Pirates 5 Cubs 8

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.

Cubs 7 Brewers 1

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