Game 1.
It was the exact opposite of the Friday series opener - the one where the Cubs didn't show up for the game at all and lost 3-8.
Sunday's game it was the Cards who didn't show and lost 2-7.
They had sloppy play, bad pitching, and no offense.
And of course Friday the Cards had Carpenter, and yesterday the Cubs had Carlos.
Mighta had something to do with it, as both those guys played like the forces they're supposed to be.
Carlos even hit a homer.
And Micah Hoffpauir hit a 3 run homer in the first inning that pretty much wrecked the Card's day.
I was looking on Google - sometimes I can find something interesting to help with an illustration.
I didn't have to look far, since the point I was trying to make comes in the pronunciation of his name...
So the Cubs took the first game and now you're thinking...what if they take both today?
A game and a half out, that's what.
Game 2.
Kim and I met Sutter and my cousin Gurke up at the Smirnoff Patio (no comment on that name).
Sat down to watch young Randy Wells pitch against the team he grew up a giant fan of.
The crowd was pretty loud at first, but settled down as the game went on.
Ryan Ludwick - that guy may be the next big Cub Killer.
He hit the 2-run homer in the first and then another in the 6th while D Lee and Milton Bradley knocked in runs for the Cubs.
And it was the 8th when it started to get really interesting.
Jake Fox came in to catch Angel Guzman - we were all joking as we watched Jake and Angel talking on the mound waiting for the commercial break to end.
Jake: "I remembered the shin guards, but what is up with this mitt - it's so bulky."
The 8th ended with Soriano looking so lost at the plate you couldn't believe it.
Strike 3 on a horrible outside pitch.
Then, the 9th.
It was the weirdest and most interesting.
First off, when Soriano trots into left I look at Sutter and say, "What can he possibly do now except (screw) up? Where's Johnson?"
Molina gets a hit.
The next guy (was it a swing or a bunt? can't remember) hits it to Guzman who wheels and throws a perfect one to Theriot at 2nd.
Double play, right?
Well, that's what Ryan was thinking about 'cause he dropped the ball.
Ouch.
So now guys on first and second and nobody out.
Marshall comes in and walks a guy so now they're loaded.
Lou comes out and...WHAT THE HELL?
When Marshall ran out to take over in left field, you could see Soriano was confused as he hesitatingly walking off the field.
I thought it was the craziest dis of all time.
Sutter figured out what was going on though.
Heilman came in and struck a guy out, then Marshall comes in from left to face the next lefty bat.
Crowd went crazy when they all saw what Lou had done.
Of course, Tony LaRussa pinch hits the Cardinal Hoffpauir (a righty) just so he isn't upstaged by Lou.
Marshall strikes him out.
Last guy hits a sinking liner to left, where Reed Johnson had gone.
Reed slipped on his first step and staggered over to make a diving catch - third out.
Up in the cheap seats, they just installed some big flat-screens, and they showed the replay.
Great acting by Reed, but the ball was trapped...
So...that was the best part of the game.
Because it ended with 3 Cubs looking at strike 3 - just so lame you couldn't believe it.
Anyway, interesting day of baseball.
Now, Aramis, Reed, D Lee - you guys get some rest during this All-Star break and we'll see what happens in the second half...
