Getty Photo/Jonathan Daniel

Box score.  45,069 on hand to see the Cubs explode for 5 in the 6th, in one of the most satisfying innings of the season on the road, against the rival Brewers.  The Cubs capture their third straight win.  In the game, Aramis racks up three doubles and a single, Fukudome doubles and tripes, Theriot triples, and the Brewers’ defense certainly doesn’t hurt the Cubs.  Also, Soriano and Theriot each steal a base.  Cubbies end up with 15 hits, a walk, and 7 runs.

Big Z was great, striking out 9 in 8 innings, giving up 5 hits, 2 walks, and no runs.  He also helps his cause with a single and an RBI.  The guy can rake.  I’m not quite sure why they sent Zambrano back out in the 8th.  He had thrown 103 pitches through 7, and the lead was 6 runs.  He ends up throwing 118.  It might be nice to give the bullpen some, like, practice, with a big lead.  They need it.

Getty Photo/Jonathan Daniel

Samardzija did come in and pitch the 9th: 1 K, 1 BB, 1 H, 1 ER.

Kerry Wood update: still on the DL, but was eligible to return tonight.  Seems like he’ll be back soon.

Len and Bob lost their audio feed for a couple of minutes in this game.  All you could hear was the fans and the sounds of the actual game.  It was amazing.  It’s not that I dislike Len and Bob, I actually like them quite a bit, it was just a huge relief not to hear constant (often inane) talking, and to be able to think about the game for yourself.  They should really offer a commentary-free broadcast of every game.

Tomorrow’s game is the ESPN game, Dempster vs. Parra, at 7pm CT.

Cubs      63-44  --
Brewers   60-47  3.0 GB
Cardinals 60-49  4.0 GB

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.