Boxscore

The Astros (2-3) added to the Cubs (1-3) 100th season of futility by breaking a tie-game against Chicago’s Jon Lieber (0-1) in the 8th.

The poor Cubs. They are going to be the brunt of so many century of losing jokes this year. I wonder, will that make it easier or harder to win once they reach the 101st or 102nd?

Miguel Tejada drove in the go-ahead run to make a winner of Rule V draftee Wesley Wright (1-0). Jose Valverde picked up his first save as an Astro. Mark DeRosa hit a solo shot for the Cubs in the 9th (Dusty Baker was smiling somewhere), but it wasn’t enough to keep them from settling into last place in the central.

The two face each other again Saturday at 12:05pm CDT as Roy Oswalt (0-1) takes on Jason Marquis (0-0), an even match-up if ever I saw one.

Boxscore

Wow! The Brewers (3-1) responded to their failure to sweep the Cubs by opening up one big, heapin’ helpin’ of whoop-ass on the Giants (1-3) today.

The Brew Crew jumped on Jonathan Sanchez (0-1) in the first by scoring 3 runs, and the rout was on. Carlos Villanueva (1-0) was the recipient of the gross run support. Salomon Torres, the relief pitcher from the Pirates who famously threatened to retire, pitched what amounted to 3 innings of mop-up duty for the Brewers to get his first save.

Milwaukee currently sits atop the National League Central, trying to be the team that gets off to the hot start. Saturday they play the Giants again, with Kevin Correia (0-0) taking on Red Hot Mama Hottest Baller contestant Manny Parra (0-0) at 12:05pm CDT.

Boxscore

The story of the day in the NL Central, if not all of MLB, was the premiere of rookie Reds (2-1) starter Johnny Cueto against the Diamondbacks (1-2).

At 5 feet, 11 inches, he was looked over because he was considered too short to be a Major League pitcher. Such rampant size-ism in professional sports these days. Tsk. Tsk. Cueto (1-0) picked up his first win by being perfect through 5 and striking out 10 in 7 innings. And somehow Dusty Baker didn’t even let him reach 100 pitches! Crazy. Cueto becomes the first rookie for the Reds to debut in such awesome fashion. Ever! For his next start, I hear he’s going to pull a rabbit from a hat. You won’t want to miss that!

Francisco Cordero pitched a perfect ninth for his first save, while Doug Davis (0-1) was charged with the loss.

The Reds host the Phillies tonight. Kyle Kendrick (0-0) starts against Josh Fogg (0-0). The action begins at 7:10pm EDT.

Boxscore

In what had to have been the ugliest opening series in all of baseball, the Pirates (2-1) managed to take the series from the Braves (1-2).

The Pirates won thanks to a good effort from Zach Duke, despite completely incompetent managing of him by the Pirates’ coaching staff (shades of Dusty Baker) and a great bullpen. Tyler Yates (1-0) picked up the win in the Pirates’ second extra-innings affair in three games, with Matt Capps getting his first save. Chris Resop (0-1) was tagged with the loss in between playing right field for a batter.

The Pirates travel to Florida. Matt Morris (0-0) will start against Scott Olsen (0-0) tonight at 7:10pm EDT.