Game Sixty: Cubs (38-21) vs. Padres (23-37)
Game Time – 9:05pm C.T.
Coverage – TV: WGN – Radio: 720 WGN, XM Radio Channel 186
Location – PETCO Park, San Diego
Ted Lilly (5-4, 5.54/1.40) vs. Greg Maddux (3-4, 3.69/1.26)
The Cubs will look to keep the streak going tonight and reach the .500 mark on the road behind Ted Lilly. Lou Piniella needs the ‘Bulldog‘ to bounce back from his worst start of the season and throw deep in the game.
The Cubs offense will have the tough task of handing Greg Maddux his first home loss of the year and beating him for the second time in a month. Ted Lilly’s ability to keep his team in the game will figure heavily in the final outcome.
Tonight is the last game against Padres that counts….the Cubs will face the Padres one more time this season, in the Hall of Fame game on June 16th. After putting together a successful string of starts, Ted Lilly took several steps back in his last outing. Lilly lasted only 3 innings against the Rockies but received a no decision after the unbelievable comeback the offense mounted against Aaron Cook and Colorado’s bullpen. Lilly gave up 2 more dingers and in his last 2 games has served up 5 home runs in just 11 innings. In his shortest start of the year, Lilly gave up 7 runs, 4 earned, on 8 hits with 3 strikeouts and no walks.
Lilly must find his command tonight and keep the ball down against a Padres’ offense that is much better at home than on the road. Lilly beat the Friars the last time he faced them at Wrigley on May 14th and struck out a season-high 11 batters with only 1 walk. Lilly surrendered 4 runs on 6 hits in 6 innings.
Lilly has never lost to the Padres in 4 career starts, 5 games. He is 4-0 with a complete game shutout, a 2.93 ERA and a 0.98 WHIP.
- Josh Bard – 2-for-9 with a double
- Michael Barrett – 1-for-3 with a double
- Tony Clark – 5-for-21 with a double and a home run
- Jody Gerut – 3-for-8 with a double
- Brian Giles – 0-for-6
- Adrian Gonzalez – 1-for-5 with a triple
- Khalil Greene – 1-for-7
- Scott Hairston – 3-for-7 with a home run
- Tadahito Iguchi – 4-for-12 with 2 home runs
One of the most popular Cubs of all-time could be facing his former organization for the last time tonight. Greg Maddux is the best pitcher of his generation and has hinted at retirement at the end of the season. Maddux figures to finish this year with another team and rumors have suggested Maddux could make his third stint with the Cubs before it is all said and done. But for tonight, Lou Piniella’s crew has the tall task of beating Maddux for the second time this season.
Maddux has not posted a win since May 10th but his team has won his last 3 starts. The Old Professor has given up just 5 earned runs on 16 hits in his last 16 1/3 innings.
The Cubs beat Maddux for only the fourth time in 23 career starts on May 15th at Wrigley. Maddog allowed 4 runs on 11 hits in 4 1/3 innings. Maddux is 12-4 in 23 career starts against the Cubs with a 2.71 ERA and a 0.98 WHIP.
This season Maddux has been spectacular at PETCO Park….1-0 in 5 starts with a 1.84 ERA and a 0.95 WHIP.
- Henry Blanco – 6-for-16 with a double and a home run
- Ronny Cedeno – 2-for-4
- Mark DeRosa – 0-for-3
- Jim Edmonds – 11-for-40 with 3 doubles and 2 home runs
- Kosuke Fukudome – 1-for-2
- Derrek Lee – 14-for-57 with 2 doubles, a triple, a home run and 3 walks
- Aramis Ramirez – 6-for-18 with a double and a triple
- Ryne Sandberg – 7-for-22
- Alfonso Soriano – 3-for-9
- Ryan Theriot – 2-for-7
Let’s Talk Cubs Baseball….