Cubs Trail Indians 7-0, Enjoy Wild 8-7 Comeback Win

Mark De Rosa and Kerry Wood were two fan favorites at Wrigley.

Mark De Rosa singled home Cleveland's seventh run. Kerry Wood came on in the ninth after the Cubs cut managd to cut the defecit to 7-6. Kerry Wood then came on to try and stop the bleeding, but then he gave up a game tying homerun to Derrek Lee, Derrek's second homerun of the game.

In the bottom of the tenth inning, Ryan Theriot lined a base hit into right center field to score Alfonso Soriano,and the Cubs comeback for the second straight day and win a barnburner of a baseball game 8-7.

Kerry Wood Heading To That Other "Cursed" Franchise

Kerry Wood just left one "cursed" franchise to head to another.

The Cleveland Indians, who have the second longest title drought in Baseball history, appear to be closing in on a two year contract with closer Kerry Wood.

Although I was personally hoping to see Wood head back to his hometown area to play for the Rangers, Wood heading to the Indians is a good move. Cleveland does have Cliff Lee, the 2008 American League Cy Young Award Winner, and Grady Sizemore, Baseball's best Centerfielder. Also, if Matt La Porta comes up in 2009 and plays to his potential, the Cleveland Indians could be Baseball's Dark Horse for 2009.

That being said, I am going to miss Woody in Cubbie Blue.

Cubs Resign Ryan Dempster

The Chicago Cubs have officicialy resigned Ryan Dempster.

Dempster and the Cubs agreed to a $52 million, four-year contract that includes a player option for 2012.

Dempster was 17-6 with a 2.96 ERA for the Cubs last season.

Ryan Dempster made a successful transition from closing to starting last season, the most difficult change a pitcher can make. I'm glad to see the Cubs kept their rotation in check, even if their bullpen is a questionmark now that Kerry Wood is gone.

The Kerry Wood Era Is Over In Chicago

The Cubs traded for Closer Kevin Gregg, ending Kerry Wood's ten years of service to the Cubs.

The Chicago Cubs made a shocking announcement on Friday.

The rumors were true. Kerry Wood was not coming back.

The Cubs on Thursday traded for Closer Kevin Gregg from Florida, ending Wood's career in Cubbie Blue.

Closing duties will now apparently go to Carlos Marmol, who was in the running to close last year. Gregg may also be used in Save situations this year.

As a Cubs fan, it pains me to write this. Wood's been one of the best, classiest guys in all of Baseball, and I can't beieve he's not coming back.

It's going to be hard to watch Kerry with his new team, but I think Cubs fans will wish him the best with his new ballclub.

It's the end of an era in Chicago.

Tenth Anniversary Of Kerry Wood's Twenty Strikeout Game

Click on the video to see SportsCenter Highlights of Kerry Wood's Major League record of 20 strikeouts against the Houston Astros.



A much-hyped prospect in the minor leagues, Kerry Wood made his MLB debut on April 12, 1998. He wasted no time showing the world his talent when - in only his fifth career start on May 6, 1998 - he threw a one-hit, no walk, 20-strikeout shutout against the Houston Astros, tying the record for strikeouts in a 9-inning National League game and breaking Bill Gullickson's single-game rookie record of 18 strikeouts in 1980.

Kerry Wood finished the 1998 season with a 13-6 record, and despite missing the last month of the season with elbow soreness easily won the National League Rookie of the Year award. Wood pitched one game in the playoffs against the Atlanta Braves, but suffered the loss. That would be his last appearance in a Cubs uniform for more than a year.

What a Difference Ten Years Makes! Kerry Wood has gone from Rookie Of The Year Starter to closer for the Cubs. Wood has three blown saves so far this season, but Lou Pinella will stick with Wood as Closer. That video of Wood's pitching performance ten years ago today was amazing.

1998 was an amazing year for baseball. Not just in the McGwire-Sosa Homeun Chase, but the young Fireballing Texan who looked like a young Nolan Ryan, Kerry Wood.

Kerry Wood Goes One Inning, Gets Win as Cubs Beat St. Louis 3-2 in Game One of Doubleheader

Kerry Wood struck out one in a perfect seventh in relief of Ted Lilly, who worked six innings and gave up two runs and four hits. It was Wood's first victory since May 29, 2006.

The third-place Cardinals dropped seven games behind the first-place Cubs in the NL Central, all but eliminating the defending World Series champions from the division race. Before the losing streak began, they were one game out of first place.

Braden Looper threw seven dominant innings and Jim Edmonds hit a two-run double for the Cardinals, mired in their longest losing streak since a 10-game skid in 1980.

The Cubs are 10-4 against the Cardinals, including 6-1 at Busch Stadium. The game was a makeup of a postponement the day after the death of Cardinals reliever Josh Hancock on April 29, and drew a season-best sellout crowd of 45,918, including a vociferous Cubs contingent.

Pinch-hitter Cliff Floyd drew a leadoff walk and Sam Fuld pinch-ran before Soriano hit his 26th homer into the left-field stands on a 3-2 pitch from Ryan Franklin. Soriano has two homers in the last three games, and eight in the last 18 games since returning from the 15-day disabled list for a strained right quad

Dempster allowed two runs in two-thirds of an inning while pitching with a four-run ninth-inning lead on Friday, but still got the save. The save was his 27th in 30 chances.

Cubs Win Again! They now have a two game lead over Milwaukee! Game Two of the doubleheader is later tonight. Sean Marshall is on the mound for the Cubs and Joel Piniero is on the mound for St. Louis.