Rollin'

The Cubs ripped off a 5-1 road trip. That one loss was a tough 2-1 loss to the Marlins. Sean Marshall pitched a solid 5 innings, giving up two earned runs. Other than that game, the Cubbies looked solid and got a little bit of a swagger on the road.

They swept the hapless Braves, including the strong double header sweep, and then took 2 of 3 from the Marlins. The first two in Miami were tight with each team getting a victory, but the Cubs cruised in the final game of the series. Ward came out of hiding to hit a three-run dong in the top of the ninth in the first game that gave the Cubs a 6-5 win. I'll admit, when Florida plated their fifth run off of Big Z in the third inning, I couldn't watch much more. I peeked back in regularly, but didn't stay to watch the ninth. I should know better with this team. Game 3 of the series provided Dempster with his 14th win, striking out 10 in six innings in a 9-2 Cub victory. An 8-run seventh inning saw everyone get involved and closed the door on the Marlins.

Home cooking produced another beauty. Harden (7 starts with the Cubs, 1.50 ERA, 59 Ks, 14 BBs, 3-1 record) delivered like the ace he is, going 7 scoreless innings and giving up just 2 hits. Marmol and Wood locked it down. The game was a pitchers duel behind good performances by Harden and the Red's Cueto, but the Cub bats blew it up in the eigth inning after taking a 1-0 lead in the fifth. Ramirez and Fukudome provided a total of 4 RBIs in the eigth for the 5-0 win.

Now the Cubs are once again tied for the best record in baseball at 77-48. A 5-5 last 10 games for the Angels has dropped them a couple games off the pace, while the Cubs and Rays both went 8-2 and sit atop the league. Not only that, but the Cubs extended their Central lead to 6 over the Brewers despite another complete game by Sabathia, including a 2-run single (Sabathia is 8-0 with a 1.60 ERA and 5 complete games for the Brewers in 9 starts - his no decision coming against the Cubs).