While everyone else was catching the Celts - Lakers game I caught the first game of the Dodgers / Cubs series.

Here are some quick game notes:

- I literally ran to Cubs / Dodgers legend Ron Cey while entering the press box... the Penguin was in classic waddling form... the goofy footed infielder would be a fun interview.. would ask who he was rooting for in the Stanley Cup finals last night and would inquire if he wanted to guest star in Rotohog's classic Batman video spoof

- Billingsley looks horrible... he just gave up a towering HR to Mark DeRosa, the Cubbiess daunting 8th hitter... only to be followed by a 370 foot double by pitcher Ryan Dempster in almost the same spot... Dodgers are down 4-0 in the fourth

- Jeff Kent single (well more approp. 2 HR) handedly brought the Dodgers back... hitting his 372nd career HR in the 6th (placing him 63rd all-time) and by hitting his 8th HR of the year in the 8th inning. It was the 20th time in Kent's career he had a multi- HR game with his last one being Sept 9, 2007

- Again it was Fukudome who came through for the Cubbies in clutch. Coming to bat in the top of the ninth just after the Dodgers knotted the score at 4 Kosuke slapped a game winning RBI single with his parents present in the stands. Evidently Fukudome's family is in the US for the first time to catch the Cub with his new American club (they joined their son in San Diego earlier in week during the Cub's west coast swing)

- Despite it being his Bobblehead night, Saito literally got his head handed to him as he allowed 2 hits in only 1 inning of work. He recorded the loss.

- Wood would make it exciting in the 9th though... after giving up a double to James Loney (who was barely safe at second after stretching a two bagger) Wood struck out a batter, hit a batter, walked another batter to load the bases before K-ing Kemp to earn his 17th save of the season.

- Paid attendence was reported at 44,988 but I would venture to guess there was 30k in the stands as most LA fans opted to catch the Laker game instead. In fact I would go so far as to say close to 40% of those in attendance were for the Cubs with Fukudome's fans in full force (the press box was SRO as it was packed with Japanese reporters)

- The these teams are going in opposite directions... the Cubs won for the 10th time in 11 games while the Dodgers lost for the 11th
time in the past 14 games