Talkin’ Cubs Live – Cubs vs. Brewers – 05/01/08

Carlos Zambrano (4-1, 2.21/1.13) vs. Yovani Gallardo (0-0, 0.64/1.07)

Updated – 12:10pm C.T. – Alfonso Soriano Activated – Matt Murton Optioned to Triple-A

As expected, the Cubs activated Alfonso Soriano from the 15-day DL on Thursday morning and optioned Matt Murton back to Triple-A Iowa according to a report on Cubs.com

It’s a new day and a new month…. While the Cubs were 10-5 with Alfonso Soriano on the DL, Lou Piniella gets a very important piece of the puzzle back today. Soriano is expected to be activated from the 15-day disabled list and reportedly will return to the leadoff spot in the lineup. The Cubs need Soriano to comeback, fit in with their newfound patience at the plate and be the impact player he was a year ago. The Cubs are also expected to option Matt Murton to Triple-A to make room for Soriano on the active roster.

The Cubs offense scored 26 runs in the first two games and will have their hands full today with one of the best young pitchers in the league. Runs figure to come at a premium today with Carlos Zambrano and Yovani Gallardo on the mound…. Carlos Zambrano had the best April of his career with 4 wins in 6 starts. Zambrano’s success can be traced to the fact he is throwing strikes and has cut down on the free passes. In 40 2/3 innings this year. Zambrano has 32 strikeouts and only 9 walks. He is coming off an effective start against the Nationals. Zambrano did not have his best stuff and managed to throw 7 innings of shutout ball on 5 hits with 4 walks (a season high) and 5 strikeouts.

Zambrano faced the Brewers on Opening Day and had to leave with 2 outs in the 7th with cramps in his forearm….no runs on 3 hits with 5 strikeouts and a walk. Zambrano is 3-0 in 4 starts at Wrigley this year with a 1.63 ERA and a 0.98 WHIP.

Big Z is 9-8 in 21 career games, 20 starts, against the Brewers with a 3.99 ERA and a 1.27 WHIP.

• Ryan Braun – 2-for-9 with a double
• Mike Cameron – 0-for-5
• Craig Counsell – 6-for-22 with 2 doubles
• Prince Fielder – 8-for-24 with 4 doubles, a home run and 5 walks
• Tony Gwynn, Jr. – 3-for-6
• Bill Hall – 6-for-36 with 2 doubles, 2 triples and 5 walks with 17 strikeouts
• J.J. Hardy – 2-for-13 with a home run
• Corey Hart – 3-for-11 with a triple
• Jason Kendall – 9-for-27
• Rickie Weeks – 6-for-25 with a double and a home run

Yovani Gallardo has been extremely good in his first two starts of the year after starting the season on the DL. Gallardo has allowed only 1 run (a home run by Edwin Encarnacion on April 20th in Cincinnati) in 14 innings. He has given up 10 hits and 5 walks with 9 strikeouts but has received two no decisions….both losses for the Brewers. Many think Gallardo will one day replace Ben Sheets as the Brewers ace.

Gallardo will make just his second career start against the Cubs. He gave up 2 runs on 5 hits in 6 innings with 2 walks and 7 strikeouts in a very memorable game. Gallardo started the game on June 29th that ended with the 2-run walk off home run by Aramis Ramirez. The Cubs scored 3 runs in the bottom of the 9th to win the game 6-5.

• Mark DeRosa – 1-for-2 with a walk
• Derrek Lee – 0-for-2
• Felix Pie – 0-for-2
• Aramis Ramirez – 2-for-3 with a double
• Alfonso Soriano – 1-for-3 with a double

In Honor of Soriano’s Return

The latest from Cubby-Blue

Let’s Talk Cubs Baseball….