The Cubs pulled off two miraculous comebacks in the first two games against the Diamondbacks.
That wasn’t the case in Wednesday’s matchup.
As amazing as the comebacks for the Cubbies were, they were still fighting from behind.
In all three games of this series, and pretty much this season so far, the Cubs dug themselves a hole that they then had to climb out of. It skewers the comebacks and creates an illusion.
It creates the illusion that the Cubs are a great “come-from-behind” team when, in reality, they’re the same old Cubs.
Starter Ryan Dempster went seven innings, but gave up five runs in the process. He gave Arizona the lead first and then gave them the lead back in the fifth when the D-Backs had a three run inning.
“I made a lot of good pitches today,” Dempster said.
“For the most part, I like the way I was throwing the ball.”
“Dumpster” Dempster struck out six and walked no one, which is impressive. But it was the five runs (four earned) he gave up that was vomit-inducing.
All of his numbers should have pointed to a win: His strikeouts, no walks, and the fact that he threw 23 first pitch strikes to the 30 batters he faced. Dempster falls to 0-2, and his ERA is now an uncomfortably high 6.59.
The bright spot of the Cubs’ day—aside from Stacey King “singing” his version of “Take Me Out to the Ballgame”—was the fact that the bats stayed alive for another straight day.
Alfonso Soriano was the particularly vivid shining spot, hitting yet another home run in the seventh inning. It was a solo shot, and it was quickly canceled out by a Miguel Montero solo shot, but it didn’t change the fact that Soriano has shown signs of life.
He’s hitting .273 with three home runs and five RBIs.
But in his last seven, another aging Cub (whom many people predict is on his last leg), Aramis Ramirez, also homered Wednesday.
Ramirez’s homer was a two run shot that, at the time, tied the game. Marlon Byrd, who has developed into a fan favorite, scored on the shot. Byrd is another Cubs hitter who is showing signs of life, as he’s hitting .308 with just one RBI—but he’s also scored four times.
Byrd returned to the lineup after missing Tuesday’s game with a stiff back.
The loss drops the Cubs back to .500, which is one of history’s age old battles.
It seems that three things are certain in life: the sun will rise, we all will die, and the Cubs will forever battle the .500 line.
They will attempt to avoid slipping under that line as they travel to Milwaukee to face off against the Brewers after Thursday’s day off to travel.
Next Three Up:
Fri. – at MIL (Zambrano, 0-0 vs. Wolf, 0-1)
Sat. – at MIL (Garza, 0-0 vs. Narveson, 0-0)
Sun. – at MIL (Coleman, 0-0 vs. Gallardo, 0-0)
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