The game was over...

in the top of the fourth inning, when an uncharacteristically wild Mark Prior (having already given up four runs - all of them with two outs in the third) gave up a single to Mark Loretta, a double to Brian Giles, and then loaded the bases by hitting Phil Nevin, which put the ultimate winning run on first. Prior was finally yanked, and a comedy of errors then compounded problems (e.g., Klesko's hit to Walker with no one covering first) - which we've all come to expect this season. It looked like the Cubs might get out of the inning with only one run scored when Terrence Long hit into a 1-2-3 double play, but Ramon Hernandez hit a 3 run 2-out (!) jack that finally sealed the game. Bah!

Second guessing and recriminations...

Did Dusty leave Prior in too long? Well - that could be debated even with the advantage of hindsight. Yes, Prior was showing increasing signs of repeated control problems in the first 3 innings and especially against Loretta and Giles in the fourth, and he was carrying a frightenly high pitch count into that fourth inning as well. In fact, I was wondering whether Dusty was going to bat a pinch hitter for Prior in the bottom of the third in light of his relatively high pitch count and demonstrated control problems. On the other hand, does Dusty risk damaging Prior's confidence by yanking him after three innings as he is in the midst of making his injury comeback? Probably. I think we all need to remember that Prior is coming off an injury and is still in the early part of his season - so some bumps in the road can be expected. My own opinion is that Dusty did the right thing in this instance. We'll see if two months of pitching can return Prior to the brilliant form he displayed last season - I'm betting he will be just fine come October.

I will say this though - I am sick and tired of seeing the opposing pitcher walked and (even worse) drive in key runs against the Cubs - a phenomena that I have seen far too often this season. Come on guys!