| > | | | | on. |
| The Houston Astros Have Reason To Believe | | | | And it did. |
| that Chicago Cubs Home Games Are Fixed. The | | | | After the first delay in the sixth, the game was |
| Houston Astros have taken the entire league by | | | | resumed by the umpires even though there was |
| surprise as of late. The Astros are riding a | | | | a tornado warning in the area. In the seventh |
| 6-game-winning streak into Game 3 of a Four | | | | inning, high winds and lightning surrounded Wrigley |
| Game Series against the San Francisco Giants. | | | | Field until the game was finally called off in |
| The Houston Astros have a 60-59 overall record; | | | | the eighth when a bolt of lightning came within |
| but, they currently find themselves 11.5 games | | | | a few feet of striking players and fans who |
| back of the Chicago Cubs for the lead in the | | | | were still exposed to the weather after most |
| National League Central. Nonetheless, the Astros | | | | people left the stadium to seek shelter and |
| still believe that they have a shot at making the | | | | safety. |
| National League Playoffs. As a matter of fact, | | | | The Astros won the 1st game 2-0; but the Cubs |
| Astros players and fans would argue that the | | | | came back to win the 2nd and 3rd games by a |
| Houston Astros, not the Chicago Cubs, are the | | | | combined score of 22-11. According to Astros |
| leading contender for the 2008 National League | | | | First Baseman Lance Berkman, the Astros should |
| Pennat. Holy Cow!!! | | | | have swept the Cubs. And taking a look back at |
| Sound a bit far fetched? Well, I guess the casual | | | | the events that unfolded, the Astros may |
| observer would find the Astros' optimism on the | | | | have reason to believe that the "fix was in" at |
| 2008 season to borderline on delusional. But, | | | | Wrigley Field. |
| everyone in the organization knows that the | | | | Hard to imagine that baseball games would be |
| Astros have underachieved all season long. High | | | | fixed for the Cubs to win at home; but, stranger |
| expectations surrounded the club after the | | | | things have happened - ask Tim Donaghy. |
| Astros opened May to win 11 out of | | | | Nonetheless, the series at Wrigley seemed to |
| 13 games, but dissapointment followed shortly | | | | bring life back to the Astros. The Houston Astros |
| thereafter. Five game and eight game losing | | | | followed two consecutive losses to the Cubs at |
| streaks were not uncommon in June; and, July | | | | Wrigley with 6 straight wins by a combined |
| was characterized by bad fielding, poor hitting, | | | | score of 47-19 including a 13-4 route over the |
| and atrocious pitching. | | | | Cincinnati Reds and a 12-4 route over the San |
| But everything seemed to change on Monday | | | | Francisco Giants. |
| August 4th, 2008. | | | | Tonight, the Astros have a great chance to build |
| The Astros were leading 2-0 at Wrigley when a | | | | on their winning streak when Barry Zito (6-14 |
| lightning storm caught players and fans by | | | | W-L, 5.55 ERA) takes the mound for the Giants. |
| surprise in the top of the sixth. And in a game | | | | Zito's troubles on the mound in 2008 are well |
| where the Cubs were heavily favored at home, | | | | documented; and tonight, he'll have to pitch his |
| there was a lot of action riding on the umpire's | | | | best game of the year if he expects to keep the |
| decision. You see, if a game is called after the | | | | Astros off of the scoreboard. |
| fifth inning...then the current score is a final. So in | | | | They're ON FIRE! |
| order for the Cubs to win, the game had to go | | | | |