Yesterday I wrote that I wouldn't be all that surprised if the Cubs managed a win, given their streak heading into last night's game. Turns out I was more than a bit surprised when they won 9-5. Surprised that:

• John Koronka pitched 5 innings and gave up only 3 runs. I wouldn't say he earned a spot in the rotation, but he did a damn good job filling in.

• Neifi Perez went yard in the 2nd inning. Despite Dodger Stadium's penchant for reducing extra-base hits, it still gives up the long ball more than average, which let Neifi get in on the fun and help give the Cubs a 4-0 lead with his 3-run shot.
• Neifi Perez looks like the captain of this ball club. Who runs out to calm down the rook after throwing 6 straight balls? That's right, Neifi. His performance this year is so baffling to me that I think you have to give Dusty deserves credit for keeping the Neifster playing on a new level for so long. He's a head manager, right? At least he's managing this head pretty darn well.
• Derek Lowe had Farnsworthian rage in him. Lowe chucked a stool in the dugout after giving up the home run to Neifi, which caused him to start bleeding from his wrist. He was fine--it looked like they super-glued him up--but that's the sort of thing I'd expect from the guy who hates electric fans, not Lowe.
• Derrek Lee keeps surprising me. I expect heroics from Lee these days, but I didn't think he'd go 5 for 5 with a 3-run tater in the 8th to put the game away. I wondered why the Dodgers didn't respect his authoritah and walk him in the 8th, and realized that Burnitz is a pretty solid bat behind him. However, Lee is so good right now that I'd rather take my chances with the bags loaded and Burny at bat than face a man who has gone 4-4 already that night.

  By the way, Derrek Lee now leads the major leagues, not just the NL, in the following statistical categories: batting average, on-base percentage, slugging percentage, home runs, runs batted in, and awesomeness.

• the Cubs have now won 6 in a row. San Diego's the best team in the NL West and is up next for the Cubs, but if they can win with Koronka, they can win with Rusch.

On a side note, Joe Borowski, Todd Wellemeyer, Michael Wuertz, Will Ohman, and Ryan Dempster combined for 4 innings and gave up 2 runs last night. San Francisco Giant LaTroy Hawkins pitched 1 inning and gave up 4 runs on one swing. Hawkins might get his head together soon, but I'm feeling a little better that the Cubs didn't wait for that to happen.

(Originally posted at Old Style Cubs. Please read responsibly.)