Scott Maine ... the Chevrolet Player of the Game

Following every Cubs game, Pat Hughes asks Ron Santo to name the Chevrolet Player of the Game. On Friday, the Cubs' legend picked Scott Maine ... and that spoke volumes as to the way the Cubs have played over the last two days.

After a string of holding their opponents to three runs or less in 11 straight games, the Cubs pitching staff has given up 20 runs in the last 18 innings ... while the offense has managed only one run, a solo homer by Aramis Ramirez in the second inning on Friday afternoon.

Tom Gorzelanny made his first start since September 1 and could not complete four innings of work. Gorzelanny was hammered to the tune of seven runs on seven hits with five walks and four strikeouts in 3 1/3 innings. Gorzelanny could not find his command after the long layoff and two of his free passes, both to Albert Pujols, came around to score.

Gorzelanny threw 82 pitches, only 44 for strikes, and gave up a two-out, three-run homer to Allen Craig in the first inning that put his team in too big a hole against Adam Wainwright. Craig made the most of being a last minute substitution by hitting his third longball of the year.

Outside of Justin Berg, the Cubs bullpen did a good job and kept the Cardinals from tacking on.

Scott Maine was very impressive in his 1 2/3 innings of work and Marcos Mateo retired all five batters he faced. James Russell surrendered a hit in the ninth, the Cardinals only base knock over the last three innings ... and that was erased on a 4-3-6 double play.



(chicagocubsonline.com)