6/24/08 vs Orioles; 5-7; (48-29)

This was the Orioles first trip to Wrigley Field. It started out well for them. In the fourth they put two runs on the board to take the lead. Kosuke answered with a one run home run in the bottom half of the inning.


Unfortunately, Sean Marshall couldn't hold the Orioles. He surrendered two more in the fifth and was pulled. In the sixth, Michael Wuertz gave up three runs making it a 7-1 Oriole lead.


But this is Wrigley Field, and anything can happen. In the bottom of the seventh, singles by Lee and Ramirez were followed by a three run blast from Jim Edmonds. This guy leads all everyday players in batting average over the last 30 days.


Jon Lieber pitched a perfect eighth inning. Daryle Ward pinch hit for Lieber to start the Cub half. He worked himself a nine pitch base on balls. Jason Marquis..yes the pitcher...came in to run for him. He was forced at second on a grounder by Fukudome, again after battling for twelve pitches. Eric Patterson singled to bring the tying run to the plate in the person of Derek Lee.


After a pitching change, Derek Lee grounded into a force play at second. Ramirez singled to right to plate Fukudome and cut the lead to 7-5. That was as close as the Cubs would get, but not without some potential.

Leading off the ninth, Soto singled. DeRosa walked and Theriot reached on an infield single to load the bases with no one out. George Sherrill, the Baltimore closer, settled down after that. He struck out three straight to end the game.

With the home field winning streak over, the W flag won't fly and Go Cubs Go wasn't heard for the first time in fourteen home games. The Cubs failed to get to 21 games above .500 and the Cardinals closed the gap with a win over Detroit.

The silver lining...we almost rallied in the ninth. This team doesn't ever believe they are out of a game. Facing Sherrill, second in the majors with 25 saves, they loaded the bases with no one out. There isn't an ounce of quit in this team, and that will bring victories.