July 2009 Archives

Game One Hundred-One - Cubs 2 Marlins 5
WP - Brendan Donnelly (1-0) LP - Carlos Marmol (2-2) Save - Leo Nunez (9)

The Cubs long 10-game road trip began on a sour note Friday night at Land Shark Stadium. The difference in the game ended up being one team's patience ... and it wasn't the Cubs. The Cubs offense was incredibly aggressive in the first game of the series. Lou Piniella's crew managed only one free pass, a leadoff walk by Milton Bradley in the ninth, while the free-swinging Fish walked six times ... but none bigger than the two in the eighth off of Carlos Marmol.

Carlos Marmol took the hill in the eighth with the game tied at two. In his first appearance since the opener of the four-game series against the Astros (July 27), Marmol issued back-to-back walks to Jorge Cantu and Dan Uggla to start the inning. Jeremy Hermida attempted to sacrifice both runners into scoring position but Marmol made a great play to nail Cantu at third. Cody Ross then flied out to left and it appeared Marmol might dodge another bullet.

John Baker stepped in and hit a grounder through the hole at second on a 1-1 pitch. Dan Uggla scored from second and the Marlins took a 3-2 lead. With runners on second and third with two outs, Ross Gload pinch-hit for Brendan Donnelly and was hit on a 0-1 pitch to load the bases. Lou Piniella brought in Sean Marshall and for one of the few times this season, Marshall could not strand the runners,

Wes Helms pinch-hit for Chris Coghlan and lined a two-out double off the wall in left on a 2-2 pitch. Jeremy Hermida and John Baker scored, 5-2 Marlins. After Friday night only five of 33 inherited runners have scored against Sean Marshall.

Rich Harden put together another good start. Harden tied a career-high with 11 strikeouts and allowed two runs on five hits in five innings. Harden also walked three, which ran up his pitch count and forced him out of the game after just five innings. Harden appeared to plead his case to go out in the sixth but after 99 pitches (60 for strikes) on a warm night in Florida, the Cubs turned the game over to their pen down 2-0 at the time.

John Grabow made his Cub debut on Friday night in the sixth. After issuing a leadoff walk to Jeremy Hermida, Grabow retired the next three batters he faced ... two fly outs and a strikeout of Chris Volstad. Aaron Heilman pitched a perfect seventh that included a strikeout of Hanley Ramirez.

The Cubs offense showed no patience against Chris Volstad. Volstad retired the first 12 batters he faced. After Volstad retired Kosuke Fukudome to start the fourth his pitch count was up to just 45 pitches ... and 18 of them were thrown in two at bats to Kosuke Fukudome, they simply were not making him work.

The Cubs first hit was not until the fifth, a lead off single by Aramis Ramirez.

Jake Fox got the start in left on Friday night and tied the game at two in the seventh. Fox hit his seventh home run of the year off of Volstad, a two-run shot into the second deck of the park previously known as Dolphin Stadium.

The Cubs had a chance in the seventh to take the lead but could not come up with the clutch hit when they needed it ... they finished the game 0-for-6 with runners in scoring position and left six on base.

Despite the loss on Friday night, the Cubs finished a good month of ball with an 18-9 record. Only the fourth time in the last 30 seasons the organization posted 18 wins in the month of July ... the other three: 1998 (19-9), 1989 (18-9) and 1984 (18-10).

Game One Hundred-One: Cubs (54-46) vs. Marlins (53-49)
Game Time - 6:10pm C.T.
Coverage - TV: Comcast SportsNet - Radio: 720 WGN, XM Radio Channel 185
Location - Land Shark Stadium, Miami

Rich Harden (7-6, 4.55/1.33) vs. Chris Volstad (8-9, 4.44/1.27)

After an impressive 6-1 homestand, the first place Chicago Cubs begin a very difficult road trip tonight in Miami. The Cubs play their next 10 games on the road and will visit Cincinnati and Colorado before returning to Wrigley on August 11. The Cubs have only four more off days on the schedule and play 17 of the next 23 games on the road. This 10-game, three-city trip in 11 days will give a good indication of exactly where the Cubs stand ...

The Cubs will have two new players in uniform tonight with the addition of John Grabow on Thursday and the call-up of Sam Fuld from Triple-A. The Cubs are supposed to stick with Fuld throughout the road trip and like the defense Fuld provides in the large parks on this trip.

Geovany Soto is expected to begin a rehab assignment this weekend. The Cubs are hopeful he could rejoin the big league club in time for the opener next Friday in Colorado.

While the offense must do their job against Chris Volstad, it all begins with Rich Harden ... and one win at a time.

According to a report from the Tribune, Sam Fuld accompanied the Cubs to Miami on Thursday and will take Reed Johnson's roster spot on Friday. The Cubs are expected to option Mitch Atkins to Triple-A to make room for Fuld.

John Grabow will be in uniform on Friday and available out of the pen for Lou Piniella. Grabow will wear number 43, he asked for 34 but told it was not available.

Game One Hundred - Cubs 12 Astros 3
WP - Kevin Hart (3-1) LP - Russ Ortiz (3-6) Save - None

It is not too often that both starting pitchers in a big league game find themselves either released of traded shortly after the 27th out is recorded ... but that is exactly what happened on Thursday. Soon after Kevin Gregg struck out Kaz Matsui to end the game, the Houston Astros released Russ Ortiz, then the Cubs dealt Kevin Hart along with Jose Ascanio and Josh Harrison to the Pirates for John Grabow and Tom Gorzelanny.

Kevin Hart put together a solid start and earned his third win of the year and his last as a Chicago Cub. While Randy Wells was the story on Wednesday, the offense led the way on Thursday.

For the second day in a row the Cubs put a 12-spot on the board on 13 hits with six walks. Kosuke Fukudome had one of his better games in the Major Leagues. Fukudome finished the day 3-for-3 with two walks, two runs scored and 4 RBI. Fukudome was a home run short of a cycle. Ryan Theriot drove in four runs as well and the top two hitters in Lou Piniella's lineup were a combined 4-for-7 with two walks, two runs scored and 8 RBI.

Kosuke Fukudome drove in the game winner with his two-out single in the second. Fukudome and Theriot's first four RBI came on two-out hits in the second inning and gave Kevin Hart a little breathing room.

Jake Fox and Milton Bradley went back-to-back in the third inning ... the fourth time this season Cubs' batters hit home runs in consecutive at bats. After plating four runs in the second inning, Kevin Hart gave back a pair in the third and the Astros cut the Cubs lead to 4-3. Fox and Bradley started the five-run third inning that helped put the game away.

Derrek Lee was the only starter that did not reach base on Thursday against the Astros ... but his defensive changed the game in the second inning. Milton Bradley, Alfonso Soriano, Mike Fontenot, Koyie Hill and even Kevin Hart participated in the hit parade and the entire team contributed to finishing off the homestand with a commanding win against the Houston Astros.

In his last appearance at Wrigley in a Cubs' uniform, Kevin Hart picked up his third win in a row. Hart gave up three runs, all three on home runs by Carlos Lee and Kaz Matsui. Hart surrendered a total of six hits, walked two, hit two batters and struck out four ... his first career quality start. Sean Marshall, Mitch Atkins and Kevin Gregg pitched the final three innings without allowing a run.

With the 13 hits on Thursday, the Cubs improved to 12-0 in July when they collect ten or more hits. For the series, the Cubs scored a total of 34 runs and the offense has begun performing the way most thought it would back in April. With Thursday's victory, the Cubs finished the seven-game homestand with a 6-1 record ... and Lou Piniella's crew improved to eight games over .500 for the first time this season.

According to multiple reports, the Cubs traded Kevin Hart, Jose Ascanio and minor league infielder Josh Harrison to the Pittsburgh Pirates on Thursday afternoon for John Grabow and Tom Gorzelanny.

Kevin Hart picked up his third win of the year for the Cubs then was shipped to the Pirates. The Cubs acquired Hart in the Freddie Bynum trade with the Orioles in 2006 ... Hart was the PTBNL.

Game One Hundred: Cubs (53-46) vs. Astros (51-50)
Game Time - 1:20pm C.T.
Coverage - TV: WGN TV - Radio: 720 WGN, XM Radio Channel 186
Location - Wrigley Field, Chicago

Kevin Hart (2-1, 2.08/1.52) vs. Russ Ortiz (3-5, 4.75/1.57)

Updated 11:30am C.T. - Jeff Stevens Recalled - Reed Johnson Placed on 15-day DL

Weather permitting ... The Cubs will play game number 100 of the season this afternoon, a makeup from the rain postponement on May 15 in which the original pitching match-up was Randy Wells versus Brian Moehler.

Following Wednesday's win, Lou Piniella indicated Aramis Ramirez would have the day off in order to give him a breathier ... Jake Fox is expected to make the start at the hot corner in place of Ramirez.

The injury woes continued on Wednesday. Reed Johnson broke his foot and will be out for at least a month. The Cubs are expected to call-up Sam Fuld to take his place on the roster. Fuld hit .318 with a .375 OBP against southpaws this season in Triple-A. In 107 at bats, Fuld managed 34 hits (five double, four triples, a home run) and 11 walks. Unless Jim Hendry makes a move to replace Johnson, Fuld should play against lefties while Kosuke Fukudome continues to start against righties.

While the offense must do their job against Russ Ortiz, it all begins with Kevin Hart ... and one win at a time.

Game Ninety-Nine - Cubs 12 Astros 0
WP - Randy Wells (7-4) LP - Mike Hampton (6-8) Save - None

While the Cubs' offense will garner most of the attention from Wednesday afternoon's pounding of the Astros, Randy Wells deserves a majority of the credit. Wells stepped up when his team needed it the most and tossed eight innings of shutout ball ... and a combined shutout of the Astros with Mitch Atkins, in his Major League debut, a day after Houston put an 11-spot on the board.

Randy Wells allowed six hits, all singles, and did not allow a runner past first base until the eighth inning. Wells struck out one, walked two and recorded 17 ground ball outs while the Cubs defense turned three double plays behind him ... a total of four on the afternoon.

The Cubs offense jumped all over Mike Hampton in the first inning. They sent ten to the plate and scored six runs ... with the big hit coming off the bat of Alfonso Soriano. Soriano's 19th homer of the year, a three-run shot to left, gave the Cubs a 5-0 lead.

Aramis Ramirez launched his ninth longball of the year onto Waveland in the second inning of Mike Hampton ... the seventh game in a row Ramirez has recorded at least one extra base hit.

The game was basically over after the opening inning. The Cubs tacked on two more in the fourth inning after a Derrek Lee windblown double and a RBI single by Milton Bradley. With a nine run lead Randy Wells went into cruise control.

The Cubs offense pounded out 14 hits, seven went for extra bases including three home runs. Andres Blanco hit his first big league home run in the eighth off of Doug Brocail.

Randy Wells posted his seventh win on the year, the most for a Cubs' rookie since Kerry Wood won 13 in 1998. Wood finished the year 13-6.

The Cubs shutout of the Astros did come at a cost. Reed Johnson fouled a ball off his foot in his first at bat. Johnson eventually left in the fourth with what was originally diagnosed as a bruise on his left foot. X-rays following the game revealed a fracture in his left foot and Johnson will miss at least a month.

The Cubs improved to 11-0 in July when they collect 10 or more hits and with the victory improved to a season-high seven games over .500 for the third time this season ...

The CCO Radio returns following the 12-0 shutout of the Houston Astros ... and a dandy performance by Randy Wells. The Cubs are 10-3 since the break, won six of their last seven and are starting to put it together offensively. The Cubs did receive some bad news after a great day at the park. Reed Johnson broke his foot and will miss at least a month.

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Game Ninety-Nine: Cubs (52-46) vs. Astros (51-49)
Game Time - 1:20pm C.T.
Coverage - TV: WGN TV - Radio: 720 WGN, XM Radio Channel 183
Location - Wrigley Field, Chicago

Randy Wells (6-4, 3.10/1.16) vs. Mike Hampton (6-7, 4.74/1.46)

Updated 9:40am C.T. - Mitch Atkins recalled from Triple-A Iowa - Corresponding Roster Move to be announced

Updated 10:36am C.T. - Jeff Stevens optioned to Triple-A Iowa to make room for Mitch Atkins.

The Cubs enter play today in second place, a half game back of the Cardinals with the Astros just two games behind them.

Randy Wells better bring his A-game with him to the park this afternoon, or it could end up being a long day for the rookie. Lou Piniella indicated after Tuesday night's loss that they would need a long, quality outing from Wells this afternoon. The Cubs' bullpen has been overworked since the break ... and the first two games of the Houston series have taken its toll on the pen. Kevin Gregg, Carlos Marmol and probably Sean Marshall will be only relievers available this afternoon.

Today might be a good spot to give Ryan Theriot a breathier. After putting together an eight-game hitting streak, and hitting safely in 20 out of 22 games, Theriot is hitless in the series and looks tired. Theriot has played in all but one of the Cubs' 98 games this season.

While the offense must do their job against Mike Hampton, it all begins with Randy Wells ... and one win at a time.

Game Ninety-Eight - Cubs 6 Astros 11
WP - Jeff Fulchino (4-3) LP - Angel Guzman (2-2) Save - None

The Chicago Cubs' five-game winning streak came to an end after a long, bizarre night at Wrigley Field. The Astros scored 11 runs on 17 hits and pounded the Cubs' pitching staff the entire night ... they plated runs in all but three innings. The Astros' offense picked up the slack for Cecil Cooper after Roy Oswalt left the game in the second inning with a left lower back strain. The Astros pen was incredibly wild in relief of Oswalt. The Cubs managed a season-high 10 walks but scattered only five hits.

The Cubs battled back from a 4-0 deficit and a 6-3 deficit but the Astros scored four runs in the last three innings, with the game winner coming off the bat of Geoff Blum in the seventh inning. Blum hit a two-out solo shot off of Angel Guzman, his third game winning RBI against the Cubs this season.

Jeff Keppinger and Miguel Tejada drove in eight of the Astros' 11 runs. Keppinger finished 4-for-5 with three runs scored, three RBI and was a home run short of the cycle. Tejada drove in five and hit a two-run homer in the fifth off Ryan Dempster.

Ryan Dempster barely made it through five innings and to say he was rusty would be an understatement. Dempster struggled with his command, could not find a rhythm and allowed six runs, five earned, on nine hits with three strikeouts and no walks. Dempster added a mental mistake and an error in the third inning that led to the Astros' three-run inning.

A day after tossing six innings of shutout ball, the Cubs bullpen could not get the job done on Tuesday night. Angel Guzman, Jeff Stevens, Aaron Heilman and Jeff Samardzija gave up the last five runs on five hits with two walks and only one strikeout.

The Cubs offense scored all of their runs in the fourth and fifth innings. In the fourth Wesley Wright issued five walks, the Cubs scored three runs on just one hit, a two-out pinch hit single by Reed Johnson and a sacrifice fly by Milton Bradley. Aramis Ramirez tied the game with a three-run homer in the fifth off of Jeff Fulchino.

The Cubs' defense turned in solid plays behind the pitching staff all night. Kosuke Fukudome, Aramis Ramirez, Derrek Lee, Ryan Theriot and Andres Blanco kept the game from becoming more than a five-run loss.

On a night Kosuke Fukudome reached on a single in the fifth that caught in Jeff Fulchino's jersey and two Astros' pitchers recorded their first big league hits, the Cubs dropped to six games over .500 with a 52-46 record. With the loss, coupled with the Cardinals win, Lou Piniella's crew slipped to second place in the central a half game behind the Redbirds ...