What happened: Jim Edmonds tied the score with a ninth-inning home run, and Reed Johnson was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded in the 11th. Carlos Zambrano pitched seven solid innings, allowing only a two-run homer to Jeff Francoeur. The Cubs and Braves wore throwback unis from the 1948 season.
The game turned when: Edmonds homered. He had driven in Chicago's first run on a sac fly in the 7th. With the wind blowing out to left, he lined a shot that just reached the basket, a classic Wrigley Field homer. The Cubs had struggled against Tim Hudson, stranding runners and hitting into double plays to end two innings, but Zambrano kept them close long enough for the offense to come through. Scott Eyre got into and out of trouble in the 8th, with a little help from Carlos Marmol.
Concerns: Eric Patterson, typically a second baseman, got the surprise call-up from Iowa to start Thursday in left field in place of the injured Alfonso Soriano. This seems to indicate that Piniella will look to mix and match in left, perhaps even more than we could have expected. It will be interesting to see the lineup he drafts with a designated hitter tonight.
Up next: Cubs at Toronto, 6 p.m. Reed Johnson makes his triumphant return to Canada after being released by the Jays in the spring. The Cubs and Jays last met in 2003, when Toronto took 2 of 3 at the park then known as SkyDome.
Now playing: The Drams "Jubilee Dive" -- getting primed for their two-night stint at the White Water Tavern starting today. I am actually more geeked about co-headliner Glossary, but any project involving the legendary Brent Best of Slobberbone commands my respect and dollar.
The Drams
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