Fukudome, Lee spark Cubs comeback
Tie game. Seventh inning. Two on with two outs.
Who do you think the Cubs want at the plate?
Primed by organist Gary Pressy, the 40,707 at Wrigley Field stood in unison on a crisp 57 degree Saturday afternoon, chanting for Kosuke Fukudome.
With Houston rookie left-hander Wesley Wright on the mound, Fukudome rewarded his cheering section. After working the count full, the Cubs right fielder slapped a double to left that scored Derrek Lee and Aramis Ramirez, sending the Cubs' faithful into a frenzy as their team rallied from a 5-2 deficit to score a 9-7 win against the Astros.
"Boy, he had a nice game, didn't he?" Cubs manager Lou Piniella said.
Fukudome's latest heroics didn't come in the ninth inning, like his game-tying 3-run shot on Opening Day did, but this clutch effort was a success of a different kind: His first major-league at-bat and hit against a lefty.
"He plays the game the right way," Lee said. "If you're watching him play, you can learn from him. I'm enjoying watching him play."
The crowd felt the same way watching Lee. He led the Cubs' 14-hit attack with a 4-for-4 effort against Astros starter Roy Oswalt (0-2).
"It's good to see him break out today and hopefully we can get him nice and hot and get Ramirez hot, get (Alfonso) Soriano hot, and all of a sudden, our offense will start jelling a little better," Piniella said.
Cubs starter Jason Marquis is hoping for a better performance next time out after allowing 4 earned runs and 8 hits, including a home run to Carlos Lee (3-for-4, 2 RBI), in his 5½-inning outing.
"I left a few pitches up. I had to work a little too hard to get the ball down in the zone today," Marquis said.
The right-hander was also getting a steady workout on the base paths, knocking in Geovany Soto (1-for-4) with a double in the second and reaching second base in the fifth on a Ty Wigginton throwing error. Marquis even decided to test Michael Bourn's throwing arm from center after Soriano (0-for-5) flied out.
"It was a play that I did more with my heart than my head," said Marquis, who was easily tagged out after the one-hop throw. "Down 1 run, still in scoring position, it would be a little wiser to stay at second base."
After a home run off Oswalt is his previous at-bat, Lee led off the sixth with a double to right. Ramirez flied out, and then Fukudome showcased another weapon in his arsenal -- a bunt single.
"When I started my pro career in Japan I actually bunted quite a few times and recently I haven't had too many chances to use it, but it just happened that it popped it my head to try one," Fukudome said through his translator, Ryuji Araki.
A passed ball on Brad Ausmus brought home Lee and brought the Cubs within 5-3.
Reed Johnson (2-for-5, 2 RBI) grounded out in the seventh and scored Ryan Theriot, and Lee laced a single that brought home Mike Fontenot. Ramirez walked, setting up Fukudome's latest big hit.
"He's a special player, obviously," Marquis said. "The scouts saw something special with him to bring him over here. And he hasn't let us down."