Filed: September 18th, 2008

Maligned, cursed, and a source of frustration for much of the season, Derrek Lee erased all of that Thursday afternoon, sending a sharp single into center that scored pinch-runner Jason Marquis, and gave the Cubs a 7-6 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers. With the win, the Cubs reduced their magic number to two, and now look to close out the division with a win tomorrow against the Cardinals.

You can't understate the contributions of team, and the idea that you're going to need 40 guys -- or at least most of your 40-man roster -- to give you something meaningful over the course of a season if you're going to win anything. You know what though? You still need star power occasionally to carry a team. And that's exactly what the Cubs got today in the win.

That started with starter Rich Harden, who survived an extended first inning to go five innings of one-run ball. This was an effective, if not sharp start by Harden, who while showing much of his usual velocity was wild, walking six, and just not spotting well with that fastball. An ill-advised Mark DeRosa force-out attempt at second that went awry extended that inning, and pretty much assured the Cubs of a short outing from the beginning. If you're looking for positive signs though, he hung in there for 115 pitches, and frequently hit 95 on the radar gun. And he looked more pitcher than hurler, working his way out of jams by working pitchers, rathing than trying to constantly overpower them.

Shame too, as middle relief proved to be problematic yet again. Jeff Samardzija made a mess of things in the sixth, allowing four runs to score on back-to-back-to-back RBI hits by the Brewers, before giving way to Randy Wells. This was his first appearance as a Cubs, and he shined; going two-plus innings of scoreless work. I know it probably won't last, but given that fans are in ABH -- Anybody But Howry -- mode, it was welcomed.

But the Cubs were still down 6-2 going into the ninth though, and that's when the stars stepped up. First, Aramis Ramirez smacks a two-out double to start the rally. Then, three batters later Geovany Soto smacks a three-run homer to tie the game, and send it into extra innings.

Carlos Marmol and Kerry Wood proceeded to shut down the Brewers over three scoreless innings, fanning five in the process. And that gave way to a fantastic 12th, when Carlos Villaneuva intentionally walks Alfonso Soriano, before getting Ryan Theriot to fly-out. And in comes Lee. Fantastic.

 Great game. I think you better start making your October plans.