6/9 CHC @ ATL, 6:05 p.m.; TV: WGN; Radio: WGN

[ryno4ever]

The hottest thing in "Hot-lanta" right now is the Chicago Cubs.
Winners of five of their last six, and two straight over the Atlanta Braves, the Cubs will try to win the four-game series and clinch the season series Saturday night.

Jason Marquis gets the ball for the Cubs, looking to bounce back from a loss his last time out against Florida when he went five innings, allowing five runs (four earned) on eight hits in a 9-4 loss. The loss snapped a five-game winning streak.

"I'm just really believing in my stuff," said the 28-year-old righty. "I've found a comfortable delivery and have kind of redefined myself in how I attack hitters."

Marquis, who was drafted by Atlanta in 1996 and pitched the first four years of his Major League career with the Braves, could use a change of luck against his old team, as he is 0-2 with a 14.40 ERA (24 earned runs in 15 innings) against them.

"I'm going to sit down and come up with a game plan and focus from pitch-to-pitch and execute pitches," he said. "I was a different pitcher back then, more of a thrower, came after a team with just one pitch, a sinker. I've re-defined myself as a pitcher. It depends on who's in the lineup and go from there."

Atlanta counters with Tim Hudson, who is making his first start against the Cubs in 2007. Hudson has lost three of his last four starts but is 2-0 with a 3.00 ERA lifetime against the Cubs.

Both the four-game series and the season series with the Braves conclude Sunday night before the Cubs return home for a seven-game homestand.

Pitching matchup
CHC: RHP Jason Marquis (5-2, 2.84 ERA)
Marquis has seven quality starts in his first 11 outings.

ATL: RHP Tim Hudson (6-4, 3.09 ERA)
Since starting 5-1 with a 1.77 ERA, Hudson is 1-3 with a 6.66 ERA in his last four starts.

Player to watch
Jacque Jones is hitting a healthy .324 (11-for-34) off Hudson, with a double, three homers (tied for the team lead with Alfonso Soriano) and five RBIs. But he also has struck out six times against him.

Tickets
Buy tickets now to catch the game in person.

On the Internet
MLB.TV
Gameday Audio
• Gameday
• Official game notes

On television
• WGN

On radio
• WGN 720

[ryno4ever]

Fontenot is starting at second base tonight.

[ryno4ever]

Lou Pinella Pregame show....praising Soriano (as he should)...

"it all starts with good pitching"

Praising both Marshall and Hill

PRAISING THE BULLPEN

Tack on runs help

He likes what he is seeing...digging out of the hole they put themselves into.

Soriano...3 homers in 4 innings on 7 pitches..."not wasting any time"

Praising Pie...2 out hitting...2 strike hitting...WE FOUND THE TWO HOLE.

Good all around ballgame. Timely hits. Marhsall did the rest

Tonight is a tougher challenge with Tim Hudson.

Lou mentioned that we face Smoltz tomorrow, and Ron tells him that while Lou was in Chapel that they announced we wouldn't see Smoltz tomorrow... and Lou says "Wow, my prayers were answered!" LOL

Soriano, Pie, Lee, Barrett, Jones, DeRosa, Fontenot, Izturis, Marquis

Grrrr....no Theriot!

[ryno4ever]

Okay, so if Lou is so by the numbers, I don't understand why Theriot is not in the lineup.... Theriot has a 4 gagme hitting streak going, is batting .313 (5-16) and has reached base safely in 24 or his last 27 games, and 37 in his last 45 games going back to April 13.

[ryno4ever]

Mike Fontenot returns to the big leagues today to replace Cliff Floyd and it just happens to be his 27th birthday....we got Fontenot when we traded Sammy to Baltimore.

[ryno4ever]

Milestones coming up.... tomorrow will mark Lou's 3000 major league game managed.

Derrek Lee needs one more home run to give him 93 homers as a Cub which would pass Phil Cavaretta for the 5th most homers by a Cubs first baseman.

Michael Barrett needs one RBI to get to his 204 Cub RBI, which would pass Malachi Kittidge for the 9th most RBI by a Cubs catcher. He is also 2 RBI's from his 400th career RBI. He is also 6 homers from his 100th career homer.

Mark DeRosa is 9 hits away from number 500.

[ryno4ever]

First freaking pitch of the game and Hudson nails him with the ball.. Luckily, Alfanso put his arm up to deflect the ball from his head. Warnings have been issued. Now, Hudson is really trying to pick off Soriano... and a couple of close calls, but Soriano still stands on first. I really hope Soriano takes off.

[ryno4ever]

Ronnie is just livid with Hudson. This one was low and inside and almost hit Pie.

[ryno4ever]

Top 1st: Chi Cubs
- A. Soriano hit by pitch
- F. Pie walked, A. Soriano to second
- D. Lee singled to right, A. Soriano scored, F. Pie to third, D. Lee to second advancing on throw
- M. Barrett struck out swinging
- J. Jones intentionally walked
- M. DeRosa singled to right, D. Lee and F. Pie scored, J. Jones to second
- M. Fontenot singled to right, J. Jones scored, M. DeRosa to second, M. DeRosa out at third
- C. Izturis grounded out to third

4 runs, 3 hits, 0 errors
Chi Cubs 4, Atlanta 0

[ryno4ever]

Bottom 1st: Atlanta
- K. Johnson grounded out to third
- W. Harris singled to center
- E. Renteria struck out looking, W. Harris stole second
- W. Harris to third on wild pitch
- A. Jones homered to deep center, W. Harris scored
- B. McCann walked
- J. Francoeur popped out to shallow right

2 runs, 2 hits, 0 errors
Chi Cubs 4, Atlanta 2

Top 2nd: Chi Cubs
- J. Marquis grounded out to pitcher
- A. Soriano flied out to right center
- F. Pie grounded out to second

0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors
Chi Cubs 4, Atlanta 2

[ryno4ever]

Bottom 2nd: Atlanta
- S. Thorman safe at first on pitcher J. Marquis' throwing error
- Y. Escobar walked, S. Thorman to second
- T. Hudson sacrificed to pitcher, S. Thorman to third, Y. Escobar to second
- K. Johnson grounded out to second, S. Thorman scored, Y. Escobar to third
- W. Harris walked
- E. Renteria singled to center, Y. Escobar scored, W. Harris to third
- A. Jones singled to left, W. Harris scored, E. Renteria to second
- S. Gallagher relieved J. Marquis
- B. McCann singled to left, E. Renteria scored, A. Jones to second
- J. Francoeur lined out to third

4 runs, 3 hits, 1 errors
Chi Cubs 4, Atlanta 6

[ryno4ever]

Top 3rd: Chi Cubs
- D. Lee singled to center
- M. Barrett singled to third, D. Lee to second, D. Lee to third on third baseman Y. Escobar's throwing error
- J. Jones reached on fielder's choice, D. Lee scored, M. Barrett to second


That ball hit by Jones bounces off Hudson's ankle and he is out of the game. It wasn't intentional payback, but Karma can be a b***h.

[ryno4ever]

Top 3rd: Chi Cubs
- D. Lee singled to center
- M. Barrett singled to third, D. Lee to second, D. Lee to third on third baseman Y. Escobar's throwing error
- J. Jones reached on fielder's choice, D. Lee scored, M. Barrett to second
- P. Moylan relieved T. Hudson
- M. DeRosa flied out to right
- M. Fontenot grounded into double play second to shortstop to catcher to third, M. Barrett out at third, J. Jones out at second, M. Barrett out at home

1 runs, 2 hits, 1 errors
Chi Cubs 5, Atlanta 6


What a weird night of baseball....

[ryno4ever]

Bottom 3rd: Atlanta
- Y. Escobar grounded out to third
- P. Moylan walked
- K. Johnson grounded out to second

0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors
Chi Cubs 5, Atlanta 6

Top 4th: Chi Cubs
- C. Izturis struck out looking
- S. Gallagher hit by pitch
- A. Soriano struck out swinging
- F. Pie struck out looking

0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors
Chi Cubs 5, Atlanta 6

Bottom 4th: Atlanta
- W. Harris ground rule double to deep center
- E. Renteria homered to deep right, W. Harris scored
- A. Jones struck out swinging
- B. McCann flied out to left
- J. Francoeur flied out to center

2 runs, 2 hits, 0 errors
Chi Cubs 5, Atlanta 8

[ryno4ever]

Top 5th: Chi Cubs
- D. Lee grounded out to third
- M. Barrett walked
- J. Jones grounded into double play second to first, M. Barrett out at second

0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors
Chi Cubs 5, Atlanta 8

Bottom 5th: Atlanta
- S. Thorman flied out to left
- Y. Escobar grounded out to second
- P. Orr hit for P. Moylan
- P. Orr flied out to right

0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors
Chi Cubs 5, Atlanta 8

Top 6th: Chi Cubs
- B. Boyer relieved P. Moylan
- M. DeRosa singled to right
- M. Fontenot grounded out to second, M. DeRosa to second
- M. DeRosa to third on wild pitch
- C. Izturis struck out swinging
- M. Murton hit for S. Gallagher
- M. Murton flied out to right

0 runs, 1 hits, 0 errors
Chi Cubs 5, Atlanta 8

Bottom 6th: Atlanta
- S. Eyre relieved S. Gallagher
- K. Johnson walked
- W. Harris sacrificed to third, K. Johnson to second
- E. Renteria doubled to deep right, K. Johnson scored
- A. Jones grounded out to shortstop
- B. McCann walked
- J. Francoeur flied out to center

1 runs, 1 hits, 0 errors
Chi Cubs 5, Atlanta 9

Top 7th: Chi Cubs
- T. Yates relieved B. Boyer
- A. Soriano struck out swinging
- F. Pie singled to center
- D. Lee struck out swinging
- M. Barrett flied out to right center

0 runs, 1 hits, 0 errors
Chi Cubs 5, Atlanta 9

Bottom 7th: Atlanta
- S. Thorman singled to right
- S. Thorman to second on wild pitch
- Y. Escobar grounded out to second, S. Thorman to third
- C. Woodward hit for T. Yates

[VanMan]

I think the mental mistakes crept back into their play last night. What was Barrett doing continuing to run on a possible double play ball? He should keep an eye on Quade at all times. Also, why didn't Marquis take his time on that play in the second inning where he committed an error? Those might be the only mental mistakes I remember from hearing the game on the radio while driving last night. I hope they got them out of their system for a while.