Homers in the Gloaming

AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin

Box score.  Some offense at last!  A back-and-forth game for a while tonight, but ultimately a solid win, and a great relief.  Lee starts the Cubbies off in the first with a homer, his first since June 20th.  A “hell yes” grand slam from Reed Johnson in the 8th made it 10-3. (Bob Melvin tried to argue a fan interfered, which a fan may have, but hey.  I think the ball ended up in a swimming pool.  Ah, Chase Field.)

Soriano’s return to the one-spot in the lineup was very nice to see.  He posts a 1-5, with a double and an RBI.

Lilly was all right, and got plenty of run support: 6 innings, 6 hits, 6 Ks, 3 walks, 3 ER.  He helped his own cause with an RBI single, a steal of third base, and a run.

I was watching this game on the FSN Arizona feed (sadly).  Apparently, there is a group of D’back fans called the Redheads.  This largely geriatric bunch not only really gets things fired up while lounging in air-conditioned Chase Field, but apparently keeps McCormick in the black, takes pride in naming itself after a fellow NL team, and wears either the most ironic or the most contraindicated T-shirts in baseball: “We need more signs!”  They had lots of signs.  Lots of signs.  FSN AZ devoted, I’d say, 20% of the broadcast to them.  Fantastic.

Aramis Watch:  Another frustrating game for sure for Aram-Ram.  He smashed a would-be home run just foul, and had a probably infield single ruled an error.  Then, he was picked off with the hit-and-run on.  He posts a (wait for it) 1-5, with a single to left in the 8th!  He snaps the 0-26, and scores a run.  Keep the faith!

MLB

All reports indicate that Mr. Soriano will be playing baseball for the Cubs this evening.  And thank God for that.  His last game was June 11th, when he broke his hand getting hit with a pitch.  Soriano is .283/.332/.547, with 15 HR and 6 net steals on the year.  DeRosa has been getting most of the starts in left during Soriano’s convalescence.  It seems likely that DeRosa, who has been playing well, will move to second, and Fontenot and Cedeno may be getting bumped out of some playing time.

The Soriano-infused Cubs try to avoid the sweep in Phoenix tonight, 8:40pm CT.