Playing at Wrigley Field for the last 94 years, the Cubs traditionally have been a team built on offense.
But this has not been a normal season by anyone’s definition, and if the Cubs are going to be playing into October again, the pitching staff apparently is going to have to lead the way.
Carlos Zambrano, Aaron Heilman and Kevin Gregg did the job Friday in a 2-1, 10-inning victory over Milwaukee, leading the Cubs to their fourth victory in their last five games.
Mike DiFelice’s bases-loaded walk to Jake Fox brought home the winning run in the 10th, sending a raucous crowd of 41,204 into delirium.
“We’re finding our identity,” catcher Koyie Hill said. “Earlier in the season, we didn’t really know what kind of ballclub we were. The last couple of years, we’d just go out there and beat guys brains out.
“This year it’s a little different, and this game kind of told us who we were. We’re going to go out there, we’re going to pitch well and we’re going to scratch out some runs and get some wins. That’s our identity right now.”
Ryan Theriot’s one-out single off Craig Counsell’s glove started the 10th-inning rally, and the Cubs eventually loaded the bases on an intentional walk to Milton Bradley and a walk to pinch-hitter Geovany Soto. Fox fouled off three 3-2 pitches before taking a borderline pitch to end it.
“It was just one of those scenarios where I was able to fight him off, fight him off until, a) he gave me a good pitch to hit, or b) he made a mistake and he missed one,” Fox said.
Friday’s game had a little bit of everything.
Both teams were given a warning after Brewers starter Jeff Suppan hit Derrek Lee with a pitch in response to Zambrano plunking Prince Fielder. Bradley lost another fly ball in the sun in right field. And there was a bang-bang play at the plate, with Hill making a swipe tag of Suppan to end the seventh after Kosuke Fukudome’s perfect throw home from center field.
When all was said and done, the Cubs moved back above .500 and were only 1 1/2 games behind the second-place Brewers in the NL Central. The Cardinals moved into sole possession of first place — 2 1/2 games in front of the Cubs — with a 7-4 victory over the Reds.
Zambrano pitched seven strong innings, allowing one run on a bases-loaded walk and driving in a run with a fifth-inning single. It was the seventh time in his last eight starts the Cubs have scored two runs or fewer with him in the game. He’s only 1-1 over his last seven starts despite a 2.47 ERA.
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psullivan@tribune.com
