Game: Cleveland Indians(29-41) @ Chicago Cubs(33-31)
Game Time: 2:20 PM ET
TV: CSN

Pitching Matchup:

Cubs- Randy Wells(0-3, 2.55 ERA)
Indians- Jeremy Sowers(1-4, 5.14 ERA)

Lineups:

Indians
1. Jamey Carroll, 2B (.277, 0 HR, 8 RBI, .717 OPS)
2. Mark DeRosa, LF (.280, 13 HR, 49 RBI, .827 OPS)
3. Victor Martinez, C (.335, 12 HR, 53 RBI, .955 OPS)
4. Shin-Soo Choo, RF (.300, 9 HR, 41 RBI, .875 OPS)
5. Jhonny Peralta, 3B (.259, 3 HR, 29 RBI, .702 OPS)
6. Luis Valbuena, SS (.223, 4 HR, 10 RBI, .739 OPS)
7. Chris Gimenez, 1B (.176, 2 HR, 2 RBI, .829 OPS)
8. Ben Francisco, CF (.233, 5 HR, 23 RBI, .676 OPS)
9. Jeremy Sowers, P (N/A)

Cubs
1. Alfonso Soriano, LF (.225, 14 HR, 30 RBI, .727 OPS)
2. Ryan Theriot, SS (.280, 6 HR, 26 RBI, .752 OPS)
3. Milton Bradley, RF (.241, 5 HR, 16 RBI, .724 OPS)
4. Derrek Lee, 1B (.288, 11 HR, 35 RBI, .867 OPS)
5. Geovany Soto, C (.222, 4 HR, 17 RBI, .670 OPS)
6. Jake Fox, 3B (.278, 0 HR, 2 RBI, .722 OPS)
7. Kosuke Fukudome, CF (.274, 5 HR, 22 RBI, .835 OPS)
8. Andres Blanco, 2B (.217, 0 HR, 6 RBI, .563 OPS)
9. Randy Wells, P (.167, 0 HR, 1 RBI, .333 OPS)

First off, happy father's day to any of you dads out there.

The Cubs are hoping to get their 4th straight win, and the last 3 have been in incredible fashion. Hopefully they can finally get Randy Wells a win.

I told you in yesterday's live blog that Angel Guzman had a triceps strain and it wasn't known if he were available or not. Well because the Cubs really had no other options in extra innings, Lou Piniella elected to use Guzman for 2 innings. He did a great job and helped get the Cubs the win, but felt pain in his triceps afterwards and the Cubs placed him on the disabled list. Right-hander Kevin Hart was called up to replace him. Hopefully it will just be the minimum 15 days for Angel, because he's been the Cubs' best reliever this year. Hart is apparently available today and was scheduled to start today for Iowa.

Top of the 1st

Wells fires a strike to open the game, then inside, 1-1 count to Carroll. Now Carroll swings and misses at a pitch near the dirt. Lines a single into right on a great piece of hitting.

1-1 on DeRosa. DeRosa didn't mean to swing, but went around on a high breaking ball. 91 mph fastball too far inside to even the count. Fastball barely misses inside, full count. Will probably see some movement on the bases. Carroll indeed runs, DeRosa swings and misses, strike em out throw em out. Soto's been throwing strikes to 2nd base the last few weeks. Looking much more like himself all around of late.

1-1 on Victor. High flyball to left, easy play for Soriano to end the inning.

Bottom of the 1st

0-2 on Soriano, looking to break out of this very long slump. Strikes out swinging.

Fastball misses outside to Theriot, now a strike. Lines one into the right-center field gap for a double. He's going to right field much more lately as you want him to, good to see.

Questionable strike call on Bradley, he doesn't approve. Now Theriot steals 3rd base. Next pitch, Bradley hits a bouncer right at the bag at 3rd, Theriot has to go back to 3rd as he'd easily be out at the plate. The ball gets there before he can, Peralta tags him and goes to 1st for a double play. Very bizarre play and nowhere Theriot could go, did the right thing. The replay shows he was safe though. Quade was furious at the call.

Top of the 2nd

Choo drives it to left but Soriano catches it right about at the track.

Peralta hits a one hopper and Blanco moves back to field the hop easily, nicely done. 2 down.

2-2 on Cub-killer Luis Valbuena. On a full count, Wells gets him to swing and miss with a changeup.

Bottom of the 2nd

Derrek Lee comes in with a 17-game hitting streak, 27-game on-base streak. Grounds out to Valbuena who made a nice play ranging up the middle.

Soto driills one to left and it barely gets out. He's drilling the ball right now. Appears to be back offensively and defensively. 1-0 Cubs.

I'd wondered why Reed wasn't starting against the lefty. Apparently it's due to his back. Lou talks about it here.

Fukudome drives the ball to left which is good to see, but Mark DeRosa doesn't have to move too much.

Top of the 3rd

Gimenez bloops a double down the right field line.

3-1 on Francisco. Groundball in the hole, Theriot rounds it and throws on the run to Lee. Takes a long bounce and Lee does a nice job playing it for the out.

0-2 on the pitcher Jeremy Sowers, getting some good swings thoch ugh. Wells tries to get him to bite at a fastball 15 feet high, Sowers doesn't go for it, 1-2. Groundball to 3rd, gets down the line ridiculously fast and almost beats it out.

1-2 on DeRosa, they're feeding him sliders. Strikes out looking on a fastball that appears to be a tad low, he's not happy. It was a good pitch to hit though and you have to be protecting with 2 strikes.

Bottom of the 3rd

0-2 count, groundball on the chalk down the left field line, Peralta drops it, but still has time to get Blanco at 1st.

Randy Wells with a slow roller to 1st for the 2nd out.

Soriano jammed and flies out to center.

Top of the 4th

1-2 count on Victor. Grounds out to Theriot.

Choo breaks his bat and it looks like a for sure single, but Fukudome got an insanely good jump on the ball, and makes a full extension dive to make the catch. Considering Choo broke his bat, it was a very difficult play to read, making the play even more impressive.

2-2 on Peralta with the bases empty and 2 down. 2 pitches later, Peralta is awarded 1st base with a walk.

1-1 on Valbuena, 1-2 now. Drives it into the right-center field gap, but Fukudome makes another nice play and runs it down to end the inning.

Bottom of the 4th

Cardinals, Brewers, and Reds are all losing right now.

Theriot takes a strike. 3-1 count. Ball 4. Sowers has had a problem with walks so hopefully the Cubs can do more of what Theriot just did.

Bradley rips a double down the left field line, 2nd and 3rd no outs.

1-1 on Lee, last pitch looked like a clear strike. Pops out to right, almost dropped but Choo runs in to make the catch.

Intentionally walking Soto to load the bases so they can get the double play possibly. This is something we wouldn't have seen just a couple weeks ago. Make them pay Fox.

Fox drills the 1st pitch into left, but right at DeRosa. DeRosa throws home and it's on line, but Theriot makes a great slide to get around the tag, barely. 2-0 Cubs.

2-1 on Fukudome with runners on 1st and 2nd, 2 outs. Awful strike call to make the count 2-2 on a slider way outside. Now a slider outside too low this time, full count. Runners will be on the move with 2 outs. He takes a borderline pitch that's called a ball for the walk.

0-1 on Blanco with 2 outs and the bases loaded. Takes a big rip at a high fastball, 0-2. Flies out to right to end the inning.

Top of the 5th

Well the Cardinals were losing, then took a 8-4 lead in the 4th in Kansas City. Pujols with a grand slam in the inning, 25 homers, 67 RBI on the year. He's absolutely unreal. Brewers lose though, so the Cubs can gain ground on them at least.

Gimenez flies out to Bradley.

Francisco grounds out to Fox who makes a perfect throw to 1st. He's looking okay over there.

3-1 on Sowers, don't want to walk the pitcher. Swings and misses at a fastball, 3-2. Groundball that makes Lee range to his right and backhand it, Wells gets over to 1st quickly, and they just barely get the hustling Sowers again.

Randy Wells has qualified for the win. Of course, that's happened many times and the pen has blown his lead. The pen is spent after yesterday as well. 71 pitches, he'll likely go at least 2 more.

Bottom of the 5th

Randy Wells with a nice swing and lines a single just fair down the right field line.

Soriano chases a changeup way out of the zone for strike 1. Pulls a breaking ball outside and somehow gets it through the 3rd baseman and shortstop. 1st and 2nd no outs.

Theriot shows bunt, takes a ball low. Bunts through one, tried to bunt for a hit when he's just being asked to sacrifice. Theriot with a nice bunt to the 3rd baseman, 2nd and 3rd, 1 out.

1st pitch to Bradley gets away from Victor Martinez, but not nearly enough to try to score. Next pitch is low too, 2-0. Pitch just a bit high and outside, 3-0 now. 3-0 green light, fouls it off. Now he's hit by a pitch in the right elbow, appears to be okay though.

Bases loaded by Derrek Lee. Takes a fastball on the outside corner, 0-1. Offspeed pitch just a bit outside, 1-1. Derrek drills a single into left to give the Cubs a 3-0 lead, and give himself an 18-game hitting streak.

Bases still loaded, 1 out for Soto. 1-0 count. Soto seeing Sowers very well, rips a foul ball straight back. Full count now. RBI walk for Soto, 4-0 Cubs.

Bases loaded again for Jake Fox. Crushes it to deep right-center, bounces up against the wall, 2-run double. 6-0 Cubs.

That's it for Sowers. Indians bring in another lefty, Mike Gosling.

1-2 on Fukudome, runners on 2nd and 3rd. Takes strike 3 looking, 2 outs.

Intentionally walk Blanco to get to Wells who already has a hit in the inning.

Wells drills it to deep right-center but Choo runs it down. Looked like a bases-clearing double.

Well, if Wells can keep pitching like he is and the bullpen blows it again, he should just retire.

Top of the 6th

1st pitch located right on the corner but called a ball. Drills one into deep left, Soriano takes forever to get there, leadoff triple for Carroll.

DeRosa with a sacrifice fly to right on the 1st pitch, 6-1 now.

Victor lines out to Soriano in left, 2 outs.

Choo grounds a 1-0 pitch to Blanco. 1 run in, but Wells only had to throw 9 pitches in the inning, giving him 80 for the game. Have him go 8 at least, Lou.

Bottom of the 6th

Soriano and Theriot quickly retired.

Bradley lines one into the left-center field gap for his 2nd double of the game. .750 OPS now.

Lee with an 0-2 count. Pitch in the dirt, Lee with a check swing and doesn't think he went, the home plate umpire says he does, the ball gets away from the catcher and Lee would make it to 1st if he went right away, but his thrown out by a lot. Bradley sprints home and slides in, but it doesn't count of course because they got the out at 1st. Nice hustle though, love to see that. Lou is laughing in the dugout.

Top of the 7th

0-1 on Peralta. Flies out to Bradley on the track, 1 out.

Valbuena singles to right on a 3-1 count. He's ridiculous right now.

0-1 on Gimenez. 0-2 now as he swings through a good breaking ball. 2-2 count, Sean Marshall warming up in the bullpen. Slow groundball and Fox makes the play, 2 outs.

Francisco hits a roller that dies in between Wells and Soto, but they each just stare at each other. If either of them picks it up and throws to 1st, the inning is over.

Now Lou is taking out Wells, brings in the lefty Marshall to face the lefty pinch-hitter Hafner. I would've let Wells finish this inning.

1-1 on Hafner. A high bouncer that gets over Lee's head and into right field for an RBI single, 6-2 now.

Carroll grounds to Theriot, who flips to Blanco at 2nd for the force. Inning over.

Wells' line: 6.2 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 1 BB, 3 K

Bottom of the 7th

Todd Hollandsworth did the 7th inning stretch.

Jensen Lewis in to pitch for the Indians. 1-2 on Soto who has homered and walked twice. Flies out to the wall in center.

Fox grounds out to 3rd.

Fukudome hits a groundball hard to 2nd base, but Carroll is right there to make the play.

Top of the 8th

Marshall still in. 2-2 on DeRosa. Lines one hard into the crowd, hope everybody's okay. Now DeRosa strikes out swinging. He's sporting the silver sombrero today.

Victor flies out softly to left, 2 down.

On the 7th pitch, Choo grounds out to Lee to end the inning.

Bottom of the 8th

If the Cubs can hold this lead in the 9th, Randy Wells will finally get his 1st major league victory. Hopefully they can add some insurance runs here.

Blanco singles to start the inning.

Hoffpauir pinch-hitting for Marshall. Drives one to right and Choo makes another nice play on the track in the well in right.

Soriano grounds into a 4-6-3 double play.

Top of the 9th

Jose Ascanio in to pitch.

1st pitch a fastball strike to Peralta. 2nd pitch is a slider that looks like a strike to me, but the umpire says ball 1. Another ball now, followed by a foul ball, 2-2. Nasty changeup that gets Peralta swinging.

1-0 on Valbuena. Changeup in for a strike, 1-1. 1-2 now as he swings and misses at another change. That's Ascanio's best pitch in my opinion, even with a 95 mph fastball. Throws another and Valbuena tries to hold his swing and does, even at 2-2. Valbuena gets another hit, lining a single to left.

2-0 now on Gimenez. 3-0 now. Gregg will surely come in if there's another ball here. And there it is.

Gregg in to face Francisco, 1st and 2nd, 1 out. 1st pitch in the dirt, runners advance. 2-0 now. Fastball on the corner, big call, 2-1. Fastball on the inside corner now, 2-2. And back to the outside corner for strike 3.

1-1 on Trevor Crowe. 1-2 as Crowe can't check his swing on a breaking ball. Fastball just misses, it did miss for sure. The crowd groans though. Grounds it foul down the right field line. Nasty curve that Crowe does a good job of making contact on, fouls another one off. Groundball up the middle and it looks like it's going to be a hit, Blanco backhands and throws running away from the direction he's throwing to, Lee makes a sensational dig and they get Crowe to end the game. CUBS WIN AND SWEEP THE INDIANS!

Randy Wells finally gets a win! He's doing the postgame interview and pretty excited.

4 wins in a row, and a 5-3 homestand. The Cubs needed this, and it was nice to get a less stressful win today that didn't have to be another incredible comeback. The Cubs gained ground on Milwaukee, just 1 back of them now, and up 1.5 games on the Reds as well. Cardinals appear to be headed to a win in Kansas City, so they'll stay up 2.5 games on the Cubs.

Very difficult road trip ahead, but hopefully the Cubs have some confidence going now and can keep swinging well on the road. Playing a makeup game for a rainout tomorrow night in Atlanta. It sounds like Lou is going to rest a lot of guys and Javier Vazquez is pitching for the Braves, so that won't be an easy one. Regardless, you can enjoy things right now after an incredibly fun last 4 games.


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