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Sports ExtraSunday, September 7, 2008 8:43 PM CDT
Wood blows save for Cubs by allowing 3 runs in 9th
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CINCINNATI -- Lou Piniella got lost on his way to Cincinnati, and the Chicago Cubs manager wasn’t in the mood to talk as he headed out of town Sunday. | MLB page

Jolbert Cabrera hit a game-ending RBI single off Cubs closer Kerry Wood to complete Cincinnati’s three-run ninth inning and give the Reds a 4-3 win.

NL Central-leading Chicago has lost seven of eight and is off Monday before beginning a three-game series at St. Louis on Tuesday night.

Piniella’s weekend went awry at the start when the former Reds manager and first base coach Matt Sinatro got lost driving from Chicago to Cincinnati on Friday. It ended with Piniella canceling his postgame press conference after his team lost two of three against the lowly Reds.

“No postgame interview,” director of media relations Peter Chase said. “He declined.”

Edwin Encarnacion started the rally with a leadoff single into center field and hustled to second when the ball got past a charging Jim Edmonds. After Jay Bruce walked, Encarnacion was cut down at third when Ryan Hanigan bunted into a forceout but Wood (4-4) walked pinch-hitter Javier Valentin to load the bases.

Pinch-hitter Chris Dickerson followed with a chopper up the middle that glanced off the glove of shortstop Ronny Cedeno and into short center field for what originally was ruled a two-base error that allowed the tying runs to score. The official scorer later changed the error to a two-run double.

“That was a tough play -- not for me, but for the team,” said Cedeno, who entered the game in the bottom of the sixth when Ryan Theriot started feeling sick. “I wasn’t trying to do too much. I wanted to get at least one. If we get one, we’re still ahead and we can get out of it.”

Cabrera then ripped a single into left field, giving Wood his sixth blown save.

“I was a little rusty,” said Wood, who hadn’t pitched in four days. “I couldn’t throw the ball where I wanted to. Other than the last one, they didn’t hit the ball hard.”

Cincinnati’s win sent the large contingent of Cubs fans, who made up the vast majority of the crowds at Great American Ball Park for the series, home with a bitter taste in their mouths.

“It feels like you’re playing in Chicago, so it feels pretty good,” Cabrera said. “I think it sends a message to the contending clubs that, if you’re going to play us, you’ll have to earn your wins.”

Reds manager Dusty Baker, who managed the Cubs from 2003 through 2006, diplomatically wouldn’t comment on whether he took extra pleasure in coming from behind to beat his former team and win the series.

“What do you think?” he replied, allowing himself a small smile.

Francisco Cordero (5-4) pitched a scoreless ninth to get the win.

Chicago scored two runs in the seventh to take a 3-1 lead, taking advantage when Aaron Harang hit Geovany Soto and Mark DeRosa to start the inning. Cedeno had a one-out RBI single and pinch-hitter Mike Fontenot drove in DeRosa with a sacrifice fly.

Sean Marshall, subbing for ailing Cubs ace Carlos Zambrano, allowed one run and three hits in six innings. Zambrano left Tuesday’s start against Houston after five innings because of a tired arm.

After combining to score 35 runs while splitting the first two games of the weekend series, the teams struggled to put together any offense against Harang, who went into the game tied with the Cubs’ Ted Lilly for second in the major leagues with 31 home runs allowed, and Marshall, whose start was just his sixth of the season in 29 appearances.

The Reds capitalized on Marshall’s control problems to take a 1-0 lead in the second inning. After Encarnacion singled with one out, Marshall hit Bruce with a pitch and walked Hanigan to load the bases for Corey Patterson, who lined out to right fielder Micah Hoffpauir for a sacrifice fly.

The Cubs loaded the bases with nobody out in the fourth on consecutive singles by Hoffpauir, Derrek Lee and Aramis Ramirez, and Hoffpauir scored on Soto’s double-play ball.

Harang lasted seven innings, giving up six hits and three runs.

Notes: Dickerson was scratched from Cincinnati’s lineup with a sore left ankle. ... Patterson’s bunt single to lead off the fifth inning was his 10th bunt hit of the season. ... Alfonso Soriano, who hit three home runs in Chicago’s 14-9 win Saturday, hit the first pitch of the game to the warning track in right for an out.

Take a look
Chicago Cubs pitcher Kerry Wood watches a Cincinnati Reds celebration at first base after giving up a game-winning single to Reds' Jolbert Cabrera in the bottom of the ninth inning during a baseball game, Sunday, Sept. 7, 2008, in Cincinnati. The Reds won 4-3. (AP Photo/David Kohl)
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Reader comments on this story - 10 total

Note: All views and opinions expressed in reader comments are solely those of the individual submitting the comment, and not those of the Pantagraph or its staff.

KRAMER wrote on Sep 8, 2008 7:19 PM:

" HEY michelle have a dog and a cold frosty one for me please we'll all be watching for you when fonzie drops a few long balls over the wall.. HAVE A SAFE TRIP!!!!! "

michelle24 wrote on Sep 8, 2008 5:03 PM:

" Oh, yeah Spanky!! Wood will hear me, fer sure!! Marmol-aide, all of em---cept for Demp, he'll be busy striking em out! :) Poor Fonzie, I'm wa-hooin at him till he tips his cap. Won't be long, I'm a loud kinda gal! "

Spanky wrote on Sep 8, 2008 3:59 PM:

" michelle if you are close enough could you please go down and give the pitchers in the bullpen a little pep talk?? Mabey you could get them fired up and ready for the post season, no one else seems to be able too! They aren't listening to the manager or coaches mabey they would pay more attention to a big fan from Central IL!! Again have fun and I will be on the lookout for you and cheering right along with you all the way as I sit at home and watch the game on WGN!!! "

michelle24 wrote on Sep 8, 2008 1:29 PM:

" Hey, Spanky!
No sign, but I will be by the Cubs bull pen with a tye-dye shirt and my glove to catch those homers! I'm totally taking you with me in spirit! We're bookn' outta here around 12:30 so we'll have time to eat at Morgan Street Brewery. Awsome place, we hit it everytime we're in St.Louis. "

Spanky wrote on Sep 8, 2008 9:15 AM:

" michelle have you gave any more thought to the sign you are going to take with you to cheer on the Cubs in St Louis?? Go Cubs!! Have fun michelle we will all be with you in spirit for this game for sure!! "

Spanky wrote on Sep 8, 2008 8:55 AM:

" Kerry looked like a nervous wreck! I mean come on this is what, his 10th year in the majors and he looked like a scared rookie out there! This is against the hapless Reds no less!! I hope we can straighten him out before the playoffs!! Tough loss to swallow. Sorry I just had to vent my frustration. Go Cubs!! "

The Voice wrote on Sep 8, 2008 8:06 AM:

" Rethinking you article about collapsing now, eh Kindred?? I dont think there is any doubt that the scrubs will make the playoffs, but they will not fair much better than they did last year in the playoffs. Their pitchers arms are dead, and they will get soundly trounced again. Some of the 100 losers fans will get excited about a divisoinal title, but those are meaningless unless you back them up with a ring!! "

michelle24 wrote on Sep 7, 2008 9:35 PM:

" See ya Tuesday in St. Louis, Cubbies! Go get those redbirds! "

The Real Illini Fan wrote on Sep 7, 2008 9:14 PM:

" Mmmmm.. at 10:18 this morning the previous poster said the Cubs were the best team in baseball. Now just a few hours later.... even the Cub fan realize's they are just best team in the NL. Cubs have 3 in St. Louis while the Brewers have the Reds home for 3. Could get interesting in the next few days.... "

juan encarnacion's eye wrote on Sep 7, 2008 8:48 PM:

" Tough loss...we'll get back on the horse tomorrow. Nothing hurt, Brew Crew lost too. Still the National League's best team. "

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