Cubs 3, Dodgers 1

Dodgers posted a 2.57 team ERA on this homestand -- and went 3-4. So what does tell you? That their offense isn't very good. James Loney extended his hitting streak to eight games tonight, but the only run scored on a groundout, and it was unearned. Jason Marquis completely handcuffed the Dodgers, who fell to 30-33 and missed another chance to gain ground on the Snakes, who lost. For now, the margin remains four games. The good news, of course, is that the Dodgers finally reached the end of this interminable stretch of 17 consecutive games without an off-day -- they went 5-12 and averaged 2.8 runs a game, and it would have been even worse than that if they hadn't scored nine, eight and seven in three of those games. I'm taking tomorrow off, unless Ned acquires David Ortiz and Josh Beckett for a minor-league player to be named later. See ya Tuesday from the town that bills itself America's Finest City (a tad arrogant, don't you think?)