7/25/08 vs Marlins; L 2-3; (60-43)

Ryan Dempster pitched a nice game today. He did allow a season high six walks in only six innings. Still, he only gave up one run and struck out six. He left the game at the end of six with a 2-1 lead.

The lead was courtesy of home runs by Geovony Soto and Reed Johnson. Speaking of Reed Johnson, this is his third game in a row with an extra base hit and extends his hitting streak to seven games.

The Cubs had their chances. They managed ten hits today. They had runners on third base four times, but all with two outs. None of them scored. Soriano was thrown out at the plate a separate time trying to score from second on a base hit by Derek Lee.

So Dempster left the game with three innings to go, leaving his win in the hands of the bullpen. The first guy called on had just arrived in town. Jeff Samardzija was called up to take Kerry Wood's spot on the roster. His opportunity to pitch came in the seventh.

He started out well enough. A strikeout against his first batter faced. But then Hanley Ramirez singled. He advanced to second on a steal and third on a fly ball. With two outs, Jorge Cantu doubled to tie the game. Rookie....you owe Dempster a meal. Kiss the win bye bye Ryan.

Samardzija pitched a perfect eighth and picked up a second strike out. He was pinch hit for, so the ninth inning fell to Bob Howry. His first batter faced, Jeremy Hermida, knocked a pinch hit home run that gave the Marlins the lead and eventual win.

The meat of the order just isn't producing. Our 3,4,5 hitters went 1 for 13. Our 6,7,8 went 5 for 10, with two home runs. That is two days in a row. Yesterday three different guys hitting 6,7,8 went three for nine with two home runs. Maybe Lou should move Ramirez and Fukudome to the bottom of the order and get them going.

Don't get me wrong, I am more than happy we have so many guys that can produce. However, we are going to need Fukudome and Ramirez to get hot again. Lee isn't doing too poorly, but the lineup has to be consistent top to bottom.

Still, here we sit at 60-43. Exactly the same as the 1984 team at this point. Only the 1969 team was better at this point, and we don't want to be compared to them. We will be in first place when the day ends, but possibly tied with the Brewers. It is time for a hot streak Cub fans. Maybe it starts tomorrow.