Last Week
Record: 5-1
The Cubs found their swagger at the plate last week putting up 52 runs over six home games against division rivals the Cincinnati Reds and the Pittsburgh Pirates. The Cubs opened an eight game home-stand in style last Tuesday with 9-5 victory over the Reds their former manager Dusty “Dude Man” Baker. The Cubs pick up where they left off the next day with a 12-3 victory. The boys in blue were not able to complete the sweep however losing 9-2 allowing Baker to get his first win against the team he managed to a 322-326 record from 2003-2006.
After the Reds left town the lowly Pirates came in for a three game set which was more of a formality than any actual contest. The home team put three “W’s” on the board in impressive fashion, beating Pirate “ace” Ian Snell 3-2 on Friday. Then they posted thirteen runs each of the next two days with a 13-1 victory on Saturday and a 13-6 on Sunday to complete the Cubs’ second sweep of the Pirates this season and third in a row.
Notes and Numbers
The Cubs bats were red hot over the last week as they doubled up opponents 52-26. The 26 runs given up works out to a 4.33 E.R.A. Overall the Cubs’ starters turned in their best week of the young season. That said Ted Lilly still needs to get back on track. Lilly gave up five runs in his six innings of work in his only start last week; the only good news is that he managed to lower his E.R.A. (9.16). Lilly probably should have been pulled after the fifth at which point he had given up only three runs. Rich Hill got back on track with six innings of three hit, one run, ball against the Pirates on Friday.
Reed Johnson has been on a tear at the plate hitting .450 last week with a pair of doubles and four runs scored. Kosuke Fukudome has continued his strong start going 6-19 with five walks, a triple, double, and six runs scored. Fukudome only has four outs to the outfield, compared to 13 hits, this season. Ryan Theriot, on a seven game hit streak, hit .481 last week.
Cub of the Week: Derrek Lee 9-20, 3HR, 8R.B.I., 7R,
Next Week
The Cubs finish out the home-stand with a pair against the Mets, and are lucky enough to avoid ace Johan Santana. Then go on a five game road trip with a pair in Colorado and three in Washington’s new stadium. A 5-3 record this week is not out of the question the way that this team has been hitting the ball. The Cubs’ hot bats should do some damage in the thin air of Colorado. Thankfully Ted Lilly is slated for Tuesday and will not pitch in Colorado.
