Game Eighty-Four: Cubs (42-41) vs. Nationals (34-50)
Game Time – 6:05pm C.T. Comcast Sports Net, WGN Radio, XM Radio Channel 183
Location – RFK Memorial Stadium, Washington D.C.
Sean Marshall (4-3, 3.50/1.23) vs. Jason Bergmann (1-5, 3.47/1.11)
Updated – 5:08pm C.T. – Gallagher Recalled – Petrick Optioned
The Cubs will look to get back on track after being shutout on Wednesday afternoon in the Nation’s Capital behind Sean Marshall. Today will be the last game the Cubs play at RFK Stadium as the Nationals will open a new ballpark next season. The game tonight will also be the last time the Cubs face the Nationals this season, they have won 5 of the first 6. The Cubs went through the motions in yesterday’s loss but need to pick up the win in the finale before heading to Pittsburgh on Friday. Sean Marshall is coming off his worst outing of the year against the Brewers last Saturday. Marshall had command problems and lasted just 2 innings and gave up 7 runs, 6 earned, on 7 hits with 2 walks and 2 strikeouts. Marshall has been very good since his call-up in May and pitched 6 1/3 innings of 5-hit shutout ball against the White Sox on June 24th but in 2 of his last 3 starts he has failed to pitch into the 5th inning.
Marshall has been very good on the road this season….he is 2-1 in 4 starts with a 2.70 ERA and a 1.11 WHIP. Marshall must throw strikes and not follow Rich Hill’s bad outing with one of his own. Tonight will be Marshall’s 3rd career start against the Nationals and he is 1-0 with a 1.80 ERA and a 1.10 WHIP. Marshall shutout the Nationals on May 17, 2006 at Wrigley (5-0) and gave up just 1 hit in 6 innings of work. On July 22, 2006 at RFK, Marshall left the game after 4 innings, received a no-decision and was placed on the DL the next day. He gave up 2 runs on 6 hits in 4 innings….Alfonso Soriano went 4-for-5 that day with 3 doubles, a triple and 2 runs scored. Austin Kearns hit a solo home run in the 2nd inning.
Tonight will be Jason Bergmann’s third start after coming off the DL on June 26th. The Nationals place Bergmann on the DL on May 18th with right elbow inflammation. Bergmann has not pitched past the 4th inning in eiher of those starts and has given up 7 runs on 12 hits in his last 8 innings (0-2 with a 7.88 ERA). Bergmann has been solid for the Nationals this season, especially at RFK. At home he is 1-2 with a 3.24 ERA and a 1.00 WHIP while holding opponents to a .161 batting average.
Bergamnn lost to the Cubs at Wrigley on May 4th. He gave up 5 runs, 4 earned, on 8 hits in 6 innings of work with 4 strikeouts and 2 walks….Derrek Lee hit his 2nd home run of the season off Bergmann in the 3rd inning. Jacque Jones had a big game….he was 2-for-4 with a double and a run scored. Of the 8 hits the Cubs recorded off of Bergmann that day, 5 were for extra bases (4 doubles and a home run). Bergmann appeared to be putting things together before his stint on the DL. In his last start on May 14th before going on the DL, he recorded his only victory of the season against the Braves at RFK. He threw 8 innings (a season high), gave up 2 hits (his low mark on the season) and 1 earned run while striking out 10 (a season high) and walking 1.
Let’s Talk Cubs Baseball….
Update – According to several reports out of Chicago, the Cubs optioned Billy Petrick to Triple-A Iowa and recalled Sean Gallagher. He is in Washington and will be available out of the pen tonight.