It's A Start...

In a series that already saw nine home runs through the first three games, it's no surprise that the Phillies and Cubs would combine for five more in Sunday's 11-6 Cubs win. The win not only secured the current series victory, but the season series victory over Philadelphia as well.
Cubs catcher Geovany Soto catapulted the power surge with a two run homer in the second inning. A two run deficit is the closest the Phillies would come all game.
Phillies starter Roy Halladay had an uncharacteristically bad outing giving up six runs, five of them earned, through six innings. After the loss, Halladay's record dropped to 10-8, despite a 2.40 ERA.
The Cubs added two more runs in the second on a Starlin Castro single and throwing error from catcher Carlos Ruiz that allowed Tyler Colvin to score from third. Colvin and Castro, batting first and second in the lineup, combined for six hits in the game.
The Phillies scored two in the fifth to dwindle the Cubs lead back to two, but Alfonso Soriano gave the Cubs the four run lead right back with a two run homer in the top of sixth. The home run was Soriano's 17th, the most on the club.
The Cubs put the game away in the seventh as Derrek Lee hit a bases clearing double in the left center gap. Soriano and Soto came through with one out RBI singles later in the inning to stretch the Cub lead to eight.
Not to be outdone in the home run department, Phillies pinch hitter Greg Dobbs hit a solo home run off of Cubs rookie right hander Andrew Cashner in the seventh. Ryan Howard and Ben Francisco followed that up with solo homers of their own in the bottom of the eighth off of Cubs left handed rookie James Russell. The three home runs proved to be too little too late for Philadelphia, who, after the loss, dropped to third in the NL East, a half a game behind the second place Mets.
Cubs starter Tom Gorzelanny continued to show why he deserves a permanent spot in the rotation, pitching 6 2/3 innings giving up three runs, two of them earned. The win evened Gorzelanny's record to 5-5.
The Cubs will continue their ten game homestand Monday with a three game series against the Astros. The division rival Cardinals will come to town for a weekend series, and then the Cubs will head to Houston.
The next nine games will prove to be crucial in determining if the Cubs can contend for the division. With the July 31st trade deadline fast approaching, how the Cubs play in the next few weeks will determine whether they are buyers or sellers at the deadline.
The Cubs are currently 42-51, tied with the Brewers for third in the NL Central.