Cubs Should Be Happy in First Place Despite Loss to Padres

COMMENTARY | The Chicago Cubs dropped the second game of their doubleheader last night to the San Diego Padres 5-4. They made a valiant comeback attempt but fell just short. Still, the Cubs have come away from the series with something good. They are in first place.

It's hard to believe, but despite their 9-9 record, the Cubs are in first place in the National League Central. It's true they're tied with a couple of other teams at this point, but first place is something the Cubs have not enjoyed since 2009.

Carrie Muskat has posted an article at the MLB.com website titled "Cubs move into first despite loss in nightcap."

I've already reported on this incredible oddity: The Cubs, being even at nine wins and losses, have been at .500 this year at all of the first nine numerals. That's right they've been 1-1, 2-2, 3-3 and so on all the way through nine. That is amazing.

The pitcher for the Cubs in the second game was James Russell, who is typically a bullpen pitcher but has been called into full-time service due to the injuries to starters Randy Wells and Andrew Cashner. He pitched, as Muskat reports, a "career-high four innings" but gave up three home runs. I doubt that Russell will get another start since Cubs manager Mike Quade is quoted as saying of him, "In my heart of hearts, he's a bullpen guy."

The Cubs were down 5-2 going into the bottom of the eighth inning when Alfonso Soriano smacked his sixth home run to tighten the score to 5-4.

It looked like the Cubs might tie the score or win the game in the ninth when they got a hit from Kosuke Fukudome and then the San Diego pitcher issued a walk. However, Darwin Barney took a nasty curve for a called strike three and the game was over.

The only regret the Cubs might have had was in the fifth inning. Reed Johnson got a double but was thrown out trying to stretch it into a triple. It became significant when the three batters behind him got singles.

It's good to remember, however, that hindsight is 100 percent and, perhaps more importantly, the Cubs are in first place!

Reference:

MLB.com Website, Carrie Muskat, "Cubs move into first despite loss in nightcap"