9/2/08 vs. Astros; L 7-9; (85-54)

The Cubs fell again on Tuesday night, but extra base hits wasn't the problem. Alfonso Soriano led off the bottom of the first with a home run to break a three game streak of singles. Chicago went on to add three more home runs and three doubles on their way to fifteen hits.

No, offense wasn't the problem in this 7-9 extra inning loss. Pitching and defense, that was the problem. Zambrano left after five innings. More on that later. Bob Howry gave up four runs without getting anyone out. The Cubs....no, Aramis Ramirez...committed three errors in the late innings. And finally, Kerry Wood gave up a two run homer which was the game winner.

On a positive note the Amazin' Mets, our nemesis from '69, did beat the Brewers for the second straight day. That keeps Chicago's lead at 4.5 games. If only Chicago could find a way to beat Houston. The loss yesterday assures Chicago of their first series loss in over a month. Houston leads the season series 8-6 with four games left.

Still on the positives, the offense certainly broke out of the slump. Every player with more than one at bat, except Zambrano, managed a base hit. After Soriano's lead off shot, DeRosa, Soto, and Edmonds all went deep with solo shots. Soto added a double on a three hit night for him. Ramirez and Ryan Theriot both doubled as well. Lee and Fontenot both collected two hits, and Kosuke pinch hit and managed a walk and a hit. I think Cub's hitting coach Gerald Perry is breathing just a little easier right now.

Larry Rothschild though, along with all the Cub fans across the country, are a bit nervous. Big Z left after five and is going to have his arm examined. In his last six outings he is averaging less than 5 1/3 innings. Luckily the Cubs have won four of those outings, but Zambrano was credited with the win only once. To leave with sore arm after getting an extra two days rest isn't what we hoped to see today.

The errors by Ramirez and the late inning home run allowed by Wood sure reminded me of April. My only consolation is that we went 15-8 that month, and that should be good enough to keep us in first place through this month.

Sweet Lou has been around baseball a long time and he doesn't seem concerned. Chicago has lost four in a row before, as recently as the end of June. Just as the sure as the previous streaks ended, so will this streak. Chicago will turn it around...hopefully sooner than later...and put together another hot streak. I just hope Zambrano is part of it.