For the first eight innings against Madison Bumgarner the Cubs looked very much like the team that lost 12 games in a row, in the ninth inning the Cubs looked more like the team that just swept the Padres. Bumgarner breezed through the first 8 innings, throwing just over 90 pitches and looked like he was on his way to his first career complete game, and shut-out. The Cubs said not so fast as Starlin Castro and Joe Mather each singled with spelled the end of Bumgarner’s night. Santiago Casilla, who is the new closer for the Giants with Brian Wilson out for the year, entered the game and promptly gave up a three-run home run to Alfonso Soriano and just like that it was 4-3 Giants. After Reed Johnson finished his horrendous night with a ground out Bryan LaHair roped a double to left field, and was pinch ran for by Ian Stewart. Darwin Barney followed with a swinging bunt base-hit but Ian Stewart could not advance to third, and he should have, and that was huge. After a Steve Clevenger ground out that moved runners-up to second and third pinch hitter David DeJesus flied out to center field ending the game. Paul Maholm was not very good as he could not locate a fastball to save his life. He lasted five and a-third giving up four runs, all earned, on eight hits, the loss drops him to 4-4 on the season. Darwin Barney stayed red-hot at the plate going 3-for-4 and Starlin Castro finished the night 2-for-4, he is now hitting .321 on the season. Another game where the Cubs refused to take a pitch for eight innings then rally just enough to make you think they can pull it out, then they lose. Full box score and highlights after the jump.
Game Highlights:
Soriano’s Big Three-Run HR
Thanks for reading,
– George
Born on Third 