Game Sixty-Nine: Cubs (26-42) vs. Indians (31-37)
Game Time – 6:05pm C.T. Comcast SportsNet, WGN Radio, XM Radio Channel 176
Location – Jacobs Field, Cleveland
Sean Marshall (3-5, 4.82) vs. Jason Johnson (3-7, 6.00)
Updated – 4:43pm C.T. – Barrett’s Suspension Upheld – Barrett Will Start Serving 10 Game Suspension Tonight in Cleveland
Can the Cubs end their skid tonight at the Jake? That is the question of the hour, day, month and year. After an impressive road trip that saw the Cubs win 6 out of 10, they laid a goose egg at Wrigley, which has become the “Unfriendly” Confines for the Cubs the last two seasons, and dropped all six games on the last home stand. The Cubs need to just play one game at a time and win a ball game, tonight Sean Marshall will attempt to lead his club past the Cleveland Indians and Jason Johnson. The Cubs get to use the DH tonight and for the next 6 games….maybe just maybe that extra bat will help put some runs on the board. Jason Johnson has not been consistent this year for the Indians and has given up 13 earned runs over his last 3 starts (17 2/3 innings), including 6 runs on 10 hits against the Yankees last Wednesday. After a stellar April, Johnson has won only once since April 18th and is 0-3 with a 6.62 ERA in his last 3 starts.
Sean Marshall has pitched well all season for an underachieving ball club. Marshall has had only 3 bad outings all season and could easily be 9-5 at this point of the season if his team would have given him any run support. In his 13 starts this season Marshall has allowed 2 earned runs or less 8 times and has been a huge bright spot on an otherwise horrible team this season.
The Cubs have to start playing better and while the Indians can hit the cover off the ball they have pitching problems of their own. With Kevin Millwood in Texas and Bobby Howry with the Cubs the Indians starting staff and bullpen has paid the price….can the Cubs cash in with a victory?
Let’s Talk Cubbies Baseball….
Update – According to several reports out of Chicago Michael Barrett’s pending suspension was not reduced and he will start serving the suspension tonight in Cleveland. The Cubs will not replace Barrett on the roster and for the next 10 games they will only carry 24 on the active roster. Phil Nevin, who caught the 9th inning on Sunday against the Tigers, will be the back-up catcher. Nevin should not be used as the DH in the American League parks.