Game One Hundred Twenty-One: Cubs (73-47) vs. Braves (55-65)
Game Time - 6:10pm C.T.
Coverage - TV: Comcast SportsNet - Radio: 720 WGN, XM Radio Channel 188
Location - Turner Field, Atlanta
Ted Lilly (11-6, 4.26/1.34) vs. Tom Glavine (2-3, 4.85/1.57)
Lou Piniella's crew will go for the series and season sweep against the Braves tonight behind Ted Lilly. The Cubs put together two impressive wins against Atlanta on Wednesday and picked up a rare doubleheader victory on the road. The Cubs offense will face Tom Glavine who will be making his first start since departing the mound at Wrigley after the 3rd inning on June 10th. Glavine has been on the DL ever since with a sore left elbow and is expected to be activated in order to make the start tonight.
The last time Lilly pitched in Atlanta was an extremely short start and Lilly must resist the urge to react the message the Braves sent to Alfonso Soriano in the 9th inning in game one on Wednesday. The rainout on Tuesday has already forced Lou Piniella to name Sean Marshall as his starter on Sunday in Miami, an abbreviated start for Lilly tonight could make the next four days even more difficult.
Ted Lilly is coming off a no decision in his last start against the Cardinals. Lilly allowed 2 runs on 7 hits in 7 1/3 innings last Friday at Wrigley and left in the 8th with the game tied at two. Henry Blanco drove in the winning run in the 11th and the Cubs have won Lilly's last four starts (Lilly is 2-0 in his last 4). In two August starts, Lilly is 1-0 with a 1.98 ERA and a 1.32 WHIP.
Lilly is 5-3 in 13 starts on the road this season with a 3.89 ERA and a 1.35 WHIP.
Lilly beat the Braves and Tom Glavine on June 10th at Wrigley and allowed 3 runs on 4 hits in 6 2/3 innings with 8 strikeouts and 3 walks....for his career against Atlanta, 2-2 in 6 starts with a 5.70 ERA and a 1.17 WHIP.
- Gregor Blanco - 0-for-3
- Yunel Escobar - 1-for-3
- Jeff Francoeur - 2-for-6
- Omar Infante - 2-for-5 with a triple
- Kelly Johnson - 1-for-4
- Chipper Jones - 1-for-6 with a double
- Brian McCann - 1-for-4
- Greg Norton - 1-for-4 with a home run
Tonight could be the last time Tom Glavine faces the Chicago Cubs. The future Hall of Famer has been on the DL since June 11th and many are speculating he will hang up his spikes after this season.
Glavine last pitched against the Cubs at Wrigley on June 10th and Piniella's offense must be patient with him tonight and make him work. Glavine has always pitched well against the Cubs in his career.
Glavine is 15-14 in 36 career starts versus Chicago with a 3.72 ERA and a 1.25 WHIP....the Cubs scored 4 runs on 6 hits with 4 walks in 3 innings on June 10th in a 10-5 win.
- Henry Blanco - 5-for-14 with a double
- Mark DeRosa - 2-for-14 with a home run
- Jim Edmonds - 4-for-21
- Kosuke Fukudome - 1-for-2
- Reed Johnson - 2-for-5 with a triple
- Derrek Lee - 17-for-57 with 6 doubles and 3 home runs
- Aramis Ramirez - 12-for-25 with 2 doubles and 3 home runs
- Alfonso Soriano - 9-for-21 with a double and a home run
- Geovany Soto - 1-for-2
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