Brooms were out, but Cubs can't sweep

Oh, so close!

The Cubs received a brilliant start from oft-injured Mark Prior (5 2/3 IP, 0 H, 0 R) and solid bullpen help, but succumbed to the Mets, 1-0 in 10 innings yesterday. The loss foiled a three-game sweep of N.L. East leading New York and handed Chicago its' 61st loss at the 100-game mark of the year.

However, the Cubs are playing better baseball as the July record of 10-11 (.476) suggests. With five games remaining this month -- four with arch-rival St. Louis beginning tonight -- Chicago has a chance for a winning month for the first time since April (14-10, .583). The month of May (7-22, .241) was so bad that it prohibited the Cubs from their seemingly annual "June Swoon", which saw Chicago post an 8-18 (.308) mark. The boys in blue lead the season series with the Cardinals, 6-3, and hopefully the Cubs will start holding serve at Wrigley Field and continue playing hard-nosed baseball to give the fans something to cheer about the rest of the summer.