LIVE BLOGGING!!

RECAP: Joel Pineiro was awesome. Molina was clutch in the first, and Rasmus homered (again).

Top 9th (10:19): Quick first out. Un-quick second out. Soriano K. Awesome game!

Bottom 8th (10:12): Two fly outs to right. Pujols double (how the hell did he get to 2nd on that?). Molina ground out. The Cards clearly feel they have scored enough runs. I hope they're right.

It's Ryan Franklin intimidating beard time!! EDIT: J.P. going for the shutout! What was I thinking?

Top 8th (10:02): Duncan and Stavinoha out. Improved defense. One pitch, one out. Another out and then a Geovany Soto K. Cubs look like shit, let's be honest.

Bottom 7th (9:57): Another easy inning for Lilly. The Brewers have a 2-run lead in Houston right now.

Top 7th (9:52): J.P. keeps rolling. Two fly outs in the game (this does not include Lee's line out to center).

Cubs broadcasters are so desperate they are hoping for Cardinal errors. "All Cardinals, all Pineiro so far."

Bottom 6th (9:45): Molina hustle out. Duncan hustle out. Stavinoha to the warning track. Lilly would be winning this game most days.

When Derrick Lee does pretty much anything the broadcasters make comments about his health. "Hope he is alright." Really? So fragile that his health is a concern everytime he fields a ball? Sad.

Top 6th (9:40): One pitch, one out. Lilly out. Soriano out. J.P. is working faster than I can type! (Not really.)

Bottom 5th (9:34): I thirst for runs. The Cardinals, however, are shit. Two hits. That's it. Two. Pathetic.

J.P. strikes out looking. Thurston lines out to 1B. The Cardinals have officially let the struggling opposing pitcher find a groove. this pathetic inning is about to end ...

Wait ...

Ryan reaches for the third time with a single to center. Rasmus no-doubt dinger. 3-run lead. Russ smiles, sips beer, sits back.

Lilly's curveball is nasty, btw. It look's unnaturally ... um ... curvy(?).

Top 5th (9:22): The Cubs keep swinging on the first pitch. Two quick outs. Unfortunately, Fontenot's swing gave him a double. Fortunately, Soto still sucks. Cubs stranded their first runner of the night. Good stuff.

Bottom 4th (9:15): Chris Duncan K's looking. Pathetic. Has he done anything recently? Stavinoha single followed up moments later by Barden double-play. I guess the Cardinals are satisfied with one run.

Rasmus' sacrifice is starting to look sensible.

Top 4th (9:10): One pitch, one out, for Soriano. 35 pitches to get the first 10 outs = nice. Two pitches, second out. One pitch, third out. 38 pitches through 4 IP = RUSS LIKES!

Now, SCORE!

Bottom 3rd (9:06): Thurston draws a walk and sprints to first base. I love that. Brendan Ryan, who also walked to lead off an inning, walks again. Two men on and no outs, Rasmus fails to move the runners over. Terrible. Got to get that runner to 3rd so the next hitter can get a sac fly.

Pujols through two at bats: 3 LOB, 2 in scoring position. Ugh.

Will Molina deliver? No. Wasted opportunity.

Bob Brenly stupid comment counter: 3 ("... when Cubs fans are in attendance all you see is blue." Really? Cubs fans don't wear white or gray?).

Top 3rd (8:50): Remember when Giovany Soto was good? Me either. Aaron Miles hits like a girl. Ted Lilly got embarrassed by a ball in the dirt.

J.P. looks pretty good. Now that I have said that I expect total failure.

Bottom 2nd (8:46): Stavinoha = CRAP. Barden = CRAP. J.P. = SHIT. Cards' half of the 2nd = *pfffttt* (that's supposed to be a fart noise -- I am trying to suggest it was a bad half inning).

Top 2nd (8:40): Before the first pitch of the inning WGN showed an overweight Cardinals fan with his chest painted and suggested a dress code for "this park." Whatever.

D. Lee gets a single up the middle. Milton Bradley hits into DP. Mike Fontenot swings like a girl.

Easy inning.

Bottom of the First (8:32): Lead-off walk, sacrifice (WHY!?), then Pujols. Teeming with anticipation ... for a foul out. Ugh. Thankfully, mercifully, Molina drives the run home -- improving his .429 average with runners in scoring position.

LaRussa looked PISSED after Rasmus' bunt. He isn't the only pissed off observer. Are the Cardinals so pathetic that they need to sacrifice runners into scoring position in the first? Terrible decision by Rasmus, who is batting .080 against lefties.

Broadcaster note: The Cardinals have only scored 13 runs with Ludwick out. I feel sick.

Top of the First (8:18): Bob Brenly just called Chris Duncan a "truck driver" and said to "be careful." I have no idea what he is talking about or who he is talking to. J.P. took one batter to piss me off. The broadcasters are already getting a lot of mileage out of how great the Cardinal staff was last month and how crappy it has been in May.

Molina pick-off! Cubs broadcasters think it was a bad call. Objectivity FAIL!

First Impressions (8:13): WGN looks like shit and their broadcasters are shit. Bob Brenly is a nice guy, but I don't like him as a broadcaster. I may have to mute this slop. They think Derrick Lee is going to have a good game because he had a good game yesterday. Great analysis, thanks.

Since I am watching this evening's game on WGN. And since I haven't watched or blogged the last three games (thankfully?). And since Art and Beth have left and hopefully un-cursed the Cards. Here goes the live blogging.