5/27/08 vs Dodgers; W 3-1; (31-21)

It wasn't a nice evening, weather wise. Temperature at game time was a brisk 42 degrees with a 19 mph wind. That didn't stop 39,894 of the Cub faithful from showing up to see the Cubs take a two game to none lead on the Dodgers. The Cubs clinched their first series win in over a week with a 3-1 win for the second night in a row.

The pitchers, with some help from the elements, kept the hitters at bay most of the game. The Cubs broke out in the seventh inning. Maybe they should have Tommy Lasorda sing the seventh inning stretch more often. Ronny Cedeno led off with a walk, but was out at second when Ryan Theriot (pinch hitting for Gallagher) tried to sacrifice. Soriano singled and Theriot made it to third. Mike Fontenot squibbed one between third and short to score Theriot. When the ball was misplayed, the Cubs ended up with two runners and still just one out. DLee flew out to bring up Ramirez. After getting down 0-2 in the count, Ramirez worked Jonathon Broxton for eight pitches and singled in an insurance run. That was a very solid at bat, some think his best of the season.

Kosuke Fukudome made a couple great defensive plays. In the sixth inning he robbed Andre Ethier on a diving catch coming in a low liner. Then in the eighth, he made it look easy as he sprinted a long way into right center to rob Juan Pierre of extra bases. Jim Edmonds made a nice running catch in deep center, no theatrics on his part this time, on James Loney in the sixth right after Kosuke's diving play.

Marmol and Wood finished up for Gallagher, who himself went seven strong innings to earn the win. Marmol didn't make it easy walking the lead off batter and loading the bases with only one out. To his credit, he settled in and worked out of it with no runs allowed. Woody pitched the ninth without hitting a single Dodger. He picked up two strikeouts along with his twelfth save.