8/15/08 @ Florida; W 6-5; (75-47)

Daryle Ward has only had eleven games this season where he has come to the plate more than once. He has been called on to pinch hit most of the season, and it hasn't gone real well for him. He is hitting only .217 and had driven in only ten runs going into Florida. His home run last night may make him forget all that.

The Cubs trailed 3-5 going into the ninth. Neither team had scored since Mark DeRosa's two run homer in the fourth. The inning led off with a walk to DeRosa from Florida's closer, Kevin Gregg. Mike Fontenot lined out to third on a great play. The ball was absolutely smoked for what looked to be a double in the corner, but was caught by a diving Florida third baseman. Reed Johson then singled to bring up the pitcher's spot, in which Daryle Ward was asked to fill in. He absolutely crushed a ball to right field for a three run game winning home run. Zambrano congratulated him in the dugout both for winning the game and saving him from a loss.

Zambrano actually started the scoring, singling to score DeRosa in the second inning. His lead didn't last long as the Marlins tied it in the second and blew it open in the third. Control was the issue as Z allowed three walks in the inning to go along with a home run and triple.

DeRosa, 1 for 1 on the night with three walks, three runs, and two rbi, closed the gap just a little bit with his 14th homer of the season. Then the pitchers took over on both sides. Chad Guadin pitched two perfect innings to earn the win. Kerry Wood allowed a walk, but struck out two to pick up his 25th save on the season.

The win extends Chicago's winning streak to five, their road winning streak to nine, and their NL Central lead to 5.5 games. Everyone on the roster is contributing. When Chicago can win a come from behind game in which Aramis Ramirez doesn't play, and Derek Lee doesn't get on base....doesn't it seem like this is our year!

6/28/08 @ White Sox; 5-6; (49-32)

The Cubs lost again today, marking their second three game losing streak. The White Sox squeaked out a one run game, 6-5 today.

Derek Lee went big today, going 5 for 5. Mark DeRosa had a couple base knocks and so did Daryle Ward. What was up with Ward hitting fourth and Ramirez fifth. If Lee and Ramirez are in the lineup, they have been third and fourth every time. I don’t know why Lou chose this lineup.

5/11/08 vs Arizona; W 6-4; (22-15)

Rain rain go away...Big Z can pitch another day.

Due to the messy conditions surrounding today's game, both Big Z and Randy Johnson were scratched from their starts. Instead Sean Gallagher squared off against Edgar Gonzalez. Not exactly a marquee pitching match up.

For Gallagher, this was his first career MLB start. He did an admirable job for 4 1/3 innings. He ended up being charged with all four earned runs, but the last two of those came on bases loaded walks by Chad Fox in relief.

That fifth inning took away a Cubs lead provided by a Derek Lee home run in the third inning. The game stayed at 4-2 until the Cubs half of the seventh. With one out, Fontenot got a free pass and Reed Johnson followed that up with a game tying two run homer, his first as a Chicago Cub.

With the game tied, Carlos Marmol was brought it to pitch the eighth. Three up three down with two strikeouts. Let's go hit again.

In the Cub half of the eighth, Aramis led off the inning with a single and stole second base. Kosuke Fukudome laid down a perfect bunt that came to rest inches from the foul line to put runners at first and third with no one out.

Geovany Soto came to bat with Daryle Ward on deck ready to pinch hit. Soto only managed to squib the ball in front of the plate. That advanced Fukudome to second, but Soto was out at first. With a base open, Lou pulled Ward back before he was announced. Soriano was brought in to pitch hit for Marmol instead of Ward. As expected, he was intentionally walked to load the bases. Now Ward pinch hit, this time for Pie, and he delivered for the second day in a row. This time it was a two run double to give the Cubs the lead for good.

Kerry Wood came in to pitch the ninth. As bad as things have gone for Kerry when he hits the lead off batter, hitting the second batter proved to be no problem. Theriot made a nice play up the middle flipping to Fontenot who turned the double play to end the game.

The sweep of the Diamondbacks, combined with the Brewers taking two of three from the Cardinals, puts the Cubs back into first place for the first time since April 30th. It's hard to understand, much less explain, the Jekyll and Hyde nature of this team. When they took the two games from the Mets, they were looking like they would join the 1985 Bears as one of Chicago's greatest teams. Then they went on the road and started a streak that reminded you more of the Bad News Bears. I am sure if Lou finds out the secret, he'll have it bottled and included in the pre game meal.

Now the struggling Padres come to town for a four game set. They are 3-7 in their last ten games, though they ....like the Cubs....have turned around as of late taking the last two from the Rockies. The last game of the series will be especially interesting as Greg Maddux is scheduled to start for the Padres in an afternoon start at Wrigley. The Cub faithful still like Greg, but on that day they'll be rooting against him.