As well as he has pitched for the Cubs since coming over from Oakland in a July trade, Rich Harden may be only the fourth starter in the playoffs, should the Cubs make it.
Harden got a no-decision Thursday in the Cubs' 7-6, 12-inning victory over Milwaukee. He worked only five innings, largely because he ran his pitch count up to 115. Manager Lou Piniella said Harden's stuff has been good, despite shoulder woes that have plagued him much of this year, both with the A's and Cubs. The problem has been command.
In Thursday's game, Harden struck out seven, but he walked six. As of now, the Cubs' top three pitchers for the playoffs are Carlos Zambrano, Ted Lilly and Ryan Dempster.
CUBS 7, BREWERS 6 (12 innings): Derrek Lee lined a single to center field to score pinch runner Jason Marquis from third base with the winning run. The Cubs reduced their magic number to clinch the NL Central to two. The Cubs trailed 6-2 with two outs in the ninth, but they mounted a rally, capped by Geovany Soto's three-run homer. Kerry Wood pitched two innings of relief for the victory. Rich Harden started and went five innings, throwing 115 pitches.
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