Game Forty-Four: Cubs (19-24) vs. Red Sox (24-20)
Game Time – 6:10pm CDT
Coverage – TV: FOX Saturday Night Baseball – Radio: 720 WGN, XM Radio Channel 177
Location – Fenway Park, Boston
Carlos Zambrano (4-2, 4.89/1.26) vs. Alfredo Aceves (1-0, 2.60/1.04)
How will the Cubs respond to the pounding they received Friday? Q’s squad put together another unacceptable effort in game one and will look to get back in the win column behind Carlos Zambrano.
Zambrano is coming off an inconsistent outing against the Reds and will not be able to swing a bat tonight in his second career start versus Boston.
With basically a ‘Bullpen Day‘ taking place Friday night at Fenway, the Cubs might have to make a call to Iowa prior to game two to have a fresh arm in the pen. Scott Maine labored through his 1/3 of inning and James Russell completed three innings of work. Jeff Samardzija threw only an inning Friday night but it took him 46 pitches, 27 strikes, to record three outs.
Prior to Friday night’s game, Mike Quade indicated he would likely give another one of his regulars the “night off” on Saturday like he did with Aramis Ramirez. Quade mentioned Alfonso Soriano could serve as the team’s DH in one of the final two games.
As for the catching position, Quade said during his pre-game show Friday that Welington Castillo would start in one of the two remaining games at Fenway Park.
The Cubs and Red Sox will wear throwback uniforms from the 1918 era … and tonight it all begins with Carlos Zambrano … Carlos Zambrano is coming off a disappointing outing against the Reds. Z was in full control and allowed only one hit through the first five innings. But the Reds scored six runs in less than 10 minutes and handed Z his first road loss of the season. Zambrano has thrown the ball rather well this season but despite what he’s said publicly, the miscues behind him still get under his skin … and it happened again last Monday night in Cincinnati.
Big Z is 1-1 in his last three starts with a 4.87 ERA and a 1.23 WHIP … on the road in 2011, 4-1 in five starts with a 5.23 ERA and a 1.35 WHIP.
Carlos Zambrano will make his second career start against the Red Sox tonight. Z received a no decision in the series back in 2005. The Sox scored four runs on five hits and Z walked three and struck out eight.
Red Sox Career Numbers against Carlos Zambrano
- Mike Cameron – 2-for-19 with a walk
- Carl Crawford – 1-for-3 with a double and a walk
- J.D. Drew – 3-for-15 with 2 doubles, a home run and 5 walks
- Adrian Gonzalez – 3-for-15 with 4 walks
- David Ortiz – 0-for-2 with a walk
- Jason Varitek – 0-for-2
Alfredo Aceves will make his first start of the season tonight. Aceves is subbing for the recently DL’d Daisuke Matsuzaka and John Lackey. Aceves has pitched rather well out of the pen and will make his first start at the big league level since the 2009 season.
The Cubs must be patient and make Aceves work tonight.
Aceves last pitched on May 16 against the Orioles. Aceves allowed a run on two hits in three innings of work with two strikeouts and no walks. Aceves is 1-0 in eight games at Fenway this season with a 2.81 ERA and a 0.81 WHIP.
Tonight will be Aceves’ first career start and appearance against the Chicago Cubs.
Marlon Byrd (1-for-2 with a double and a walk) and Carlos Pena (0-for-3) are the only active Cubs that have faced Alfredo Aceves.
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