Cubs Aces Split: One Good, One Bad

The Cubs unveiled their dynamic duo in a doubleheader against the San Diego Padres.

You'd probably have assumed that the ace who had yet to start a game this season in the major leagues would have the hardest outing of the two but as it turned out, Mark Prior, slammed by none other than the Albuquerque Isotopes last week, was the sole ace to come out with a victory as he won the second game of the doubleheader, 8-3.

The other ace, Kerry Wood, had almost the polor opposite result, allowing seven runs on nine hits, two walks and a hit batter in 62/3 innings of the opener of the doubleheader, allowing four first-inning runs with last year's National League ERA leader, Jake Peavy, on the mound for the Padres. For all but the changeup, the Padres report said Wood had "below-average" control.

Wood's first inning validated the Padres' assessment. Wood allowed four runs on three hits, a hit batsman and two walks, including a leadoff home run to Geoff Blum in the Cubs' 8-3 loss.

The split means that nine games into the season, the 4-5 Cubs have a losing record.

On the Southside of Chicago however, the White Sox's 6-2 start equals their best since 1991. The win also represented their third comeback victory.

Schilling Tires In Return To Fenway; Mariano Doesn't

Curt Schilling, who like Mark Prior bombed in a minor league warm-up game last week, started against the New York Yankees yesterday for the first time since his absurdly dramatic bloody sock performance.

For the first four innings, he looked like he hadn't missed a beat, shutting the Yankees down and striking out the first two batters he faced before losing steam in the fifth and sixth innings, and the Yankees capitalized with five runs in those two innings, including a two run homer by steroid casualty Jason Giambi, handing Schilling a quick loss.

Jared Wright, who would not have been starting yet for the Yankees had Kevin Brown not been hurt, worked five innings and threw 97 pitches, was charged with two runs on six hits and four walks, striking out two to earn his first win as a Yankee. However, it was no proverbial walk in the park. He flirted with disaster early, escaping a first-inning jam with runners at second and third and one out. In the third, he loaded the bases with one out for Yankees-killer David Ortiz, who could only lift a sacrifice fly to put Boston up, 1-0.

Mariano Rivera closed out the game, earning his second save with a scoreless 9th inning that saw his ERA drop to 4.91 and saw him earn a modicum of redemption after blowing two saves against the Red Sox last week at Yankee Stadium.

Nats Tied For First By Pounding Braves in 9th

It's always a good day when the Braves lose but it's even more encouraging when the Braves lose because their bullpen gets cooked and yesterday, Braves-haters were treated to both for the second day in a row as the Nats pounded Braves relievers for 6 runs in the 9th to win 11-4.

Just the game before the Braves had a 4-3 two-out, two-run double to win that game after trailing 3-1 in the 9th.

The double victory and double humiliation of the Braves' bullpen left the Nats tied for first in the NL East as they ease into their first-ever home opener.

Lifted off the pages of the Washington Post:

"Home of the Nationals
The Nationals' home opener brings baseball back to the same stadium but to a very different Washington -- a city more hectic, vain, wealthy, expensive and dynamic in a region that is far bigger, richer and more diverse than either was three decades ago.

Then . . .
• Per capita income
in the District = $22,043
• Median home value = $21,300
• Percentage of D.C. residents with a four-year college degree = 23%

. . . Now
• Per capita income
in the District = $50,301
• Median home
value (2004) = $316,000
• Percentage of D.C. residents with a four-year college
degree (2003) = 44.2%"

The Nats will face the Diamondbacks in their RFK Debut.

President Bush will throw out the first pitch. Former Washington Senators will take the field. Commissioner Bud Selig will be in the stands. A full-scale Washington event.

Mets Win Pitching Duel in 11th, 1-0 For Third In a Row

Normally I would just refer you over to Archie Bunker's Army but as the game went into extra innings, there is no report just yet. Probably will be by the time you're reading this though. Suffice it to say that the Astros wasted a superb pitching performance from Roger Clemens. They stranded nine baserunners. They looked at called third strikes five times. Oh, and did I mention they wasted a 7 inning two hit, 9 strikout shutout performance by Clemens? Oh, the pity, hahaha.

Notes

The D Train keeps rolling as Dontrelle Willis pitched his second straight complete game shutout of the season.

The Phillies came into this three-game series having scored the most runs in the Major Leagues. They limped out after adding just six runs to their total. The Marlins have won 26 of their last 36 against the Phillies which pretty much confirms that the Phillies will not be winning the NL East this season.

The Nats, Marlins and Braves are all tied for first in the NL East with 5-4 records followed by the Phillies at 4-4 and the fast-moving Mets who have won three straight, at 3-5.

*****

The Diamondbacks, everybody's punching bag last season, have won 4 games in a row and are only a half game behind the Dodgers for first in the NL West.

*****

The Colorado Rockies, on the other hand, won their Opening Game and have now lost 7 in a row, easily making them the worst team in baseball so far.

*****

The Milwaukee Brewers have opened the season playing five of their first eight games against the hapless Pittsburgh Pirates, are in first place FOR NOW in the NL Central. What was once one of the toughest divisions in the league is now, well rather pathetic with each one of the alleged leaders taking dives and taking it on the chin.

Today's Menu

Well, the most sought-out game tonight might well be in DC as Javier Vazquez faces the franchise he pitched for from 1998-2003 and of course, the Nationals play their first game in Washington, D.C. Livian Hernandez, who faces Arizona for the 15th time in his career, is 7-6 with a 3.69 ERA against them. Not exactly a pitching duel extraordinaire but certainly Nats fans would settle for a victory.

The Unit faces the Red Sox for the second time this season in what has thus far been a strangely uninteresting season opening for both teams and the rivalry. Randy Johnson will face none other than Bronson Arroyo. Last year against the Yankees, Arroyo started four games and didn't get a decision in any of them. Unless Randy strikeouts out 18, this is probably another set of zzzzzzs.