Game Thirty-Nine: Cubs (23-15) vs. Padres (14-25)
Game Time - 7:05pm C.T.
Coverage - TV: Comcast SportsNet - Radio: 720 WGN, XM Radio Channel 183
Location - Wrigley Field, Chicago
Jason Marquis (1-2, 5.08/1.72) vs. Shawn Estes (0-0, 0.00/1.80)
The first place Chicago Cubs will look to keep the bats going tonight against former Cub, Shawn Estes. Estes will be shooting for career win number 100 while Jason Marquis will try to remain in the Cubs rotation. Marquis has been inconsistent, at best, in his first 6 outings and really needs to put together a quality start against a team he's had success against in the past.
One of the last statements from Lou Piniella following Monday night's win was, "Tomorrow we need a good game from Marquis."
Jason Marquis will make his first start since May 4th against the Cardinals. Marquis surrendered 5 runs on 7 hits in 5 1/3 innings against his former team with 5 walks and 4 strikeouts. Marquis has struggled with command and consistency all year long....and just not from start to start but from batter to batter. Marquis put together two excellent outings against the Pirates (April 19th) and the Rockies (April 24th) but has won only one game in his first 6 starts....and his team is 3-3 when he takes the hill. Marquis' downfall this year is 15 walks and 43 hits allowed in 33 2/3 innings....too many base runners.
Marquis is 3-2 in 7 career games, 6 starts, against the Padres with a 3.47 ERA and a 1.38 WHIP. Last year, Marquis was spectacular against the Friars....1-0 in 2 starts with a 1.38 ERA and a 1.15 WHIP with 7 walks and 10 strikeouts in 13 innings.
- Shawn Estes - 0-for-2
- Brian Giles - 2-for-8 with a home run
- Adrian Gonzalez - 1-for-4 with a double
- Khalil Greene - 0-for-6
- Tadahito Iguchi - 5-for-7 with 2 doubles
If Marquis struggles early, look for Jon Lieber to make another appearance out of the pen.
The former Cub southpaw, Shawn Estes, will make his first start of the season and his second appearance of the year. Estes pitched 1 2/3 innings of relief against the Braves on May 8th. The Braves plated 2 unearned runs on 2 hits, walked once and struck out twice against Estes in a 5-4 win.
Estes was the Cubs 5th starter back in 2003, he was 8-11 in 29 games, 28 starts, with a 5.73 ERA and a 1.74 WHIP. Estes has not pitched in the Majors since 2006 and that was just one game for the Padres. He was 7-8 with 2 complete games in 21 starts for the Diamondbacks in 2005 with a 4.80 ERA and a 1.43 WHIP.
Estes is 4-9 in 20 career starts at Wrigley with a 6.45 ERA and a 1.68 WHIP.
- Mark DeRosa - 1-for-4
- Reed Johnson - 1-for-1 with a home run
- Derrek Lee - 4-for-18 with 3 doubles and 3 walks
- Jason Marquis - 0-for-2
- Aramis Ramirez - 8-for-13 with 2 home runs
- Alfonso Soriano - 1-for-3
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