5/11/08 vs Arizona; W 6-4; (22-15)

Rain rain go away...Big Z can pitch another day.

Due to the messy conditions surrounding today's game, both Big Z and Randy Johnson were scratched from their starts. Instead Sean Gallagher squared off against Edgar Gonzalez. Not exactly a marquee pitching match up.

For Gallagher, this was his first career MLB start. He did an admirable job for 4 1/3 innings. He ended up being charged with all four earned runs, but the last two of those came on bases loaded walks by Chad Fox in relief.

That fifth inning took away a Cubs lead provided by a Derek Lee home run in the third inning. The game stayed at 4-2 until the Cubs half of the seventh. With one out, Fontenot got a free pass and Reed Johnson followed that up with a game tying two run homer, his first as a Chicago Cub.

With the game tied, Carlos Marmol was brought it to pitch the eighth. Three up three down with two strikeouts. Let's go hit again.

In the Cub half of the eighth, Aramis led off the inning with a single and stole second base. Kosuke Fukudome laid down a perfect bunt that came to rest inches from the foul line to put runners at first and third with no one out.

Geovany Soto came to bat with Daryle Ward on deck ready to pinch hit. Soto only managed to squib the ball in front of the plate. That advanced Fukudome to second, but Soto was out at first. With a base open, Lou pulled Ward back before he was announced. Soriano was brought in to pitch hit for Marmol instead of Ward. As expected, he was intentionally walked to load the bases. Now Ward pinch hit, this time for Pie, and he delivered for the second day in a row. This time it was a two run double to give the Cubs the lead for good.

Kerry Wood came in to pitch the ninth. As bad as things have gone for Kerry when he hits the lead off batter, hitting the second batter proved to be no problem. Theriot made a nice play up the middle flipping to Fontenot who turned the double play to end the game.

The sweep of the Diamondbacks, combined with the Brewers taking two of three from the Cardinals, puts the Cubs back into first place for the first time since April 30th. It's hard to understand, much less explain, the Jekyll and Hyde nature of this team. When they took the two games from the Mets, they were looking like they would join the 1985 Bears as one of Chicago's greatest teams. Then they went on the road and started a streak that reminded you more of the Bad News Bears. I am sure if Lou finds out the secret, he'll have it bottled and included in the pre game meal.

Now the struggling Padres come to town for a four game set. They are 3-7 in their last ten games, though they ....like the Cubs....have turned around as of late taking the last two from the Rockies. The last game of the series will be especially interesting as Greg Maddux is scheduled to start for the Padres in an afternoon start at Wrigley. The Cub faithful still like Greg, but on that day they'll be rooting against him.