Friday September 7

The Cubs suffered a brutal loss yesterday as Ryan Dempster blew a one run lead in the 9th and we lost to the Dodgers 7-4.  It's too bad because the Cubs got another very good start, this time from Jason Marquis.  Now the season starts all over; The Cubs, Brewers, and Cardinals are all tied in the loss column with a little over 3 weeks left.

Dempster got roughed up, both on the field and off it since; but he was not the only reason the Cubs lost.  The offense blew a chance in the 1st inning to cripple the Dodgers.  The Dodgers starter, Derek Lowe, was struggling with his command and his strikes were just hanging in the zone.  Alfonso Soriano hit a leadoff homerun, then Lowe walked Lee and Ward with one out, but Ward was then picked off first base on a 3-0 count to DeRosa, who then walked himself.  Lowe recovered from there and pitched a lot better.

Then Soriano did it again.  Trailing 2-1 in the 7th, Alfonso hit a dramatic 3 run HR to give us a lead which I thought was enough with the way our 'pen has been since the end of May.  But the offense had a couple more oppurtunities to tack on, but failed.  Dempster was blasted, but he is not the only one to blame.  Keep in mind it was his first blown save since June 11 and just his 3rd BS for the entire season.  He has pitched very well this year. 

Yesterday's Results:

Dodgers 7, Cubs 4     Box:  http://mlb.mlb.com/news/boxscore.jsp?gid=2007_09_06_lanmlb_chnmlb_1

Cardinals 16, Pirates 4

Standings:

Cubs           71-68            --

Brewers      71-68             --

Cardinals     69-68             1