Bidg‘s drop of a fly ball in the seventh resulted in two unearned Cub runs and a 7-5 Cub victory over the Stros in the first game of their key three game series at Wrigley.
Neither Kirk Bullinger nor David Weathers could hold Stros’ leads after Andy Pettitte muddled through five innings without good command. Pettitte ended up giving three runs on four hits with three walks and seven K’s. Miceli looked to have bailed Weathers out, but Biggio’s error sealed the win for the Cubs.
Carlos Beltran belted his first yak for the Stros and JK and Ensberg both had extra base hits to generate most of the Stros’ runs. However, Kent injured his hamstring on his double and appears headed to the disabled list, and Bidg and Bags continue to scruff. Despite their long and heralded service to the ballclub, the Stros are clearly suffering at the plate from their first baseman and leftfielder’s lack of production. Meanwhile, Jason Lane inexplicably has not been seen in the past four games.
Just to make sure that the evening was a complete downer, the Stros announced that Wade Miller — 7-7 with a 3.35 ERA — was being placed on the disabled list because of an a sore shoulder. Miller has been inconsistent this season, and has suffered from a lack of command. He is one of the league leaders in walks, which means he is at risk of throwing more pitches in fewer innings than other pitchers. Newly-acquired Jeremy Griffiths (acquired as a throw-in in the Hidalgo trade) was called up from AAA New Orleans to replace Miller in the rotation, a move that does not say much about the quality of the Stros’ AAA pitching prospects. The Stros did make at least one positive move on Tuesday in that they replaced Tim Redding in the rotation with Pete Munro, a move that they should have made weeks ago.
The Rocket takes the hill for the Stros in Wednesday afternoon’s game against the Cubs’ Matt Clement. That game may be the first must win game for the Stros in this once promising, but now quickly fading, season.