August 21, 1908: Cubs win their third straight. Also, a baseball thrown from the top of the Washin

The Cubs took their third straight from the Boston Doves, winning 5-3. Meanwhile, a catcher wins $500 for catching a ball off the Washington Monument, and an update on the dog with lion babies.

I imagine the 1908 Cubs wished they could play the Boston Doves every day. Today's victory marked their third win in a row against the team, as well as an impressive 14th win in 18 games on the season. As I mentioned before, this visit from the Doves came at the perfect time and likely saved the entire season.

Things weren't as easy as the last two days though. The Cubs got out to an early lead in the first thanks to an RBI single from third baseman Harry Steinfeldt that scored Frank Chance, but then the wheels started to come off for Cubs starter Ed Reulbach. Big Ed gave up six hits and four walks in the first couple innings, and was probably lucky the Doves only scored two runs during his time in the game.

Manager Frank Chance gave Reulbach the hook with two runners on and one out in the third, and reliever Orval Overall came in and immediately turned things around for the Cubs.

Ahhh Orval ... he's so dreamy with his big blue eyes and chiseled facial features. For the record, I'm totally straight and happily married, but I will admit I kinda have a bit of a man crush on ol' Orval ...

Your man crush is making me uncomfortable

Now you don't have to have a man crush on him if you don't want to, but you definitely gotta give Orval his props today. He came in and pretty much shut the door on the Doves for the rest of the game, giving up only four hits the rest of the way and one garbage time run in the 9th.

On offense, the Cubs game in with another balanced attack, picking up a couple hits an inning throughout most of the day. An RBI double from Del Howard and a Pat Moran RBI single gave the Cubs the lead in the 4th, and they then added two more in the 5th for insurance. A good team effort all around, including a spectacular diving play at second base by Johnny Evers in the 4th that robbed Doves first baseman Dan McGann of a hit. [Side note: I have no doubt any broadcaster worth his salt would've called him "The Big Man Dan McGann" because his name is awesomely rhymey.]

The Big Man Dan McGann has a plan to drive a van, get a tan, and eat some bran.

(OK, I'll stop now)

In other baseball news, Washington Senators catcher Charles Street won a $500 bet for catching a baseball dropped from the top of the 555 foot Washington Monument. This was a feat that had been attempted a couple times before, but Street became the first person to actually catch one. It is estimated that the ball fell with two hundred pounds of force at a rate of 135 feet per second, and later in life Street said "I felt it right now to my heels when it finally hit."

Here's the actual ball he caught ...

And finally, there's an update on the dog with the lion babies ... they found a dog to do it! (Here's the full story from yesterday)

Not a Great Dane as originally requested by zookeeper Cy De Vry, but a shepherd-collie mutt mix that was brought to the zoo by a woman named Hattie Riley. And as you can see, the lion babies seem to be perfectly content with their new momma. (For the record, I'm still weirded out by the whole "dog with cat babies thing," but whatever.)

This is ... um ... cute?

In summary, the Cubs win puts them at 62-46 on the year. Pittsburg won as well, so the Cubs keep pace and remain three and a half back. The final game of the Boston series is tomorrow with Brooklyn coming to town next.