IS LEARNING THE PRINCETON OFFENSE
CHICAGO - The ball jumped off Ryan Theriot's bat and in a flash, his teammates engulfed him. Finally, the Cubs had something to celebrate.
Theriot drove in Derrek Lee with a bases-loaded single with one out in the ninth, and Chicago beat the Minnesota Twins, 3-2, yesterday to snap a four-game losing streak.
After Carlos Marmol (2-1) escaped a jam in the top of the ninth, the Cubs pulled it out in the bottom half and avoided a three-game sweep.
"We're trying to tell ourselves to stay positive," Lee said. "We're still right there. That's all that matters."
Lee started the winning rally with a one-out single off Jesse Crain (2-3) and moved to third on a base hit by Geovany Soto, barely beating the throw.
After Soto took second, the Twins then intentionally walked Mike Fontenot to bring up Theriot, who lined a single past second baseman Nick Punto and then got mobbed by his teammates. Yet, the key play in his mind wasn't necessarily the winning hit. It was Lee taking third.
"What an amazing baserunning play he made," Theriot said.
Clearly, the Cubs needed this.
Chicago had little luck against Scott Baker but another solid start by Ted Lilly kept the Twins - who were without the injured Joe Crede (lower back), Michael Cuddyer (right index finger), and Denard Span (dizziness) - in check. Neither figured in the decision. Both pitchers allowed two runs and did not walk a batter.
Baker gave up just five hits and struck out five in seven innings.
"We should feel pretty good," he said. "We had a chance to sweep the series."
Minnesota 010 001 000 – 2 9 0
Chicago (N) 010 100 001 – 3 8 1
Minnesota AB R H BI Avg. Chicago (N) AB R H BI Avg.
Tolbert 3b 4 0 0 0 .175 A.Soriano lf 4 0 0 0 .229
Mauer c 5 0 3 0 .414 Fukudome cf 4 0 0 0 .266
Morneau 1b 5 0 0 0 .329 Bradley rf 4 1 1 0 .227
Kubel rf 4 0 1 0 .312 D.Lee 1b 4 2 2 0 .278
B.Harris ss 4 0 0 0 .284 Soto c 4 0 3 1 .223
