Must-read for ballhawks
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.
And we’re back
After a brief hiatus, mostly due to a move, grad school beginning, and a trip to Chicago, Homers in the Gloaming has returned.
Enjoy the day off…
…with some nonsense. Cubs first break since the All-Star Game. It’s the Cardinals coming up next.
Astros 4 Cubs 11
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.
Astros 7 Cubs 11
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.
Astros 2 Cubs 0, F/8th rain
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.
