This is what I get for having jet-lag and going to bed after the 7th inning... an improbable comeback, aided by the "power of the outfield" -- four words we have not really heard at all this year. I was all prepared to come in and write a headline that read something like, Cubs 4, Helpless Offense 0, but then that helpless offense, that had been no-hit through 6 and two-thirds innings, came back in the ninth, and then won it in the 12th on an RBI single by Chipper Jones.
How about Jeff Francoeur with a two-out, two-run homerun to tie it in the ninght off the Cubs closer. Al Yellon of Bleed Cubbie Blue had mentioned yesterday in our Q&A that the Cubs bullpen was the biggest weakness of the team, and they certainly proved it last night. That homerun was shades of 2005 Francoeur, and truly a great sight to see him bring the Braves back like that (even after we were beating him up so badly on the blog yesterday, well, everyday). Chipper Jones even said "that was probably the biggest hit of the year for us."
Nice win aside, I'm still worried about this team and their schizophrenic nature at the plate. For the first seven innings they were a helpless wreck, and then for the next couple a confident unit who felt they could score against anyone. I like the win, and the comeback, but we've gotta iron out the low points in between.
Kenshin Kawakami pitched decently, and most impressively, he again limited his walks -- a sign that he is really turning it around from his rough start. The bullpen was also a bright spot, and a direct contradiction to the Cubs bullpen. The three guys at the end, Peter Moylan, Mike Gonzalez, and Rafael Soriano, threw four scoreless innings and allowed the Braves to come back for the win in extra innings.
This is a much better start to my day than I thought I was going to have. Go Braves!