Game 53: Cubs 2 – Dodgers 1

Dodgers 26-26
Cubs 32-21

POTG: SP Z!! (8 IP, 6H, ER, 4 BB, 3 K, QS)
Runner Up: LF Soriano (2 H, RBI), RF Fukudome (2 H), PH Fontenot (2B, R)

3 straight one run performances by the pitching staff didn’t really get as much play as I think it should’ve. Again, the Dodgers aren’t great, but that sort of consistent domiance is something remarkable.

It’s tough to write about this game three weeks later while pretending I’m not writing about it three weeks later. Z! threw 130 very effective pitches, and I totally supported leaving him in at the time. He did take some hits in the inning, but they were all weak shots – it wasn’t like he was knocked around (they were all weak singles, a couple which should’ve been fielded) and he didn’t seem to be pitching tired. Plus, Carlos’ super endurance is one of the things that makes Calros the extraordinarly pitcher he is – if you’re shying away from using that, you’re taking away some of his value.

That said, if it turns out an MRI shows something wrong with his shoulder, no one ever pitches 120 pitches again. EVER.

Despite Carlo’s peformance, the Cubs don’t pull it out unless they sneak out that run int he 9th. This was not Takashi Saito at his best, and the Cubs realized it and took advantage of it. Walk, Lee forcing a long at bat, walk, Fukudome getting a big hit and Soto getting just enough of it to tie it up. Once the Cubs got that run, it seemed certain the Cubs were going to win that game. It’s not that they deserved it more, but this is one of those seasons where they’re keep ending being the 22% chance that pulls out the win instead of the 78% that doesn’t.