Interesting article in the Times about MLB’s new authentication process.

Cosmo Lubrano, an authenticator who is a sergeant in the New York Police Department, hustled to retrieve the ball. He stuck a high-tech hologram decal on it, scanned a bar code to enter it into a computer system and turned the ball over to the Yankees.

After a brief hiatus, mostly due to a move, grad school beginning, and a trip to Chicago, Homers in the Gloaming has returned.

…with some nonsense.  Cubs first break since the All-Star Game.  It’s the Cardinals coming up next.

Getty Photo/Jonathan Daniel

Box score.  The Cubs put a huge number up (11 to be precise, for the second game in a row), and take this series against the Astros.

The Cubs absolutely go off in the 3rd against Brandon Backe.  They started the inning down 1-4.  Here’s the play-by-play:

Soriano pops out to 2nd (1 out)
Theriot singles to right
Lee flies out to right (2 outs)
Ramirez walks
Edmonds walks
DeRosa homers (grand slam)
Fukudome doubles
Soto intentionally walks
Marquis doubles (Fukudome scores)
Soriano homers (three-run)
Theriot grounds out (3 outs)

That’s 8 runs scoring with 2 outs, and 11 batters in the inning.  How sweet it was.

AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast

Box score.  After yesterday’s rain-abbreviated loss, try as they might, they just can’t blow their lead permanently, and the Cubs bounce back and win an offensive battle.  Doubles from Lee, DeRosa, Blanco, and Soriano, and a three-run homer from Soriano help put that 11 on the board.  It’s a shame we can’t retroactively apply 3 of these runs to yesterday’s game.

Harden struggles in this one.  He goes 5 2/3, giving up 8 hits and a walk, allows 2 home runs, and 5 runs.  Also, Howry is awful.  Just plain awful.  He goes 1 1/3 in this one, giving up a home run and 2 ER, and certainly doesn’t help his 5.09 ERA.  Marmol does pitch a perfect 9th.  Luckily, the offense bails out the rough pitching, and the Cubs walk away.

The lead is now 5.5 and 6 over the Brewers and Cardinals respectively, until their games this evening.  The Brewers are at the Reds, and the Cardinals host the Dodgers.  Baseball Proesctus’s PECOTA-adjusted system has the Cubs’ odds of making the playoffs at 96.3% (84.3% division champs, 12.1% wild card).  This number will tick up slightly after this game.

The Cubs have improved to 42-16 at Wrigley, 68-46 overall.  They have 23 remaining at home, and 25 on the road.  This includes 6 versus the Brewers, and 9 versus the Cardinals.

Box score.  A wild night in Chicago, but not so much on the ball field.  Tornado warnings, fans evacuated from exposed seats, and sirens blaring in Lakeview lead to this game being delayed just after the top of the 6th got under way.

Amazingly, the game resumed after about a 2 hour 45 minute delay, but was delayed again in the bottom of the 8th.  It was officially called another hour or so later.  Astros win a very frustrating, and late, game.  And Jesus am I getting sick of Bret Favre.

The Brewers lost as well, and the Cardinals had no game, so the Cubs tread water, and remain 5 up on Milwaukee and are 5.5 up on St. Louis.

AP Photo/M. Spencer Green

Dempster went 5, struck out 7, and gave up 2 runs on 5 hits, and a bases loaded walk.  The Cubs just had very little going offensively.  The only hit of note: a “double” from Edmonds on a ball that should’ve been caught in right by Pence.

After the delay, Gaudin pitched an admirable, scoreless 2 innings, but the Cubs still can’t put anything on the board.  DeRosa just missed a 2-run homer.  The game was delayed again in the bottom of the 8th, after lightning was striking close to Wrigley.

Some fisticuffs between Prince Fielder and Manny Parra in the Brewers’ dugout today.  More to come.  Easy big fella.

AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast

Box score.  Cubs win a great game at home today, take this series, and are now 5 up on the Brewers, and 5 1/2 on the Cardinals.  The Cardinals take on the Phillies on ESPN this evening.  Next up for the Cubs, the Astros at Wrigley, and tomorrow’s game is the ESPN game.

After being down 0-2 early, the Cubs take the lead in the 4th on a flurry of doubles, from Edmonds, Soto, and Zambrano.  Aramis added on a solo shot in the 5th.  Soriano also racks up another steal, and it’s nice to see him running a bit lately.  He has 11 on the year, and has only been caught once.

The Pirates tie it up 5-5 in the 8th.  But the Cubs quickly strike back.  Pinch-hitter Reed Johnson smacks a two-run home run on an 0-2 count, and Soriano immediately follows up with a solo shot.  Johnson has been a great addition.  His defense and presence really buoy the Cubs, and his bat has been coming alive lately.

AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast

Zambrano was good, not great.  He gave up 2 runs on 3 hits and a walk, and struck out 2.  He did also have a double and an RBI.  He was pulled after warming up to start the 6th, and Samardzija was put in.  Big Z had only thrown 82 pitches, and it was not clear exactly why he was pulled.  I can tell you one thing, it doesn’t help my fantasy team’s IP per start category.  Samardzija was fine, pitching 2 1/3 innings: 1 hit, 1 walk, 1 K, no runs.  There was a stretch in this game where 17 straight Pirates were retired.

Gaudin gets the win, despite giving up the lead off a tying two-run home run in the 8th to Andy LaRoche.  Ah wins, what a stat.

Kerry Wood threw a simulated game today, and reportedly the Cubs are looking for him to return this week.  His return will be a nice boost down the stretch.

Quote of the game, regarding pitcher T.J. “Jim?” Beam:

Bob: It’s a good thing Beam wasn’t pitching in the 4th, when we had back-to-back-to-back doubles.

Len: I know what you were doing last night.

Bob: Set ‘em up.

Chicago Sun-Times/John J. Kim

There is a good article about Mark Cuban, one of the billion dollar men, and the Cubs in today’s New York Times.

‘The Cubs are an amazing franchise and brand,’ Cuban wrote in an e-mail message. ‘I think the owner of any major sports franchise has two jobs: first, it’s to work hard to win a championship year after year, and second, to be the caretaker of the franchise in the community.’

Also, some input from the Sox:

But John Henry, the principal owner of the Boston Red Sox and a Cuban booster, wrote in an e-mail message, ‘The commissioner’s office abhors owners who speak their minds and fight for the rights of their respective franchises.’ He added that he could think ‘of no one better suited to reverse the fortunes of the Cubs for the long term’ than Cuban.

AP Photo/Jerry Lai

Box score.  Cubbies bounce back from yesterday’s loss to the Bucs, and put a big number on the board at home.

Doubles from Ramirez, Soriano, and Johnson, 9 hits and 3 walks for the team, and 5 runs.

Lilly is all right, going 6 1/3, giving up 6 hits, 3 walks, and 1 run, striking out 5.  Gaudin, Howry, and Marmol work solid relief, giving up a collective 2 hits and 1 walk, and no runs.

Day baseball again tomorrow, 1:20pm CT (TV: WGN).