Game One Hundred Fifty: Cubs (91-58) vs. Brewers (83-68)
Game Time - 7:05pm C.T.
Coverage - TV: ESPN/WCIU - Radio: 720 WGN, XM Radio Channel 188
Location - Wrigley Field, Chicago
Jason Marquis (10-8, 4.36/1.40) vs. Ben Sheets (13-8, 2.97/1.13)
After handing CC Sabathia his first loss in a Brewers' uniform on Tuesday night, the Cubs will get to face Milwaukee's other ace tonight....Ben Sheets. Sheets has been inconsistent of late but when his is on, Sheets is without a doubt one of the best in the league. It will be up to Jason Marquis to keep the Brewers off the board while the offense tries to duplicate their performance from the last time they faced Sheets in Milwaukee.
Tonight is a rematch from a 10-7 Cubs' loss on April 29th at Wrigley Field.
Ryan Dempster put the remaining 13 games into the proper perspective:
"We just figure if we keep winning ballgames, good things will come for us. Don't get caught up in the standings or numbers or anything like that. Just come to the ballpark and try to win every day. This is big."
In other news....Len Kasper reported during Tuesday night's game that Chad Gaudin has begun throwing in Arizona and could return to the team by the end of the week.
The last time Jason Marquis took the mound he ended the Cubs 6-game losing streak. Marquis pitched a gem in Cincinnati and even hit a home run....while Alfonso Soriano went deep three times. Marquis held the Reds to 2 runs on 5 hits in 7 1/3 innings back on September 6th, his longest outing of the season.
Marquis has put together a solid second half of the season and is 4-3 in 9 starts with a 4.23 ERA and a 1.34 WHIP and he was 3-1 in 5 starts in August with a 3.90 ERA and a 1.23 WHIP. Marquis has not pitched well at all this season at Wrigley (4-5 in 14 starts with a 5.56 ERA and a 1.47 WHIP) and will try to pick up his first win at home today since August 6th.
Tonight will be Marquis' second start of the season against the Brewers. He was hammered back on April 29th (10-7 final score). He allowed 5 runs on 10 hits in 5 innings with a walk and 2 strikeouts. For his career, Marquis is 5-7 in 16 appearances, 14 starts, versus Milwaukee with a 4.27 ERA and a 1.40 WHIP.
- Ryan Braun - 4-for-9 with a double
- Mike Cameron - 4-for-14 with 2 doubles
- Craig Counsell - 8-for-25 with 2 doubles, a triple and a home run
- Ray Durham - 1-for-11
- Prince Fielder - 2-for-13 with a double and a home run
- Bill Hall - 7-for-17 with a double and a home run
- J.J. Hardy - 6-for-18 with a double and 2 walks
- Corey Hart - 6-for-11 with a double, a triple and a home run
- Jason Kendall - 6-for-20 with a double
- Mike Lamb - 3-for-18 with 2 home runs
- Rickie Weeks - 2-for-10 with a triple
The Cubs will get their fourth look of the year at Ben Sheets. Of late it has been a lot or nothing against Sheets. In his last 7 starts dating back to August 9th he has allowed the following:
- 0 runs in 9 innings
- 3 runs in 6 2/3 innings
- 5 runs in 6 innings
- 0 runs in 6 innings
- 0 runs in 5 innings
- 0 runs in 9 innings
- 5 runs in 6 innings
Sheets was 2-3 in 5 starts in August with a 2.67 ERA and a 1.01 WHIP and is 1-1 in his last 3 starts with a 2.25 ERA and a 1.05 WHIP. After posting a very consistent first half in which he earned the starting nod for the NL in the All-Star game, Sheets is 3-5 in 11 second half starts with a 3.17 ERA and a 1.17 WHIP.
The Brewers' ace is 1-1 in 3 starts against the Cubs this season with a 4.86 ERA and a 1.56 WHIP. Sheets received a no decision on Opening Day, picked up a win in 5 innings against Marquis on April 29th and gave up 6 runs on 11 hits in 5 1/3 innings back on July 29th.
On the road this season, Sheets is 7-4 in 17 starts with 2 complete games, a 3.00 ERA and a 1.17 WHIP.
- Mark DeRosa - 7-for-23 with 2 doubles and a triple
- Jim Edmonds - 11-for-54 with 3 doubles and 3 home runs
- Mike Fontenot - 2-for-6 with a triple
- Kosuke Fukudome - 3-for-8 with a double and a triple
- Reed Johnson - 1-for-5
- Derrek Lee - 17-for-52 with 2 doubles and 6 home runs
- Aramis Ramirez - 12-for-55 with 4 doubles, a triple and a home run
- Alfonso Soriano - 4-for-14 with a double
- Geovany Soto - 3-for-6
- Ryan Theriot - 3-for-16
Let's Talk Cubs Baseball....
Tonight's lineup:
Soriano - LF
Fontenot - 2B
Lee - 1B
Ramirez - 3B
Edmonds - CF
DeRosa - RF
Soto - C
Theriot - SS
Marquis - P
Cameron was out...close, but out.
Marquis is just aiming v. throwing. Hopefully this won't be a long night for the pen.
No trip from Larry yet?
Boy, am I glad we only use 3 pitchers in the postseason and one of those guys isnt gonna be Marquis.
Gotta throw strikes....2 walks. Marquis just gave them a ton of confidence.
So your starting pitcher gives up 3 runs in the 1st and gives momentum to the opponent...and your leadoff hitter sees only one pitch?....not smart by Soriano..make Sheets work!
Fukudome has been benched for almost a whole week now....
Neil, you think he will only be brought in as a defensive replacement in the playoffs??
Baron...yes.
Neil, so basically Fukudome has become a $48 million defensive replacement?...ouch...that smarts in the wallet...
Yes! Aramis is getting hot at the right time!
Man that ball got out quick. ARAMIS!!! #25, first since August 28th.
Rob, I understand you do not like Fukudome. I will wait until after his second year to pass judgement. Without him early in the year the Cubs are not in the position they are.
I was thinking Mo and the odds had to be with the Brewers tonight. Marquis isn't sharp early, but Aram gets us back in the game. So keep it up Blue!!
Pat and Ron just said that DeFilice is warming up in the Milwaukee pen? Anything said on tv?
Someone is warming in the Brewers' pen.
What a catch by Fontenot!
Jim, they are speculating Sheets is hurt. Nothing yet.
Sheets is out...in what was described as the biggest start of his career.
Neil, here's an idea for Fukudome in the off season. After he relaxes, spends time with his family, etc. The Cubs try to have Fukudome spend some time with Ichiro to talk about adjustment to MLB/US issues and perhaps also to work on some swing mechanics.
Thoughts?
Rob, considering Ichiro's relationship with Piniella, I think that is the best idea I have read or heard.... Hat tip to you.
Right forearm tightness for Sheets.
Watching the game on Comcast Extra Innings - Brewers Broadcast - they showed commercials instead of the Cubs batting in the bottom of the 3rd!!! What the F?!!!
I can't get any video for this game so you folks are my eyes. How does DeFilice look so far? Hittable? Wild? Sharp? He seems to be getting Cubs out.
In the pregame show, Billy Williams named Aramis as his pick for MVP. I can see why.
Our hitters aren't getting good swings, and DeFelice throws a lot of pitches 84-85. It must be deceptive stuff. Good to see Edmonds regroup and go up the middle for a hit.
I missed the first three batters he faced, but he made Lee look silly on a 3-1 pitch way low and way outside. He's hitting the corners and the Cubs are watching.
Cubby Dude....DiFelice is throwing pretty good. Lee chased ball 4.
On another note...Gregg just left the 30,000th comment on the CCO. I would like to thank all of you that come here on a daily basis and has made this site what it is. You guys fuel the site.
wow that was an ugly stat ESPN showed when the Cubs were batting.
The Cubs are dead last in the majors when it comes to taking advantage of runners in scoring position with 2 outs.
LET'S GO OFFENSE, LET'S GO (clap, clap, clap, clap, clap)!!!!!
Hey Hey!! That means I posted the 29,997th & 29,998th comments on the CCO. I've finally accomplished something with my life. Congratulations to the CCO on reaching that milestone. And thanks for letting me join you here.
Hey fellas,
Time to get at that brewer bullpen!
Wow Soriano and Lee swinging at everything. Lets go Cubbies, we need a strong inning by Marquis right now.
You do a pretty good job yourself Neil!!!LOL!
I'd like a Cubs win as my prize. And 11 of them in October too.
Two hits in 5 innings won't work for the Blue. Marquis is shakey. Can't let them score Kendall from third. Here comes Lou. Let's go Guzman.
The game looked to be "Slip Sliding Away" but Lou's Angel got two outs. Down just 2. Time for a crooked number.
Time for the offense to wake up...only 2 hits in the first 5 innings.
Come on OFFENSE!!
Joe West and his 'strike zone' is all over the place. He needs to retire....good career but it's time.
Maybe our guys are saving the crooked number for Gagne. Guzman could really help himself tonight. Let's hope he does.
Okay Lou, time to get someone up.
3 straight hits....
So Angel didn't help himself tonight, and we're down 5. This looks a lot like one of those, "Can't win 'em all games". Maybe Hart elevates his stock tonight. Guys are getting chances to make an impression.
I don't think we will be clinching this series. Still a few more innings to go, but just not looking good right now.
where's tonites game on the tube
Nice throw Sori!! Maybe that will wake up the offense a little bit.
Sheets stands to get the win with only 2 innings pitched.
I could be wrong, Dude, but I think a starter has to go 5 to win.
Man, that was too quick of an inning by gagme.
Marquis really set the tone tonight. Took the air right out with the back-to-back walks in the 1st inning.
The Cubs had been winning with good pitching, and can continue to do so on that alone. Still, they have only scored more than 6 runs once in their last 18 games. I would like to see the offense kick it up a notch like the pitching has (except for tonight), and have the team firing on all cylinders heading into the postseason.
Marshall added some stature to our pen tonight. We should see him in the post season. Probably not on Guzman and Hart.
JimK. You're probably right. And I'm glad to hear it.
I'm emotionally ....full. But let's swing the bats tomorrow and score a half dozen.
Let's put this one behind us and move forward. Rich Harden gets it done tomorrow.