7/18 SF @ CHC 1:20 p.m.; TV: WGN; Radio: WGN

[VanMan]

This game has already been interesting, and there has just been one-half inning the books. First, the Cubs announce Derek Lee will serve his five-game suspension after deciding to rest his ankle, which got a swolen blood vessel after fouling a ball off it last night. Then, Zambrano on the first batter uses his bare hand to try to field a line-drive combacker. After striking out Fred Lewis, Randy Winn doubles down the first-base line, which Daryl Ward disputed as foul, trying to take a page out of players at the French Open. Z then walked Ryan Klesko, but induced Durham to ground back to him for the final out.

[VanMan]

In the bottom of the first:

Soriano grounded to Feliz at third.
Theriot flies to Lewis in left.
Ward fouls off several pitches, before striking out on a high fastball.

End 1st, Cubs 0, Giants 0

[VanMan]

Top of the 2nd:

Feliz swings at a high fastball over his head, strike one. He pops up the next pitch to Fontenot at second.

[VanMan]

Frandsen takes a 92 mph fastball down the middle. Z comes back with a slider inside, ball one. A 93mph fastball away catches the zone, 1-2. Frandsen fouls back a 91 mph fastball to the screen. Frandsen flies a 70mph curve to center field, Jones is there for the catch.

[VanMan]

Rodriguez takes four straight fastballs that missed the zone for a walk.

[VanMan]

Cain takes an 89 mph fastball for a strike. He fouls off a 90 mph fastball at the plate, 0-2. He swings and misses an 89mph fastball for strike three. No runs, a walk, one left.

Middle 2nd, Cubs 0, Giants 0

[VanMan]

Bottom of the 2nd:

Floyd leads off the inning, takes a 91mph fastball inside. Another 91mph fastball misses outside, 2-0. A third 91mph fastball this time finds its way over the plate for strike one. Floyd chops one to Klesko at first, he steps on the bag to retire Floyd.

[VanMan]

DeRosa takes an 87mph fastball high and tight. He fouls the next pitch at the plate. An 82mph slider is over for strike two. Another slider, 84, misses low, 2-2. A 93mph fastball misses well high, full count. Another fastball, 89, misses high and tight, DeRosa gets the walk.

[VanMan]

Fontenot takes a 92 mph fastball for a strike. An 86mph slider is also over for a called strike. Font fouls off the 0-2 behind the screen. A 92 mph fastball misses high, 1-2. Throw to first to keep DeRosa close. An 86mph slider misses away, 2-2. Fastball is high, 93, to fill the count. DeRosa goes, Fontenot swings and misses, throw to second gets DeRosa for the strike-em-out, throw-em-out double play to end the inning. No runs, a walk, none left.

End 2nd, Cubs 0, Giants 0

[VanMan]

Top of the 3rd:

Roberts takes the first pitch for a strike. A 76mph curve is over for strike two. An 89mph sinker misses low, 1-2. Grounder back to Z, over to Ward for the out. This time, Z uses his glove.

[VanMan]

Lewis takes a fastball, 90, for a strike. Lewis then takes the next pitch back up the middle on the line for a single.

[VanMan]

Winn takes an 89mph sinker low for a ball. Grounder to Theriot, flip to Fontenot for one, the relay to Ward is not fielded and bounds into the seats. Score that a fielder's choice and an error on Fontenot, which allowed Winn to go to second.

[VanMan]

Klesko takes a fastball, 92, for a strike, then another one, 91, high for a ball. An 81mph slider misses away, 2-1. An 84mph sinker misses low and away, 3-1. A 94mph fastball is swung on and missed, 3-2. Grounder foul off the Giant dugout. Klesko fouls off a high fastball to the left. An 82 mph sinker fouled off the screen. Z blows a 95mph fastball by Klesko on a swinging strike out to retire the side. No runs, a hit, one left.

Middle 3rd, Cubs 0, Giants 0

[VanMan]

Bottom of the 3rd:

Jones pops the first pitch to left, Lewis makes the catch.

[VanMan]

Koyie Hill takes a sinker low, then a 93mph fastball away, 2-0. A 91mph fastball catches the outside corner, 2-1. An 86mph slider is swung and missed. Hill checks his swing on a high 93 mph fastball. Another 93mph fastball misses high, Hill walks.

[VanMan]

Z shows bunt, takes a 75mph breaking ball low. A 91 mph fastball misses up and away, Z pulls the bat back. A 92mph fastball hits the corner for a strike, Z still showing bunt. Another 91mph fastball misses inside, backs up Z. The 3-1 is swung and missed by Z to fill the count. He then swings and misses a 93mph fastball for the second out.

[VanMan]

Soriano takes a 73mph curve for a strike. He swings and misses an 89mph fastball, 0-2. Sinker low, 1-2. Slider misses low and away at 80mph, 2-2. Soriano saws off his bat and lines softly to Cain for the final out. No runs, a walk, one left.

End 3rd, Cubs 0, Giants 0

[VanMan]

Top of the fourth:

Durham grounds to Fontenot.
Feliz lines to Floyd.
Frandsen grounds to Theriot.

Middle 4th, Cubs 0, Giants 0

[Doba]

Bases loaded for Jones after a couple of singles and a walk to Fontenot.

[Doba]

NICE! Two run single by Jones.

[Doba]

Tripple by Hill and two more runs score.

[VanMan]

Bottom of the fourth:

Fontenot flies to Winn.
Ward grounds to Klesko.
Floyd lines a single to center.
DeRosa rolls a base hit to left, Floyd goes to second.
Fontenot walks, DeRosa to second, Floyd to third.
Floyd grounds off Klesko's glove, Floyd and DeRosa score, Fontenot to third, scored a 2-RBI single.
Hill rips a triple down the right field line, Fontenot scores, Floyd beats the play at the plate.
Zambrano flies to left, Lewis catches it over Frandzen.

Four runs, four hits, one left.

End 4th, Cubs 4, Giants 0

[VanMan]

Top of the 5th:

Rodriguez grounds to Fontenot.
Cain grounds to DeRosa.
Roberts grounds to Theriot.

Middle 5th, Cubs 4, Giants 0

[VanMan]

Bottom of the 5th:

Soriano walks after losing the handle of a bat while fouling a ball off. A kid ended up catching the bat.
With Theriot up, Rodriguez allows a passed ball, Soriano to second.
Theriot walks, and Cain commits a wild pitch, Soriano to third.
Pitching change: Patrick Misch relieves Matt Cain.
With Ward up, Rodriguez commits a passed ball, Soriano scores, Theriot advances to second.
Injury time out, SF trainer consulting with Rodriguez. Benji Molina will substitute for Rodriguez.
Ward grounds to Misch, Theriot remains at second.
Floyd hits a ground-rule double off Feliz, Theriot scores, ball ends up under the tarp.
DeRosa strikes out swinging.
Fontenot walks.
Jones walks, Floyd advances to third, Fontenot to second.
Hill flies to center off the wall, clearing the bases on a double.
Z grounds to Klesko to end the inning.

Five runs, two hits, four walks, two passed balls, one wild pitch, one left.

End 5th, Cubs 9, Giants 0

[Doba]

Hill is having a hell of a game. 5 RBIs now after the 3 run double into the ivy.

[VanMan]

Gang, I have to get ready for work. Have fun!

[Doba]

Gallager comes in for Zambrano in the 6th.