Cuz's Corner

Despite his best effort to ensure a Cubs loss, John Grabow was bailed out by Carlos Marmol and the Cubs edged the Rockies on Monday after a mammoth game-winning home run by Aramis Ramirez in extra innings.

Ramirez with a walkoff homerun in the 11'th inning (AP photo)

With the wind blowing in all night, the game figured to be won on the base paths and with strung-together hits. Ramirez changed those thoughts with one swing of the bat, whacking a 1-0 fastball from Rockies reliever Matt Belisle deep into the left-center field bleachers for just his fourth home run of the season and first since April 15. The 2 for 5, 3-RBI night for Ramirez may very well be a turning point in his season, as he looked calm and comfortable in every at-bat and delivered in the clutch when the Cubs needed him.

But Ramirez very nearly never got his chance to win the game. After a solid outing from Randy Wells, John Grabow came in with 2 outs in the seventh inning and promptly retired hot-hitting Carlos Gonzalez to end the inning, retaining the Cubs 2-1 lead. So far so good. But Grabow started off the eighth by giving up a single to Seth Smith, then walked Brad Hawpe on 5 pitches. After retiring Troy Tulowitzki on a flyball to center, Grabow walked Todd Helton to load the bases. He was then relieved by Carlos Marmol who walked Miguel Olivo, forcing in a run to tie the game 2-2. But Marmol stopped the bleeding on the next hitter, enticing Ian Stewart to ground into a double play to end the threat.

Then it was the Carlos Marmol and Sean Marshall show. Marmol struck out the side in the ninth, making way for Sean Marshall in the tenth. Marshall matched Marmols dominance by striking out all 3 batters he faced in the inning. Another perfect eleventh inning for Marshall allowed the Cubs to start off the bottom of the inning needing 1 run to win, and the heart of the order up. After a leadoff single by Starlin Castro, who continues to impress at the plate, Derrek Lee had his sharp line drive snagged by Rockies shortstop Troy Tulowitzki. That set the stage for Ramirez’s heroics to end the game.

As if the nail-biting theatrics of the game weren’t enough, the day was highlighted by more off the field drama as well. Before the game, Jim Hendry and Lou Piniella addressed questions about their futures with the Cubs after a slow start to the season. Also, Carlos Zambrano was seen throughout the game sitting in Cubs dugout instead of down the 3rd base line with relief crew. After the game Piniella explained that Zambrano would now be transitioned into a long relief roll. For now. Take that for what it’s worth, but one need only look at how few instances the Cubs have actually needed long relief innings to see that this most likely means Zambrano will re-enter the rotation soon.

Move along folks, nothing to see here. Just another boring day in the world of Cubdom.