No easy routs for Cubs
Take series finale and 3 of 4 games in St. Louis, but they do it the hard way
ST. LOUIS -- In a game that about summed up the National League Central this year, the first-place Cubs turned a would-be rout of the St. Louis Cardinals into a nail-biter Sunday. They left 14 men on base, allowing the Cardinals to send the potential tying run to the plate five times in the last four innings -- and send the potential winning run to the plate twice.
And yet the Cubs won 4-2 to beat St. Louis for the fourth time in seven days and all but eliminate the Cardinals from the division race.
And yet the Cubs won 4-2 to beat St. Louis for the fourth time in seven days and all but eliminate the Cardinals from the division race.
Maybe they won't be able to give this thing away, after all.
(AP)
PHOTO GALLERY
Cubs vs. Cardinals
Maybe they won't be able to give this thing away, after all.
''Boy, we've played this game many times,'' under-the-weather manager Lou Piniella said after the Cubs won three of four at Busch Stadium to close their heavy-mettle 11-games-in-10-days trip with a 7-4 record and a one-game lead over Milwaukee in the division. ''We got it done. That's really all that counts.''
And they've done it the hard way -- not just this month or this week, but all season.
By surviving their most grueling stretch of the year with the division lead intact -- in fact, gaining a game on the Brewers -- the Cubs have put themselves on the brink of a 12-game stretch drive that makes a playoff berth theirs to lose.
''This whole thing was in Milwaukee's favor till we got through [Sunday],'' Piniella said. ''We had more road games. We had the doubleheader here [Saturday]. Now all of a sudden we've got some night games and got a few days off, finally. And Milwaukee's had days off, and now they've got to play.
''So the balance of this thing at least switches into our home court a little more.''
The Cubs have two days off over the final two weeks, while the Brewers have none. And the Cubs play all 12 games against teams with losing records, while Milwaukee has eight of 14 against playoff contenders Atlanta and San Diego.
''It's definitely a fun time, an exciting time, and hopefully we can keep it going,'' said right-hander Jason Marquis (12-8), who made a four-run third inning stand up.
Marquis took a four-hit shutout into the seventh before giving up a one-out double and handing off to the bullpen. The sinkerball pitcher got 11 of his 19 outs on grounders and beat his former team for the third time in four starts.
''This is what you play for,'' said right fielder Matt Murton, who delivered the big blow with two out in the third, driving a 1-2 pitch against the left-field foul pole for a three-run homer. ''I'm happy to be a part of it. The last couple years, we haven't been in this situation. It really locks you in as a player.''
Murton wasn't even bothered by all the men left on base, choosing to look at it as the lineup creating an abundance of scoring opportunities.
In fact, Piniella said he's not concerned about a trend that accounts for much of the reason six of the Cubs' last seven games have been decided by two or fewer runs. That includes an 11-inning loss last week in Houston in which the Cubs left 15 on base.
''We've got 12 games to go. What's going to concern me now?'' Piniella said. ''The only thing that's going to concern me is if I get a heart attack. Outside of that, nothing else concerns me.''
From that standpoint, this pennant race might be nearing a conclusion just in time for Piniella.
''It's going to be a fun 12 days, regardless of what happens,'' he said. ''We've worked hard to get to where we're at, and now we've got to play good baseball and enjoy the moment.''
CUBS 4, CARDINALS 2
W-L 78-72 76-72
Games left 12 14
Home 6 7
Away 6 7
Days off 2 0
Vs. +.500 0 8