Then only thing the Chicago Cubs have to worry about is their own pitching woes that plagued the Cubs again last night as they hosted the Los Angeles Dodgers to open the NL playoffs.

Dodger first baseman James Loney silenced the crowd connecting on a 3-2 pitch that sailed over the center field fence for a heartbreaking Grand Slam and a 4-2 lead. The Cubs suffered their seventh straight post season loss as Chicago coach Lou Piniella’s refused to pull the plug on starter Ryan Dempster who had clearly struggled through five innings on the hill.

The Billy Goat, Black Cat, or even Bartman were no excuse for any manager to keep a struggling pitcher on the mound, hoping to dodge bullets from the bats of the lethal Dodger’s lineup. The Cubs danced around a bases loaded third inning before outfielder Andre Eithier struck out to end the threat.

Dempster was on borrowed time all night giving up seven walks through five innings of work and never looking comfortable before Loney put an end to his night, and possibly the Cubs hopes to advance in the playoffs.

“I felt like I really let the guys down today,” said a solemn Dempster in the lock room after the game.

The lone bright spot for the Cubs came with one out in the second inning when Mark DeRosa put the Cubs up with a two run blast off winning pitcher Derek Lowe.

DeRosa, making his return after a calf injury forced him to miss the Cubs final four regular season games came out in grand fashion later came to the aide of his teammate. “You’re surprised by the walks,” Chicago’s Mark DeRosa said. “When you consistently put yourself in jams with walks, eventually somebody’s going to get a knock. That’s just the way the game is. I’m hoping he gets another chance. I want to give him that chance to get on the mound and redeem himself.”

The final dagger in the backs of the Cubs faithful came in the bottom of the ninth inning as Dodger manager Joe Torre trotted out two time Cubs pitcher Greg Maddux to close out the game.

Maddux was welcomed by the still respectful crowd that had remembered Maddux’s career in Chicago, but proceeding to ignore the accolades putting down the Cubbies in order to end the night and give the Dodgers the 1-0 game lead ending the Cubs home field advantage.

Another sidelight came when Alfonso Soriano ended the night going 0 for 5 and walking back to the dugout amidst a chorus of boos. The Cubs send their Ace Carlos Zambrano to the mound tonight in what should be a do or die game for Chicago, and given the hit or miss style of Zambrano, the Cubs might be in for a long night and an even longer off season.

Technorati Tags: chicago cubs, los angeles dodgers, lou piniella, mlb, mlb playoffs

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