Cubs' home rule over for a day as win streak ends at 7; Cubs strand 9 runners

CHICAGO - It was a very rare scene in the Cubs' clubhouse Saturday: Quiet.

Usually the stereo is blaring and players are jabbering at each other. But here it was eerily subdued, because the Cubs (gasp) lost a home game.

It doesn't happen very often, just 17 times in the last 67 games at Wrigley Field, but this time the Phillies prevailed, 5-2, as the Cubs had no comeback to counter them.

"It's going to happen," losing pitcher Ted Lilly said. "We play a lot of games and there are a lot of good teams out there."

Aramis Ramirez didn't seem overly concerned.

"You can't win every single game," he said. "We'll come back (Sunday) and try to win a series."

Actually, if the Cubs lose Sunday at Wrigley Field, it will be news. They have lost two straight games at home only twice this year, the first two of the season to Milwaukee and another pair to Florida July 25-26.

But Saturday the Cubs ran out of good fortune, scoring just twice even with 11 hits off starter Brett Myers.

"We just squandered too many opportunities," manager Lou Piniella said. "Left too many people on base."

The Cubs stranded nine runners, including three in the eighth inning.

Ryan Theriot, Derrek Lee and Ramirez all singled, with Ramirez driving in his 100th run of the season. But pinch-hitters Reed Johnson and Ronny Cedeno struck out against reliever J.C. Romero and, after a walk to Kosuke Fukudome, Geovany Soto also struck out.

Ramirez has driven in at least 100 runs in six seasons and he's the first Cub since Sammy Sosa in 2001 to do it before September.

Myers is 3-0 with a 0.78 ERA in his last three games.