6/5 CHC@MIL 7:05 p.m.; TV: WGN; Radio: WGN

[VanMan]

After a huge win in Miller Park last night, the Chicago Cubs look to build on the momentum they've gained the last two games as they face the Milwaukee Brewers in the second of a key NL Central three-game series. Alfonso Soriano went 5-for-5 last night, including a three-run homer that padded a lead the Cubs gained in the 7th inning, while Jason Marquis worked through several jams to keep the Cubs in the game though getting a no decision.

Tonight, the starting pitchers are:

http://www.mlb.com/images/players/action/ph_150404.jpg
Ted Lilly for the Cubs (4-3, 3.52 ERA in 11 starts, 71 2/3 IP, 59 H, 31 R, 28 ER, 7 HR allowed, 15 BB and 65 K)

vs.

http://www.mlb.com/images/players/action/ph_282567.jpg
Claudio Vargas for the Brewers (3-1, 3.90 ERA in 10 starts, 11 appearances overall, 55 1/3 IP, 62 H, 27 R, 24 ER, 8 HR allowed, 22 BB and 51 K)

With last night's win, the Cubs have pulled within 6 1/2 games of the Brewers, while the Cardinals are just six back.

The starting line-ups for tonight's game:

Chicago Cubs (24-31, 6 1/2 GB, third place NL Central)
1. Alfonso Soriano, LF (.316, 7 HR, 17 RBI)
2. Felix Pie, CF (.237, 1 HR, 5 RBI)
3. Derek Lee, 1B (.357, 6 HR, 34 RBI)
4. Aramis Ramirez, 3B (.302, 13 HR, 39 RBI)
5. Cliff Floyd, RF (.305, 2 HR, 21 RBI)
6. Michael Barrett, C (.243, 7 HR, 25 RBI)
7. Ryan Theirot, 2B (.266, 1 HR, 18 RBI)
8. Cesar Izturis, SS (.254, 0 HR, 6 RBI)
9. Ted Lilly, P (.125, 0 HR, 1 RBI)

Milwaukee Brewers (32-26, leading NL Central)
1. Corey Hart, RF (.297, 2 HR, 12 RBI)
2. J.J. Hardy, SS (.295, 16 HR, 47 RBI)
3. Ryan Braun, 3B (.268, 2 HR, 6 RBI)
4. Prince Fielder, 1B (.292, 20 HR, 45 RBI)
5. Bill Hall, CF (.263, 6 HR, 20 RBI)
6. Kevin Mench, LF (.283, 2 HR, 16 RBI)
7. Damian Miller, C (.226, 0 HR, 4 RBI)
8. Tony Graffanino, 2B (.198, 1 HR, 10 RBI)
9. Claudio Vargas, P (.125, 0 HR, 0 RBI)

[Doba]

Can we get the same line up two days in a row please? Is that so hard to ask?

[VanMan]

Can we get the same line up two days in a row please? Is that so hard to ask?
Well, it's pretty close to the same line-up as yesterday. Just put Floyd in right and Theriot at second. Everything else is the same.

[VanMan]

Soriano leads off, first pitch is inside, ball one called by Hunter Wendelstedt. Soriano swings and misses at the next pitch. Another low-away pitch is cut and missed. The 1-2 is in the dirt short of the plate. Another one only travels 55 feet, it's full. Soriano fouls one off the right side. Payoff pitch is lifted into the gap, Soriano motors into second base for a lead-off double.

[VanMan]

Pie popped up a bunt on the first pitch. Braun shifts over to make the catch.

[VanMan]

Lee waits as Vargas turns to check on Soriano. First pitch is fouled back. Lee swings and misses at a pitch away, it's 0-2. Soriano bluffed a go before the pitch, Vargas sees him, throws to second, but Soriano is back in time. Lee fouls one back. Time out called by Lee after a long wait. Another foul ball, this time to the right. Vargas steps off. He then turns to throw to second, Soriano is back without a play. Lee pulls one foul. The 0-2 is high, ball one. Pitch in the dirt, it's 2-2. A long at bat here, as Vargas is trying to play chess with two Cubs. Takeru Kobayashi could have eaten 60 hot dogs in the time this at bat is taking. Off-speed pitch hangs high and away, count is full. Lee foul tips the payoff pitch into Miller's mitt for strike three.

[VanMan]

Ramirez steps in with two out and Soriano on second. He shoots a liner the opposite way, but Hart is there to make the catch. No runs, one hit, one very long at bat, one left.

Middle 1st, Cubs 0, Brewers coming up

[VanMan]

Hart, who sounds like he may have been a singer from the 1980s in a previous career, leads off to face Lilly, who pumps a fastball inside for strike one. Hart fouls one back to the screen. Curve is fouled to the Cubs dugout. Fastball is low. Another one is low, 2-2. Fly ball to center, Pie is there for the first out.

[VanMan]

Hardy takes the first pitch low and in. Next pitch is low, 2-0. Low and in, 3-0. Lilly gets one over, 3-1. A low pitch is swung and missed, it's full. Grounder through the hole to left for a single.

[VanMan]

Braun swings at a fastball and missed, strike one. Fastball is low, 1-1. Line drive up the middle, Hardy advances to second on Braun's single.

[VanMan]

Fielder, with two on and one out, takes one in the dirt. The ball pops into Fielder off the ground, runners go, but the throw to third is offline. Both runners advance to second and third.

[VanMan]

Next pitch is sky high to center, Pie is there to retire Fielder. Hardy tags, Barrett blocks the plate on the throw, but Hardy is able to get his hand on the plate for the sac fly RBI. 1-0 Brewers. Braun advances to third.

[VanMan]

Hall takes the first pitch high and in, then the next pitch down. Hall fouls the next pitch off, 2-1. Fastball is high, 3-1. High fastball is fouled back, full count. Slow curve is fouled off Hall. Fastball misses inside, Hall walks. Rothschild comes out to chat.

[VanMan]

Mench takes a fastball over the plate, strike one. Curve ball is high, 1-1. Fastball just misses inside, 2-1. Offspeed pitch is low, 3-1. Mench pops up the 3-1 to Lee to end the inning. But the Brewers score one time on two hits, a walk, a wild pitch and two left.

End 1st, Brewers 1, Cubs 0

[Drockvb]

geesh, Lilly needs a couple of 5-10 pitch innings. He threw like 30 pitches in the first. :eek:

[VanMan]

Floyd takes the first pitch inside for ball one. Fastball finds the zone for a strike, 1-1. Another fastball misses low, 2-1. Fastball crosses the knees, 2-2. Another fastball gets by Floyd's knees for a called strike three.

[VanMan]

Barrett takes a ball low and away. Another one misses away, 2-0. Fastball just misses away, 3-0. Another fastball catches the knees and the outside corner, 3-1. Barrett hits it deep to center, but Hall makes the catch on the warning track for the second out.

[VanMan]

Theriot takes an offspeed pitch low and away. Fastball catches the low-outside corner, strike one. Change up is over for strike two. Theriot flies to right, Hart there to make the catch. Nothing doing for the Cubs.

Middle 2nd, Brewers 1, Cubs 0

[VanMan]

I have to wonder if Lilly is able to keep the Brewers down tonight like Marquis was able to do, and then in the second or third time through the order, the Cubs bats can get going again.

[VanMan]

Miller pops up the first pitch to shallow center, Theriot is there to make the catch.

[VanMan]

Graffanino tries to bunt, but fouls one off his face. Talk about keeping your eye on the ball! Lilly delivers a beautiful slow curve for strike two. Another one is high, 1-2. Curve is hung, and Graffanino puts into the left-field bleachers for a home run. 2-0 Brewers.

[VanMan]

Vargas fouls the first pitch back to the screen. Fastball just misses high, 1-1. Fastball is over this time, 1-2. Curve ball misses away, 2-2. Fastball inside, moves Vargas' back leg, it's full. Busted bat grounder to Ramirez, he takes his time and throws over to Lee for the out.

[VanMan]

Hart takes a slow curve that catches the inside corner, strike one. Fastball misses, 1-1. Another one misses high and away, 2-1. Another misses inside, 3-1. Hart fouls one back, full count. Hart hits a no-doubter into the left field stands to make the score 3-0 Brewers.

[dundeecub]

lilly not having a great time here. ugh.

[VanMan]

Hardy takes the first pitch low and inside. He grounds one foul up the third base line, 1-1. Slow curve is low, 2-1. Fastball is pulled foul, 2-2. Sinking fastball is low, full count again. That was Lilly's 51st pitch. Slow curve is flown to right-center, Floyd is over to MAKE THE CATCH! But the Brewers score two more on two home runs. No one left.

End 2nd, Brewers 3, Cubs 0

[VanMan]

Fifty-two pitches in two innings, not very good. The bullpen's going to be working tonight!

[VanMan]

Izturis before he started his AB asked to inspect the baseball. First pitch is over for a strike. He swings and misses, 0-2. Fastball over the outside corner for strike three.

[VanMan]

Lilly fouls the first one off. Another is fouled, and then a ground ball to short.

[dundeecub]

Fifty-two pitches in two innings, not very good. The bullpen's going to be working tonight!

given that marmolade and wuertz pitched yesterday, its probably gonna be eyre and howry today. maybe the hitters figured that and have given up in advance...

[VanMan]

Soriano fouls the first pitch off. He swings and misses, 0-2. High fastball is swung and missed. Cubs go 1-2-3 again. No base runners since Soriano's lead-off double.

Middle 3rd, Brewers 3, Cubs 0

[VanMan]

given that marmolade and wuertz pitched yesterday, its probably gonna be eyre and howry today. maybe the hitters figured that and have given up in advance...
I don't think that's the reason they're not hitting.

[VanMan]

Braun fouls the first pitch off. Curve is over for a called strike. Flyball to center. Pie is there, but he has to make a diving catch as he misjudged the distance. Either way, it's the first out.

[VanMan]

Fielder takes a curveball low. Fly ball to right field, off the wall, Floyd fields it, Fielder lumbers around first, throw comes into second, there's a play... Fielder's safe.

[VanMan]

Hall takes the fastball high. Curve ball is grounded to Ramirez, he looks back Fielder and throws to Lee to get Hall. Two down.

[VanMan]

Curve ball to Mench is a strike. Another curve is pulled down the third base line for a double. Fielder comes around to score, it's 4-0 Brewers.

[VanMan]

Miller takes a fastball low and in, as Mench takes a big secondary lead. Miller hits a grounder under Ramirez's glove into left field. Mench comes around third, Soriano throws home, the throw is cut off by Lilly. 5-0 Brewers.

[VanMan]

Graffanino up, he cues the first pitch down the first base line foul. No one is up in the Cubs pen yet. Fastball swung on and missed, 0-2. Curve is high and away. Fastball is over for a called third strike, but the Brewers score two more on three hits, one left.

End 3rd, Brewers 5, Cubs 0

[VanMan]

Pie takes a fastball at thigh level, strike one. He rips one to right for a single.

[VanMan]

Lee takes a fast ball away. Another fastball misses, 2-0. Another one misses high, 3-0. An inside fastball misses, Lee walks. Two on for Ramirez with none out.

[VanMan]

First pitch is flied deep to right. Hart is on the track for the catch. Pie tags from second to third, Lee remains at first.

[VanMan]

Floyd grounds through the hole to left for an RBI single. Pie scores, Lee moves to second. Cubs cut the lead to 5-1 with one out and runners on first and second for Barrett.

[VanMan]

Barrett takes an off-speed pitch low and away. Foul back to the screen on a good cut, 1-1. Fastball misses away, 2-1. Barrett hits one foul to the right, 2-2. Another one is fouled to the left. Fastball is inside, 3-2. Golfed to left-center, Mench is over to make the catch, two gone.

[VanMan]

Theriot swings at the first pitch, low and away, for strike one. Fastball misses away, 1-1. Offspeed pitch is wide, 2-1. Change up is low, 3-1. Fastball misses wide, and Theriot walks to load the bases.

[VanMan]

Izturis flies out on the first pitch to Hart to retire the side. The Cubs do chip away at the Brewer lead, scoring one on two hits and two walks. The bases remained loaded.

Middle 4th, Brewers 5, Cubs 1

[VanMan]

Vargas leads off the bottom of the fourth. He takes a strike, then a curve misses, and then another catches the zone. He then grounds to Ramirez for the out.

[VanMan]

Hart takes two called strikes, then swings and misses for the second out.

[VanMan]

Hardy takes one away. Another misses, 2-0. Fastball catches the knees, 2-1. Called strike two. Grounder to first, Lee dives and stops it, the feed to Lilly gets Hardy to retire the side. Nothing doing for the Brewers finally!

End 4th, Brewers 5, Cubs 1

[ARamfan]

Hey, Eric! I'm multi-tasking tonight, making dinner and trying to watch the game at the same time. I just caught that great play by DLee and Lilly though. One question, why is Aramis wearing his socks up? :confused: I've never seen him do that.

[VanMan]

Lilly takes a called strike. Next pitch is in the dirt. He swings and misses, looking silly, 1-2. Grounder back to Vargas, over to Fielder for the out.

[VanMan]

Soriano takes one out of the zone, and then drives one to left. Mench is there to make the catch.

Mara: I don't know why he's got the high socks tonight.

[VanMan]

Pie takes the first pitch inside in the dirt. Breaking ball misses away. He showed bunt, but the pitch was low, 3-0. Fastball is over for a strike. Pop foul out of play just off left field. Pie pulls one into the gap in right-center for a double.

[VanMan]

Lee popped up the first pitch, slams the bat down, to first base. Fielder makes the catch to retire the side. No runs on one hit, one left.

Middle 5th, Brewers 5, Cubs 1

[VanMan]

Braun takes the first pitch low. Next pitch is crushed into the left field stands for a home run. 6-1 Brewers.

[VanMan]

Fielder takes the first pitch for a strike. He gets out of the way of a high-tight pitch, they appeal to third on a check swing, no swing. Curve misses high, 2-1. Scott Eyre is warming up. Fielder fouls one to Nick Leyva in the 3rd base coaching box. The 2-2 breaks Fielder's bat, grounder to Ramirez, over to Lee for the first out.

[ARamfan]

I just heard that Scott Eyre is up in the bullpen. :eek:

[VanMan]

Hall takes a strike on an off-speed pitch. Curve is grounded to Izturis, over to Lee for the second out from deep in the hole.

[VanMan]

I just heard that Scott Eyre is up in the bullpen. :eek:
You heard right.

Meanwhile, Mench pops one behind first, Lee is there to make the catch.

End 5th, Brewers 6, Cubs 1

[VanMan]

Ramirez takes one away, ball one. He pops one to Fielder at first, one out.

[VanMan]

Floyd takes the first pitch low. He gets all of the next pitch and takes it nearly to the back of the right field bleachers. It's 6-2 now.

[ARamfan]

YAY Cliff Floyd! Just like yesterday, there's still plenty of time to beat the Brewers. ;)

[VanMan]

Barrett takes two bad ones. He pops one foul back. He then dumps one into right over Fielder's glove. One on and one out.

[VanMan]

YAY Cliff Floyd! Just like yesterday, there's still plenty of time to beat the Brewers. ;)
Yeah, still have 11 outs to play with.

[VanMan]

Vargas throws to first while Theriot is up. Fastball is away, misses. Another one misses low, and a fastball misses low and away, 3-0. Fastball for a called strike. Time called prior to the next pitch. Fastball at the knees, it's full. Theriot fouls off the pitch while Barrett is going. Another foul ball with Barrett running. Throw over to first, Barrett's back. Barrett goes again, Theriot fouls it back again. Again, Barrett goes, Theriot fouls back, this time just behind the Brewer dugout. Barret goes again, and Theriot fouls it off the screen. Barrett goes again, and Theriot this time puts it in play into the left-center field gap for an RBI double! Bob said about having long ABs, and how that helps the batter see the best pitch to hit. It's now 6-3.

[VanMan]

Yost is making a double-switch. Tony Gwinn Jr. is coming in to bat ninth, Bill Hall coming out. Carlos Villanueva comes in to pitch and bat fifth.

[dundeecub]

all right theriot! great ab from our boy there, hopefully we can get at least another here before scotty comes in (who may be ok: he doesnt have a save to blow...)

[VanMan]

Izturis up, he takes a curve for a strike. A fastball is over for strike two. Foul ball off Izturis' foot. The 0-2 is way outside. Fastball is low and away, 2-2. Izturis fouls one back. Next pitch is low and away, full count. Izturis swings and misses an off-speed pitch for strike three.

[VanMan]

Jones pinch hitting for Lilly. First pitch is a curve that didn't break, missed well away. He hits a one-bouncer to Graffanino, over to Fielder for the final out. However, the Cubs score two, one on a homer by Floyd, and three hits overall. One left on base.

Middle 6th, Brewers 6, Cubs 3

[VanMan]

Scott Eyre is on to relieve Lilly. He will first face Miller. First pitch is low. Next is low and away, ball two. Another fastball misses high, 3-0. Fastball looked low, but called strike. Barrett comes out to consult with Eyre. Miller grounds to Ramirez for the first out.

[VanMan]

Graffanino takes an off-speed pitch for a strike. Fastball is over for another called strike. Graffanino fouls one back behind the screen. Slider is in the dirt, 1-2. Graffanino chases a slider in the dirt for strike three, two down.

[VanMan]

Gwinn comes up for the first time after the double-switch. Fastball is over the outside corner for a strike. He swings and misses, it's 0-2. Fastball is a strike three called at the knees. 1-2-3 for Eyre in the sixth.

End 6th, Brewers 6, Cubs 3

[ARamfan]

all right theriot! great ab from our boy there, hopefully we can get at least another here before scotty comes in (who may be ok: he doesnt have a save to blow...)

Looks like Scotty made it through without any damage.

[VanMan]

Sausage race result tonight -- Polish sausage by two over the chorizo.

[VanMan]

Soriano takes the first pitch away, then a fastball inside. He yanks one foul well out of play. Low-outside pitch is swung on and missed. Wuertz is throwing in the pen. Check swing on an inside fastball, appeal to first, he went. Replay confirmed it.

[VanMan]

Pie takes a curve for a strike. He swings and misses one in the dirt, 0-2. 38,535 paid attendance tonight. Pie lifts a liner to Hart in right field for the second out.

[VanMan]

Lee grounds to the hole, but Braun cuts it off, over to Fielder to retire the side. Nothing doing for the Cubs in the 7th.

Middle 7th, Brewers 6, Cubs 3

[VanMan]

Wuertz now in for the Cubs. His first pitch to Hart is low and away, the second also misses low. Fastball is over for a strike. Fastball is low, 3-1. Another one is low, Hart walks.

[VanMan]

With Hardy up on a 1-0 count, Hart gets a huge jump and steals second.

[ARamfan]

No more walks, Wuertz! :(

[VanMan]

Wuertz attempts a pick-off at second, but Hart just gets back in before Theriot is able to tag him. A bouncer is then hit to Ramirez, over to Lee for the out, but Hart advances after the throw, back to third, Izturis can't get the tag on in time.

[VanMan]

One down for Braun. First pitch is missed, ball one. Ball two low. Fastball over for a strike on the outside corner. Braun chased a slider in the dirt, 2-2. Fastball is taken back up the middle, Hart scores to make it 7-3.

[VanMan]

Trammell comes out to pull Wuertz in favor of Ohman to face Fielder, lefty-lefty match-up.

[VanMan]

Fielder takes a slider for a strike. He swings and misses another slider, 0-2. Fastball is fouled off. Fielder fouls off a slider near third. Slider freezes Fielder for the strikeout.

[VanMan]

Villanueva swings and misses the first pitch. He swings and misses a slider down, 0-2. Another swing and a miss, pitch winds up in the dirt, so Barrett throws out Villanueva. Brewers score one on two hits, one left.

End 7th, Brewers 7, Cubs 3

[ARamfan]

Well, what do you know, Ohman came through for us. :)

[VanMan]

Ramirez swings and misses an off-speed pitch. Curve misses away, 1-1. Off-speed misses low, 2-1. Another one misses low, 3-1. Fastball away swung and missed, full count. Fastball low and away, ball four.

[VanMan]

Yost coming out to take out Villanueva in favor of Derrick Turnbow.

[VanMan]

Floyd takes a fastball low. Another fastball is driven to center, Gwinn is there for the catch. One out.

[VanMan]

Barrett takes a fastball low. Howry warming up for the Cubs. Barrett fouls one to the screen, 1-1. Slider away, 2-1. Fastball fouled off, 2-2. Off-speed is low, full count. Fastball is low, two on with one out.

[VanMan]

Theriot takes a 98mph heater upstairs. He drives the next pitch to right field for a single. Everyone moves up 90 feet, bases loaded, and Matt Murton will pinch hit for Izturis.

[VanMan]

Murton, 0-for-1 with an HBP vs. Turnbow, slices the first fastball foul. Off-speed pitch swung on and missed, 0-2. Check swing on a pitch in the dirt, ump said he went around, two gone.

[VanMan]

Mark DeRosa now pinch hitting for Ohman. Slider misses for a ball. Fastball misses away, 2-0. Francisco Cordero loosening up. Heater catches the knees, 2-1. Grounder up the middle, base hit. One run will score, two runs will score! Cubs are now down just 7-5. Soriano will be next, but Yost is bringing in the closer now.

[VanMan]

Theriot at third, DeRosa at first, the first pitch from Cordero to Soriano is in the dirt. Fastball is in there for a strike, 1-1. Soriano is .357 with a homer after the 7th inning. He chases a slider in the dirt, 1-2. Swing and a miss, third out.

The Cubs get two on two hits, two walks and two men left on base.

Middle 8th, Brewers 7, Cubs 5

[NeifiPerezMVP2007]

Oh well, I hope the fans and players don't get their panties in a bunch over that.

[VanMan]

DeRosa stays in to play second, Theriot moves over to short, and Howry comes in to pitch, batting eighth.

[ARamfan]

Howry makes me nervous. :o

[VanMan]

Mench takes a fastball for a strike. He fouls one off Barrett's goalie mask. The 0-2 is fouled out of Barrett's glove. Popped foul off the hands on a 93mph heater. Fastball just outside, 1-2. Another fastball swung and missed, one away.

[VanMan]

Miller takes a fastball inside, ball one. Fastball is swung and missed, 1-1. Miller fouls one off to the left side, 1-2. Letter-high fastball is fouled off. High fly ball deep to left field. Soriano is back, back, back, he leaps and makes the catch in front of the out-of-town scoreboard. Two down.

[VanMan]

Graffanino grounds one through the hole past Theriot on the first pitch for a single.

[VanMan]

Gwinn steps in, but Howry throws to Lee to keep the runner close. Fastball at the knees for a strike. High fastball misses, 1-1. Another fastball misses high and tight, 2-1. Another fastball hits the low-outside corner for strike two called. Fastball upstairs, full count. Graffanino will go with the pitch. Swing and a miss, side retired.

No runs, a hit, one left.

End 8th, Brewers 7, Cubs 5

Pie, Lee and Ramirez are due up. Cordero is due to blow one, folks.

[ARamfan]

End 8th, Brewers 7, Cubs 5
Pie, Lee and Ramirez are due up. Cordero is due to blow one, folks.

I hope it will be tonight!

[VanMan]

Pie takes a fastball away. Sinking fastball catches the low-inside corner for a strike. Another fastball away, 2-1. Slider away, 3-1. Pie lifts one to left, Mench is over for the out.

[VanMan]

Lee takes one inside, ball one. Fastball at the knees, strike one. Fouled back, 1-2. Ramirez is next. Slider is swung on and missed, two down.

[VanMan]

Ramirez keeps the game alive with a first-pitch single to left on a fastball.

[VanMan]

Floyd takes one low and in, ball one. Fastball, 99mph, at the knees for a strike. Awkard swing and a miss, 1-2, slider inside. Liner right at Graffanino for the final out of the game. Cubs get one hit but nothing left.

Final score, Brewers 7, Cubs 5

W - Vargas (4-1)
L - Lilly (4-4)
S - Cordero (22)

Game took three hours and 16 minutes in front of 38,535 paid.

[VanMan]

Well, we showed some life, but we waited until we were down 5-0 to start things going. Lilly just didn't have his stuff again tonight, though the bullpen mostly kept the game close. I think only Wuertz allowed a run out of the pen.

[cubbie_kern]

couldn't quite put together the comeback...

[ARamfan]

Well, we showed some life, but we waited until we were down 5-0 to start things going. Lilly just didn't have his stuff again tonight, though the bullpen mostly kept the game close. I think only Wuertz allowed a run out of the pen.

Accurate analysis. They are showing some life, which makes me happy with the way they played tonight in spite of the loss. Lilly had a bad night, but everything else seemed to stay on course. Tomorrow is an extremely important game.

[cubbie_kern]

At least they're not just laying down and waiting to get beat. They fought to come back, but fell maybe 1 hit short of tying it up.