Game Time: 6:05 PM CT
TV: WGN, Peachtree TV
Pitching Matchup:
Braves- Kenshin Kawakami(3-6, 4.73 ERA)
Cubs- Randy Wells(0-2, 1.80 ERA)
Lineups:
Cubs
1. Alfonso Soriano, LF(.246, 12 HR, 25 RBI, .790 OPS)
2. Ryan Theriot, SS(.293, 5 HR, 22 RBI, .814 OPS)
3. Kosuke Fukudome, CF(.309, 5 HR, 20 RBI, .946 OPS)
4. Derrek Lee, 1B(.248, 5 HR, 19 RBI, .736 OPS)
5. Milton Bradley, RF(.224, 5 HR, 14 RBI, .740 OPS)
6. Mike Fontenot, 3B(.224, 5 HR, 20 RBI, .698 OPS)
7. Geovany Soto, C(.216, 1 HR, 12 RBI, .608 OPS)
8. Andres Blanco, 2B(.111, 0 HR, 1 RBI, .333 OPS)
9. Randy Wells, P(.000, 0 HR, 0 RBI, .000 OPS)
Braves
1. Kelly Johnson, 2B(.256, 5 HR, 18 RBI, .766 OPS)
2. Yunel Escobar, SS(.299, 5 HR, 26 RBI, .839 OPS)
3. Chipper Jones, 3B(.316, 5 HR, 21 RBI, .934 OPS)
4. Brian McCann, C(.318, 5 HR, 18 RBI, .936 OPS)
5. Garret Anderson, LF(.266, 1 HR, 15 RBI, .652 OPS)
6. Martin Prado, 1B(.247, 2 HR, 7 RBI, .759 OPS)
7. Jeff Francoeur, RF(.250, 3 HR, 23 RBI, .615 OPS)
8. Gregor Blanco, CF(No At Bats)
9. Kenshin Kawakami, P(.176, 0 HR, 0 RBI, .353 OPS)
The Cubs really need to find a way to get a win tonight, with Derek Lowe and Jair Jurrjens pitching the following two games for the Braves. It would also be nice to finally get Randy Wells a win. The rookie right-hander has allowed only five runs in his four starts over 25 innings, but is 0-2 because of the Cubs' recent struggles on offense.
Kenshin Kawakami starts for the Braves. The 33-year-old Japanese rookie struggled mightily in April, going 1-3 with a 7.06 ERA. He had a 3.03 in five May starts though, never allowing more than three earned runs in those starts. He's given up 54 hits in 51.1 innings pitched this year though, many of those likely off his fastball because he features a filthy curveball.
There was talk Soriano might get a few days off with a sore knee, but as you can see he's in the lineup tonight. He's owned the Braves in his career(.353, 13 HR, 1.156 OPS), and particularly been spectacular at Turner Field(25-69=.362, 7 HR, 1.191 OPS), so I'm sure he really wanted to be in the lineup. Maybe the Braves and their park can get a hot streak going for Soriano, as he's been absolutely awful for the last couple of weeks.
Top of the 1st
The Cubs went 6-0 against the Braves last year. I'll accept winning 1 of these 3.
Breaking ball for a strike to start it out. Been wisely seeing that more lately against Alf. Cutter misses, 1-1 count. Another cutter misses, 2-1. 87 degrees tonight at the game. Soriano waits back on a 67 mph curveball, fouls it back. Soriano continues to kill the Braves, homers to right-center, 1-0 Cubs!
Ryan Theriot is 11 for 21 over a 6-game hitting streak. Grounds out to the left side of the infield.
A matchup that is sure to get some press in Japan... Fukudome on the first pitch hits it hard back up the middle, but Kawakami knocks it down and easily gets Fukudome at first. 2 outs.
92 mph fastball outside to Lee. Changeup in for a strike, 1-1. Hits a groundball hard to Escobar, but an easy play to end the inning.
Well Randy Wells has some run support early on, let's see what he can do with it.
Bottom of the 1st
Fastball high to Kelly Johnson, and another. 2-0. Throwing strikes hasn't been a problem for Wells coming into this. Johnson gets under one, Kosuke makes the catch about 10 feet short of the track in centerfield. 1 out.
Escobar pops the first pitch up to shallow centerfield, Theriot makes the catch.
Chipper swinging at the first pitch, flies out to Soriano. 5 pitches, 3 outs.
Top of the 2nd
Bradley with a good cut, fouls off the first pitch. Fouls off a sinking fastball. Kawakami has a variation of all of his pitches it seems. Now a cutter on Bradley's hands, another foul ball. Change in the dirt, 1-2. Prado fields a short hop nicely, I was expecting an error, but he takes it himself to first base, 1 out.
Fontenot ahead of a changeup for a strike. Groundball up the middle, Kelly Johnson makes a nice sliding stop but takes awhile to get on his feet, Fontenot beats it out for an infield single.
Ball 1 barely outside or low to Soto. Kawakami doesn't seem very quick to home plate. Soto comes up empty on a high fastball to even the count. Changeup low, 2-1. Might see Fontenot running here. Stays put and Kawakami hits the outside corner for a strike. Similar to the first pitch called a ball. Breaking ball way outside, full count. Fontenot runs and Soto bounces it foul. Fontenot runs again but a borderline pitch called ball 4.
1st and 2nd for Andres Blanco. 93 mph fastball outside. Fastball high, but the umpire called it a strike. 1-1. Beautiful curveball dropped in for a strike. Slow bouncer to third that is barely fair, Chipper touches 3rd for the force, but throws it away to first base. Soto advances to third, Blanco to second. But the pitcher up now.
Ball 1 to Wells. Randy Wells with a great piece of hitting and singles into right field, 2-0 Cubs! Blanco had to stay at third as it was hit hard and Francoeur has an absolute cannon. He would've been out by quite a bit. First MLB hit for Wells.
Now Soriano who loves this park and already homered. Soriano gets the pitch right where he likes it on 1-0, but gets under it, flies out near the track in left-center. He JUST missed that. If he straightens it out at all, it's way gone.
Bottom of the 2nd
On a 1-0 pitch, McCann cranks one to right. I thought it was gone off the bat and Len did as well I think. Hit it too high though, Bradley catches it a couple feet in front of the 390 mark.
Pop fly into shallow right-center and Blanco makes the play. 2 down. Wells continues to pump strikes.
Slider strike to Prado. 2-2 count. Another shallow flyball, Fukudome runs in to make the play. Just 15 pitches through 2 for Wells.
Top of the 3rd
Ball up and in on Theriot. Theriot fouls out, Prado makes a play right by the Braves dugout.
Fukudome takes a strike, then a ball that just misses. Takes a changeup for a strike. 1-2 count. Nice piece of hitting on a curveball, but it's right at Anderson in left field. 2 outs.
Lee takes a curveball outside, and a fastball outside. 2-0, now a foul ball. Fouls another one back and he's upset, pitch right in his wheelhouse. Cutter down and away, full count. Very slow curveball and Lee pops out to McCann, again on one right by the Braves dugout to end the inning.
Bottom of the 3rd
In the Milwaukee-Florida game, Anibal Sanchez throws 40 pitches in the first inning, and it ended on a full count, bases loaded strikeout by Mat Gamel. 0-0 in the middle of the first there.
0-2 on Francoeur. Lee makes a great play on a rocket groundball to his left, dives for it, and beats Francoeur to the base.
1-2 on Blanco. 2-2 now after a foul ball and pitch too high. Nasty changeup gets Gregor swinging, 2 down.
Randy Wells is a strike machine. 3 pitches, Kawakami strikes out.
Top of the 4th
Fastball low to Bradley. Hammers a 68 mph curveball foul. 3-1 count. He should get a good swing on the fastball here. High chopper, close pla yat first, Bradley out, and limping badly. Now he runs into the clubhouse. Looks like a hamstring pull. Just great.
Fontenot strikes out looking. Hard to even care about this much anymore since the Cubs are going to lose another important player to injury.
Soto drives a 1-1 pitch foul to right. Grounds out to third.
Bottom of the 4th
I'd say there's a 5% chance Bradley stays in for this inning. And he's out of the game, Reed comes in to play center, Fukudome moves over to right.
1-1 count, Kelly Johnson grounds out to Fontenot.
Escobar hit in the head... Wait, no it didn't. Faking ass. Hit his bat. Hit him next time.
0-2 to Chipper. Hits it hard to Blanco at 2nd, but he makes a nice play and the Cubs turn 2.
Wells has faced the minimum through 4.
Top of the 5th
Blanco shows bunt and takes a strike. Grounds out to 2nd.
Wells strikes out.
Soriano just misses another one, flies out to fairly deep left-center. Got way under a hanger.
Bottom of the 5th
Escobar also was looking at Soto's signs along wth faking a hit by pitch. Seriously, hit him in the face, tomorrow night ideally.
Bradley officially has a right calf strain, called "day-to-day".
2 outs after a couple of weak flyouts.
2-2 on Prado. Fastball just misses. Full count, swings and misses at a breaking ball.
Top of the 6th
Both rookie pitchers throwing very well right now.
2-0 on Theriot, and now a strike. Theriot drills one into right-center field but a great running play by Francoeur. Thought that was going to be a double or triple.
0-1 for Fukudome. Fukudome hits one hard that Escobar can't field. It's a hit, but a play that Escobar might say he could've/should've made.
1-1 on Derrek Lee. Drills a groundball down the left field line that gets into the corner. Fukudome speeding around the bases, scores from first on the double. Great relay throw almost got Fukudome at the plate but he made a nice slide to get around the tag. 3-0 Cubs.
Reed 6 for his last 7. Make that 7 for his last 8, bloop single into left-center. Lee had to hold up to make sure it got down as it fell between 3 players. 1st and 3rd, 1 out for Fontenot.
Ball 1 to Fontenot. 3rd to 1st fake draws some boos. Hey, that worked recently. 1-1 now. Fontenot hits a flyball not too deep, but deep enough to get the job done. Sac Fly for Mike scores Lee, 4-0 Cubs.
Soto hits a line drive hard to left field but it's right at Anderson to end the inning.
Bottom of the 6th
Francoeur with a big swing and a miss on the first pitch. Fastball just misses outside to even the count. 2-1 now, and another one outside, 3-1. Flies out to right, 1 out.
0-2 to Blanco, pitch in the dirt, 1-2 now. Pops out to Fontenot in foul territory.
0-2 on Kawakami, 60 pitches for Wells. One more breaking ball should end this. High fastball and he appeared to swing, first base umpire disagrees though. Now the strikeout to end the inning.
Top of the 7th
Well, that fake hit by pitch looks like sort of a big deal at the moment.
Andres Blanco with a line shot over Kelly Johnson's head to Gregor Blanco. Could've had a double I think but plays it safe with the single.
Randy Wells getting a nice hand, well deserved. Now a beautiful sacrifice bunt. I love this guy.
1-1 to Soriano. 2-1 pitch, flies out to right. Blanco stays at 2nd. 2 outs for Theriot.
Theriot swings for Panama on a 1-0 pitch, comes up empty. Groundball to Prado, Prado slips, but stays on his feet and flips to Kawawkami.
That should be it for Kawakami I'd think. 7 innings, 3 earned runs, very nice outing.
Bottom of the 7th
The tomahawk chop is out for Atlanta. Johnson pops out to Lee on the first pitch.
Strike to Escobar. Broken bat, 2 outs in the 7th.
Clean single to left by Chipper, breaks up the no-hitter and what was really a perfect game.
Inning over. Escobar is damn lucky he didn't just ruin a perfect game with his Berkman act.
Top of the 8th
Fukudome grounds out to start the 8th. Manny Acosta in to pitch
On Twitter... @GatoradeMachine: "Clean single by a future hof'er. That's the way to give up the no-no. Hats off to RW." Absolutely.
Full count to Lee... -smokes- one to right-center, leaves the yard! 5-0 Cubs!
Reed grounds out to Acosta.
Fontenot goes down swinging to end the inning.
Bottom of the 8th
One of my favorite players, Garret Anderson, yanks one down the right field line for a homer 5-1 now.
Marmol warming up for the Cubs. 2-2 on Prado, 7th pitch of the at bat fouled off. Prado with a bouncer to Theriot, Theriot throws to first, Lee can't make the catch. Low throw but I'm not sure if it hit the ground and Lee catches that 99 times out of 100. Error charged to Theriot but from what I saw live it should probably be on Lee.
That's it for Randy Wells, he gets a standing ovation as he leaves. Marmol in.
Wells' line: 7 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 4 K
The error on that play has been given to Lee, his first of the season.
Francoeur takes a slider outside for ball 1. And another. Going to be 3-0 or 3-1 as usual with Carlos I'm sure. 3-0 now. Has he ever not gone 3-0 to the first hitter this year? Ball 4.
1st and 2nd, no outs. Now a strike. A rocket line drive into right field, Fukudome with a diving catch. Great play. If he misses that, it's maybe an inside-the-park homer.
Greg Norton pinch-hitting for Acosta. I didn't realize he was still in the league. First pitch hits him. Bases loaded, tying run coming up. Norton is hurting and he leaves. A pitcher will run for him.
2-0 on Johnson. 3-0 now. Unreal. Strike 1. Fouls off the next pitch. Ball 4, walks in a run. 5-2 now. Tying run on 1st.
Slider to Escobar in for a strike. And again. 0-2. Keep throwing that. High fastball fouled up. Set him up for another slider. Lines out to right field, 5-3. Runners on 1st and 3rd, 2 outs.
Now Chipper up. I'm sweating nervous right now. Ball 1 outside. 1-1 count. 2-1 now. Slider misses, 3-1. Slider taken for a strike. Johnson will be running. Grounds out to Blanco. 5-3 now though. Hopefully Gregg keeps pitching well.
Top of the 9th
The sidewinding Peter Moylan makes Soto look foolish on a slider 10 feet outside for a strikeout.
Gregg warming up for the Cubs, he'll come in. Hoffpauir will pinch-hit for Marmol.
0-2 on Blanco. Grounds out to Chipper.
Hoffpauir up. Grounds out to Escobar on the first pitch.
Bottom of the 9th
McCann, Andereson, and Prado for Gregg. Gregg didn't allow a run in 11 of his last 12 outings.
Sigh. 2-0 on McCann. 2-1 to McCann. 3-1 now. Throw the ball over the damn plate. Full count. Flies out to left, Alf does his stupid hop.
First pitch strike to Anderson. 1-2 on one of the most underrated hitters of the last 20 years. Strikeout, but it's in the dirt, gets away from Soto, Anderson advances. Tying run at the plate with 1 out.
Prado flies out to center.
Francoeur up. This scares me. 1-1, Francoeur swings through a fastball right down the middle. 2-1 now. Sure enough, Gregg grooves Francoeuer a fastball, and he ties the game at 5. Unreal. You cannot give him anything to hit there.
Now another strikeout in the dirt, but of course Soto fields this one cleanly. Unbelievable. No way the Cubs win this game now.
Top of the 10th
Poor Randy Wells. It's incredible.
Soriano strikes out. I'm pissed off beyond words right now.
Theriot hits one down the right field line pretty deep, but of course Francoeur runs it down.
Fukdome with a nice swing off the lefty, drills one down the left field line for a double.
Lee should see Gonzalez well and has hit the ball right on the nose tonight with a homer and double. Well, they are going to walk him intentionally. Reed kills lefties, so fine by me.
Reed pops one up into foul territory, again the Braves catch it right in front of the dugout.
I feel like this game is over for sure already, it's just torture I have to keep watching. This is a perfect example of Cubs baseball.
Bottom of the 10th
Guzman is in, throws a strike, now a ball. 1-1. Matt Diaz pinch-hits and singles.
1-0 on Johnson. This sucks. 2-0 now. Sacrifice bunt. Winning run on 2nd, 1 out.
Have to go after Escobar with Chipper on deck, and McCann in the hole who is 2 for 2 with a homer and double against Guzman. 0-2 count, nice 91 mph slider from Guzman. Groundball to short, Diaz with a risky baserunning move but Theriot won't risk it, gets the out at first.
Chipper up, you have to walk him. I don't care about McCann's numbers, you can't let Chipper beat you. They are walking him. Guzman almost threw the first pitch away.
Slider inside, Brenly doesn't like pitching inside to McCann. Pitch in the dirt, and Soto makes a great block. Would've been nice last inning. 3-0. They just put him on now, and Guzman almost throws it away again.
Slider strike to Garret. Fouls it off, 0-2 count. 95 mph high fastball. D-Lee makes a nice play backing up into the outfield, nice throw to Guzman to end the inning. Well, still alive.
Top of the 11th
Rafael Soriano in for the Braves. Very questionable first strike call to Fontenot. 1-1 now. Fontenot drills a single into left-center.
Bobby Scales batting for Soto, will be bunting I'm sure. Stupid though in my opinion, use Dempster here if you're going to do that. Scales pops the bunt up of course. Wasted bat off the bench in extra innings.
0-2 on Blanco. Fouls a couple off, 1-2 now. I'll be shocked if this doesn't result in a strikeout or double play. Would like to see movement with Fontenot here to try to get into scoring position. Breaking ball just missed, 2-2. Pitch #7 on the way. Well Blanco absolutely crushes it, but Francoeur doesn't have to move too much.
2-1 on Koyie Hill. Last pitch could've been a strike. Breaker in for a strike to even the count. Strikes out swinging.
Bottom of the 11th
Heilman coming in. Here come some more walks.
First pitch low. Up and in, 2-0. Unbelievable. A miraculous strike. Tough play in the hole for Theriot, read the hop wrong. Even so, I'm not sure if he has a play at first.
Bunt, Heilman with a wild throw but Lee catches it. Would've been so fitting if that one went into right field. Winning run on 2nd with 1 out.
Gregor Blanco fouls a meatball off. I thought that was the game-winning hit when it was crossing the plate. 1-1 count. A ROCKET but right at Heilman. Knocks it down, gets the out at first. 2 outs, runner at 3rd. That should've been the game-winner.
Diaz up. 1-0. Big swing and a miss on a slider. 1-1 fastball on the corner, called a ball. A hanger that he should've hit a mile, swings through. 2-2. Slider in the dirt, nice block by Hill. 3-2. A liner into right... Kosuke makes a running catch. I didn't think that had a chance of being caught off the bat.
Top of the 12th
Top of the order up for the Cubs.
Need Soriano to park another one. Soriano vs. Soriano matchup. Broken bat lazy flyball to Kelly Johnson, 1 out.
Theriot takes a strike, and another. Painted the corner with 93 mph fastballs. Now on the inside corner with one for a strikeout. That was a pitching clinic.
95 mph fastball for a strike. Finally one for a ball. 2-1 now. Should see another fastball, take a big rip Kosuke. 3-1, way outside. Ball 4, barely low.
Lee pops the first pitch up but behind the backstop, 0-1. Again a foul pop up just a few rows out of play. 0-2 now. Doubt he'll see much to hit here. He doesn't, but chases. Swing and a miss for strike 3.
Bottom of the 12th
1-2-3 due up for Atlanta. I think this is where it ends.
Heilman still in. Johnson grounds out the first pitch to Lee, 1 out.
2-0 on Escobar. Eric O'Flaherty up in the pen for the Braves, hopefully the Cubs get a chance to see him. 3-0 now. This is what's killing Heilman, the walks. Can't walk guys in front of Chipper Jones. 3-1. Escobar fouls one off himself... karma. He singles through the left side though. Then Soriano bobbles it as usual, Escobar considers 2nd, Soriano fires in that area, Blanco makes a diving play to prevent it from going into right field.
Chipper owns Heilman. 1-1 count. Nice take on a changeup, 2-1. Now gets a call on a change, Chipper hates it. 2-2. Escobar runs, ball 3, safe at 2nd. Don't give Chipper anything to hit.
Chipper singles, Braves win 6-5. Easily the worst loss of the year, and one of the worst losses in the last decade. Up 5-0 in the 8th, and 5-3 with 2 outs in the 9th... you cannot blow that. Add in that Lowe and Jurrjens are waiting next. I'm fully expecting a sweep now. It was particularly annoying after the bullpen looked so much better over the last week. Back to their old crappy ways. Well I'm going to start drinking heavily, enough of this nonsense.
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