What’s up with the Cubs?
They’re actually on a hot streak and they now are in a position to realistically sweep the Diamondbacks at Wrigley.
Again, it looked as though the Cubbies were going to fumble the game away late, they were able to contain themselves and bag their second straight win.
The Cubs success started, and almost ended, with the quality start Andrew Cashner was putting in until he left midway through the fifth with tightness in his right shoulder.
He appeared to be fine afterwards, but the Cubs are erring on the side of caution regarding his arm.
Then in the seventh, the Cubs almost handed the game to Arizona.
As soon as Cashner left after going 5 1/3 innings, reliever Jeff Samardzija gave up two runs in the top of the seventh when Gerardo Parra singled to right, scoring Chris Young and Juan Miranda.
The very next batter, Willie Bloomquist, singled to center off of the newly inserted Marcos Mateo, which scored Ryan Roberts and Parra.
This tied the game at 4-4, but it was the bats of the Cubs that bailed the pitching out in the bottom half of the third with overall general production from the entire order.
Only three batters that went to the plate for Chicago went hitless: Aramis Rameriez, Koyie Hill and Reed Johnson.
Diamondbacks starter Barry Enright walked Kosuke Fukudome in the second, and Darwin Barney scored on a throwing error by catcher Miguel Montero. The Cubs picked up another run in the second when Starlin Castro doubled to center scoring Koyie Hill, but Fukudome was thrown out at home attempting to push across a third run.
Had the Cubs not bounced back in the seventh, that play would have been crucial.
Chicago saw a third homerun in as many days, but this time in the third it was Tyler Colvin homering to right, not Alfonso Soriano who had hit the two previous.
The homerun was a two run shot that scored Marlon Byrd.
At this point, it was 4-1 and everything was looking up for the Cubs with the lone Arizona run coming on a solo homer from Ryan Roberts.
Carlos Marmol got the day off and it was Sean Marshall picking up his first save of the year.
Marshall did make it interesting as he allowed a run in the bottom of the ninth when Xavier Nady grounded out to Marshall, scoring Roberts who was on third.
The longest relief appearance came from James Russell who calmed stormy waters when he came in relieving Mateo in the sixth.
The win puts the Cubs above .500 at 3-2 as they head into a sweep opportunity tomorrow against the Diamondbacks.
Chicago now sits just a game out of first place and a half game behind the Pirates in second, who play the Cardinals tonight.
Given the Cubs track record, this might be as close as they come to first all season as a Pittsburgh loss puts them in a second place tie. But the momentum of the new season, and new manager and a general new feel to this Cubs team is seeming to work so far.
But as Cubs fans everywhere now, just take it one game at a time.
Next 3 Up:
Wed. – vs. ARI (Dempster, 0-1 vs Glagarra, 0-0)
Thu. – @MIL (Zambrano, 0-0 vs Wolf, 0-1)
Fri. – @MIL (Garza, 0-0 vs Narveson,0-0)
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