9/11/08 @ St. Louis; W 3-2; (88-58)

For the first time in September, Chicago has a winning streak. Two games....so far...but it is a winning streak. Combined with the Brewers loss, Chicago's lead extends to 5.5 games and the magic number is 11.

The Cubs jumped on the Cardinals in the top of the fifth. They sent seven hitters to the plate, scored two runs, and never got a ball out of the infield. Solid Cub baseball right there.

Soto walked to lead off the inning and advanced to second when Pujols booted Reed Johnson's grounder. The Cardinals seemed to pick themselves up when Rich Harden popped out trying to bunt. They couldn't stand the prosperity, so Wellemeyer threw a wild pitch so that the runners could advance. Consecutive walks to Soriano and Theriot plated the first run. Derek Lee hit a grounder to Lopez...he did catch and throw this one accurately...but it was to first allowing a second run to score.

The Cubs tacked on what proved to be the deciding run when Mark DeRosa doubled to lead off the sixth and Mike Fontenot doubled right after him.

Harden allowed his only two runs in the sixth, which was his last inning. Samardizja, Marmol, and Wood each pitched scoreless innings to finish it up and get Harden his fifth win as a Cub. For Wood, it was his first scoreless inning of work in September.

Now it is a waiting game. With Hurricane Ike bearing down on Texas, the first two games against Houston have been postponed. The last I heard was a double header Sunday and then the final game on Monday which was to be Chicago's last off day of the season.

Hopefully Philadelphia will keep beating the Brewers so we can work the magic number down while resting at home Friday and Saturday.