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 It's the weekend, so you aren't going to get much from me, but the Cubs pulled out another close victory last night. The game ended up closer than it should have been as Ryan Dempster struggled again in closing it out....but they say that closers struggle in "3's", so hopefully he's good now after his third rough outing in the past week. Carlos Zambrano was the ace he's supposed to be as he threw eight economically strong innings while throwing only 101 pitches. This is going to be an important number as he comes back on Tuesday against the Reds. I wasn't happy that Bobby Howry was needed to close out the game in the 9th, but it had to be done. Carlos Marmol will be available to throw today and they are saying that Dempster will throw if a game needs to be closed out. Let's hope for some easy victories.
Daryle Ward had a huge hit, the the Cubs ended up needing, in the 9th with a bases loaded clearing double driving in three runs. I would say I told you guys that he would come up with a big hit during this run, but I still think he has a homer in him....when he was up last night, I thought it was going to happen. Cliff Floyd continued his homer streak with a bomb earlier in the game. With the victory, and a Milwaukee loss, the Cubs are now 1 1/2 games ahead of the Brewers in the NL Central. The Cardinals dropped to 6 games back and are left with playing the roll of spoiler.
This game didn't end until late Friday night and the Cubs/Cardinals come back for a doubleheader today. As I sat there eating breakfast this morning I thought....those guys are probably already at the ballpark getting ready to play two games today. That has to be tough, I guess that's why they get paid so much? Anyways, Ted Lilly and Sean Marshall are taking the mound today for the Cubs against Braden Looper and Joel Piniero. Both starters for the Cardinals have thrown decent games against the Cubs this season, so don't wrap this one up as a sweep just yet.
Reading this makes me happy to have Piniella as the manager for the Cubs:
The Cubs didn't mince words before the game when discussing their primary goal--to knock the Cardinals out of contention.
"That's what we're here for," Piniella said. "We have respect for this
team, they're a world championship defending team and they have an
excellent manager over there who has this team prepared to play. So
obviously we know we have a tough road ahead of us, but really, that's
what we're here for."
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2008 Cubs Preview
