The Results:
8/10 L vs. Rockies 5-11
8/11 L vs. Phillies 3-4
8/12 L vs. Phillies 5-12
8/13 L vs. Phillies 1-6
8/14 W vs. Pirates 17-2
8/15 W vs. Pirates 3-1
8/16 PPD vs. Pirates
The Story:
This last week was a painful reminder of how this Cub’s team stacks up against the best in the business; it was also reaffirmation that they have not quite sunk to the level of the AA Pirates. The week began with the finale of that weird 4 game series against the Rockies that had getaway day on Monday. Ultimately, the Cubs fell, 11-5, to the Rockies on Monday, losing the four-game series three games to one as Tom Gorzelanny allowed six runs in 1 1/3 innings and left with a right foot contusion.
The Cubs had the displeasure of hosting the defending champions for a three game set to follow up the Rockies series. On a night when Rich Harden was perfect into the sixth, Milton Bradley thrilled the Wrigley faithful with a game-tying RBI single in the ninth. However, Kevin Gregg gave up a homer to Ben Francisco in the 12th. This game highlighted the pure fact that the Cubs still do not have a viable closing option moving forward as both Marmol and Gregg continued their struggles.
Jeff Samardzija’s first Major League start in game two if the Phillies series was a forgettable one, as the young righty gave up seven runs on eight hits over just 3 1/3 innings, Sean Marshall allowed 5 of his own in relief. This game was extremely frustrating as if it weren’t bad enough getting smashed 12-2, a Cub fan had to throw a beer onto Center fielder Shane Victorino as he caught an easy fly ball.
Apparently true Cub fans can’t root for their team or fan base these days, I refer you to the rant written by our Co-Founder Jon Pirc for further commentary on the matter.
Ryan Dempster allowed six runs; four on a pair of homer in seven innings, while the offense could not solve Cliff Lee as he and the Phillies completed the game sweep to put the Cubs in a rough spot heading into a much needed series against the Pirates.
The four runs the Cubs scored in the first was plenty the way Randy Wells handled the Bucs, but the offense went off in the second, putting a 10-spot on the board for a season high in runs scored. The gap between the baseball teams in Pennsylvania seems to be larger than the Grand Canyon.
Tom Gorzelanny had no problem facing his former teammates in game two, allowing just one run on three hits while striking out eight in five innings. Jeff Baker remained red hot, driving in two runs with a single in the first and a solo home run in the sixth as the cubs won a neat and tidy 3-1 contest.
With the final game rained out on Sunday the Cubs remain 4/5 games back of the cardinals and they seem to be getting healthy with the return of Aramis Ramirez and Ted Lilly going into this week. Will it really matter?
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