Games 19, 20

10-10

Game 19

Cubs and Dodgers open a three game weekend set at Wrigley in ugly fashion. Well, ugly if you are a fan of the boys in blue. Well, ugly if you are a fan of the boys in blue who are from Chicago.

The boy in blue from Los Angeles did alright for themselves. The Dodgers, on the day that Major League Baseball took day to day control of the club away from Frank McCourt, exploded for six runs in the third off starter Casey Coleman.  Then got two more runs in the fourth off Jeff Stevens out of the Cubs pen.

Remember a few days ago when I said that Coleman looked like the real deal? I take it back. He looked like a rookie. But, he still has showed more signs of life this season than Ryan Dempster (who we will get to for the next game).

Juan Uribe would have a big day for the Dodgers going two for four with two runs scored, four RBI's (including his second home run of the season). For the Cubs...nothing really other than Kosuke Fukudome going three for four to bring his batting average up to .417 through the first 19 games.

Game 20  -- Ryan Dempster (1-2) vs. Ted Lilly (1-2)

Ryan Dempster:  5.2 innings pitched, 9 hits, 7 ER, 3 BB, 3 K, 3 Home runs allowed....

You'd expect a stat line like that to end with a Lose and a new record of 2-2 on the season. Well Ryan...bust out your checkbook you owe Starlin Castro and Darwin Barney a nice dinner.

Castro and Barney would combine to go seven for ten with four runs scored and six RBI's (Castro would finish 4-5 and raise his batting average to .393).  Jeff Baker would drive in another two RBI's on a double during the Cubs late 8th inning rally.

Jeff Samardzija would pitch and inning and a third to get the win in relief (2-0). Carlos Marmol walked one and struck out one in the ninth to earn his fifth save of the season and help bring the Cubs back to even on the season at 10-10.