Cubs 56-49, 1.0/0.5 – Wild card is closer again
Phillies 56-50, 3.0/1.0
POTG: SP Jason Marquis (6 IP, 8 H, 3R, 3 BB, 4 K, W [8/64]; H)
Runner up: LF Soriano (2 H, R), SS Ryan Theriot (R, H, BB), CF Jacque Jones (2B, R, RBI), 2B Mark DeRosa (H, R, 2 BB), C Jason Kendall (H, 2 RBI), RP Carlos Marmol (1.1 IP, 3 K, H, 0 R, 1 marooned)
I was so excited for the Jason Kendall two RBI hit to make it 7-3. Not just because it put the game out of reach, but because it meant the OVER, and I was winner. Well, as much as you can win without actually gaining anything.
The results was there, but there was just an eh Marquis outing. As Kasper noted during the game, 6 IP, 3 R is the bare minimum to get a quality start, and this one was just barely 6 IP and 3 runs. Marquis threw a lot of balls (48 to 67 strikes), and gave up about 2 base runners an inning. He got away with it, and the bullpen held the number up, but I wouldn’t take it as a sign that he’s regained something. He was just fortunate/skilled to not give up the big hit at the bad time – Phillies were 1 for 11 with runners in scoring position.
Jason Kendall:
As: 292 AB, 226/261/281
Cubs: 31 AB, 226/314/258
And he’s been HOT to get to 226. At least he drove in some runs.
It’s nice Jacque got that big hit, or they would’ve been trying to run him out of town again. It’s the lights, it’s the time of day, it’s these things that seem only to happen to him. Still, I bet he could get thru waivers right now. (Speaking off, Kielty’s now a free agent, so if the Cubs still had some interest…)
I’m going to the game tonight; don’t know where I’m sitting, don’t know who I’m sitting with, but have a super plan to get their for the first pitch: arrive two hours early.