5/22 CHC@SD, 9:05 p.m.; TV: CSN; Radio: WGN

[VanMan]

The Cubs start a West Coast swing tonight with the first of a three-game series at Petco Park against the San Diego Padres. Derek Lee returns to the line-up tonight after missing the last week of starts and coming off the bench for pinch hitting duty Saturday and Sunday against the White Sox. With Lee's return to the line-up, Alfonso Soriano resumes the lead-off spot in the batting order, with Ryan Theriot moving to second in the order.

Tonight's starting pitchers are:

http://www.mlb.com/images/players/action/ph_448179.jpg
Rich Hill (4-3, 2.91 ERA) for the Cubs

vs.

http://www.mlb.com/images/players/action/ph_408241.jpg
Jake Peavy (5-1, 1.64 ERA) for the Padres

The starting line-ups for tonight's game:

Chicago Cubs:
1. Alfonso Soriano, LF (.288, 4 HR, 9 RBI)
2. Ryan Theriot, 2B (.299, 0 HR, 14 RBI)
3. Derek Lee, 1B (.394, 3 HR, 25 RBI, 1.047 OPS)
4. Aramis Ramirez, 3B (.290, 11 HR, 35 RBI, .919 OPS)
5. Cliff Floyd, RF (.286, 2 HR, 16 RBI)
6. Michael Barrett, C (.255, 7 HR, 23 RBI)
7. Jacque Jones, CF (.259, 1 HR, 15 RBI)
8. Cesar Izturis, SS (.255, 0 HR, 5 RBI)
9. Rich Hill, P (.059, 0 HR, 1 RBI)

San Diego Padres:
1. Marcus Gilles, 2B (.293, 2 HR, 17 RBI)
2. Jose Cruz Jr., RF (.280, 4 HR, 13 RBI)
3. Mike Cameron, CF (.229, 1 HR, 14 RBI)
4. Adrian Gonzalez, 1B (.279, 10, 32 RBI)
5. Khalil Greene, SS (.237, 6 HR, 23 RBI)
6. Josh Bard, C (.239, 1 HR, 11 RBI)
7. Kevin Kouzmanoff, 3B (.185, 1 HR, 15 RBI)
8. Terrmel Sledge, LF (.203, 4 HR, 7 RBI)
9. Jake Peavy, P (.238, 0 HR, 2 RBI)

[ryno4ever]

This is going to be a tough series... great Padres pitching...in a pitcher-friendly park....

Peavy has only given up one home run this year.... he has the lowest ERA in the majors.... and the Cubs didn't win a single game against the Padres last year....

Time to put on the game face and hope the Cubs can make Peavy's ERA skyrocket tonight.

[ryno4ever]

Lee says he feels about 80%.... but he doesn't feel as well as he did on Saturday.

[VanMan]

Lee says he feels about 80%.... but he doesn't feel as well as he did on Saturday.
Well, let's hope 80% is good enough tonight.

[VanMan]

Gametime conditions, 62 degrees, wind blowing left to right at 10 mph and overcast.

[VanMan]

Soriano takes the first pitch for a strike down the middle. Off speed pitch is high, 1-1. He swings and misses at a good pitch, 1-2. The next one is away, a slider, 2-2. Fastball just off the corner, Laz Diaz said it missed. Soriano fouls one off, still full. Another foul ball behind the screen. The full-count fastball is off the plate, Soriano leads off the game with a walk.

[VanMan]

Theriot up, but Peavy decides to throw to first to check Soriano. Another pick-off attempt. Two-seam fastball finds the zone, Theriot takes for a strike. Fastball off the outside portion of the plate, ball one. Throw to Gonzalez, Soriano back. Sinker on the outside corner, it's 1-2. Another move to first, Soriano slides back in. Fastball misses again outside, 2-2 to Theriot. Theriot sticks his bat out to spoil a backdoor slider. He then swings and misses at one just off the plate. One out for Lee.

[VanMan]

Lee takes a backdoor slider for a strike. Another one paints the outside corner for strike two, but Lee thought the pitch was away. Fastball drifts high, 1-2. Lee hitting .400 in May. Peavy goes to first to check on Soriano. Off-speed swung on and missed, Lee is out on strikes.

[VanMan]

Ramirez takes a sinker low and away. High fastball is fouled off, 1-1. Backdoor slider hits the inside corner for a strike, it's 1-2. Ramirez singles up the middle, Soriano rounds second and glides into third. Runners on the corners with two down for Floyd.

[VanMan]

Floyd takes a tailing fastball off the plate. Sinker misses low, 2-0. Floyd calls time before the 2-0 pitch. He then swings and misses one just off the outside portion of the plate, 2-1. Sinker is swung and missed, 2-2. The 2-2 gets past Greene into center field. Soriano scores easily. Ramirez advances to second. It's 1-0 Cubs.

[VanMan]

Barrett takes a sinker low. Change up is in there for a strike. Barrett pulls it to Kouzmanoff. He knocks it down, but he's able to recover to force Ramirez at third. That was Peavy's 30th pitch of the inning. The Cubs do score a run on two hits, a walk and two left.

Middle 1st, Cubs 1, Padres coming up

[VanMan]

Gilles leads off for the Padres. Hill fires a fastball inside, ball one. Another one heading to Gilles' shoes, 2-0. Another fastball is in there for a strike. Fastball high, 3-1. Gilles takes another one off the plate for a base on balls.

[VanMan]

Cruz takes a curve off the plate, 1-0. Another pitch low, 2-0. Gilles goes, pitch is high and away, throw is not even close.

[VanMan]

Hill can't find the zone again, this time the pitch is wild. Cruz takes first on the walk and Gilles takes third on the passed ball by Barrett. Rothchild is out to chat up the starter.

[VanMan]

Fastball to Cameron is high for ball one. Popped foul, 1-1. Hill throws over to Lee to keep Cruz close. Slow curve misses away, 2-1. Cameron turns on a curve, but it's way foul. Curveball hits the zone for a called third strike!

[VanMan]

Gonzalez slices a slow curve foul just to the left of the Western Metal Supply building. He fouls another one off, 0-2. Slow curve is fouled to the Padre dugout. Fastball high and away, 1-2. Curve hangs, Gonzalez feathers it over Theriot into right field for an RBI single. Gilles scores to tie it at one, Cruz moves to second.

[VanMan]

Greene takes a slow curve for a strike. He then sends one high to Jones in center. Cruz tags from second to third with two out.

[VanMan]

Bard takes a strike. Fastball is high, but Bard swings and misses, 0-2. Another piece of cheese missed by Bard. Padres score one on one hit, two walks and two left.

End 1st, Cubs 1, Padres 1

[VanMan]

Jones looks at a ball low, then fouls off a sinker, it's 1-1. Off speed pitch is fouled, 1-2. Breaking ball misses inside, 2-2. Jones fouls one off behind Sinatro. Jones grounds one to the hole, Gonzalez is there, heading to second. He spins and fires to Peavy covering first.

[VanMan]

Izturis takes a strike on the outside corner, but then the next two miss (one away, one low). He shoots one to left, it drops in front of Sledge for a single. One on for Hill.

[VanMan]

Hill shows bunt, but takes low and away. He pulls back and fouls back, Kouzmanoff was charging hard from third. The 1-1 is offered at for a strike. He fouls the 1-2 off, and that's a strikeout.

[VanMan]

Soriano swings at a sinker away, strike one. Throw to first to keep Izturis close. Tailing fastball in close, 1-1. Fastball catches the outside corner, 1-2. Soriano strikes out on high heat. Cubs get a hit but strand him at first.

Middle 2nd, Cubs 1, Padres 1

[VanMan]

Kouzmanoff takes a curve outside. He swings at the next pitch for strike one. He hits a high fly ball to right field. Floyd is back against the out-of-town scoreboard and it lands on the ledge. Ground rules state that is a home run. Padres up 2-1.

[VanMan]

Sledge fouls one on the ground. Strike two swung and missed. Slow curve swung on and missed, one out.

[VanMan]

Peavy cranks the first pitch foul. He swings at another curve and missed. Another curve, this time fouled. Curve misses away, 1-2. High fastball, lined to Soriano, caught for the second out.

[VanMan]

Gilles couldn't hold up on a high fastball, 0-1. Fastball catches the inside corner, 0-2. Foul back on the slider. Curve ball is served into the right field corner for a double.

[VanMan]

Cruz grounds to Ramirez, over to Lee for the out. One run, two hits, one left.

End 2, Padres 2, Cubs 1

[VanMan]

Theriot grounds the first pitch to Greene for the first out.

[VanMan]

Lee takes a ball in the dirt. Sinker is low, 2-0. Grounder to Greene, over to Gonzalez for the out.

[VanMan]

Ramirez takes a fastball off the plate. Another one is away, 2-0. Fouled away, 2-1. Backdoor slider for a strike, 2-2. Ramirez stays alive with a foul that Bard can't hold onto. He lifts a pop fly to shallow left, Sledge makes the catch. Nothing doing for the Cubs.

Middle 3rd, Padres 2, Cubs 1

[VanMan]

Cameron leads off the third. He takes a sinking fastball for a strike. High fastball is smoked into the second deck in left field for a home run. Another lead-off homer. 3-1 Padres.

[VanMan]

Gonzalez takes a curve high. Fastball is down Broadway for a strike. Curve catches the corner low and away, 1-2. Fouled back and out of play. Fouled to the left-field side stands. Slow curve again is high, 2-2. Curve is grounded foul to the right. Curve is hung and taken deep to right field and over, 4-1 Padres on back-to-backers.

[VanMan]

I'm beginning to think if Miller is coming back, Hill might be the one sent down.

[VanMan]

Fastball is taken for a strike by Greene. Another pitch is inside. The 1-1 is outside. Another fly ball, but this one stays in the yard, Jones over from right center to straight-away center for the out.

[VanMan]

Bard pops the first pitch foul into the right-field bullpen. Curve taken for strike two. Bard rolls one over to Ramirez, throw to Lee gets Bard.

[dundeecub]

Hill won't go down, it's do or die for him, he either makes it now or he's gone period, but he'll have a while to sort things out yet.

This is turning into horrible viewing. Again.

[VanMan]

Kouzmanoff grounds to Ramirez for the third out, but the Padres go back-to-back to extend the lead.

End 3rd, Padres 4, Cubs 1

[VanMan]

Hill won't go down, it's do or die for him, he either makes it now or he's gone period, but he'll have a while to sort things out yet.

This is turning into horrible viewing. Again.
He'd better sort it out soon. His curve ball is hanging, and he can't locate the fastball. He needs to figure out what works and go with it.

[VanMan]

AFLAC question:

How many Cubs from the current 25-man roster were born in California?

[VanMan]

Floyd takes a fastball away. Fastball away is served down the left-line, it drops for a double. He's doing the right approach there.

[VanMan]

Barrett fouls the first pitch to the screen. Grounder to Kouzmanoff, Floyd holds at second, throw to first gets the Cubs backstop.

[VanMan]

Jones pulls the first pitch foul. Off speed missed away. Fastball is away, 2-1. Swing and a miss on a sinker away, 2-2. Fastball low and in, Jones gets his legs out of the way, full count. Fly ball to Cameron in center, Floyd thought about tagging, but not deep enough. Two down for Izturis.

[VanMan]

Izturis takes a fastball that catches the corner. He lines one to right, and Cruz is there to retire the side. Lead-off double, but the Cubs do nothing else.

Middle 4th, Padres 4, Cubs 1

[VanMan]

AFLAC answer:

Five, Eyre, Jones, Lee, Lilly and Ward.

Sledge pops out to Ramirez, the first time the lead-off batter in an inning has been retired tonight.

[VanMan]

Peavy takes a pitch away. He flies one to Floyd in right for the second out.

[VanMan]

Fastball to Gilles high and away. Fouled back, 1-1. A great slow curve for a strike. High cheese swung and missed. A 1-2-3 inning for Rich Hill. Now let's see if the Cubs can start the comeback.

End 4th, Padres 4, Cubs 1

[ARamfan]

AFLAC question:

How many Cubs from the current 25-man roster were born in California?

2 that I know of, off the top of my head. JJ, San Diego and DLee, Sacramento.

How you doin' tonight, VanMan?

[VanMan]

Hill leads off, takes a fastball high and away. Peavy finds the zone for a strike. Hill fouls the 1-1 off. Sinker is fouled off Hill's foot. Sinker hits the outside corner for strike three.

[VanMan]

2 that I know of, off the top of my head. JJ, San Diego and DLee, Sacramento.

How you doin' tonight, VanMan?

Could be better. Cubs aren't doing all that great right now.

[VanMan]

Peavy dropped sidearm on a 1-2 count to get Soriano on a "deflector-shield" slider.

[ryno4ever]

Hey everyone, I'm back...had to put the little guy to bed. This is so frustrating.

[VanMan]

Theriot takes a ball away, then a sinker hit the zone, 1-1. Low and away, 2-1. Fastball is high, 3-1. Theriot fouls one back, it's full. Grounder up the middle, Green gets it, he jumps, pirrouettes and throws to Gonzalez, who scoops it out of the dirt to get Theriot. Side is retired 1-2-3.

Middle 5th, Padres 4, Cubs 1

[dundeecub]

If anyone cares, Iowa squeaked past Round Rock tonight 7-6. Rocky Cherry got the win in relief, Clay Rapada got the save and EPatt (in left field for some reason) hit his 6th hr.

[VanMan]

If anyone cares, Iowa squeaked past Round Rock tonight 7-6. Rocky Cherry got the win in relief, Clay Rapada got the save and EPatt (in left field for some reason) hit his 6th hr.
Thanks for the minor-league update. At least someone in the Cubs organization is doing well tonight.

[ARamfan]

Could be better. Cubs aren't doing all that great right now.

I've been listening to the game. :( Unfortunately you're right, Eric. Didn't the Padres sweep us last May in the 4-game series in San Diego? I was at the 1st game, with no score after 9 innings. The Padres finally scored after about 13 innings.

[VanMan]

Hill bounces the first pitch to Cruz. Cruz then swings and misses one off the plate, 1-1. Curve is swung on and missed, 1-2. Another curve gets Cruz out in front for the strike out.

[VanMan]

I've been listening to the game. :( Unfortunately you're right, Eric. Didn't the Padres sweep us last May in the 4-game series in San Diego? I was at the 1st game, with no score after 9 innings. The Padres finally scored after about 13 innings.
They said the Padres won all seven games last year.

[ryno4ever]

I was kinda worried about this...but Rich has to mix up his pitches a little more. Bob actually commented on it right before Gonzalez hit his homer, that he didn't even move his shoulders, he was waiting for that pitch because it was the third curve he threw him.

[VanMan]

Cameron takes a ball low and in, then a strike. He fouls one off, and then takes a hanging curve into the left-field seats for his second home run of the night. 5-1 Padres. :(

[ryno4ever]

Bullpen time.... Rich has just given up his second homer to Cameron, his fourth of the game!

[ARamfan]

Hey everyone, I'm back...had to put the little guy to bed. This is so frustrating.

Hi Heather. Glad you're here. I was cooking dinner and cleaning up since the game started. It's 2 hours earlier here, so it started right when I was in the middle of things. Hope they start to turn things around soon!

I spoke too soon, that darn Cameron! :mad:

[VanMan]

I was kinda worried about this...but Rich has to mix up his pitches a little more. Bob actually commented on it right before Gonzalez hit his homer, that he didn't even move his shoulders, he was waiting for that pitch because it was the third curve he threw him.
And now Cameron has hit two tonight. He must be doing something to tip his pitches, or they're waiting on the curve.

[ryno4ever]

It doesn't look as if they are going to go to the pen!

[ryno4ever]

Hi Mara... it's late here... I actually almost fell asleep awhile ago while I was trying to get my son to sleep. He was wound for sound tonight and didn't want to go to sleep because the game was on.

[VanMan]

Gonzalez fouls off the first three pitches in the at bat. The next one is high for ball one. The 1-2 is fouled off again. Grounder off the end of the bat to Hill, over to Lee for the out. No curves in that AB.

[ARamfan]

They said the Padres won all seven games last year.

That's right, how could I forget that. My brother is stationed in SD, and being a Padres fan, he had a good time rubbing it in! :p

[VanMan]

Greene grounds out to Ramirez to retire the side, but the Padres get one more on the Cameron home run.

End 5th, Padres 5, Cubs 1

[ryno4ever]

On TV a couple of innings back, they showed a guy in the crowd that was wearing a Padres jersey and a Cubs hat!

[ryno4ever]

The offense needs to find a way to get on base.

[ryno4ever]

And now Cameron has hit two tonight. He must be doing something to tip his pitches, or they're waiting on the curve.

Len and Bob said the same thing.

[ARamfan]

Hi Mara... it's late here... I actually almost fell asleep awhile ago while I was trying to get my son to sleep. He was wound for sound tonight and didn't want to go to sleep because the game was on.

I might not stay awake for this one, I'm pretty tired. I'm sure that little boy tried everything to try and get you to let him stay up and watch! ;)

[VanMan]

Lee takes a fastball on the outer half for a strike. Sinker misses low and away. Sinker is low, 2-1. High sinker is over for a strike, 2-2. Lee pounds one in the dirt back to Peavy for the first out.

[dundeecub]

Hi Mara... it's late here...

Late in Illinois you say....

It's 4.30am here...

:D dc

[ryno4ever]

Oh, I miss Maddux... they keep showing him on tv...comparing Peavy to Maddux.

[ryno4ever]

Late in Iowa you say....

It's 4.30am here...

:D dc

THAT is dedication to this team!!!!!!

[VanMan]

Ramirez takes a strike. Backdoor slider also catches for a strike. Peavy tried to drop down again, but his "slider" goes way high. Sinker is fouled back. Ramirez grounds to Kouzmanoff for the second out.

[ryno4ever]

I might not stay awake for this one, I'm pretty tired. I'm sure that little boy tried everything to try and get you to let him stay up and watch! ;)

It didn't help that we went out to eat tonight and he had two full glasses of Mellow Yellow! Yeah, he was bouncing around pretending he was pitching and fielding each pitch. (He wants to be a major league ballplayer when he gets older).

[VanMan]

Floyd takes a sinker in the dirt. Sinking fastball is cut on and missed, 1-1. Pop foul, Kouzmanoff takes it to retire the side. Nothing doing again for the Cubs.

Middle 6th, Padres 5, Cubs 1

[ryno4ever]

The padres bullpen is pretty good too, so that isn't even something we can look forward to....

[VanMan]

It didn't help that we went out to eat tonight and he had two full glasses of Mellow Yellow! Yeah, he was bouncing around pretending he was pitching and fielding each pitch. (He wants to be a major league ballplayer when he gets older).
They call it Mello Yello, yet it has just as much caffeine as Mountain Dew. Nothing Mello about it.

[ryno4ever]

Their weakness is their offense.... second to last in the majors (second to the White Sox), unfortunately for us, their offense is winning over Rich Hill's struggles tonight.

[ARamfan]

It didn't help that we went out to eat tonight and he had two full glasses of Mellow Yellow! Yeah, he was bouncing around pretending he was pitching and fielding each pitch.

(He wants to be a major league ballplayer when he gets older).

Gee, I wonder where he got the idea to do that? :rolleyes:

[VanMan]

Bard checked his swing on a pitch away, then takes one low. Another one is too low. Fastball catches the zone at the letters, 3-1. Another fastball is at the belt and away, full count. Another fastball on the inside corner retires Bard.

[ryno4ever]

bullpen is going to get going....Wuertz is up.

[ryno4ever]

Gee, I wonder where he got the idea to do that? :rolleyes:

He had a bat in his hand before he could walk!

[VanMan]

Kouzmanoff takes a strike, then fouls one off his foot, 0-2. Breaking ball low, 1-2. Curve is fouled off. Kouzmanoff foul tips into Barrett's mit for the second out.

[ARamfan]

With the way this game is going so far, I'm not looking forward to seeing the bullpen. But, it's not over yet and ANYTHING can happen!

[VanMan]

Sledge takes a strike inside corner. Ball one not shown on TV, but Gameday said was inside. Sledge fouls one back. Fastball is high, 2-2. Foul back. Jeff Blum is on deck. Peavy had 98 pitches thrown. Sweeping curve is away, full count. Heath Bell might be coming in for the 7th, as Sledge swings and misses. Nothing doing for the Padres.

End 6th, Padres 5, Cubs 1

[ryno4ever]

Geoff Blum was on deck to pinch hit for Peavy...they are wondering if something is wrong with Peavy.... we'll see after the commercial, I guess.

[dundeecub]

I'm watching Padres coverage thru mlb.tv. Their guys seem pretty happy to turn the ball over to the bp, despite this being Peavy's lowest pitch count since April 3.

[VanMan]

Bell will come in to relieve Peavy. Barrett will be the first to face him. He takes a curve for a strike. Fastball is over for strike two. Barrett swings and misses at a pitch low and away, it hits the dirt, so Bard has to throw to first to retire Barrett.

[ryno4ever]

Houston and Brewers are both losing...if we can pull this off, that would be HUGE.

[VanMan]

Jones takes the first pitch high. Fastball is away, 2-0. Breaking ball hits the outside corner, 2-1. Another curve for a called strike. Jones fouls one down the left side out of play. High fastball swung and missed, strike out.

[VanMan]

Izturis takes the first pitch high and away. Murton on deck. Izturis shoots one through the hole for his second hit of the night.

[VanMan]

Matt Murton will pinch hit for Hill. He takes a two-seamer for a strike. Slider in the dirt, 1-1. Throw to first to check Izturis. Curve for a called strike. Murton drives the ball opposite way for a hit. Izturis advances to second and holds. Two on, two out.

[Ryno2355]

Rally time!

[VanMan]

Soriano up, takes a fastball away. Another fastball away misses. Soriano swings and misses on a fastball away. Another fastball similar to the last one is not called a strike, it's 3-1. Fouled back on another fastball away, full count. Offspeed pitch with the runners going is fouled to the screen, a slider. Sinker hits the dirt, and Soriano walks to load the bases.

[ARamfan]

Houston and Brewers are both losing...if we can pull this off, that would be HUGE.

It certainly would.

[VanMan]

Theriot has been a Quiet Riot tonight, 0-for-3 so far, but the bases are loaded for him now.

[VanMan]

Curve ball to Theriot is over for a strike. Theriot is 4-for-5 with the bases loaded. He grounds one to Greene, who goes the short way to force Soriano. Cubs leave them loaded.

Middle 7th, Padres 5, Cubs 1

[Ryno2355]

Man it would be nice for him to come through, he is on my fantasy team too!!

[dundeecub]

Darn. Anyone else think we should have used Ward there?

[Ryno2355]

i dont know , the riot is usually clutch late in the game!!

[VanMan]

Angel Guzman comes in to relieve Hill. Oscar Robles will pinch hit for Bell. Guzman gets a first-pitch strike called. Next pitch is fouled back on a two-seamer. A hanging breaker away is fouled outside of third. Another hanging pitch is fouled back. Curve ball is swung on and missed for the strike out.

[VanMan]

Gilles takes a slider for a strike. Breaking ball misses inside. Slider gets over for strike two. Curve is grounded to Izturis, over to Lee for the second out.

[VanMan]

Cruz checks on a sinker low. Change-up is low, 2-0. High fastball is grounded to Theriot to retire the side.

End 7th, Padres 5, Cubs 1

[ARamfan]

My MLB.TV just completely stopped and doesn't seem to be starting back up any time soon. It's done this before, but started right back up. Anyone else had this problem? :confused: I might have to see if I can get the WGN radio broadcast. If that doesn't work, I will get the story from VanMan.

[VanMan]

Cla Meredith comes in to pitch for the Padres, and he'll face Lee first. Side-arm fastball is away. Another one is low and away. Off-speed pitch is fouled off. Lee swings and misses on a low-inside pitch, 2-2. Lee grounds to Gilles, he bobbled the ball, throw is late, that should be Gilles' fourth error of the year, and it is.

[VanMan]

Ramirez takes the first pitch back up the middle for a base hit. Lee advances to second with no one out.

[dundeecub]

My MLB.TV just completely stopped and doesn't seem to be starting back up any time soon. It's done this before, but started right back up. Anyone else had this problem? :confused: I might have to see if I can get the WGN radio broadcast. If that doesn't work, I will get the story from VanMan.

mine blew out too, but its back on now, try going through the main mlb.com page and wait for about 45 seconds for it to start buffering.

[VanMan]

Floyd, who's 2-for-3 tonight with a double, takes a side-arm breaker low. The 1-0 is cut and missed. Another low pitch, foul tipped for 1-2. Breaking ball is low and in, 2-2. Fastball just missed outside, full count. Off-speed pitch is swung and missed.

[VanMan]

Barrett takes a strike at the knees. Barrett grounds to Gonzalez as Ramirez hopscotches it. Over to Greene for one, the relay is in time, but Meredith can't find the bag! Barrett's safe on a fielder's choice, Lee to third with two away.

[VanMan]

Jones swings and misses the first pitch, takes a pitch low, but called strike. Another one low is a ball. He fouls one off, still 1-2. Jones fouls one off Diaz. Dempster is warming up in the pen. Grounder to Greene, over to Gonzalez for the out. Two hits, but no runs and two left.

Middle 8th, Padres 5, Cubs 1

[VanMan]

Guzman remains in the game, he'll face Cameron, who has two dingers. A curve ball is over for a strike. He fouls one off, 0-2. Fastball, high and away, 1-2. He got jammed, grounder to Izturis, over to Lee, good stretch, got him.

[VanMan]

Doug Brocail is throwing in the pen for the Padres now.

Gonzalez looks at a curve for a strike. Tailing fastball is fouled off. Ball one inside. Off speed pitch is fouled off. Fastball on the outside edge freezes Gonzales for the second out.

Lou coming out to pull Guzman and make a double switch. Angel Pagan entering on defense and Ryan Dempster in to pitch.

[VanMan]

Dempster will face Greene, and he gets the first strike over. Well outside, makes it 1-1. Off-speed pitch cut and missed, 1-2. High fastball is grounded to Ramirez to retire the side. Nothing doing for the Padres.

End 8th, Padres 5, Cubs 1

[VanMan]

Doug Brocail comes in to pitch in the 9th. Izturis will be the first to face him. Fastball up, but a strike. Curve is fouled, 0-2. Fouled at the plate again. Breaking ball misses low and in, 1-2. Off-speed pitch fouled off. High fastball is fouled back. Hanging curve is driven into center for a hit, his third on the night.

[VanMan]

Pagan takes a breaking ball away. Pagan lifts one to Cruz in right-center for the first out.

[VanMan]

Soriano takes a pitch high and away for a ball. The 1-0 is low, ball two. Trevor Hoffman is warming up. Soriano swings and misses, 2-1. Fouled to the right, 2-2. Another foul on a high pitch. Fastball high, full count. Tailing fastball high and in, Soriano walks for the third time tonight. Bud Black is coming out to bring in Hoffman, so crank up the AC/DC.

[dundeecub]

I struggle to believe Soriano has ever walked three times in one game before.

Damn mlb.tv has blacked out again...

[ARamfan]

I struggle to believe Soriano has ever walked three times in one game before.

Damn mlb.tv has blacked out again...

Mine too, dundee.

[VanMan]

With Hell's Bells blaring in the background, the all-time saves leader Trevor Hoffman comes in to face Ryan Theriot. Curve ball catches the zone for a strike. Soriano's three-walk night is a season high. Off-speed is inside, 1-1. Theriot pops it up to Cruz along the right-field foul line for the second out.

[VanMan]

Lee takes a change-up low. He's 5-for-11 with 4 HR vs Hoffman. Fouled back, 1-1. Fastball is away, 2-1. Lee swings and misses, 2-2. The 2-2 is fouled back behind the screen. Change-up is low. Runners will go on the pitch. Ramirez would be next. Lee lifts a fly ball to Cameron to end the game, Padres win 5-1.

Final score, Padres 5, Cubs 1

W - Peavy (6-1)
L - Hill (4-4)
S - Hoffman (12, 494)

[ryno4ever]

Len looked it up, it was last year when Soriano was with the Nats that he had a 3 walk game.

[ARamfan]

Well, I don't like the outcome of this game, but I do appreciate the play-by-play considering my MLB.TV blacked out twice in the past 30 minutes or so. :(

[NeifiPerezMVP2007]

Oh well, we can still win the series. At least Milwaukee lost (Like I expect them to do a little more now).

[VanMan]

Tomorrow, it's Marshall against Wells. Let's see if we can boom Boomer.