The Cub’s series winning streak is put to a halt at nine, as the Phillies win game four of the four game series and force to Cubs to settle for a split. While the Cubs were battling the Phillies, who are contending for the divisional title in the east, the Brewers were beating up on the, when is this season going to be over with, Pirates. But through it all the Cubs were able to maintain a 4.5 game lead in the central.

The problem; the Cubs appear to be tired. During the last two games of the series with the Phils, the Cubs got 22 hits but all of them were singles. As a result run production was down. The Cubs only mustard 5 runs with those 22 hits. Also, we are seeing the fatigue factor taking over the pitching staff; Big Z and Harden are both showing signs of fatigue as both have lost velocity on their fast balls and have skipped scheduled starts.

Go into the stretch month the Cubs will play more road games than home games; 16 on the road, 9 at home. The final three games of the season will be at Miller Park against the Brewers. The Brewers will have the opposite schedule with 16 home games and 10 road games.

This situation was the exact opposite last year with the Cubs benefiting from the home schedule in the last month. Using that scenario the Cubs were able to sneak past the Brewers and take the Central Title.

This is truly going to be the month to prove, if in fact, Next Century Is Here and see if the Cubs can take this 4.5 game lead and bring home a second consecutive Divisional Title.

The Cubs were looking for their eighth straight win today, but there was one problem; they were out matched by the likes of Myers, Werth and Howard.

Myers, who got a little shaky in the eighth inning, was on fire. He did give up eleven hits in seven innings (leaving with two on and no out in the eight), but they were all singles and scattered. When he needed a pitch he threw it. It must have been something to bat against him today. As a spectator I would watch the pitch sailing toward the plate and I think, “swing”. But batter after batter stood there unable to pull the trigger. That’s when a pitcher is in a zone and hitting his marks.

Werth, ouch, did that hurt. He didn’t do much, just three for four with two home runs, and four RBI. One of the RBI was big man Howard sliding in home off a Werth double. Howard accounted for the other RBI with a solo bomb for his 37th of the year.

Lilly, for his part, pitched a good game. In 6.2 innings he gave up six hits, three runs and struck out five. One of the runs was a solo home run by Werth. It seems that Lilly has to give up at least one or two solo home runs a game but it usually doesn’t matter because he also has the knack of digging deep when he needs to.

Tomorrow the Cubs are going to try to win their 10 series in a row and they will have to do it with Big Z on the mound. Zambrano has been struggling with his control lately and when he is struggling you can usually count on seeing one of two Zambrano’s; the focused Big Z who is determined to mow them done or, the nut, throwing his glove and punching water coolers between innings.

The Phillies put ex-Cub Moyer on the mound who, besides the shelling he took against the Mets during his last outing, has had a great season.

Well, it should be interesting, Next Century Is Here.

When this game ended I went to make my entry, trying to think of a title and all that was in my head was Cubs Win! Cubs Win! What a game. Does it get any more exciting than this?

For the second day in a row the Phillies starting pitching had the Cubs in check. In fact, the Cubs were only able to generate three runs, one in each consecutive inning starting with the fifth. The highlight of them all was Soriano’s game winning home run in the seventh.

Rich Harden struggled a little allowing two runs, walking four and striking out five; actually not a bad outing when the bats are hot. But as I said the Phillies have kept our bats quiet the last two days, so the emphasis was on the pitching. Well after Harden was taken out the combined efforts of Gaudin, Samardzija, and Marmol held the Phillies to three hits and no runs. Marmol looked great subbing in the closer’s roll with a three up, three down ninth highlighted by a dramatic swinging strikeout of Utley.

For the second day in a row the Cubs did exactly what they had to do to beat a good team. I’ll say it again; taking care of business. Now the Brewers, who were idle yesterday and don’t play until later tonight, have to start their game knowing they are seven games behind the pace. Since they are playing the last place Pirates it’s good to put as much extra mind food on their plate as possible.

Cubs Win! Cubs Win! Next Century Is Here.

What a big game this one was! After playing some weaker teams the last nine games the Cubs went up against a formidable opponent today, the Philadelphia Phillies. As the game progressed it didn’t look like the Cubs were going to be able to pull this one out. To me they just looked flat.

The Phil’s took the early lead and the Cubs answered with one in the fifth to tie it. I believed at this point the next team to push a run across was probably going to get the win. When the Phillies put a three up in the top of the sixth I felt we had a pretty big mountain to climb but we had an opportunity to see what kind of character this was made of.

The never say die Cubs did it again. Lil’ Babe leads off with a blast to center and it’s 4-2. Getting interesting. Soriano doubles, Theriot singles and Soriano goes to third. No outs. Getting very interesting. D. Lee walks and the bags are loaded for Ramirez. Getting down right exciting. After a fastball in, Durbin smokes one right in Aramis’ wheelhouse. Gone, and I mean as soon has he hit it you knew. Ramirez took a glance, threw his bat and did the Grand Slam Trot. Cubs up 6-4. Character in tact and looking good.

Kerry Wood comes in to finish it up and he made it a little interesting. Giving up a lead off single and then a deep fly to center which for a moment looked like it was going to tie it. Never fear Reed Johnson is here, one out. Reed would then retire the third batter with a great running catch and almost doubled up Rollins at first. No matter, the next batter pops out to Ramirez and game one is in the W column.

With the Brewers and Cards idle the Cubs picked up a half a game on each. That’s taking care of business. That’s Next Century Is Here.