Game Seventy-Five: Cubs (46-28) vs. White Sox (41-32)
Game Time - 12:05pm C.T.
Coverage - TV: WGN (Cubs) - Radio: 720 WGN, XM Radio Channel 184
Location - Wrigley Field, Chicago
Jason Marquis (5-3, 4.24/1.49) vs. Jose Contreras (6-5, 3.24/1.14)
Updated - 10:05am C.T. - Eric Patterson Recalled
Updated - 10:38am C.T. Carlos Zambrano Placed on 15-Day DL
It's game two of round one....the Cubs versus the White Sox, North Side versus South Side....The Crosstown Classic. After the walk off win on Friday afternoon, Lou Piniella's crew will try to keep it going today against Jose Contreras behind Jason Marquis. For the first time in a week, the Cubs' offense will face a pitcher they have a history against but at the same time it will not be an easy task plating runs against the veteran right-hander. The Cubs must score early and often today and not rely on trying to beat a very good Sox bullpen for the second day in a row.
In other news.... It appears Daryle Ward might be close at returning from the DL. Reports are suggesting that Ward will go out on a rehab assignment this week and could rejoin the team for the series on the South Side next week and serve as the Cubs' DH for the 3-game series. Both Reed Johnson and Jim Edmonds were available to pinch hit on Friday and Edmonds could return to the starting lineup today.
And finally.... Rich Hill had another rough outing in Triple-A on Friday. Hill gave up 6 earned runs on 3 hits with 4 walks, a strikeout, two wild pitches and an error in 2/3 of an inning in his first start in 9 days. Hill is 2-4 with the I-Cubs with 28 walks and 32 strikeouts in 26 innings. Randy Wells and his 6-2 record with a 2.28 ERA takes the mound tonight in Albuquerque for Iowa....
Which Jason Marquis will show up to Wrigley today? The one that has been just about unhittable in his last two starts or the one that started the season....and pitched in San Diego. Marquis has won his last 3 starts and his last 4 decisions. The last time Marquis was credited with a loss was back on May 13th at Wrigley against Shawn Estes and the San Diego Padres.
Marquis has allowed only 1 earned run, 2 total, in his last 2 outings (13 1/3 innings) on 7 hits with 3 walks and 3 strikeouts. Marquis has pitched much better since by chastised on the mound at PETCO by Lou Piniella.
Marquis is 2-2 in 6 starts at Wrigley this year with a 5.13 ERA and a 1.53 WHIP. Marquis has made only three starts at home since the first of May and if he could carry his recent road success over to his home park....the Cubs could pick up a big win at home against the Sox, if not, do not look for Lou Piniella to show much patience.
Marquis is 1-1 in 3 career starts against the White Sox with a 10.06 ERA and a 1.20 WHIP. Marquis' career numbers against the South Side is a little bit skewed because of the start he made at the Cell on June 21, 2006. While a member of the Cardinals, Tony LaRussa left him in to prove a point. Marquis gave up 13 runs on 14 hits with a walk and 3 strikeouts in 5 innings of work....the Sox beat the Cardinals, 13-5.
Last year Marquis received a no decision on May 19th on the North Side against the Sox. Marquis allowed 5 runs on 7 hits in 6 innings with a walk and 4 strikeouts. The Cubs won the game 11-6 thanks to a pinch-hit Grand Slam by Derrek Lee in the 8th inning.
- Orlando Cabrera - 8-for-20 with 2 doubles
- Joe Crede - 3-for-6 with 2 home runs
- Jermaine Dye - 2-for-9 with a double and a home run
- A.J. Pierzynski - 2-for-6 with a double
- Carlos Quentin - 1-for-2 with a home run
- Jim Thome - 5-for-13 with a double and a home run
- Juan Uribe - 2-for-9
After a horrible 2007 campaign (10-17 in 32 games, 30 starts, with a 5.57 ERA and a 1.56 WHIP), Jose Contreras has bounced back and is one of the reasons the White Sox are in first place. After a string of starts between May 9th and June 5th in which he did not post a loss (the Sox went 5-1 as a team), Contreras has lost back-to-back starts for the first time this season.
Contreras gave up 4 runs, 3 earned, on 7 hits in 6 2/3 innings to the Rockies in a 5-3 loss and surrendered 6 runs on 13 hits in 6 innings to the Tigers in Detroit on June 10th. After striking out a season-high 10 Angels on May 25th, Contreras has walked (8) almost as many as he's struck out (13).
The Cubs must be patient today and not allow Contreras to have short quick innings and get comfortable on the mound.
Today will be Contreras' 5th career start against the Cubs. He is 1-2 with a 4.23 ERA and a 1.12 WHIP, last season....0-1 in 1 start with a 2.57 ERA and a 1.43 WHIP (2 runs on 10 hits in 7 innings with 3 strikeouts and no walks).
Contreras is 3-2 in 7 road starts this season with a 3.45 ERA and a 1.30 WHIP, but opponents are hitting .267 against him.
- Ronny Cedeno - 1-for-4
- Mark DeRosa - 0-for-6
- Mike Fontenot - 2-for-4
- Reed Johnson - 1-for-8 with a double
- Derrek Lee - 2-for-11 with a double
- Aramis Ramirez - 5-for-11 with a double and 3 home runs
Let's Talk Cubs Baseball....
Update - According to a report on ESPN 1000, the Cubs have recalled Eric Patterson from Triple-A Iowa. The Cubs have not made the move official, but to recall Patterson within 10 days would require the Cubs to put a player on the DL. Will update when more information becomes available.
Update - According to a report from the Sun-Times, Carlos Zambrano was placed on the 15-day DL to make room for Eric Patterson. The Sun-Times is speculating Sean Marshall will make the start on Tuesday against the Orioles. Will update when more information becomes available....
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EPat up and a player on the DL? I don't mind the EPat move, but to place someone on the DL does not sound good. I'd have to guess that the DL player would have to sit out for at least 15 days, though it could start from the point the player stopped playing last week (ie Johnson or Edmonds), but I'd still hate to lose either one for that amount of time.
Today's lineup:
Fukudome - RF
Patterson - LF
Lee - 1B
Ramirez - 3B
Edmonds - CF
Fontenot - 2B
Soto - C
Theriot - SS
Marquis - P
Another home run by Jermaine Dye....with 2 outs on a 0-1 pitch. 16 game hitting streak at Wrigley.
Marquis....served up another long ball with 2 outs. All 4 runs came off 2-out home runs
The offense must start chipping away before this gets out of hand....
Let's Go Offense, LET'S GO!!!!
EDMONDS!! and FONTENOT!!!
Back-to-Back JACKS!!!!
I LOVE IT! I wonder when the last time was that it happened in consecutive games!!!
I LOVE THIS TEAM!
Wow,
the bats have woken up!!! Lil Fontenot even
Ka-boom! A-Ram!!
I......AM......IN.......AWE!!!!!
8 runs in 1/3rd of an inning?!?!?!??!!?!
ARAMIS!!!!!
3-run jack, 3 in the inning!!!!
Keep tacking on, keep scoring!!!
Let's Go Offense, LET'S GO!!!!
Ozzie's going to blow a gasket!!
NO FREAKING WAY!!!!!!!!!!!
Anyone know when the last time Fukedome hit into a DP. I love that guy and I love this team!!!!!
Jim EDMONDS!!!!
WOW!! Great inning...
A shutdown inning would be great right now from Marquis
This game is not over....remember everyone, Stay Classy!!
Marquis needs to get out of this.
Why was Fontenot taken out?
Tony....Fukudome has hit into 3 double plays this year. I am not sure of the exact date but I want to say the last time was during the Dodgers series in LA.
Jim....lefty vs. lefty. Logan is a southpaw.
Glad to see teh club bouce back from such a hard time in Tampa.....best stat heard: 9 runs total in Tampa..... 9 runs in the 4th inning today!
Thanks neil, on both of my posts today. I can't believe this game. Revenge for the Tampa series! My power went out in the 4th just after the fukedome bat when I had it on DVR, so I missed everything after..but it doesn't matter. GO CUBS!!!! Can't wait to see you on Aug 16 in Florida!!!
Tony...you are more tan welcome, anytime.
Hey guys, just got in and am very hapy to see the bats have awoke, I love doing this to the Sux.
Marmol is really struggling....3 walks and 5 straight balls.
Senor Nasty needs a radar-adjustment
Marmol has got the unhittable part down..
Unfortunately, he's so unhittable that opponent's have just stopped swinging completely...
NATION REPRESENT!
CUBS WIN! CUBS WIN!
Raise the white flag!
Okay....bullpen made that a little closer than necessary.
Great win and more milestones in the history of the Chicago Cubs....recap will be up shortly.
lets go for the sweep tomorrow!!
wow....haven't been able to watch the last two games, but caught the big inning today....that was incredible!!! Where was all this offense on the road. We have to correct our road record...but this is a great bounce back series, and hopefully we get it tomorrow too....still didn't like Marquis though, and Marmol is really starting to scare me....Can anyone find out what he was throwing? Was he throwing hard---like 94-95 with his fastball like he usually does? Just curious....I'm wondering if he might be injured or something. Is there anywhere you can see what he was throwing...I know gameday has the pitch by pitch velocity, but can you find it after games anywhere?
Aaron, you can still look at pitch by pitch stats on gameday after the game is over. Piniella said after the game, it is mechanical, not health and was very 'firm' when he told one of the beat writers so in his post game press conference.
His velocity looked fine. Bruce Levine mentioned on Saturday morning that the book on Marmol now is to wait him out and make sure he throws strikes before swinging. Marmol must change his patterns and make adjustments as the season goes on....and to this point, he is not.
HOLLYWOOD!
Great game.
Amazing Aramis!
Sneaky Fontenot! That was too fun!
HABS INSIDE/OUT site lists Chicago as the worst sports city around. Losing teams, disgusting fans, and a filthy city.