Game: Atlanta Braves(39-43) @ Chicago Cubs(41-39)
Game Time: 7:05 PM CT
TV: WGN

Pitching Matchup:

Cubs- Carlos Zambrano (4-3, 3.50 ERA)
Braves- Javier Vazquez(5-7, 3.05 ERA)

Lineups:

Braves
1. Nate McLouth, CF (.270, 14 HR, 49 RBI, .829 OPS)
2. Martin Prado, 2B (.319, 4 HR, 15 RBI, .889 OPS)
3. Garret Anderson, LF (.279, 5 HR, 30 RBI, .714 OPS)
4. Brian McCann, C (.303, 8 HR, 33 RBI, .876 OPS)
5. Yunel Escobar, SS (.297, 7 HR, 43 RBI, .796 OPS)
6. Casey Kotchman, 1B (.272, 3 HR, 30 RBI, .722 OPS)
7. Jeff Francoeur, RF (.247, 5 HR, 33 RBI, .622 OPS)
8. Brooks Conrad, 2B (.286, 1 HR, 3 RBI, 1.000 OPS)
9. Javier Vazquez, P (.065, 0 HR, 2 RBI, .250 OPS)

Cubs
1. Kosuke Fukudome, CF (.268, 6 HR, 26 RBI, .823 OPS)
2. Ryan Theriot, SS (.289, 7 HR, 30 RBI, .756 OPS)
3. Derrek Lee, 1B (.288, 16 HR, 53 RBI, .882 OPS)
4. Micah Hoffpauir, RF (.243, 7 HR, 22 RBI, .729 OPS)
5. Aramis Ramirez, 3B (.343, 4 HR, 16 RBI, .952 OPS)
6. Alfonso Soriano, LF (.227, 14 HR, 32 RBI, .703 OPS)
7. Mike Fontenot, 2B (.236, 6 HR, 28 RBI, .683 OPS)
8. Koyie Hill, C (.229, 2 HR, 7 RBI, .682 OPS)
9. Carlos Zambrano, P (.222, 2 HR, 4 RBI, .679 OPS)

Braves vs. Cubs notables
Jeff Francoeur- .286(4-14), 2 HR, 1.119 OPS
Brian McCann- .556(5-9), 0 HR, 1.112 OPS
Nate McLouth- .227(5-22), 0 HR, .743 OPS

Cubs vs. Vazquez notables
Derrek Lee- .396(21-53), 3 HR, 1.109 OPS
Aramis Ramirez- .276(8-29), 2 HR, .965 OPS
Ryan Theriot- .385(5-13), 0 HR, .770 OPS

You've probably heard by now that Ryan Dempster was placed on the 15-day disabled list today with a fractured right toe, which he hurt jumping/tripping on the dugout railing while celebrating Sunday's win against the Brewers. Reports have him out anywhere from 3-6 weeks, and he says he expects to miss 3 starts. Remember with the All-Star break, 3 starts could be about 3 weeks from now anyway.

It's a huge loss for the Cubs, right after they finally had a healthy squad for the first time in over 2 months last night. Dempster had quality starts in 6 of his last 7 outings.

With the Cubs having 6 games in 5 gamedays before the break, this really screws some things up. Zambrano has been moved up in the rotation a day and is starting tonight. Lou says they would like to limit Zambrano to 80-90 pitches tonight as he's throwing on 3 day's rest. I'd think he'll also start Sunday in one of the doubleheader games against the Cardinals now as well.

They also called up Kevin Hart again, after he was sent back down to Iowa last night. He will start tomorrow's game against the Braves.

I'm not sure if Hart will stay in the rotation while Dempster's out, I'd think how he performs tomorrow could make a big difference on that decision. This is where having another lefty in the bullpen would be nice as Sean Marshall could step in to start these games. He's also been throwing in about every game of late it seems, and he'd need to get stretched out before he could just go out there and throw 5-6 innings.

Some good news tonight is that Chipper Jones is out with a sore groin, so Zambrano won't have to face the Braves' best hitter.

The Cubs will have a tough task facing veteran right-hander Javier Vazquez, and he already beat the Cubs this year on June 22nd. He shutout the Cubs over 6 2/3 innings.

CSN's Gail Fischer says Zambrano will indeed start the finale of the series against St. Louis as I figured.

The Brewers and Cardinals begin a 3-game series in Milwaukee tonight, so the Cubs will gain ground on somebody if they win.

Top of the 1st

The Cubs are wearing their blue tops, as Carlos Zambrano usually chooses to do. Braves in all gray uniforms.

1-1 count on McLouth. 65 degrees, wind out of the east at 7. That means it's blowing in from right field. 3-1 now. And ball 4. Not a good start for Zambrano, especially since he's only throwing 80-90 pitches.

Prado bunts, Zambrano thinks about throwing to 2nd, but wisely goes the safe route to 1st for the out. I don't think he would've gotten the speedy McLouth at 2nd.

0-1 on Anderson, Zambrano working faster than usual even. Now a great pickoff attempt at 2nd, Theriot sneaks in behind McLouth... Wait, replay shows he was definitely out. Anderson grounds out to 2nd, 2 outs. That should be the inning. Let's hope that missed call doesn't result in a run here.

McCann owns Zambrano, and continues to with an RBI single on the 1st pitch. Man is that frustrating, a run that shouldn't have happened if the umpire at 2nd base could see.

High heat gets Escobar swinging.

Bottom of the 1st

2-1 on Fukudome. A fastball just misses outside, Vazquez wanted the call, 3-1. Called strike, full count. Fukudome fights one off, still 3-2. Now Vazquez strikes him out swinging.

Theriot takes a slider strike. Bounces out to Escobar.

1-1 on Derrek Lee. Low fastball strike call, 1-2. Lee strikes out swinging.

Top of the 2nd

Casey Kotchman grounds out to Derrek Lee.

Francoeur drives a fastball to right, but the wind will knock that one down, easy play for Hoffpauir.

2-1 on Brooks Conrad. Old school with no batting gloves. Old school with his big hack too, absolutely smokes one to right field, thankfully it stayed in the yard right under the basket in the well area, his 1st career triple.

Thankfully that stayed in the park, was with 2 outs, nobody on, and with the pitcher up next. Vazquez with a broken bat grounder into the hole between 3rd and shortstop, Theriot has plenty of time with the pitcher running and the Cubs are out of the inning.

Bottom of the 2nd

In the Cardinals-Brewers game, Yovani Gallardo needs 37 pitches to get through the 1st and gave up a 3-run homer to Ryan Ludwick. 3-0 Cardinals, who have a 1 game lead over the Brewers in the division. Adam Wainwright is pitching for St. Louis so he might not need anymore run support.

Micah Hoffpauir with a good swing which has been a rarity for him lately, rips a single into right-center.

A very questionable strike call on a slider to Aramis Ramirez, he doesn't like it. Good swing on that same pitch, fouls it back. 0-2. Aramis slices one down the right field line, just foul. Would've been a double. Now he barely gets a piece of a high fastball, still 0-2. Slider low and outside, 1-2. Cue shot foul. Now he drills one into center for a single, his 1st hit since returning from the disabled list.

1st and 2nd, no outs for Soriano. Takes a curveball for a strike. Very slow pitch. Another one, this time almost in the dirt and Soriano chases. Slider in the dirt and Soriano able to check his swing, 1-2. Strikes out swinging on a curveball down and away.

91 mph 2-seam fastball with lots of movement in for a strike on the inside corner to Fontenot. Slider down and inside. Changeup fouled off. Good rip on a fastball, right on it, fouled straight back. Fontenot lays off a change in the dirt. Fontenot really hanging in there fouling pitches off, seen 7 pitches now and McCann goes out to visit Vazquez on the mound to try to figure out how to end this at bat. Crushes one to deep right-center, but the wind knocks it down and Nate McLouth makes a superb running catch.

0-1 on Hill, now a slider inside. On a 1-1 count, Hill whiffs on a high fastball. I'd expect a breaking ball down and in here. Goes with the change, 2-2. Lays off the high heat this time, full count. The runners will be going with 3-2, 2 outs. Fouls off a 93 mph fastball. That was the 40th pitch for Vazquez, but he'll usually go very deep into the game. He's a horse. A curveball and Hill does a good job to spoil it. Gets a hanger this time, smokes it up the middle for a single and the Cubs have tied the game, 1-1! Sensational at bat by the Cubs backup catcher.

1st and 2nd, 2 outs for Zambrano, takes a fastball strike on the outside corner. He's back to batting left-handed. Now a big swing on a 71 mph curveball, misses it, way ahead of it. He's laughing. Vazquez understandably comes back with high heat, but too far off the plate. Now a nasty changeup gets the Cubs pitcher to strikeout swinging.

Nice inning, really made Vazquez work and scratched across a run. Would've had more if the wind didn't knock down Fontenot's flyball, but the Braves were screwed of at least 1 run because of the wind themselves.

Top of the 3rd

Cutter or slider inside to McLouth who walked and scored in the 1st inning. 1-1 now. Bounces a splitter/change to Theriot for the 1st out. Always an accomplishment for the Cubs when they retire him, especially big to keep his speed off the basepaths to start the inning.

1-1 on Prado. A full count now and he lines a single into right.

0-2 on Garret Anderson, Zambrano staying low and away from veteran left-handed hitter. Now a changeup and Anderson whiffs.

2 outs for Brian McCann who is now 6 for 10 against Zambrano. And make that 7 for 11 as he hits a double into the left field corner to score a run, 2-1 Braves. Stop pitching to him.

1-1 count on Escobar, who is one of the best hitters in the league with runners in scoring position. 1-2 now. Strikes out swinging on a splitter in the dirt.

Bottom of the 3rd

Fukudome shows bunt and takes a strike. Vazquez painting the outside corner. On a 1-2 pitch, Fukudome swings and misses at a changeup. 5 strikeouts already for Vazquez.

Now Theriot hits one sharply up the middle on the 1st pitch, but a great play by Vazquez.

Lee takes a strike. Now bounces out to shortstop, that's the inning.

Top of the 4th

3-0 to Kotchman. Settle down Z. Ball 4, working so damn fast.

1-2 to Frenchie, Jeff Francoeur. 92 mph cut fastball outside. High fastball, swing and a miss for Francoeur.

2-1 count for Conrad, makes a bid for his 2nd hit but Fontenot makes a nice play ranging far to his left, gets rid of the throw quickly, and gets Conrad by a step.

2 outs, runner on 2nd for Vazquez. 1-1 count. 1-2 now as the Braves' pitcher with a big swing and a miss. Bouncer up the middle, Theriot almost overruns it and gets a tough hop but fields cleanly, and easily gets Vazquez to end the inning.

Bottom ofthe 4th

61 pitches through 4 for Zambrano, he'll go 1 or 2 more innings.

1-2 for Hoffpauir who singled and scored earlier. A cutter almost hits Hoffpauir in the knee, even count at 2-2. Gets the Braves relievers running away as he drills one foul into their bullpen. Hoffpauir jammed and he pops up in the infield to Prado.

Ramirez smokes it up the middle on the 1st pitch, but Brooks Conrad with a terrific diving play and throws to 1st to get Ramirez.

Soriano takes a fastball right down the middle, he has to swing at those. Now of course he gets the breaking ball nowhere close, and swings at that. He's just lost right now. Gets a high and outside fastball, foul ball. Fouls off another, then gets a slider and stays on it, grounds it up the middle for a single.

Would like to see Soriano run here. 1-0 on Fontenot. Takes a breaking ball for a strike. A fastball looks low to me but it's called a strike. 1-2, huge swing pitch there. Now send Soriano. He's not running, foul ball. Groundout to 2nd.

Top of the 5th

70 pitches through 4 for Vazquez.

Zambrano's working so fast that almost every inning, he's thrown a pitch or 2 before WGN is back from commercial. This time, McLouth had already flied out to Fukudome in center.

2-1 on Prado. Whiffs on a high fastball, now flies out weakly to Hoffpauir in right.

Zambrano throws a ball to Anderson and then is bouncing around on the mound. 3-0 now, chill out. On a 3-1 count, he walks Anderson.

Now, Brian McCann. Yikes. Fastball right down the middle for a strike. Great block on a splitter by Koyie Hill. Sigh, McCann laces one down the right field line, barely foul thankfully. Stop giving him anything to hit! Called strike 3 on a fastball that looked outside to me, McCann thinks so too. Gameday has it -way- outside, in the other batter's box.

Bottom of the 5th

76 pitches for Zambrano and he's due up 2nd in the inning, we'll see if he bats.

Hill lays down a perfect bunt and an incredible play by Brian McCann. Koyie just too slow.

Zambrano batting for himself, but we've seen Lou have him do that and not come out to pitch in the following inning. Hits one hard up the middle, but Escobar makes yet another diving play, throws out Zambranoby a foot at 1st.

Man is their defense good and annoying me.

Fukudome takes a fastball like McCann got, way outside, called a strike. Hits a groundball hard but Kotchman fields it cleanly.

Top of the 6th

Escobar with a line drive right at Theriot.

2-1 on Kotchman. Kotchman lines a 2-2 pitch into center.

The 83rd pitch to Francoeur is low. Now a lazy flyout to right. 2 outs.

2-0 on Conrad. 2-1 now. Conrad pops it up in foul territory by Aramis at 3rd... into the seats, 2-2. Sean Marshall up in the bullpen. Full count. The 91st pitch for Zambrano is strike 3.

Bottom of the 6th

Theriot has an 0-2 count, works it back to 2-2 and now a foul ball. It appeared he struck out looking, but called a ball, full count. Now he swings at that same pitch, grounds out to Escobar.

Another full count, on Derrek Lee this time. Some high heat gets Lee swinging.

1-1 on Hoffpauir. Hoffpauir pops out to Anderson in left.

Top of the 7th

Angel Guzman in for the Cubs.

0-2 on Vazquez, just gets a piece on a foul ball. Now strikes out swinging.

1-0 on McLouth as a cutter that looked very good is called a ball, now a foul ball. 2-2 count. 3-2 now. Slices one down the left field line, barely foul. On the 11th pitch, McLouth smokes one into right-center for a double.

Prado has a 1-1 count. Have to watch McLouth at 2nd, he'll take off for 3rd. Flyball into shallow right-center, Hoffpauir gets over there to make the catch. 2 outs, McLouth still at 2nd.

0-2 on Garret Anderson. On the 5th pitch, a nasty 2-seamer just misses inside. It's 2-2 now, and a fastball outside, 3-2. Anderson grounds one foul. Now hammers one down the right field line, just foul. This is the 2nd really long at bat of the inning for Guzman. He's pumping the strike zone, Braves just doing a great job of hanging in there. A hanging, probably even high curveball fouled off by Anderson. Flies out to Soriano.

29 pitches that inning for Guzman, 22 for strikes.

Bottom of the 7th

Vazquez's 95th pitch is drilled into left for a single for Aramis Ramirez. Great swing. He's letting it all go.

0-1 as Soriano takes a curveball strike. Slider in the dirt, 1-1. Bounces to short and appears to be a double play, but Soriano beats out the throw at 1st. At least the Cubs traded Ramirez for Soriano on the basepaths.

1 out, Fontenot at the plate. He takes a strike. Eric O'Flaherty and Peter Moylan warming up in the bullpen for the Braves. Let's get some movement out there. Hit and run, steal, something. 1-1 count, swings and misses at a changeup. Gets another one and takes it, 2-2. Fontenot flies out to left.

I'd like to see Soto replace Hill here, but Lou elects to leave in Hill. 0-2 count. Pitch #106 is low, 1-2. Slider inside, 2-2. Grounds out to 1st.

Top of the 8th

Well, Vazquez is done at least it appears.

Sean Marshall in to pitch against McCann. 0-1 count, 1-1 now. McCann dribbles one along the 1st base line, Marshall right by McCann as he's trying to field it, botches it, but McCann is incredibly slow, Marshall picks it up, fires to 1st, and the Cubs get him by half a step. What a weird play.

Escobar broken bat soft liner to Lee, 2 outs.

Mike Gonzalez will come in to pitch for the Braves. I'd expect Jake Fox to pinch-hit for the Cubs, maybe Reed. Well, it could be Bradley who is hitting like .350 from the right side and was on deck.

1-1 on Kotchman. Kotchman grounds out to Marshall.

Bottom of the 8th

Bradley hits the first Gonzalez offering hard but right at Anderson.

Reed with his 1st at bat for awhile, pinch-hitting for Fukudome. Fastball inside, 1-1. 2-2 count. Gonzalez rocks back and forth like 10 times now before his pitches, crowd booing him like crazy. I swear he didn't used to do this. Reed flies out to left.

0-2 on Theriot. Fastball just misses inside. Theriot with a great piece of hitting on the 0-2 count, dumps it down the right field line for a double.

1-0 on D-Lee. Lee pops out to center.

Top of the 9th

Aaron Heilman in to pitch for the Cubs.

Francoeur with an infield single to Theriot, but a play Theriot should've made.

Now a bunt, Heilman incredibly slow to field it, throws to 1st over Lee's head but Fontenot backs it up. 1st and 2nd, no outs.

Matt Diaz up, shows bunt, takes a ball. Pops it up to Aramis Ramirez, 1 out, still runners on 1st and 2nd.

McLouth flies out to left, 2 outs.

1-1 on Prado. 2-1, now a foul tip. 2-2. Groundball up the middle, Fontenot makes a diving stop, throws to 1st, gets Prado. What a play.

Bottom of the 9th

I assume Rafael Soriano is in to pitch here for the Braves. Due up for the Cubs are Micah Hoffpauir, Aramis Ramirez, and Alfonso Soriano.

Soriano indeed pitching for the Braves. Hoffpauir takes a strike. Now fouls one off, probably not going to see a better pitch than those. 1-2. Hoffpauir drills one into center, but McLouth had him played perfectly. Sigh.

Ramirez with a home run swing, comes up empty. Now a foul ball, 0-2. Holds up on a slider barely, 1-2. Somehow catches up to a 94 mph fastball over his head, fouls it off. Slider just misses on the outside corner to the displeasure of Soriano. Strikes out swinging on a slider, 2 outs.

Alfonso Soriano vs. Rafael Soriano. Alfonso is 0 for 6 in this battle. Takes a strike right down the middle. Now singles up the middle.

I'd like to see Fox bat here, as much as I like how Fontenot's swinging lately. Fontenot takes a fastball right down the middle. 1-1 count. 1-2 now. Full count now, Soriano will be running, gapper ties this. Foul ball. Bounces it hard up the middle, but Soriano deflects it and it goes right to Escobar who throws to 1st to end the game. Braves win, 2-1.

Well that was a frustrating game. Incredible defense by the Braves, a missed call on McLouth being picked off that led to a run which ended up being huge, and the Cubs couldn't get much going against Vazquez, Gonzalez, and Soriano. Oh well, Vazquez is a stud and that's the 12th time this year he's allowed 2 earned runs or less in a start.

Need to win tomorrow, badly. Who knows what we're going to get with Kevin Hart, but if he can allow less than 4, I like the Cubs' chances. After that, it's 4 against the Cardinals that includes facing Carpenter and Wainwright, so that will be damn tough.

Speaking of Wainwright, he just tossed 8 1/3 shutout innings at Milwaukee. So the Cardinals are now up 2 on the Brewers in the division, and 3 over the Cubs. I'm hoping to be within 3 or so going into the All-Star break.


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