The Cubs have won 4 of 5 games and prior to that lost 3 straight by a total of just 3 runs. Things are going pretty well lately, and there are three remarkable events that stand out as emblematic of the Cubs' recent good fortune:

1. In the top of the 9th inning on Friday night, the Cubs were down 4-2 but had the bases loaded with 1 out and Todd Walker at the plate against Jason Isringhausen. Walker hit a groundball to third baseman Scott Rolen, who -- instead of starting a double play to end the game -- let the ball go through his legs, allowing the tying run to score. Physical errors happen, but not by Scott Rolen against the Cubs at Busch Stadium in the 9th inning of a 2-run game. David Aardsma, ostensibly the 7th man in a 7-man bullpen, then shut down the heart of the Cardinals order (Luna, Pujols, and Rolen) in the bottom of the 9th, as the Cubs went on to win in 14 innings.

2. In the top of the 4th of Saturday's game, shortstop David Eckstein made a very wild throw to first base to allow Neifi Perez to reach base to open the inning. Michael Barrett singled, and then Scott Rolen committed another error. Mark Mulder then started throwing very hittable pitches, and the Cubs hit them hard, including Aramis Ramirez's grand slam. Three errors in an inning (So Taguchi later committed one in the inning) are things that the Cubs do, not the Cardinals.

3. In the top of the 7th of Saturday's game, the Cubs' topped off their good fortune. Dusty Baker gave his bullpen an extensive workout in Friday night's 14 inning game, so he needed to keep Roberto Novoa in the game. So Baker let Novoa hit with runners on first and third and two outs in a 4-run game. Novoa came into the at-bat 0-for-3 with 1 strikeout in his career at the plate. He swung at the first pitch. It was a hideous swing that came nowhere close to making contact with the ball. But then, of course, the next strike Mulder threw to Novoa, Novoa connected. A deep fly ball to right-center that bounced over the wall for a ground-rule double. It was one of the most improbable of outcomes. The inning before, Tony LaRussa had informed announcer Joe Buck that, despite the tiredness of the bullpen, Mulder's leash was getting short, given his performance that day and the fact that the Cardinals could still come back and win. No one thought, however, that Mulder would fail to retire Novoa to end the 7th inning.

The fact that these things have occurred against the Cardinals make them all the more enjoyable. As for the Cardinals themselves, they appear to be receiving some bad news about Albert Pujols, who could be headed to the disabled list with a strained oblique muscle. Jim Edmonds is already having injury problems.

Meanwhile, Derrek Lee has begun fielding grounders.