Game Fifty-Five: Cubs (33-21) vs. Rockies (20-34)
Game Time - 1:20pm C.T.
Coverage - TV: Comcast SportsNet - Radio: 720 WGN, XM Radio Channel 185
Location - Wrigley Field, Chicago
Ted Lilly (5-4, 5.23/1.34) vs. Aaron Cook (7-3, 2.82/1.20)
Weather permitting the Cubs will try to win the second game of the series today behind Ted Lilly. Lou Piniella's crew has won 4 in a row and entering play today have a game and a half lead on the Cardinals in the division. With only 3 games left before the Cubs hit the road for the month of June, every game at the Friendly Confines is very important. After Sunday the Cubs play 23 of the next 32 games on the road.
Aaron Cook ended the Cubs season long 6 game winning streak the last time he faced them on April 24th in Denver. Cook allowed only 2 runs on 4 hits in 8 innings of work and will make his first career start at Wrigley today. The Cubs will need a good outing from Ted Lilly and as a team they must make Cook work or could be a very short afternoon on the North Side.
After stringing together 4 very good starts, Ted Lilly took a step back last Sunday in Pittsburgh. Lilly gave up 4 runs on a season high 10 hits in 6 innings with 2 walks and 2 strikeouts. He also served up 3 home runs, another season high, to the Pirates....one with a little controversy. While Lilly struggled against the Pirates, his performance was still not close to the ones at the start of the season.
Lilly must keep the ball down today against an organization he has struggled with in the past. Lilly is 2-1 in 3 career starts against the Rockies with a 6.59 ERA and a 2.12 WHIP....last year, Lilly was 2-0 against Colorado with a 4.50 ERA and a 1.75 WHIP.
- Garrett Atkins - 3-for-5 with a double
- Todd Helton - 1-for-4
- Scott Podsednik - 2-for-5
- Cory Sullivan - 2-for-3
- Willy Taveras - 2-for-5 with a home run
Aaron Cook has become the ace of the Rockies' staff. Cook is coming off his first complete game of the season....a 4-1 win against the Mets. Cook held the Mets to just a single run on 4 hits with 3 strikeouts and walk. Cook had two difficult outings against the Diamondbacks and Giants before the gem against the Mets. Cook appears to be back on track and that could be trouble for the Cubs.
Cook has pitched very well outside of Coors Field this season. He is 4-2 in 6 games with a 3.32 ERA and a 1.53 WHIP.
In 4 career starts, 5 games, Cook is 3-1 against the Cubs with a 2.32 ERA and a 1.26 WHIP. The offense must make Cook work, if he gets comfortable on the mound, he could end another winning streak.
- Ronny Cedeno - 1-for-3
- Mark DeRosa - 0-for-6
- Jim Edmonds - 7-for-13 with a double and 2 home runs
- Mike Fontenot - 2-for-7
- Reed Johnson - 1-for-3
- Derrek Lee - 3-for-10 with a double and 4 walks
- Aramis Ramirez - 0-for-10
- Alfonso Soriano - 1-for-4
- Ryan Theriot - 0-for-8
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