4/21 STL@CHC, 2:55 p.m., TV: Fox, Radio: WGN

[VanMan]

Game two of the NL's oldest rivalry.

Reyes (0-2) vs. Marquis (1-1)

[VanMan]

Top of the first, Marquis gets the first two hitters, Eckstein on a grounder to Cedeno and striking out Duncan, but then he plunks Pujols on a 1-2 pitch (Pujols fouled off three pitches after it went to 0-2) and then allowed a single to Rolen.

He then coaxes Rolen to roll to DeRosa on the outfield grass, over to Lee for the out. No runs, one hit, two left.

Middle 1st, Cardinals 0, Cubs coming up

[VanMan]

Pie leads off for the Cubs. He fouls off three pitches after taking the first one for a ball. Took ball two high and away. Then he swings and misses on a ball also high and away.

[VanMan]

Murton, who's 1-1 with a HR against Reyes, swung at the first pitch, then takes one inside. Swung and missed on a sinker away. Took a change-up away. Then he flares one to right on an outside pitch. One on, one out. Lee next.

[VanMan]

Lee fouls the first pitch back. Next pitch, a two-seamer inside. The 1-1 goes into left field past Eckstein. First and second, one out for Ramirez.

[VanMan]

First pitch to Ramirez is a called strike down the middle. Ramirez then fouls one off himself. Next pitch is low and away, 1-2. Foul ball behind the plate on another low pitch. ARam fouls another pitch off Bennett, still 1-2. Reyes pivots and bluffs Murton back to second. Ramirez strikes out swinging on a change up low and away.

[VanMan]

Barrett takes a curve low and away, then a change low and in, 2-0. The next pitch is a hanging breaking ball, taken high and deep to left, all the way to the left field bleachers and gone! Cubs up 3-0!

[scuba]

Barrett seems to feast on the Cards. Great way to start. :D

[VanMan]

Jones takes a strike at the knees, then swings at a similar pitch, 0-2. Next pitch, a slider away. Jones then grounds out to Kennedy to retire the side, but the Cubs strike first, with three runs, three hits and no one left on base.

End 1st, Cubs 3, Cardinals 0

[VanMan]

Barrett seems to feast on the Cards. Great way to start. :D
And that pitch, speaking of feasting, was nice and meaty!

[VanMan]

Preston Wilson leads off the second inning. First pitch, a two-seamer for a strike. A sinker follows for another called strike, 0-2. Wilson fouls off the next pitch to the first-base side stands. Another foul ball on a high fastball, still 0-2. A two-seamer misses inside, 1-2. Foul into the upper deck. A high, tight fastball hand-cuffs Wilson, and hits it foul again. Next pitch is an infield hit over the mound. DeRosa tried to bare-hand, but couldn't handle it.

[VanMan]

Kennedy up, takes first pitch for a ball, then a breaking pitch inside for ball two. Barrett talks to Marquis about the situation. Kennedy lifts one to deep center, Pie able to run it down for the out. Wilson retreats to first.

[VanMan]

Bennett hits the first pitch just foul off the Cardinal bullpen mound. Wind blowing right to left today. Bennett smashes one past Ramirez into left field. Two on, one out.

[scuba]

Is it just me or is Girardi pretty boring? :cool:

[VanMan]

Reyes unable to advance the runners, striking out swinging, then Eckstein grounds to Ramirez, who steps on third to force out Wilson. No runs, two hits, two left.

Middle 2nd, Cubs 3, Cardinals 0

[VanMan]

Is it just me or is Girardi pretty boring? :cool:
Well, Girardi is doing the best he can. This is only maybe his third broadcast at most. Once he gets some experience, he'll get a little personality on the air.

[VanMan]

Bottom of the 2nd, and DeRosa takes the first pitch to the right-center gap. While he gets a couple khakis, maybe a pair of cargo shorts, he motors into second with a lead-off double.

[VanMan]

Cedeno takes the first pitch for a strike. The 0-1 is hit down the first-base line, driving in DeRosa, Cedeno motors into second, breaking a 1-for-17 slump and giving the Cubs a 4-0 lead!

[VanMan]

Marquis swings at the first pitch, grounds it to Kennedy for the out, but advances Cedeno to third with one out and Pie coming up.

[VanMan]

Pie takes a fastball inside for ball one. Next pitch is a line drive, sliced foul. Time out called before the next pitch by Angel Hernandez, the home-plate ump. Reyes then misses outside on a change. The 2-1 is lifted foul near the camera well, Rolen has enough room to make the catch. Two down for Murton.

[VanMan]

First pitch to Murton is fouled near the Cubs bullpen. An excuse-me swing on a high pitch turns into a grounder to Kennedy to retire the side. Another run is added for the Cubs on two hits, one left.

End 2, Cubs 4, Cardinals 0

[VanMan]

Duncan leads off the third, takes the first for a ball, then fouls off the second. Duncan then has a basehit into left field. The ball takes a funny hop as it reaches Murton. He's able to keep the ball near him to hold Duncan to a single.

[VanMan]

Pujols takes the first two offerings for balls. The first was low and away, the second, low. Another pitch low and away for ball three. Pujols then takes a fastball down the middle for a strike. Next pitch is popped up to the middle of the diamond, bounces out of the glove of Ramirez! Marquis picks the ball up and throws it to DeRosa to retire Duncan hung out to dry on the pop-up. Score it 5-1-4.

[VanMan]

Rolen fouls one back over the screen. Then he pops it up to the right side of the infield. Lee and DeRosa almost fighting over it, but DeRosa squeezes it for the second out.

[VanMan]

Edmonds takes one outside, then drives a fly ball to left-center, but Pie is there to make the catch and retire the side. No runs, one hit, one left.

Middle 3rd, Cubs 4, Cardinals 0

[VanMan]

While Fox was showing Alex Rodriguez's at bat in Boston, Lee grounds out, and Ramirez grounds out. Barrett takes the first pitch for a strike. He then swings and misses the 0-1. The 0-2 is taken away. Barrett fouls off the 1-2 as it tailed inside. The second 1-2 was a curve that barely missed and Barrett held. The 2-2 fouled off. The 2-2 redux is high, swung on and missed. Cubs down in order.

End 3rd. Cubs 4, Cardinals 0

Hey guys, I have to get ready for my regular job, so someone please take over?

[downsouthcubbie]

Marquis is looking great. 5 K's no BB's. 4-0 top of the seventh 1 out

[downsouthcubbie]

7th inning stretch. Cubs 4-0. Marquis is done for the day. 0 runs 0 bb's
5 K's.

[downsouthcubbie]

Cedeno Homers!!! 5-0!!!

[downsouthcubbie]

Tyler Johnson the lefty is now facing D Ward

[CubsFan23]

6-0 Now!!!!

[CubsFan23]

6-0 after eight. Time to shut them down in the ninth.

[CubsFan23]

CUBS WIN!!! CUBS WIN!!!

[ryno4ever]

Okay...Win today.... <deep breath>... Miller time tomorrow. He needs to pitch well not only for the team, but to keep his rotation position.

today's game...a few things:
* Girardi was a breath of fresh air to listen to. When I saw how many Fox games we were going to have to watch this year, I was really bummed. I usually hate Fox reporters, just as much as I hate watching the games on ESPN. But, today, it was great to have Girardi in the booth!

* The only real problem I had was when they kept splitting the screen and focusing in on the BoSox/Yankees game. We were there to watch the Cubs game. If it was a major milestone or a major record being broken, sure, I don't care, break in. But just to show is A-Rod's at bat because he MIGHT hit a home run which would bring him closer the the all-time-April-home-run-reecord! Come on, we can watch highlights on SportsCenter.

* Cedeno... okay, you're forgiven for yesterday's screw up!

* Barrett...Keep it up, Big Boy!

* Marquis...a very well deserved win. We were all pulling for you to shove it down the Cardinal's throats, that has to feel good! I hope the Cardinal management were going "Holy S**t! Why didn't he pitch like that with us?" NO WALKS!!!! YEP, I SAID IT....NO WALKS ISSUED BY MARQUIS! NO HOMERS ISSUED BY MARQUIS! HECK...NO RUNS GIVEN UP BY MARQUIS! You are looking better and better in pinstripes every time you take the mound. (It was hard for me to see an ex-redbird wearing pinstripes. But, then, it took me awhile to warm up to Derrek Lee coming over from the Marlins, too).

*Ohman... came in and gave up the first walk of the game. I got a little nervous, even with the big lead we had. But he held it down and worked out of it. I hope this boosts his confidence a little. As they showed him walking off the field and toward the dugout, I couldn't help to think that this was the first time this year he is leaving the mound with the rest of the team, and this is the first time walking into the dugout after pitching and he doesn't have 40,000 people booing him.

Pie in Center... even Girardi was giving Kudos to the kid and pointing out aspects of why Wrigley Field is one of the hardest places to play the outfield, especially center and right field. This kid can play center like a natural. Please, Mr. Hendry, find a way of keeping him here and sending someone else down.

Murton... I love his hustle. He ran that ball all the way out and made a double out of a routine fly ball that was dropped after being lost in the sun.

The batters were being more patient at the plate. The baserunners were paying attention. This was a team win today.

Tomorrow is Miller. So, looking back, I am glad that Pinella used Ohman two innings today, as he will be unavailable tomorrow, when we know that the bullpen will be getting some work in.

Okay, that's my take on this great win!

[Sheffield_&_Waveland]

Okay...Win today.... <deep breath>... Miller time tomorrow. He needs to pitch well not only for the team, but to keep his rotation position.

today's game...a few things:
* Girardi was a breath of fresh air to listen to. When I saw how many Fox games we were going to have to watch this year, I was really bummed. I usually hate Fox reporters, just as much as I hate watching the games on ESPN. But, today, it was great to have Girardi in the booth!

* The only real problem I had was when they kept splitting the screen and focusing in on the BoSox/Yankees game. We were there to watch the Cubs game. If it was a major milestone or a major record being broken, sure, I don't care, break in. But just to show is A-Rod's at bat because he MIGHT hit a home run which would bring him closer the the all-time-April-home-run-reecord! Come on, we can watch highlights on SportsCenter.

* Cedeno... okay, you're forgiven for yesterday's screw up!

* Barrett...Keep it up, Big Boy!

* Marquis...a very well deserved win. We were all pulling for you to shove it down the Cardinal's throats, that has to feel good! I hope the Cardinal management were going "Holy S**t! Why didn't he pitch like that with us?" NO WALKS!!!! YEP, I SAID IT....NO WALKS ISSUED BY MARQUIS! NO HOMERS ISSUED BY MARQUIS! HECK...NO RUNS GIVEN UP BY MARQUIS! You are looking better and better in pinstripes every time you take the mound. (It was hard for me to see an ex-redbird wearing pinstripes. But, then, it took me awhile to warm up to Derrek Lee coming over from the Marlins, too).

*Ohman... came in and gave up the first walk of the game. I got a little nervous, even with the big lead we had. But he held it down and worked out of it. I hope this boosts his confidence a little. As they showed him walking off the field and toward the dugout, I couldn't help to think that this was the first time this year he is leaving the mound with the rest of the team, and this is the first time walking into the dugout after pitching and he doesn't have 40,000 people booing him.

Pie in Center... even Girardi was giving Kudos to the kid and pointing out aspects of why Wrigley Field is one of the hardest places to play the outfield, especially center and right field. This kid can play center like a natural. Please, Mr. Hendry, find a way of keeping him here and sending someone else down.

Murton... I love his hustle. He ran that ball all the way out and made a double out of a routine fly ball that was dropped after being lost in the sun.

The batters were being more patient at the plate. The baserunners were paying attention. This was a team win today.

Tomorrow is Miller. So, looking back, I am glad that Pinella used Ohman two innings today, as he will be unavailable tomorrow, when we know that the bullpen will be getting some work in.

Okay, that's my take on this great win!

Great post Ryno agree with everything you said. I think that even though Pie hasn't came through with the bat his defense has been great. I don't think Soriano would have gotten the read Pie did today in center. There was some hard hit balls in that game that would have been a much tougher play for Soriano but Pie made them look routine. Looking forward to watching him play more in the future.