5/29 FLA@CHC, 7:05 p.m.; TV: CSN; Radio: WGN

[VanMan]

The Cubs hope to take the momentum from the bottom of the ninth of yesterday afternoon's game and apply that to the whole game tonight as they take on the Florida Marlins in the second of a three-game series.

Tonight's starting pitchers:

For the Marlins:
http://www.mlb.com/images/players/action/ph_425883.jpg
Dontrelle "Whachutalkinbout" Willis (6-3, 4.80 ERA)

and for the Cubs:
http://www.mlb.com/images/players/action/ph_150302.jpg
Jason Marquis (5-1, 2.60 ERA)

Here are the starting line-ups:

Florida Marlins (24-27)
1. Almedo Amezaga, CF (.246. 1 HR, 12 RBI)
2. Dan Uggla, 2B (.256, 9 HR, 29 RBI)
3. Hanley Ramirez, SS (.320, 7 HR, 12 RBI)
4. Miguel Cabrerra, 3B (.321, 9 HR, 24 RBI)
5. Josh Willingham, LF (.272, 6 HR, 32 RBI)
6. Jeremy Hermedia, RF (.240, 2 HR, 8 RBI)
7. Miguel Olivo, C (.243, 3 HR, 23 RBI)
8. Aaron Boone, 1B (.265, 3 HR, 17 RBI)
9. Dontrelle Willis, P (.158, 0 HR, 0 RBI)

Chicago Cubs (22-27)
1. Alfonso Soriano, LF (.293, 4 HR, 12 RBI)
2. Cesar Isturis, SS (.267, 0 HR, 5 RBI)
3. Derek Lee, 1B (.353, 3 HR, 28 RBI)
4. Aramis Ramirez, 3B (.297, 12 HR, 36 RBI)
5. Matt Murton, RF (.287, 1 HR, 8 RBI)
6. Mark DeRosa, 2B (.248, 5 HR, 21 RBI)
7. Michael Barrett, C (.244, 7 HR, 25 RBI)
8. Angel Pagan, CF (.300, 2 HR, 5 RBI)
9. Jason Marquis, P (.222, 1 HR, 4 RBI)

[VanMan]

Game time conditions: 85 degrees, 41% humidity, wind blowing right to left at 11mph.

[VanMan]

Amezaga takes a called strike to start the game. The 0-1 is grounded to Izturis, throw to first for the out.

[VanMan]

Uggla takes a fastball down the middle. Next pitch is low and away, a fastball. Tailing and sinking pitch misses low and in, 2-1. Fly ball to right center, Murton over to make the catch, two away.

[VanMan]

Hanley Ramirez takes a fastball at the knees, strike one. Another fastball misses low, 1-1. Bounced one past Barrett, 2-1. High bouncer to Aramis, the throw retires the side. Nothing doing for the Fish.

Middle 1st, Marlins 0, Cubs coming up.

[VanMan]

Soriano takes the first pitch from Willis a ball. He smashes one to Cabrera, who throws to first for the first out.

[VanMan]

Izturis takes a called strike. The next pitch is low, 1-1. Grounded to Cabrera. He bobbles the ball, able to stick with it and throws to first to get Izturis.

[VanMan]

Lee takes the first pitch low for a ball. Next pitch is away, 2-0. Lee swings and misses with a big cut, strike one. He takes one high and deep to left field, it's far enough, HOME RUN D-LEE!!!! Cubs lead 1-0, just as Len was talking about Willis contributing to Project 3000.

[VanMan]

A. Ramirez takes a pitch low. The next pitch is also low, but fouled off. Grounder up the middle, Uggla ranges to get it, bounces the throw to first, but in time. But the Cubs get one on the towering homer by Lee.

End 1st, Cubs 1, Marlins 0

[VanMan]

Cabrera fouls off the first Marquis offering. The next pitch misses well inside, 1-1. He fouls off the next pitch toward the Cub dugout. Another fouled to the left, 1-2. Liner up the middle, base hit to center.

[VanMan]

Willingham swings and misses a sinker. Another low pitch misses, it's 1-1. Willingham hits a high line drive to the left-center field gap. Cabrera motors to third as Willingham scoots into second for a double.

[VanMan]

Hermida takes a pitch low and away. Another one misses, 2-0. Fouled off to the left, 2-1. Grounded foul back, it's now 2-2. Marquis got him looking at a fastball for strike three.

[VanMan]

Olivo swings and misses a slider away. Sinker is fouled back, 0-2. Off-speed is foul tipped into the mitt of Barrett for the strike out.

[VanMan]

Boone takes a pitch low and away, ball one. Two-seamer catches the outside corner, 1-1. Change up freezes Boone for strike two. Ump confirmed it was a good pitch. Grounder to A. Ramirez, over to first, and Marquis escapes a second-and-third, no-out jam. No runs, two hits, two left.

Middle 2nd, Cubs 1, Marlins 0

[VanMan]

Murton starts the Cub 2nd by taking the first three pitches for balls. Fastball catches the low-outside corner for a strike. Murton then grounds to Cabrera for the first out.

[VanMan]

DeRosa takes low and away. Strike one is called on the outside. Willis misses away at the knees. Grounder past Cabrera into the Cub bullpen. A fan climbed over the wall to touch the ball, so it's a ground-rule double.

[VanMan]

Barrett grounds to H. Ramirez, DeRosa is running, Ramirez throws to Cabrera to cut down DeRosa. Barrett reaches on the fielder's choice.

[VanMan]

Pagan takes the first two wide, and the third one is low, 3-0. Willis hits the outside corner, strike one. The 3-1 is high and wide, Pagan walks with two out. Barrett advanced to second.

[VanMan]

Marquis fouls the first pitch back. The 0-1 is a strike, but Olivo throws down to second behind Barrett! He got him! Cubs start with a flourish, but baserunning mistakes take them out of a rally again!

End 2nd, Cubs 1, Marlins 0

[VanMan]

Willis takes one away, ball one. Fastball is low. Willis takes a fastball low and away, called strike one. Sinker is low, 3-1. Fouled off a fastball away, 3-2. Liner back up the middle, Marquis tried to get his glove on it, but missed. Single for the pitcher.

[VanMan]

First pitch to Amezaga is grounded to DeRosa, shovels to Izturis, pivot to Lee completes the double play.

[VanMan]

Uggla takes a mighty cut and misses. Curve ball did not break, ends up high and in, 1-1. Change is swung on and missed, strike two. High fastball is hit up the middle, kicks off the mound into center field. Uggla's on with two out.

[VanMan]

Hanley Ramirez grounds the first pitch to DeRosa. He tries to avoid Uggla, picks it and pegs to Lee to retire the side. Two hits, no runs, one left.

Middle 3rd, Cubs 1, Marlins 0

[VanMan]

I had to get laundry out of the dryer while Marquis hit again, but he grounded to Uggla for the first out. Soriano followed with a double to left.

[VanMan]

Izturis takes the first pitch outside. He grounds to Uggla, over to Boone for the second out, but Soriano is able to advance to third.

[VanMan]

Lee, coming off his HR in the first, takes the first pitch outside. Another one hits the outside corner. Willis misses low and away, 2-1. Another pitch is low, 3-1. He shoots a grounder past Boone into the Marlin bullpen. Soriano scores, Willis gets in Lee's way between first and second, but he makes it to second by himself depite getting awarded the double.

[VanMan]

Ramirez flies to Hermedia in right on the first pitch to retire the side. However, the Cubs score one more run on two hits, including Lee's second RBI of the game. One man left on base.

End 3rd, Cubs 2, Marlins 0

[VanMan]

AFLAC question:

Ernie Banks has never won which of the following:
MVP, Gold Glove, Rookie of the Year or a memorial award?

[VanMan]

Cabrera takes a ball low, but swung and missed the second and fouled one off, then swings and misses a low-in change, one out.

[VanMan]

Willingham takes one down the middle, off-speed. Fastball is low, 1-1. Slider is low and away, 2-1. Willingham grounds one foul to the left, 2-2. Another grounder foul to the left. Sinker is fouled back to the screen. Change up misses low and away, it's full. Grounder just foul past third. Sinker missed low, Willingham coaxes a walk, first given up tonight by Marquis.

[VanMan]

Hermidia takes one outside. Barrett goes out to talk to Marquis. The 1-0 is fouled away. Hermidia pulls the 1-1 foul toward the Marlin dugout. Liner off DeRosa glove. Willingham rounds second, heads for third, DeRosa throws to third... not in time! Runners on the corners, one out. Play called a single.

[VanMan]

Olivo takes the first pitch low. He fouls one off, it's 1-1. Slider, hit deep to center, Pagan is back on the track, against the wall, caught. Willingham tags and scores from third, the Cub lead is cut to 2-1.

[VanMan]

Boone takes a two-seamer at the knees, strike one. He pops one foul behind the Marlin dugout. Boone fouls one to the left, still 0-2. Pitch bounces near the plate, Barrett throws behind the runner, Hermida is back in time ahead of the Lee tag. Barrett then calls time to talk to Marquis. High fastball is fouled back, still 1-2. Hermida goes, pitch is high, throw to second is not in time.

[VanMan]

The 2-2 pitch to Boone is in the dirt, full count. The next pitch is low and away, Boone walks, runners on first and second, two out, and now Rothschild is out to talk with the Cub starter.

[VanMan]

Willis, who singled sharply up the middle last time, takes a sinker low for ball one. He fouls one off to make it 1-1. Slider misses inside, 2-1. Grounder off Lee's glove into right field, Hermida rounds third and scores to tie the game. Boone advances to third.

[VanMan]

Amezaga takes a sinker low and away. Same pitch catches the corner for a strike, 1-1. Off-speed pitch tails away, 2-1. Fastball bounced foul, 2-2. Change up misses high and away, full count. Another change misses away, and Amezaga walks to load the bases.

[VanMan]

Uggla takes a slider in the dirt, Barrett blocks it. Fly ball to Soriano for the third out. But the Marlins score twice on two hits, three walks, and three left.

Middle 4th, Cubs 2, Marlins 2

[VanMan]

AFLAC Answer:

Ernie Banks never won the Rookie of the Year.

[VanMan]

Murton takes a ball high and away. Willis misses down low, it's 2-0. Grounder to short, Ramirez throws out Murton, one away.

[VanMan]

DeRosa takes outside. Grounder back at Willis' feet and into center for a single. One on, one out for Barrett.

[VanMan]

Barrett shoots the first pitch to Hermida... HE LOSES IT IN THE LIGHTS! First and second for the Cubs with Pagan coming up.

[VanMan]

Pagan's at bat results in a called strike out on a pitch on the inside corner.

[VanMan]

Marquis takes a fastball for a strike. Another one swung and missed, 0-2. Ball gets away from Olivo, but both runners hold. The 1-2 is away for ball two. Marquis fouls one off, still 2-2. Another foul back. Marquis swings and misses to retire the side. No runs, a hit and an error, two left.

End 4th, Cubs 2, Marlins 2

[VanMan]

H. Ramirez takes a ball, then a strike. Off-speed pitch misses away, 2-1. Fastball misses inside, 3-1. Grounder to A. Ramirez, but Lee can't get the throw, ball hit a fan, so H. Ramirez takes second on the error by A. Ramirez.

[VanMan]

Cabrera takes a two-seamer for a strike. Busted bat, floater to shallow center, Izturis can't get it. H. Ramirez had to hold up, then advanced to third. Cabrera in with a single.

[VanMan]

Willingham skies one to the left side of the infield. A. Ramirez is under it for the out.

[VanMan]

Hermida takes a slider low and in that crossed up Barrett. Hermida shoots one foul to the left. Slider swung and missed, it's 1-2. High fastball is fouled off Hermida. Slider low and in, makes the count 2-2. Another one in the dirt, the count's full. Cabrera goes, but Hermida hits one high and deep to right field, it finds the stands for a three-run homer. Marlins now lead 5-2.

[VanMan]

Marmol is now up in the bullpen. Olivo then grounds out to Ramirez. I wonder if this is the Marquis that most people were thinking we're getting at the beginning of the season.

[VanMan]

Boone takes a ball. A change up catches the inside corner for a strike on Marquis' 100th pitch. Next pitch is skied to Soriano for the third out. However, the Marlins score three on Hermida's home run. There were two hits overall and an error, no one left.

Middle 5th, Marlins 5, Cubs 2

[VanMan]

Soriano takes a pitch outside. Another one misses away, 2-0. Soriano flies to right, Hermida there for the catch.

[VanMan]

Izturis showed bunt, pulled back, took a pitch outside. He flies one to center, Amezaga there for the out.

[VanMan]

81% of Cubs fans in the Comcast SportsNet poll still believe the Cubs will win the NL Central.

[VanMan]

Lee takes the first two pitches outside the zone. He then grounds one to Cambrera for the third out. Nothing doing for the Cubs.

End 5th, Marlins 5, Cubs 2

[VanMan]

Willis takes a pitch low from Carlos Marmol. Next pitch is called for a strike just above the knees. Slider gets over for a strike, 1-2. Willis chases a slider away and fouls it off. Slider misses inside, 2-2. Willis pops the 2-2 into the seats behind the plate. Another foul ball to the right side. Fly ball to left-center, Soriano over to make the out.

[VanMan]

Amezaga takes a strike at the knees. He then bloops one to right field, where it drops in front of Murton for a single.

[VanMan]

Uggla up, but Marmol throws to first to keep Amezaga close. Uggla then fouls one to the left-field line seats. Throw to Lee bounced, Lee able to pick it. Slider catches the zone for strike two. Another slider misses away, 1-2. Change is inside and low, Barrett checks Amezaga, 2-2. Marmol throws to first, Amezaga back in time. Amezaga goes, Uggla fouls back to the upper deck. Another pick-off move to first, Amezaga back. Off-speed pitch is fouled back. Another move to first. Marmol paying close attention to the runner. Check swing on a slider away, no swing, full count. Marmol steps off to look Amezaga back. Runner goes, pitch is up and in, ball four.

[VanMan]

H. Ramirez takes a slider for a strike. Another slider misses away, 1-1. Fastball swung and missed, 1-2. Slider misses away again, 2-2. Fastball is fouled to the right. Marmol whirls to check Amezaga. Fastball catches the outside corner for a called strike three. Two down.

[VanMan]

Cabrera takes a slider low and away. Fastball misses high. Change up swung and missed, 2-1. Backdoor slider catches the insider corner for strike two. Slider misses outside, full count, runners will go on the next pitch. Swing and a miss on a slider, and Marmol punches the glove out of his own hand. No runs, a hit and a walk, two left.

Middle 6th, Marlins 5, Cubs 2

[VanMan]

A. Ramirez takes the first pitch high and away from Willis. He fouls one toward Quade that first got off his feet. Fastball is low, 2-1. Ramirez broke his bat, grounds back to Willis for the out, barrel of the bat hits the backstop.

[VanMan]

Murton fouls the first one off, then takes inside and outside, 2-1. Another one is low to make it 3-1. Fly ball to right, Hermida drifts under it for the catch.

[VanMan]

DeRosa takes a strike at the knees. Check swing, foul ball, 0-2. Another check swing on a slider, gets by Olivo, appeal to first is no swing. DeRosa hits a one-bouncer to H. Ramirez, over to first to retire the side. Nothing doing again for the Cubs.

End 6th, Marlins 5, Cubs 2

[VanMan]

Willingham takes the first two pitches away. He pops one foul behind the screen, 2-1. Backdoor slider over for a strike. Curve ball freezes Willingham for the strike out looking.

[VanMan]

Hermida fouls the first pitch off. He grounds one to DeRosa, over to Lee for the second out.

[VanMan]

Olivo swings and misses a pitch well outside. Change up is low and away. Swing and a miss on a fastball away, 1-2. Slider missed barely, 2-2. Another slider freezes Olivo for the called third strike. And now former Bears kicker Kevin Butler leads the crowd in the 7th Inning Stretch.

[VanMan]

Barrett takes an off-speed pitch for a strike. Ground ball past Cabrera into the Cub bullpen, Barrett motors his way to second for a double.

[VanMan]

Pagan shoots the first pitch foul. Willis tries to give a Rawlings shave, 1-1. Another one misses high, 2-1. Pagan fouls one back, it's 2-2. Fastball high, it's full. Theriot is on deck, Wuertz is warming up in the pen. Pop to right, Hermida rushes in to make the catch. Barrett has to hold at second.

[VanMan]

Theriot pinch hits for Marmol. He takes one high and away, ball one. Olivo calls time. Kranitz out to chat with Willis. Justin Miller up in the Marlin 'pen. Theriot hits one high and deep to left-center! It's over for a two-run home run thanks to the pep talk from Kevin Butler pre-game!!!!! It's now 5-4 Marlins.

[VanMan]

Soriano takes a strike down Broadway. Next one is fouled back on a check swing. Next one is missed, and another is missed away. Grounder to Uggla, over to Boone for the second out.

[VanMan]

Izturis takes a fastball for a strike. He then fouls the next pitch off, 0-2. Fastball is too close, 1-2. Grounder to Uggla again, inning over, but the Cubs get two runs closer on the two-run homer by Theriot. There were two hits in the inning and no one left on base.

End 7th, Marlins 5, Cubs 4

[VanMan]

Wuertz comes into the game in relief of Marmol, Boone takes the first offering away, then swings and misses at an off-speed pitch. Matt Lindstrom is in the Marlins pen. The 1-1 misses away. Check swing on an off-speed away, 3-1. Fastball is low, ball four.

[VanMan]

Joe Borchard is pinch-hitting for Willis. Slider called for a strike. Throw to first to keep Boone close. Swing and a miss, 0-2. Next pitch is in the dirt, 1-2. Time called. Fastball upstairs, 2-2. Boone runs, fastball misses inside, Barrett double clutches, Boone's in safely for a stolen base. Foul ball off Borchard. The full-count pitch misses, another walk.

[VanMan]

Amezaga attempts a sac bunt, but he pops it back into the screen. Next pitch is high and away. The 1-1 is bunted, Lee gets the ball in front of the mound, throws to third, Boone is out! One away.

[VanMan]

Uggla singles through the hole into left, but Borchard holds at third. Amezaga goes to second, bases now loaded with one out.

[VanMan]

H. Ramirez gets a base hit to left, Borchard scores, Amezaga to third, Uggla to second, still bases loaded, now 6-4 Marlins.

[VanMan]

Cabrera swings at a change up and misses for strike one. Another swing and a miss, 0-2. Fastball just misses away, 1-2. Cabrera swings and misses one in the dirt, two away.

[VanMan]

Willingham takes a strike down the middle. Fastball driven deep to center field over Pagan's head, bases-clearing double for Willingham makes it 9-4. The bullpen can't keep things close. And why is Barrett asking for high fastballs?

[VanMan]

Hermida swings and misses the first pitch. Fouled off to the right, 0-2. Tailing pitch misses away, 1-2. Wuertz steps off. Change up away catches the zone for a called strike three, but the Marlins get four on three hits and two walks, one man left on base.

Middle 8th, Marlins 9, Cubs 4

[VanMan]

Justin Miller comes in for the Marlins in the 8th, Lee takes his first pitch away. Breaking ball called for a strike. Lee swings and misses, 1-2. Next pitch hits the dirt away, it's 2-2. Off-speed is away, 3-2. Foul back, still full. Lee swings and misses, one out.

[VanMan]

A. Ramirez takes a breaker inside, then an off-speed on the outside corner. Check swing, went around, 1-2. Low and away, 2-2. Fouled off. Swing and a miss on an inside pitch, two down.

[VanMan]

Murton takes one away, then swings and misses. Change up is over for a strike called. Off-speed pitch is away, 2-2. Bob Howry is warming up for the 9th. Murton fouls one back. Fastball misses away, full count. Payoff pitch in the dirt, Murton takes the walk.

[ARamfan]

Hi VanMan! Good to see you back with your play-by-play tonight. :) I'm still recovering from the top of the 8th inning. A very disappointing one. :(

[VanMan]

DeRosa takes the first pitch high. Foul ball to the left. Off speed pitch over for a called strike two. Check swing pop fly to short right field, Uggla out to get it. Cubs get no runs, no hits, a walk and one left.

End 8th, Marlins 9, Cubs 4

[VanMan]

Hi VanMan! Good to see you back with your play-by-play tonight. :) I'm still recovering from the top of the 8th inning. A very disappointing one. :(
Mara:

It just boggles the mind how the bullpen just keeps making a few critical mistakes, and also the base running gaffs are getting too plentiful.

[VanMan]

Bob Howry will pitch the 9th. Olivo will be his first opposing batter. He swings and misses at the first pitch. He reaches out and pops one to right field. Murton slides and reaches way out to his left to catch the ball for the first out.

[VanMan]

Boone fouls off the first pitch. Next pitch is low, 1-1. Swing and a miss on a low-and-in pitch, 1-2. He rolls one past Ramirez for a single to left.

[VanMan]

Todd Linden pinch hits and takes a ball. Fastball over the outside corner at the knees, 1-1. Swing and a miss, strike two. Fouled off to the left, still 1-2. Pulled foul into the Marlins bullpen. Linden swings and misses for the third strike. Two down.

[VanMan]

Amezaga fouls the first pitch off. Another foul back, 0-2. Upstairs, runs the count to 1-2. Pitch in the dirt, now 2-2. Fouled off to the right. Ground ball to Ramirez, over to first to retire the side. No runs, one hit, one left.

Middle 9th, Marlins 9, Cubs 4

Everyone get out your rally caps!

[ARamfan]

Mara:

It just boggles the mind how the bullpen just keeps making a few critical mistakes, and also the base running gaffs are getting too plentiful.

You're right. But, it seems like we can usually win in spite of the base running gaffs. It's the bullpen over and over again, MOST of the time.

[VanMan]

Lee Gardner comes in for relief in the 9th. He'll fact Barrett first thing. First pitch is away, ball one. Fastball is over for a called strike. Change up is low, 2-1. Barrett pulls one foul, 2-2. Fouled to the right. Grounder to Cabrera, over to first for the out.

[VanMan]

Pagan takes the first two out of the zone. Fastball over for a strike. Breaking ball away, 3-1. Change up is also away, Pagan walks.

[VanMan]

Theriot fouls the first pitch off. Slider away, 1-1. Grounder gets past H. Ramirez into center field, charge him with an error. Pagan advances to second as Theriot reaches first.

[VanMan]

Soriano takes a fastball for a strike. He swings and misses a change-up, 0-2. Hooked foul past Quade. Served to right field, falls for a hit, Pagan goes to third, Theriot to second, bases are now loaded with one out.

[VanMan]

Cliff Floyd pinch hits for Howry with the bases full. First pitch is low and away. Freddy Gonzalez is going to get the closer Kevin Gregg, and it will be a save situation with the tying run on deck.

[VanMan]

Gregg steps in with a 1-0 count to Floyd, misses low and away to make it 2-0. Sacks full of Cubs. Fouled off Olivo, 2-1. Ball in the dirt, 3-1. Derek Lee would be next. Time called. Floyd steps back in. The 3-1 is fouled back, 3-2. Floyd swings and misses a high fastball, two down.

[VanMan]

Lee takes a fastball for a strike. Swing and a miss on a 93mph gas, 0-2. Swing and a miss on an outside fastball, game over.

Final score, Marlins 9, Cubs 4

W - Willis (3-1)
L - Marquis (5-2)
S - Gregg (6)

[ARamfan]

Well, Eric, another disappointing loss. I'm not even angry, just disappointed. I keep seeing our chance to take the division fading off into the distance...

[VanMan]

I don't know what is going on myself. We got some quality talent during the offseason, but it seems the Cubs are like a poorly-tailored suit. We fix one seam (add some bats and starting pitching) more seams become unraveled (inconsistancy among the team, bad middle relief and set-up, baserunning mistakes).

[ARamfan]

Very good analogy. I agree with you on all points. IMO, everyone has had their hopes SO high because of the offseason spending and signings. That's what makes it so frustrating when they still don't have that consistency this far into the season. We are definitely impatient fans...we've only been waiting 99 years! :p

[Drockvb]

Its always something.

[ryno4ever]

Day by day, this team is breaking my heart more and more. If they were losing because the other teams were actually beating them, it would be easier to take...BUT GIVING UP THE WINS DUE TO STUPIDITY ON THE MOUND, THE BASES, THE BATTERS BOX, THE FIELD....Ugh.... It's not early anymore, guys. It's not early....