A 6 run 5th inning explosion by the Chicago Cubs, hi-lighted by a grand slam from LF Jake Fox, helped them rally to punish the New York Mets 11-4 Saturday afternoon at Wrigley Field in Illinois. RF Milton Bradley added 3 hits for Chicago, who banged out 14 hits. Veteran RH Ryan Dempster went 6 innings for the win while 3B Aramis Ramirez added 2 rbi to go along with Fox’s 5.
Mets starter Bobby Parnell(3-7,5.80) continues to struggle and was hit hard in 4 plus innings. He went 4 and 2 thirds innings, allowing 9 hits and 8 runs while walking 2 and K-ing 2. He was charged with 8 earned runs. “I made too many bad pitches and too many mistakes. It was a tough one to swallow and I’m just going to put it behind me,” Parnell said. “I know it’s going to be a process, a hard process. And there’s going to be some tough lessons learned. The only thing I want to do is keep the team in the game.” 4 Mets had 2 hits to pace their attack: RF Jeff Francoeur(2 rbi),3B Fernando Tatis, C Brian Schneider(2 rbi) and SS Anderson Hernandez.
Star of the Game: Fox- Might not have a position but his bat makes it almost mandatory that he plays every day. Tremendous plate approach and power that will make him an all star for years to come. The former University of Michigan great has played five positions this season and knows that could help him earn more playing time. “Their biggest concern bringing me here was to be able to help them with my bat and not hurt them in the field,” Fox said. “I’ve proven to them that I’m not a liability in the field.”
Mets starting line-up:
1- CF Angel Pagan
2- 2B Luis Castillo
3- 1B Daniel Murphy
4- RF Jeff Francoeur
5- LF Cory Sullivan
6- 3B Fernando Tatis
7- C Brian Schneider
8- SS Anderson Hernandez
9- Pitcher
Game Notes: NY has lost 9 0f 11….3B David Wright, out with a concussion since being beaned Aug. 15th, worked out with the club pregame and should be activated Tuesday in Colorado… Dempster is 9-4 vs. the Mets in his career…. Parnell has allowed 22 hits and 22 earned runs in his last 3 starts(12 and 2/3rd innings) … Cubs 1b Derek Lee was the only Chicago batter not to record a hit… RH Lance Broadway made his Mets debut. he threw 3 innings, allowing 4 hits and 2 earned runs. He K-ed 3 and walked 1.
