I know the Cubs are our rivals, but this is ridiculous. The Cubs are a pretty bad team this year, mostly due to injuries, but for whatever reason the Cardinals can’t seem to beat them. Fortunately the Reds dropped two games this weekend as well, so our lead is still somewhat intact.
The Cardinals took an early lead on Thursday but Jeff Weaver and Tyler Johnson gave it up as the Cubs scored three runs in the sixth inning. Juan Encarnacion hit homerun number 15 in the 5-4 loss and he drove in three runs with three hits. Weaver gave up four runs on ten hits in 5 2/3 innings.
The Cards had the lead on Friday as well, but a Jason Marquis was touched up for six runs (three earned, everything was scored in the fourth inning). The Cardinals tried to comeback and scored two runs in the seventh to make it 6-5, but that would be the final. David Eckstein scored twice and Encarncion drove in two runs.
Yesterday, Greg Maddux shut us down. Scott Rolen drove in a run in the first and the Cardinals didn’t score until the ninth when Chris Duncan singled home a run. Anthony Reyes dropped to 2-5 but he was hardly knocked around. He was just outpitched by a future Hall of Famer.
Today, the Cubs tagged Chris Carpenter for five runs in the first two innings and Carlos Zambrano and the Cubs pen held the Cardinals to three runs. Scott Rolen drove in two in the 5-3 loss.
Next up is a three game series against the now weaker Philadelphia Phillies. In the meantime, the Cardinals trade for Ronnie Belliard to shore up the infield.
