7/26/07 vs. Marlins; L 2-3; (60-44)

Since the Cubs acquired Rich Harden on July 8th, he has made three starts. In each of those, he struck out ten batters. He is the first Cub ever to notch double digit strikeouts in each of his first three starts. He has allowed only two runs in three starts, both on solo home runs. He is allowing less than one baserunner per inning pitched. Yet he is 0-1 with two no decisions. The Cubs have lost his last two starts, scoring a grand total of two runs in those two games.

My disgust for the lack of support should be apparent, but let me reiterate; This guy is sick. He has the best ERA in the league during the time he has been a Cub. The only two guys with more strikeouts have an extra start thrown in. Score some runs for this guy.

CC Sabathia is now 4-0 as a Brewer. He too has been dominant, throwing three complete games in a row. However, he is also getting run support. In his four starts, the Brewers haven't scored less than three and are averaging 5.5 runs per game.

The bullpen gets some blame too. Even with the lack of solid run support, Harden has left two of his three starts in position to earn the win. In both situations the bullpen blew the opportunity. Today it fell on the shoulders of Sean Marshall. In his defense, he pitched a pretty solid three innings striking out five and giving up only one hit. Too bad that hit was a home run by ...who else.. Jeremy Hermida.

In the last fourteen innings against the Marlins, Hermida has scored all four runs for the Marlins. That includes three home runs. He hit the game winner Friday, hit another off Harden Saturday, and then tied the game against Marshall in the eighth. As luck would have it, he scored from second in the twelfth inning for the eventual game winning run. No chance this guy gets a day off today, right?

This is only the fourth time this year the Cubs have dropped a game in which they led after the seventh inning. The Marlins have done it two days in a row. The fish seem to have the Cubbies number, having won ten in a row coming into this series. They can leave with no worse than a split.

The Cubs need to make sure that happens. The Brewers won on Saturday so the Cubs are tied for first place. Heading to Milwaukee on Monday, it would be real nice to still be atop the standings.