Astros – 4
Cubs – 3
W: Wright (1-0)
L: Lieber (0-1)
S: Valverde (1)
HR: DeRosa (1)
Houston, we have a problem.
OK, not really; the season is only four games old, but it it is slightly disconcerting to see Northsiders with a 1-3 mark after only five days of baseball. More on that later. Now, on to the recap.
Neither team was able to push across any runs until the Astros’ half of the fourth inning. Things looked good through the first two batters of the frame as Cubs starter Rich Hill struck out shortstop Miguel Tejada and third baseman Ty Wigginton. However, Hill walked second baseman Mark Loretta before catcher J.R. Towels took a knee-high fastball from Hill yard – hooking the ball just inside the left field foul pole. 2-0 Astros.
The score remained 2-0 Astros until the seventh inning, when the Cubs offense finally awakened. Cubs third baseman Aramis Ramirez reached on an infield single to third with one out. Continuing his white-hot streak to start the year, right fielder Kosuke Fukudome singled to right, advancing Ramirez to second. Next, second baseman Mark DeRosa grounded out, but he was able to move Ramirez to third, and Fukudome to second. Catcher Geovany Soto then singled to left, scoring both Ramirez and Fukudome. 2-2 tie.
The game wouldn’t be tied for long, as Tejada and Wigginton would get their revenge in the eighth inning. Astros first baseman Lance Berkman reached on an error by DeRosa to lead off the inning. After Cub-killer Carlos Lee flied out to center, Tejada squeezed a hit into fair territory down the third base line. Cubs left fielder Alfonso Soriano had some trouble corralling the ball after it hit both sidewalls and bounced into the corner. Berkman scored on the play, and Tejada ended up at third. 3-2 Astros.
Next, it was Wigginton’s turn to hurt the Cubs as he hit a sac fly to center. Cubs center fielder Felix Pie was able to make catch, but his throw to home was late, and Tejada scored. 4-2 Astros.
The Cubs were able to mount a small rally in the bottom of the ninth when DeRosa hit a solo home run with one out to make it 4-3 Astros. Unfortunately, Soto flied out to left and Pie fouled out to third to end the game.
News & Notes
Until they hung two on Sampson in the seventh, the Cubs had never scored on the righty…Astros CF Michael Bourn got all three Cubs out in their half of the fourth…Although clouds and rain were in the forecast, the sun was out for much of the game…Jon Lieber, who took the loss, saw his first action in a Cub uniform since 2002…Pat & Ron reported that manager Lou Piniella plans to give back-up catcher Henry Blanco a start either this weekend against the Astros, or next week in Pittsburgh, to give Soto a rest…newly-acquired centerfielder Reed Johnson made his Cubs debut when he pinch-hit for Hill in the sixth. Johnson pounded a double off the top of the wall in left
Posted by danbiederman 
Posted by danbiederman 
