Cubs win Nats series at home

The Cubs and their pitching staff took a drubbing at the hands of the lowly Nationals on Friday. A prior committment on my part kept me from meeting people at the game. I can't say I feel sad about that.

Marquis and Guadin managed to give up 10 runs combined. Marquis was doing respectably and hadn't given up a run (Cubs stood with a 4-0 lead after four innings), but he blew up in the sixth, giving up a single and two walks to load the bases with no outs. A sac fly and a double let two runs in and resulted in Marquis passing the ball to Cotts. Cotts gave up a walk and then gave up a granny to Willie Harris of all people. The game was essentially over at that point, but Howry managed to give up a run in one inning and Gaudin pitched the last two, giving up six runs. The Cubs did score five, but it hardly warrants a mention given what happened on the mound. Lee and DeRosa hit homers.

Fortunately, that game was left behind and the Cubs took the next two to take the series, stay 4 1/2 games up on Milwaukee and reach their 80th win.

Saturday and Sunday were as good as Friday was bad. Dempster won his 15th on Saturday in a 9-2 Cub victory, going 7 1/3 and giving up just one earned run. He was aided by a huge day from Aramis Ramirez (3-5, 6 RBI, 2 HR, 2 runs). The Riot also went 3-5 while Johnson and DeRosa each went 2-5, including another DeRosa homer. Marmol finished the 8th for Dempster before Marshall came in for the mop up in the 9th.

Sunday was more of the same as Harden went 7 innings with 11 strikeouts, no walks, two hits and one earned run in a 6-1 Cub win. Marmol took the 8th and Samardzija the ninth. DeRosa was the only Cub with a multi-hit day, including yet another homer (4 games in a row) and a single. Meanwhile, Fukudome came through with a pinch-hit homer.

I'm seeing the pitching I was counting on and the team is responding. Dempster has lived up to every expectation would could have had for him and Harden is turning out unhittable stuff lately. Combine the starting rotation with the kids in the pen and Wood at the anchor and this team can provide difficulty for any offense out there.

The home field continues to provide excitement and wins. Hopefully Fukudome is ready to shake off his slump. A day off for Lee should be nothing to worry about long term. In the meanwhile, the team depth helps the train keep rolling.

Notes:

Soto tied Randy Hundley's record for home runs by a Cub rookie catcher at 19. Billy Williams holds the club rookie record at 25.

Cubs are the first pitching staf to 1,000 strikeouts in 2008. They have led the majors in strikeouts every season since 2001. The Dodgers hold the record with seven straight seasons leading the majors (1957-63).