Who are these guys?
Fast start, poised pitching, great relief add up to one big victory
MILWAUKEE -- All right, which way did the Cubs go -- because that sure didn't look like them on the field Wednesday at Miller Park.
They opened an early lead, added on late, got a remarkably poised performance from their most volatile pitcher, and the bullpen was almost perfect.
They opened an early lead, added on late, got a remarkably poised performance from their most volatile pitcher, and the bullpen was almost perfect.
Huh? The 6-2 victory and -- get this -- series win over the division-leading Milwaukee Brewers was almost enough to make Michael Barrett rub his black eyes for a second look and send manager Lou Piniella in search of binoculars to see it better from the upper-level box where he served the final day of his suspension.
(AP)
Huh? The 6-2 victory and -- get this -- series win over the division-leading Milwaukee Brewers was almost enough to make Michael Barrett rub his black eyes for a second look and send manager Lou Piniella in search of binoculars to see it better from the upper-level box where he served the final day of his suspension.
If this wasn't the best game the Cubs played this season, it might have been their most important -- as much for starting pitcher Carlos Zambrano as the team's psyche.
Which way did the Cubs go? Up.
As lifeless and distracted as they looked last week during their ugly and eventually violent losing streak, they've looked this week like a team that might yet chase down the front-running Brewers in the wacky, weakling NL Central.
In a game Zambrano declared was his new season opener -- his first since punching out his catcher Friday -- the Cubs won for the third time in four games and won a series for the first time in almost three weeks.
''Today was kind of another takeoff for Carlos Zambrano,'' the struggling would-be ace said after his most powerful performance of the year. ''I told myself yesterday, when I was in the outfield shagging, that 'Tomorrow is Opening Night for you. Forget about everything else. Just start from tomorrow.'''
The first day of the rest of Zambrano's season included a darting, diving fastball that reached 96 mph, delivering a season-high nine strikeouts over 6 2/3 innings.
''We needed that kind of outing from him,'' said bench coach Alan Trammell, who filled in for Piniella the last four games while the manager served a suspension for the tirade and ejection Saturday that immediately preceded the Cubs' awakening. ''His ball was moving all over the place. That's a God-given talent, and that's why he's one of the premier guys in baseball.''
Zambrano (6-5) hasn't backed it up with successive strong performances this year, but he also hasn't looked as in command of his emotions, as well as his pitches, in 12 previous starts. If Wednesday means anything, it could be the jump-start to more than just Zambrano's season.
''We're starting to play better baseball -- pitching better and hitting better,'' said third baseman Aramis Ramirez, whose sore knee forced him to the bench and provided the only downer for the Cubs.
After a week of clubhouse meetings, complaints about the manager, blowout losses, clubhouse brawls and outrageous arguments with umpires, a 3-1 surge has the Cubs back to 6½ games behind the Brewers and feeling good about themselves again.
''That says everyone's starting to relax and have fun,'' said Mark DeRosa, who moved from second to third in Ramirez's absence. ''We realize we haven't played good baseball for the last two weeks, but we know what we're capable of, and we knew it was just a matter of time before guys started swinging the bats like they're capable of. It's been nice because it seems like it's been a different guy every night.''
On this day, it was rookie center fielder Felix Pie, who was recalled from the minors and installed in the No. 2 spot in the order when this four-game, 28-run binge began. His three-hit day included a first-inning double and a three-run homer in the second.
''I'm seeing more fastballs. I like it, hitting second,'' said Pie, who added that he's more relaxed this time around than when he debuted in April.
What exactly this mini-streak means ''remains to be seen,'' Trammell said. ''It's big because everybody's smiling, everybody's happy. That's what winning does.''