Game One Hundred Two: Cubs (53-48) vs. Reds (45-59)
Game Time – 6:10pm C.T. Comcast SportsNet, WGN Radio, XM Radio Channel 188
Location – Great American Ball Park, Cincinnati
Sean Marshall (4-4, 3.25/1.26) vs. Aaron Harang (10-2, 3.45/1.18)
Lou Piniella needs a solid, quality outing tonight out of Sean Marshall but most importantly the Cubs offense needs to pick up where they left off in the 9th inning on Friday. The Reds made the Cubs look very bad and clearly out played Lou Piniella’s crew. The Cubs are 2-5 against the Reds this season with 11 more remaining on this year’s schedule, they have to figure out how to beat them, and quick, if they want to be playing meaningful games in September. The offense will have a tough time scoring anything tonight against Aaron Harang….but it all starts with Sean Marshall. Sean Marshall has pitched better than his record indicates. He took the loss in his last start against the Diamondbacks and gave up just 1 run on 5 hits in 6 innings of work. The last time he recorded a win was back on June 24th against the White Sox but has received little to no run support in his last 3 starts. Marshall has only allowed 5 runs on 15 hits in 17 1/3 innings….that is a 2.60 ERA but he is 0-1 in those games.
Marshall has pitched better on the road this season (2-1 with a 2.83 ERA and a 1.22 WHIP) than at Wrigley (2-3 with a 3.60 ERA and a 1.29 WHIP) and will need to continue to keep the ball down against the Reds very powerful offense.
Tonight will be Sean Marshall’s first career appearance against the Reds.
Aaron Harang is clearly the ace of the Reds’ staff and is coming off a 10-inning performance against the Brewers in which he threw only 121 pitches. Harang received a no decision but gave up just 1-run on 7 hits without a walk and 10 strikeouts. Harang is 2-0 in his last 5 starts with a 2.39 ERA and he owns the Cubs.
He beat the Cubs on Opening Day (1 unearned run on 6 hits in 7 innings) but left after the 4th inning in his second start of the season against the Cubs at Wrigley and received a no decision. The Cubs scored 5 runs on 9 hits in 4 innings….his shortest outing of the year. Harang is 6-1 in 11 career starts against the Cubs with a 4.23 ERA and a 1.31 WHIP.
The Cubs offense must come alive tonight and not allow Harang to repeat Bronson Arroyo’s performance.
Let’s Talk Cubs Baseball….