I don't know about you guys, but I'm at my limit of how many times I can read/write/think about the suprising success of the starting pitching, the powerfulness of the offense, and the festering wound of the bullpen. So let's give the Reds' blogs a rest for this game and check out a couple of my favorite Cubbie sites.

GROTA has a series preview that I guess I'm a day late in linking to but found hilarious nonetheless. I liked the part where he called Arroyo a hippy. The part about Claussen making love to the camera was pretty good, too.

Joe at The View from the Bleachers rallies the troops for talking smack. What a nice change of pace to find a fun, easy-going Cubs fan. I look forward to chatting about Valentín's five home runs after tomorrow's game.

The Reds ended the Cubs' winning streak with the power of six home runs today at Wrigley Field.

Bronson Arroyo started us off with seven innings and 106 pitches of scoreless, 6-hit work. Chris Hammond came in to mop up in the eighth but got through only two outs while allowing a run (earned) on two hits. Rick White took over the last out of the eighth as well as the ninth to also allow a run (earned) on two hits.

Every one of the Reds' runs scored on a home run. Ken Griffey, Jr. hit a solo-shot in the first, Adam Dunn in the second, Bronson Arroyo in the third, and Dunn again in the fourth.

The Reds were finally held home-run-less in the fifth, but commemorated the event by scoring five in the sixth. After Griffey and Rich Aurilia singled and Dunn walked, little Edwin Encarnación came up with the grand slam. Austin Kearns topped off the scoring with a solo shot of his own.

For the Cubs, Derrek Lee doubled in Todd Walker in the eighth. Michael Barrett got in on the home run fun with a lead-off number in the ninth.

At least two of my ten reasons the Cubs would lose turned out to be right on, but there are also a few other things:

• Ryan Freel failed to have much of an impact in a game in which he played for the first time this season. Even the out he gave up when he was caught stealing in the third inning was drowned out.
• Arroyo has hit two home runs. Wily Mo Peña has hit zero (negative one if you count today's shenanigans). To be fair, though, Peña has had one fewer at bat.
• Oh yeah, Arroyo also pitched a bundle. I was a little sick to my stomach when Hammond gave up that run in the eighth. Shades of Danny Graves.

The win brings the Reds' record to 5-2. Tomorrow Brandon Claussen takes on Greg Maddux at 2:20 p.m. in Chicago. Be on the look-out for 10 more reasons why the Cubs are going to lose.

10. Ryan Freel is healthy, well-rested, and (as far as I know) not in jail.
9. Now that Derrek Lee's contract is all wrapped up, he's on schedule to be injured.
8. Austin Kearns loves to play at Wrigley. Hey, stop looking at him covetously!
7. Sure, they swept the Cardinals, but did they really *learn* anything from the experience?
6. Bronson Arroyo is looking for home run #2.
5. Deep down, they want to lose. It's the only way to get rid of Dusty Baker.
4. Javy Valentín owns Greg Maddux. Yes, that will play into today's game.
3. Two words: Glendon Rusch.
2. They're all torn up because their deal with the Scrubby Bubble fell through.
1. It's just what they do.