6/4 CHC@MIL, 7:05 p.m.; TV: CSN; Radio: WGN

[VanMan]

The Chicago Cubs, coming off a win against the Atlanta Braves, 10-1, yesterday to break a six-game losing streak, travel tonight to Miller Park, aka Wrigley North, to face the NL Central-leading Milwaukee Brewers.

The Cubs are still without the leadership of Lou Piniella, who learned his suspension will be a total of four games stemming from the kicking incident during an argument with third-base umpire Mark Wegner following a disputed out call involving Angel Pagan in Saturday's 5-3 loss to the Braves. Alan Trammell will continue to be acting manager in Piniella's absence.

Tonight's starting pitchers are:

http://chicago.cubs.mlb.com/images/players/action/ph_150302.jpg
Jason Marquis (5-2, 2.93 ERA in 11 starts, with a complete-game shut out, 70 2/3 IP, 55 H, 25 R, 23 ER, 5 HR allowed, 23 BB, 37 Ks) for the Cubs

vs.

http://chicago.cubs.mlb.com/images/players/action/ph_433657.jpg
Dave Bush (3-5, 5.64 ERA in 11 starts, 68 2/3 IP, 79 H, 44 R, 43 ER, 9 HR allowed, 12 BB, 52 K) for the Brewers

Staring line-ups are unavailable as of this posting.

[VanMan]

Here are the starting line-ups for tonight's game:

Chicago Cubs (23-31, 7.5 GB, tied for 3rd in NL Central)
1. Alfonso Soriano, LF (.299, 6 HR, 14 RBI)
2. Felix Pie, CF (.241, 1 HR, 5 RBI)
3. Derek Lee, 1B (.361, 6 HR, 33 RBI)
4. Aramis Ramirez, 3B (.305, 13 HR, 38 RBI)
5. Jacque Jones, RF (.248, 2 HR, 18 RBI)
6. Michael Barrett, C (.241, 7 HR, 25 RBI)
7. Mark DeRosa, 2B (.253, 6 HR, 26 RBI)
8. Cesar Izturis, SS (.254, 0 HR, 5 RBI)
9. Jason Marquis, P (.207, 1 HR, 4 RBI)

Milwaukee Brewers (32-25, leading NL Central)
1. Corey Hart, RF (.292, 2 HR, 11 RBI)
2. J.J. Hardy, SS (.297, 16 HR, 47 RBI)
3. Ryan Braun, 3B (.278, 2 HR, 6 RBI)
4. Prince Fielder, 1B (.290, 19 HR, 44 RBI)
5. Johnny Estrada, C (.270, 6 HR, 18 RBI)
6. Geoff Jenkins, LF (.286, 10 HR, 25 RBI)
7. Bill Hall, CF (.258, 6 HR, 20 RBI)
8. Craig Counsell, 2B (.238, 0 HR, 8 RBI)
9. Dave Bush, P (.143, 0 HR, 2 RBI)

[VanMan]

One comment on the line-up:

I think this should be the every-day line-up, but with Murton and Theriot interchanged with Jones and Izturis, respectively.

[VanMan]

Bush throws a lot of strikes, but he also has a .297 Opp BA, so he's hitable.

[VanMan]

Soriano rips the first pitch into left field for a single. See what I told ya!

[VanMan]

Pie takes the first pitch low, as he shortened to bunt. Bush throws over to Fielder to check on Soriano. Pie then rips the next pitch into left-center for a single. Two on and no one out for Lee.

[VanMan]

Lee takes a curveball for a strike on the outside edge. Off-speed pitch just misses. Lee swings and misses a fastball, 1-2. Two-seamer is over for a called third strike.

[VanMan]

Ramirez fouls the first pitch back. Swing and a miss on an inside fastball, 0-2. Fouled off, still 0-2. Fastball upstairs, 1-2. Line drive down the left field line, falls in for a double. Soriano scores, Pie stops at third with one out and a 1-0 Cubs tally.

[VanMan]

Jones takes one low and in. Grounder to Bush, Pie was running on contact, throw to the plate gets the rookie. Two out.

[VanMan]

Barrett, with runners on the corners, swings and misses. Next pitch misses low and away, 1-1. Fastball gets over the knees and the plate, 1-2. Bush fakes to third and looks to first, nothing doing. Fastball misses away, 2-2. Barrett swings and misses to retire the side. However, the Cubs get a run on three hits, two left.

Middle 1st, Cubs 1, Brewers coming up

[VanMan]

Hart takes an off-speed pitch for a strike. Next pitch from Marquis is low. Another one is low, 2-1. Grounder foul. Fastball is high, full count. Popped to center, Pie is under it for the first out.

[VanMan]

Hardy takes a fastball over the plate, called strike one. Off-speed is low, 1-1. Fastball misses low and away, 2-1. Lined to left, one hops to Soriano for a single.

[VanMan]

Braun takes the first pitch low and in. Fastball misses inside, 2-0. Sinker catches the zone for strike one. Fastball is taken back up the middle for another single. First and second with one out with Prince Fielder coming up.

[VanMan]

Fielder takes a sinker low, ball one. He swings and misses at another sinker, 1-1. Fastball at the knees, 1-2. Sinker just misses inside, 2-2. Fielder fouls the next pitch back. Sinker misses away, full count. Popped up, foul ground behind the plate, Barrett got no jump, Marquis tries to rush to the stands, ball finds the front row. Fielder gets a new life, and takes a curve away, bases loaded, one out, and Rothschild comes out to chat.

[VanMan]

Estrada takes the first pitch away, ball one. He swings and misses at a sinker away, 1-1. Grounder to short, Izturis feeds to DeRosa for one, the pivot to Lee completes the double play! Marquis wiggles off the hook allowing no runs, two hits and a walk, two left on base.

End 1st, Cubs 1, Brewers 0

[VanMan]

DeRosa takes the fastball away, ball one. Off-speed pitch is fouled off. Another off-speed pitch is over for called strike two. DeRosa fouls one off to the right. He fouls another one back. Another pitch fouls off DeRosa. Off-speed pitch is called for strike three.

[VanMan]

Izturis takes a sinker that catches the zone, strike one. Next pitch is low, 1-1. Fastball away, 2-1. Izturis fouls one back, it's now 2-2. Sinker away, full count. Fouled back, stays full. Izturis pops one up in foul ground, first-base side. Estrada keeps the hockey mask on and makes the catch near the Brewer on-deck circle. Two out.

[VanMan]

Marquis takes a fastball for a strike. Sinker bends over the knees, 0-2. Marquis flies to center field, Hall is over to make the catch and retire the side. Nothing doing for the Cubs in the second.

Middle 2nd, Cubs 1, Brewers 0

[VanMan]

Jenkins takes a fastball for a strike on the outside corner. Sinker is low, 1-1. Jenkins grounds one foul, 1-2. Jenkins swings and misses for the strike out, but the ball gets past Barrett. Jenkins runs to first, Barrett is slow to get the ball, the throw hits Jenkins in the butt, and he's safe. It's ruled a passed ball, Barrett's eighth of the season.

[VanMan]

Hall takes a ball inside. Sinker is low, ball two. Fastball is fouled off, 1-2. Another fastball is taken for a strike. Off-speed pitch is high, full count. Hall drives one to right, Jones can't get the ball, it bounces over his head against the wall. Jenkins had to wait to make sure Jones caught it or not, but then advanced to third. Hall's into second for a double.

[VanMan]

Counsell takes a sinker away. He swings and misses the next pitch, 1-1. Off-speed pitch is high, 2-1. Sinker misses inside, 3-1. Lou is in the owner's box. Fastball misses away to load the bases for Bush. Rothschild comes back out.

[VanMan]

Bush takes a sinker for a strike. Grounder in front of the plate. Marquis charges and scoops to Barrett for the out at the plate, he throws to Lee for the 1-2-3 double play! Two out and runners on second and third.

[VanMan]

Hart takes a strike on a sinking fastball. Grounder, speared by Ramirez! Over to Lee for the third out! Another jam that yields nothing for the Beermakers! No runs, one hit, one walk, a passed ball and two left.

End 2nd, Cubs 1, Brewers 0

I don't think we can take much more of that!

[VanMan]

Soriano starts the third. He fouls the first pitch back. Sinker misses away. Soriano swings and misses, 1-2. Fastball is high, 2-2. Grounder up the middle, base hit past Counsell into center.

[VanMan]

Pie takes one upstairs, ball one. Another one misses high and well away, 2-0. Estrada comes out to chat with Bush. Fastball misses low, Pie works a 3-0 count. Pie takes one on the inside corner, 3-1. Soriano goes, Pie grounds to Counsell, over to first for the out, but Soriano is advanced to second with one out.

[VanMan]

Lee takes a fastball away. Grounder to Hardy in the hole, Soriano holds briefly, throw to Fielder gets Lee, Soriano goes to third, throw over is not in time. Runner on third, two out.

[VanMan]

Ramirez takes the first pitch out of the zone for a ball. Foul back, 1-1. Ramirez calls time, and then Estrada talks to Bush about the next pitch selection. Popped up behind first base, Fielder is over to make the play. No runs, one hit, one left on third.

Middle 3rd, Cubs 1, Brewers 0

[VanMan]

Hardy leads of the Brewer third. First pitch from Marquis is a sinker over for a strike. Next pitch travels only 55 feet for a ball. Fastball is low, 2-1. Grounder to Izturis, over to Lee for out number one.

[VanMan]

Just a note, Barrett has returned to the hockey-style mask.

[VanMan]

First pitch to Braun is in the dirt. Braun then fouls the next pitch off himself, 1-1. Sinker misses low and away. Sinker is swung on and missed, 2-2. Sinking fastball misses away, full count. Sharp ground ball, gobbled up by Ramirez, over to Lee for the second out.

[VanMan]

Fielder takes the first pitch deep to left field, Soriano makes a bead, but watches it fly over the wall for a solo homer to tie Alex Rodriguez for the MLB HR lead. 1-1 tie.

[VanMan]

Estrada pops the first pitch up, Marquis, Barrett, Ramirez, DeRosa and Lee all converge on the mound, but the ball drops on the mound! Error to Marquis.

[VanMan]

Jenkins takes a pitch away for a ball. He fouls the next pitch into and out of Barrett's mitt. Next pitch is fouled off to the left. Grounder to DeRosa, over to Lee for the third out. But the Brewers tie the game on Fielder's homer. There was the one error, but one man left.

End 3rd, Cubs 1, Brewers 1

[dundeecub]

any word on why barrett is wearing the hockey mask and not the classic style? mlb.tv is the brewers coverage and i'm sure it won't come up with them...

[VanMan]

AFLAC question:

Ned Yost wears the No. 3 as a tribute to whom?

[VanMan]

any word on why barrett is wearing the hockey mask and not the classic style? mlb.tv is the brewers coverage and i'm sure it won't come up with them...
They said on CSN that it may take pressure off Barrett's stitches.

Meanwhile, Jones tries to go oppo, but Jenkins leaps and makes the catch against the out-of-town scoreboard!

[VanMan]

Barrett takes a ball, then checks his swing, but the pitch was called a strike. He then grounds to Hardy for the second out.

[VanMan]

DeRosa takes the first pitch for a strike, then fouls one to the right, just out of the reach of Fielder. DeRosa calls time before the next pitch, which ends up being in the dirt for ball one. Slider misses away, 2-2. Grounder to Braun, over to Fielder, almost pulls him off the bag, but Cecil's son is able to hold the pillow to retire the side.

We had a close call, but nothing doing in the 4th for the Cubs.

Middle 4th, Cubs 1, Brewers 1

[VanMan]

AFLAC answer:

The No. 3 is a tribute to the late Dale Earnhardt Sr.

[dundeecub]

ah, cheers.

fsn wisconsin aflac: who was the last cubs player before lee to win the nl batting title?

[VanMan]

Marquis' first pitch to Hall is a called strike. Sinker is low, 1-1. Hall fouls one off to the left, 1-2. Fastball is up and in, 2-2. Soft line drive finds its way into center field for a single.

[dundeecub]

odd footnote: barrett fielded better in 04 and 05 in the hockey mask than the last 2 seasons in the classic. and he's never given up more than 10 pb in a season, i don't expect that to be the case for long...

[VanMan]

Counsell takes the first pitch for a strike. Sinker misses inside, 1-1. Another sinker this time hits the zone for strike two. Fastball misses inside, 2-2. Counsell fouls one off his foot. Grounder to Ramirez, over to DeRosa, but he drops it! Hall is safe at second. Error on DeRosa.

[dundeecub]

aflac: bill bucknor in 1980

[VanMan]

Bush bunts to the third-base side. Marquis fields it, looks to third, slips, then throws to DeRosa at first to complete the sacrifice. Second and third, one out.

[VanMan]

Hart swings and misses the first pitch. Grounder into the hole, Izturis fields, over to Lee... not in time! Infield single and RBI as Hall scores. Counsell stays at second.

[VanMan]

Hardy takes one low and away, and Barrett goes to talk with Marquis. Foul back, then a ball low and away. Popped to center, Pie there for the out. Runners stay put.

[VanMan]

Braun takes a strike up and in. Popped back, strike two. Another foul back against the screen. High fastball, check swing foul. Sinker is low and away, blocked by Barrett. Fouled off to the right. Another pitch is low and away to make it 2-2. The next one is swung on and missed to retire the side. But the Brewers score one on two hits, one error and two left.

End 4th, Brewers 2, Cubs 1

[VanMan]

Izturis shortened up to bunt, but takes a curve for a strike. Fastball is swung on and missed, 0-2. Fastball inside, ball one. An emergency swing is fouled off into the seats. Next pitch backs up Izturis, 2-2. Line drive to left, Jenkins is there for the catch.

[VanMan]

CSN poll question:

Do you think Piniella's 4-game suspension was fair?

Meanwhile, Marquis tried to bunt for a hit. Bush fields, throws to Fielder is just in time as Marquis is flying by.

[VanMan]

Soriano breaks his bat on the first pitch, but has enough behind it to line it over Fielder to right for his third hit.

[VanMan]

Pie fouls the first pitch off Estrada's manhood. He takes a few minutes to recover. Pie grounds to Hardy, who throws him out at first. No runs, a hit, one left.

Middle 5th, Brewers 2, Cubs 1

[VanMan]

First pitch to Fielder misses for ball one. Another one misses for ball two. Fastball is up and away, but called for a strike. Fielder rips one foul, look out on the right side! Another one is fouled back to the screen. Popped up near the Cubs dugout, Barrett chases, but it's out of play. Popped to short, Izturis is there for a catch.

[VanMan]

Estrada takes a strike on the first pitch. Next pitch bounces, 1-1. Estrada swings and misses, 1-2. He then swings and misses at one well out of the zone, strike three.

[VanMan]

CSN Poll resules, 76 percent say the suspension wasn't fair.

[VanMan]

Jenkins swings and misses at the first two pitches. Next pitch hits Jenkins on the right foot.

[VanMan]

Hall takes the first pitch low and away. He pops the next one up to right, Jones is there for the third out. No runs, no hits, a hit batter, and one left.

End 5th, Brewers 2, Cubs 1

[VanMan]

Lee swings at the first pitch and flies out to Hart.

[VanMan]

Ramirez takes the first pitch inside, then pops to Hardy for the second out.

[VanMan]

Jones fouled off the first pitch, then grounded to Fielder, who feeds Bush at first for the out. Nothing doing for the Cubs.

Middle 6th, Brewers 2, Cubs 1

[VanMan]

Counsell takes the first pitch high and in. He pulls the next pitch foul. Next two pitches miss the zone to make it 3-1. And Counsell takes one outside, ball four.

[VanMan]

Bush lays down a bunt, successful sacrifice, Lee to DeRosa.

[VanMan]

Hart takes one low and away, ball one. Sinker at the knees, strike one. Slider misses, 2-1. He pulls one to left through the hole. Counsell holds up before advancing to third. First and third, one out. Trammell is out to pull Marquis and brings on Carlos Marmol out of the pen.

[VanMan]

Hardy welcomes Marmol into the game. He swings and misses Marmol's first slider. Another slider catches the outside corner, 0-2. Ohman is up in the pen to get ready for Fielder. Slider backs up, and then is fouled into the hand of Sam Holbrook, the home plate umpire. Fastball, 93 mph, is high, 1-2. Marmol fakes to third, turns to first, Hart is back. Barrett calls time to talk with Marmol. Pick-off attempt at first, Hart's back in time. Off speed pitch misses away, 2-2. Hart running, popped to shallow left, Soriano runs in to catch it, Hart returns to first, Counsell bluffs a tag-up. Two down for Braun.

[VanMan]

Braun swings and misses, but Hart steals second.

[VanMan]

The 0-1 pitch to Braun misses away on a slider. Fastball is over for strike two. A backdoor slider is swung and missed, strike three. The Brewers get a hit and a walk, and strand them both.

End 6th, Brewers 2, Cubs 1

[ARamfan]

Hi VanMan, we still have plenty of time to beat the Brewers, don't you agree?

[VanMan]

Barrett takes a slider away. Curve ball catches the zone for a called strike. Barrett fouls one off that bounced, 1-2. Foul ball, not held by Estrada. Barrett cues one foul through the legs of Matt Sinatro. Another foul to the right in the seats. Fastball misses away, 2-2. Fouled back. Another fastball misses, it's full. Sinker bounces, Barrett walks.

[VanMan]

Hi VanMan, we still have plenty of time to beat the Brewers, don't you agree?
Well, the tying run is now on base. It can be done.

[VanMan]

Barrett goes, pitch is well high and tight, almost hit DeRosa in the head, Barrett steals second.

[VanMan]

The 1-0 to DeRosa goes off Estrada's goalie mask. He's been beat up behind the dish.

[VanMan]

The 1-1 to DeRosa, popped up, but fouled behind the Brewer dugout. DeRosa reaches out and puts one into left field. Barrett rounds third, but Quade puts up the stop sign. First and third with no one out.

[VanMan]

Izturis ties the game on the first pitch with a single to center, snapping an 0-for-11 slump. Barrett scores and DeRosa goes first-to-third. Tied at two!

[VanMan]

Ned Yost, after Floyd gets announced as the pinch hitter, goes to get Bush and brings in Brian Shouse.

[VanMan]

Hey, Mara! How's that for working the situation?

[ARamfan]

Hey, Mara! How's that for working the situation?

Very well, Eric! VERY WELL. :D

[VanMan]

Floyd will stay in to pinch hit against the submariner Shouse. Flat slider misses, and Floyd is able to hold his swing. Fastball misses inside, 2-0. Time called. Grounder through the hole, base hit! DeRosa scores, Izturis goes to second, and the Cubs re-take the lead, 3-2!

[VanMan]

Shouse is being pulled after facing one batter and failing to get him out. Matt Wise comes in to relieve.

BTW, Bush pitched 6+ innings, still is responsible for Izturis, but has given up 3 ER so far, 1 BB and 3 K on 7 H.

[VanMan]

Soriano to face Wise, who is a change-up specialist. Alfonso fouls one to the tarp, 0-1. He lifts one into the upper tank in left field for a three-run homer!!!!! Cubs now lead 6-2!!!!!!

This is what Hendry paid over $100 million for!!!!

[VanMan]

Pie grounds one to Fielder, he thought it would go foul, but the umpire called it fair. Fielder feeds to Wise for the out.

[dundeecub]

yee-haw.

[ARamfan]

This might be a L-O-N-G inning for the Brew Crew! :D

[VanMan]

Lee swings and misses a change-up. Fastball hits the outside corner. Another misses up and away, 1-2. Change-up in the dirt, ball two.

Bush has given up 4 ER on 7 H.

Lee chases a change up in the dirt for strike three.

[VanMan]

Ramirez fouls off the first pitch. Change-up misses inside. Ramirez grounds one foul to Quade, 1-2. Fastball high and in, 2-2. Fastball low, it's full. Ramirez fouls one to the left-side stands. He pops one to right-center, Hall is over to retire the side. However, the Cubs score five runs on four hits and a walk, including the Soriano three-run homer. No one left on base.

Middle 7th, Cubs 6, Brewers 2

[VanMan]

Sausage race result -- Hot Dog wins.

[ARamfan]

yee-haw.

Hey dundeecub, how ya doin'? By the way, what time is it in Edinburgh? Hopefully this one will be a game worth staying up for.

[VanMan]

Will Ohman comes in to face Fielder. He throws a fastball high. Fastball down the middle, taken for a strike. Grounder through the shift past Lee for a single.

[ARamfan]

Are we concerned about Oh-Man? He'd better not blow this one.

[VanMan]

As Wuertz warms up, Ohman faces Estrada. First pitch is a fastball high and away. Estrada fouls one to the left-side stands. The 1-1 pitch is inside, a fastball, ball two. Estrada goes up the elevator shaft, Lee is there for the out, though Barrett almost ran into him.

[VanMan]

Kevin Mench announced as a pinch hitter, but Trammell takes the ball from Ohman to bring in Wuertz. Not too bad of an outing. Just a single and a pop-up from Ohman's two batters.

[VanMan]

On a 2-0 count, Mench also goes up the elevator shaft. Lee's able to make the catch without a problem.

[dundeecub]

Hey dundeecub, how ya doin'? By the way, what time is it in Edinburgh? Hopefully this one will be a game worth staying up for.

its a quarter to 4. looks like it so far, but it'll be an all-nighter coz i've got to get a train to dundee at 06.30, then a train back to edinburgh at 09.30 to get paperwork for a driving test i have at 12!

[VanMan]

Hall swings and misses the first pitch. The next pitch is low and away. He swings and misses one low and away, 1-2. Wuertz throws one in the dirt away, 2-2. Hall fouls the next pitch to the screen. Curve is grounded to the left foul. Hall tried to check his swing, but the home-plate ump said he went around. Milwaukee gets a hit but strands him on first.

End 7th, Cubs 6, Brewers 2

[VanMan]

Jones grounds to Counsell to start the 8th.

[VanMan]

Barrett fouls off the first two pitches, then takes a ball in the dirt. He then pulls one to left field for a base hit.

[VanMan]

DeRosa takes a strike at the knees. He swings and misses a change-up, 0-2. Check at first, Barrett's back. Fastball is high, 1-2. Change is fouled off. Another one is fouled off Estrada's shinguards. Fastball is away, 2-2. Grounder to Braun, over to Counsell for one, to Fielder for the inning-ending double play. The Cubs get a hit, but it was erased.

Middle 8th, Cubs 6, Brewers 2

[VanMan]

Counsell will lead off the Milwaukee 8th. He tries to drag bunt, but fouled it back. Fastball is over for strike two. Popped up to second, DeRosa is there for the out.

[VanMan]

Gabe Gross will hit for Wise. Len just made a groaner. "I don't know if it's Wise, but it's pretty Gross. It could be Wuertz." Bob said, "We just have to grin and Barrett. We need to seek Counsell."

Anyway... on a 2-0 count, Gross flies to Soriano for the second out.

[dundeecub]

anyone else notice that soriano always skips into the air as he catches fly balls? whats that about?

[VanMan]

Hart, after Len and Bob make puns on all the players on both rosters, tried to bunt and missed, then took one for a ball. He then swung and missed. The 1-2 is in the dirt, a slider, 2-2. Hart fouls one back. Dempster's ready for the 9th, no matter what. Rising fastball misses, 3-2. Slider is called strike three. Nothing doing for the Brewers, as we all groan at Len and Bob during the inning.

End 8th, Cubs 6, Brewers 2

[VanMan]

anyone else notice that soriano always skips into the air as he catches fly balls? whats that about?
That's called a crow-hop. It's supposed to put more power behind a throw.

[VanMan]

Milwaukee brings in Chris Spurling to relieve in the ninth. He has a .320 Opp BA.

[VanMan]

Izturis takes the first pitch away. He then shoots it to left, Mench is there to make the catch.

[ARamfan]

anyone else notice that soriano always skips into the air as he catches fly balls? whats that about?

God only knows. I don't care if he does the hokey-pokey, as long as he's catching fly balls! :p

[VanMan]

Murton now in to pinch hit for Wuertz. He takes the first pitch low for ball one. Another one is away, 2-0. Fastball is at the knees, 2-1. Slider misses, 3-1. Slider misses low and away, Murton walks.

[VanMan]

Soriano, looking to improve on his 4-for-4 performance, takes the first pitch low, ball one. Soriano is 4th in the all-star ballotting. He fouls one back, 1-1. Back-up slider is over for a strike, 1-2. Grounder up the middle, Counsell ranges behind the bag, the throw to Fielder is... not in time! Soriano is 5-for-5! Murton over to second.

[VanMan]

Pie takes the first pitch up and away. Scott Eyre has joined Dempster in the Cub pen. Fastball is away, 2-0. He pops one near third in foul ground, Braun is able to make the catch, two down.

[VanMan]

Lee takes the first fastball low. Slider is over at the belt, strike one. Off speed pitch is swung on and missed, 1-2. Next pitch is high, 2-2. Lee fouls one off the homeplate ump's mask. Slider misses low and away, runners will go on the next pitch. Lee fouls another off the ump's mask. Lee grounds one through the hole into left, Murton rounds third, throw to the plate is not in time, Cubs now lead 7-2. Soriano advances to second on the Lee single.

[VanMan]

Ramirez takes the first pitch for a strike. Grounder to Hardy, flips to Counsell to force Lee and end the inning.

But the Cubs add one on two hits, a walk and two left.

Middle 9th, Cubs 7, Brewers 2

[Doba]

5-5 Fonzie. Very nice.

[VanMan]

Nissan drive of the game was Soriano's home run.

Dempster is on in a non-save situation.

[ARamfan]

5-5 Fonzie. Very nice.

Yep, that's what we've been waiting for. ;)

[VanMan]

Hardy will start the inning. He takes one up and away for ball one. Fastball over for a strike. Sinking fastball is low and in, 2-1. Hardy pops one wide of first, Lee is there for the out.

[VanMan]

Not just 5-for-5, but 5-for-5 with a homer.

[VanMan]

Braun chops one back to Dempster, he throws to Lee for the second out, and the Cubs fans are getting on their feet cheering!

[ryno4ever]

Hey guys! Sorry I'm late, my son has been playing games on my pc all night! WHAT AN AWESOME FEELING! 2 IN A ROW!

[VanMan]

Fielder takes a wicked cut and misses. He swings and misses again, 0-2. Fielder flies to shallow right-center, Jones is over... CUBS WIN!

Final score, Cubs 7, Brewers 2

W - Marmol (1-2)
L - Bush (3-6)

Game took 3 hours and 15 minutes to complete.

[VanMan]

Len just said the Cubs are 13-for-their-last-24 with RISP.

[ryno4ever]

Awesome, Awesome, Awesome!

[ARamfan]

Yea, 2 in a row! Lou throws a fit, gets suspended and sits out. We win 2 games so far! Therefore, maybe Lou should throw a fit every fifth day! :D

[VanMan]

Yea, 2 in a row! Lou throws a fit, gets suspended and sits out. We win 2 games so far! Therefore, maybe Lou should throw a fit every fifth day! :D
I don't know about that. If he does that, then he's going to spend a lot of time in New York instead of in the dugout.

[ARamfan]

That's my point though, maybe they're doing better without him in the dugout. Maybe it makes them nervous. :rolleyes:

[ryno4ever]

I dunno...you know how we've had our lineups interchangable...how about the coaching staff? Trammell is 2-0!

[VanMan]

Not officially though. :D

[ryno4ever]

That's my point though, maybe they're doing better without him in the dugout. Maybe it makes them nervous. :rolleyes:

All joking aside, that was a major topic on Chicago sports radio today... that the players are not liking playing for Lou...and their "players only" meeting theyhad a LOT of discussions about Lou and their dislike for him in it. They don't like playing for Lou. Maybe they are too intimidated by him.... I don't know how he treats them off the field/off camera and in the clubhouse, but it doesn't sound like "favorable working conditions". Even Steve Stone touched on it today.

[ARamfan]

All joking aside, that was a major topic on Chicago sports radio today... that the players are not liking playing for Lou...and their "players only" meeting theyhad a LOT of discussions about Lou and their dislike for him in it. They don't like playing for Lou. Maybe they are too intimidated by him.... I don't know how he treats them off the field/off camera and in the clubhouse, but it doesn't sound like "favorable working conditions". Even Steve Stone touched on it today.

I hadn't heard any of that, Heather. I was just speculating. :rolleyes: That is very interesting though.

[ryno4ever]

I'm trying to find a link to Steve Stone's show today.... I don't know if they archive every show and if they do, if it is posted yet, but they were talking about it all day today on the Score...and was one of their "Scoreboard Updates" they have every 20 minutes.

[ryno4ever]

Well, in trying to find it... I found this (http://chicago.cubs.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20070604&content_id=2005726&vkey=news_chc&fext=.jsp&c_id=chc) on cubs.com where they players are saying those reports are not true.

[ARamfan]

Well, in trying to find it... I found this (http://chicago.cubs.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20070604&content_id=2005726&vkey=news_chc&fext=.jsp&c_id=chc) on cubs.com where they players are saying those reports are not true.

Thanks, I just read through it. I wouldn't exactly think they're "unhappy" with Lou, I just think that knowing that he's watching makes them "nervous," while they're playing.

[VanMan]

Lou hasn't lost the players, really. It's just that the guys haven't performed up to their potential. He wouldn't be riding them if they just play fundamental baseball. And tonight, with the exception of three or four plays, they were OK. (The third-strike passed ball to Counsell, the miscommunicaiton on the mound on that pop-up, the time Barrett almost ran into Lee on another pop-up, and the DeRosa error, but I don't blame him or ARam on that. That's just baseball there.)