Kosuke Fukudome - (Cubbie Nation/file)
Filed: April 26, 2009
Thank you, Todd Wellemeyer.
When you're in the middle of a losing streak...and really, everybody has them at least a few times a season...you take the wins about any way that you can get them.
The Cubs got one on Sunday by beating up on their ex-farmhand Todd Wellemeyer early, and going on to win 10-3. Most of the highlights were generated by right fielder Kosuke Fukudome, who celebrated his 32nd birthday by going 3-for-4, with a walk, and a homer.
The score probably won't make you appreciate exactly how ugly a win this game was. The injuries alone were enough to leave you screaming.
First, Derrek Lee leaves the game between innings in the first, with reported neck spasms. Normally, this wouldn't be the biggest concern in the world; a little heat, a little trigger point work, and he's good as new by tomorrow.
But when Alfonso Soriano was beaned on the head (and I mean ON THE HEAD) the very next inning, I found myself walking around muttering the lyrics to "Suicide is Painless," because this team is really starting to look like a M.A.S.H. unit.
Fortunately, Soriano was able to stay in the game, which spared everyone from having to see pinch-hitting pitchers by day's end. When is someone going to go on the disabled list?
Besides, it was a good day to be in the lineup, because as I mentioned, Wellemeyer looked like, well...Wellemeyer.
The Cubs wasted no time with him, jumping out to a 3-0 lead when Fukudome and Lee grabbed RBI hits in the first.
They'd keep the heat on throughout his five innings of work, scoring a run in the second, and a pair in the fourth, when Fukudome would again drive in Soriano.
This was in direct contrast to Cubs starter Rich Harden, who picked up his second win of the season by going six, while striking out nine. Not his sharpest effort, but definitely effective.
The highlight of the game though was in the eighth inning, when with Aaron Miles and Ryan Theriot on, Kosuke would send a three-run shot off of Trevor Miller deep into the right field seats. He was not cheated.
This is an absolutely blistering start for Fukudome, who is now hitting .371/.481/.661. Yep, when you're so hot you're making Soriano's .965 OPS look tepid, you're hitting the ball.
Fukudome hit third in the lineup today, with Alfonso restored to his lead-off spot. Given the poor start by Lee, and absence of Milton Bradley, there may be something to the idea of leaving him there for awhile. Perhaps permanently.
The bottom line is the Cubs got fat off a sub-par starter. But they'll take it.
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