Morning Box Score: Cubs Edge Mets In Extras

By Marcus Gilmer in News on Sep 25, 2008 2:20PM

Sweet Lou got his 1,700th managerial win in dramatic fashion as the Cubs edged the Mets 9-6 in 10 innings. Mark DeRosa continued his career year by belting another home run to get the Cubs going in the second, but the lead wasn't for long as ace Carlos Zambrano gave up five runs in the bottom of the third, including a Carlos Delgado grand slam, reinforcing worries about hie erratic second half and what that means for the playoffs. Said Lou afterwards,

What did I think? I give it mixed reviews...He's healthy. Let's give him the benefit of the doubt and that he needs work and he's rusty.

"I wish he would just quit fighting himself out there and just relax and pitch and have fun...He gets angry when he doesn't do what he expects to do. It detracts from his ability. I've tried to tell him that so many times. He understands when I tell him, and I think he forgets when he pitches.

The Cubs came back, adding four runs in the fifth and another run in the seventh, including Mark DeRosa adding two more RBIs to his tally with a double, to take a 6-5 lead. A Jeff Samardzija walk with the bases loaded in the eighth allowed the Mets to tie it up and send the game to extra frames. In the top of the 10th, Derek Lee blooped an RBI double to give the Cubs the lead and was followed by Aramis Ramirez hitting a two-run homer for the insurance. Bob Howry ended up getting the win in relief and Kerry Wood held in the 10th for his 34th save of the season.

The Mets drop into a tie for the wild card with Milwaukee, meaning the Cubs are no closer to knowing who'll they'll play in the NLDS. What we do know is that as the top team in the NL, they get the lowest "seed" not in their division, so if the Brewers earn the wild card, it looks like the Cubs get the Dodgers (or D-Backs as they're still in the race). If the Mets take the wild card, then it'll be a rematch of this week's series. Unless the Phillies and Brewers tank and somehow the Phils end up in the wild card. So, you know, the Cubs will either play the Mets, Dodgers, Diamondbacks, or Phillies.