Game Seventy-Two: Cubs (32-39) vs. White Sox (29-39)
Game Time - 3:05pm C.T. WGN TV, WGN Radio, XM Radio Channel 181
Location - U.S. Cellular Field, Chicago
Carlos Zambrano (7-6, 4.53/1.40) vs. Mark Buehrle (4-3, 3.45/1.09)
Let the Crosstown Classic continue on the South Side.... The Cubs took two of three at Wrigley in May and the White Sox will look to repay the favor. The White Sox are struggling but the Cubs are not exactly playing their best baseball of the season having just lost 2 of 3 to the Texas Rangers. Aramis Ramirez is expected to be activated from the DL before today's game and Lou Piniella should welcome his offense back with open arms. The Cubs have not exactly lit up the scoreboard since he has been out of the lineup.
Carlos Zambrano has been just short of brilliant since his meltdown and his skipper will need a great outing from his ace today to end their current 2-game losing streak.
Carlos Zambrano was a hard luck loser last Saturday against the Padres but kept his composure despite all of the distractions around him. Zambrano threw his first complete game since 2005 and was beaten by a solo home run off the bat of Russell Branyan. In his last 3 starts Zambrano has allowed 4 runs, 3 earned, on 10 hits in 23 2/3 innings (1.14 ERA). The White Sox only win in the series at Wrigley came against Zambrano and they beat him pretty soundly on that cold, rainy day in May. Zambrano allowed 7 runs on 6 hits in 6 2/3 innings.
Zambrano is 4-2 in 10 career games, 8 starts, against the White Sox with a 4.94 ERA and a 1.43 WHIP with 47 strikeouts and 34 walks in 54 2/3 innings. Today will be Zambrano's 4th career start at the Cell, in his 3 previous starts (4 games) he has a record of 1-1 with a 6.05 ERA and a 1.71 WHIP.
- Paul Konerko - 6-19, with 3 home runs, 5 RBI's and 3 walks
- Rob Mackowiak - 11-33, with 4 doubles, a triple, a home run, 4 RBI's and 7 walks
- A.J. Pierzynski - 4-12, with a home run and 2 RBI's
- Jim Thome - 4-10, with a double, a home run and 2 RBI's
Mark Buehrle had a tremendous first month of the season that included a no-hitter against the Texas Rangers on April 18th and posted a 2-1 record with a 2.97 ERA. However, Buehrle did not post a win in five starts in May and was 0-1 with a 4.28 ERA but posted a strikeout to walk ratio of 24:9. He is coming off of back-to-back wins against the Astros and Pirates and allowed a combined 2 runs on 17 hits in 16 innings of work.
Buehrle is 2-2 with a 3.74 ERA at the Cell and unlike many southpaws he has better numbers against right-handed hitters than lefties. Righties are hitting .244 this season against Buehrle with a .269 OBP while lefties are hitting .328 with a .350 OBP. Buehrle is 3-3 in 8 career starts against the Cubs with a 5.43 ERA and a 1.42 WHIP.
- Mark DeRosa - 6-17, with 3 doubles, a home run and 2 RBI's
- Derrek Lee - 4-6, with 2 doubles, a home run and 2 RBI's
- Angel Pagan - 3-6
- Alfonso Soriano - 4-26, with a double, a home run and 2 RBI's
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