Cubs 8, Indians 7: And that happened

The Cubs beat the Cleveland Indians 8-7 in one of the wildest Cubs games in years and there have been plenty. The Rockies/Cubs game 2 years ago when the Rockies came all the way back (much like the Cubs today) to take the lead in the top of the 9th only to have the Cubs steal it away with 2 in the bottom of that inning thanks to a 2 run single by Alfonso Soriano. That was one of the games that sparked that 2007 Chicago Cubs team to a division title. This also gives memories of that Cubs/Rockies game last year where the Cubs came back from an 8-0 hole to win the game. Mark DeRosa was the hero in the game hitting a huge 3 run home run in the bottom of the 7th to give the Cubs their first lead of the day. Today's game was delayed until 2:45 PM thanks to rain and the threat of rain. During the rain delay, Comcast SportsNet oddly enough showed the finish of last year's Cubs/Brewers game on September 18th, 2008 where the Cubs scored 4 runs with 2 outs in the bottom of the 9th capped off by Geovany Soto's 3 run homer that tied the game. The Cubs ended up winning that game in the 12th inning thanks to a Derrek Lee single that scored Jason Marquis. That win would put the Cubs magic number to win the NL Central at 2 and of course the Cubs finished the deal 2 days later against the St. Louis Cardinals.

Now onto today's game. I was preparing a losing recap where I was going to state how the momentum from yesterday's win was gone but throw that out. The Cubs won a thrilling game today. At one point, they trailed 7-0. Rich Harden probably had his worst start as a Cub today giving up two 3-run homers in two of the first three innings. One to Luis Valbuena and the other to Victor Martinez. Former Cub Mark DeRosa chipped in with an RBI single in the 4th to make it a 7-0 lead. At this point, I turned off the TV and did other business for a little bit as I thought the Cubs had absolutley no shot at winning this game against last year's AL Cy Young winner and with the way the Cubs have been hitting thus far this season. Reed Johnson and Derrek Lee hit solo shots in the 5th and 6th innings as the Cubs tried to fight their way back into the game. Cliff Lee finally was taken out of the game in the 8th inning as the Cubs fought their way back with a huge rally. Milton Bradley led off the inning with a single to center which got Lee out of the game after 109 pitches thrown. Joe Smith, a sidearm throwing reliever, came in and struck out Derrek Lee before giving up a double to Geovany Soto sending Milton Bradley to 3rd. The next batter Jake Fox (who got his first start at 3rd base today) struck out on an awful outside pitch. Reed Johnson then walked loading the bases for Andres Blanco who hit a broken bat single scoring two runs and pulling the Cubs within three runs. The Indians then went to reliever Rafael Perez who faced pinch-hitter Koyie Hill. Hill grounded a ball to Peralta who bobbled the ball allowing a run to score and allowing Hill to reach first base safely. The next batter Alfonso Soriano singled scoring yet another run to make the defcit 1. Matt Herges then came in to relive Perez and he got Ryan Theriot to fly out to end the threat.

In the top of the 9th inning, Carlos Marmol came in and walked two batters but managed to get out of the jam by striking out Victor Martinez with two outs. In the bottom of that inning, former Cub Kerry Wood came in to close the game with a standing ovation by the Wrigley faithful. The first batter of the inning Milton Bradley got the count to 3-2 but ended up popping out to swallow left. Derrek Lee then stepped up and ripped a homer into the left field bleachers tying the game. This home run by Lee almost reminded me of Jim Edmonds' home run in the left field bleachers in that 3-2 win on throwback day last year against the Atlanta Braves. Both home runs tied the game in the bottom of the 9th with the Cubs down to their last outs and both home runs were hit in basically the same spot of the bleachers.

The Cubs committed a few defensive miscues in the top of the 10th inning but luckily none of them came back to hurt us in the end. Kevin Gregg came into the game in that inning and allowed Shin-Soo Choo to reach on an infield single. Two batters later after a fielders choice, Kelly Shoppach hit what looked to be a foul ball into the lower level near the visiting dugout but the wind brought the ball back into play. But Derrek Lee could not make the catch giving Shoppach another chance and he took full advantage of it hitting a ball to Alfonso Soriano who looked to have a beat on the ball but he whiffed on it allowing Peralta to get to 2nd and Shoppach to reach on an error. Gregg hit the next batter but got out of the jam by getting Ryan Garko to lineout to Kosuke Fukudome.

In the bottom of the 10th, Luis Vizcaino came in replacing Wood. He got the first two batters out but walked Alfonso Soriano. Soriano then stole 2nd getting him into scoring position for Ryan Theriot. On a 3-2 count, Theriot hit the ball on the end of the bat that bounced away from Martinez just as he was about to make a play on the ball and Alfonso Soriano scored giving the Cubs a huge comeback win.

With Tomo Ohka pitching tomorrow and Jeremy Sowers going Sunday, this was a huge win for the Cubs especially off of last year's Cy Young winner (not that it was Lee's fault his bullpen is horrendous). Now the Cubs have two huge walkoff, comeback victories in a row. Let's win a 8-1 game tomorrow. Not sure if I can handle another close game like this. I'll be there tomorrow. Go Cubs! As for the player of the game today, it has to be Derrek Lee who hit 2 home runs today including the one in the 9th sending the game into extras.