The Chicago Bears defeated the Indianapolis Colts 29-13 in the home opener for both teams at the first ever NFL game played in Lucas Oil Stadium. Bears Rookie running back Matt Forte rushed for 123 yards and scored on an explosive 50-yard touchdown run, while the Bears defense tormented Peyton Manning and the Colts “talented” offense all night long. The Bears defense even recorded a touchdown after a forced fumble on Colts wide receiver Marvin Harrison. Bears quarterback Kyle Orton completed over 60% of his passes and threw for a mediocre 150 yards passing. At 1-0, the Chicago Bears sit atop the NFC North Divison with the Green Bay Packers.
With a 5-4 win over the St. Louis Cardinals, the Cubs clinched back-to-back NL Central titles under 2nd-year Manager Lou Pinella. The Cubs eanred back-to-back post-season appearances for the 1st time in 100 years – the Cubs played in 3 consecutive World Series from 1906 through 1908 – the last time the Chicago Cubs franchise actually won a World Series. Ted Lilly recorded his 15th win of the season – his 2nd consecutive season in which he has won 15 games for the Cubs. The Cubs 94 wins is tops in the National League and all but assures them of having home field advantage through the NL Championship Series. The Cubs extended their lead over 2nd place Milwaukee to 10 games – its largest lead of the season. The Chicago Cubs can now focus their attention on resting players for the post-season and setting up the pitching rotation to start the playoffs on Wednesday, October 1st at the Friendly Confines of Wrigley Field.
Chicago Cubs ace Carlos Zambrano threw his first career no-hitter on Sunday, September 14th in a 5-0 win over the Houston Astros. After a 12-day layoff to heal a sore shoulder plagued with tenditis, Zambrano needed only 110 pitches to win his 14th game of the season and become the 1st Cubs pitcher to throw a no-hitter in 36 years. Zambrano allowed only 2 base runners – Michael Bourn reached on a walk in the 4th inning and Hunter Pence was hit by a Zambrano pitch in the 5th inning – and he struck out 10 Astros batters. Alfonso Soriano homered to lead off the game in the 1st inning and the Cubs added 4 runs in the 3rd inning on a 2-RBI double by Derek Lee, an RBI single by Aramis Ramirez and an RBI double by Geovany Soto. The game generated much controversy – the 3-game series was supposed to be played in Houston, but because Hurricane Ike was supposed to crash through the Gulf Coast and Houston, Texas throughout the weekend, MLB was forced to re-schedule 2 of the 3 games in a venue where weather would not play a role. MLB Commissioner Bud Selig seletced Miller Park – home of the Milwaukee Brewers – depsite the fact that the stadium was only 90 miles from Chicago. Astros players and fans as well as baseball critics felt that this gave the Chicago Cubs an unfair “home field” advantage as Cubs fans generally travel well for games played at Miller Park. The Chicago Cubs ended up sweeping the Astros in Milwaukee 7-1 the next day. Cubs pitcher Ted Lilly took a no-hitter into the 7th inning and the Cubs ended up holding the Astros to only 1 total hit in the 7-1 loss. Jim Edmonds, Geovany Soto and Derek Lee all homered for the Cubs.
