Homers in the Gloaming

Likely matchups for the three game set in Arizona (48-49, somehow leading the NL West):

• July 21st, Harden (2.19 ERA, 1.17 WHIP) vs. Johnson (5.23, 1.41)
• July 22nd, Marquis (4.44, 1.43) vs. Owings (5.02, 1.31) Petit (3.06, 0.74)
• July 23rd, Lilly (4.49, 1.33) vs. Davis (4.14, 1.53)

And statistical comparison:

      G   AB    R    H  2B 3B  HR  RBI  BB  SO    BA    OBP   SLG  SB
CHC  97 3383  509  946 194 12 109  480 385  715  .280  .357  .441  53
ARI  97 3262  430  815 183 27  92  408 338  745  .250  .324  .407  31

     G    ERA   W   L   SV  GS  GF   IP     H    R   ER   HR  BB   SO
CHC  97   3.89  57  40  29  97  96  873.3  818  407  377  99  328  718
ARI  97   3.93  48  49  22  97  94  864.0  816  426  377  90  280  733

AP Photo/David J. Phillip

Box score.  The Cubs finally look like the Cubs again today, and let’s hope games like these keep on coming.  Back-to-back doubles from Fukudome and Lee, followed up by an Edmonds single got the Cubs off to a quick start in the 1st.  Fontenot was the offensive star, though, hammering a line-drive solo home run in the 5th, and a two-run double in the 9th, ending up with 3 runs and 3 RBI.

Dempster pitched very well, giving up 6 hits and a walk through 8 shut-out innings, throwing 104 pitches and striking out 7.  He got out of a no-out, bases-loaded jam in the 5th, striking out two and inducing a foul pop.

Marmol pitched a perfect 9th.

Theriot extends his hitting streak to 13 games, which is the Cubs’ longest this year.  If you’re curious, the longest streak by a Cubs shortstop is 21, by Don Kessinger in 1972.

Fukudome breaks out of a bit of a slump, posting a 2-5 with 2 doubles.  Aramis posts an 0-5, and is now 1 for his last 21.