Cubs toss a doubleheader to Giants, Pena works to power offense

Nothing went to the Cubs liking yesterday. The doubleheader and heat took their toll. Carlos Pena managed to go deep for a homerun in Game 1. The 13-7 loss shows the franchise needs to gain depth in the rotation. They also need the hitting to pick up the slack. Not too many in the lineup could answer the call. In Game 2, Aramis Ramirez hit a shot to outfield for his 8th long ball. Barry Zito got the best of the Cubs as the bats managed only to drive in a couple runs in the 6-3 defeat. The Chicago men in blue wait for the cross-town classic series to make a dent for improvement in the division standings.

After slide against Yankees, Pena and Cubs come up strong in cross-town series opener

Keep on ticking and taking a licking is how to put this one today. Although, the Cubs lost the series to the Yankees they put up a strong effort to gain the win Monday against the White Sox. Their cross-town rivals aren't doing awful at 35-39 yet may go for a longer slump moving towards the end of the Series in Chicago. Yesterday Carlos Pena put good wood on the ball with a homerun and drove in 3 runs. Starlin Castro was the good ingredient with a 2-for-4 showcase with a solo bomb to the left field seats.

With the passion still there Carlos Zambrano gutted the game out to reach his 6th win. His went the distance for 8 innings, allowing 3 runs while recording 5 strikeouts. He's in the process to work out a negotiation for his contract next year. At the Cubs are fortunate He's stay and not get traded. The struggle continues as the franchise is far from atop from the NL Central. They need to get everyone healthy and pull a few strings for trades. Getting the starting pitching under control and on the same page will be good. Until then good luck to the Cubs in their cross-town series against the Sox!

Cubs try to find cure in extras, come up empty

Nothing seemed to be soluble for the Cubs in the series against the Cardinals. They put it to a test in pitching with good support from their relief staff. That didn't result in the win desired. They went to a long ball on a brief time. That didn't work either. One thing is for sure. They wanted Albert Pujols out of the lineup. His two homeruns won 2 straight games in extra innings. The Cubs also tried precise timing with strategy. That almost worked.

They searched for answers yet didn't know how to stop the St. Louis offense. Dealing with injuries the games have flipped to the downside effect. A boost in the bats throughout the lineups is clearly needed. The batting order has to be able to take on bigger challenges. Otherwise the Cubs will continue to slip further in the NL Central. Chicago will look to rebound in the upcoming series until Soriano gets well and returns.