The Chicago series started on Monday on a scary note. In conditions of oppressive heat and humidity, Roy Halladay had an almost literal meltdown on the mound. He had to leave the game early in the fifth with heat exhaustion. Rodrigo Lopez, meanwhile, kept the Philadelphia bats limp and the Cubs won the game 6-1. It came out post-game that the visiting clubhouse is a hike through twisting tunnels and down stairs. There was no respite from the heat between innings available to the visitors.
Tuesday night's temperatures were about 12 degrees lower. Cliff Lee started out rocky, surrendering two runs in the first, then held the Cubs to nothing. Matt Garza of the Cubs, however, was doing the same, till the eighth, when Michael Martinez and Chase Utley keyed a two-run rally to tie the game. The Phillies then scored another two in the ninth to win it 4-2. Great comeback win!
Wednesday was all about The Room---and Vance Worley. After Monday's debacle, Cub doctors insisted that the Cubs make a cooling room available to the visitors. That made a big difference to Vance Worley, capable of sweating up a storm on the coolest of days. Worley went eight innings, allowing just one run on three hits. The Phillies, meanwhile, mauled Cub starter Ryan Dempster. Jimmy Rollins homered from each side of the plate and the Phillies won 9-1.
For the most part, the Cubs played like the Cubs, which is to say that they were awful.
