Chicago Cubs Baseball

This one was as predictable as southern Florida weather: just plain icky. And the Chicago Cubs played as heavy as the thick Miami air in dropping the series opener to Florida tonight.

This wasn’t one that got away. This is one Chicago Cubs baseball never had on the hook. If anything, the Marlins 4-2 win wasn’t even that close. Any fish tales can be saved for years down the road when this baseball game is merely a notation in the history books.

The Cubs quiet men, carrying the big sticks as of late - Alfonso Soriano, Derrek Lee and Aramis Ramirez - were merely silent. The most noise produced by those three came from Ramirez, who was tossed in the ninth inning for displaying his disappointment with home plate umpire Andy Fletcher’s strike zone.

And if not for Craig Monroe’s first home run as a Cub, Chicago batters swung their bats, well, like lumber. There were few sweet swings in the three-hit shutout tossed by Dontrelle Willis and two Marlin relievers.

Ted Lilly, who’s been the Chicago Cub ace when Carlos Zambrano hasn’t, wasn’t as ineffective on the mound as his teammates’ were at the plate - but close. Four straight singles and a double in the second inning plated the Marlins’ four runs.

While the Cubs floundered in the first game of this three-game set, the loss almost was expected. It was an emotional Wrigley Field ending on Sunday and as much as the Cubs needed Monday’s day off, it also may have stalled their momentum.

Milwaukee won tonight, 9-1, and cut the Chicago Cub lead in the Central Division to two games, while the magic number remains at four. The Cubs have five games left and Wednesday’s scheduled starter, Jason Marquis, could go a long way his can’t-win-in-September image with a strong effort.

But nothing’s come easy for Chicago Cubs baseball this season. Why should this last week be any different?

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