7/11/08 vs. Giants; W 3-1; (56-37)

I don't understand the logic of intentionally walking Derek Lee to get to Aramis Ramirez. Both are great hitters and both can hurt you. Granted it set up the force play at every base, but in the end it just added an rbi to Aramis' stats.

Jason Marquis and Matt Cain both pitched superbly through seven innings. Each allowed only three hits, holding the opposition scoreless. Jason Marquis may be trying to prove me wrong. Maybe he can be a strong second half pitcher for the Cubs.

Theriot led off the eighth with a single and advanced on Fontenot's sacrifice. That is when Derek was intentionally walked. Again, one out and a runner on second? A runner on third, sure, then a double play ends the inning with no run scoring. But Theriot wasn't going to score on a grounder. Regardless, Ramirez stepped to the plate with a chance to be a hero. And on the first pitch he saw, he succeeded. He hit a ball into the left field stands, just fair by a few feet. His seventeenth of the season, and his 64th, 65th, and 66th rbis. He leads the Cubs in both categories.

Theriot's single was his second hit of the game. He has 36 multi hit games this year, leading the National League. As big a fan as I am of the-riot, I didn't foresee this kind of year from him.

Kerry Wood picked up his 24th save, tops in the National League, allowing one run in the process. With the tying run on base and Wood facing Aurilia, all I could think of was the St. Louis game on Sunday. But Woody got Aurilia to ground out to first base to end the threat and seal the win.

The Reds beat Milwaukee today, extending the Cubs lead to 4.5 games. St. Louis jumped back over Milwaukee for second place as they beat the Pirates.