Overbay Traded to Toronto!
Davis Dazzles Cubs, Lee
Brewers Win Close One, 5-3
Dennis Jenders
Doug Davis won for the second time in three starts as he improved to 11-10 on the season. Faced with a bases-loaded jam in the seventh inning Davis struck out MVP candidate Derrek Lee to end the Cubs rally. It was the fourth time on the night that Davis struck out Lee.
It was clearly the turning point in a very tense and important game. With the bases loaded Davis fought through the inning and retired Lee to take away the Cubs threat of winning the game. "Mainly what I did was scout on him, and throw the ball where he couldn't hurt me", said Davis. With a 4-2 lead in the seventh Davis gave up a double to Corey Patterson and walked two more to load the bases. He got out of the jam by getting Neifi Perez to ground the ball to Bill Hall who got the force out at home.
Davis thought there was one out on the board and was confused when Hall didn't go for the double play, but Hall told Davis to look at the scoreboard. Todd Walker was next out with a popup to short and Lee was struck out by Davis.
Carlos Lee hit a sacrifice fly in the first to score Brady Clark and Geoff Jenkins followed with a two-run shot off Jerome Williams to give the Brewers a 3-0 lead. Lee would add another sacrifice fly in the fifth to plate Clark again and to extend the Brewers lead.
It wasn't until the sixth when Nomar Garciaparra hit a two-run shot to deep center that the Cubs would get on the board. After the very intense top of the seventh Lyle Overbay added an insurance run with a solo shot in the bottom of the inning. The Cubs would only manage to add one more run in the eighth before Derrek Turnbow came on for his 33rd save of the season.
With 12 games left the Brewers need to win at least seven more to avoid a losing season. That means they need to win every series left in the season.