I didn't believe I was watching THE Chicago Cubs...
they hit 5 home runs, two by Marlon Byrd, two by Geovanny Soto, and one by Derrek Lee, which just happened to be his 300th of his career.
It totally blew my mind that the Cubs could even have a game like this. And it started right in the first inning, when Byrd hit his two-run homer.
In fact, they scored in the first, second, fifth and ninth innings. Never a let up, only leaving four men on base.
Carlos Zambrano didn't have his best stuff, but he was able to get through five innings, giving up three runs and an unusual five walks, with only two strikeouts. His ERA has dropped to 6.05.
Poor Randy Wolf, the starter for Milwaukee, gave up 8 of the Cubs 9 runs. It was really bad because Randy's brother, Jim Wolf, was umpiring 3rd base. It had to be bad for Randy to have Jim see such a poor pitching performance.
Zambrano continued with his fine hitting for the year, although I would have preferred for him to concentrate more on his pitching next time. Big Z went 2 for 3, which was better than Xavier Nady and Alfonso Soriano, who went 0 for the game. Although both of them had a walk each, making it that every starter got on base at least once.
I was really encouraged by Jeff Baker, who went 3 for 5, since he will be filling in while Aramis Ramirez is on the disabled list because of his bum left thumb. Along those lines, the Cubs also recalled Chad Tracy from AAA Iowa, so here's hoping there is a lot of production out of whoever plays third base.
After Derrek Lee hit his 300th home run (joining Cubs Ernie Banks, Billy Williams, Ron Santo, Ron Cey, Andre Dawson, and Sammy Sosa who also hit their 300th home runs as Cubs) I was hoping that would spur Alfonso Soriano to hit his 300th home run also, but alas it was not to be last night. Both men (Lee and Soriano) were sitting on 299 home runs for several weeks. So here's hoping that Soriano's 300th home run comes soon!
I cannot say enough good things about Marlon Byrd!!! He's such a night and day difference from Milton Bradley that it's amazing. I love the way Marlon plays all out and runs the bases hard all of the time! And he dives and makes fantastic plays in the outfield. He's such a breath of fresh air and a throw-back to when players played hard. He's batting .321 on the season and has 9 home runs and 34 RBI. He's second in batting in the National League and he's tied Soriano for the lead in home runs, and leads the club in RBI. He's always hustling, even on ground ball outs in the infield.
Homer-happy Cubs club 5 off Wolf to beat Brewers
Chi Cubs 9, Milwaukee 4
Preview - Box Score - Recap - MLB.TV Archive
(27-32)
Final 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Chi Cubs 2 1 0 0 5 0 0 0 1 9 12 0
Milwaukee 1 0 0 2 0 0 1 0 0 4 7 1
WP: C. Zambrano (2-4)
LP: R. Wolf (4-6)
(24-35)
Box Score Play by Play
Scoring Summary
Top 1st: Chi Cubs
- M. Byrd homered to deep left, J. Baker scored
Bot 1st: Milwaukee
- R. Braun grounded out to first, C. Counsell scored, R. Weeks to third
Top 2nd: Chi Cubs
- G. Soto homered to deep left center
Bot 4th: Milwaukee
- R. Wolf doubled to deep center, J. Edmonds and C. Hart scored
Top 5th: Chi Cubs
- D. Lee homered to deep left, J. Baker scored
- M. Byrd homered to deep center
- G. Soto homered to deep left center, A. Soriano scored
Bot 7th: Milwaukee
- R. Braun hit sacrifice fly to center, C. Counsell scored, R. Weeks to third
Top 9th: Chi Cubs
- J. Baker ground rule double to deep right center, R. Theriot scored
Chi Cubs
AB R H RBI HR BB K SB LOB Season Avg
R. Theriot 2b 5 1 1 0 0 0 0 1 2 .278
J. Baker 3b 5 2 3 1 0 0 1 0 1 .238
D. Lee 1b 5 1 1 2 1 0 0 0 1 .234
M. Byrd cf 5 2 2 3 2 0 0 0 1 .321
X. Nady rf 3 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 .250
A. Cashner p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
S. Marshall p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
A. Soriano lf 3 1 0 0 0 1 1 0 1 .283
G. Soto c 4 2 2 3 2 0 1 0 0 .269
S. Castro ss 4 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 .279
C. Zambrano p 3 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 .167
J. Russell p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
T. Colvin rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .297
Totals 38 9 12 9 5 2 6 1 7
Batting
2B - J Baker (4, Z Braddock).
HR - D Lee (7, 5th inning off R Wolf 1 on, 1 Out), M Byrd 2 (9, 1st inning off R Wolf 1 on, 2 Out, 5th inning off R Wolf 0 on, 1 Out), G Soto 2 (7, 2nd inning off R Wolf 0 on, 0 Out, 5th inning off R Wolf 1 on, 2 Out).
RBI - J Baker (9), D Lee 2 (26), M Byrd 3 (34), G Soto 3 (16).
2-out RBI - M Byrd 2, G Soto 2.
Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - M Byrd 1, C Zambrano 1.
GIDP - R Theriot.
Team LOB - 4.
Base Running
SB - R Theriot (12, 3rd base off Z Braddock/G Kottaras).
Milwaukee
AB R H RBI HR BB K SB LOB Season Avg
C. Counsell ss 4 2 2 0 0 1 0 0 2 .281
R. Weeks 2b 4 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .256
P. Fielder 1b 4 0 1 0 0 1 1 0 0 .272
R. Braun lf 3 0 0 2 0 1 1 0 2 .305
C. McGehee 3b 4 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 4 .285
J. Edmonds cf 3 1 1 0 0 1 0 0 2 .275
C. Hart rf 3 1 1 0 0 1 0 0 1 .254
G. Kottaras c 4 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 4 .200
R. Wolf p 2 0 1 2 0 0 1 0 0 .290
C. Smith p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
C. Gomez ph 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 .255
D. Riske p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
T. Hoffman p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
J. Inglett ph 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .348
Z. Braddock p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
Totals 33 4 7 4 0 5 5 0 17
Batting
2B - J Edmonds (11, J Russell); C Hart (8, A Cashner); R Wolf (2, C Zambrano).
SF - R Braun.
RBI - R Braun 2 (36), R Wolf 2 (3).
2-out RBI - R Wolf 2.
Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - C Counsell 2, R Braun 1, C McGehee 1, J Edmonds 1, C Gomez 1.
Team LOB - 9.
Fielding
E - G Kottaras (4, throw).
DP - 1 (C Counsell-R Weeks-P Fielder).
Chi Cubs
IP H R ER BB K HR WHIP Season ERA
C. Zambrano (W, 2-4) 5.0 2 3 3 5 2 0 1.70 6.05
J. Russell 1.0 4 1 1 0 0 0 1.24 3.00
A. Cashner (H, 1) 2.0 1 0 0 0 2 0 0.40 0.00
S. Marshall 1.0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0.99 1.84
Milwaukee
IP H R ER BB K HR WHIP Season ERA
R. Wolf (L, 4-6) 4.2 9 8 8 2 1 5 1.63 5.31
C. Smith 1.1 1 0 0 0 2 0 0.75 0.00
D. Riske 1.0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0.00 0.00
T. Hoffman 1.0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1.89 10.42
Z. Braddock 1.0 2 1 1 0 1 0 2.14 6.43
WP - R Wolf.
HPB - R Weeks (by C Zambrano).
Pitches-strikes - A Cashner 24-16; S Marshall 11-8; C Zambrano 88-46; J Russell 25-17; R Wolf 91-56; C Smith 22-16; D Riske 11-7; T Hoffman 10-7; Z Braddock 15-11.
Ground balls-fly balls - A Cashner 2-3; S Marshall 2-0; C Zambrano 4-8; J Russell 0-3; R Wolf 10-9; C Smith 1-0; D Riske 1-1; T Hoffman 1-1; Z Braddock 2-1.
Batters faced - A Cashner 7; S Marshall 3; C Zambrano 23; J Russell 7; R Wolf 25; C Smith 4; D Riske 3; T Hoffman 3; Z Braddock 5.
Game Details
Umpires: HP--Derryl Cousins. 1B--Marvin Hudson. 2B--Jim Joyce. 3B--Jim Wolf.
Here's hoping the Cubs can continue with the offensive production. I can't take it when they score runs one game and then leave double-digit men on base the next game.
It totally blew my mind that the Cubs could even have a game like this. And it started right in the first inning, when Byrd hit his two-run homer.
In fact, they scored in the first, second, fifth and ninth innings. Never a let up, only leaving four men on base.
Carlos Zambrano didn't have his best stuff, but he was able to get through five innings, giving up three runs and an unusual five walks, with only two strikeouts. His ERA has dropped to 6.05.
Poor Randy Wolf, the starter for Milwaukee, gave up 8 of the Cubs 9 runs. It was really bad because Randy's brother, Jim Wolf, was umpiring 3rd base. It had to be bad for Randy to have Jim see such a poor pitching performance.
Zambrano continued with his fine hitting for the year, although I would have preferred for him to concentrate more on his pitching next time. Big Z went 2 for 3, which was better than Xavier Nady and Alfonso Soriano, who went 0 for the game. Although both of them had a walk each, making it that every starter got on base at least once.
I was really encouraged by Jeff Baker, who went 3 for 5, since he will be filling in while Aramis Ramirez is on the disabled list because of his bum left thumb. Along those lines, the Cubs also recalled Chad Tracy from AAA Iowa, so here's hoping there is a lot of production out of whoever plays third base.
After Derrek Lee hit his 300th home run (joining Cubs Ernie Banks, Billy Williams, Ron Santo, Ron Cey, Andre Dawson, and Sammy Sosa who also hit their 300th home runs as Cubs) I was hoping that would spur Alfonso Soriano to hit his 300th home run also, but alas it was not to be last night. Both men (Lee and Soriano) were sitting on 299 home runs for several weeks. So here's hoping that Soriano's 300th home run comes soon!
I cannot say enough good things about Marlon Byrd!!! He's such a night and day difference from Milton Bradley that it's amazing. I love the way Marlon plays all out and runs the bases hard all of the time! And he dives and makes fantastic plays in the outfield. He's such a breath of fresh air and a throw-back to when players played hard. He's batting .321 on the season and has 9 home runs and 34 RBI. He's second in batting in the National League and he's tied Soriano for the lead in home runs, and leads the club in RBI. He's always hustling, even on ground ball outs in the infield.
Homer-happy Cubs club 5 off Wolf to beat Brewers
Chi Cubs 9, Milwaukee 4
Preview - Box Score - Recap - MLB.TV Archive
(27-32)
Final 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Chi Cubs 2 1 0 0 5 0 0 0 1 9 12 0
Milwaukee 1 0 0 2 0 0 1 0 0 4 7 1
WP: C. Zambrano (2-4)
LP: R. Wolf (4-6)
(24-35)
Box Score Play by Play
Scoring Summary
Top 1st: Chi Cubs
- M. Byrd homered to deep left, J. Baker scored
Bot 1st: Milwaukee
- R. Braun grounded out to first, C. Counsell scored, R. Weeks to third
Top 2nd: Chi Cubs
- G. Soto homered to deep left center
Bot 4th: Milwaukee
- R. Wolf doubled to deep center, J. Edmonds and C. Hart scored
Top 5th: Chi Cubs
- D. Lee homered to deep left, J. Baker scored
- M. Byrd homered to deep center
- G. Soto homered to deep left center, A. Soriano scored
Bot 7th: Milwaukee
- R. Braun hit sacrifice fly to center, C. Counsell scored, R. Weeks to third
Top 9th: Chi Cubs
- J. Baker ground rule double to deep right center, R. Theriot scored
Chi Cubs
AB R H RBI HR BB K SB LOB Season Avg
R. Theriot 2b 5 1 1 0 0 0 0 1 2 .278
J. Baker 3b 5 2 3 1 0 0 1 0 1 .238
D. Lee 1b 5 1 1 2 1 0 0 0 1 .234
M. Byrd cf 5 2 2 3 2 0 0 0 1 .321
X. Nady rf 3 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 .250
A. Cashner p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
S. Marshall p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
A. Soriano lf 3 1 0 0 0 1 1 0 1 .283
G. Soto c 4 2 2 3 2 0 1 0 0 .269
S. Castro ss 4 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 .279
C. Zambrano p 3 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 .167
J. Russell p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
T. Colvin rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .297
Totals 38 9 12 9 5 2 6 1 7
Batting
2B - J Baker (4, Z Braddock).
HR - D Lee (7, 5th inning off R Wolf 1 on, 1 Out), M Byrd 2 (9, 1st inning off R Wolf 1 on, 2 Out, 5th inning off R Wolf 0 on, 1 Out), G Soto 2 (7, 2nd inning off R Wolf 0 on, 0 Out, 5th inning off R Wolf 1 on, 2 Out).
RBI - J Baker (9), D Lee 2 (26), M Byrd 3 (34), G Soto 3 (16).
2-out RBI - M Byrd 2, G Soto 2.
Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - M Byrd 1, C Zambrano 1.
GIDP - R Theriot.
Team LOB - 4.
Base Running
SB - R Theriot (12, 3rd base off Z Braddock/G Kottaras).
Milwaukee
AB R H RBI HR BB K SB LOB Season Avg
C. Counsell ss 4 2 2 0 0 1 0 0 2 .281
R. Weeks 2b 4 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .256
P. Fielder 1b 4 0 1 0 0 1 1 0 0 .272
R. Braun lf 3 0 0 2 0 1 1 0 2 .305
C. McGehee 3b 4 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 4 .285
J. Edmonds cf 3 1 1 0 0 1 0 0 2 .275
C. Hart rf 3 1 1 0 0 1 0 0 1 .254
G. Kottaras c 4 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 4 .200
R. Wolf p 2 0 1 2 0 0 1 0 0 .290
C. Smith p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
C. Gomez ph 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 .255
D. Riske p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
T. Hoffman p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
J. Inglett ph 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .348
Z. Braddock p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
Totals 33 4 7 4 0 5 5 0 17
Batting
2B - J Edmonds (11, J Russell); C Hart (8, A Cashner); R Wolf (2, C Zambrano).
SF - R Braun.
RBI - R Braun 2 (36), R Wolf 2 (3).
2-out RBI - R Wolf 2.
Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - C Counsell 2, R Braun 1, C McGehee 1, J Edmonds 1, C Gomez 1.
Team LOB - 9.
Fielding
E - G Kottaras (4, throw).
DP - 1 (C Counsell-R Weeks-P Fielder).
Chi Cubs
IP H R ER BB K HR WHIP Season ERA
C. Zambrano (W, 2-4) 5.0 2 3 3 5 2 0 1.70 6.05
J. Russell 1.0 4 1 1 0 0 0 1.24 3.00
A. Cashner (H, 1) 2.0 1 0 0 0 2 0 0.40 0.00
S. Marshall 1.0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0.99 1.84
Milwaukee
IP H R ER BB K HR WHIP Season ERA
R. Wolf (L, 4-6) 4.2 9 8 8 2 1 5 1.63 5.31
C. Smith 1.1 1 0 0 0 2 0 0.75 0.00
D. Riske 1.0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0.00 0.00
T. Hoffman 1.0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1.89 10.42
Z. Braddock 1.0 2 1 1 0 1 0 2.14 6.43
WP - R Wolf.
HPB - R Weeks (by C Zambrano).
Pitches-strikes - A Cashner 24-16; S Marshall 11-8; C Zambrano 88-46; J Russell 25-17; R Wolf 91-56; C Smith 22-16; D Riske 11-7; T Hoffman 10-7; Z Braddock 15-11.
Ground balls-fly balls - A Cashner 2-3; S Marshall 2-0; C Zambrano 4-8; J Russell 0-3; R Wolf 10-9; C Smith 1-0; D Riske 1-1; T Hoffman 1-1; Z Braddock 2-1.
Batters faced - A Cashner 7; S Marshall 3; C Zambrano 23; J Russell 7; R Wolf 25; C Smith 4; D Riske 3; T Hoffman 3; Z Braddock 5.
Game Details
Umpires: HP--Derryl Cousins. 1B--Marvin Hudson. 2B--Jim Joyce. 3B--Jim Wolf.
Here's hoping the Cubs can continue with the offensive production. I can't take it when they score runs one game and then leave double-digit men on base the next game.