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Take that SpaceMen

Thursday, June 17, 2004

Cubs Sweep! Cubs Sweep! Cubs Sweep! Holy Cow!

The Cubs beat the Astros 5-4 to sweep them in a four game series for the first time since 1967. The Cubs are now in second place, 2 games behind the Red-Birds.

Glendon Rusch pitched 8 innings, allowing 2 (earned) runs on 4 hits, 2 walks, 7 strikeouts, and earned his 4th win.

On the offensive side of the ball, the Cubs 3, 4, 5, and 6 hitters (Patterson, Alou, Hollandsworth, and Lee) combined to hit 11 for 20 with 5 RBI and 4 runs scored. This occured with Aramis sitting on the bench, and Sammy on the DL. (My guess is we'll see Hollandsworth in Left tommorrow giving Alou a day off.)

Notes: Two runners thrown out at the plate... ouch (Lee and Hollandsworth). Even if Hollandsworth was actually safe, that really hurts.

Corey Patterson is turning into the second coming of Mark Grace, left handed doubles hitter (and triples!). Corey is looking great in the past week or so. I think we are seeing the return of pre-2003-injury C-Pat.

Its fitting that the Cubs scored their second run following Roy Oswalt's 6th inning throwing error. In each of the past three games, the Cubs second run was scored with the aid of an Astros miscue. On Tuesday (June 15), Tom Goodwin reached second when Lance Berkman dropped a flyball in left. He eventually scored the tieing run when Aramis Ramirez drove him in with a single. On Wednesday, C-Pat bunted for a hit and then took second on Brad Ausmus' throwing error. Corey then scored on Paul Bako's subsequent double. Tonight (June 17), Todd Hollandsworth got an infield single and then took second base on Roy Oswalt's throwing error. Derrek Lee then drove him in with a double.

In the series against the Astros, the Cubs committed 0 errors while the Astros were guilty of 5 errors in the series. The Cubs have now gone 9 games (84 innings) without committing an error.

Through Yesterday's game (Weds) #66 the Cubs have the best fielding percentage in the Majors at .990 and have only committed 26 errors. Thats an average of an error every 2.5 games.

The Cubs pitching has allowed the second fewest number of runs (255 to LA's 243), and has the third smallest ERA 3.77 (behind the Dodgers 3.76 and Expos 3.64). The Cubs also lead the majors in unearned runs with only 7. The Dodgers are second with 11.

Remind me again, what does great Pitching and Defense accomplish again? :)

Oh Me of little faith: When Glendon Rusch took the mound in the seventh inning, I was second guessing Master Dusty believing he was pushing his luck. When Rusch returned in the 8th, I was even more concerned that Dusty was asking too much from the Glendo-man. Of course, I was wrong as Rusch went 1-2-3 in both frames.

Posted by Byron at June 17, 2004 8:56 PM | | |

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