Game Ninety-Three: Cubs (55-37) vs. Giants (39-53)
Game Time - 1:20pm C.T.
Coverage - TV: WGN - Radio: 720 WGN, XM Radio Channel 189
Location - Wrigley Field, Chicago
Jason Marquis (6-5, 4.78/1.48) vs. Matt Cain (5-7, 4.30/1.33)
Updated - 11:30am C.T. with Roster Moves - According to a report from the Sun Times, the Cubs have optioned Michael Wuertz to Triple-A Iowa and recalled Kevin Hart.
After splitting a 4-game series by the Bay last week, Lou Piniella's crew opens a 3-game series today against the San Francisco Giants and Matt Cain. The Cubs won the first series of the last homestand before the break and will look to bounce back today behind Jason Marquis. This afternoon will be a rematch of the game back on July 1st in which Matt Cain dominated the Cubs offense and Marquis lost one of his better outings of the season, 2-1.
The Cubs are still expected to make a roster move at some point this weekend. Speculation following the trade of Matt Murton was that Micah Hoffpauir would be recalled from Iowa and Sean Marshall would be sent down to make room....but the Cubs still have 13 pitchers on the active roster. A report in the Tribune indicated Jason Dubois could be added to the Cubs 40-man roster and possibly return to Wrigley for the first time since 2005 in a Cubs' uniform....stay tuned.
Jason Marquis has not pitched in 10 days and should be plenty rested. Marquis was a hard luck loser....in a game the Cubs typically win. The Giants scored 2 runs on 4 hits in 7 innings while Marquis walked 3 and struck out 5. With all of the questions surrounding the rotation, Marquis needs a good outing today. If Rich Harden can stay healthy and with the fact Lou Piniella wants another lefty in his rotation, Marquis could have a very short string this afternoon....and in the near future.
While Marquis is coming off a strong outing in San Francisco, his last two starts at Wrigley have been anything but adequate.
The Orioles shelled Marquis on June 26th. They scored 7 runs on 7 hits in 4 innings and the White Sox scored 5 runs on 8 hits in 7 innings. He is 1-1 with a 9.82 ERA and a 1.73 WHIP in his last two outings at the Friendly Confines.
Marquis is 3-3 in 8 home starts this season with a horrible 6.29 ERA and a 1.51 WHIP while teams are hitting .321 against him. Marquis must throw strikes and not give the Giants any help....
Marquis is 3-1 in 5 career starts, 6 games, versus the Giants with a 2.56 ERA and a 1.01 WHIP.
- Rich Aurilia - 6-for-17 with a triple and a home run
- Matt Cain - 1-for-3
- Jose Castillo - 1-for-16 with a double
- Fred Lewis - 2-for-4 with a double
- Bengie Molina - 0-for-6
- Aaron Rowand - 1-for-10
- Randy Winn - 7-for-16 with a double and 2 home runs
The Cubs offense will try to put the bat on the ball today against Matt Cain. Simply put....Matt Cain dominated the Cubs lineup the last time he faced them. Cain struck out 10 in 8 innings with 3 walks and only 2 hits. The Cubs did not manage a single run.
Cain has dominated the Cubs in the past at home, but he has struggled a little at Wrigley Field. The Cubs are 4-2 in 6 career games against Cain and have scored 17 runs, 15 earned, on 27 hits in 41 innings with 14 walks and 34 strikeouts (3.29 ERA and a 1.00 WHIP). But at Wrigley, Cain is 1-1 in 2 starts with a 4.63 ERA and a 1.29 WHIP....10 strikeouts and 7 walks in 11 2/3 innings.
The Cubs must make him work today and not let their ego try to prove a point.
The Dodgers beat Cain in his last outing 5-3. They managed 5 runs on 8 hits in 6 innings.
- Ronny Cedeno - 2-for-8
- Mark DeRosa - 1-for-7
- Jim Edmonds - 1-for-8
- Mike Fontenot - 2-for-6 with a double
- Kosuke Fukudome - 0-for-4
- Derrek Lee - 3-for-12 with a home run
- Jason Marquis - 0-for-2
- Aramis Ramirez - 3-for-9 with a double
- Ryan Theriot - 2-for-7 with a double
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Will update shorly... Michael Wuertz has been sent to Triple A. Kevin Hart recalled.
On top of the Wuertz GREAT news the I-Cubs won again yesterday and Hoffpauir had a HUGE day! He was a triple short of the cycle going 3-5 including his 10th homer, with 4 rbi's and 3 runs scored.....and he's not in Chicago why??? He's now hitting .346.
Dubois was at it again hitting his team leading 17th homer and is batting .336. Pie went 2-5 with a triple and a run scored and raised his average to .251.
Randy Wells picked up his 7th win and the I-Cubbies are now 20 games over .500!
Cory, thanks for the updates, keep 'em coming! Great to see Pie raise that average. Hopefully HoffPOWER will be back sooner rather than later.
I am so glad they finally sent wuertz down!!! I'm not a fan of marquis at all but he is actually pitching a good game today so far.
Marquis needed to pitch like he wanted that 5th spot and so far it looks like he wants it bad. Instilling some fear of job loss in him was a good thing.
Great job by Marquis so far! I hope the bullpen doesnt surrender any runs after Marquis' spectacular outing.
Lead off double and nothing...I'm just following the game online so was DeRosa trying to bunt at all? In a 0-0 game I think bunting the go ahead run to 3rd with 1 out would be common sense.
Drew...Derosa was NOT trying to bunt at all. Santo thought he should have been but I guess Lou knew something about Derosa's bunting ability that we don't. I guess it didnt matter with Cain striking out the next guy and inducing a pop up.
Best intentional walk in years!
ARAM!!!! Way to go to make 'em pay for that intentional walk!
I just got the e-mail from MLB.com for the free trial of the MLB.tv for voting for the final All-Star player. I was really excited because I don't have comcast sports net and thought I'd be able to watch the rest of the game. But....wth?? Blackout restrictions?!! Damn....
Come on Woody...one more out to go!
1 more out woody
CUBS WIN!
CUBS WIN!
Why does Woody have to do that to us??!! Nice win! Way to go Aram! Man I need a cold one.
WAY TO CUBS! GOOD JOB ARAMIS! GOOD JOB KERRY! I WAS CONCERNED A LITTLE THERE IN THE 9TH!
TOMORROW IS THE THE KEY GAME IN THE SERIES WITH RICH HARDEN PITCHING!
NICE TO SEE JASON PITCH GOOD! GO CUBS!
Does anybody know if the game tomorrow is going to be on Fox nationwide or just in the Chicago area? I'm on vacation on the east coast and trying to figure out if I'll be able to see the game.
NATION REPRESENT!
CUBS WIN! CUBS WIN!
Good win...traveling today. Will have recap up later.
Jody, to answer your question. The game was moved up to 12:05pm and will be Comcast SportsNet
Just finished the game.
Great game by Marquis. Mad props.
Its funny. I was thinking to myself, "why walk Lee to get to Ramirez, honestly."
And then Ramirez proves why I thought that with the 3 run blast just fair.
Man, that was fun.
Go Cubs!