Games 24-27

12-15

Four game series with the Arizona Diamondbacks

Short version: We Sucked, we played okay, we played okay, we sucked. In stat form that's: L-W-W-L

The first game of the series was all Arizona. With the D-backs rocking Ryan Dempster for seven first inning runs on way to an 11-2 victory. the seven runs on four hits, including a Steven Drew grand slam home run, and four walks over a third of an inning was by far Dempster's worst start of the season and was the second shortest outing of his career.

Game two was a little better for Chicago with Carlos Zambrano pitching another gem, going six innings and allowing only two runs. Alfonso Soriano went long for his 8th an 9th HR's of the year. While Geovany Soto hit second round tripper of the year in the fifth on the way to helping the Cubs secure a 4-2 win.  Carlos Marmol picked up his fifth save of the season.

Game three was a lot like game two. Cubs starter Matt Garza again had double digit strikeouts (10) over 8 innings. Saving the Cubs bullpen to only have to work the ninth.  Soriano collected his 10th home run along with his 19th and  20th RBI's of the season. Marmol got his seventh save while Garza finally got his first win as a Cub (1-3)

Game four....was more like game one. The Cubs had a golden opportunity to take three of four games from the D-Backs and inch closer to the .500 mark again. But, that didn't seem to be in the cards. The Cubs took a 1-0 lead in the second inning on a infield ground out. Pena would also reach on a bunt single later in the game when the Arizona shift left the third base line un-guarded.

Arizona would tie the game on  a Ryan Robert home run in the bottom half of the second and then tack three more runs on Cubs starter Casey Coleman (1-3) in the fourth inning.  J.J. Putz would get a double play to end a possible 9th inning Cubs rally to secure his sixth save of the season and a 5-3 D-Backs win.