The Cubs continue to have decent success against American League West clubs. Kosuke Fukudome’s ground single through a pulled in infield with the bases loaded and one out in the ninth,gave the Cubs a come from behind 3-2 win over the Oakland Athletics and the rubber match in this inter league series. Even though he was not the pitcher of record, Randy Wells tossed his best game since winning at Texas last month. The Cubs took an early 1-0 lead against A’s started Dallas Braden when Jeff Baker hit his 3rd homer in the second inning.Braden,who has not won since his May 9th perfect game against Tampa Bay, got out of a bases loaded,one out jam after Baker’s homer when he fanned Alfonso Soriano and retired Geovany Soto on a grounder. Then in the Cub second, Starlin Castro led off with a double,but advanced to further. The A’s tied the game in the 5th when Cliff Pennington singled with one out, was bunted to second by Braden,and scored on Rajai Davis’s single. Oakland went in front for the only time when Mark Ellis homered deep into the LF bleachers leading off the top of the 7th. With Braden gone and former Cub Michael Wuertz on in the bottom of the eighth, Fukudome delivered a one out pinch single,and took third on a single by Marlon Byrd off the glove of Oakland 3B Kevin Kouzmanoff. Derrek Lee coaxed a walk to fill the bases and Andrew Bailey relieved Wuertz. Xavier Nady sent a hard drive deep enough to Jack Cust in RF as Fukudome scored the tying run with ease. The A’s had a threat in the top of the ninth,first against Andrew Cashner.First Ryan Sweeney delivered a pinch single to left took second one a wild pitch and third on a grounder by Pennington to Lee. Carlos Marmol(2-1)came on and got a huge second out by getting Gabe Gross on a pop up to Castro. Davis then grounded to Castro to leave two runners on. Jerry Blevins(2-1),who had not allowed a run in ten of his previous eleven appearances, started the bottom of the ninth for the A’s and walked Koye Hill.batting for Marmol, to start it off.Castro then put down a perfect sacrifice up the first base line. Tyler Colvin,who had earlier entered via a double switch, worked the count to 3-1 and then walked. Ryan Theriot also worked the count to 3-1 before walking to load the bases. With just one out,the A’s had both their infield and outfield in and Fukudome punched one out of Ellis’s reach to end the game.
NOTES—Attendance was 36,942…..The Cubs are now 4-2 against the A’s lifetime in regular season play(not including the 1910 and 1929 World Series in which the Philly A’s won both times in five games). The only previous Inter-League series between the two clubs was in 2004,also at Wrigley and like this time, the A’s won the opener,but the Cubs came back with the next two to take the series…..The Cubs still have not play in Oakland(except in a Spring Training game in 1968)…..The Angels are the only Major League team that has never played in Wrigley Field.That will change Friday with Carlos Silva(8-1)opposing Scott Kazmir(6-5).The Cubs took two of three from the Halos in 2004 at Anaheim in the only previous series between the two long time Spring Training rivals…..The Cubs are now 5-4 against A.L. Clubs so far this season.
LES