Game One Hundred-Nineteen: Cubs (61-57) vs. Dodgers (71-50)
Game Time - 9:10pm C.T.
Coverage - TV: WGN TV - Radio: 720 WGN, XM Radio Channel 188
Location - Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles
Tom Gorzelanny (5-2, 5.24/1.16) vs. Jeff Weaver (5-4, 3.71/1.44)
According to Jim Hendry, "There has to be a sense of urgency" for the Chicago Cubs. They enter play tonight six games back of the St. Louis Cardinals in the Central Division. While Alfonso Soriano's comments led most to think he was conceding the division to the Cardinals and will shoot for the Wild Card instead, either road to the post season will be very difficult for Lou Piniella's crew at this point.
The Cubs will have to play consistent ball for the remainder of the year, something they have not done this season, if they want to reach their goal of the post season ... as well as receive a lot of help. Rich Harden made a good first step on Wednesday night but the Cubs will face a far superior team for the next four games to the one that took two of three from them in San Diego.
For as good as the Dodgers have been this season, their starting pitching has struggled of late. They signed Vicente Padilla to a minor league deal on Wednesday, the same day they put Hiroki Kuroda on the DL. Kuroda was supposed to start tonight's game but was hit in the head last Saturday on a comebacker to the mound. Wednesday he's was placed on the DL with post-concussion syndrome. The Dodgers were considering bringing up Scott Elbert for tonight's start but decided to go with Jeff Weaver.
The Cubs and Dodgers split the four-game series in Wrigley back at the end of May. The Dodgers were without Manny Ramirez at the time, he was serving a suspension for testing positive for performance enhancing drugs.
In other news ... Carlos Zambrano will pitch for the Peoria Chiefs tonight in a rehab start. Zambrano will re-join the Cubs on Tuesday, if all goes as planned. Big Z will pitch the opener of the three-game series against the Washington Nationals ... at Wrigley Field.
A quick show reminder...The CCO Radio will air live tonight at 7:00pm C.T. before the Cubs-Dodgers game on Blog Talk Radio. To listen to the 60-minute call-in show live, click on this link and go to Blog Talk Radio. The podcast of the show will be available around 9:00pm C.T. and can be accessed through the player on the right side of the CCO or through Blog Talk Radio.
A variety of topics will be covered and the call-in number to discuss the Cubs with the CCO live is 347-237-4020.
Tonight it all begins with Tom Gorzelanny as the Cubs try to beat one of the best in the Senior Circuit ... and keep pace in the Central Division.
Tom Gorzelanny will make his fourth start as a Chicago Cub tonight. In his first three, Gorzelanny has been very good, awful and adequate. Lou Piniella needs somewhere between very good and adequate from Gorzelanny tonight.
Gorzelanny beat his former team in his last outing. He allowed one run on three hits in five innings to the Pirates with three walks and a season-high eight strikeouts. As a Cub, Gorzelanny is 2-1 with a 5.27 ERA and a 1.17 WHIP.
Tonight will be Gorzelanny's third career start against the Dodgers. He is 1-0 in three career appearances, two starts, with a 5.93 ERA and a 1.39 WHIP ... at Dodger Stadium, 1-0 in two games, one start, with a 7.71 ERA and a 1.43 WHIP.
This will be Tom Gorzelanny's first game against the Dodgers this season. He last faced the Dodgers on June 3, 2007. Gorzelanny received a no decision in a 5-4 Pirates loss. Gorzelanny allowed three runs on seven hits in 6 2/3 innings.
- Brad Ausmus - 4-for-8 with 2 doubles and 2 walks
- Andre Either - 1-for-3 with a double
- Rafael Furcal - 3-for-6
- Orlando Hudson - 1-for-8 with 2 walks
- Mark Loretta - 3-for-5 with a double
- Russell Martin - 2-for-5 with a walk
- Juan Pierre - 1-for-10
Jeff Weaver has been the long-man out of Joe Torre's bullpen for the most part this season. Tonight will be his seventh start of the year ... and his second in a row. Weaver pitched the first three innings of the game on August 12 in San Francisco. The Giants managed only two hits and no runs against Weaver with two walks and three strikeouts.
Weaver is 2-0 in 11 games, three starts, at Dodger Stadium this season with a 3.11 ERA and a 1.19 WHIP ... and has not allowed an earned run in this last two games (six innings total against the Braves and Giants).
The Cubs have never beaten Jeff Weaver. He is 2-0 in eight career appearances, five starts, with a 4.82 ERA and a 1.55 WHIP.
- Milton Bradley - 4-for-13 with a double and a triple
- Mike Fontenot - 1-for-3 with a triple and a walk
- Koyie Hill - 2-for-5 with a double and a walk
- Derrek Lee - 1-for-11 with a double
- Aaron Miles - 6-for-15 with 2 doubles
- Aramis Ramirez - 2-for-14 with 2 walks
- Alfonso Soriano - 4-for-7 with a double and a triple
- Geovany Soto - no official at bat, 2 walks
- Ryan Theriot - no official at bat, one walk
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