Lou Pinella Officially On Eruption Watch

Lou Pinella tried a new lineup to start the series against the red-hot Redbirds. Lou put Ryan Theriot in the lead-off spot, and the rest of the lineup was as follows: Fukodome, Soriano, Ramirez, Lee, Fontenot, Soto, Johnson and Dempster.

The first half of the ballgame was a pitcher's duel between Dempster and Wainwright, with a slight edge to Wainwright. Dempster gave up three runs in six innings on seven hits while striking out six.

Wainwright went seven innings and gave up three runs, but only one earned. He struck out six and gave up seven hits as well.

In the lead-off spot Theriot went 0-5 and left five men on base. It's hard to say what would have happened if Soriano was in the lead-off spot.

The Cardinals won the game in the bottom of the eighth when Albert Pujols hit a single up the middle off of Carlos Marmol, and then astutly stole second. 

Ryan Ludwick then hit a soft single to the outfield, and Pujols scored easily.

Milton Bradley pinch-hit and drew a walk; he was lifted for pinch-runner Joey Gathright, but the Cubs made nothing of the baserunner as Ryan Franklin closed the game for his fifth save of the season.

The Cardinals have now won four in a row, and the the Cubs have lost three in a row.

The Cubs suffered some injuries tonight.

Ramirez left in the fifth inning with a strained left calf. Marmol left the game after getting one out when he tweaked his left leg on a delivery to home.

Jeff Samardzija was in the bullpen tonight, but wasn't used, after being called up on Thursday.

With the Cubs struggling early on with injuries, walks, and a recent lack of offense, Mt. Ve-Lou-vius could erupt very soon, either legitimately or artificial to intentionally light a fire under the Cubs. If they don't right the ship, I give Lou two weeks until eruption.

(On a side note: I really miss Mark DeRosa and Kerry Wood)