Posted May 18, 200520 yr Chi Cubs 4, Pittsburgh 3 Preview - Box Score - Recap By ALAN ROBINSON, AP Sports Writer May 17, 2005 AP - May 17, 9:18 pm EDT More Photos PITTSBURGH (AP) -- Derrek Lee's second homer, a go-ahead two-run shot in the ninth inning, cost Jose Mesa his first blown save of the season and rallied the Chicago Cubs past the Pittsburgh Pirates 4-3 Tuesday night. The Pirates led 3-1 on solo homers by Jason Bay and Rob Mackowiak in the sixth before Lee chased Pittsburgh starter Josh Fogg with a solo drive in the seventh. Lee went 4-for-4 and drove in all four runs with his 11th career multihomer game. Mesa (0-2) was a major league-best 13-for-13 in save opportunities before Jerry Hairston doubled to start the ninth and scored on Lee's drive into the left-center seats, Lee's 12th of the season. Lee had been 1-of-13 with five strikeouts in his previous three games. Mesa, who was scored upon for the fourth time in his last five appearances, had converted a club-record 23 consecutive saves since his last blown save, but lost for the second time in his last three appearances. Ryan Dempster, the latest Cubs reliever to try out for the closer's role, pitched the ninth for his first save as the Cubs won for just for fifth time in 15 games and dealt Pittsburgh only its fourth loss in 13 games. The Cubs were 6-of-13 in save opportunities before Dempster closed it out by quickly retiring all three batters. Will Ohman (2-0) got Daryle Ward, the only batter he faced, to ground into a double play in the eighth for the victory. Cubs starter Mark Prior is 5-0 in nine career starts against the Pirates, but gave up as many homers in the sixth as he had in 44 previous innings this season and didn't figure in the decision. Prior is winless in four May starts despite permitting only five earned runs in his last three starts. Fogg yielded 10 hits and two runs over 6 2-3 innings, and left with a 3-2 lead by stranding eight runners just in the first five innings. The Cubs left two on in the first, third and fourth innings, then managed only one run in the fifth -- on Lee's sacrifice fly -- despite having three hits and a walk. Prior gave the pitching-thin Cubs another solid start -- three runs in seven innings -- as they wait to learn if Carlos Zambrano (sore elbow) can make his scheduled start this weekend against the city rival White Sox, but he still hasn't won since beating the Reds 10-6 on April 25. With the score tied at 1, Prior allowed two homers in a span of three batters in the sixth -- both while ahead in the count. Bay drove an 0-1 Prior pitch deep into the right-field seats with one out, his eighth, and Mackowiak hit his second on a 1-2 pitch. Prior had allowed only three earned runs in 22 2-3 innings while going 2-0 in three previous starts in PNC Park. Notes Fogg has given up two earned runs or fewer in six of his seven starts. He has permitted 18 hits in 11 2-3 innings at home. ... Pirates relievers had given up just three runs in 12 games before the ninth. ... Tike Redman singled ahead of Cota's double in the second and is 8-for-15 against Prior. ... Cubs 3B Aramis Ramirez returned after not starting Sunday in Washington because of lower back tightness. ... Neifi Perez is 11-for-18 against Pittsburgh this season. ... The Cubs are 7-9 in one-run games.
May 18, 200520 yr Damn. Oh he also doubled and singled going 4-4. Well, he's still one of my favorite players in the game even if we traded him.
May 18, 200520 yr Its funny to read Cubs fans calling him clutch. 775719[/snapback] well they werent last year
May 18, 200520 yr Damn, Lee's still on fire. He's hitting everyone. Mesa is tied for the leauge lead in saves and is first in relief points in the leauge, but Lee didn't care. I love Lee's swing. But as we've discussed before, even though Lee is more successful then Delgado at this point, Delgado will have a more success this season.
May 18, 200520 yr He was finally starting to appear to be coming back to earth too.... Hopefully we can cool him off this weekend.
May 18, 200520 yr Is this a contract year for Lee? 776577[/snapback] He's in the second year of the three year deal he signed. Next year should be "fun."
May 18, 200520 yr I'm glad to see DLEE doing so well. He was always a class act down here 776625[/snapback] Except when he trashed ownership after the Floyd trade. Good player, but he wasn't a "class" act.
May 18, 200520 yr I'm glad to see DLEE doing so well. He was always a class act down here 776625[/snapback] Except when he trashed ownership after the Floyd trade. Good player, but he wasn't a "class" act. 776675[/snapback] Do you have to follow me and question my posts? LOL. get a life. Class Act is a matter of opinion. I had a problem with his comment at the time, but is not what I remember the most about D Lee.
May 18, 200520 yr I'm glad to see DLEE doing so well. He was always a class act down here 776625[/snapback] Except when he trashed ownership after the Floyd trade. Good player, but he wasn't a "class" act. 776675[/snapback] trashed? I think it showed his passion that he protested a breaking up of the team.
May 18, 200520 yr I'm glad to see DLEE doing so well. He was always a class act down here 776625[/snapback] Except when he trashed ownership after the Floyd trade. Good player, but he wasn't a "class" act. 776675[/snapback] trashed? I think it showed his passion that he protested a breaking up of the team. 776838[/snapback] In the end Lee was wrong, the Marlins, Lee included, did win a WS partly cause of that trade.
May 18, 200520 yr I don't even remember who was involved in that trade, but Lee, in my opinion, has always exhibited a classy style, even if he had disagreements with the FO.
May 18, 200520 yr I don't even remember who was involved in that trade, but Lee, in my opinion, has always exhibited a classy style, even if he had disagreements with the FO. 777020[/snapback] Floyd, Encarnacion, Dempster and Pavano i think
May 18, 200520 yr I don't even remember who was involved in that trade, but Lee, in my opinion, has always exhibited a classy style, even if he had disagreements with the FO. 777020[/snapback] Floyd, Encarnacion, Dempster and Pavano i think 777391[/snapback] Dempster was traded to the Reds for ENC Floyd traded to Montreal for Pavano Im sure there were some other lesser known guys involved but that was the main thing I always liked D Lee as a Marlin, at times I would get really frustrated with the guy, but overall he was a classy guy and a hell of a defensive 1b man. PS DLee went o-4 today, does that warrant a thread?
May 19, 200520 yr I don't even remember who was involved in that trade, but Lee, in my opinion, has always exhibited a classy style, even if he had disagreements with the FO. 777020[/snapback] Floyd, Encarnacion, Dempster and Pavano i think 777391[/snapback] Don't forget Mordy and Justin Wayne and Don Levinski (who we traded in the Conine deal) in the Floyd deal. :mischief
May 19, 200520 yr Glad to see him doing well even if his team is like 10 games back and is our rival.. Without him the Cubs would be the Royals (except with pitching)
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.