Aramis Ramirez' Big Night Leads Cubs Over Astros 14-7

Listen to the first half of the game using the WGN audio archive and the second half with KTRH…

Katie Casey should be given season tickets, and a Wrigleyville condo so she and husband Paul don’t have to drive in from beyond the Fox River for every game, for the rest of the year on the condition that she wears that hat to every game.

I was invited to a friend’s for dinner last night – left when the Cubs were down 4-0.

I got home about 11 PM and fired up BCB to see just how bad it had been…

Some surprises are indeed pleasant.

… and it didn’t ultimately affect the result so it’s not a big deal, but why didn’t Xavier Nady run to first base after striking out when the pitch got away? First base was NOT occupied so by rule, he could have done that, and probably would have been safe since the Astros’ attention was focused on Geovany Soto, who scored on the play.

….. this game could be a microcosm off the entire season. Get down big early, inexplicably come roaring back and then some, leaving everyone to wonder where the hell has this been all year?

Stranger, dumber things have happened. Leo Durocher used to say that he’d rather win a series and go two out of three or three out of four than put together a long winning streak, because it showed him consistency and all facets of the team. It kept them grounded and a little bit hungry. Based upon the first half of the season the Cubs should be downright starving, but the team started showed these types of signs of life before the All Star Break and have kept going. It would fit right in with the Cubs’ lore if that’s what happened.

Hit batter, at least one walk, 2-base E4 on a double play ball, single, extra-base hit (but Cubs HR vs. Astros 2B hit), both teams batted around. It seemed curious to me. How many times have we seen the Cubs get shelled and said to ourselves, “Gee, I wish the Cubs would have an inning like that.” And this time, they did.

A 6-0 comeback plus ARam’s 3 HR night! That ticket stub is a saver.

Nice to see you Al!

What was really ailing him the entire first half, that a mere 15 day DL trip seemed to fix?

And checked BCB to see how bad it was. Imagine my surprise when I saw the score was 7-6. I turned the game back on in time to see Soto tie it at 7-7.

Now, can the Cubs win with me in the bleachers today?

Picked up the first career victory of what will hopefully be many wins for the Cubs.

as long as our pitching reverts back to our dominating style. A win today and an all out effort to sweep the Cardinals may be the jump start this team needs. The last few games have certainly been more fun.

The time is now, we’ve got to continue to hit and pitch and get wins.

Isn’t the clear headline “Win One For The (Sk)ipper”?

(cue groaning)

I think it’s pretty safe to say A-Ram is back.

Every time Lee and Ramirez combine for 10 RBIs, the Cubs will win. Take it to the bank!

Cooliogirl and I twirled .. we’re now 5-3 when we do in a game thread before the first pitch.

There is power when Cubs fans twirl ..

But this year it appeared out of the gate he was a step slow on every move.
 He has had a wonderful baseball career. Nothing would be better for the Cubs and Lou to run off a great stretch of 25-10 and get into this race.
 Lets get today’s game and worry about the weekend on Friday. Go Cubs

I’m all a-flutter.

If we can take three series in a row, I think we got a snowballs’ chance of seeing a possible miracle.

We’re one game from meeting that bare minimum standard that I personally of holding on to.

And last night’s game was one I personally said to myself was going to be critical .. if after that disastrous first three innings, I said to myself, we can mount a comeback, I think we may have seen a big corner turned in the season, one of many we still need to go.

If the Cubs become a factor in the postseason, last night was the game it happened in.

We took three out of four from the Phillies and so far have taken one out of two in a three game series against the Astros out of the break. That’s 4-2 out of the break. We’ve outscored oppoents 47-37 during that stretch. It’s not exactly dominant, but consider that four runs against came in during a game which we should have won and starting pitching just hasn’t been solid in this Astros series. Way to keep up with the Joneses, but the Cubs have to win some games that matter to close the gap. They’ll need to win today to take this series. Then we can worry about what’s next. I’m still not convinced that this team can make a run, but stranger things have happened in baseball.

I look ahead to the team he is going to build for next year! Starting at this years deadline!

Our new owner is Phil Wrigley and Mike McCaskey combined! The best in Chicago sports! Outstanding!

Nice to see a comeback!

and it was fun, but boy was it bad at first. We were thinking , great another messed up blow out. When A-Ram hit the homer to make 7-6 Stevens had been warming up in the bullpen all inning since Lou obviously figured the game was lost and you might as well get him some work with 4 innings more to go. I immediately said they had to get Cashner up because now it was a game and you could not afford to fall further behind and within 90 seconds he WAS up so sometimes Lou and I agree. I also had a disagreement with Al about using Marmol in the 9th after it became a blow out, Most people in the section did now want him in a non save situation, but i felt strongly he needed to get in a game after the debacle Friday so again there are times I agree with
Lou.

I have been lucky to get to some great games this year – the Cubs/Sox/Blackhawks game, Home Opener, last Thursday’s win over the Phillies. This one definitely ranks up there. Two 5-run innings by the Cubs!?!

Along with my own joy, I turned around to see two 6-8 year old boys with their dad. The boys had on rally caps in the 5th inning. We started to high-five the boys during the game. And by the end of the game, we were showing them how to sing Go Cubs Go. The look of astonishment on their faces was priceless. That was fun.

but then they started the come back. I’m glad I stayed it was so worth it. Aramis had the hot bat for sure. Nice to see Geo hit a homer too. Starlin had some great defensive plays too.

Do you think that announcement by Piniella was forced, because of that waxing the Cubs took on Monday night? It just doesn’t seem like Piniella is the type to make an announcement like that knowing there will be so much fanfare over it. I look forward to your thoughts on the “Buffet Ranger” being kept onboard as GM, too.

Vince Vaughn was sitting right behind us and throughout the entire game was high fiving me since it was such a thrilling game. He was super into the game and a huge fan. Tom Ricketts came over TO him to say hello and I got to meet him as well. Vaughn was at the game with his newly pregnant wife, his sister and his sister’s family, including his 5 year old nephew. We convinced “marty” one of the ball boys to surreptiously slip us a ball during the 7th inning stretch, which we gave to the kid. Every time we stood up in between innings, everyone up to 3 sections over was staring at us and taking pictures. It was just freakin awesome. I was getting just as annoyed as he was at all the autograph seekers though.

The game was awesome too! Biggest comeback since 2008 vs. Rockies and I was at that game too!