Cubs Sweep the Bucs;Cub Nation is back

After a long absence I am finally back to blogging and the Cubs are off to a terrific 12-6 start and are on top of the NL Central. The Cubs continued their winning ways with a 13-6 victory today over the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Reed Johnson has fit in very nicely for the injured Alfonso Soriano and has proved to be a great pick-up early on this year. Reed led the game off with a double only to be driven in on a Ryan Theriot base hit.

Ryan Dempster started off the game giving a leadoff base hit to Nate McLouth and a base hit to Freddy Sanchez but after he got Jason Bay to ground into a 5-3 double play he did not let up a base hit until the 5th inning.

Dempster did struggle in the 5th inning though giving up a leadoff single to Xavier Nady. Jose Bautista then hit a double into the ivy sending Nady to 3rd. Dempster hit the next batter loading the bases for Doug Mientkiewicz who singled driving in Nady and trimming the Cubs lead to four. Ryan then walked the next batter Nate McLouth making it a 5-2 Cubs lead. Dempster then got Freddy Sanchez to ground into a force out making it a 5-3 Cubs lead. After a Jason Bay walk to load up the bases again, Lou let Dempster stay in the game to try and get the win. Dempster struck out Adam LaRoche to end the inning and the Cubs poured it on after that putting the game out of reach with a 5 run 5th.

Aramis Ramirez had another big day going 4-5 with a home run and 5 RBI's. Derrek Lee
went 2-4 with 2 RBI's. But the story of the day was Ryan Theriot who went 4-5 with 2 RBI's.

The Cubs go to 6-0 against the Pirates this year and 9-3 against the NL Central. The Cubs continue to dominate left handed pitching something that they had trouble with last year.

One note, Kosuke Fukudome was scratched from this game due to swelling from a cyst above his right eye. The article mentions that it was the first time this year Fukudome was not in the lineup but I think Lou gave him the day off a few days ago. Fukudome should be in the lineup Monday Night against the Mets.

The Mets game will be seen locally on WCIU and nationally on ESPN. Carlos Zambrano (2-1) will face John Maine (1-1) as the Cubs look to win 7 of their last 8 games.

The Cubs faced John Maine twice last year and hit him hard both times:
May 15th, 2007
August 4th, 2007