Brandon Backe came crashing back down to earth after his winning firt starting performance of last week as the Cubs cruised past the Stros 8-3 in the clubs’ first game of a four game weekend series in Chitown.
Backe gave up seven runs and nine hits in three innings, which is more like he pitched when he was a reliever. Beltran did whack his fourth yak in four games and Bags nailed one, too. But the Stros left 12 men stranded, most of them while Mark Prior was pitching. Prior was primed to be beat today, but the Stros could not put together the big inning necessary to chase him.
Roy O and Kerry Wood renew their beanball rivalry in an another afternoon game tomorrow. The over-under on batters beaned tomorrow is 3.