Phillies earn split

The streak of 9 consecutive series wins came to an end today as the Phillies beat the Cubs 5-3. The Cubs won the first 2, but the Phillies won on Saturday and Sunday. Sean Marshall got the spot start for Zambrano and gave up 3 runs in the 1st inning. He'd give up single runs in the 5th and 6th inning as well and the Cubs only managed 2 runs in the 2nd and a run in the 8th. It was the 2nd consecutive day the Cubs went without an extra base hit despite getting more than 20 hits combined. Most of us figured this series would be a split before it started, but you'd like to have taken 3 of 4 after winning the first 2. Philly didn't allow that to happen as they stepped up and remembered they were also in a pennant race of their own. The Cubs take a 4-game lead into September and open the month with the Houston Astros tomorrow afternoon at Wrigley. I'm not sure why it's a 3 pm game, but it is. The Tuesday and Wednesday games are night games. Houston is now 71-66 and have won 5 in a row. Roy Oswalt takes the mound while Jason Marquis opposes him. Oswalt has been really good lately so Marquis will have to be at the top of his game if the Cubs want to win tomorrow.