The good news is the Chicago Cubs remain in first place. The bad news is the good news may be over quicker than you can blink.

Following today’s 3-2 extra-inning loss, coupled with Milwaukee’s win, the Cubs and Brewers enter Sunday’s play deadlocked for first place in the NL Central with identical 60-44 records.

How far the mighty have fallen. And how quickly, too.

It wasn’t that long ago - just a scant two weeks ago - Chicago Cub baseball was on cruise control. Entering the All-Star break, the Cubs were tied with the Los Angeles Angels for the best record in baseball, and seemingly on a path straight to the post season.

The Angels are still there. For the Cubs it’s been a heckuva journey. Somewhere between taking three of four from San Francisco and today the yellow brick road got strewn with obstacles. Enough so, instead of a grounds crew, the Chicago Cubs could use road maintenance to clean up the mess.

Even the trade for Rich Harden and Chad Gaudin has failed to produce a positive result. Poor Harden. In three starts, today being his latest, the right-hander has allowed two earned runs while striking out 30 batters in 171/3 innings. For his efforts, Hardin is 0-1.

The biggest and most obvious reason behind the Cubs mid-season stumble has been the silence of the bats. Since resuming play from the All-Star break Chicago hitter have produced 33 runs in nine games, 25 of those coming in three of those.

“If we continue to swing the bats like this the rest of the year, we ain’t going to win that many,” manager Lou Piniella said. “I’m sure we’re going to come out of this, but let’s come out of it sooner than later.”

Piniella and first base coach Matt Sinatro added flair to the slide when both were tossed from Saturday’s game for disputing a call in the ninth inning. Instant replays neither confirmed nor denied whether either had a legitimate beef.

But it was clear the Cubs are starting to show their frustration. After dropping two consecutive games to the Florida Marlins on late-inning rallies, Chicago gets another chance today at the fish.

Let’s hope they don’t choke.