Cubs 27-32 Braves 33-29 POTG: LF Alfonso Soriano (3HR, 4H, IBB) Runner Up: SP Sean Marshall (6 IP, 4 H, ER, 2 BB, 4 K, W [2/8]), CF Felix Pie (2 H, 2 R, 3 RBI, BB, SB, SF), C Michael Barrett (HR, 2 H, SB), SS Cesar Izturis (2 H, 2B, 2 R), LF … Continue reading “Game 59: Cubs 9 – Braves 1”
Cubs 27-32
Braves 33-29
POTG: LF Alfonso Soriano (3HR, 4H, IBB)
Runner Up: SP Sean Marshall (6 IP, 4 H, ER, 2 BB, 4 K, W [2/8]), CF Felix Pie (2 H, 2 R, 3 RBI, BB, SB, SF), C Michael Barrett (HR, 2 H, SB), SS Cesar Izturis (2 H, 2B, 2 R), LF Jacque Jones (2 H)
I think this Sean Marshall might have a future as a major league pitcher. 4 starts this year, all of them good, getting better as they go along. Like Rich, his curve was working, and he was getting round ball after ground ball with a team that knows how what do with ’em. Just as Lilly and Marquis have started to cool down, it’s great to have someone else step up. I think the Cubs have their rotation for the season, barring injury.
Lance Cormier, on the other hand, has no business being a major league pitcher. He looked like a batting practice pitcher versus the Cubs in his previous start, and he looked just as bad this time out. The Braves putting him on the DL was very much Wade Miller like, because he’s shown the same level of performance. The Braves are really down if this is the kinda pitching they’re using.
Soriano’s three home runs were great to watch, no doubt. They’re also problematic, because they were three solo home runs. Once again, if Soriano would drop down to 4 while Ram is out, they might have blown this game open a lot earlier and a lot bigger. Instead, it was just three runs, and Soriano’s individual performance might not have meant much if everyone else hadn’t contributed.
I was really expecting Gallagher to get an inning or two in here, let his first appearance be a low pressure situation, and was surprised to see Wuertz used in the 9th. I guess it was justified by everyone but Dempster being off the previous day due to Hill’s performance, but they could use two days in a row off with this stretch.
Cubs are 5 games out after this one. You’re five games out, you’re in it. Still a long way to go, but they’re alive, my god, they’ve alive. Thanks for the crappy division.