Cubs Win 2 in a Row

Last night, the Cubs won a game that was shortened to only 5 innings because of rain. Sean Marshall pitched a strong game and the Cubs won 6-2. Kosuke hit a home run in the win. The win ended a 8 game lossing streak.

Back-to-back doubles in the 9th of today's game by Andres Blanco and Jake Fox to bring in 2 runs. Yes, I'm talking about the MLB game! There were some changes with the Cubs roster before today's game:

• Neal Cotts are Bobby Scales have been optioned to AAA.
• Aaron Miles has been placed on the 15-day DL with a right shoulder strain.
• Jake Fox, Andres Blanco, and Jason Waddell have been called up to take the open spots and the roster.

Reed Johnson had a key solo homer in the bottom of the 8th to put the Cubs ahead 3-2. Geovany Soto got a single, the the aforementioned doubles by Blanco and Fox put together a pair of doubles to make it 5-2.

Kevin Gregg got the save, Cubs take 2 out of 3 against the Pirates!

The bad news of the day: Carlos Zambrano was thrown out of the game in the 7th inning after arguing a close play at the plate. Carlos bumped Mark Carlson, the home plate umpire, briefly. Then Zambrano, after being ejected, signaled that Carlson was ejected. Big Z threw the baseball into left field, then threw his glove and stomped off the field. On his way to the clubhouse, he his a Gatorade machine with a bat in the Cubs dugout.

Speaking of Cubs pitchers getting thrown out, Ted Lilly doesn't expect to be penalized more than a fine. Ted claims that all he told Bob Davidson was that he needed to concentrate more. Davidson said, "everything [Lilly] said to [the media] was bull. Everything I read in the paper that he said was untrue. He never said one of those words. What he said to me, you couldn't print in the paper."

Here's what Lou had to say to the media today:

• Our bullpen did a nice job.
• He’s going to have a talk with Carlos Zambrano, who need “to calm down a little bit.”
• Carlos thought the runner was out at home plate, it was a real close play and the umpire thought he was safe.
• Carlos has to tone it down.
• Piniella jokes that he’s the only calm, cool, and collected one around here.
• Lou obviously didn’t like Z’s display.
• We’ll have to wait and see what the outcome of this is.
  Piniella said the Lilly thing “came out of the clear blue sky,” but “we can’t have that and we’ll take care of it.”

Zambrano said this after the game:

• I'm a competitor, and he was out, but it's his call.
• Z has not seen the reply and cannot tell us now whether he made contact with the umpire yet.

The Cubs depth in the infield is really being tested. With star third baseman Aramis Ramirz already on the DL, Aaron Miles was placed there today. Then Ryan Freel left the game today with a strained left hamstring. His status is day-to-day.

More info on the 3 guys called up today:

Jake Fox-

• In 40 games at AAA Iowa, hitting .423 with 50 RBIs and 17 HRs this year. Fox is leading the PCL in all 3 triple crown categories.
• Has played 274 minor league games as the catcher, 119 at 1B, 99 in OF, and 4 at 3B. Jake will have to try to play 3B if he wants to stay on the Cubs roster even with his red-hot bat.
• 7 minor league seasons, all in Cubs organization.
• Will wear #5 with the Cubs.

Andres Blanco-

• Made Cubs debut today. Big league debut with Royals in 2004.
• Hitting .314 with 4 HR and 25 RBIs at AAA Iowa this year.
• 564 games at SS, 43 at 2B, 1 at 3B in career.
• Will wear #13 for the Cubs.

Jason Waddell-

• 0-1 with a 5.40 ERA at AAA this year.
• Has yet to make MLB debut
• LHP
• Spent first 8 minor leauge seasons in Giants organization, first with Cubs.
• Will wear #43.

Cubbie Birthdays:

Todd Hundley (40)

Jerry Kindall (74)

This Date in Cubs History:

2005- Cubs P Mark Prior has to leave the game‚ in the 4th inning after being hit in the elbow by a line drive off the bat of Brad Hawpe. A MRI shows a fracture that will sideline the ace indefinitely‚ but he will be back in action next month. Todd Wellemeyer fills in to earn the 10-3 win over the Rockies. Derrek Lee hits two homers‚ Neifi Perez has a HR and 4 RBI‚ and Corey Patterson adds a solo shot.

1984- At Chicago‚ the Reds edge the Cubs 4-3 in a contest protested by both clubs. Ron Cey belts a 3rd inning blow originally called a homer by umpire Rippley. The Reds argue the call and‚ after an ump conference‚ the ruling is a foul. The Cubs then protest. The umps then huddle with Reds manager Rapp and tell him that P Mario Soto is ejected from the game. Soto charges the field tackling Cubs coach Don Zimmer and then gets re-ejected. Both teams then file a protest.

Let's hope the Cubs take this momentum in to a BIG 4-game weekend series against the Dodgers at Wrigley Field. Game 1 tomorrow night!