CHICAGO CUBS - GAME RECAPS

May 22nd - Chicago Cubs 5, Cincinnati 3 - Attendance 37,385.

Julian Tavarez got the start for the Cubs as they hosted rookie Brian Reith, recently recalled from Double-A, and the Reds. In the top of the 1st, Michael Tucker walked with one out and scored on Sean Casey's double to give the Reds the early lead. It was short-lived as Miguel Cairo led off the Cub 1st with a home run to tie the game at 1. 

The Cubs took the lead in the 3rd when Ricky Gutierrez walked and Ron Coomer doubled him home, and added another run in the fourth on a Todd Dunwoody double. 

In the 5th inning, the rains came and the game was delayed for 41 minutes. Lots of fans left, but the game continued, and Cincinnati jumped on Tavarez in the 6th, getting two runs on two walks and two singles. Courtney Duncan came in to get the Cubs out of the jam,  and although he allowed an inherited runner to score, he retired 3 out of the 4 batters he faced.

In the bottom of the 6th, Matt Stairs walked and Gary Matthews Jr. singled him to third. Dunwoody hit a grounder to first and Stairs was out in a rundown, but Matthews advanced to third. After a pop out and a walk to load the bases, Jim Brower balked and the Cubs had regained the lead 4-3. 

Kyle Farnsworth pitched a perfect 7th, Jeff Fassero pitched a perfect 8th, and Tom Gordon pitched a perfect 9th to preserve the Cubs win. It was a great performance by a great bullpen and really showed how good the Cubs pitching really is. The final was 5-3 and it was pitching that was the difference.

June 15th - Chicago Cubs 5, Minnesota 3 - Attendance 39,637.

This game was surprisingly similar to the previous one we saw - Julian Tavarez got the start and the Cubs prevailed 5-3. In this game, however, they used power as three Cubs went long distance, including Ron Coomer nailing a 2-run shot in the 5th against his old team. Those 2 runs would turn out to be the difference as Minnesota got one run in the 9th, but Flash was able to close it out by fanning Torii Hunter as the Cubs won the battle of central division leaders. One interesting play in this game was Twins starter J.C. Romero getting his first major league hit - a ground rule double that got lost in the ivy. I wonder how many AL pitchers can boast of that feat? This was a great afternoon game in the sunshine and it gets an 8/10.

Sosa fouls one back to the screen

Cub fans Larry and Jeffrey enjoy a perfect afternoon in the confines