Game Time: 6:05 PM CT
TV: WGN
Pitching Matchup:
Nationals- Jordan Zimmerman (3-4, 4.50 ERA)
Cubs- Randy Wells (4-4, 2.72 ERA)
Lineups:
Cubs
1. Kosuke Fukudome, CF (.255, 7 HR, 27 RBI, .794 OPS)
2. Ryan Theriot, SS (.296, 7 HR, 32 RBI, .771 OPS)
3. Derrek Lee, 1B (.286, 18 HR, 58 RBI, .882 OPS)
4. Aramis Ramirez, 3B (.320, 5 HR, 18 RBI, .871 OPS)
5. Milton Bradley, RF (.239, 6 HR, 21 RBI, .745 OPS)
6. Alfonso Soriano, LF (.234, 14 HR, 33 RBI, .713 OPS)
7. Mike Fontenot, 2B (.232, 6 HR, 28 RBI, .669 OPS)
8. Koyie Hill, C (.208, 2 HR, 9 RBI, .592 OPS)
9. Randy Wells, P (.174, 0 HR, 1 RBI, .348 OPS)
Nationals
1. Nyjer Morgan, CF (.286, 2 HR, 29 RBI, .715 OPS)
2. Nick Johnson, 1B (.302, 6 HR, 39 RBI, .832 OPS)
3. Ryan Zimmerman, 3B (.285, 15 HR, 53 RBI, .823 OPS)
4. Adam Dunn, LF (.260, 23 HR, 62 RBI, .929 OPS)
5. Josh Willingham, RF (.291, 12 HR, 26 RBI, .958 OPS)
6. Willie Harris, 2B (.248, 4 HR, 17 RBI, .790 OPS)
7. Alberto Gonzalez, 3B (.339, 1 HR, 14 RBI, .837 OPS)
8. Will Nieves, C (.261, 0 HR, 13 RBI, .610 OPS)
9. Jordan Zimmerman, P (.154, 0 HR, 2 RBI, .339 OPS)
As you can see, Alfonso Soriano is back in the lineup. Turns out his pinkie finger was not dislocated after all and he's feeling good enough to be back in the lineup.
The Cubs can win the 4-game series tonight, as they've taken the 1st 2 games of the series. It's a great pitching matchup featuring 2 of the more impressive rookie pitchers in the game in Randy Wells and Jordan Zimmerman. Randy Wells has gone into the 7th inning in 4 of his last 5 starts, and got a win in 4 of those games.
Zimmerman, 23, is a highly touted prospect with some terrific stuff. He'll get the fastball into the 95 mph range frequently. He hasn't allowed over 3 earned runs in a start over his last 7 outings, so it appears he might be figuring it out after a disastrous May where he had an ERA of 7.27.
Top of the 1st
Before the 1st pitch even, Brenly refers to the Nationals' pitcher as "Ryan" Zimmerman. That's going to happen a few times I think.
1-2 on Fukudome and he's really late on a fastball, fights it off. Same again, broke his bat this time. And fouls off another. Now grounds out on a nice curveball to short.
0-2 on Theriot. Takes a fastball that's called strike 3, he thought it was outside and so did I. Have to protect there on an 0-2 count though.
Lee takes a fastball strike. Big swing on a fastball right in his wheelhouse and he misses it, 0-2. On a 1-2 pitch, blows Lee away again on a fastball right down the middle at 96 mph. He's just challenging hitters, and since they've never seen them, he's going to have the advantage for at least the 1st time through the lineup.
Bottom of the 1st
On a 1-0 pitch, Nyjer Morgan doubles to left.
Seeing an example right away of the difference between Randy Wells and Jordan Zimmerman. Wells doesn't have the stuff to make the mistakes Zimmerman can at least sometimes get away with.
1-1 on Nick Johnson. 2-2 pitch lined into left for a single. Morgan could've scored there, but not worth chancing with no outs and Soriano's arm. 1st and 3rd, no outs.
Zimmerman absolutely smokes one to deep center, nice play by Fukudome to make a running catch near the track in center. If he gets some more air under that, it's way gone. 1-0 Nationals.
This is the kind of pitcher Adam Dunn will take yard frequently. On an 0-1 pitch, delayed steal by Nick Johnson, Koyie Hill throws it into center. Now Dunn crushes one into deep left-center, RBI double. 2-0 Nationals.
Willingham swinging at 3-0 pitch and gives it a ride to deep right-center, Fukudome makes a running catch on the track. Wells is getting crushed.
2-2 on Willie Harris. Wells missing his spots badly. Harris flies out weakly to left.
Well, the way the Nationals hit the ball that inning, lucky to only allow 2 runs.
Top of the 2nd
Zimmerman's only allowed over 2 earned runs(3) once in his last 7 starts.
0-2 on Aramis Ramirez. Groundball for a single up the middle. Zimmerman keeps throwing the ball in the strike zone ahead in the count with 2 strikes, he's going to pay for that soon.
Bradley late on a fastball, 0-1. Strikes out looking, questionable call.
Soriano really late on a fastball, fouls it off. It's going to be interesting how they look the 2nd time around. Right now they're getting surprised by Zimmerman's sneaky 95 mph fastball. Takes a curve for strike 3.
Fontenot flies out to Dunn in left.
Bottom of the 2nd
Alberto Gonzalez grounds out to Theriot.
The Cubs have signed 2nd round pick, infielder D.J. LeMahieu out of LSU. This is terrific news after some(not I) thought he'd stay at LSU. He was extremely impressive in the College World Series for the national champion Tigers, possibly the MVP for them in the tournament.
Will Nieves who I still hate singles into right.
Sacrifice bunt by Jordan Zimmerman.
Nyjer Morgan RBI single, 3-0 Nationals. Morgan to 2nd on the throw.
Nick Johnson single up the middle, 4-0 Nationals.
Ryan Zimmerman flies out to Bradley.
Top of the 3rd
Well this game isn't looking good. The Cubs need to make Zimmerman work and get to the horrendous Washington bullpen.
Koyie Hill shocks the world and takes a pitch the other way for a double.
Randy Wells with a sacrifice bunt, Hill to 3rd.
1-0 on Fukudome. 1-2 as he takes a fastball strike. Have to swing the bat here and get the run in. Full count now, fouls one off. Outside, ball 4.
Theriot swings at the 1st pitch and fouls it off. Slider outside to Theriot, 1-1. Flyball down the line in right but foul, 1-2. Full count now. Lee on deck, so a walk would be great here. Fukudome running, another foul ball. Theriot with what I think is a weak flyball to right-center carries all the way to the wall, he crushed it, I just didn't think he could drive the ball that way. 2-run triple, 4-2 now.
An absolute bullshit strike call to Lee on the 1st pitch and that screwed up the whole at bat. Gets behind 0-2, then has to chase and grounds weakly to 3rd, Zimmerman throws out Theriot at the plate. Man am I pissed about that 1st strike call.
Aramis grounds out.
Top of the 4th
3-0 on Dunn. Walks.
0-2 on Willingham. Fouls a pitch off and falls down embarrassingly. I laughed. Now he's hit by a pitch. Not laughing anymore.
Harris hits one deep to center that is gone at most parks, but it's 410 feet out there. Fukudome runs it down, Dunn to 3rd.
Groundball to short off the bat of Gonzalez with Willingham going, because of that, Theriot throws home and they get Dunn in a rundown. Rare smart decision by Theriot, 2 outs.
Will Nieves, the Nationals' version of Luis Valbuena, just misses a double down the right field line. Instead he grounds out to Fontenot, inning over.
Top of the 4th
Bradley an 0-2 count, loses his bat on a foul ball into the Nationals dugout, almost hits Marquis Grissom and Pat Listach in there. I'm not making this up. Now he strikes out on a 2-2 high fastball.
Soriano strikes out, duh.
0-1 on Fontenot. He hits a little blooper that's caught at 3rd.
Bottom of the 4th
Jordan Zimmerman lines out to Fontenot.
On a full count, Nyjer Morgan flies out to center.
Another full count, Nick Johnson singles to right-center. He's 3 for 3.
1-1 count on Ryan Zimmerman, foul ball, 1-2. Snap throw to first from Hill and he gets Nick Johnson by a mile. Nick Johnson is arguing about something... why? Wasn't close.
Top of the 5th
How many times do ya see it? A player makes a great play in the field, then... strikes out. That's what Koyie Hill just did.
Wells has what really looks like a hit up the middle, but Alberto Gonzalez covers a ton of ground and makes a superb play.
3-1 on Fukudome who has shown bunt twice in the at bat. Full count and Fukudome lines a single into left.
50/50 call goes Theriot's way, ball 1. 2-0. Babe Theriot had a cut, foul ball. Theriot flies out to right.
Bottom of the 5th
Zimmerman gets a new at bat, lines out to Aramis
Dunn strikes out swinging. That's Wells' 1st strikeout of the night, but it was versus Adam Dunn so it's nothing to celebrate.
0-2 on Willingham. Nice play by Theriot on a groundball a bit to his right, strong throw and gets Wilingham by half a mile, inning over.
Wells' best inning of the night. He's really settled down, at 85 pitches. Probably 1 more for him.
Top of the 6th
1-2 on Lee, he's not really seeing Zimmerman well so far. 2-2 pitch fouled away. Zimmerman's 90th pitch of the night is a curveball that Lee hits for a ground-rule double to left. I thought Adam Dunn may have been able to just reach up and catch it, but he's the worst outfielder in the game so no surprise.
Aramis with a huge swing comes up empty, 0-1. Now a foul ball, 0-2. Former Pirate Sean Burnett, a left-hander, warming up in the bullpen for Washington. The next pitch almost hits Aramis, high and inside cheese, 1-2. Now a foul ball. More foul balls, 2-2 count. Sharp groundball up the middle, I think it's a single, Willie Harris is there, goes through his legs. 1st and 3rd no outs.
At 95 pitches, Zimmerman likely would be taken out here but Bradley's been significantly worse against right-handed pitching this year. Bradley strikes out swinging, breaks his bat over his knee.
Soriano crushes one into right-center, 3-run bomb! 5-4 Cubs! That's his 1st homer since, well, a longass time ago. That ends Zimmerman's night as well.
Sean Burnett in to pitch, Fontenot lines a single right away into left field.
Koyie Hill bounces to Burnett, who throws to 2nd, but Hill beats the throw from Gonzalez. Very close. Oh, and he was just standing in fair territory the whole time after he beat it out, Nationals could have just tagged him for the double play.
Jeff Baker pinch-hits for Wells, grounds to Johnson who makes a great diving stop, flips to Burnett, inning over.
Well, nice inning. Huge to see Soriano contributing and that's why you need to keep playing him. He's the streakiest player in the game, he'll get hot, just have to live with his awful streaks. Unfortunately this year's cold streak has been the longest of his career.
Bottom of the 6th
Angel Guzman in to pitch for the Cubs.
1-2 count on Willie Harris. Really interested to see how the Cubs use their bullpen tonight. Marmol and Gregg each pitched the last 2 games, and Kevin Hart starts tomorrow. In all likelihood he's pitching 5 innings. Sean Marshall warming up right now. Full count, like 50 pitches in this at bat, Harris flies out to Soriano.
Gonzalez swings and misses at a nasty slider/cutter at 91 mph, now pops to shallow right where the 2nd baseman Fontenot makes the catch, 2 outs.
Will Nieves continues to piss off Cubs fans, doubles.
2-0 on pinch-hitter Austin Kearns, 96 mph fastball right there from Guzman, swung on and missed. And again. 2-2, 92 mph slider/cutter outside, 3-2. Foul balls, pitcher-catcher conferences, etc. Still a full count. This game is moving at a Rosie O'Donnell mile-run pace. Ball 4, that will be it for Guzman.
Sean Marshall in to face the left-handed hitting Morgan, this was a no-brainer. Morgan is a .329 hitter against righties, .169 against lefties. 1-1 count. On a 1-2 pitch, Morgan grounds out to 2nd. Inning over.
Top of the 7th
1-1 on Fukudome who is facing right-hander Jason Bergmann. He crushes one to deep right-center off the top of the wall, gets a triple standing up. Runner on 3rd, no outs.
Theriot can't do the job, bounces out weakly to shortstop.
Come on D-Lee, get this run in. 1-2 count. A couple of foul balls. Lee strikes out swinging, sigh. 2 outs.
Seen this way too much this year. It's pretty damn pathetic I know they're not scoring when they get a runner on 3rd with no outs.
0-2 on Ramirez. Flies out to right-center.
Infuriating.
Bottom of the 7th
Marshall still in to at least face Nick Johnson, maybe more. 2-2 count. Generous strike calls the last 2 pitches.
Now bounces out to Theriot.
On a 1-0 pitch, Ryan Zimmerman, huge swing, fouled straight back. Bloop single into center.
Adam Dunn is 0 for 5 in his career against Marshall, swings and misses badly at a curveball to start the at bat. Fastball low, 1-1. 2-2 on Dunn. 2 straight curveballs in the dirt, 3-2 here. Throw that in the strike zone and he'll almost surely swing through it. And he throws that pitch, and Dunn hits it into the upper deck foul. Wow, he hit that probably 450 feet. Fastball inside, ball 4.
Carlos Marmol coming in for the 3rd straight day. So you can pretty much cross him out for available pitchers tomorrow.
Marmol faces Willingham. Slider nowhere close. Ugh. Here we go. Now high, now outside. 3-0.
So predictable. Now he goes to the fastball, 2 straight strikes. Just throw that for crying out loud. Walks him.
Willie Harris with a 2-0 pitch, swings, groundball, Lee bobbles it, throws home, Hill stretches and keeps his foot on home plate, 2 outs.
2-0 again. STOP THROWING THE EFFING SLIDER YOU DUMBSHIT! He throws 3 straight fastballs, all for strikes, last one resulting in a groundball to Ramirez, he steps on 3rd barely ahead of Willingham, inning over.
Top of the 8th
Bradley singles up the middle on the 1st pitch. Of course, the Cubs couldn't get that with a runner at 3rd last inning.
0-2 on Soriano after 2 nasty curveballs, another one in the dirt, lays off it. Full count and for some reason Lou elects to send the runner with a guy that swings and misses a ton at the plate. Strike em out, throw em out.
Mike Fontenot with a bomb into right-center! 6-4 Cubs!
Koyie Hill singles.
Jesus Fuld pinch-hitting, lines a 3-2 pitch into right, caught by Willingham. Drilled it.
Bottom of the 8th
I went to the Diamondbacks-Cardinals game to see Albert Pujols bat against Dan Haren as the tying run in the 8th, grounded out. D'backs going to the 9th up 3-1 still.
Cubs got an out, not sure how, 1 down.
Belliard walks.
Morgan singles to right, Bradley bobbles, Belliard advances to 3rd. 1st and 3rd 1 out, error on Bradley.
1-0 on the toughest out in the Nationals' lineup, Nick Johnson. If he hits one on the ground he's a great double play candidate though. 1-1 count. Kevin Gregg already warming up. Full count, Nyjer runs, another foul ball. To be honest, I'll be surprised if the Cubs are still leading after this inning with Zimmerman and company up after this. Ball 4.
Kevin Gregg coming in to get 5 outs, and remember he pitched the last 2 days.
Zimmerman flies out to deep right, I thought it was a grand slam off the bat. 6-5.
3-1 on Adam Dunn with runners on 1st and 3rd. Ball 4.
1-0 to Willingham. Nick Johnson with slow speed at 2nd. On a full count, a couple foul balls, then Willingham grounds far back at 3rd to Ramirez. Ramirez with an awful throw at least 5 feet in front of 1st, Lee makes an INSANE dig and saves the game for the time being.
Top of the 9th
Sorry I was celebrating Lee's play and forgot about the live blog for a few minutes. My bad.
Basically all you need to know is Fukudome, Theriot, and Lee grounded out.
Bottom of the 9th
Willie Harris flies out on a Kevin Gregg offering. 1 out.
Albert Gonzalez with a 1-1 count. 2-2 count. Wow, just missed it, hits it a mile in the air. Theriot has time to run all about 30 feet into left field and down the line, wait for it, make the catch. 2 outs.
Curveball just misses, 1-0 to Nieves. 2-1 now. 2-2 count, groundball to Theriot, CUBS WIN!
Great job by Kevin Gregg, and great dig by Derrek Lee. It was even better to see Soriano finally do something, and in a big way with a 3-run homer to give the Cubs the lead.
The Cubs blew plenty of chances to add on more, but they also prevented the Nationals from doing the same. Whatever the case, it's a series win and the chance for a sweep tomorrow. Yes the Nationals are the worst team in baseball, but I'll take any series wins on the road. Hopefully a sweep as well, but that's going to be tough with Kevin Hart going and a makeshift bullpen likely. Carlos Marmol and Kevin Gregg, at least Gregg, will be unavailable.
Oh, and the Cardinals lost, so the Cubs are now tied with them in the loss column, and 2 games back overall.
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