Monday, June 15, 2009

Cubs get a big win, pull closer to first in mediocre NL Central

Sunday: Cubs 3, Twins 2


Ahhhh.

Doesn't that feel good? A nice walk-off win at home got the Cubs back to .500 for the 12th time this season. Theriot's game-winning single ended the four-game losing streak and gave the Cubs some good mojo heading into a big series with the crosstown rival White Sox (who, by the way, beat the Brewers again to help the Cubs pull within 2.5 games of first).

Ted Lilly pitched well enough to get the win, but left the game with the score tied 2-2. Interestingly, despite having a team-leading seven wins, Lilly has won in just two ballparks this season: Wrigley Field four times and Minute Maid Park three times.

Enjoy the day off on Monday--the Cubs will play the next 23 days.

Cubs note

Ryan Theriot, who struck out once Sunday, has seen his strikeout total rise significantly this season. He already has 39 K's this year; he had just 58 all of last year and 50 in 2007. He seems to have a completely different approach at the plate this year--he of course has the six home runs, and he seems to shoot for the right side of the field much less often. Hit clutch single on Sunday was more like it.

MLB notes

-You couldn't make this up.

-Caught in a rundown Sunday, Johnny Damon took a page out of A-Rod's playbook and swiped the ball out of Alex Cora's glove. Fortunately, the ump saw it and called Damon out. Just another reason to hate the Yankees.

-The combined lines of NL East aces Derrek Lowe and Johan Santana Sunday: 5.1 IP, 17 H, 16 ER (ERA of 27.00) .

-Two AL pitchers hit home runs Sunday: Mark Buehrle and Josh Beckett. Beckett, of course, used to play in the NL with the Marlins.

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