5/9 Right place, right time

The Cubs were in perfect position on Wednesday to defend against the Braves and took advantage of Atlanta shortstop Jack Wilson to score the game-winning run. In the seventh, David DeJesus singled to lead off and moved up on two groundouts before scoring on Bryan LaHair’s single just past Wilson. LaHair has reached base safely in 27 straight games, and has 17 RBIs in his last 21 games. Paul Maholm saw Wilson move slightly and LaHair adjusted.

“The first at-bat, they didn’t have the big shift on him and Jack was on the shortstop side and when he got the RBI single, I looked out there and saw that Jack had moved a few steps,” Maholm said. “[LaHair] is just taking what they give him. That’s what you want from a power guy. He’s not up there trying to hook everything. If they’re going to pitch him away, he’ll go with it.”

LaHair said the Braves seemed to be making their own adjustments against him each at-bat.

“I haven’t seen a fastball that much the whole series after the first two at-bats of the series,” LaHair said. “I had a feeling maybe [Hudson] would try to get ahead away and before I stepped in the box, I thought about hitting that hole and I got the pitch I was looking for.”

It’s not that easy, folks.

– Carrie Muskat