Game One Hundred Twenty: Cubs (72-47) vs. Braves (55-64)
Game Time - 6:10pm C.T.
Coverage - TV: Comcast SportsNet - Radio: 720 WGN, XM Radio Channel 188
Location - Turner Field, Atlanta
Rich Harden (6-2, 2.27/1.11, 1-1, 2.10/1.03) vs. Jorge Campillo (7-4, 2.83/1.06)
Game Two of the Day-Night Doubleheader
Final from game one - Cubs 10 - Braves 2
After winning game one 10-2 this afternoon in impressive fashion, tonight's game could get very interesting. The Braves took exception to Alfonso Soriano admiring a ball hit in the 8th inning of game one. Soriano thought it was a home run, it off the wall and was nothing but a long single. Soriano stepped to the plate in the 9th and received a message....Francisely Bueno threw the first pitch over Soriano's head and was ejected from the game. According to reports from the Sun-Times, Lou Piniella spoke with Soriano about what he did and he apologized for his actions and said it would not happen again....but Soriano is upset and said the Cubs have "pitchers that can do that to."
The Cubs have a big game tonight, a sweep of a doubleheader on the road is very difficult and Lou Piniella's crew must keep their eye on the prize....don't be surprised to see warnings issued before the game. Rich Harden will try to beat the Braves for the second time this season in Atlanta....
Rich Harden is coming off a no decision against the Astros and his worst start in a Cubs' uniform. Harden was lights out early but reportedly told Lou Piniella he was tired when he came to the mound to lift him in the 6th....and his performance showed. Harden served up more than just the one long ball that has become standard every time he takes the mound. The Astros hit two round trippers and plated 5 runs, 4 earned, on 6 hits in 5 2/3 innings with a walk and 8 strikeouts. Harden received two extra days of rest since his last start, which has proved to be a key to his success this season. However with the rainout on Tuesday, Harden's next scheduled start in Miami on Sunday should be skipped....don't be surprised to not see much of Sean Marshall for the next few days because he will likely get the nod on Sunday against the Marlins.
Despite giving up 5 runs in his last start, he was still in line to win the game. While the mainstream media is talking about CC Sabathia winning the NL Cy Young award this season, Harden has been just as good....his new team is 3-2 in his 5 starts since coming over in July from Oakland.
Harden has nasty stuff and has 47 strikeouts to just 9 walks in 30 innings (5 games) to prove it. Harden just needs to work on pitching a little deeper into games, he has completed 6 innings only twice in five outings.
Harden is 3-2 on the road this season (1-1 as a Cub) with a 2.66 ERA and a 1.08 WHIP.
Tonight will be Harden's second start of the season in Atlanta. He beat the Braves back on May 17th and held Chipper Jones and company to 1 run on 4 hits in 7 innings with a walk and 8 strikeouts....his only career appearance against the Braves.
- Gregor Blanco - 0-for-2 with a walk
- Yunel Escobar - 1-for-3
- Jeff Francoeur - 0-for-3 with 2 strikeouts
- Kelly Johnson - 0-for-3
- Chipper Jones - 0-for-3 with 2 strikeouts
- Casey Kotchman - 2-for-6
- Mark Kotsay - 1-for-3
- Brian McCann - 0-for-3 with 2 strikeouts
For the second time today the Cubs will face a pitcher they have no history against....and another rookie. Jorge Campillo will make his second career appearance against the Cubs, but the first was just 1/3 of an inning (one pitch) back on June 12th and Carlos Zambrano was the only batter he faced and retired.
Campillo has been very impressive since being added to the injury riddled Braves' rotation earlier this season. He has not recorded a loss since July 7th and is coming off a win in Arizona while the Braves have gone 4-2 in his last 6 starts. The Diamondbacks scored 5 runs on 8 hits in 6 1/3 innings but did not draw a single walk while striking out 5 times....but the start before was one of his best of the year.
Campillo threw 7 innings of shutout ball against the Brewers and allowed just 6 hits while striking out 6 and not issuing a walk....and that was two outings after shutting out the Marlins in 7 innings on just 2 hits in Miami.
Campillo throws a lot of strikes with good command, location and a fastball that ranges from the upper 80s to the lower 90s. Campillo is 4-2 in his last 8 starts with a 3.26 ERA and a 1.11 WHIP....he has not walked a batter in his last 2 starts (13 1/3 innings).
Patience should be a virtue early on to see what Campillo is throwing but his stats show he is better the second time through the lineup, than the first....but Campillo gives up most of his runs the third time through the order.
Let's Talk Cubs Baseball....
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Tonight's lineup:
Soriano - LF
Theriot - SS
Lee - 1B
Ramirez - 3B
Edmonds - CF
DeRosa - 2B
Fukudome - RF
Blanco - C
Harden - P
I'm down with this lineup.
Cool.
Light em up!
look at how far Fukudome has fallen..now hitting only .267
predictions on how he might perform down the stretch? in the playoffs, should the Cubs get there, is he a help, hinderance or just not a difference maker to matter that much?
Missed the first game out at work.......Great Job Cubbies....5 in a row on the road!!!
Just read the Shark might start Sunday......would LOVE that....
Nice slide by D-Lee.....Cubs up 2-0
Several CCO members have signed up, but I still need two players on the fantasy football team that drafts Sunday AM....
Draft day is next Sunday at 9:15AM PST/11:15 CST........if interested please sign up ASAP so we know the league is full before draft day....
Here is the link:
http://freemeeting.0.football.sportsline.com/splash/invite/4714/281596/44213b7d9cce3ba5df4910beab331510
The league password is dabears
If you have trouble with the link just go to cbssportsline.com sign up for a fantasy team and then search private leagues with the draft date as mentioned above. League Name is San Diego Ballers.
Hope to see ya there!
Fukudome!! Nice job!!
Hand Harden a 4-0 lead.......SWEET!!!!
Kosuke with a big single....maybe that will get him going.
According to Gameday, Campillo's fastball topped out in the 85-86 range that first inning. Not sure if he throws like that all the time, Gameday is off, or if Campillo is off. That would explain him getting rocked.
EDIT LAST POST: Meethinks the radar gun today is slow; Harden is putting up 89-90 fastballs so far. He throws harder than that.
Nice 4-spot for harden.
If harden doesn't start hitting we might need to bench him...LOL. (joking of course)
back to back to back walks after 2 outs? Come on Harden....
Good job of getting out of that jam....But he doesnt have a single strikeout so far? Amazing...
Soriano with a big 2-out double....
Harden is up again.
Not being negative as I appreciate Hardens effort so far tonight, but 4 walks and one K is very concerning. Although I do think that Atlanta is trying there best to get his pitch count up as they know he is being limited to around 100. Good think we have marshall, marmol, and woody ready to go tonight.
I was worried about Harden too....but I am sure Lou and Larry are on top of it....they dont seem concerned...so.....guess we shouldnt.
Hey Joe S.-
Are you going to the game tonight? If not make sure you have someone else put a hex on those Brewer bats.
5 walks! thank God we are playing the braves tonight.
Harden is really struggling. I would imagine this is his last inning.
What a bizarre play....
This is the ugliest 2 hit shutout i've seen in a long time. I'd almost give him one more inning to see if he can right the ship (referring to his control)
Oh no....it's Jeff Bennett.
Most useless pinch hitter...4-for-40..
Maybe Harden would've driven that run in?
Hank White has to get that run in with Harden hitting behind him.
Jeff...no not going.....I dont waste my money on this crappy team....and the Brew Crew has CC going tonight....don't hold your breath.....
When in the hell is Ward going to start earning his paycheck? Lets DFA this guy and get Hoffpaur up here.
Jeff how about signing up for fantasy football with some other CCO members? see post earlier tonight for link.....
Ward has always been a classy, professional player and I appreciate everything he's done for us but it's time to bring up Hoff. I assume we'll try to wait till September to do it, but unless something changes I don't see how we can justify putting Ward on the playoff roster. By the Joe S. I just joined the fantasy league. Looking forward to it.
is harden hurt?
Great Stat by Len..... Harden has given up zero or one run in 12 of 19 starts this year (5 of his 6 Cubs starts)..... Thats Impressive!
Right on Drew Draft Sunday 11:15 Chicago Time
One more player needed..............
I'm in Joe S. thanks for the invite!
The Braves channel just showed Harden talking to Mark Oneal and then Mark was just talking to Lou and, although im not a lip reader by any means, i am pretty sure Mark just said to Lou "He said he is ok." So I am guessing Lou asked Mark to talk to him to make sure he felt alright...just a guess though
Where was the poetic justice in which Soriano exacts vengeance on Bennett by taking him deep? A weak grounder to short? Come on man.
League is full....thnaks to those who signed up and thanks to all for putting up with my begging.....
Joe S.-
Is it an auto or manual draft?
7 walks? Really?
Jeff Live draft at 9:15 AM California time...not sure if you are in same time zone or not(it's 6:25 here now)
same time zone.
Harden needs to be on a STRICT 85-90 pitch count limit till the post-season... He will be a lights out Game 3 starter for us ... and we can make him go 120 in an NLDS in an important situation.... 7 game lead in the wild-card -- highly fragile guy... its the only smart move......
Z-Dempster-Harden my playoff rotation. and in a 7 game series --- Z - Harden - Dempster - Lilly - Z - Harden
Any word on if harden is hurt or not?
Jeff...I have not heard anything one way or the other.
Filling in for Jim in Tinley...
NATION REPRESENT!
CUBS WIN! CUBS WIN!
First time 26 games over since the end of the 1984 season....
Take that brew crew.
Great Day for Cub Nation...Lets keep it goin.
Also, i was thinking and i believe its Chip Caray (and he announced for us b4 - sorry if im wrong guys) still follows the Cubs as he seemed to know quite a bit about the team and the little things we do (such as the Z and Fonty thing), and i guess why not with his family history.
Nice finish by Marshall. I'm not sure what's going to happen with the o9 free agent pitchers, but if the Cubs can't sign Dempster, I would feel good about Marshall taking his spot.
A Sweep is sweet.
:-)
Folks, the Cubs have a chance to make history tomorrow. No NL team has ever swept the Braves franchise; Boston, Milwaukee or Atlanta for an entire season. I know that because I searched it when I followed the Braves from 1999 to 2003. I gave up on the Braves after 2003. Any team that plays at home and has a 50/50 fan split in many games is a down-right shame to their city. I've been a Cubs fan since 2004.
I also heard that the Shark may start Saturday down in Florida. I live in South Carolina and may try to make it to that game.
I'm telling you, the Cubs will excell in the playoffs. I know they have their share of hard times, but altogether, they are too talented to miss the World Series. I know some of you don't want to hear World Series talk, but Gary had me thinking when he said that if you don't prepare for the future, then how can you handle it. Go Cubs!
Thanks for the news Matt - hadn't heard about the posibility of a Shark start. THAT is a game I'm going to make sure to watch.
Lou said after the game last night that Marshall will get the start on Sunday
Not that Marshall doesn't deserve it... but I still would have loved to see the Shark out there :-) Marshall makes more sense. Plus Shark has been so great in his role why goof with it? Still though.......