With a rare victory Saturday, the Cubs got a clearer look at next season with an eye toward some unfinished business this season.
If there is concern about the middle of the starting rotation next summer, Tom Gorzelanny helped ease the fears with a strong seven innings of one-run ball in a 5-4 victory over the Braves.
And if there is concern about the Cubs having enough money to add players for next season, Kosuke Fukudome couldn’t help but increase his value with another two-hit afternoon.
Shedding Fukudome’s $13.5 million contract — or part of it — for next season is among the unfinished business, which could include saving even more by getting him through waivers and making a deal before September.
The Cubs have already saved $4.5 million with their trades of Ted Lilly and Derrek Lee.
Getting a chance to play, presumably as a showcase, Fukudome is hitting .340 in August with two homers and seven RBIs, compared with a .162 average in June.
As for Gorzelanny, he knows he is pitching for one of five rotation spots for next season and didn’t seem fazed by the NL East-leading Braves.
“We’re not going to lay down and let teams sweep series,” Gorzelanny said. “We’re going out there for a purpose.
“We’re not going to be a team that is just a red carpet into the playoffs.”
While striking out nine batters, including four of the final five batters he faced, Gorzelanny raised his record to 7-7 and lowered his earned-run average to 3.70.
He left with a 5-1 lead, thanks to RBI hits from Aramis Ramirez and Tyler Colvin in both the first and third innings. Then he survived another shaky bullpen session that continued to raise concerns for next season.
Rookie Andrew Cashner allowed three runs in one-third of an inning, although the bases-clearing hit came while Sean Marshall was relieving.
And then there was a leadoff walk from Carlos Marmol to Lee to start the ninth inning, which raised red flags after he walked three in blowing Friday’s game. But Marmol survived this time.
“It was very important for me,” Marmol said. “We needed that one. It was a nice win.”
Actually, any victory is important to the Cubs, who had lost 15 of their 19 August games.
“It’s good to win a ballgame, it really is,” manager Lou Piniella said. “It’s been since last Sunday in St. Louis. Too long in between victories.”
Saturday’s joy was reminiscent of the good old days, if you count 2008 as “old.” There were 41,099 sun-kissed fans jammed into Wrigley Field and the “W” flag was flying.
And the victory — one over a contender, no less — was even by one run, which means the Cubs have won 15 of them, while losing 30.
Gorzelanny, at least, has reason to be optimistic as he looks toward next season.
“We’ve got a lot of talent on this team,” he said. “We’re going to sign a few guys in the offseason, and we can make it a lot better for next year.”
