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Cubs Tue Jul 06 2010
Cubs Whack Snakes, Win 9-4
Since Opening Day the Cubs have been doing the dance of one step forward and two steps back, today was a step forward. While one game isn't going to get them back into the race it was good to see that there is some resemblance of life in the Cubs offense. They got things rolling right away in the first inning.
Kosuke Fukudome launched his seventh homer of the season to deep center field. This appeared to loosen up the rest of the lineup as others got in on the act as well. Rookie Starlin Castro hit a two-run triple and would later score on a Geovany Soto double in the same inning.
The Cubs held a slim three run lead until the top of the ninth when Alfonso Soriano hit a pinch-hit two-run homer. Soriano was given the day off, but definitely made the most of his late inning at-bat. Today's offensive output couldn't have come at a better time as Cubs starter Tom Gorzelanny wasn't overly effective.
Gorzelanny lasted only five innings. He surrendered five hits, walked six and gave up three earned runs. He managed to work his way out of several messes which resulted in him throwing 103 pitches. This was his first start since being moved back into the rotation after the Carlos Zambrano meltdown a few weekends back.
Cubs radio play-by-play announcer Pat Hughes said it best during the game this afternoon, "Where has this been?" Good question, Pat. It has been a frustrating year on the Northside. One minute they show signs of turning it around then next its back to playing lifeless baseball. Its tough to say where they will go from here because they've been so up-and-down all year.
If they can turn this thing around it would be one hell of a comeback. Right now the best thing to hope for is getting back to .500 and then go from there. After that it will take a miracle.
Their poor play is clearly shown by their lack of All-Stars again this year. Marlon Byrd is the Cubs lone representative. Byrd has been solid since joining the Cubs. He is a prime example of how the game should be played day in and day out. Congratulations to Marlon Byrd.
Carlos Silva (8-2, 2.96 ERA) will take on Arizona's Barry Enright (1-0, 1.80 ERA). Game time is 8:40 p.m. CT. The game will be shown on Comcast Sports Net and can be heard on WGN Radio 720 AM.
