NEW YORK — It was only fitting that “Hard Knock Life” played on the Cubs’ clubhouse stereo late Saturday afternoon after a come-from-behind 5-4 win over the Mets.
Nothing seems to come easily for the Cubs, who came back against the Mets’ bullpen for the second straight game after Kerry Wood blew a lead for Randy Wells in the eighth inning.
Aramis Ramirez’s two-out, two-run RBI single off reliever Bobby Parnell brought home the tying and winning runs in the ninth after Jason Bay’s two-run single off Wood capped a four-run eighth for the Mets. Wood got the victory, as well as a blown save.
“It was huge,” Wood said. “‘Ramy’ came in and got a big hit, especially for me. I made pitches, gave up not too hard hit balls, and then get guys 0-2 and 1-2, made a pitch to Bay and it ended up hurting us.”
On alert: The Cubs and Mets will play a Sunday night game that will be preceded by a special tribute to 9/11 victims and heroes on the 10th anniversary of the terrorist attacks. Both teams have been alerted to the extra security on hand, especially in light of a report of another possible attack.
“These people do a phenomenal job,” manager Mike Quade said of the security. “Isn’t it part of the deal — that (the terrorists) win if you’re nervous? They’ve done everything they can to keep people safe, and they’ve done it here for a long time.”
Fukudome watch: Kosuke Fukudome received only 33 at-bats against left-handers as a Cub, hitting .273. Since being dealt to the Indians, for whom he has played every day, Fukudome began Saturday hitting .324 (22-for-68) against lefties. Overall he’s hitting .282 with 17 RBIs for Cleveland. He had 13 RBIs in 87 games with the Cubs.
Is playing every day the difference?
“It is one of the factors,” he said. “I can’t say that’s all the reasons, but it’s definitely one of them.”
Fukudome said it was good to leave the Cubs and get a fresh start “because I have different teammates, different team, everything is different.”
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