Talkin’ Cubs Live – Cubs vs. Giants – 06/28/11

Doug Davis (1-6, 5.01/1.69) vs. Ryan Vogelsong (5-1, 1.86/1.09)

Tuesday is a full day of baseball for the Chicago Cubs. Due to the postponement of the finale of the three game series with the Giants back on Sunday, May 15, the Cubs have a very tough task ahead of them today … two against the defending World Series Champions with Doug Davis and Rodrigo Lopez starting the games.

Carlos Zambrano was scheduled to face Tim Lincecum and the Cubs had a chance to win the series. The Cubs won the opener behind Ryan Dempster but dropped the Saturday night game in Doug Davis’ debut. Rain shortened the second game to just six innings and Ryan Vogelsong picked up a complete game shutout in the process (3-0). The finale of the series that started on May 13 will actually feature a rematch from game two.

With Barry Zito taking the hill for game two, look for Mike Quade to run out as many lefties as he can this afternoon, including Koyie Hill who has basically become Doug Davis’ catcher.

In other news … Bobby Scales is no longer in the Cubs organization. The Cubs gave Scales his unconditional release and will receive cash considerations from the Nippon Ham Fighters. Scales is the second Chicago Cub to leave the states to play ball in Japan over the last year. Scales will join his former teammate, Micah Hoffpauir, on the Nippon Ham Fighter’s roster.

Marlon Byrd was 0-for-3 with a walk, two runs scored and a stolen base in his first rehab start with the I-Cubs on Monday night … and John Ely hit Byrd with a pitch in his rib cage in the bottom of the third. Byrd is shooting to return to the big league club either in the finale against the White Sox or on the 4th of July for the opener of the four-game series with the Nationals.

Darwin Barney was 1-for-4 in his third rehab game on Monday night. John Ely also plunked Barney on Monday night. Barney is 3-for-11 with a home run in three games back down on the farm. Barney is expected to be activated prior to Wednesday night’s game against the Giants.

The Cubs will miss two familiar faces this series … both Mike Fontenot and Mark DeRosa are on the DL.

On a very happy day for Ernie Banks, game one all starts with Doug Davis … Doug Davis is coming off another loss and the Cubs are just 1-7 in his eight starts this season. Davis gave up four runs, three earned, on eight hits in five innings of work. Davis walked two and struck out two after hitting a wall in the fourth inning. Davis was cruising along but faded quickly and barely completed five innings.

Davis has been effective at Wrigley Field this season despite his 1-3 record. Davis has allowed 11 runs, seven earned, on 19 hits in 23 1/3 innings with 10 walks and 18 strikeouts (2.70 ERA and a 1.24 WHIP).

The veteran southpaw made his Cubs debut in the rain shortened game against the Giants back on May 14. Davis allowed three runs, one earned, on four hits with a walk and six strikeouts in five innings. Ryan Vogelsong shut out the Cubs in a game that was called after just six complete.

Today will be Davis’ 21st career start against the Giants. Davis is 5-9 in 21 games, 20 starts, with a 4.60 ERA and a 1.64 WHIP.

Giants Career Numbers against Doug Davis

• Pat Burrell – 1-for-15 with a double
• Emmanuel Burriss – 3-for-9
• Bill Hall – 2-for-6 with a home run
• Aubrey Huff – 1-for-6
• Cody Ross – 6-for-17 with 2 doubles, a home run and 5 walks
• Aaron Rowand – 9-for-32 with a double and 6 walks
• Pablo Sandoval – 9-for-21 with a walk
• Nate Schierholtz – 1-for-6 with a triple
• Miguel Tejada – 4-for-18 with a double, a home run and 3 walks
• Andres Torres – 3-for-7 with 2 triples and 2 walks
• Ryan Vogelsong – 2-for-4
• Eli Whiteside – 0-for-5

Ryan Vogelsong is one of the reasons the Giants are leading the West as the halfway point of the season approaches. Vogelsong is coming off an impressive victory against the Twins (one run on four hits in seven innings with a walk and three strikeouts) and has not lost a game since May 26 (Florida Marlins).

Vogelsong has not allowed more than two earned runs in any start since May 3 (in New York against the Mets) and is 2-0 in his last four starts with a 2.00 ERA and a 1.04 WHIP.

Vogelsong has a complete game shutout on his 2011 resume … and that came at the Cubs expense back on May 14. The rain-shortened the game to a six-inning affair but by rule Vogelsong was awarded with a complete game for his efforts. The Cubs managed seven hits and a walk but could not push across a run in the rain.

Today will be Vogelsong’s seventh career start against the Cubs organization … 2-4 in 12 career games, six starts, with a 6.39 ERA and a 1.66 WHIP.

Cubs Career Numbers against Ryan Vogelsong

• Starlin Castro – 2-for-3
• Doug Davis – 0-for-3
• Blake DeWitt – 1-for-3
• Kosuke Fukudome – 0-for-3
• Koyie Hill – 0-for-4
• Reed Johnson – 0-for-1
• Carlos Pena – 0-for-2 with a walk
• Aramis Ramirez – 5-for-12 with 2 home runs and a walk
• Alfonso Soriano – 1-for-4

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