Game Seventeen: Cubs (10-6) vs. Pirates (7-9)
Game Time - 12:05pm C.T.
Coverage - TV: Comcast SportsNet - Radio: 720 WGN, XM Radio Channel 183
Location - Wrigley Field, Chicago
Jason Marquis (0-0, 5.23/1.74) vs. Tom Gorzelanny (1-1, 6.75/1.84)
Updated - 10:25am C.T. - Matt Murton Recalled - Eric Patterson Optioned
The Cubs will try to make it two in a row today against the Pirates. Jason Marquis is still looking for his first win of the year but the Cubs are 2-0 in games he has started. The Cubs offense will have their hands full today with southpaw Tom Gorzelanny.
According to a report from the Chicago Tribune on Friday night, Reed Johnson will be at the top of Lou Piniella's lineup today....
Jason Marquis will make his third start of the season today against a team he's had moderate success against in the past. Marquis has struggled in his first two starts with his command.... and is leaving a lot of balls up in the zone. Marquis has not completed 6 innings in either of his two starts and has walked 6 and struck out only 4 in 10 1/3 innings.
Marquis is performing the way a 5th pitcher should, he is keeping his team in games and giving them a chance to win....unfortunately with the way Lou Piniella's starting rotation has performed in the first 3 weeks, the Cubs need a little more from Marquis.
Marquis is 5-5 in 18 career games, 14 starts, against the Pirates with a 4.20 ERA and a 1.31 WHIP. Two or Marquis' best starts a year ago came against Pittsburgh....as well as one of his worst, 2-1 in 4 starts with a 5.18 ERA and a 1.15 WHIP with a complete game shutout.
- Jason Bay - 13-for-34 with 4 doubles, a triple, 4 home runs and 5 walks
- Ryan Doumit - 4-for-12 with 2 doubles and a home run
- Adam LaRoche - 3-for-18 with a double and a home run
- Nate McLouth - 4-for-11 with a home run
- Nyjer Morgan - 2-for-2
- Xavier Nady - 2-for-13 with a home run
- Freddy Sanchez - 3-for-22 with a double and a home run
The Cubs will get their second look of the season at Tom Gorzelanny. Gorzelanny had dominated the Cubs before his last start against them on April 7th. The Cubs scored 7 runs on 6 hits with 4 walks in 2 1/3 innings. Reports after the game indicated Gorzelanny was sick and he should be out to prove a point today. Gorzelanny beat the Reds in his last start. He allowed 1 run on 4 hits in 6 1/3 innings with 4 walks and a strikeout. The Illinois native grew up a White Sox fan and loves beating the Cubs....
- Ronny Cedeno - 4-for-8 with a double
- Mark DeRosa - 3-for-8 with 2 doubles
- Derrek Lee - 6-for-10 with 2 doubles and a home run
- Matt Murton - 4-for-10 with 2 doubles
- Aramis Ramirez - 2-for-13
- Geovany Soto - 5-for-7 with a double
- Ryan Theriot - 1-for-8
- Reed Johnson - No Official at bat - 2 Walks
Update - According to a report on ESPN 1000 on Saturday morning, the Cubs have recalled Matt Murton from Triple-A Iowa and have optioned Eric Patterson back to Iowa. Murton will be available for Saturday's game against the Pirates.
Let's Talk Cubs Baseball....
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just FYI, I don't know if anyone else mentioned it, but Murton was out of the lineup last night for AAA. Could this mean he's being called up?
Also, Josh Vitters was just called up to Peoria, and was 3 for 4 with 3 doubles....How's that for a debut?
Aaron, I have seen the rumors on Murton but I have not seen a report on heard anything on the radio. Bruce Levine is talking about the Reds broadcasters right now.
It does appear Murton has been called up and it would make sense with his numbers against Gorzelanny....that's the reason I included his numbers.
I wonder if Lou will give Ramirez a day off today and play DeRosa at 3rd and Cedeno at 2nd with Murton in left.
Aaron, please disregard the last post...
Ramirez is in the starting lineup. DeRosa is in left and Cedeno is at 2nd with Theriot at short.
Murton did get recalled and I have updated.
Today's starting lineup:
Johnson - CF
Theriot - SS
Lee - 1B
Ramirez - 3B
Fukudome - RF
DeRosa - LF
Soto - C
Cedeno - 2B
Marquis - P
Good play by Lee, Cedeno and Marquis to get LaRoche at first.
D-LEEEEEE!!!!! With #7! He did not hit #7 until July last year. Major League leader!
#7!
D.Lee !!!!!!!!!
#7, Im telling you its that beard.
Hes making up for last year.
Nice hit and run DeRo and Soto.
Good job Geo.
And good eye on Reed's part...
The following AB went quickly -_-;
Good job by DeRosa, Soto and Johnson...even Marquis' out was productive. But why did Theriot just swing at the first pitch? 2 walks in the inning, a 3-2 count on Soto....
My thoughts exactly Neil, especially with D Lee on deck. He's got to at least take one strike. I saw him takling to Derrek before the at-bat and imagined their conversation to be something like "this guy is struggling with his command. make him work for it." Guess not.
Agreed
Gotta talk fellas!
Who said lefties cant hit Gorzelanny..
Gorzo apparently has never been fuk'd! =D
Way to go DeRO! I love this "scoring in every inning" trend.
Great Double Steal! Make them make a play....
Excellent at bat by Cedeno....wow! Started 0-2, worked a walk, a wild pitch scored a run and flipped the lineup.
Did Ronny Cedeno just draw a 12 pitch walk?
Wow. Outstanding job by Cedeno staying alive and taking the walk. Marquis!!!
Man, too fun. Marquis! This is all on RC Cola. Good patience and way to work Gorzo.
What a job by Cedeno....scored from 1st on the double by Marquis. Gorzelanny out again. The Cubs must keep scoring and not let up.
a couple more of atbats like that for Cedeno and I'm jump startin' the RC bandwagon. Good job.
This feels like Deja Vu....
Lets not blow this lead though..
Matt.... I second that!
DeRosa almost cost them there....Great running catch by Fukudome!
Whats up with Derrek? Please be a good chance just to get him a breather.
Matt....no word on Lee, but that is the guess from Len and Bob.
Just tuned in, and see are kickin some ars.
Why did Lee come out of the game?
Nick, no one knows for sure. Speculation is 7-1 lead. No signs of an injury
Good, I hope that is it.
Way to get off the snide! D-Ward HR!
Aint Gould making threats to leave too if he doesnt receive a raise?
My Saints need a kicker..
NATION REPRESENT!
CUBS WIN! CUBS WIN!
Good game!!! Now lets get the last one tomorrow!!
Go Cubs Go!!
At what point is Theriot good enough?
Honestly. 2 more hits and 3 runs scored.
Is it possible to get 2 brooms in as many chances??? GIT r Done!!! Go cachorros!
On another note. Its great to see a good outing by one of our lower tier starters. Lets see Demp keep this up tomorrow!
Lee apparently had a stiff neck. Hope its really no big deal.
Hey Matty...what's with the lower tier starter thing? We have won every game Jason has started and how dare you mention Demp. in that category...? He is our ACE!!!!LOL
Man I hope it isn't anything too bad
I apologize Agustin. =) What was I thinking...
Anyone else have gameday audio that can hear Ronny Woo Woo in the background..
Anymore news on Lee?
Lou says he is gonna run today's lineup out there tomorrow. Im guessing that includes Lee too.
I reckon he's okay.
As for the lineup. If it aint broke, dont fix it.
Thanks Matt.
mmhmm.
I hope to see Murton starting in left tom.
Matt, to answer your question about Theriot...uh...more than the 2-3 weeks we've been in season -_-;
The shouldnt it be too early to negatively judge him. The guy hit .290 up til the last month of the season last year too.
The same rules should apply to you to then, no?
whats up with ted lilly he looks weak
Dude...seriously, now, get your facts straight.
Theriot had TWO good months last year, April and July. Otherwise, he was HORRIBLE.