Extra painful

Once again, the Cubs lose in extras and look bad doing it. It's bad enough that they blew a bases-loaded, no-out situation for the second time in four days (both times where a single would have all but locked up the game); the really disappointing part is the disappearing act in extra innings again. This team is now 1-6 in extra frames and frankly it's amazing they even got one win, so cold do the bats go once the inning number rolls into double figures. In four extra innings, the Cubs had four baserunners, but three of those were in the bottom of the 13th already down 5-3. And the fourth was an infield single that probably could have been called an error and wasn't. In that same timespan? Six strikeouts. The Mariners' bullpen is pretty good, I'll grant, but ugh. Not good times.

There's talk about Barrett's baserunning (again) and the inability to cash in the bases-loaded, no-out jam (again), but for me the worst move of the game was leaving Ohman in once he'd given up the double to Vidro. Ohman is used to going an inning or less; now he's on his ninth batter faced in Bloomquist (although Betancourt, having been intentionally walked, doesn't really count for this discussion), who isn't even a lefty! Gallagher was ready in the pen; I know he's a recent call-up, but Ohman clearly looked gassed (besides the fact that he sucks).

Naturally, Ohman gives up two runs and the Cubs lose another one. (The whole "Barrett can't find the ball" thing was weird, but it seemed like it just kind of squirted out of his glove as he started to come up... I mean, that'll happen. Frankly it's amazing that Jones got the ball to the plate at all, so I'm hesitant to pin the blame on the defense here.) Even more naturally, we had to get teased with a two-on, one-out in the bottom of the inning before Soriano was pitched around (shock of shocks) and Hill grounded out. (Another second-guess: why hit Hill there? Sure, he's an "actual batter," but given how he's looked at the plate, why not take your chances with Marquis? I mean, he's a better pro hitter right now.)

So of course, no ground gained on the Brewers (even as they were no-hit!) and the Cardinals are still right there. Plus the suddenly kind of annoying Astros won again. I really hate following this team every day of my life sometimes.