August 23, 1908: Cubs sweep a doubleheader at the start of a big winning streak. Also, a pig gets

The Cubs kicked off their five game series with Brooklyn by sweeping today's doubleheader. Also, a pig gets arrested.

Who's ready for a big winning streak?

I'm going to assume your answer is "Oooh ... ME!" since you're here reading this in the first place, so that's exactly what the Cubs plan on delivering this week. Entering today, the boys in blue trail first place Pittsburgh by four and a half games, but you're going to see that dwindle significantly in the coming games.

The Brooklyn Dodgers rolled into town today for a Sunday doubleheader. One of the biggest crowds of the season gathered at the West Side Grounds, and they were rewarded by getting to watch the Cubs defeat the visitors by the same score of 2-0 in both games.

Cubs pitchers Orval Overall and Ed Reulbach were both on point today, especially Overall who fired a two hit shutout while striking out 11 Dodgers in the process in game one. Overall gave up both of his hits in the top of the first, and then "Big Jeff" settled in and mowed the Dodgers down the rest of the way with eight innings of no-hit ball. (For the record, I have no idea why they called him "Big Jeff" since that isn't his name and it's not even a listed nickname on Baseball Reference, but the Tribune called him "Big Jeff" from time to time, and so will we.)

What I do know is that my Orval Overall man-crush rolls on (Here's another uncomfortable example), especially when you take into consideration that today's success on the mound came on ONE day's rest. Oh by the way, Overall also had an RBI in the third inning for the Cubs first score of the day, so this was definitely his day. You go Big Jeff (or whatever the heck your name is)!

Hey big boy

In the second game, "Big Ed" Reulbach pitched a solid game as well. (In this case, I know exactly why they called him "Big Ed," his name was Ed and he was big. Anyway...) Reulbach pitched a four hitter while striking out five Dodgers and winning by the same 2-0 score.

The Cubs scored both runs in the bottom of the first and pretty much cruised from there. Solly Hofman led off with a single, Jimmy Sheckard followed with a walk, and the two then advanced on a sac bunt. With runners on second and third, Johnny Evers singled in Hofman, and then he and Sheckard executed a double steal, with Sheckard stealing home for run number two.

Reulbach then took it from there, with really his only speed bump coming in the seventh inning when he walked three batters to start the inning. Fortunately for Big Ed, the first of those walks to Phil Lewis was erased when Lewis was thrown out trying to steal second. That allowed Reulbach to work out of the jam and keep his shutout intact.

Hi I'm Ed, and I'm big.

Pittsburgh was off today, so the Cubs picked up a full game on them (same goes for second place New York who was also idle).

In other news, a pig got arrested. What is it with 1908's fascination with "arresting" animals? Earlier this week a goat got arrested for eating a ceremonial death wreath (full story here), and now we've got a pig just running through the streets of downtown Chicago causing trouble.

The Tribune reports that the "porker knocks down a woman and two patrolman" ... which we all know would TOTALLY cause a social media outrage because this young swine was clearly being fat-shamed with a label like "porker." Pigs are people too! (Ok ... pigs are NOT people too. Though they are quite delicious.)

There's really not much else to this story. The pig ran around, knocked a couple people over, and then was apprehended by police and was then coaxed into the back of the police vehicle and taken to the station for his "arrest." Now I don't know about you, but given the fact that I have no update beyond this, leads me to believe that the officers at the North Avenue police station enjoyed a fantastic bacon and eggs breakfast the next morning. You monsters!!!!

Mmmmm ... Murder bacon

In summary ... the two Cubs wins send them to 64-47 on the year. Pittsburgh was idle, so their lead over Chicago is now three and a half games. Game three of the five game series with Brooklyn is tomorrow (and suddenly I'm in the mood for a pulled pork sandwich ... shame on me!!!).