Another bad night at the office for Cubs

This year or next year?

In the race or out of it?

Cubs manager Lou Piniella talked both ways Wednesday night before his team went out and lost 9-5 to the Milwaukee Brewers at Wrigley Field.

"You can see how many things have gone wrong for us here this year, and you can see that we're still in a race," Piniella said. "It goes to tell you with some improvement that you can get right back on top quickly.

"Just staying healthy, alone, would help immensely. I would obviously see this team here being very competitive next year.

"Look, again, we still have 19 games to play. We're on the outskirts, but we're still there. If we put together a nice little 5-, 6-game winning streak from here on out, and you'd be surprised how quick you're in it."

The Cubs and starting pitcher Rich Harden put themselves out of this one pretty quickly, and Piniella's decision to use rookie David Patton in long relief kept it that way.

Harden, who may be a short-timer in more ways than one, lasted just 3 innings, as he gave up 6 hits and 5 runs (2 earned). The impending free agent has not pitched at least 6 innings since Aug. 26, and it took him 71 pitches to get through 3 against the Brewers.

Milwaukee scored 2 in the second, with highly touted shortstop Alcides Escobar hitting an RBI double and pitcher Braden Looper following with a run-scoring single.

The Brewers made it 5-0 in the third, scoring 3 unearned runs, thanks to an error by third baseman Aramis Ramirez on Ryan Braun's bouncer. Former Cub Casey McGehee drove 1 run home with a single and Escobar scored 2 more with another single.

"I've got some work to do," said Harden, who fell to 9-9. "Not what I wanted to do here late in the season. We need to win games. Next time I've got to be better. I'm feeling pretty good. I have thrown a lot of pitches in my last 3 starts in not many innings."

Patton, whom the Cubs took in last winter's Rule 5 draft, gave up 4 hits and 4 runs in 11/3 innings before Piniella turned to Justin Berg and Tom Gorzelanny.

There were a couple of other interesting moments. Piniella double-switched $30 million right fielder Milton Bradley out of the game after Bradley grounded out in the third. Bradley is 1-for-19 on the homestand, and Piniella seems none too pleased with him, especially of late.

"We double-switched, I think, three different times tonight," Piniella offered by way of explanation.

Catcher Geovany Soto went for a tag at home when a force was in order in the third. He also picked up an errant pitch with his mask, allowing a runner an extra base and getting an error for that mistake in the fourth.

"With his mask?" Piniella said. "I don't think Soto knew the rule, I'll be honest with you. We told him he couldn't use his helmet, either, just to make sure."

<p class="factboxheadblack">Bruce Miles' game tracker</p> <p class="News">Brewers 9, Cubs 5</p> <p class="News"><b>Short timer:</b> Pitcher Rich Harden lasted only 3 innings, throwing 71 pitches and giving up 6 hits and 5 runs (2 earned). In his last 4 starts, Harden has gone 3, 4, 5 and 5 innings, respectively.</p> <p class="News"><b>More like it:</b> Shortstop Ryan Theriot, whose on-base percentage had fallen into the .330s, reached base his first four times up, extending his streak to 9 plate appearances.</p> <p class="News"><b>Still going:</b> Derrek Lee extended his hitting streak to nine games. He's 15-for-33 (.455) during the streak. Lee drove in a run, giving him 102 for the year.</p> <div class="infoBox"> <h1>More Coverage</h1> <div class="infoBoxContent"> <div class="infoArea"> <h2>Stories</h2> <ul class="links"> <li><a href="/story/?id=322064">Piniella would like coaching staff back<span class="date"> [9/17/09]</span></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div>