Game Twelve: Cubs (6-5) vs. Phillies (6-6)
Game Time - 12:35pm C.T.
Coverage - TV: Comcast SportsNet, TBS Sunday Game of the Week - Radio: 720 WGN, XM Radio Channel 183
Location - Citizens Bank Park, Philadelphia
Jason Marquis (0-0, 6.75/1.69) vs. Jamie Moyer (1-0, 4.66/1.76)
Lou Piniella's crew will try to salvage the finale of the 3-game series today against Jamie Moyer. A win today would give the Cubs a 4-2 record on the 6-game road trip and would make Monday's off day that much more enjoyable....especially with Dusty Baker's Cincinnati Reds opening a 3-game series on Tuesday at Wrigley.
Jason Marquis was scheduled to start the first game of the series on Friday but a case of strep throat pushed his start until today. The Cubs need a solid outing from Marquis....but more than anything they are in search of a victory to finish the trip on a winning note.
Jason Marquis struggled in his first outing of the season against the Astros last Saturday. Marquis allowed 5 runs, 4 earned, on 8 hits in 5 1/3 innings but the Cubs won the game 9-7....and started the 5-game winning streak that ended on Friday. Lou Piniella has a lot of question marks in his starting rotation right now and a solid outing by Marquis today could provide at least one answer.
For all the positives that came from the 3-game sweep in Pittsburgh, the Cubs have had two bad games in a row against one of the better teams in the National League. Last year the Cubs had trouble winning games against good teams and so far this season the troublesome trend has continued.
Jason Marquis is 4-3 in 17 career games, 10 starts, versus the Phillies with a 4.64 ERA and a 1.68 WHIP....and is 1-1 in 2 career starts at Citizens Bank Park with a 5.79 ERA and a 2.25 WHIP. Last year, Marquis won his only start against the Phillies. He allowed 3 runs on 8 hits in 6 innings with 3 walks and 4 strikeouts on July 31st at Wrigley.
- Pat Burrell - 10-for-28 with 2 doubles, a home run and 7 walks
- Pedro Feliz - 2-for-12 with a double
- Geoff Jenkins - 10-for-32 with a double, 3 triples and 4 walks
- Jimmy Rollins - 3-for-31 with 4 walks
- Chase Utley - 6-for-13 with a double
- Ryan Howard - 2-for-6
Jamie Moyer is 2-0 in 4 career starts with a 3.75 ERA and a 1.29 WHIP against the team that drafted him way back in 1984. The 45-year old southpaw made his debut in a Cubs' uniform in 1986 against Steve Carlton of the Phillies and 22 years later will look to hand the Cubs their third loss in a row.
Moyer received a no decision at Wrigley last season (August 1st) and gave up 4 runs on 9 hits with 6 strikeouts and 2 walks in 5 innings.
- Henry Blanco - 3-for-9
- Ronny Cedeno - 3-for-8 with a double
- Mark DeRosa - 3-for-10 with a double
- Reed Johnson - 9-for-27 with 3 doubles and a home run
- Derrek Lee - 2-for-3 with 2 doubles
- Aramis Ramirez - 0-for-5
- Alfonso Soriano - 9-for-44 with a double and 4 home runs
- Ryan Theriot - 1-for-6
The announcement was made during Saturday night's telecast that Henry Blanco would start behind the plate today and do not be surprised to see Aramis Ramirez receive a day off as well. Also, Lou Piniella stated on Saturday night that he would like to have Rich Hill pitch a few innings in relief today.
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