The Curse of Wrigley Field

Mike Fontenot looks like he’s about 16. And high. Which probably explains his decision to try and score from third base in the ninth inning with one out and the Cubs trailing 5-3.

The ball didn’t get as far away from the catcher as he thought and Fontenot was easily thrown out at home, leaving it up to Mark DeRosa and Derreck Lee to save his behind and end Chicago’s funk. Not the best way to make up for a first inning error that cost your team three runs. But baseball is a team game and the Cubs’ 5-3 loss to the Reds was a team effort.

Lee took some of the heat off Fontenot by not driving in a run with the bases loaded and two outs in the ninth. He was 1-for-5 with an RBI, but left four runners on base. Not surprisingly, Fontenot left three runners of his own on base and Mark DeRosa also left three little duckies swimming alone in the pond. In a game of one-upsmanship, DeRosa also made a costly error and, together with Fontenot, was responsible for all five of the Reds’ runs.

Even Kosuke Fukudome had an off night (0-for-4, two strikeouts).

Ryan Dempster suffered his first loss of the year despite striking out seven and not giving up an earned run. Making matters worse, Dempster served up a pitch so fat, Adam Dunn’s home run still hasn’t landed.

The lone bright spot for the struggling Cubs: Felix Pie made a ridiculous catch in centerfield to take a home run away from Ken Griffey, Jr. of all people.