5/1/08 vs. Brewers; L 3-4; (17-11)

Other than April, all Cubs games look alike. We have lost 4-3 to the Brewers in the only two games played this year outside the month of April. Glad we are done with them until July.

This seemed to be a game the Cubs were going to win. A pitchers duel through five with the only run being a bomb by Big Z himself. That one ties the Cubs franchise record of 13 home runs by a pitcher, held by Fergie Jenkins.

Ryan Braun tied it in the sixth, but the Cubs came right back to take the lead in the bottom half. Zambrano left in the top of the seventh and Carlos Marmol proceeded to strike out the first four batters he faced.

All looked good until the ninth inning. Like Yogi said, deja vu all over again. Remember Opening Day when Kerry Wood hit Rickie Weeks to start the ninth inning. Didn't turn out well did it. He gave up two hits and three runs. Maybe every time Woody plunks the first batter we go with someone else right away! Today he gave up three hits and three runs following the bean ball. That makes his third blown save of the season, but only the first one the Cubs lost. Opening Day didn't go as a blown save because he came into the game in a scoreless tie.

Goodbye first place. It was great for the eleven days it lasted. Now we are a half game behind St. Louis as we head to Busch Stadium for the weekend. Maybe that will be good motivation for the team.

Aside from the overall game itself, I noticed a couple interesting items.

Sixth Inning Plays at the plate

Geovany Soto stood in to take a whack from Prince Fielder and prevent the Brewers from taking the lead. Kosuke made a nice throw to get his first outfield assist from the year, but owes Geovany some thanks for hanging tough in there against a guy who has 50 pounds on him.

Then in the bottom half of the inning, the Cubs had retaken the lead on DeRosas sac fly. Soto doubled to drive in Aramis and third base coach Mike Quade wave Kosuke in. The relay was a nice throw that Kendall grabbed just a few inches from the ground, but for some unknown reason raised up to make the tag. Kosuke was clearly safe at home, but called out on an umpire presumption since the ball beat him there. Would have been a nice run to have.

Corey Hart vs Alfonso Soriano

I was slightly excited when the Cubs acquired Soriano. His numbers in 2007 were impressive, but this year he has started out slow. What probably bugs me most is he doesn't seem to take into account what the team needs in a given situation. Case in point.

In the bottom of the fifth, Yovani Gallardo is injured in a play at first. Len and Bob both thought he was headed for the locker room. He climbed back on the mound and fought his way through it. He was obviously limited in his mobility. Only two batters later, instead of bunting against a hobbled Gallardo, Soriano grounds out for the third time in a row.

Now compare that to Corey Hart. I can't really say I like Corey Hart. I don't even know why. Maybe because he wears his sunglasses at night. Regardless, he comes up in the eighth inning against Carlos Marmol, who has struck out the first four Brewers he saw. What does Hart do? Oh just drops a perfect bunt to get on base.

It isn't like Hart is exactly slow, he stole 23 bases last year, but for cripes sake he is the five hole hitter on this team. Soriano steals almost that many in his injury plagued years. This guy is hitting leadoff, he ought to be looking for anyway on base. Especially considering the guy is hitting a buck sixty four this year.

If Lou reads this, put Ronny Cedeno in. Left field, second base, I don't care. Get Soriano out of the lineup and let the guys who are hot play.