It Wasn’t Bob’s Fault (At Least Not This Time)
I was looking for a photo of Bob Howry to accompany this post about the Cubs’ signing of the ex-former-Cub reliever in time for tonight’s game at Texas. I came across the shot you see here and learned that it was taken on June 21, 2007, during, ironically, the Cubs’ last visit to Arlington.
On that night, the Cubs and Friday night’s starter, Ted Lilly, spotted the Rangers a 5-0 lead, then mounted a rally to tie the game at 5-5. Howry came in to pitch the bottom of the ninth and ultimately, yielded a run-scoring, game-winning single to Frank Catalanatto.
Howry couldn’t be blamed for the Cubs’ 2-1 loss Friday night: he didn’t appear in the game. Instead, we can lay this one off on yet another feeble performance by Cub hitters, who failed to plate the tying run despite sweet scoring opportunities in each of the last two innings.
Inept defense—errors by both Mike Fontenot and Ryan Theriot on an Ian Kinsler dribbler in the fourth inning, when the Rangers scored both of their runs—also contributed to the defeat.
