Cubs Drop First game with Cardinals

Not a good day for the Chicago Cubs. Ryan Ludwick had an RBI infield single in the top of the first. The Cubs tied the game on a sac fly by Derrek Lee in the bottom of the first. Sean Marshall, who pitched a fine game, did serve up a 2-run homer to Chris Duncan in the 4th.

In the bottom of the 5th, with Theriot and Soriano on base, Kosuke Fukudome delivered a 3-run homer to give the Cubs the lead! The lead was short lived, however. Greene homered off Marshall to tie the game with one out in the top of the 6th.

The bottom of the 6th was the key to the game. Aramis Ramirez led off the inning with a single. Mike Fontenot reached on a fly ball that was dropped in the outfield. The throw to second was wild, and Ramirez moved up to third and Fontenot to second. Cubbies have a good chance to take control of the game with 2 guys in scoring position and nobody out. Soto, who went 0-4, struck out. Ryan Theriot was intentionally walked. Milton Bradley was the pinch hitter with the bases loaded. Bradley has been out for the first 3 games of the home stand with a groin injury. Milton worked a 3-0 count. The 3-0 pitch from Wainwright was close, but the home plate umpire called it a strike. Bradley was about to toss the bat aside because he thought the pitch was a ball. The 3-1 pitch was a strike right down the middle, and Milton did not swing. The payoff pitch appeared to be a low and in, but Larry Vanover, the umpire, called it strike three. Bradley was very upset at the blown call and was thrown out of the game. The Cubs still had a chance to score with 2 men out, but Soriano flew out to end the inning. Not getting any runs here was the turning point of the game.

David Patton allowed a lead off walk in the 7th. Pujols was intentionally walked with 1 out. The two walks would come back to hurt the Cubs when they both came around to score against Patton and Neil Cotts. Angel Guzman allowed a solo homer to Brian Barden in the 8th. The Cubs bats were quiet late in the game, and the final score was Cardinals 7, Cubs 4.

Game Highlight: Cubs have runners at second and third with no outs in the 6th and fail to score.

My Player of the Game: Kosuke Fukudome for his double and 3-run homer. Kosuke has been on fire to start the year. Let's hope this last longer than it did a year ago.

Up Next: Game 2 of this series tomorrow afternoon at 1:20 CT.

Lou was not happy when he met with the media after the game. He yelled at a reporter for asking about him sending Larry Rothschild to make some of the pitching changes.

The bottom line right now is...

We're 9 games into the season and our record is 5 and 4. Don't Panic.