7/10/08 vs Reds; L 7-12; (55-37)

In the eighth inning Thursday, neither team scored a run or even got a hit. I mention this because in every other inning one of the teams scored. The wind was only 12 mph, but the home runs were plentiful. Mike Fontenot hit one for the Cubs, a two run shot in the fourth. The Reds did a little better, hitting seven! Included in those, Griffey hit career number 605. David Ross notched two himself.

Ted Lilly, susceptible to the long ball, only gave up two of them. He left the game in the third inning having already thrown 63 pitches and having given up four runs.

Four bullpen pitchers took the Cubs the rest of the way, each giving up their share of the remaining eight runs. Chad Guadin, acquired in the Rich Harden trade, made his debut as a Chicago Cub. He pitched two innings allowing only two hits. One of them was David Ross' second long ball for his only earned run allowed.

The Cub offense kept trying to do their part, but every time the Reds answered. With the game tied 1-1 in the second, Ryan Theriot delivered with a two out two run base hit, giving the Cubs a two run lead. The Reds came right back with an RBI double by Griffey, and a two run bomb by Brandon Phillips.

In the fourth Fontenot hit his two run homer cutting the lead to three. The Reds responded with solo shots in the fifth and sixth to keep it a five run game.

The Cubs still took 2 of 3 from the Reds to win their second series in a row. They lost a game to the Brewers, who moved into second place at 4 games back. St. Louis lost as well and remains 4.5 back.