LEE DRIVES IN 7 IN CUBS 9-5 VICTORY
By JERRY RILES
The Cubs are back to the .500 mark thanks to the hot bat of first baseman Derrick Lee and they now stand 2 1/2 games behind the Milwaukee Brewers in the NL Central.
D-Lee banged out a couple of homers, driving in 7 runs including a grand slam, his 14th dinger of the season, in the Northsiders' 9-5 win over the Brew-crew at the Friendly Confines.
It was Lee's 10th grand slam of his career. He's the first Cub to hit two homers and drive in 7 runs since "Mr. Let's Play 2", Ernie Banks did it back in 1969. The Cubs beat San Diego 19-0. Unfortunately, we all know what happened at the end of that season.
Let's hope this isn't an omen Cub Fans.
The Cubs could find themselves in the driver's seat by the end of this holiday Fourth of July weekend if they can clinch the series against their rivals from the North.
Home cooking is always a great remedy for solving a 3-7 mark in their last 10 outings, prior to this homestand, especially when being away from the Confines.
This is what the Cubs need. Hot bats and consistency. Manager Lou Piniella has to find a way to get each player on this team to produce every given game, every given series from here until the end of the season.
As the old cliche' goes, it's a marathon not a sprint and now is the time to begin to make your move in the division. Perfect positioning for the Cubs.
Alfonso Soriano may be the Wally Pip of the team as newly called up rookie Sam Fuld has stepped up and answered the call as the Cubs leadoff man thus far. He simply went 2-4, threw out a runner, made a sliding catch and reached base three time in the team's 4-1 victory over the Pirates on Wednesday.
That might be a slight stretch, but what a way to put the pressure on Fonzie to get his bat going. He's currently batting a dismal .179 since May 19th.
Lee's bat has been poppin'. A 2-run homer against the Bucs, a 3-run shot and a granny in the bashing against the Crew to open up the weekend set. Bats-a-poppin' at the 'Fines.
Lou, keep it going. Von Joshua's magic seems to be working. Go Cubs Go!
(Jerry Riles is a weekly 5on5 contributor featured every Tuesday in the RedEye)
