Before the ballgame Billy Petrick was recalled from Iowa and Rob Bowen was DFA'd by the Cubs. So it looked like Jim Hendry had basically wound up with nothing in the Michael Barett deal.
So we move onto the ballgame. In the third inning Koyie Hill, the catcher who had survived, clobbered a Tim Lincecum pitch into the right field stands to give the Cubs the lead 1-0. The lead didn't last long, in the top of the fifth Pedro Feliz tied the game hitting a high Rich Hill fastball into the left field stands. So with the game tied at 1-1, the game took a back seat in the sixth to a major announcement.
In the bottom of the sixth, Jim Hendry joined Len and Bob in the WCIU booth. Hendry announced to all of us sitting at home that he had done something with Rob Bowen. Hendry had used Bowen in a deal with Billy Beane to acquire a starting catcher. Jason Kendall, who was a Cub killer with the Bucs, will join the Cubs tomorrow night. Here's Carrie Muskat's report:
CHICAGO -- The Cubs shuffled catchers Monday, acquiring catcher Jason Kendall from the Oakland Athletics in exchange for catcher Rob Bowen and Minor League pitcher Jerry Blevins.
Before Monday's game, the Cubs designated Bowen for assignment. With the addition of Kendall, they will be back at three catchers on the 25-man roster.
Kendall, 33, was batting .226 with two homers in 80 games with the Athletics. He'll be back in the National League, where he starred for the Pittsburgh Pirates from 1996-2004.
So the Cubs have turned Michael Barrett and Jerry Blevins into Jason Kendall. Yeah, Kendall has struggled so far this season and he might not be the player he was in Pittsburgh. Still he comes to this team as a solid defensive catcher, at the plate he has a career OBP of .375. He's only a year removed from a season that saw him hit .295 with a .367 OBP. There is no doubt that Kendall is a defensive catcher these days. There is also little doubt that many will not like this deal. Still with Blanco still on the shelf and the Cubs in the race they were going to add a veteran. If Kendall can come in and give the Cubs a good second half that's all that will matter.
So back to the ballgame. In the top of the eigth the Giants scratched out a run off of Rich Hill. In the bottom of the inning the Cubs first two hitters made out. Ryan Theriot singled up the middle. With Theriot running DLee singled past the second sacker who was going to cover second. Theriot went to third and the Cubs had action. Then the Cubs most clutch hitter this year Aramis Ramirez clubbed a double to LF. Lee and Theriot scored. The Cubs had a 3-2 lead. Wrigley Field was up for grabs! Bobby Howry came in and it was game over.
At the end of the night the Cubs had added a solid veteran catcher and had won another dramatic come-from-behind win. Whatta night.
Go D-backs!
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