The Chicago Cubs fell behind early against the San Francisco Giants on Friday night, and they never quite recovered. Cubs starter Paul Maholm ceded four runs over the first three innings, and the Cubs offense stalled until the final inning as the Giants held on for a 4-3 win. Darwin Barney collected three hits and Alfonso Soriano handled all the scoring with a three-run home run (his eighth of the season), but the Cubs couldn't tie the game despite getting the tying run into scoring position with less than two outs.
Al Yellon of Bleed Cubbie Blue summed up the final inning nicely:
A ninth-inning rally begun by a three-run homer from Alfonso Soriano (poor man's Home Run Race tied again: Soriano 8, Albert Pujols 8) fell short when David DeJesus flied to center with the tying and lead runs on base to end it. The Cubs actually managed to get the tying run to scoring position with one out, when Bryan LaHair doubled. Darwin Barney's infield hit couldn't advance him; Steve Clevenger then grounded out and the runners advanced, but DeJesus couldn't bring either of them home.
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