Opening day came two days late for the Cubbies, as they tipped over the Cincinnati Reds in their city tonight 4 to 1. Ted Lilly had a great debut, throwing seven innings, striking out nine and only giving up three hits. Bobby Howry and Ryan Dempster did exactly as expected from the bullpen, claiming the eighth and ninth innings easily.
The team is zero in two attempts in the stolen base department. Derrick Lee was caught Monday. Ronnie Cedeno tried to nab one in the ninth tonight, only to be shot down. Maybe Manager Lou Piniella was right when he said that “small ball” would not be the Cubs game this year.
The big star tonight was another import, Mark DeRosa. With the Cubs up 2 to 1, he picked up a RBI single with the bases full, bringing in two. Aramis Ramirez looked good too, slapping three singles and scoring twice. The Cubs do not have to hit home runs every day to win. They just need to hit as a team.
Back in Chicago, the Sox took it on the chin again. Jon Garland did not look as bad as Jose Contrares on Monday, but he did allow five runs, walked four, and gave up seven hits in five plus innings of work. The pen didn’t look much better, with only former Cub David Aardsma shutting down the Indians the final two innings.
With a three-run clout in the first, Jim Thome was the hitting star in Chicago tonight. Tadahito Iguchi also slapped a two-run shot in the fourth, but it was not enough to cover the pitching mistakes.
The Cubs wrap things up in Cincinnati tomorrow afternoon before heading to Milwaukee for the weekend. The Sox will try to snag one game from Cleveland before hosting Minnesota Friday.
The blood is starting to warm up after a cold day in Illinois. Nothing works better against thirty degree temps like a Cub win!
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