OOTS, 9/18/08 Brewers-Cubs, Phillies-Braves

[Benjamin Grimm]

Things get started early today, with a day game at Wrigley Field. (Starts at 2:20 Eastern Time.)

The matchup is Bush and Harden, which sounds vaguely dirty.

[metirish]

Brewers 0-2 since firing Yost. I can't imagine Doug Melvin has job security if the Brewers fail to get to the post-season.

[soupcan]

Didn't they win last night?

[TransMonk]

Yeah, their 1-1, meaning Sveum has a better winning percentage than Willie did this year.

[metirish]

My bad , yes they won...

[Benjamin Grimm]

Brewers have already scored in the top of the first. They have runners on first and second and one out, J. J. Hardy batting.

[Centerfield]

Bases loaded and one out, but Hardy and Counsell both strike out. Milwaukee settles for just the one run. Hopefully that comes back to bite them later.

[Benjamin Grimm]

Hardy walked to load the bases, but Harden then struck out the next two to end the inning.

Brewers only score once, but Harden has thrown 38 pitches. He'll need a few easy ones if he's to go deep into this game.

1-0 Brewers, Cubs coming to bat.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

Let's Go Cubs. They looked rotten last night.

I think Bush is the guy we ripped for 6 runs in the 1st inning a few weeks ago.

[Benjamin Grimm]

According to the "Piggly Wiggly" scouting report, Dave Bush is prone to giving up home runs. Luckily for him, this is one of those Wrigley afternoons where the wind is blowing in from the outfield.

Cubs go down quietly in the first.

[Benjamin Grimm]

Jim Edmonds, not intimidated by the wind blowing in, smashes an opposite field homer and ties the game at 1 in the bottom of the second.

[Benjamin Grimm]

Ben Sheets, with an "elbow twinge" is "doubtful" for his next start.

[Benjamin Grimm]

It's the middle of the 4th, game tied at 1, and Edmonds' homer is still the only base hit in the game.

[Benjamin Grimm]

Derek Lee just had a ball jump off his bat, but the wind apparently held it up and it was caught in center field.

Oops... Aramis Ramirez follows that up with a line drive that the wind couldn't stop.

2-1 Cubs.

[Benjamin Grimm]

With Dave Bush on second and one out, Durham hits a one hopper to the right field wall, and somehow, it only ends up as a single, and Bush fails to score.

Oops, check that. Durham is on second base.

Brewers announcers not sure whether to credit right-fielder Fukudome or to blame Bush, but they're putting most of the blame on the runner.

Braun batting with two in scoring position and one out.

Cross your fingers for Rich Harden.

[Benjamin Grimm]

Big out for Harden as Braun pops to first.

Fielder coming up for the intentional walk.

[Benjamin Grimm]

And with the bases full, Hardin gets Hardy to fly to Fukudome in right, just short of the warning track.

Hardin is probably done. He's thrown over 100 pitches in five innings.

Still 2-1 Cubs, middle of the fifth.

EDIT: The count is 115 pitches for Harden. Bush, meanwhile, has thrown 47 though 4.

[Guest themetfairy]

[Benjamin Grimm]

Even though the Cubs are now wearing those reptilian batting helmets, there's still something about the way the sunlight reflects off the helmets during a Wrigley Field day game that reminds me of games I watched on Channel 9 as a kid.

[Benjamin Grimm]

With one out and a runner on first, DeRosa screws up a double play ball. (I felt like I was watching the Mets!) Brewers threatening in the sixth. First and second, one out.

[Benjamin Grimm]

And the Brewers take advantage of the error.

Mike Cameron singles home the tying run with two out.

2-2, Milwaukee still batting in the top of the 6th.

More bad news: Heilman and Feliciano warming up in the Cubs bullpen!

[Benjamin Grimm]

And Ray Durham singles to put the Brewers on top 3-2.

Grrr...

[Benjamin Grimm]

Braun continues the hit parade and Milwaukee now leads 4-2.

An IBB to Fielder loads the bases again.

I'm not having warm feelings for this Cubs pitcher Samardzija.

I hope the Mets pound the shit out of him next week at Shea!

[Benjamin Grimm]

The new pitcher, Wells, issues a bases-loaded walk to Hardy before mercifully getting the final out.

Brewers 5, Cubs 2.

Four runs score. I think 3 of them will be earned (because you can't assume the double play) but none of them would have scored if not for the error.

[Benjamin Grimm]

Eric Gagne in for the Brewers, and even HE'S getting guys out.

Cubs go 1-2-3 in the 7th, still 5-2.

My hopes for a perfect day (wins for the Mets, Cubs, Braves) are starting to fade.

[Frayed Knot]

Cubs leading the league in French All-Stars:
Fontenot - DeRosa - Theriot

[G-Fafif]

Benjamin Grimm wrote: My hopes for a perfect day (wins for the Mets, Cubs, Braves) are starting to fade.

Pennant races make for strange bedfellows.

[DocTee]

Samardzija was a stand-out WR at Notre Dame and a favorite target of Brady Quinn. He could've gone the NFL route as a high round draft choie.

[Benjamin Grimm]

I wish he had!

Mota in for the Brewers. There's hope!

[Benjamin Grimm]

And Mota gets through the eighth. (He issued a two-out walk, but then struck out Soriano.)

This is the first game I've watched all year, for more than a few minutes, anyway, that didn't involve the Mets.