that they would start off 5-0 against the Cubs. Chicago is now 2-8 in their last ten games.
After watching Carlos Zambrano pitch on Friday, I am now certain that his move to the bullpen will not work. However, I don’t think that he could fill any pitching role right now. He looks like a shadow of his former self with a fastball that is barely reaching 90-mph, and a slider that has lost its bite. There has been some talk that the Cubs would love to move Big Z, but that is simply not possible. His nearly $20 million contract plus his rapid decline make it that way. Zambrano allowed the first five runners to reach base in his last outing and surrendered three runs.
Today, the Cubs will try to snap an overall seven game losing streak to the Pirates that dates back to last season. Ted Lilly (1-3, 4.88) who says his shoulder is back at full strength will make the start for Chicago. Ross Ohlendorf (0-1, 3.00) will pitch for the Pittsburgh Pirates, looking for his first win of the season. Hopefully the Cubs can finally get Lou Piniella that 1,800th win that he has been waiting for.
