Game One Hundred Twenty-Nine: Cubs (78-50) vs. Nationals (46-83)
Game Time - 12:05pm C.T.
Coverage - TV: Comcast SportsNet - Radio: 720 WGN, XM Radio Channel 184
Location - Wrigley Field, Chicago
Ryan Dempster (14-5, 2.92/1.16) vs. Odalis Perez (5-9, 4.06/1.45)
It is a new day and the Cubs must bounce back from the embarrassment that was Friday afternoon at Clark and Addison. The Cubs appeared to let the foot off the pedal after the 5th inning and ended up allowing a season-high 13 runs to one of the worst teams in all of baseball. While the Cubs might not have taken the Nationals 'lightly' or for 'granted', the end result was a loss at home while the Brewers and Cardinals both took care of their business the way the should at home....in impressive fashion. The Cubs lost a game to both of the teams that are chasing them in the standings.
The Washington Nationals have a winning record against the Chicago Cubs this season, 1-3, and in order to break even on the season with the Nats, they must post a win today behind Ryan Dempster.
Alfonso Soriano, Derrek Lee, Aramis Ramirez and Kosuke Fukudome have not played well this week and while Fukudome might get another day off against the southpaw Odalis Perez, the other big bats must start carrying their weight. Soriano, Lee and Ramirez have not contributed much since the start of the homestand and this is the time of the season that the big boys must show up and do their job.
Today is a rematch of the series opener in D.C. back on April 25th and the Cubs offense must return to the formula that has led to so many wins this season. The Cubs are not taking as many pitches in this homestand as they have throughout the year. The current slump is very similar to the one they started the second half with and what got them out of it was....taking pitches. If the Cubs can make Perez work, they will pick up an important win and most importantly score a few runs after the 5th inning.
Ryan Dempster has been the most consistent Cubs' pitcher of the second half and his team needs more of the same today. Dempster has not allowed more than 2 earned runs in a single start since he gave up 4 in 6 2/3 innings to the Giants in the last game of the first half. Dempster is coming off a very good start against the Marlins last Sunday and for the third start in a row, Dempster is taking the hill in an important game for his team.
Dempster beat the Cardinals two starts ago to give his team a series win and followed with a similar outing against the Marlins in his last start.
Dempster is 4-1 in 6 starts since the break with a 1.86 ERA and a 1.11 WHIP while opponents have hit .204 against him. This month, Dempster is 2-1 in 3 starts with a 3.06 ERA and a 1.25 WHIP.
The Cubs' former closer received a no decision against the Nationals in April. Dempster pitched good enough to win his fifth start of the year (3 runs, 2 earned, on 4 hits in 7 innings with 3 walks and 5 strikeouts), especially after Reed Johnson's catch, but Bobby Howry served up a 2-run shot to Wil Nieves in the 9th that cost the Cubs the opener.
Dempster is 6-0 in 19 career games, 11 starts, versus the Nationals franchise with 2 saves, a complete game shutout and a 3.33 ERA and a 1.18 WHIP.
- Ronnie Belliard - 4-for-18 with a double and 5 walks
- Aaron Boone - 3-for-11 with a triple
- Christian Guzman - 2-for-5 with 2 doubles
- Willie Harris - 1-for-1
- Austin Kearns - 2-for-12 with a double
- Lastings Milledge - 2-for-2
- Wil Nieves - 0-for-6
- Ryan Zimmerman - 2-for-6
The Cubs will get their second look of the season at Odalis Perez. Perez held the Cubs to just 2 runs on 5 hits in 6 innings back on April 25th but received a no decision in the series opener....against Ryan Dempster.
Perez is coming off a loss to the Rockies but he gave up only 3 runs, 2 earned, on 4 hits in 6 innings. Perez is 2-1 in his last 4 starts with a 2.84 ERA and a 1.18 ERA....but is 4-4 this season in 11 road starts with a 5.67 ERA and a 1.71 WHIP.
Perez is 3-1 in 5 career starts against the Cubs with a 3.44 ERA and a 1.03 WHIP.
- Henry Blanco - 1-for-4
- Mark DeRosa - 2-for-7 with a double
- Jim Edmonds - 1-for-10 with a double
- Kosuke Fukudome - 1-for-3 with a double
- Reed Johnson - 6-for-10 with a double
- Derrek Lee - 3-for-10 with 2 doubles
- Aramis Ramirez - 5-for-11 with 2 home runs
- Alfonso Soriano - 1-for-3
- Geovany Soto - 0-for-3
- Ryan Theriot - 1-for-2 with a double
Let's Talk Cubs Baseball....
Kosuke is hitting 8th today....will post full lineup when available.
Today's lineup:
Soriano - LF
Theriot - SS
Lee - 1B
Ramirez - 3B
Johnson - CF
DeRosa - 2B
Soto - C
Fukudome - RF
Dempster - P
Carlos Zambrano told Bruce Levine that the lineup was incorrect that he is in right field today.
LET'S GO OFFENSE, LET'S GO (clap, clap, clap, clap, clap)!!!!!!
Hi Neil.
Hey Jim...
how many more are we gonna leave on base..
That's 8 in the first 3 innings, 5 RISP.
They changed their approach at the plate once the bases were loaded. Soto swung at the 1st pitch and after taking ball 1, Fukudome swung at the next 3. Make the pitchers work!
Good single by Lee...RBI
ARAMIS!!!! #21, 3-run homer.
KEEP TACKING ON!!!!!!
Thank you A-Ram for putting an end to this LOB madness! Finally the Nats pay for clogging the bases with runners. I though Perez was going to pitch a 12-hit shutout
Ryan Dempster has to be right behind Brandon Webb for Cy Young consideration -- what do you reckon Neil?
3 of the top 10 Picthers by wins in the NL are on the Cubs.... the pitching staff has been really solid.... harkens back to 03 almost
Hey Fella's.
Baron, I agree, Dempster has to be right there.
First....hey Baron and Nick!
On the Cy Young. I think Webb will win and CC will get more votes than Dempster. I think he has done a great job and was surprised to hear Zambrano tell Bruce Levine this morning that he thinks Dempster and DeRosa have been the team's MVPs.
The other pitcher in the NL is Tim Lincecum.
I must say how surprised, like everyone else, as to how Dempster has pitched this season.
Big hustle double for Soriano. Must keep tacking on, this is where they have gone away from the game plan as of late.
When Dempster came into spring training in great shape, I thought he would have a great year. This is not what I was thinking by great year. I can't even begin to describe how he's exceded my expectations.
It just goes to show you that talent can only take you so far, and how important fitness is. If you need an example, look up what Andruw Jones has been (or hasn't been) doing this year.
DERO!!! He is in a Zone right now!
DERO!!! 3rd game in a row, #17!
Ramirez!!!! He is havin a hell of a day!
ARAMIS!!! Second 3-run homer of game, #22 and 90 RBIs.
NATION REPRESENT!
CUBS WIN! CUBS WIN!
Great game by Dempster and Ramirez, lets take another series tomorrow.
Way to rebound Cubs!!! DLee's back spasms may lead to revealing why he has had mediocre year (for him). And they may lead to some playing time for Micah Hoffpauir. I wouldn't be surprised if Micah stepped up with a big bat and an excellent glove.
JimK, I agree about Lee and Hoffpauir. And if DLee needs time to nurse his back, now is a great time to do it. Give him a few days off (or more), and I imagine he'll come back healthy, and more importantly hungry. And if that's the case, I sure wouldn't want to pitch to him in September and October. But saying that, I wouldn't want to pitch around him to get to Rami. Man, this lineup is solid.
Great win today. Keep this thing rolling now...