Game Eighty-Five: Cubs (31-53) vs. Brewers (42-43)
Game Time – 7:05pm C.T. WCIU, WGN Radio, XM Radio Channel 183
Location – Miller Park, Milwaukee
Greg Maddux (7-8, 5.00) vs. Chris Capuano (9-4, 3.45)
Tonight starts the last series for the Cubs before the All-Star break….4 games against the Brewers at Miller Park. This is a rematch from June 26th….Maddux vs. Capuano, the Cubs lost the game 6-0….Maddux gave up 5 runs on 7 hits and for the second time this season Capuano shutout the Cubs on 7 hits. The Cubs have yet to score on Capuano this season in 17 innings. Maddux could throw tonight like he did in April and it would not matter, the Cubs must figure out a way to plate a few runs off of the Brewers’ lefty. Capuano is coming off of his worst start of the season against the Twins last Saturday. He gave up 6 runs on 11 hits in just 4 innings of work….his previous worst was a 6 run outing against the Pirates at the end of May. In his 18 starts this season, Capuano has held his opponents to 3 runs or less 14 times and 4 runs or less 16 times….he was 4-0 in 5 starts last month with a 2.57 ERA. With the Cubs struggles against lefties this year and the fact that Capuano is 2-0 with a 0.00 ERA against the Cubs, it could be a very long night for the offense.
Greg Maddux recorded a no-decision his last start on Saturday against the White Sox. Maddux had his control back and although he surrendered 10 hits, he gave up only 4 runs. The bullpen could not hold the lead and Dempster lost the game in the 9th. Maddux has not won a game since June 9th in Cincinnati and has only won twice in his last twelve starts. Maddux has been the victim of a couple of blown saves but for the most part he has had control problems. In his last 12 games, Maddux is 2-8 with a 6.72 ERA. He has surrendered 54 runs (53 earned) on 95 hits in 74 innings, struck out 35 and walked 13. Maddux did not give up a free pass his last start but did give up two home runs. On the season he has given up 13 home runs, including 3 his last time out against the Brewers. Maddux must keep the ball in Miller Park tonight in order for the Cubs to have a chance against Capuano. Maddux is 1-1 with a 4.85 ERA in two games against the Brewers this year.
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