7/30/08 @ Milwaukee; W 7-2; (64-44)

More defensive ineptitude by the Milwaukee Brewers gave the Cubs a first inning lead that they never relinquished. With two outs and runners on the corners, Reed Johnson struck out. The ball bounced right through the five hole on Jason Kendall and went to the backstop. He hustled and made a throw that might have beat Johnson, but Prince Fielder couldn't hold on to the ball. Everyone is safe and the first run scores. Mark DeRosa followed that with an rbi single and the Cubs had a 2-0 lead.

Ryan Dempster allowed a lead off double to Bill Hall. After a fly ball moved him up, he allowed a walk, and managed to throw his own wild pitch to let Hall score in the first. After that he was dominant. He allowed only four hits the rest of the way with no walks. He struck out nine through seven innings, earning his twelfth win.

Derek Lee and Aramis Ramirez were hitless tonight. We've seen in the past that doesn't bode well for Chicago's chances. The solution might be in Soriano, Theriot, and Johnson picking up the slack and getting three hits apiece.

Soriano reached base safely his first four times up and scored twice. Theriot was called upon to sacrifice his first at bat, but then reached base safely five times in a row with three hits and two walks. His big hit was a triple in the sixth to chase Parra from the game and give the Cubs a 4-1 lead. Reed Johnson later singled to plate Theriot. He had three consecutive base hits as well.

I might argue that the key to the Cubs success isn't the Lee Ramirez hitting combination, but the Soriano effect. The Cubs are 6-2 with Soriano back in the lineup. The argument early in the season was that Fukudome brought patience to the whole team. They seemed to lose that, but have it back again. The confidence in Soriano at the top of the lineup may do more to relax the Cub hitters than the Fukudome effect.

Regardless the reason, Chicago has gotten hot again. There is now a four game lead over both the Brewers and Cardinals. Rich Harden goes today in an attempt for Chicago to get a four game sweep. Then it is back to the friendly confines for a nine game homestand.