Game Forty-Nine: Cubs (22-26) vs. Marlins (23-27)
Game Time – 1:20pm C.T. Comcast Sports Net, WGN Radio, XM Radio Channel 185
Location – Wrigley Field, Chicago
Sean Marshall (0-1, 2.57/0.86) vs. Byung-Hyun Kim (2-2, 7.02/1.88)
Happy Memorial Day from everyone here at the CCO…. The Cubs start a 6-game homestand today against the Florida Marlins that concludes on Sunday afternoon against the Atlanta Braves. The Cubs play 12 of their next 19 games at Wrigley Field with stops at Miller Park and Turner Field in between two 6-game homestands. Lou Piniella recently stated his team has played better than their record indicates and while his statement is true, the Cubs must start putting wins on the board because at the end the day the win/loss record is the only stat that is counted. The Cubs find themselves in familiar territory today, in search of a win against a young and talented Florida Marlins team that has been the thorn in the side of this organization for several years. The Marlins’ lineup features Hanley Ramirez and Miguel Cabrera arguably two of the most exciting young players in the league. Unfortunately for Fredi Gonzalez they play in the highly competitive National League East and enter play today in 4th place in the division behind the Mets, Braves and Phillies. The Marlins are coming off a stretch of games that saw them sweep the Devil Rays in Interleague play; they won two of three from the Phillies just to be swept over the weekend by the Mets.
Sean Marshall will make his second start of the season after an impressive debut last Wednesday against the Padres. Marshall made just one mistake and unfortunately it was a 2-run homer to Kevin Kouzmanoff that was the difference in the game. Marshall pitched similar to the way he did early last season before spending time on the DL, he worked quickly on the mound and appeared to gain confidence as the game went on. Marshall threw strikes and gave up 4 hits in 7 innings, walked 2 and struck out 8.
Marshall faced the Marlins twice last season with very different results. He beat the Marlins on April 25th at Wrigley and threw 7 shutout innings, allowing just 2 hits while recording a season high in strikeouts with 7. On May 22nd in Florida the Marlins returned the favor. Marshall allowed 7 earned runs on 7 hits in 3 1/3 innings. Marshall’s career numbers against the Marlins are a bit skewed…. 1-1 with a 6.10 ERA and a 1.45 WHIP. In 12 career starts at Wrigley, Marshall is 3-5 with a 4.96 ERA and a 1.42 WHIP, he has given up 11 home runs in 65 1/3 innings.
Hanley Ramirez (2-4) and Dan Uggla (3-6) have the best numbers against Marshall in limited at bats.
Byung-Hyun Kim will make his third start for the Marlins today after being acquired from the Colorado Rockies on May 13th for Jorge Julio. Kim was activated from the 15-day DL on May 17th (the Rockies put him on the DL in April with a right thumb contusion) and made his Marlins debut on May 18th against the Devil Rays. After starting the year in the Rockies pen, he started just one game for Colorado before being placed on the DL and eventually being traded. In two starts for the Fish he has given up 7 runs, 6 earned, on 11 hits with 9 walks and 9 strikeouts in 10 2/3 innings (5.06 ERA).
Kim has not posted a win in 14 career games (3 starts) against the Cubs. He is 0-2 with a 4.13 ERA, a 1.34 WHIP and 4 saves. In 5 games at Wrigley, Kim is 0-1 with a 4.50 ERA, a 1.50 WHIP and a save. In 10 career innings he has allowed 3 home runs.
- Michael Barrett – 3-10, with a double
- Mark DeRosa – 1-3, with a double
- Cesar Izturis – 3-6, with 2 RBI’s
- Derrek Lee – 7-20, with a double, 2 home runs and 5 RBI’s
- Aramis Ramirez – 4-15, with 2 home runs and 5 RBI’s
- Alfonso Soriano – 3-9, with a double
Let’s Talk Cubs Baseball….