In keeping with a season that defies explanation, the Cubs did things backward in Monday’s doubleheader at Pro Player Stadium. They won the game you might have thought they were going to lose and lost a game they were supposed to win.
After knocking around Florida ace Carl Pavano, 5-1, in the opener, they bowed to emergency starter David Weathers in a 5-2 loss in Game 2.
“If you can explain baseball, you’re better than I am,” said Todd Walker, who had a two-run homer snatched from him by Juan Encarnacion’s leaping catch at the right-field wall in the ninth inning of the second game.
With San Francisco and Houston idle, the Cubs remained a half-game behind the Giants in the wild-card race and a half-game ahead of the Astros. Instead of dealing the Marlins a knockout punch, they let them hang around the pack, 41 1/42 games behind the leaders.
The Cubs play their next 10 games against the Pirates, Mets and Reds, who are a combined 43 games under .500.
“It’s going to come down to the last few days, no matter who it is,” Walker said. “We’ve just got to continue to play like we’ve been playing and we’ll be OK.”
Mark Prior turned in his best outing of the season in Game 1, allowing one first-inning run before shutting down the Marlins into the eighth. Prior (6-4) left after
72 1/43 innings. He allowed five hits, struck out nine, walked one and threw a season-high 129 pitches.
Cubs manager Dusty Baker rested Sammy Sosa, Aramis Ramirez, Michael Barrett and Mark Grudzielanek in Game 1, using reserves Ben Grieve, Jose Macias, Paul Bako and Walker.
Macias, Walker and Bako were a combined 6-for-13 in Game 1 on Monday with two RBIs, giving Prior an early lead.
But the second game got off on the wrong foot for the Cubs when Matt Clement walked Juan Pierre, hit Jeff Conine and served up a three-run homer to Damion Easley. After RBI doubles by Miguel Cabrera and Easley in the third, the Cubs were in a 5-1 hole, and Clement (9-13) was history.
“It would’ve been a great game to win,” Clement said. “I disappointed myself.”
The Cubs trailed by three in the ninth when Encarnacion leaped over the wall to take a home run away from pinch-hitter Walker. It was that kind of day.
“I hate to say you’d almost rather strike out,” Walker said, “but it’s pretty disappointing when that happens.”
