The Curse of Wrigley Field

Claude McKay may know a thing or two about the Cubs’ troubles. They still haven’t figured out this whole winning on the road thing. Following an 8-2 homestand, Chicago had a great opportunity to use that momentum to win its first series on the road since the second week of April. Instead, the Cubs dropped two in a row to the Astros, capping the series with a 5-3 loss on Wednesday night.

Once again, it was a four-run inning that doomed Chicago. Cub killer Carlos Lee took and 0-2 slider and hammered it into leftfield for a three-run home run that ended the inning’s scoring. Even though Houston added one more run, the team really didn’t need it.

Sean Gallagher took the loss and didn’t look as sharp as he had in his two previous starts. The five runs over 4-2/3 innings could cost Gallagher his spot in the rotation. The Tribune points that Sean Marshall is throwing well in triple-A and manger Lou Piniella loves to have two lefties in the rotation. As for the bullpen, it was fine in relief, giving up just one hit for the last 3-1/3 innings.

The offense continued to give next-to-nothing support for the pitching. The Cubs notched just five hits and four of them came in the first inning. Ryan Theriot led off with a base hit, then Derreck Lee smacked a two-run home run. After a base hit from rookie Micah Hoffpauir, Geovany Soto knocked in Chicago’s third and final run with an RBI double.

Four hits, three runs, one inning. Thanks and drive home safely folks.

I’m not exactly sure what it is that makes winning on the road so difficult for Chicago. With the exception of their series in St. Louis, the Cubs haven’t gone to anywhere particularly hostile. They’ve lost series at Houston, Cincinnati and Washington, hardly places that strike fear in opponents.

Fortunately the Cubs have two things going for them. An off day today, which means they can go out and catch the new Indiana Jones movie. And they have a series with Pittsburgh this weekend, which has been the equvalent of going to the health spa for Chicago. If that wasn’t enough, the only times the Cubs have won a series on the road was at Pittsburgh.

So, get your popcorn ready.