The Cubs were down to their final four outs Wednesday at Wrigley Field, trailing the Brewers by three runs and looking like they were about to go down for the count.
“Were you nervous?” Marlon Byrd asked reporters afterward.
The only one showing any nerves was former Cub reliever LaTroy Hawkins, who often has been at his worst facing his former team.
After retiring the first two hitters he faced, Hawkins allowed four eighth inning runs to help the Cubs to a 7-6 victory.
Jeff Baker’s single started the rally before back-to-back walks loaded the bases for Ryan Theriot, who dumped a two-run single to right for his fourth hit. After Theriot stole second, Kosuke Fukudome followed with another two-run single to give the Cubs the lead again.
Then Carlos Marmol struck out Corey Hart, Ryan Braun and Prince Fielder in the ninth as the Cubs improved to 4-4 with their second straight triumph at home.
Fukudome, who had three RBIs, is leading the team with a .417 average. He always has been a good hitter in the first month of the season, but now he believes he can carry it over for the long run.
“I’m really settled down this year, and that’s probably the main reason I’m doing well,” Fukudome said through his interpreter.
Settled down personally or professionally?
“Everything,” he replied with a grin. “Except for the interpreter.”
The Cubs showed some staying power Wednesday as Geovany Soto homered, Baker had another big day off the bench and Marmol looked untouchable again.
“Marmol … that’s impressive,” manager Lou Piniella said. “I mean that is really, really good stuff. He was up there in the high 90s and throwing strikes, and his breaking ball was doing what his breaking ball does.”
Randy Wells gave up four runs on 10 hits over 6 1/3 innings, leaving with the Cubs behind 4-2 in the seventh. Jeff Gray, called up from Triple-A Iowa on Wednesday, was hit hard during a two-run eighth, but was awarded his first major league victory after the Cubs rallied off Hawkins (0-1).
While Hawkins has been effective in his brief stint with the Brewers, he melted under the glare of the Wrigley spotlight again. He now has a 7.47 career earned-run average against the Cubs.
Asked about pitching in his former House of Horrors, Hawkins replied: “I don’t care. It doesn’t make any difference.”
Someone then asked Hawkins how he would recover from the disastrous outing.
“I’m already over it,” he replied.
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