Boxscore

Dusty Baker showed that he continues to favor Corey Patterson when he started him over Jay Bruce last night. It’s–wait, Patterson was sent to AAA? And Bruce started?

Surely, Bruce plummeted to earth after his impossible to live up to first major league start of his career. I mean, no one–oh, he went 1 for 3 with 2 walks. I see. But he made two outs! Aha! That’s fallibility if ever I saw it!

So the Pirates finally managed to record an out against Jay Bruce last night, proving that he is slightly human. It took them a long time to record three against the Reds in the first inning, though, not accomplishing that feat until two pitchers had been used and 6 runs had scored. Even with Bronson Arroyo pitching on short rest, the Pirates didn’t have much of a chance after that.

The new-look, starting-to-make-sensible-choices Reds won, wresting fifth place from Pittsburgh, thanks to Arroyo, the ex-Pirate. Tonight, an ex-Red tries to grab fifth place back when Phil Dumatrait faces Aaron Harang at 7:10pm EDT.

Boxscore

When Takashi Saito took the mound in the 9th with a one-run lead for the Dodgers, I could tell it wouldn’t last. There was that feeling in the air. Well, that and the heart of the Cubs lineup coming up.

Sure enough, the Cubs loaded the bases and scored on a sacrifice fly, setting up the dramatic walk-off win and the laurel of hero for the much-maligned Alfonso Soriano. Now he gets to be a hero for a day, until the next time he drops a fly ball.

Having swept the Dodgers, the Cubs now host the Rockies tonight at 8:05pm EDT. Jeff Francis and Jason Marquis are the starters.

Boxscore

Adam Wainwright dominated the Astros last night, allowing three hits and one run in 8 innings. Oh yeah, and he fanned eight Astros. Should Chris Carpenter ever return, he and Wainwright would make a dynamite one-two punch for St. Louis. Of course, that’s very similar to Chicago’s refrain over last few years.

Benjie Molina and Cesar Izturis drove in the bulk of the Cardinals runs, while the Astros lone run came from a Ty Wiggington solo shot. Whenever Izturis has a good game, it seems to spell doom for whoever’s facing the Cardinals. If only he had them more than once every month or so.

Roy Oswalt, starting off 6 days rest, hopes to get things figured out tonight at 8:15pm EDT when he starts against Kyle Lohse.

Boxscore

Yes, there were other games in the Central last night, but really, none of them can approach the significance or the lasting impact of the Pirates-Reds game last night. Plus, thanks to preparing a birthday party for my kid, I have time for only one game wrap today.

In case you hadn’t heard, uber-prospect Jay Bruce premiered for the Reds last night, and he didn’t disappoint. In fact, no one’s gotten him out yet. Bruce’s line: 3 for 3, with two walks, two runs scored, two RBI, and a steal.

Not everyone was impressed, though.

Johnny Cueto threw too many pitches, but got the win thanks to an Adam Dunn home run. The bullpen made it a little closer, but Francisco Corder closed things out again.

Ian Snell started well for the Pirates, but Cincinnati figured him out the second time facing him. They did have enough offense to win, had they gotten anything resembling good pitching.

The same two teams again today, although Baker will be tempted to sit Bruce against the Pirates, thus ensuring the Reds loss. Tom Gorzelanny starts against Bronson Arroyo at 7:10pm EDT.

Boxscore

The Cubs continued their struggling on the road/dominating at home trend yesterday by, well, dominating the Dodgers at home.

Ryan Dempster continues to perplex everyone who’s paid any attention at all to his career by being a very good starting pitcher. And Derek Lee and Aramis Ramirez continue to show their an impressive force in any lineup, as they both homered, providing all of Chicago’s runs.

The same two teams play again today at 7:05pm EDT when Hiroki Kuroda takes on Sean Gallagher.