Thank God for Alfonso Soriano. I know a lot of Cub fans don't like Soriano and his streaky hitting, but tonight he bailed the team out. His two run homer with one out in the top of the ninth gave the Cubs a 6-5 lead and Marmol closed out the win.
So much negative came out of this game, I was ready to write the recap after the seventh when the bullpen collapsed, but I'm glad I waited. The offense was led by Soriano, Fukudome, and Aramis. Each hit a homer and they drove in all the Cubs runs.
Zambrano was laboring most of his start, though he did go six innings allowing three runs. The Cubs scored only on Fukudome's homer (more on him later) until Dome tripled home Soriano in the sixth. A Soriano fielder's choice tied the game at three in the top of the seventh.
This is when the fun started. Of course by fun I mean the second straight night of bullpen pick'um that almost made Lou kill somebody. Angel Guzman got an out before walking two, then Cotts came in to face Prince Fielder which of course ended in a walk. Aaron Heilman took his turn and to nobody's surprise JJ Hardy hit a two run single. A bizarre strike out and run down ended that inning with the Cubs down 5-3.
Aramis homered in the top of the eighth and Heilman stayed on to work an uneventful bottom of the inning. Carlos Villanueva who is holding the closers spot for Trevor Hoffman was able to get Koyie Hill out before facing Reed Mantle. Reed got a clutch single and Joey Gathright came on to pinch run. Soriano came up a sent the ball waaaaay over the fence and the Cubs got the 6-5 lead. Carlos Marmol struck out Braun and Fielder to end the game and the Cubs stole a win.
Now a brief talk about Fukudome. Him and Soriano are carrying the team this first week, and there are some encouraging signs from Dome. He is being aggressive with first pitch fastballs and it seems like the league hasn't remembered the book on him. I hope this is more than just another Fukudome hot April that turns worse as the weather gets warm.
Tomorrow night Sunday Night Baseball takes a trip to Milwaukee to watch Dempster go against Jeff Suppan. Hopefully the Cubs play better as a team tomorrow.
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