Game #51 Astros vs. Cubs, August 13, 2012

Here's Chris Volstad, up from AAA.

And here's Michael Bowden, also up from AAA. I am even wearing my Iowa Cubs shirt to support him.

Here's two of my favorite Cubs ever.

Obviously they had a rain delay.

A Twins fan in every crowd, I'm telling ya.

Darwin. Sighhhhhhhhh........

Nice matchup. Galarraga is best known for pitching the perfect game that wasn't, as the first base ump made a bad call. And Armando forgave him and it was beautiful.

Rizzo was the Edward Jones player of the month for July.

That bottle is so tiny in Shark's enormous hands.

Should be The Clev catching, but whatever.

Okay, enough candids of beautiful Wrigley and the beautiful Cubs. Samardzija was getting people out right and left.

Brett Jackson is in the field. Yay. But they sent Tony Campana down. BOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!

Here's Armando Galarraga.

Here's Rizzo because he singled in the first. No perfect game tonight, AG.

In the second inning, Castro singled, then advanced to second when dumb Wellington Castillo grounded out. I'm just being mean because Steve's not starting--Wellington is a nice guy and a good ballplayer.

Castro stole third.

Then Darwin hit a home run.

In the bottom of the third, David walked.

Vitters reached on a fielder's choice. Bye, David.

Then Vitters stole second, and then he got to third on an error by Jason Castro. Rizzo singled and Vitters scored.

Samardzija continued to impress.

In the bottom of the fourth, it looked like more might happen. Darwin singled.

Samrdzija walked. But that was it.

People love our signs.

In the bottom of the fifth, Rizzo singled.

Then Soriano homered.

Here's Steve helping with warmups.

Samardzija still going strong. Barnes homered to put Houston on the board in the sixth, but the Cubs were still up 5-1.

In the sixth, Darwin walked, but he was stranded.

Samardzija is still awesome in the seventh.

Rizzo just needs to borrow some dirt real quick.

Okay he's good.

In the seventh, Soriano and Castro walked. Then Wellington came up and hit and drove Sori home.

Here's more of The Clev.

James Russell makes his mandatory after-Jeff appearance in the eighth.

I'm pretty sure this is Darwin catching out in center because he can do anything defensively.

James Russell--still a boss.

Darling Barney reached once again in the eighth on a walk.

Mather singled, moving Darwin to third.

But JoJo was out trying to make that single a double.

Darwin scored when Vitters hit a sacrifice fly.

David DeJesus walked and made it all the way to third. on a Rizzo single, but that was it for the Cubs.

Jeff Beliveau came out to finish out the ninth.

Joe Mather in left field.

Beliveau was awesome.

Cubs win 7-1.

Darwin is the star.

Rizzo signing.

Lendy Castillo signing.

We love Lendy.

All of my photos from this game may be found at http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10151023933058786.430773.511233785&type=3