August 2007 Archives

Game One Hundred Thirty-Three - Cubs 1 Astros 6
WP - Wandy Rodriguez (8-12) LP - Sean Marshall (7-7) Save - None

Lou Piniella's crew could not build any momentum after their series win against the Brewers and suffered a let down against an old nemesis, with a new face. Hunter Pence, the Astros' top prospect, put on an impressive show at Wrigley on Friday afternoon. Pence scored the first run of the day after Sean Marshall walked him to start the game. Pence then hit home runs in consecutive at bats in the 4th and 6th innings that drove in the other 5 Astros' runs. Sean Marshall barely got out of the 1st inning after walking 3 batters and left after 3 2/3 innings. Marshall gave up 4 runs, 1 earned, on 5 hits with 4 walks and 3 strikeouts. Michael Wuertz surrendered Pence's second home run and gave up 2 runs on 3 hits in 2 1/3 innings. Cubs pitching struggled once again throwing strikes and walked 7 on the afternoon.

The Cubs lost their 4th game in a row to the Astros while giving Wandy Rodriguez his first career win at Wrigley. Rodriguez threw 6 innings of shutout ball and gave up just 4 hits, all singles. Rodriguez won only his second road start of the year with a lot of help from the Cubs aggressiveness at the plate. The Cubs offense could not string together any hits. In their last 5 games they are 8-for-47 with runners in scoring position and have scored 6 runs in their last 4 games against the Astros. The Cubs are 2-2 on their current homestand and with the loss they finished August with a 12-16 record.

Game One Hundred Thirty-Three: Cubs (68-64) vs. Astros (60-74)
Game Time - 1:20pm C.T. WGN TV, WGN Radio, XM Radio Channel 184
Location - Wrigley Field, Chicago

Sean Marshall (7-6, 4.04/1.29) vs. Wandy Rodriguez (7-12, 4.67/1.31)

Updated - 12:06pm C.T. - With a Name from the past in the rumor mill....

Updated - 1:05pm C.T. - According to a report by Bruce Levine on ESPN 1000 and a report by Ken Rosenthal on Foxsports.com, the Cubs have acquired pitcher Steve Trachsel from the Baltimore Orioles for Scott Moore and Rocky Cherry. Trachsel has a club option for 2008 worth $4.75 million. Will update when more information becomes available.

After a very exciting series against the Brewers, Lou Piniella's crew gets a big test today. While the Houston Astros are coming off back-to-back wins against the Cardinals, the Cubs must not have a let down against an always dangerous team that swept them the last time the two faced off in Houston. The Cubs will get their first look at the new Astros' manager, former Brewer, Cecil Cooper. Cooper took over for Phil Garner when he was fired earlier in the week.

Piniella stated after Thursday night's game that Alfonso Soriano will get today off, Matt Murton will start in his place and Henry Blanco will get a start behind the plate. The Cubs will face their second southpaw in as many days, with a third coming on Saturday, and while the offense must do their job, it all starts with Sean Marshall.

On this day, the last day of August, I start by offering forgiveness. Who am I asking for forgiveness? You might be surprised to know that it is Jacque Jones. I was hard on him early in the season and didn't let up on him. I wanted him traded. Heck, just give him away to someone and put Felix Pie in full-time. There has to be a team that would take him. Well the Cubs tried, and he was almost a Florida Marlin. The Cubs were willing to pay most of the salary too but the league wouldn't let it happen. As bad as he was playing I still wanted something in return so I agree it wasn't a good trade and with his current play I am glad it didn't go through.

I apologize to Jacque for all I said about him but in reality, he was really bad. If I am offering forgiveness maybe he should be also, for the way he started. He should apologize to all Cubs fans but then again, with his current play, maybe that is his way of saying sorry for being so bad to start the season. If that is the case, I accept.

Game One Hundred Thirty-Two - Cubs 5 Brewers 4
WP - Carlos Marmol (4-1) LP - Chris Capuano (5-12) Save - Ryan Dempster (23)

Lou Piniella's crew came from behind and beat the Brewers for the 9th time this season in 15 games. Thursday night was the last meeting of the year between the two teams and it came down to two pitches. With the game tied at 3 with 2 outs in the 6th inning, Matt Murton worked the count to 3-2, Murton then took the next offering from Chris Capuano over the wall in left. Alfonso Soriano stepped in and after striking out in his first three at bats, he hit the second pitch from Capuano over the wall in left. Soriano's 19th home run of the year, his first since July 28th, was the difference in the game. Chris Capuano set a Brewers record with his 12 consecutive loss and his team has not won in the last 18 games he has pitched in.

Ted Lilly struggled in the 1st inning, gave up 2 runs and left after the 5th inning. Carlos Marmol pitched 2 innings in relief to get the win. Marmol struck out the side in the 6th, worked around an error in the 7th and of the 6 outs Marmol recorded, 5 were strikeouts. Ryan Dempster converted his 11th save in a row, but his outing was anything but easy. Dempster gave up a lead off double to Joe Dillon, hit Rickie Weeks and with 2-outs intentionally walked Prince Fielder to load the bases. Dempster walked Corey Hart to force in a run but Kevin Mench swung at the first pitch and grounded out to Ryan Theriot to end the game.

The Cubs won a very important series against the Brewers and have won 8 of their last 13 while picking up a game in the standings.

Game One Hundred Thirty-Two: Cubs (67-64) vs. Brewers (66-66)
Game Time - 7:05pm C.T. WGN TV, WGN Radio, XM Radio Channel 184
Location - Wrigley Field, Chicago

Ted Lilly (13-7, 3.85/1.15) vs. Manny Parra (0-1, 3.09/1.33)

The Cubs will look to take the last game of the series and the season tonight against their rivals to the north. The Brewers made a big statement on Wednesday night when they beat Carlos Zambrano and moved back into second place, just a game and a half behind the Cubs. The Brewers have a very dangerous lineup and proved it once again. Ned Yost will start a rookie southpaw tonight against a Cubs team that cannot hit left-handed pitchers. Manny Parra was once the top-pitching prospect in the Brewers organization and has excelled at the Minor League level this season. Tonight will be a huge challenge for Lou Piniella's struggling offense, but it all starts with Ted Lilly.

According to a report on Cubs.com, Buck Coats was traded to the Reds for a player to be named later or cash. The Cubs also sent Clay Rapada to the Tigers as the player to be named later in the Craig Monroe deal.

Game One Hundred Thirty-One - Cubs 1 Brewers 6
WP - Ben Sheets (11-4) LP - Carlos Zambrano (14-11) Save - None

No one in the Cubs organization will be happier than Carlos Zambrano to see the calendar flip to a new month on Saturday. Zambrano lost his 4th straight game and finished August 0-4 in 5 starts with a 7.06 ERA after signing his long over due contract almost two weeks ago. While Zambrano struggled once again on the mound, the Cubs' offense gave him no run support and little room for error. Zambrano left the game in the 7th inning after giving up a bases loaded double to Ryan Braun. Zambrano allowed 2 runs before the Brewers 4-run 7th inning and left with his team down 4-1. Scott Eyre gave up a 2-run single to Geoff Jenkins in relief to close the book on Zambrano....6 runs, 5 earned, on 9 hits with 6 strikeouts and a walk in 6 1/3 innings.

The Cubs offense had plenty of opportunities against Ben Sheets. They left 4 runners in scoring position in the first 3 innings and had runners on base in every inning but the 5th. Sheets threw the ball very well in his first start off the DL and ended the Brewers 5-game losing streak while picking up his first win since June 30th at Wrigley. Alfonso Soriano recorded his first hit since returning from the DL. Aramis Ramirez drove in the lone Cubs' run in the 3rd with a sacrifice fly to right. Jacque Jones was 2-for-3 with a walk, the only Cub to reach base more than once on the night. With the loss the Cubs dropped back to 3 games above .500 and did not create any breathing room in the division.

Game One Hundred Thirty-One: Cubs (67-63) vs. Brewers (65-66)
Game Time - 7:05pm C.T. Comcast SportsNet, WGN Radio, XM Radio Channel 184
Location - Wrigley Field, Chicago

Carlos Zambrano (14-10, 3.95/1.33) vs. Ben Sheets (10-4, 3.39/1.16)

The Cubs will look to take the all-important second game of the series tonight behind their ace, Carlos Zambrano. Zambrano will match up for the second time this season against Ben Sheets, who will make his first start since July 14th. Zambrano beat Sheet back on April 7th in Milwaukee, but that was then and right now neither team is sure what they will get out of their ace. While Sheets will be making his first start in 6 weeks, Zambrano has not pitched the way he is capable, with the exception of 3 innings, since the end of July.

The Brewers announced on Tuesday night that rookie left-hander, Manny Para will make his third career start in the series finale. A solid night from the offense against the Brewers' All-Star would be a good way to get into a rhythm, but it all starts with Carlos Zambrano.

Baseball, like many parts of life, is absolutely unpredictable. Many who gamble on other sports rarely touch a baseball game. Even though the saying goes "On any given Sunday..." but an avid viewer of the NFL will be right 12-13 out of 16 games each weekend. Baseball is slightly different. On any afternoon or evening any team can win. The Royals could take down the Red Sox or the Devil Rays could beat the Yankees. The Pirates could beat the Mets and the Brewers could even beat the Cubs. Even by taking starting pitchers and lineups into the equation it remains difficult to predict the outcome. Carlos Zambrano could pitch like Jeff Pico or Les Walrond could pitch like Greg Maddux.

Game One Hundred Thirty - Cubs 5 Brewers 3
WP - Rich Hill (8-7) LP - Scott Linebrink (4-6, BS 7) Save - Ryan Dempster (22)

Lou Piniella's crew handed their skipper an impressive come from behind win on his birthday, but it was a decision by Ned Yost that changed the course of the ballgame. Jeff Suppan was in cruise control until the 7th inning. He held the Cubs under performing offense to 1 run on 6 hits. Cliff Floyd led off the 7th and was hit in the elbow by Suppan. Yost decided that was enough for his starter after throwing only 82 pitches. Scott Linebrink came in and gave up an infield single to Mark DeRosa. Jacque Jones tied the game with a double to right center that rolled all the way to the ivy. Linebrink intentionally walked Daryle Ward after missing on his first two offerings. Alfonso Soriano flied out to right, Jones advanced to 3rd. With 2 outs, Ryan Theriot hit a high chopper up the middle that Linebrink could not handle and Jones scored the go ahead run. Derrek Lee singled to left to add the all-important tack on run. Alfonso Soriano was 0-for-4 in his return but the bottom of the Cubs lineup was 6-for-13 with 4 runs and 3 RBI's.

Rich Hill finally received a little run support and pitched much better than his line indicates. He struck out 4 in a row to start the game and the first 5 outs he recorded were strikeouts. Hill gave up 3 runs on 7 hits with 9 strikeouts and no walks in 7 innings. Hill helped his own cause with a RBI single in the 5th, the Cubs first run of the night. The Cubs ended their 2-game losing streak, improved to 4 games above .500 while handing the Brewers their 5th loss in a row.