Game 1: San Francisco Giants at Chicago Cubs

After going 4-0 in the month of May, the Cubs finally lost in my fifth consecutive Cubs game attended. I had a meeting for work that ran long, so I did not arrive to the game until the 3rd inning (which is why I have “half game attendance rules” – for when life gets in the way of attending sporting events).

The Game
The Giants made quick work of Sean Marshall and took an early 3-0 lead off a Benji Molina three-run home run in the top of the 1st inning. Marshall settled in from there, shutting out the Giants for the next 6 innings before giving up 2 in the top of the 8th.

The most questionable decision of the day was that Lou Piniella decided to play the “second team” – of which six players were in the minors until as recently as 2007. It seemed as though Piniella figured the Cubs would lose to Giants starter Tim Lincecum with any lineup, so he decided to rest the starters.

Chicago Transit Authority
Immediately after the Cubs game ended, I needed to meet the Ultimate Sports Wife on the corner of Irving Park Rd. and California Ave. so we could get to the Chicago Blackhawks Round 2 playoff game. In order to get there, I decided to take the bus, which I almost never have to do after a Cubs game.

If you are planning to take the bus west of Wrigley Field, it probably makes the most sense to walk North on Clark St. and catch the bus on the corner of Irving Park Rd. and Clark St. That way you pass up the non-moving westbound traffic that sits east of Clark St. Be sure to catch the X80 Irving Park Express rather than the 80 Irving Park bus. The X80 only stops at main intersections and will save you precious minutes as you leave the ballpark.