In all reality it’s too little too late for the 2011 Chicago Cubs. This past week however the Cubs have at least given their fans a reason to watch. The hot stretch continued Friday as the Cubs (48-65) took the opener of their weekend series with the Reds (54-58) 4-3.
Tony Campana got the scoring started with the most exciting play in baseball. Campana hit a ball to left field that took a hop off the bricks past left fielder Yonder Alonso and it was off to the races as Campana rounded the bases for an inside the park homerun, his first career homer, to give the Cubs a 2-0 lead. Tyler Colvin would give the Cubs a 3-0 lead in the second thanks to a solo homer. The Reds would cut the lead to 3-2 in the fourth, but the Cubs would go back up by two in seventh and hold on for the 4-3 victory.
Ryan Dempster was a little wild, six walks, on Friday but earned the victory to improve to 9-8 on the season. Dempster went six innings and allowed two runs on just four hits. Carlos Marmol pitched the ninth to earn save number 24.
Mike Leake was on the losing end of things Friday afternoon at Wrigley Field. Leake went six innings and allowed three runs on six hits. The righty is now 9-7 on the season.
The Cubs and Reds will meet in game two of the series Saturday afternoon at Wrigley Field.