Game One Hundred Thirty-Three: Cubs (67-65) vs. Mets (60-74)
Game Time - 6:10pm C.T.
Coverage - TV: Comcast SportsNet - Radio: 720 WGN, XM Radio Channel 185
Location - CitiField, Flushing, New York
Carlos Zambrano (7-6, 3.91/1.43) vs. Bobby Parnell (3-7, 5.81/1.68)
The Chicago Cubs begin a two-city, six-game road trip tonight with the first of three at brand new Citi Field. After saying he would never return to old Shea Stadium a few years ago, Ron Santo will be in the booth tonight along side his partner Pat Hughes. The Cubs have only two more road trips this season ... and two homestands remaining on their schedule.
The Cubs took two of three from the Metropolitans last weekend at Wrigley. But the Mets will have their third baseman back for this series. David Wright was activated from the DL earlier this week.
The Cubs might be without Derrek Lee once again. Lee was absent from the lineup on Thursday against to the Sox due to his wife giving birth of the couple's second child. According to reports Lee will rejoin his teammates at some point in New York this weekend.
Tonight is all begins with Carlos Zambrano and just playing baseball.
The Cubs' number one pitcher has been horrible since his return from the DL. Thankfully today begins a new month for Carlos Zambrano. Zambrano's annual August struggles continued last month. When not on the disabled list, Zambrano was 0-2 in three starts with a 10.13 ERA and a 2.53 WHIP ... teams hit an unbelievable .429 against Zambrano in 10 2/3 innings.
Zambrano has taken a lot of heat of late for not performing when his team needed him over the last month.
The Cubs still feel they are in the hunt for the NL Wild Card. While they are mathematically alive their chances are very slim at best. Regardless if their season will end or not on October 4, Carlos Zambrano needs to finish his season on a strong, positive note.
The Mets pounded Carlos Zambrano last Sunday to the tune of four runs, three earned, on 11 hits in 3 1/3 innings. Zambrano was not fooling the Mets or missing any bats ... all 11 hits came after a 1-2-3 first inning.
Big Z has pitched much better away from Wrigley. He is 5-2 in 11 road starts with a 3.17 ERA and a 1.41 WHIP (2-4 in 11 home starts with a 4.64 ERA and a 1.45 WHIP).
Zambrano is 4-2 in nine career games, eight starts, versus the Mets with a 4.00 ERA and a 1.47 WHIP.
- Luis Castillo - 8-for-15 with 7 walks
- Jeff Francoeur - 5-for-19 with a double, 2 home runs and a walk
- Anderson Hernandez - 1-for-2 with a triple
- Daniel Murphy - 1-for-4 with a walk
- Angel Pagan - 2-for-3
- Jeremy Reed - 1-for-2
- Brian Schneider - 5-for-17 with 2 doubles and 2 walks
- Gary Sheffield - 3-for-8 with a double and 5 walks
- Cory Sullivan - 2-for-3
- Fernando Tatis - 2-for-5
- David Wright - 3-for-15 with 4 walks
The Cubs will get their second look in the last week at Bobby Parnell. Parnell was very impressive early in the game against the Cubs. Lou Piniella's offense managed only three runs in the first three innings, then exploded for six in the fifth ... with the big hit, a grand slam off the bat of Jake Fox. Parnell allowed eight runs on nine hits with two walks and two strikeouts in 4 2/3 innings.
The Cubs must follow the same game plan and make Parnell work tonight.
Bobby Parnell is 2-5 in three home starts, 32 games, this season with a 5.80 ERA and a 1.56 WHIP.
Tonight will be Parnell's fourth career appearance against the Cubs ... 0-1 with a 10.57 ERA and a 1.83 WHIP.
- Milton Bradley - 3-for-3 with a double
- Mike Fontenot - 1-for-2
- Jake Fox - 1-for-3 with a home run
- Kosuke Fukudome - 1-for-3 with a walk
- Koyie Hill - 0-for-2
- Derrek Lee - 0-for-5
- Aramis Ramirez - 2-for-4 with a double and a walk
- Alfonso Soriano - 0-for-1
- Ryan Theriot - 2-for-4
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