Come to Think of it...Cubs Reel in Marlins for Ninth Straight Road Win

You know you're living right when your first four hitters go a combined 1-for-17 and you still win the game.

And still score six runs to boot.

Yep, thanks to pinch hitter Daryle Ward's 3-run homer in the top of the ninth inning Friday night in Miami, the Cubs came from behind to beat the Marlins 6-5.

Prior to the trip, manager Lou Piniella warned his troops not to get involved in the hot beach and surf of daytime Miami or the night life in Florida (when playing a day game). Without directly coming out and saying it, Lou might have touched upon the reason why the Cubs had played so lethargically there in the past.

Oh yeah, and before I go on may I mention that apparently many of you were right and Zambrano isn't hurt. I'm basing that on the hope that Lou wouldn't leave Big Z in there for 120 pitches if his shoulder was hurting.

So all that means is he is not pitching like an ace lately. Pick your poison - injury or poor performance - either way I'm glad it's happening now while we're playing well and have the division lead. We'll need a healthy and productive Z down the stretch and in the playoffs. Although it was mainly one bad inning, it still added up to a very un-Carlos like performance, as he allowed five earned runs, walking five in six innings of work.

But all that matters right now is Cubs win! Cubs win!

The Fish, on the other hand, lost their third in a row, falling 3.5 games behind the Mets in the NL East. 

On a night when Cubs batters struck out 10 times, three by Soriano, and no one had more than one hit, it was Ward who saved the best for last. His 3-run shot was quite the pleasant surprise given his otherwise uncharacteristically rough season thus far.

Add to the Cubs hitting heroics the versatile and reliable Mark DeRosa, who hit his 14th homer in the fourth inning. Talk about an underrated player.

Chad Gaudin earned his fourth win against one loss. And Kerry Wood was wild, but got the save, the first save opportunity for the Cubs in the last 12 games. Not that anyone's complaining about blowouts, mind you.

So it was a dramatic victory for the Cubs, as they won their 9th in a row on the road, finally reaching the Holy Grail of .500 at 30-30.  

When you come to think of it, you realize these Cubs are smelling like a rose right now. The Fish, on the other hand...well, they're smelling like something else right now.