Game Ninety-One: Cubs (54-36) vs. Reds (43-48)
Game Time - 7:05pm C.T.
Coverage - TV: Comcast SportsNet - Radio: 720 WGN, XM Radio Channel 189
Location - Wrigley Field, Chicago
Carlos Zambrano (9-3, 2.96/1.31) vs. Johnny Cueto (7-8, 4.63/1.34)
Lou Piniella's crew will try to win their third in a row behind Carlos Zambrano tonight. Johnny Cueto will make his Wrigley Field debut and the Cubs offense receives a second chance to beat one of the best young arms in the National League. Rich Harden and Chad Gaudin are expected to be in uniform tonight. Harden will wear familiar number 40.
In other news lost in Tuesday's trade.... The Cubs signed their first round draft pick on Tuesday, Andrew Cashner and he is scheduled to be at Wrigley Field on Wednesday. Cashner received a signing bonus worth $1.54 million dollars and $75,000 dollars for school. Cashner also received an invitation to Spring Training next year.
The Cubs' ace will make his second start since returning from the DL last Friday against the Cardinals. Carlos Zambrano tossed a gem in St. Louis and proved why he is so valuable to his team. The Cardinals managed 4 hits against Zambrano in 6 innings and he struck out 5 and walked 2 on only 87 pitches. Zambrano kept himself and his pitches under control and put together one of his better outings of the season.
Zambrano hopefully realizes he is the man with the Cubs and does not let the acquisition of Rich Harden affect his performance.
Big Z is 4-0 in 9 starts at Wrigley this season with a 2.40 ERA and a 1.25 WHIP and will face the Reds for the third time this year....2-0 in his previous two outings against Dusty Baker's team with a 1.20 ERA and a 1.00 WHIP. In his last outing against Cincinnati, 8 shutout innings of 3-hit ball with 3 walks and 3 strikeouts.
Tonight will be Zambrano's 26th career start versus the Reds, 30th game. He is 12-9 with a complete game in his first 29 outings with a 3.19 ERA and a 1.31 WHIP.
- Adam Dunn - 12-for-53 with a double, 6 home runs and 15 walks
- Edwin Encarnacion - 10-for-34 with 2 home runs
- Ken Griffey, Jr. - 14-for-37 with 5 doubles and 2 home runs
- Jeff Keppinger - 5-for-18 with a double
- Brandon Phillips - 8-for-30 with 3 doubles and a home run
- Joey Votto - 4-for-11 with 2 doubles
The Cubs will get their second look tonight at Johnny Cueto. The young right-hander beat the Cubs back on May 5th in the Queen City, 5-3. Cueto allowed 3 runs on 6 hits in 6 innings, walked 2 and struck out 8. Cueto and the Reds beat Ryan Dempster on the night the Cubs' defense made two costly errors that accounted for 5 unearned runs off Dempster.
Cueto has pitched better of late after struggling through most of the first part of the season. While his record was only 3-3 in 6 starts last month, he posted a 3.47 ERA and a 1.35 WHIP....by far the best month of his big league career.
Cueto allowed 3 runs on 7 hits in 7 innings with 8 strikeouts and a walk in a 5-3 win against the Nationals....and the start before, Cueto threw 6 1/3 innings of shutout ball against the Indians and surrendered just 5 hits.
On the road this season Cueto is 2-5 in 8 starts with a 5.49 ERA and a 1.56 WHIP while opponents have hit .307 against him.
- Derrek Lee - 1-for-3
- Geovany Soto - 2-for-2 with a home run
- Ryan Theriot - 2-for-3 with a double
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