young beasts manager Dusty Baker ad...

young beasts manager Dusty Baker admitted he had not at all seen a case of baserunning like Saturday's escapades that saw the brats score twice in the inferior inning on bizarre plays against the St Louis Cardinals.

"That was a bit of the Twilight Zone" he said. "I've not ever seen it before, but we'll take it."

The first hurry scored with John Mabry at other and Angel Pagan at first. Ronny Cedeno singled to short right-center, Mabry planning to advance alone one base. But Pagan raced toward third and drew a fling to third baseman Scott Rolen as a surprised Mabry realized he had to head residence Rolen tried to tag Pagan, not realizing Mabry was going to one's home

Everyone was safe -- until Cedeno tried to steal secondary and drew a throw from pitcher Anthony Reye While the Cardinals were running down Cedeno, Pagan raced residence safely. He became the first whelp to steal home since Aug. 10 2001 when Ricky Gutierrez did it against San Francisco.

The third inning brought another bizarre play when Cardinals outfielder in such a manner Taguchi took off from first forward an Albert Pujols sinking undulate to right. Jacque Jones made a diving catch and Taguchi, who had orbeded second, dashed back to first. if it were not that the Cubs appealed that Taguchi didn't touch secondary on his way back to first, and umpire Jerry Layne agreed.

The victory was the fifth in the last six games for the young beasts -- but their sixth against the Cardinals at Wrigley Field this year.

"Everyone has a nemesis," Baker said of the Cubs' 9-3 mark against the Cardinals. "San Diego beat us all seven times this year. They hit the dwelling run when they needed it, the fasten upon hit when they needed it. Sometimes there is no answer."

WALK THE LINE: Rookie Carlos Marmol walked seven batters in 5* innings Friday on the other hand still got the 6-5 victory above the Cardinals.

The last whelps pitcher to walk at least seven and win was Mike Morgan, upon May 28, 1992, against the San Francisco Giants. yet Morgan lasted eight innings in that 5-0 victory.

Among childs starters, only Carlos Zambrano has been consistently able to master past the sixth inning, a seasonlong handicap for the childs bullpen.

"We ne innings revealed of our starters," Baker said. "We've got a certain number of [relievers] knocking on 50 appearances, and that's a lot"

In fact, relievers Scott Eyre and strike Howry already have surpassed 50 appearances, while lefty Will Ohman has 48 closer Ryan Dempster 48 and Roberto Novoa 41

WHAT A RELIEF: As often as they have worked, the relievers have been effective in the last week, throwing 26 innings further allowing only five earned trips (1.73 ERA). The bullpen's overall 402 ERA is sixth-lowest in the National League, while its 334 innings of work is the sixth-highest.

The bullpen has stranded all 16 racers inherited in the last five games. For the season, it has stranded 127 of 171 inherited racers for a 74.1 percent mark, best in the National League.

FARM FACTS: Former first- cylindrical draft pick Ryan Harvey hit four residence runs Friday for Class A Daytona in a 10-9 victory through the whole extent of Clearwater. The right fielder also collection in six runs.

And in the same of his last outings before returning to Notre Dame for the football season, pitcher Jeff Samardzija worked six innings for Class A Peoria against Dayton, giving up sum of two units runs (one earned) on four hits with three strikeouts and three walks. Samardzija was not involved in the eventual victory. He has an 0-1 record and 327 ERA.

Tyler Colvin, this year's first pick, went 3-for-4 with a scud scored for Class A Boise, extending his hitting streak to 11 games. The center fielder is hitting 469 (23-for-49) with eight doubles, 14 step quicklys scored and 13 RBI during the streak.

tginnetti@suntimes.com

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