This is our first live blog with the new url as well.
Milton Bradley had an MRI on his right calf today, I've yet to hear the results. With him, it's much more likely that it's bad rather than good.
Game: Chicago Cubs(25-25) vs. Atlanta Braves(26-25)
Game Time: 7:05 PM ET
TV: CSN, Peachtree TV
Pitching Matchup:
Braves- Derek Lowe(6-3, 3.49 ERA)
Cubs- Ted Lilly(6-4, 3.50 ERA)
Lineups:
Cubs
1. Alfonso Soriano, LF (.244, 13 HR, 26 RBI, .791 OPS)
2. Ryan Theriot, SS (.283, 5 HR, 22 RBI, .789 OPS)
3. Kosuke Fukudome, CF (.312, 5 HR, 20 RBI, .951 OPS)
4. Derrek Lee, 1B (.253, 6 HR, 21 RBI, .770 OPS)
5. Mike Fontenot, 3B (.231, 5 HR, 21 RBI, .704 OPS)
6. Reed Johnson, CF (.296, 3 HR, 14 RBI, .832 OPS)
7. Koyie Hill, C (.283, 2 HR, 7 RBI, .845 OPS)
8. Andres Blanco, 2B (.143, 0 HR, 1 RBI, .357 OPS)
9. Ted Lilly, P (.095, 0 HR, 2 RBI, .279 OPS)
Braves
1. Kelly Johnson, 2B (.250, 5 HR, 19 RBI, .752 OPS)
2. Yunel Escobar, SS (.298, 5 HR, 27 RBI, .833 OPS)
3. Matt Diaz, LF (.289, 2 HR, 15 RBI, .813 OPS)
4. Brian McCann, C (.306, 5 HR, 18 RBI, .909 OPS)
5. Martin Prado, 1B (.244, 2 HR, 7 RBI, .737 OPS)
6. Jeff Francoeur, RF (.251, 4 HR, 25 RBI, .634 OPS)
7. Diory Hernandez, 3B (.167, 0 HR, 0 RBI, .408 OPS)
8. Gregor Blanco, CF (.000, 0 HR, 0 RBI, .000 OPS)
9. Derek Lowe, P (.211, 0 HR, 1 RBI, .496 OPS)
Chipper Jones is out due to a sore left toe I believe Len said. I'd imagine he can pinch-hit.
The big news for the Braves today is the release of future Hall of Famer Tom Glavine as I'm sure you already heard by now.
That Braves lineup isn't a very good one tonight either. I bet this will be a 3-2 type of game.
Top of the 1st
Soriano singles down the line in left, then starts limping. Sigh. This is just unreal. The very first freaking pitch of the game. He's staying in. It's the knee that's been bothering him it appears.
Theriot bounces into a double play.
Breaking News: The Braves have acquired All-Star outfielder Nate McLouth from the Pittsburgh Pirates.
-Huge- trade for the Braves. I'm thrilled to see him out of the division at least.
Fukudome bounces out.
Bottom of the 1st
Lilly doesn't get a strike call on a pitch that looked pretty good to start it. 1-1 now. Johnson drills one off the wall in right-center for a double. Nice play by Fukudome and he made it close at 2nd.
Escobar fouls one off and takes a strike. 0-2.
More on the McLouth trade: The Braves gave up pitcher Charlie Morton, minor league outfielder Gorkys Hernandez, and minor league pitcher Jeff Locke.
Escobar strikes out.
Diaz chases a pitch out of the zone on 2-0, 2-1 now.
The Braves have also promoted top pitching prospect Tommy Hanson, and he will start for them Saturday. Huge, huge day in Atlanta with the moves.
Full count on Diaz. Grounds out to Theriot, Johnson stays at 2nd. 2 outs.
Lilly strikes McCann out looking with a curveball.
Top of the 2nd
The Pirates will be calling up stud outfield prospect Andrew McCutchen to play centerfield. Apparently the Pirates were not shopping McLouth, they just felt this offer Atlanta came with was too good to pass up. So those prospects must be pretty darn good. I've heard a lot of Gorkys I know.
For Atlanta, I love it now though. McLouth is a Gold Glove centerfielder, and has 30 homer power from the left side. He'll move right into the middle of their order.
0-1 on Derrek Lee. Lowe got ahead 0-2 in the count, but full now. Lee drives it into right-center but Blanco located well to make the play. 1 out.
Fontenot strikes out.
1-2 on Reed. Grounds out to Escobar on a 2-2 pitch.
Bottom of the 2nd
2 outs. Sorry I've been busy chatting away about this McLouth trade. Prado and Francoeur popped out.
0-1 on Hernandez. 2-2 count now. Strikes out swinging, inning over.
Top of the 3rd
Koyie Hill draws a leadoff walk on five pitches.
Blanco takes a sinker that doesn't sink. Rare from Lowe. Koyie Hill off the base maybe an inch and Lowe throws over. For the 2nd time, the Cubs hit a one bouncer to third base for a double play.
Lilly with an odd swing on an 0-2 count and bounces out to shortstop.
Bottom of the 3rd
Blanco flies out, Lowe grounds out, Johnson grounds out.
Lilly looking sharp as usual.
Top of the 4th
Soriano bounces out on a 3-1 pitch. Running a little better that time though.
1-2 on Theriot, tries to bunt on 1-1 and foul. Now he's drilled and he's in pain. Right in the ribs, ouch. Trainer's out to look at him, he's on first base though. Probably lost his breath for a second.
Fukudome singles to right.
On 2-1, Lee looked like he wanted to call time and didn't get it, Lowe fires in a strike, 2-2. Full count now, gotta send the runners. Check swing, runners go, appeal at first. Theriot thrown out at third, but the umpires say Lee didn't swing.
Bases loaded for Fontenot. Fontenot drills the first pitch off the wall, 2 runs score on a double. 2-0 Cubs!
1-1 to Reed, pops it up on the infield. 2 outs.
Hill shows bunt, takes a ball. Another one, both sliders, 2-0. 2-2 count now, breaking ball just misses. Full count. Hill strikes out looking.
Sucks to leave runners in scoring position that were there with less than 2 outs, but we'll take 2 runs off Lowe with how Lilly is pitching.
Bottom of the 4th
1-2 on Escobar. Strikes out swinging.
Diaz flies out to very deep right. I said "Uh oh" right when it left the bat.
McCann with a bouncer that took an awkward hop on Lee but he makes the play and takes it himself to first, inning over.
Top of the 5th
Blanco hits it hard but right at the first baseman.
Lilly strikes out looking.
Soriano breaks his bat and it travels pretty well out to left on the first pitch. That may have left the yard if his bat stayed in one piece.
Bottom of the 5th
Lilly walks Prado on four pitches. Not a good start to the inning.
Francoeur flies out to right, 1 out.
1-0 count on Hernandez. High strike, 1-1. Pops out in foul territory to Lee, 2 down.
Lilly paints the outside corner with the lefty Blanco up for strike one. Groundball to Theriot, and that's the inning.
63 pitches through 5 for Lilly, 71 for Lowe.
Top of the 6th
Slider low to Theriot, 1-1. Tries pulling an outside sinker, and when you do that, you're going to groundout to the left side most every time. Theriot does that to shortstop, 1 out.
Fukudome with a 3-1 count. Gets a good pitch to drive but hits a very high flyout to Diaz in left, 2 down.
Lee swings and misses on a slider on 0-1. Probably looking fastball as Len said. Now he takes a sinker for a strike, 0-2. Sinker just misses, 1-2. Continues his hot hitting, stays on a breaking ball and drills it into left for a single.
Strike taken by Fontenot. 2-1 count now. Hits a pop up into foul territory down the left field line, Hernandez is running with his back to the ball and gives up on it. Incredibly tough play, but he could've been there and gave up. Must've thought Diaz was going to be closer. Full count, with 2 outs, Lee will be running. Foul ball. Flies out.
Bottom of the 6th
0-2 on Lowe. Takes a changeup down and away One more high fastball should do it. Throws it and it looked like a strikeout, called a ball. Sigh. Now a questionable call on a changeup called strike 3. So, whatever.
0-2 on Kelly Johnson. Curveball that Johnson gave up on -just- misses. Lilly misses again, now Johnson singles into left-center. Runner on first, 1 out. As they've talked about tonight, Johnson is rare in that he hits lefties better than he hits righties, but is a left-handed hitter.
Lilly throws it right down the middle and called a ball. 1-0. Then a single after that of course. 1st and 2nd, 1 out for Matt Diaz.
Diaz is a homer threat against lefties, and as we know, Lilly usually gives one up in his starts. I'm nervous. Curveball misses. Fouls a high and inside fastball back. Diaz gets his money's worth with his hacks. Another big swing fouled back. Throw a changeup Ted. Throws a curveball, misses. 2-2 count. A groundball drilled to the left side, looks like a single for sure, Theriot full dive gets it, spins around for the force at 2nd. Great play, probably the best I've seen him make at shortstop.
Hill drops a Lilly pitch, no advance. Diaz should've advanced to 2nd. 1-0. 1st and 3rd. Well located fastball down, 1-1 count. Nasty curveball taken for a strike. 1-2 count. Outstanding hitting by McCann on a 93 mph fastball outside, takes it to left field for an RBI single. 2-1 now.
Diaz not advancing is the difference between a deficit and a tie right now for the Braves. 0-2 on Prado, make him chase here. A slow roller to the left side, dies in the infield. Unbelievable. Worst hit ball of the game. Bases loaded, 2 outs. That really frustrated Lou too.
Francoeur up, great. 89 pitches for Lilly. Francoeur a .400 first pitch hitter. Lilly grooves him one, fouled off. Geez. Looks like a cutter on 0-1, down and in, swing and a miss. 0-2. Braves fans loud. Lilly very down, Frenchy still swings, fouls it off. Stay there. Curveball misses, 1-2. Swing and a miss on an offspeed pitch low and inside, in the dirt in fact. Inning over, could've been a lot worse and that Diaz decision to stay at first ends up being big.
Top of the 7th
94 pitches for Lilly. 1, maybe 2 innings left. Marmol and/or Gregg going to factor into this one, better show up.
Pitch #91 for Lowe in there for a strike. Reed grounds the next pitch out to Kelly Johnson.
Hill whiffs on a curveball on the first pitch. Now a foul ball, 0-2. And strikeout swinging on a breaking ball next pitch. 2 outs, 5 pitches for Lowe.
1-1 after Blanco fouls one off. Blanco misses a double into left by a couple feet, 1-2 count. Welp, gets it anyway. Next pitch, lines it down the left field line again, just fair. Runner on 2nd, 2 outs.
1-0 on Lilly. 100 pitches for Lowe. Pitch #101 grounded out to first. Likely one more inning for Lowe.
Bottom of the 7th
Camera guys finding some quality thigh tonight, good work gents.
Diory Hernandez fouls of a pitch to start the 7th.
Bunt by Gregor Blanco, Lilly fields it but throws it near nobody in the stadium. Thankfully, Andres Blanco backed it up, runner on 1st.
Chipper pinch-hitting for Lowe. 0-1 count. 1-1 now, curve misses. Chipper hits what I thought was a blooper, travels to the wall on a bounce just past Reed in center. 2-2 now, Chipper at 2nd, 1 out.
Brenly suggesting to hit Johnson here after Theriot was plunked earlier. 0-2 count, takes a curveball out of the zone. Johnson strikes out swinging on a pitch out of the zone. 2 down.
Now, HERE'S a guy to hit. Escobar. Lou's visiting. Lilly stays in. Ball 1. 2-0. I wouldn't give him too much to hit here with the base open. Marmol warming up. Well, he hits a lazy flyball out to right.
Top of the 8th
Top of the order due up. Going to be a battle of the bullpens now. So... shit.
Soriano for some reason takes a fastball, shows bunt actually. Now of course the slider, misses by 3 feet. So predictable. Moylan in for the Braves. Now for some reason they throw a fastball, 1-2. A slider and he's done. There it is, strikeout.
Theriot finally goes to right field with a single! FINALLY! THAT'S THE THERIOT I LOVE!
Now almost picked off first base as usual. And even closer this time, I thought he was out. Looks like he may have been on the replay. 0-1 to Fukudome. I'd like to see a hit and run in this at bat, but don't get too far off Theriot. Kosuke takes a fastball right down the middle. If he swings he crushes that. 0-2. An 0-2 pitch from the sidewinding right-hander WAY outside. Nice job by McCann to prevent a wild pitch. Runner goes on 1-2, strike em out throw em out. I'm pretty sure that was a straight steal. You don't hit and run on a 1-2 count.
Bottom of the 8th
More Breaking News: Sammy Sosa is retiring.
Marmol in, he threw a strike to the first batter! 1-2 now. Diaz whiffs on a slider in another continent, strikeout.
1-1 on McCann, great slider from Carlos tonight. 2-2 pitch I believe, bounces out to Blanco. 2 down.
1-1 on Prado. Now a slider that has Prado bending out of the way, 1-2. Prado weakly flies out to Reed.
Top of the 9th
Mike Gonzalez in, Derrek Lee leading off. Breaking ball high for a ball. Lee rips a single into left, he's red hot. Anybody that thinks trading him is the answer doesn't watch much baseball.
Fontenot pops up a bunt on the first pitch, even Brenly groans.
Reed up. Fouls it off, 0-1. Reed swings at a pitch near his head and flies out to center. Jake Fox pinch-hitting for Hill. So unless they're going to play him at his old position, we'll see Soto catching. I don't agree with this move, with a short bench already. Fox better crush one. Shows how much Lou trusts the pen though and I can't blame him.
Fox hammers a 1-0 pitch foul. Lee still at first, 2 outs. Hit in the foot, 1st and 2nd, 2 outs.
Soto is pinch-hitting for Blanco now. Soto takes a meatball on 1-0. Swing the damn bat and try to get the run in. Bobby Scales on deck. Burning the whole bench here. 2-1 count. 3-1 now.
Bases loaded for Scales. Takes a strike. Breaking ball just misses. Scales hits it hard, but right at the third baseman. Brenly sighs quite loudly.
Bottom of the 9th
Angel Guzman in. Feels like the Cubs already lost again. 0-1, doesn't get a call on two straight pitches now, both strikes, 2-1. Francoeur bounces one off the plate, bounces 100 feet in the air, beats it out. Incredible.
Brian Barton pinch-running, Garret Anderson pinch-hitting. Slider in, 1-0. Deep flyball to Anderson, thankfully Barton doesn't tag up and goes halfway, 1 out. I think he would've made it to 2nd.
Guzman throws about 95 mph to first on pickoffs. He's gonna throw one away. Runner goes, Soto nails him, nice tag by Theriot. Replay shows he was safe probably though. Blanco bounces out to Guzman.
Off to extras again. Yay? Probably not.
Top of the 10th
And I'm drinking. Got this Orange Blossom Cream Ale as I made a mixed six pack at the liquor store.
0-2 on Soriano, slow bouncer to Escobar, error! Ha! Take that douche.
Theriot tries bunting, fails of course on the first try. 0-1. It's so sad. Now he's swinging, tries to pull a slider for a bomb, misses. Do what you did last inning, ass. Go to right with it. And he bounces to third for another double play. He's done that twice. As Brenly points out, was trying to pull everything again. Unreal.
1-1 to Fukudome. 2-1 now, takes a fastball for a strike right down the middle, and another. Swing the bat.
Bottom of the 10th
Chipper leading off, that's not a good thing. 2-1 count. 3-1 count. Don't just put him on dammit. Swings through a fastball, full count. One of the best pitches you'll see, a 95 mph two-seamer, drifts back over the plate Maddux style, Chipper strikes out looking.
Johnson groundball up the middle through Guzman's legs, Theriot behind 2nd base at the back of the infield makes a nice play and gets Johnson at 1st, 2 down.
97 mph fastball just misses low and inside. Theriot another nice play on a sliding stop, gets Escobar easily. Inning over.
Well Theriot's played an outstanding shortstop tonight, sort of makes up for his double plays and annoying approach changes at the plate.
Top of the 11th
Lee will leadoff, he's reached 3 times tonight. Jeff Bennett pitching for the Braves. 1-0 count, now a breaking ball in for a strike to even it. Lee with success against him in the past. 2-1 now. Now a spot Guzman didn't get earlier, 2-2. Pitch in the dirt, full count. Derrek gets a good pitch to hit but fouls it off his foot. Lee really seeing the ball well, reached in 4 straight at bats now as he walks.
Fontenot tries bunting again, fouls it off. It's incredible. Just forget about it, these guys can't bunt as sad as that is. 1-1 now. Fontenot flies out to left down the left field line, Derrek Lee with OUTSTANDING baserunning, tags up, beats the play at 2nd.
1 out, 1-0 count to Reed. Hoffpauir on deck for Guzman, Gregg up in the pen. 2-0 count. Grip it and rip it Reed. 3-1 count, just barely missed getting hit by the last pitch. A slider in for a strike, 3-2. Reed sneaks a single past the diving 3rd baseman. Lee had to hold up to make sure it got through. 1st and 3rd, 1 out, pitching change.
Lefty Eric O'Flaherty in to face Hoffpauir. Hoff's looked quite bad against some lefties. Just hit a flyball somewhere please. 1-0 count. Now a weak swing, 1-1. Sigh. Offspeed low, 2-1. Fouls one off, does not look comfortable at all as I worried. 2-2 count. Contact somewhere. Stays on a slider outside and bloops it into left, Cubs lead 3-2!
Soto up, 1st and 2nd, 1 out. 1-1 count. Ball way outside. I think Geo's gonna get a good hack on this guy. Or not. Swings at a change way outside, 2-2. Fastball outside, full. Doubt the runners will go with Hoff at 1st and Soto a strikeout candidate. Hits it hard to right, but Brian Barton doesn't have to move too much, catches it, runners stay at 1st and 2nd, 2 outs.
Scales up. Thought he had a single but Escobar ranges to his right and gets to it, fires to 2nd for the force. Damn.
Bottom of the 11th
Come on Gregg... please. Pretty please. I'm begging you. Get these 3 outs without allowing a run. Hopefully you don't have to get 4 outs again.
Gregg with maybe his 2 best curves of the year. 2 just miss now, fastballs, last looked like a strike. Slow bouncer to Theriot, has to move to his right on the infield grass, bad throw, but Lee with an awesome dig.
Another beautiful curve, stick to that. 0-1. Now a splitter away, 1-1. Fastball fouled off, 1-2. Curveball in the dirt, count even at 2-2. Beautifully located fastball outside, 93 mph, McCann swings and misses. 2 outs.
Groundball to Fontenot, takes a tough hop but fields it cleanly, fires to Lee, CUBS WIN!
I can't even explain how big of a win this is for the Cubs after last night. I actually more or less wrote this one off as a loss coming in, so I'm not nearly as upset about last night's game now. Huge for Marmol and Gregg to bounce back with great outings. Not getting any easier tomorrow against Braves stud right-hander Jair Jurrjens, but the Cubs have Zambrano going so hopefully he's on top of his game. Anyway, celebrate tonight at least Cubs fans.
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