Come To Think of It...Oh What a Relief It Is, Cubs Win Despite Shaky Ninth

There used to be a commercial whose jingle went, "Plop, plop, fizz, fizz, oh what a relief it is." Well, except for the plop and fizz, that's how Cubs fans everywhere must be feeling after a much needed victory in St. Louis last night.

Break out the Mogan David, honey, we durn won us a ballgame!

Yes, relief! In addition to showing my age, I say this because even the ending had you on the edge of your seat. It seems Woody is still struggling, as he gave up a two-run homer in the ninth before getting his 29th save Wednesday night. This after a blown save in his last effort, his sixth of the season.

Ted Lilly came up BIG for the Cubbies last night. We needed a gutsy performance, and we sure got one from Lilly. I personally would have trotted him out to pitch the ninth inning, and I said that even before Wood's horror show. But, in the end, he got the win and the Cubs won, so all is right again in Cubs nation.

In addition to pitching eight solid innings, Lilly took out catcher Yadier Molina in a collision at home plate.

Alfonso Soriano, Aramis Ramirez, and Felix Pie had RBI for the Cubs. Soriano also threw out Cesar Izturis trying to score in the third inning.

Unfortunately, the Brewers won yesterday, too. It seems that these teams win and lose at the same time, doesn't it? But the benefit of leading the division is that you just have to take care of your business, and you won't have to worry what the other teams are doing. And the Cubs did that last night. Finally.

It wasn't a perfect effort, to be sure. It would have been nice to add to the early lead, as they did all their scoring in the second inning. And it would be nice to have Wood come out and retire the side in order for a change. Woody has surrendered seven runs in three-and-a-third innings in his last three outings.

And we were fortunate that Cardinals backup third baseman, Felipe Lopez, had the second inning from hell with the glove, committing two costly errors. Thank you, Troy Glaus. 

Albert Pujols was relatively quiet for a change. He got his 99th RBI with a groundout in the first. He has eight RBI in the last four games and needs one more to join Al Simmons and Ted Williams as the only players in major-league history to get 100 RBI in their first eight seasons. He trails Atlanta's Chipper Jones in the NL batting race by one point, Jones at .363 and Pujols at .362.

The Cubs could very easily be going for the series sweep tonight, but instead they'll be looking to take two of three from the Cardinals. Rich Harden makes his first start since Aug. 29 tonight for the Cubbies, and his first start against the Cards since 2004 with Oakland.

He will be opposed by former Cub Todd Wellemeyer, who is 2-1 with a 4.32 ERA in three starts versus Chicago this season.

On the injury front, in addition to Harden coming back, Carlos Zambrano is scheduled to make his next start Saturday in Houston, provided that Ike accommodates. But I wouldn't look for Chad Gaudin to return this year, as the team reports he is still experiencing "sensory nerve" symptoms when he throws.

As badly as the Cubs needed this win, I think us fans needed it more, come to think of it. Oh, what a relief it is.