6/5/08 @ Dodgers; W 5-4; (39-22)

The last time the Cubs faced the Dodgers, Takashi Saito blew a save in the ninth inning. Tonight he came in with the game tied and was charged with the loss. He gave up an RBI singe to Kosuke Fukudome in the ninth that proved to be the winning run.

It didn’t seem like the Cubs were going to have to rally for the win. Kosuke put the Cubs in front 1-0 in the second inning with his fourth home run of the season. The Cubs loaded the bases in the third and scored a run on an RBI groundout by Aramis. Chin Lung Hu made a great play in the hole to get Aramis on what looked like a sure infield single.

In the fifth DeRosa hit a solo shot, Dempster doubled, and Theriot drove him in with a single. Dempster took the mound in the bottom of the fourth with a 4-0 lead. He left in the sixth with one out and 4-3 lead. Still in position for the win, but it wasn’t to be.

Jeff Kent, who had homered in the sixth against Dempster, hit his second of the game in the eighth off of Howry to tie the game. What looked like a blown hold or save opportunity turned into the win for Howry. He was the pitcher of record when the Cubs scored in the ninth.

Kerry Wood came in for the save opportunity in the ninth. He didn’t make it easy on Cub fans. James Loney hit a lead off double to put the tying run in scoring position with no one out. After a strike out and a fly ball, Woody took the opportunity to hit a batter. Better with two outs than to lead off the inning. Then he walked Juan Pierre to load the bases. Matt Kemp came to bat but Woody survived by striking him out. That gave him the NL Lead out right with seventeen on the season.

Kosuke certainly had the most timely hits of the evening, but Ryan Theriot actually led the Cub offense with three hits. He scored the winning run, drove in a run earlier, and was involved in the third inning rally that produced a run. He is hitting .476 in June to bring his season average to .330. He came into the game tied with DLee for the team lead in hits. Lee was hitless, giving Ryan the out right lead.

The Cardinals made up their rainout from Wednesday with a double header. They split, increasing the Cubs lead to 3.5 games. St. Louis starts a three game series with Houston today. Hopefully the Astros can get going and take the series to help out Chicago.