.500 Still In Reach; McClouth Saves Them Again

Another day game at Wrigley, they have too many of those as it is, but this time the Pirtaes would find the sunny side. The Buc's were a previous 0-7 to Chicago's north side team, and at a 20-22 record. Today the Pirates would get thing's started off in the 2nd by, of all people, Brian Bixler. Bixler would single to left bringing in Doug Mientkiewicz, who reached via walk and advanced to second on a passed ball. The Cubs would fire back in the bottom half of the inning scoring 3 runs on 5 hits. A single to left by Reed Johnson would get things started, scoring Geovany (what a name) Soto. Then Alfonso Soriano, and no Pirate pitcher can get this guy out, would double to left center scoring Reed Johnson and Mark Does It All DeRosa. Them would come the 4th inning, where Adam LaRoche led things off with a double to deep center. Doug Mientkiewicz would come trhough for the Buc's with a single driving in LaRoche. 4-2 Cubs however. The Cubs seemed to want to play tit for tat, as Soriano came up in the bottom half to homer to deep left. Geez, no one can get this guy out! The Pirates would find themselves in a position to really put a hurting to the Cubs in the 5th. Zack Duke, who had mediocre start in what was an offense throbbing on both sides, led off the inning with a walk. 2 hit Freddy Sanchez, from the lead off position, lined a single to center. Nate McClouth would fly a single to center driving in Duke and move Sanchez over to third. A Jason Bay walk would load the bases and Adam LaRoche would come through for the Pirates again with a single to center bring home Sanchez. With still no outs in the inning, Xavier Nady would draw the first out with a sac fly to right bringing home McClouth. Then the Pirates would succumb to reality. Doug Mientkiewicz would line out, the Cubs doubling off LaRoche at 1st. Inning over. The Bucco's although, would get 3 runs off of 3 hits, Buc's lead 5-4. Then the 7th would come...and it would be the same old story. That Soriano guy would hit is effing 4th home run of the series, hit 2nd of the day for 2 days in a row. Game tied, 5 all. We go to the 9th and if Nate McClouth owned stock, it must be called Clutch Enterprises. He's done it before and he did it again. Top 9 with one on, no one out, McClouth hit's his 12th home to put the Buc's up 2. Yet, that damn pesky Alfonso Soriano would hit a shot to deep center, only this one would stay in the park before it bounced over the fence for a ground rule doulbed. Ryan Theriot would make things close by singling in Soriano, but that's the closest the Cubs would come. Matt Capps would close things off with his 10 save of the season.

Game Notes:

-Nate McClouth is sick. What took him so long getting to the Majors?

-Alfonso Soriano is the new Bucco killer.

-The pitching is going south. But you have to admit, they have been playing the best 2 teams in the division.

-Carlos Zambrano who?

-Soriano's 2 game stats ----> 7 for 9 4HR 7RBI

-A Pirates win on Sunday means a 22-22 record.

-Staying on the Soriano deal; does skinny girl legs and a 43 foot long bat produced home runs?

- Pirates, 9 wins in their last 12 games. Still hot yinz.