Game One Hundred Five: Cubs (55-49) vs. Phillies (56-49)
Game Time – 7:05pm C.T. WCIU, WGN Radio, XM Radio Channel 183
Location – Wrigley Field, Chicago
Jason Marquis (7-6, 4.20/1.30) vs. Adam Eaton (9-6, 5.83/1.54)
While the Cubs missed a great opportunity to take over the lead in the Central Division last night, that was then and today is a new day. Lou Piniella said the baseball season really begins on August 1st. That is when teams make their run at the post season and everything up to then is just jockeying for position. Well his crew has put themselves in a very good position and now they must finish the month of July with their 17th win….but, as usual, it all starts with Jason Marquis. Jason Marquis has pitched better at Wrigley this season than on the road. Marquis is 5-2 with a 3.72 ERA and a 1.15 WHIP compared to a 2-4 record with a 4.80 ERA on the road. Now the question is, which Jason Marquis will show up today? Will it be the one that dominated the Cardinals the first two times he faced them or the one that was shelled in the series finale last Thursday?
Marquis’ biggest problem seems to be himself. He has shown the ability to be an above average pitcher at this level but at times he has shown why the Cardinals left him off their post-season roster last year. Piniella needs the Jason Marquis that held the Arizona Diamondbacks to 2 runs on 4 hits in 7 2/3 innings on July 20th and beat the reigning NL CY Young award winner.
- Marquis is 2-2 in his last 5 starts with a 6.67 ERA.
Tonight will be the first time Marquis has faced the Phillies in a Cubs’ uniform. He is 3-3 in 16 games, 9 starts, against the Phillies with a 4.65 ERA and a 1.67 WHIP.
- Pat Burrell – 8-25, with 2 doubles and 3 RBI’s
- Ryan Howard – 2-4
- Tadahito Iguchi – 4-6, with a double and 4 RBI’s
Adam Eaton has had a very inconsistent first season with the Phillies. After a 2-2 record and a 7.71 ERA in April, he was 3-1 with a 3.98 ERA in May. Eaton finished June with a 2-2 record and a 5.79 ERA but has struggled once again in July. Eaton does have a winning record (2-1) but has and ERA of 6.11. He gave up 4 runs on 8 hits in 6 1/3 innings his last time out against the Nationals and has given up less than 3 runs only three times in his last 11 starts.
Eaton is 5-2 in 8 career starts against the Cubs with a 4.31 ERA and a 1.31 WHIP. Tonight will be Eaton’s 5th career start at Wrigley and he has not lost a game in his first four tries. Eaton is 3-0 with a 3.68 ERA and a 1.27 WHIP in his career at Wrigley.
- Jason Kendall – 4-10, with a triple and 2 RBI’s
- Derrek Lee – 3-13, with 2 home runs and 2 RBI’s
Let’s Talk Cubs Baseball….