Game 21 Recap: Marlins 8, Cubs 2 (10)

This is just starting to get ugly, as in 2006 ugly. For those who don’t know, or in my case, have blocked out the memory of 2006, the Cubs were atrocious and finished with a 66-96 record that year. The 2009 Cubs team is not that bad, but you wouldn’t know it by watching them play lately. The Cubs yet again failed to score more than a couple runs and watched their bullpen and defense let them down.

The Cubs took a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the 5th after back to back home runs from Milton Bradley and Mike Fontenot. Starter Sean Marshall threw a fantastic game going seven innings and giving up only one run while striking out six. Marshall gave way to set up man Carlos Marmol, but then things got ugly.

With a 2-1 lead, Marmol promptly walked the first two batters he faced. As Cameron Maybin sacrificed, Marmol threw wildly to first allowing the tying run to score. Marmol eventually got out of the inning with no further damage. That would not be the last poor defensive play of the night. Despite coughing up the lead, the Cubs had a chance to win the game in the bottom of the 9th.

Ryan Theriot led off with a single, then stole second. So with a runner on second, no one out, and the heart of the order coming up, the Cubs were feeling pretty good. It would be short lived. Kosuke Fukudome struck out swinging, as did Derrek Lee who is now batting .189 with one YAK EM (Micah Hoffpauir anyone?). Milton Bradley was intentionally walked and the Marlins brought in lefty Renyel Pinto to face Mike Fontenot. Sweet Lou countered with Reed Johnson, but Johnson grounded out to end the threat.

In the 10th, Aaron Heilman replaced Kevin Gregg, who pitched a scoreless 9th inning. Heilman gave up a bloop double to Alfredo Amezaga, then walked Wes Helms. Emilio Bonifacio slapped a grounder to Derrek Lee who threw to second for the force out, but shortstop Ryan Theriot flat out didn’t catch it. The ball hit him in the glove, but he simply failed to catch it. As the ball rolled into left field, the Marlins took the lead 3-2.

Jorge Cantu came up a few batters later and broke the game wide open with a  bases clearing double to put the game out of reach. Heilman (2-1) took the loss, while Pinto (2-0) got the win. The Cubs will now look to Rich Harden to once again stop the bleeding as he faces Graham Taylor. The game is at 2:20 pm EST and can be seen on CSN.

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