6/1/08 vs Rockies; W 5-3; (36-21)

For the first time since 1908, the Chicago Cubs have the best record in all of baseball on June 1st.

For the first time since April 1970, they have swept a seven game home stand.

For the first time this year, they have a seven game win streak.

For the first time this year, I was in attendance at Wrigley Field. A 5-3 win against the Rockies made for a great day at the ballpark.

My wife Susan and I, accompanied by our neighbors Brock & Amy Morrison, made the journey from Indianapolis to Chicago to take in the game. Undaunted by an I-PASS fiasco, we arrived in time to down a couple cold ones before heading in to the stadium.

The weather seemed to be perfect with the sun shining and temperatures in the '70s. That changed when we took our seats in section 204 which was completely shaded for the entire game. A nice wind blowing in from right made the day down right chilly.

Sean Gallagher started well, striking out four in the first two innings. The only ball put into play in the first was an easy fly ball to Soriano. Well maybe not easy, but routine...right? Not for Alfonso. He can turn the easiest play into disaster. Brock tried to make the argument the sun could have been in his eyes. I vividly remember seeing the sun well to the west of the grandstands. I don't know if it was this play, or if Lou has been reading this blog, but Soriano didn't play left field in the ninth. Lucky for us he picked up the dropped ball and threw out Todd Helton trying to get to second.

Ryan Theriot and Aramis Ramirez got the Cubs off to a quick lead in the bottom of the first. Theriot reached on a single he hit off of Rockies starter Ubaldo Jimenez’s leg. That is the third time in recent memory he has hit a pitcher. Trying to drive the ball up the middle must be working for him.

Jim Edmonds hit a one out triple in the second, but was stranded when DeRosa grounded back to the pitcher and Gallagher went down on strikes. Edmonds ended up with a real nice day at the plate as did Aramis.

The Rockies scored two in the fourth to take the lead, but the Cubs came right back in their half. Jim Edmonds doubled to drive home Aramis. DeRosa hit a ball to second base with the infield in, but when it was muffed, Soto was able to score from third.

The Cubs added, or were given, an insurance run with a bases loaded walk to Edmonds in the fifth. Then in the sixth, Soriano did his best to atone for the earlier error by hitting his 13th home run this year. He hit it to the second to last row in left field, missing Waveland Avenue by just about ten feet.

Despite the fantasy league desires of my counterpart Brock, Kerry Wood came in and picked up his fourteenth save of the season. Pitching the ninth inning, Wood locked up the series sweep and prepared the Cubs for their west coast swing.