On a day when Chicago pitching gave up a whopping 11 runs on 17 hits, the Cubs still managed to pull off a miracle ninth-inning comeback victory over Milwaukee on Thursday, 12-11.
Chicago entered the bottom of the ninth trailing 11-9 on the scoreboard with things looking bleak, but picked up a quick RBI single from shortstop Starlin Castro, followed by an RBI double by infielder Anthony Rizzo that knotted the score. Veteran outfielder Alfonso Soriano then stepped to the plate with one out and a pair of men in scoring position and proceeded to drive in his 79th run of the season to pull off the stunning comeback.
Bailed out from a loss on his record, Cubs starter Brooks Raley was pounded for seven runs on 10 hits over just four innings of work by Milwaukee hitters. The 24-year-old Raley now sports an inordinately-high 8.14 earned-run average through five career starts to open his career, and will need to be much sharper the next time he takes the mound in order to remain in the rotation.
Next up for the Cubs is a three-game set at Wrigley Field with the San Francisco Giants. Chris Volstad will get the ball on Friday in game one looking to win his second consecutive outing.
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