Cubs lose 9-5 to Marlins; Ron Santo to be inducted into HOF Sunday; Theo Epstein's stalker arrested

The Cubs lost 9-5 to former White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen's Miami Marlins at Wrigley Field tonight.  Travis Wood started for the Cubs and was unsuccessful in earning his fifth win in a row.  He gave up eight runs on eight hits while striking out six and walking two batters over 4-2/3 innings pitched.

Travis Wood wasn't able to extend his 4-game winning streak against the Marlins on Tuesday night (photo from Chicago Tribune)

Jeff Baker's pinch home run in the fifth inning put the Cubs on the board and was pretty much the Cubs' only run support.

Tonight was former Cubs pitcher Carlos Zambrano's first time returning to Wrigley Field since being traded to the Marlins in the offseason for Chris Volstad.  Big Z said, "I still love these fans.  Once again, I apologize for any inconvenience and anything that I did.  The only thing that I wanted to do in Chicago is win, and I really apologize to the Cubs fans and the people here who treated me good."  Zambrano is not scheduled to pitch during the Marlins-Cubs series.

The Cubs entered tonight's game with the best record in the major leagues since June 25th at 12-4.  Cubs manager Dale Sveum said, "Obviously, when you win, it's a lot funner to do anything.  There's one thing I try not to do is be any different winning or losing, but there's no doubt the hitch in your giddy-up is a lot better when you're winning than when you're losing.  You don't do anything different.  You prepare the same and do everything the same, and whatever happens happens."  It's always fun to see the Cubs win, no matter what their record is, but I don't think "funner" is an actual word, Dale!

In other Cubs news, Ron Santo, the former Cubs third baseman and radio color commentator, will be inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame this coming Sunday in Cooperstown, NY.  Santo's wife, Vicki, will be speaking at the induction ceremony.

Ron Santo will be inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame on Sunday in Cooperstown, NY (photo from cubs.com)

The only thing that would make Santo's induction better is if he was still alive to be there in person.  Santo's son, Ron Jr. said, "I don't like saying 'bittersweet,' but it's not at all what it would've been if he was here.  We know how much it meant to him.  For future generations and Cubs fans and our family, to be able to go to Cooperstown and see his plaque, that's something that will always be there, so that's really special."

"He probably would've been floating on air.  I was thinking how the season would've been -- it's such a special year.  To have seen him actually get that call would've been priceless.  Life's all about timing, and it typifies his life and everything he's dealt with.  Nothing ever came easy, so why should this?"

Ron Santo's signature "heel click" after a Cubs win in 1969 (photo from Chicago Tribune)

The Cubs will host a party on Saturday at the Fenimore Art Museum in Cooperstown for Santo fans, and those fans who won't be able to get to Cooperstown can toast the third baseman at the Cubs-Cardinals game at Wrigley Field on July 27th.

Some surprising Cubs news:  President of Baseball Operations Theo Epstein apparently has a stalker who followed him to Chicago all the way from Boston.  44-year old Kathleen Kearney was arrested around 6pm Monday night in the 1400 block of West Addison Street, near Epstein's home, after Epstein identified her as the person who had been previously warned about stalking him in Boston.

Cubs President Theo Epstein has a stalker who followed him to Chicago from Boston (US Presswire photo)

Kearney was charged with two felony counts of stalking and her bond was set at $75,000.  For additional details, here's a link from the Chicago Tribune article.

Kathleen Kearney was arrested on two felony counts of stalking Cubs President Theo Epstein on Monday (photo from Chicago Police)

Tomorrow the Marlins and Cubs will play game two of the three-game series at 7:05pm CT.  Jeff Samardzija will start for the Cubs and try to earn his seventh win of the season.