Cubs come up empty, Shut out by Braves 3-0

by Dan Peters

Just when you thought the Cubs may have turned things around, reality sinks in. The Cubs had numerous opportunities Monday night. But when you fill the bases twice and strand 15 players on base, you lose.

Warming up on a beautiful night.
© Suburban Journals of Chicago Inc. photo

Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani  stands for the
National Anthem and enjoys the Game.
© Suburban Journals of Chicago Inc. photo

Cubs First Baseman Carlos Peña sends one deep, to eventually reach second base.

Maybe the distractions are taking its toll on the Cubs. From the firing of Jim Hendry, to the absent-minded incident with Starlin Castro over the weekend against the Cardinals.

Castro, was benched Monday for what manager Mike Quade called a "mental health day" after ESPN camera crews caught him with his back to the plate during a pitch by James Russell in Sunday night's game with the Cardinals.

Will Castro return to the starting lineup Tuesday?

"I haven't even thought about that," Quade said. "I'm still thinking about this game. I'll sleep on it and see how I feel tomorrow."

Head Coach for the Chicago Blackhawks Joel Quenneville
sings during the 7th Inning Stretch.  A Great Coach but no
one at the Lyric Opera need fear.....
© Suburban Journals of Chicago Inc. photo

"[We had] plenty of opportunities, we were just looking for the big hit," manager Mike Quade said. "It's always good if you can do some damage early, and we couldn't. We created plenty of opportunities -- that's for sure."

The Cubs missed out on a key scoring chance when three-straight two-out singles loaded the bases in the fifth. But Alfonso Soriano popped out to shallow right field, leaving all three runners stranded.

A full park on a beautiful night in Chicago.

  An Atlanta home run leaves the confines of Wrigley and lands on the street
  outside.  Fans yell to the street and the ball is thrown back to the field...
  a tradition and moment of pride for the Cubs.
© Suburban Journals of Chicago Inc. photo

"I think that's the key why we lost the game tonight," Soriano said. "We left guys in scoring position and we never got that big hit tonight."

Soriano stands behind his manager, whose status for next season has come into question after former general manager Jim Hendry's firing, saying: "When the team is not doing good, they always blame somebody. Sometimes they blame the manager and sometimes they blame the GM, but they never blame the players. That's the game. If we're doing good, everyone feels that [Quade's] doing a very good job."

A bright spot from tonight’s game-- Aramis Ramirez extended his hitting streak to 11 games.

It is just another year for Cubs fans to ponder if the Cubs will ever make it to the World Series. There is always next year.

Are we looking at history from Zambrano, a great pitcher with a
lack of verbal poise.
© Suburban Journals of Chicago Inc. photo