May 9, 2008...10:39 pm
Game 35
- Friday May 9th – Wrigley Field
- Cubs 3 – D-Backs 1
- Record (20-15) – 2nd place in the NL Central
- 10-game homestand – (1-0)
The skinny: Make no mistake; this afternoon’s game was a huge victory for the Cubs considering Chicago had lost nine of its previous 13 games; including the division lead, and wrapped up a six-game road trip (2-4) by losing two of three against the doormat Cincinnati Reds.
That being said, this season-high ten-game homestand couldn’t have come at a better time for Chicago. The Cubs have played well at home to the tune of (12-6) vs. its (8-9) road record.
Ted Lilly made sure it stayed that way today (7 IP, 1-R, 3-H, 2-BB and 10-K). All the left-hander gave up against Arizona, the league leader in runs scored (202) mind you, was a first inning solo home run to Chris Young.
Plus, Lilly finally looked like the 15-game winner from a year ago: double digit strike outs and Ted has an 11 game streak of consecutive starts allowing two or fewer free passes per outing. Incredible!
Not to mention, how about Lilly’s at-bat in the fifth! Arizona starter Danny Haren intentionally walks Reed Johnson to get to the nine hole and Lilly smokes and RBI single back up the middle, tying the game 1-1. Talk about clutch hitting!
Soriano then follows with a double just inside the left field line scoring Johnson and the Cubs have a one-run lead at 2-1. Who knows if the Cubs even win this game had Lilly not come through at the plate.
Speaking of Alfonso, I think the guy is on the verge of exploding at the plate. The back of his baseball card proves he won’t hang under the Mendoza line (.191) all summer.
Better still, Soriano has notched five RBIs in his last eight games while also managing at least one hit in 12 of his last 14 games played. I’m telling you, he’s coming around at the dish and hopefully in a big way very soon.
The other good sign this afternoon was finally seeing Marmol in a hold situation again and Kerry looked good on the mound in the final frame too.
Marmol to Wood with a Cubs lead never grows old on the eyes - well, except for last Friday’s loss against the Brewers, but let’s not go there, okay.
W: Lilly (3-4) – Wood (6)
L: Haren (4-2)
- Notes: The outfield ivy is slowly turning green, maybe another week.
- Including today’s game, the Cubs play 17 of its next 23 games at Wrigley.
- For the 10th time this year the Cubs have drawn seven or more walks in a ballgame, that only happened nine time all of last year.
- Perhaps, Cubs batters are mimicking Fukudome’s patience at the plate. Kosuke has reached base in 28 of his 33 games played.
- Derek Lee has hit nine long balls this season; eight have come at Wrigley Field.
- Lilly’s quality start this afternoon pushes the team total to 19 quality outing by the starting staff this season.
- The Cubs are now 4-14 after scoring three or fewer runs in a game.
- Mark DeRosa was 2-for-3 today with a walk and a run scored; he was just 1-for-16 during the recent road trip.
2 Comments
May 10, 2008 at 9:34 am
I was watching the game with my buddy at the bar and mentioned to him that the ivy was getting green. We have been on the road so long it went from all brown to 50% seemingly overnight.
I can’t wait for June 1st when I get there in person for the first time this year.
May 11, 2008 at 12:16 am
Wrigley’s outfield Ivy is Chicago’s best indicator that summer has arrived in the Mid-West.
So, until that cabbage turns solid green, we’re still bound to have 47-degree days during May!
And, because I’m always boarding the El at Addison, I get a daily glance at the Ivy.
I’m certainly no ivy expert, but my guess is the outfield wall turns completely green in less than two weeks.
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