Homers in the Gloaming

AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin

Box score.  Excruciatingly frustrating game tonight.  Cubs give their starter zero run support, and lose this pitchers duel, 0-2.

Harden was excellent, giving up 1 hit and 2 walks through 7 innings, striking out 10 D’backs, and throwing 112 pitches.  (His game score of 79 was his second-highest of the season.)  Unfortunately, that 1 hit was a home run from Alex Romero; his first, ever.  The Big Old Unit shut down the Cubs early, throwing 7 2-hit, 1-walk innings.

In Soriano news:

Attempting to return to the Cubs after he broke his left hand when he was hit by a pitch June 12, Soriano was brushed back by Padres rookie-level pitcher Junior Veras, prompting a big smile from the outfielder.

“It was not a good experience, man,” Soriano said. “His first pitch went to my head, so my heart was jumping because a lot of people told me that those little guys, they throw hard and they don’t know where the ball goes. I was a little scared there.” –Cubs.com

Soriano went 0-2 with a walk for Mesa, and seems ready to return very soon.  Aramis posts yet another 0-4, and is now 1 for his last 25, with one walk.  Theriot snaps his 13-game hitting streak.

Cubs are now only 2 games ahead of both the Cardinals and the Brewers.  They absolutely need to figure things out in the second half, and on the road, soon.  The Cubs have out-scored their opponents 11-8 the last 4 games, but have gone 1-3.

Tonight’s ESPN game is the Brewers vs. the Cardinals, at 6pm CT.  As much as it pains me, I think I’ll “root” for the Cardinals, as the Brewers will almost definitely be the bigger threat down the road.  It really is a shame that they can’t both lose.  But, a good game for some armchair advance scouting.  Brew Crew is 55-43, 3 games back, and the Birds are 57-43, 2 games back.  Enjoy (?).