Dice K (c/o Keith Allison, Flickr.com)

I’d bet ten bucks Mr. Theo Epstein has quite a big smile on his face after his Cubs blanked the Red Sox this afternoon 3-0 at Wrigley Field. Actually, if I were more of a gambler, I’d probably bet a thousand, but I’m cheap. Going into this series, I’ll admit I was maybe a bit too confident. Coming off a two-game win streak, I thought maybe…just maybe…they could continue with the strong pitching and hot bats. I was wrong.

Daisuke Matsuzaka made his second start of the season and things were looking bad when he walked the bases loaded in the first. He then gave up a two-run double and that’s really all the Cubbies needed. Overall, Dice K pitched a pretty ok game after the first. He went six innings and gave up three runs on four hits (and three walks — those walks’ll kill ya.)

The problem was that Cubs’ pitcher Ryan Dempster was outstanding, blanking the Sox on just four singles. Scott Podsednik was really the only batter who had any success getting two of those four hits. And Dempster helped himself at the plate going 2 for 2 with a triple and a run scored.

The highlight of the game for me was a great play in the seventh inning when Scott Atchison came in to relieve Dice K. Tony Campana attempted a bunt for a base hit and while David Ortiz charged to field the ball, Scott Atchison sprinted to first base. Ortiz led him perfectly to the bag with a perfect toss. He just beat the head first slide of Campana. But yeah, other than that, the highlights were pretty nonexistent.

On another note: on the latest episode of “As the Injuries Turn,” Josh Beckett has been scratched from Sunday’s start with shoulder inflamation. Are we sure it’s not head inflamation from thinking so highly of himself? Whatever is inflamed, Franklin Morales has been slated to take Beckett’s start. After his scoreless 4.1 inning performance in early June in relief of Daniel Bard, I have great confidence in his ability too give us some quality innings.

Click here for the pretty uninspiring box score, courtesy of the Red Sox. Jon Lester takes the hill tomorrow night for a prime time, nationally televised game. Really? Two last place teams?

Oh well… go Sox.