4/25 MIL@CHC 1:20 p.m.; TV: WGN, Radio: WGN

[VanMan]

Welcome Cubs fans for the third and final game of the series between the Chicago Cubs and Milwaukee Brewers. Today's pitchers are:

Ben Sheets
http://http://chicago.cubs.mlb.com/images/players/action/ph_282656.jpg
1-2, 5.00 ERA

vs.

Ted Lilly
http://http://chicago.cubs.mlb.com/images/players/mugshot/ph_150404.jpg
1-2, 2.42 ERA

Game delayed by over an hour due to rain.

[VanMan]

I guess fogpog was down for a few innings, so I couldn't do the play-by-play. In the first, Fielder did reach base on a single, but was stranded there. In the bottom half, Theriot bounces one in front of the plate, but as he was throwing the bat away, he hit the ball while it was in fair territory, making him out. Lee reached base on a single, but couldn't advance further. No score after one.

The Brewers went down 1-2-3 in the second, while Barrett reached in the bottom half on a hit. He was able to advance to second on a ground out, but went no further. No score after two.

Lilly retired the side again 1-2-3 in the third, and then got on base on an infield hit that Fielder was unable to hold onto the throw. He was forced at second on a Theriot grounder, but the relay throw was wide of first to prevent the double play. Floyd then singled to right. Theriot advanced to second, and tried to go to third after the throw in from right went errant. However, Graffanino was able to retrieve the ball and get it to Sheets covering third. Lee then grounded to Weeks, who forced Floyd at second with a throw to Hardy. No score after three.

[VanMan]

In the fourth, Hardy flies to Floyd for the first out, then Lilly fools Fielder with a swinging strike out. Hall takes the first two pitches, first a ball, then a strike. The 1-1 was in the dirt inside. Hall flies the 1-2 to Floyd just in front of the track to retire the side.

Middle 4th, Cubs 0, Brewers 0

[VanMan]

I don't know if anyone is able to watch the game on WGN-TV 9 or Superstation WGN, but during the rain delay, they played the Len and Bob Bash back in January. Whatcha guys think of Len's singing?

[VanMan]

Bottom 4th, Elmer Dessens in to pitch, as Sheets is out with a right groin strain. A very surprising development!

[VanMan]

Ramirez to welcome Dessens. First pitch is low and away. The next is low, ball two. The 2-0 is wide, 3-0. Ramirez takes a lead-off, four-pitch walk as Dessens misses wide again.

[VanMan]

Barrett looks at a first-pitch strike on the outside corner. Next pitch is a slider, low and well outside. Dessens pumps a strike on the outside corner, 1-2. Barrett is frozen on a sinker on the inside corner. One down.

[VanMan]

Jones fouls off the first pitch. Jones hits one off the middle off the mound and off Hardy's glove into center field. Ramirez rounds second, but then stumbles over the bag! He scrambles back to second just ahead of the tag. Two on, one out.

[VanMan]

DeRosa looks at a fastball away, caught the corner for strike one. Second pitch down and in. They called the previous play a FC and error on Hardy. DeRosa hits one past Weeks, Ramirez around third to score the game's first run. 15th RBI for DeRosa, hitting in his 8th straight game. Jones to second. Still one out.

[VanMan]

Pie takes the first two pitches out of the zone. Fastball hits the outside corner, 2-1. Pie bloops one to left. Runners had to hold to make sure it landed, so bases are loaded with one out for Lilly.

[VanMan]

Mike Maddux gathers the infield for a conference to make sure what's happening.

[VanMan]

First pitch strike to Lilly. Lilly then check-swings one foul, 0-2. Next pitch almost gets away from Estrada. Lilly defends himself, and almost takes out Quade. Lilly then swings and misses, two out.

[VanMan]

Theriot up with the bases drunk and slaps one to right! One run will score! Two runs will score! Cubs up 3-0! Floyd then slaps one down to the Brewer bullpen! One run will score! Two runs will score! Floyd tries for third, but he's cut down! But the damage has been done! Cubs score five in the inning!

End 4th, Cubs 5, Brewers 0

[VanMan]

Top 5th, Estrada fouls one off. Lilly's next pitch is high and away. Estrada then strokes one into left field for a hit, the first since Fielder's two-out single in the first.

[VanMan]

Mench takes one low, then lines one in front of Floyd for a hit. Two on, none out. Maybe Lilly's a little rusty after the five-run inning.

[VanMan]

After a sac fly to Pie that advanced Estrada to third, Graffanino grounds to Ramirez, who can't handle it. Theriot picks it up, but then puts it in his pocket. On the play, Estrada scores, cutting the lead to 5-1.

[CubsFan23]

Come on boys let's not blow this I cannot handle another loss!

[VanMan]

Pinch hitter Tony Gwinn Jr. up. Barrett, on a 0-1, can't handle a pitch that crosses him up. On the passed ball, Mench advances to third. Gwinn then fouls off a pitch. The 1-2 is grounded to DeRosa. Mench scores on the play, and Graffanino advances to second. 5-2 Cubs.

[CubsFan23]

At least we are finally giving Lilly some run support!

[CubsFan23]

Maybe we should pray for the rain to come back, now that it is an official game and we are winning.

[VanMan]

Weeks grounds the first pitch to Theriot, over to first to retire the side.

Two runs on three hits, one left.

Middle 5th, Cubs 5, Brewers 2

It's an official game now. Let's hope Tom Skilling can brew up a thunderstorm right now.

[VanMan]

Derek Lee greets new pitcher Matt Wise on the first pitch that easily reaches the left field bleachers for his first home run of the season! How Far Did It Fly? 398 feet!

[VanMan]

Ramirez then flies out to right field for the first out.

[VanMan]

Barrett works the count to 2-2. He then flies to left, Mench rounds his route to the warning track in the well, but is able to catch it for the out. On a different day, that's another HR. Two down.

[VanMan]

Jones also works a 2-2 count against Wise. He then grounds to Weeks, who throws to Fielder for the put out. The side is retired, but the Cubs tallied another ace, as they said in the old days of baseball when it was two words.

End 5th, Cubs 6, Brewers 2

[CubsFan23]

Finally DLee hits one out.

[VanMan]

Hardy starts the sixth. He takes a strike from Lilly. Lilly throws a change, swung and missed, 0-2. Low and in on the next pitch, 1-2. Hardy pulls one foul past the third base coach and into the Cub pen. Another 1-2 is in the dirt inside. Barrett takes the new ball out to Lilly and says a few words. Hardy then grounds out to Theriot for the first out.

[VanMan]

Fielder steps in. He fouls the first pitch back to the screen. Then Lilly changes speed at Fielder, swung and missed. A fastball is hit over DeRosa's head into right field for a single.

[VanMan]

Hall angrilly flung the bat toward the dugout after he flew to Floyd in right field for the second out.

[CubsFan23]

Fielder is killing us this year. Of course he already has 7 HRs at Wrigley in his short career.

[VanMan]

Estrada steps in. He swings and misses a high fastball. Next pitch is fouled over the screen. Another high pitch is fouled straight back. 0-2 count. Another pitch fouled back, probably a curve. Curveball grounded to Ramirez, who throws out Estrada to retire the side. No runs, a hit, one left.

Middle 6th, Cubs 6, Brewers 2

[VanMan]

DeRosa flies to right-center, then Pie grounds one past Fielder. Pie can fly, as he rounds first and into second for a double, but he makes a late slide.

[VanMan]

Lilly looked foolish swinging at a 2-1 sinker. The 2-2 is bunted foul with Pie running. Lilly officially struck out, Pie has to return to second. Two outs.

[CubsFan23]

Pie is definitely making Lou's decision hard on what to do with him. I say keep him.

[VanMan]

Theriot bounced to third to retire the side.

End 6th, Cubs 6, Brewers 2

[VanMan]

Lead-off hitter in the inning grounds out, and then Hart skies one to the left-field corner, hits off the bricks for a double.

[VanMan]

Graffanino up. Lilly pivots to bluff Hart back to second. First pitch swung on and missed. Straight change goes down the pipe for a called strike. 0-2 is flown to center, Pie catches, and Hall will hold at second, two out.

[VanMan]

Jenkins pinch hits for Wise. First pitch is fouled back out of play. The 0-1 dribbles along the third-base line. It stays on the grass for a while, but then it does take a left turn onto the dirt and passes the line foul. Jenkins lifts one to left, Floyd takes care of it to retire the side. Now, it's time to sing with Michael Keaton!

Middle 7th, Cubs 6, Brewers 2

[VanMan]

Not quite as bad as Ozzie Osborne or Jeff Gordon, but, Mr. Keaton, please learn the words!

[VanMan]

Floyd leads off the bottom of the seventh, taking the first pitch for a ball. Same pitch is called a strike the second time around. Floyd swings and misses at one low and inside. The 1-2 is hammered through the hole into right field.

[VanMan]

Lee hits the first pitch into right field for a double. Floyd motors to third. Two on, no one out for Ramirez.

[VanMan]

Ramirez takes a breaking ball for a strike. Ramirez breaks his bat, grounds to Graffanino, but the throw short-hops Fielder. He was able to get it and step on the bag to retire Ramirez.

[VanMan]

Barrett takes the first pitch for a strike. He then fouls one off to the right, 0-2. Barrett shoots one to right. One run will score! Two runs will score! Barrett gets a one-out, two-RBI single to make it 8-2.

[VanMan]

Jones flies the first pitch to left field for the second out.

[VanMan]

DeRosa takes the first pitch on the outside corner, and then takes one on the right wrist! OUCH!

[VanMan]

Pie takes a sinker away. He then grounds to Weeks to end the inning. Two more runs on three hits, two left.

End 7th, Cubs 8, Brewers 2

[VanMan]

Wuertz is in to relieve Lilly after the starter threw 110 pitches. First batter is Weeks, who takes a ball, and then turns on one that flies onto Waveland Ave. 8-3 Cubs.

[VanMan]

Hardy next, first pitch taken inside for a ball. Barrett out to talk to Wuertz. Second pitch is low and away, 2-0. Sinker catches the knees, 2-1. Another low pitch, 3-1. Hardy grounds one past Ramirez, the bounce ate him up. Hardy holds with a single.

[VanMan]

Fielder in the box, takes a strike on the outside corner. Howry in the pen. Fielder pops up to Floyd for the first out of the inning.

[VanMan]

Crowd continuing to tell the person who caught the ball thrown back into the stadium from Waveland to "Throw it back!"

[VanMan]

Hall takes the first two pitches, one a ball and one for a strike. Hall foul tips one to make it 1-2. Next pitch is fouled to the right. Next pitch is high and tight, 2-2. A change up fools Hall, as he swings and misses for the strike out.

[VanMan]

Estrada takes the first pitch into left field for a single. Two on, two out.

[VanMan]

Mench fouls one way out in front of the pitch. Second pitch also foul. Mench grounded weakly to Theriot to retire the side. One run, three hits, two left.

Middle 8th, Cubs 8, Brewers 3

[VanMan]

Cedeno pinch hits to start the Cub 8th. Brian Shouse is the new pitcher. Cedeno grounds to Weeks on a 1-0 for the first out.

[VanMan]

Theriot takes a first-pitch strike. The 0-1 catches the low-outside corner. The 0-2 is well outside, trying to invite Theriot to chase. Check swing foul. The 1-2 is well outside as well, 2-2. Another one low and away, full count. Theriot takes the 3-2 into right for a single.

[VanMan]

Floyd takes the first pitch for a strike, then swings at an outside pitch, 0-2. A hump-backed liner finds a patch of green for another single, his fourth hit of the game. Theriot stops at second, two on, one out.

[VanMan]

Lee takes a fastball outside. Then he inside-outs one to right field. Theriot scores on the RBI double. Floyd stops at third. 9-3 Cubs in the 8th. He didn't have the speed to stretch into a triple for the cycle.

[VanMan]

Ramirez takes one low, then one just on the corner for a strike, 1-1. He fouls one off his front leg, which can't fell good today. He takes a moment to shake off the feeling. Next pitch is skied to center, Hall is able to make the catch, Floyd has to hold at third because of the lack of depth. Lee still at second. Two out.

[VanMan]

Barrett takes one on the outside corner. Next pitch is low, 1-1. Shouse misses outside for ball two. The 2-1 is low. Barrett takes a strike on the outside corner to make it full. A rise ball catches barrett looking. One run on three hits, two left.

End 8th, Cubs 9, Brewers 3

[VanMan]

I just hope that this game is a good sign going into the six-game road trip to St. Louis and Pittsburgh. They just need to keep up the timely hitting and score more runs late in games instead of scoring early and coasting.

[VanMan]

Ninth inning, Bob Howry pitching for the Cubs. First pitch to Corey Hart is a strike on the outside corner. Next pitch is outside, 1-1. Hart fouls one off the end of the bat. The 1-2 is swung on and missed, one down.

[CUBScrazy22]

3 more outs and we'll get our first win in a long time.

[CUBScrazy22]

stupid birds! It could only happen at Wrigley.

[VanMan]

Graffanino up. Called time because about a dozen seagulls have infested the Wrigley outfield to visit Pie and Jones. There was also a piece of plastic sheeting that fell out of the bleachers.

[VanMan]

First pitch to Graffanino misses for a ball. The 1-0 is fouled. The 1-1 misses low and away. Graffanino grounds one to center that scatters the birds and giving him a single.

[CUBScrazy22]

I just hope that this game is a good sign going into the six-game road trip to St. Louis and Pittsburgh. They just need to keep up the timely hitting and score more runs late in games instead of scoring early and coasting.

Me too! We'll make up some big ground here if we can sweep or just take the series.

[VanMan]

Craig Counsell pinch hits for Shouse. First pitch catches the corner for a strike. Counsell then pops to shallow left, Theriot there to retire him. Two down.

[CUBScrazy22]

1 more out.....

[CUBScrazy22]

CUBS WIN! CUBS WIN! CUBS WIN! :D

[CUBScrazy22]

It was a nice change seeing Howry not give up any runs!

[VanMan]

Weeks, on a 2-1 pitch, flies to Pie to end the game. No runs, one hit, one left.

Final score, Cubs 9, Brewers 3

W - Lilly (2-2)
L - Dessens (1-1)

[dundeecub]

Hmm, i willfully ignored todays game for the first time this season, and we managed to win: does this mean i cant watch until we lose next... i think it might....

[VanMan]

Hmm, i willfully ignored todays game for the first time this season, and we managed to win: does this mean i cant watch until we lose next... i think it might....
Actually, it doesn't. That's just too superstitious.

[dundeecub]

Actually, it doesn't. That's just too superstitious.

i dunno, dont wanna risk it...