Game 44 Recap-
After taking the lead early, Pirates LH Phil Dumatrait could not find the strike zone and Pittsburgh could not sustain the early success, as the Cubs rallied 4-3 at Wrigley Field in Chicago Sunday afternoon. The young LH, coming off his 1st ML win, was wild and drove up his pitch count. He lasted 4 2/3 innings, allowing 4 hits and 4 runs, while walking 7 and striking out 2. Dumatrait threw 52 strikes among his 105 pitches.
1b Adam Laroche hit a 2 run homer in the 1st and an early Pittsburgh lead. Red hot Cubs LF Alfonso Soriano(sac fly) and SS Ronny Cedeno(single) tied the game at 2. Cubs CF Reed Johnson plated another run with a sac fly in the 4th after the dreaded sin, a leadoff walk. Asian superstar and Cubs RF Kosuke Fukodome singled in a run in the 5th and it was 4-2 Chicago.
After the 1st inning, Cubs starter RH Jason Marquis,settled down and posted his 2nd win. Over 6 innings, he allowed 4 hits & 3 runs(2 earned), while walking 1 and striking out 3. Laroche got Marquis again in the 6th, this time with an rbi single to right to make it 4-3 Cubs. Chicago’s set up men, RHs Bob Howry and Carlos Marmol, pitched strong 7th and 8th innings respectively. 1st year Cubs closer Kerry Wood struck out 2 in the ninth for his 10th save and a Cubs win.
Star of the Game-
Laroche- 3 rbi in a losing cause. Not an early season player, he is hitting .236 with 3 homers and 12 rbi in May thru 55 at bats, as opposed to .163 with 1 and 5 in 80 April ABs.
Pirates Notes-
Cubs have won 8 of 9 vs the Pirates this year…Laroche batted cleanup today between LF Jason Bay and RF Xavier Nady
Next Game-
Pirates are off Monday, then start a 3 game series vs Milwaukee at PNC Park- all 7:05 starts
