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Hey, We Already Saw This Movie and Didn't Like It Then!—Cards 2, Cubs 1
For the second night in a row, the Cubs failed to support a deserving starting pitcher with any offense and they lost another low-scoring game to the Cardinals.
Ryan Dempster allowed just six hits, two walks, and two earned runs over seven innings, but the Cub bats failed to produce any scoring until Micah Hoffpauir delivered a pinch single in the ninth to bring home Milton Bradley. The Cubs, who saw Reed Johnson fan to end the game with the potential tying run on third base, mustered just six hits after collecting three against Joel Piniero on Tuesday night.
Looks like having starters with batting averages like .230, .193, .200, and .202 is beginning to catch up with our boys.
What do you think, Mr. Piniella?
"You always have a few people struggling, but not four or five in a lineup. I mean, you could have four or five struggling in a 13-man alignment with your bench, but we're talking about guys that are regulars.
"So when that improves -- and it will -- you'll see our offense pick up and we'll do things with a lot more consistency."
Chris Carpenter, returning from injury, blanked the visitors for the first five innings and is now 8-3 lifetime against the Cubs.
Personally, I am looking forward to Carlos Zambrano's return against the Padres on Friday night. Aside from the hitters dealing with their myriad individual struggles, the regulars have to be feeling the weight of Aramis Ramirez's absence and maybe Zambrano will do something, anything, to jolt this team back awake.
To quote from Animal House, "I think this situation absolutely requires a really futile and stupid gesture be done on somebody's part," and I'm feeling that maybe Zambrano will be the guy to do it.
Sean Marshall goes against Adam Wainwright in the series finale in Saint Louis Thursday night.
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