Well, Steve Rain finally proved he’s human.
Rain, the 6-foot, 6-inch, 225-pound, 20-year-old closer for the Rockford Cubbies, had not permitted an earned run in 18 consecutive outings, dating to May 22, when he came into the game in the ninth inning the other night to protect a two-run lead against Western Michigan. His ERA was a minuscule 0.65. So, Marinelli Field fans took a fifth straight Cubbies’ victory almost for granted.
But even Dennis Eckersley occasionally blows a save . . .
Western Michigan scored three runs off Rain and beat the Cubbies 8-7. Rain’s ERA almost doubled, to 1.27.
The outlook remains upbeat for the Cubs affiliate in the Class-A Midwest League. The Cubbies’ second-half record is 16-9. They’re in second place in the league’s Central Division, trailing first-half winner Beloit. So if Rockford finished second, it makes the playoffs.
Other notable Cubbies items: Marty Gazarek is hitting .452 and has hit in all 12 games since his return to right field. Steve Walker has 31 of the Go-Go-Cubbies’ 146 stolen bases. And the Cubs’ No. 1 draft pick, Jayson Peterson, has been hammered in all four starts. His record is 0-3 and his ERA 9.47.
Cougars hit wall: Except for Luis Castillo, Kane County’s 19-year-old, 146-pound second baseman from the Dominican Republic, the youthful Cougars seem to have hit a wall as they near the 100-game mark of the 140-game season.
Castillo, a terrific fielder and speedy slap hitter, has hiked his average to .326 and his league leading stolen base total to 40. But the Cougars, an affiliate of the Florida Marlins, lost five of seven games in the intense heat of their last homestand. They fell to 50-46 overall and 11-15 in the second half.
The 100-plus degree heat wave took its toll in the Midwest League last week, especially on road teams that had to deal with travel as it fits a Class-A league lifestyle.
Robinson lifts Chiefs: The Peoria Chiefs had lost nine in a row on the road before switch-hitting second baseman Derek Robinson hit a ninth-inning home run, his second as a pro, to key a 7-5 victory at Cedar Rapids.
Robinson’s blow triggered a three-game winning streak that improved the Chiefs’ second-half record to 12-14, only two games out of first place in the league’s not-so-tough Western Division.
Leadoff man left-fielder Anton French has helped the revival. He’s hit in six straight games, scoring six runs, making four doubles and stealing four bases.
And Carl Dale rebounded from his worst start of the season to blank Springfield 4-0 on three hits in eight innings.
Dale, a second-round draft pick last year, retired the last 11 batters he faced. He was lifted because of a pitch count maximum the parent St. Louis Cardinals have installed for all pitchers in class A ball.
Silver Hawks in second: Over in the Eastern Division, the South Bend Silver Hawks, a White Sox affiliate, lost six in a row before Chuck Smith stopped the skid with 6 2/3 innings of scoreless pitching. Still, the Silver Hawks had a 14-12 second-half record, good for second place behind Michigan. So, South Bend, powered by first baseman Nilson Robledo, remains in the thick of the playoff chase. Robledo, “old man” of 26 for Class-A ball, is hitting .313, leads the league with 82 RBIs, and is second with 15 home runs.
