Game One Hundred Fifteen: Cubs (59-55) vs. Rockies (59-55)
Game Time – 8:05pm C.T. Comcast SportsNet, WGN Radio, XM Radio Channel 183
Location – Coors Field, Denver
Jason Marquis (8-7, 4.39/1.36) vs. Aaron Cook (8-6, 4.16/1.32)
Lou Piniella’s crew will look to take the second game of the series behind the adventure that is known as Jason Marquis. A report from Bruce Levine on ESPN 1000 on Friday stated the Cubs put in a waiver claim on Scott Podsednik and have until noon on Monday to make a deal with the South Siders for their left fielder. The Cubs reportedly put in a claim for A’s outfielder Shannon Stewart on Wednesday but the noon Friday deadline came and went without a deal being made. Jim Hendry appears to be trying to help his team while his star left fielder is on the DL.
While the Cubs will have the task of scoring runs tonight against Aaron Cook, Jason Marquis must give his team a solid outing and keep the ball down in the launching pad that is Coors Field. Which Jason Marquis will take the mound for Lou Piniella tonight? If Ted Lilly can be labeled as the most consistent pitcher for the Cubs this season, the award for the most inconsistent pitcher has to go to Jason Marquis. Lately Marquis has been very erratic from inning to inning, just not start to start, and he must turn his season around. There have been rumblings out of 1060 West Addison that the Cubs might use one of “the kids” in a spot start to give one of the regulars a break and the name that continues to pop up to be replaced is Jason Marquis.
Marquis has pitched past the 5th inning just 4 times in his last 7 starts and could not get out of the 6th inning against the Mets last Sunday. He gave up 5 runs on 9 hits in 5 1/3 innings on 98 pitches. Marquis walked 3 and struck out 1 and for the second time in three starts he walked more than he struck out.
Tonight will be Marquis’ second start of the season against the Rockies. He received a no decision in Wrigley Field on June 25th. Marquis pitched a very good game and gave up 3 runs on 7 hits in 5 2/3 innings but the bullpen gave up 6 runs in the top of the 9th….Alfonso Soriano singled to right center to win it for the Cubs in the 9th. Marquis is 4-3 in 8 career starts (10 games) against the Rockies with a 4.76 ERA and a 1.59 WHIP. The Cubs’ sinker-baller is 2-0 in 3 career starts at Coors Field with a 3.60 ERA and a 1.33 WHIP (8 runs, 6 earned, on 13 hits in 15 innings with 7 walks and 8 strikeouts).
Aaron Cook is one of the many reasons the Rockies have a reason to talk about the post season this year. Cook has pitched very well and to go along with his 8-6 record he has 2 complete games and has completed at least 6 innings in 21 of his 24 starts. Cook was a remarkable 4-1 in 6 starts in July with a complete game against the Padres on July 25th and finished the month with a 2.68 ERA (3 earned runs on 39 hits in 43 2/3 innings). Cook received a no decision against the Braves in Atlanta his last time out. He lasted just 5 1/3 innings and gave up 5 runs, 3 earned, on 10 hits.
Cook is 4-4 at Coors this season with a 5.50 ERA and a 1.39 WHIP in 11 starts. He has never lost to the Cubs in 3 games, 2 starts. Cook is 2-0 with a 2.12 ERA and a 1.24 WHIP. The Cubs hit the ball well against Cook (19 hits in 17 innings, .279 average) but have had trouble scoring those all-important runs (4 earned in 17 innings).
- Cliff Floyd – 4-8, with a home run and a RBI
- Jacque Jones – 2-6, with a double, a home run and a RBI
- Jason Marquis – 1-3, with a double
Let’s Talk Cubs Baseball….