Cubs Avoid Sweep; Make a Drunk Guy Happy

Sunday was one of the nicest days of the year so far.  Not too hot, not too cold.  So in need of a little exercise before the Cubs game, or "sweating it out", because of my gluttonous last few months, I hopped on my bike and cruised down Lake Michigan.  If you've never checked out the path next to the lake, the scenery is breathtaking, and the lake is nice too.  Hordes of bikini clad girls crowd the shoreline, causing in my case, at least a few near miss accidents.  It's unfortunately amateur day as far as biking goes, and joggers, walkers, strollers, along with novice bike renters all share the same path, and all think they should stay to the left because they are the fastest thing going.  They're not.  They're only in the way.

Not a bad way to start a game day!

I had the wind to my back, on the way back North to Wrigleyville, and a grumble in my stomach, so I sped on over to one of my pre game haunts, "The Salt & Pepper"diner on Clark, just south of Wrigley, and ordered a 4$ Bloody Mary...or two...and a Tuna Melt.  It was especially delicious after an hour long ride.  This is the best deal going if you ask me.  20$ got me all this food and 2 big old bloody's.

After a quick trip to 711 on Addison and Sheffield to buy some smokes, I entered the stadium through the main gate, but unhappy with my Terrace Reserved Seat behind a pole, I ventured over to section 242, the fence leaning sun seats over in right field.  By far my favorite seats in the park when the temperature is under 80 degrees anyway.  God Bless America and the National Anthem were sung passably, but annoyingly by a young woman who probably thinks she's better than she is, judging by her horrible choices of modal trills and vocal ornaments.  Plus, I really hate the singing of God Bless America.  That is some American taliban noise right there.  God likes us better, so bless us.  Terrible sentiment, especially for an atheist like me.  You be the judge...

Hit the seats, not my seats, but my favorite seats, and proceded to watch the Cubs be no hit through 5 innings.  That's the third time in a row that the Cubs have gone once through the order without a single hit.  Edwin Jackson, our so far bust of a free agent signing, pitched well though, keeping the Cubs in the game the entire time.  I went through a couple of beers, and decided by the 5th it was time for soemthing harder, so I hit the Capt. Morgans Club and ordered a 16$ double shot of Johnny Red.  This is what I call Credit Card drinking, as I was outta cash, but not out of lust for liquor.  And when I came back to the seats in the bottom of the 6th, feeling significantly better than before, the Cubs actually staged a 1 run rally (yes, 1 run is called a rally in Cub Land) with a Soriano sac fly, tying the game, still without the benefit of a hit. Until finally, Dionner Navarro broke up the "no no" a batter later with a basehit.  These events convinced me that I should drink more whiskey at the ball game.  It's good luck.

It was now time for the stretch, and Mr Randy Hundley ingloriously did the honors.  I think Randy is part chicken, because he certainly laid an egg.

Amazingly, he actually sings better than Ernie Banks....

But Bad singing must have lit a fire under the Cubs butt, because in the bottom of the 7th, after a couple of singles by Sweeney and Barney, Cody Ransom came up and hit a 3 run homer!  Cubs lead 4-1!

Alright!  Off to the 8th, where Carlos "no lead is safe" Marmol, actually went 1-2-3! He struck out 2 as well.  This is something Carlos Marmol does not do very often.  He usually walks the lead off hitter, or hits him and we all say "Here we go again!". But not this time.  He was lights out.  The crowd was actually stunned into silence by his performance.  More of that please Carlos.  But let's not be fooled into resigning him please.....

Kevin Gregg had a bit of a rough time of it in the bottom of the 9th, giving up a single and a double, but no one scored because of a caught stealing and the Cubs win!  So we sang....and I was happy for once.



The Cubs avoided the sweep by Pittsburgh and now take on Cincy for a four game set....Starlin Castro went 0-4 and is now batting .243.  Just thought I'd throw that in there for good measure.

Tonights a night game. 7:05. Scott Feldman 5-4, 2.84 vs. Homer Baily 3-4, 3.84.  According to the starters ERA's, we win by one run.....and I'll be there!

I'll rap at you again tomorrow, but in the meantime....http://www.sonranto.com, and here's hot dog man....