Cubs vs. Brewers, Game 2

Monday it was the seventh inning and Tuesday it was the sixth that proved to be the difference maker at Miller Park. The Cubs rallied off six straight hits and scored five runs in the inning, on their way to a 7-1 victory. Chicago secured a split in the four-game series with the Milwaukee Brewers and easily took down Brewer ace Ben Sheets. Aramis Ramirez went 4-for-5 with three doubles and Cub ace Carlos Zambrano pitched a gem: 8 IP, 0 ER and 9 SO. Kosuke Fududome broke the game open with a two-run triple in the sixth, and seemed to look relieved after arriving at third. His triple was just his fifth extra-base hit of the month and first since July 20.

It would be easy for the Cubs to sit back, have an emotional letdown and lose the next two games since they just topped the Brewers' two aces. But the Cubs have to get greedy and at least take one of the next two. The psychological gain of defeating two of the game's best pitches would be all but wiped away if the Cubs can't get a win from either Dempster or Harden. No one predicted a sweep, but if the Cubs take care of business tonight and tomorrow afternoon, the Cubs will have a five-game lead over Milwaukee.

Zambrano must be considered a serious pick for the NL Cy Young. Brandon Webb (14-4, 3.14 ERA) is likely leading the charge now, but he is pitching in quite possibly the worst division in MLB history. Early possibilities Tim Limcecum (11-3, 2.78) and Edinson Volquez (12-4, 2.77) have had sub-par months of July and don't play for contenders. There's also the possibility that CC (Charleston Chew, as I like to call him) Sabathia could make a run if he continues his already dominant stint in the NL (4-1, 8 ER in five starts, three CG). Zambrano has given up seven ER in the month of July and is 4-1 in his last five starts. Barring injury, he will likely pitch 10-12 more times, and if he continues to pitch at this level, reaching the 20-win plateau is not unlikely.

Ryan Dempster goes up against Manny Parra tonight as Dempster goes for his second-straight road win. Gametime is 7 p.m. on ESPN - hope for Erin Andrews.