5/5/08 @ Reds; L 3-5; (18-14)

One step forward, two steps back. The exact path this team has taken since they left Wrigley Field on April 22nd. Win one, lose two. Repeat three times. That gets you to 4-8, and moving towards the bottom of the standings not the top.



Today the Cubs committed two errors in three innings which led to five unearned runs. The offense didn't come through with the big hit when it was needed. Ryan Dempster, through no fault of his own, suffered his first loss of the season.



Soto homered in the third, but other than that the Cubs were shut down by Johnny Cueto until the fifth inning. He actually helped avoid a huge inning with a great play. With Pie on first to lead off the inning, Dempster laid down a nice bunt, but Cueto fielded it and threw a bullet to second to cut down Pie, and Izturis was able to make the relay in time for a double play.



Good for him that they did, because following that play, Soriano singled, Theriot doubled, and D Lee singled to give the Cubs a two out two run rally. That put the game within striking distance which is where it stayed until the ninth.



Francisco Cordero came in for his fifth save opportunity. He had converted all four of his previous attempts. Fontentot and Pie singled sharply to start the inning. Daryle Ward came to the plate as the potential winning run with no one out. He scorched a ball to center field but right to Corey Patterson. At that point, Thom Brennaman and Chris Welsh were feeling a little nervous. All three Cub hitters had made more than solid contact.



Soriano came to the plate and somehow managed to avoid swinging at his favorite pitch, a breaking ball of the plate in the dirt. He walked to load the bases. Then came more of the same to Theriot. Finally one of the pitches got away from Bako and Fontenot tried to score. Replays showed he may have got in under the tag, but the ball definitely beat him there. Cordero continued to be wild and walked Theriot to load the bases for D Lee.



After working the count, Derek hit a ball sharply to first, and Votto barely beat him to the bag to end the game. The rally was exciting, but disappointing. I love the days when this major league leading offense goes off in a big way. Those days probably fall into the George Will automatic 60 win column. We need to be winning more of the middle 42 games.



The Cubs have only won two games when scoring three runs or less. They have only lost one game when they score six or more. Amazingly, they haven't scored four or five runs in a game all year. One key hit, or one key defensive stop, is going to make all the difference for this team this year. Lou needs to find a way to make that happen.