Talkin’ Cubs Live – Cubs vs. Rockies – 08/10/09

Tom Gorzelanny (4-1, 3.38/0.88) vs. Jorge De La Rosa (9-8, 5.00/1.37)

Updated 5:17pm C.T. – Jeff Stevens Optioned to Triple-A Iowa – Esmailin Caridad Selected from Iowa, added to Cubs 40-man Roster Caridad will be available tonight in the Cubs’ pen and will wear uniform number 33.

The Cubs will complete the 10-game, three-city road trip tonight (4-5 in the first nine) with their first, and only, wrap around series of the season. A win tonight behind Tom Gorzelanny would give the Cubs a .500 record (5-5) on the trip and make the long, late night flight back to Chicago a little more enjoyable.

The Cubs have blown chances over the last nine games to gain ground or keep pace with the Cardinals. Lou Piniella’s crew enters play tonight two full games back of the Redbirds.

Aramis Ramirez will likely be held out of the starting lineup for the second game in a row. Ramirez was still very sore on Sunday and told the media that his shoulder hurts when he swings. Jake Fox filled in for Ramirez on Sunday and should be in there once again tonight.

The Cubs received some good news on Sunday in regards to all of their injury woes. Ted Lilly is slated to make a rehab start with either the Peoria Chiefs or I-Cubs on Wednesday. If all goes well, Lilly could start the opener next Monday against the Padres.

In the Battle of the Southpaws tonight, the Rockies have played a little better against lefty starters this season (18-18) than the Cubs (12-10).

While the offense must do their job against Jorge De La Rosa, it all begins with Tom Gorzelanny … and one win at a time. The Evergreen Park native will make his second start of the season for the Chicago Cubs … after an impressive debut in Cincinnati that included a standing ovation when he left the field. Tom Gorzelanny threw the ball extremely well. He found a rhythm early and threw strikes. Gorzelanny allowed just one run on three hits in 7 1/3 innings with a walk and six strikeouts.

The Rockies love hitting against southpaws, despite a predominately left-handed lineup. Colorado is 18-18 on the year against lefty starters and tonight will be a huge test for Tom Gorzelanny.

Gorzelanny has not faced the Rockies this season. He is 1-1 in two career starts against the Rockies with a 6.23 ERA and a 2.08 WHIP … at Coors Field, 1-0 in one career start with a 1.50 ERA and a 1.50 WHIP. The win came on August 22, 2007. He allowed two runs, one earned, on six hits in six innings with three walks and five strikeouts.

• Garrett Atkins – 1-for-3 with 2 walks
• Clint Barmes – 1-for-2
• Brad Hawpe – 0-for-3
• Todd Helton – 0-for-2
• Jason Marquis – 1-for-5 with a double
• Ian Stewart – 0-for-1
• Yorvit Torrealba – 2-for-2 with 2 doubles
• Troy Tulowitzki – 1-for-3 with a double

The veteran southpaw is one of the main reasons the Rockies have become one of the best teams in the National League under Jim Tracy. After a winless April (0-2 in four starts with a 3.57 ERA and a 1.41 WHIP) and May (0-4 in six starts with a 6.75 ERA and a 1.44 WHIP) Jorge De La Rosa was 4-1 in five starts in June with a 6.08 ERA and a 1.61 WHIP. While the ERA and WHIP were horrible, the 4-1 mark was more than expected from the southpaw.

Jorge De La Rosa then turned it on in July. He posted a 5-0 record in six games, five starts, with a 2.50 ERA and a 1.03 WHIP.

The Phillies knocked around De La Rosa pretty good in his last outing. He allowed seven runs on 10 hits in five innings … and served up three home runs. The Cubs must make him work tonight and not let up. Early swings could mean a long night for the Cubs’ offense.

De La Rosa is 5-5 in 12 games, 11 starts, at Coors Field this season with a 5.43 ERA and a 1.33 WHIP.

The Cubs have never beaten Jorge De La Rosa … or scored a run against the lefty. He is 1-0 in four career games with a 0.00 ERA and a 1.42 WHIP (no runs on three hits in 6 1/3 innings with six walks and 10 strikeouts) against the Cubs. Tonight will be his first career start against Chicago.

• Jeff Baker – 1-for-3 with a triple
• Milton Bradley – 0-for-2 with a walk
• Mike Fontenot – 0-for-1
• Kosuke Fukudome – 0-for-1
• Derrek Lee – 0-for-2 with a walk
• Aaron Miles – 0-for-1 with a walk
• Aramis Ramirez – 1-for-2 with a double and a walk
• Alfonso Soriano – 2-for-3 with a home run
• Geovany Soto – 1-for-1 with a double

Let’s Talk Cubs Baseball….