"Yeah, we are right now,"
Though San Diego snapped the Cubs' nine-game winning streak Wednesday night with a 2-1 victory, the Cubs still managed to win the series.
"The irony is that it's the best game we've had pitched in a long while," manager
The Cubs managed only four hits against starter
" 'Doggie' threw the ball good,"
Lilly allowed only two runs on seven hits over 71/3 innings and wriggled out of some self-made jams late in the game.
"I don't know what to say," Lilly said. "I made enough mistakes. I got out of some jams. It was one of those games where you can only escape so many times."
With the score tied 1-1 in the sixth, the Padres put runners on the corners on a double and a throwing error by
Lilly promptly retired Justin Huber on a fly to deep center. Lilly then stranded
Before the game, Piniella hoped Lilly could stem the tide with a decent outing after he had lasted only three innings in his previous start and had served up five home runs in his last two starts.
"Lilly is just giving up home runs," Piniella said. "… But one thing about him, he has found a way to battle and keep us in ballgames."
Hairston started the game off with a home run, but Lilly settled down and pitched his best game since May 9, a seven-inning, one-run outing against Arizona.
psullivan@tribune.com