9/23 PIT @ CHC, 1:20 p.m.; TV: WGN; Radio: WGN

[ryno4ever]

Time to go for the SWEEP!http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w224/ryno4ever/Cubs%20Win/sweep/janitor.gif

The Cubs play their 81st and final home game of the regular season on Sunday, and players know that the fans at Wrigley Field truly provide a home-field advantage.
"You know you're going to have a packed house" Chicago's Ryan Theriot said. "You know these guys are coming to watch the Cubs win and root us on. It's a comforting feeling. It's almost like you have an extra player out there that pushes us."

This year was the fourth consecutive season the Cubs drew more than 3 million fans, and Saturday's crowd of 41,271 helped the team establish a new single-season franchise record. That season total will surpass 3.25 million on Sunday when Carlos Zambrano starts the series finale against the Pittsburgh Pirates.

The Cubs are 43-37 at Wrigley this season, and will finish above .500 at home for the first time since 2004. Zambrano is only 5-9 at Wrigley this year, and 1-2 against Pittsburgh. He beat the Pirates in Pittsburgh on Sept. 8, giving up one run on just two hits over six innings in the Cubs' 5-1 win.

The Pirates will turn to Tom Gorzelanny, who is 1-1 against the Cubs this season. Pittsburgh's left-hander gave up one run over seven innings to the Cubs on Sept. 7 in the Pirates' 6-1 win. The Cubs are 18-22 against lefties this season, but are 5-1 against them this month.

Big Z is 2-2 in September, and the Cubs are looking for him to give the fans something to cheer about as the team tries to maintain its 2 1/2-game lead over the Milwaukee Brewers in the National League Central.

"We've had some pretty good moments this year," Chicago's Daryle Ward said. "A lot of comeback wins, and walk-off hits. The noise factor is always huge. Guys in the outfield can't communicate with each other because the fans are so loud and anticipating them dropping the ball."

Ward signed as a free agent during the offseason, and has been happy to share a number of memorable Wrigley moments with Cubs fans during his first year with the team.

"Last year, I was in Washington, and we had a big stadium, but we put about 15,000 people in there," Ward said. "The team wasn't very good, so to come over here and be competing for a division title is awesome. It's been great.

"Hopefully the memories get much better from here."


Pitching matchup
CHC: RHP Carlos Zambrano (16-13, 4.20 ERA)
Zambrano took the loss in his last start against the Reds, and his first outing on short rest. He pitched on three days' rest instead of the usual four, and said he felt OK, but was rushing at the start of the game. He gave up four runs on seven hits over 5 1/3 innings and took the loss, striking out one.

PIT: LHP Tom Gorzelanny (14-8, 3.55 ERA)
Gorzelanny is coming off a tough outing after allowing four runs on nine hits in five innings against the Padres on Tuesday. It marked only the fifth time in 30 start that the Pirates ace had pitched five or fewer innings. He walked four and also hit a batter and threw 107 pitches in his five innings of work. This will be the third time that Gorzelanny goes after his 15th win. He had won five of his last six decision before Tuesday. He has pitched well against the Cubs with a 2-1 record and an 0.82 ERA.

Players to watch
Aramis Ramirez and Alfonso Soriano have combined for six home runs and 14 RBIs in the first two games of the series.

[ryno4ever]

From pirates.com:

Manager Jim Tracy knew the National League Central Division-leading Chicago Cubs had struggled against left-handed pitching this season, so he decided to start three lefties in a row in Pittsburgh's weekend series in Chicago.
Unfortunately, the results have not been what Tracy or his team were looking for.

The Cubs have scored 22 runs on 31 hits, including eight home runs, and won the first two games of the series against the Pirates. The Cubs are 18-22 against lefties this season, but 5-1 against them in September.

Tom Gorzelanny will try to silence the Cubs' offense on Sunday in the series finale. He is 1-1 against the Cubs this season, and most recently beat them Sept. 7 in Pittsburgh, giving up one run on six hits over seven innings in the Pirates' 6-1 win. Gorzelanny took the loss May 9 in his last appearance at Wrigley. He pitched well, again giving up one run on six hits over seven innings, but the Pirates managed just three hits off Cubs starter Jason Marquis in the 1-0 loss.

The Cubs will counter with Carlos Zambrano, who gave up one run on two hits over six innings in a 6-1 win in Pittsburgh on Sept. 8. Zambrano is 2-2 in September, but only 5-9 at Wrigley Field this season.

The Pirates have an off-day Monday, before closing out the season at home against Arizona and St. Louis.

[ryno4ever]

http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w224/ryno4ever/Happy%20times/aaaassss222.gif

[ryno4ever]

http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w224/ryno4ever/Tomahawk.gif

[ryno4ever]

I posted both the angel and the tomahawk for you guys to bump as needed (as the Brewers and Braves will be playing the same time.) I have to work again, so I wanted to make sure all of the "resources" were here that are needed for the gamethread! Enjoy....and GO CUBBIES!

[ryno4ever]

http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w224/ryno4ever/pirates/Piratesgodown.jpg

[ryno4ever]

http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w224/ryno4ever/pirates/PIRATESSUCKcopyresize2good.jpg

[DLee25]

Boy, I saw WGN's video of the season highlights, everytime i heard CUBS WINNNNNNN i got shivers down my spine.

LETS GO CUBBIES! BREW CREW IS LOSIN 1-0

[Doba]

Let's make sure this isn't the last game played at Wrigley in 07.

[DLee25]

Onto the bottom of the first we come, Zamby struck out the first three he faced.

[Drockvb]

GO CUBS

[VanMan]

Well, it's 1-0 Cubs right now in the bottom of the third, two out. Zambrano looking OK, dominant at first. However, Gorzelanny has been holding the offense down a bit. Might end up being a pitchers' duel. Milwaukee is also up 4-1, so we must win this one to keep pace, methinks.

BTW, TBS has the main playoff broadcast duo of Chip Caray and Tony Gwynn, rather than using their main Braves crew.

[VanMan]

Murton hits another double to left-center, Quade sends Lee home from first, the relay was just in time to cut down Lee.

End 3rd, Cubs 1, Pirates 0

[VanMan]

LaRoche slices a fly ball to left-center, Soriano is on the track, and he makes the catch in front of the UnderArmor sign. One out.

[VanMan]

Pop fly to Ramirez, two down.

[VanMan]

Bay grounds on one-hop to Cedeno, over to Lee to just get him. 1-2-3 inning for Z.

Middle 4th, Cubs 1, Pirates 0

[VanMan]

Soto strikes out.

[VanMan]

Monroe strikes out on a foul tip.

[roenick99]

Murton hits another double to left-center, Quade sends Lee home from first, the relay was just in time to cut down Lee.

End 3rd, Cubs 1, Pirates 0

Two things wrong with that play. Quade NEVER should have sent him and since he did Lee needed to barrel right through the catcher! The shortest route between two points is a straight line.

[VanMan]

Cedeno grounds up the middle, Izturis can't field it, Sanchez cuts it off, but holds on to allow the infield hit for Cedeno.

[VanMan]

Zambrano flied out.

End 4th, Cubs 1, Pirates 0

[VanMan]

Paulino strikes out swinging.

[VanMan]

Izturis lines to left, Soriano ranges over toward center and makes the catch.

[VanMan]

Gorzelanny walks.

[VanMan]

Morgan grounds to Lee to end the inning.

Middle 5th, Cubs 1, Pirates 0

[VanMan]

They showed Jimmy Farrell, the retiring umpire room attendant, throwing the ceremonial first pitch.

[VanMan]

Soriano grounds one through the hole into left field for a lead-off single.

[ARamfan]

Hi Eric, I'm hoping this isn't the last game at Wrigley for the season. I was surrounded by DBacks and Padres fans at a party I was at last night. When I left home, the Brewers were winning, then I heard it went into extra innings and I just assumed the Brewers won. Imagine my surprise when I turned on WGN this a.m. and heard the good news...Brewers lose! :cool:

[VanMan]

DeRosa foul tips it, Soriano steals second, but Paulino loses handle of the ball in the transfer to try to throw out Soriano. DeRosa and Lou argue briefly to get an explanation.

[VanMan]

Hey Mara. Well, we may have to win this one anyway, as Milwaukee is leading 4-2, but Atlanta has a runner on first with two down in the 7th.

[VanMan]

Lee rips one to left-center, it finds the gap, and decides to shop for a pair of khakis. Soriano scores and Lee pulls into second with an RBI double, 2-0 Cubs.

[VanMan]

Pirates intentionally walk Ramirez to get to Murton.

[VanMan]

Murton chops toward third, Bautista fields, can't get a handle, throws over to first... not in time! Bases loaded.

[VanMan]

Soto lines out to left, Lee tags and scores on the sacrifice fly, 3-0 Cubs.

[VanMan]

Monroe foul pops to first, but the Cubs score two to extend the lead.

End 5th, Cubs 3, Pirates 0

[ARamfan]

Len said that Ned Yost just got ejected!

[VanMan]

I was in the bathroom, how did the first guy get out? I saw Sanchez ground to DeRosa for the second out.

[Doba]

Braves tied it up at 4 a piece. Tomahawk chop!!!

[VanMan]

LaRoche busts his bat on the handle, Ramirez picks barehand, throws, Lee stretches, safe.

[VanMan]

Soto after a ball two pitch goes out to settle down Zambrano.

[VanMan]

Grounder to Cedeno, flip to DeRosa to force LaRoche to end the inning.

Middle 6th, Cubs 3, Pirates 0

[VanMan]

Braves just took the lead, 5-4.
http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w224/ryno4ever/Tomahawk.gif

[VanMan]

Cedeno flies to right.

Len just said that Milwaukee fans would think the devil wears Prado because it was Prado who had the RBI single.

[VanMan]

Z just lines one to the right-field corner for a double.

[VanMan]

Soriano flies to center, Z stays at second.

[VanMan]

DeRosa loops one to center, Z comes around to score, it's 4-0 Cubs.

[ARamfan]

Z just scored! 4-0 Cubs!! :D:D:D

[VanMan]

Lee takes the first pitch outside, ball one. He takes a fastball for a strike, 1-1. Slider low, 2-1. Lee smacks one to right, Nady looks up, it's in the basket!!! Two-run homer for Lee! It's now 6-0 Cubs!

[VanMan]

That's it for Gorzelanny.

[ARamfan]

Lee takes the first pitch outside, ball one. He takes a fastball for a strike, 1-1. Slider low, 2-1. Lee smacks one to right, Nady looks up, it's in the basket!!! Two-run homer for Lee! It's now 6-0 Cubs!

Yeah! 6-0 Cubs! Did I ever mention that I love DLee!!!!!!!!! :cool:

[VanMan]

Ramirez fouls out to the catcher on Osoria's first pitch. Three runs on three hits, no one left.

End 6th, Cubs 6, Pirates 0

[VanMan]

Trainer was out to talk with Z, maybe a little tired or cramped after his running the bases. Wood takes off his pullover. Zambrano will leave on an injury.

[VanMan]

Dotel just struck out the side for the Braves after giving up a lead-off base knock. Braves still up, 5-4 in the 8th.

[VanMan]

Looks like the fan cam is focusing on babes and brew. Speaking of brew, the crowd just reacted to the 4 being put up on the Atlanta line, and the fans started to do the Tomahawk Chop.

[VanMan]

Yunel Escobar led off the 8th with a double for Atlanta.

[VanMan]

Wood gets a fastball on the outside corner for strike one. Slider misses down, 1-1. Fastball over for strike two. Swing and a miss, Bay strikes out.

[VanMan]

A 1-1 count to Paulino. Grounder to Lee, he takes it to the bag, two down.

[VanMan]

Zambrano left due to cramping.

[ARamfan]

Can you just imagine Heather at work listening to this? :D :eek: :D

[VanMan]

Izturis takes low and in, ball one. Grounder to Cedeno, over to Lee for the out. Now it's time for the grounds crew to lead everyone in Take Me Out to the Ball Game.

Middle 7th, Cubs 6, Pirates 0

[VanMan]

Can you just imagine Heather at work listening to this? :D :eek: :D
She's got to be beside herself.

[ARamfan]

http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w224/ryno4ever/Happy%20times/aaaassss222.gif

I'm bringing him in now, just for extra protection!

[VanMan]

Braves just added two more on a double by Teixeira, 7-4 Bravos.
http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w224/ryno4ever/Tomahawk.gif

[VanMan]

Romulo Sanchez comes in to pitch. Murton has a 1-1 count. Curve misses, 2-1. Slider over for a strike, 2-2. Murton asks for time. He swings weakly at a high fastball, strike three.

[VanMan]

Soto with a strike against him. He drills one to left for a base hit.

[ARamfan]

Braves just added two more on a double by Teixeira, 7-4 Bravos.
http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w224/ryno4ever/Tomahawk.gif

It just keeps gettin' better! :)

[VanMan]

Pie pops to shallow left, Izturis ranges over for the catch.

[VanMan]

They're now going to the 9th in Atlanta, 7-4 Braves.

[VanMan]

Cedeno gets all of it! It's a two-run homer for Ronnie Cedeno, 8-0 Cubs!

[Doba]

I live for this!!

[VanMan]

Kerry Wood swings and misses. He takes a fastball high, first AB since he was a starter. Fouled off to the right, 1-2. Curve is over for a called strike three. But the Cubs add two more on two hits, including Cedeno's homer.

End 7th, Cubs 8, Pirates 0

[ARamfan]

It just keeps gettin' better! :)

And BETTER! :)

[VanMan]

Rafael Soriano is on to get the save for the Braves right now.

[VanMan]

Lessee, the magic number will be reduced to 4 after today.

[ARamfan]

I live for this!!

Ditto. ;)

[VanMan]

Just gotta chuckle with the fans doing the Tomahawk Chop after the "2" got posted.

[VanMan]

Wood works a 2-2 count to McLouth. McLouth fouls one off. Fastball just below the knees, full count. Another fastball is low, ball four.

[VanMan]

Morgan takes a strike on the outside corner. Grounder to Lee, he takes the easy play, McLouth advances to second.

[VanMan]

1-0 count to Bautista is popped foul out of play, Lee watches it land about 10 rows back. Wood gets Bautista out in front on a slider, 1-2. Fastball, 96, low, 2-2. Fouled off, out of play. Slider is swung and missed, two gone.

[VanMan]

Two down in Atlanta.

[VanMan]

Kata swings and misses. He fouls one off the screen, 0-2. Crowd gets on its feet. Curve swung and missed, strike three.

Middle 8th, Cubs 8, Pirates 0

[VanMan]

Jenkins is the last hope for the Brewers right now in Atlanta, with a runner on second. 1-2 count. He fouls the pitch off McCann's mask. TBS just showed a Brewer fan with a cheesehead and a rally cap. Breaker misses, 2-2. Foul ball. Jenkins strikes out! Game over in Turner.

Final in Atlanta, Braves 7, Brewers 4

[ARamfan]

http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w224/ryno4ever/Tomahawk.gif

Braves win!!!!!!

[VanMan]

Soriano gets out while I was watching the last AB in Atlanta.

DeRosa takes a strike. Slider misses low, 1-1. Crowd reacts to the final score in Atlanta, and everyone starts doing the Chop. Fastball high, 2-1. Fastball misses away, 3-1. Foul out of play, full count. Slider misses low and away, ball four.

[ARamfan]

If Heather hasn't dropped to the floor at Pizza Hut by now, I'll be amazed! :p

[VanMan]

Lee takes a slider away, it gets away from Paulino, DeRosa trots to second. Curve misses low, 2-0. Passed ball charged to Paulino. Lee swings and misses a fastball, 2-1. Fastball taken for a strike, 2-2. Grounder stopped by Bautista, over to LaRoche for the out, DeRosa holds.

[VanMan]

Ramirez takes a strike. Curve is over for strike two. Fuld on deck. Sanches uncorks a wild fastball over Ramirez's head and to the screen, DeRosa to third. Ramirez fouls one off Paulino's equipment, still 1-2. Curve swung and missed, strike three.

End 8th, Cubs 8, Pirates 0

[VanMan]

If Heather hasn't dropped to the floor at Pizza Hut by now, I'll be amazed! :p
Are you talking about her dropping to the floor, or her dropping a pizza to the floor? :p :D ;)

[VanMan]

Wuertz to pitch for Chicago. LaRoche fouls the first pitch away, 0-1. Slider swung and missed, 0-2. Slider misses down, 1-2. Check swing, went around, strike three.

[VanMan]

41,364 fans spin the turnstiles today.

[ARamfan]

Are you talking about her dropping to the floor, or her dropping a pizza to the floor? :p :D ;)

Both! :p

[VanMan]

Nady has a 1-1 count. He fouls one back, 1-2. Another foul ball. Slider in the dirt, 2-2. Topper foul. Time called. Swung and missed on a slider, two down, and the crowd raises to its feet.

[VanMan]

Steve Pearce announced as a pinch hitter. He swings and misses the first pitch, 0-1. Slider misses low, 1-1. Check swing on a slider, he went around, 1-2. Swing and a miss, CUBS WIN! A combined three-hit shut out!

Final score, Cubs 8, Pirates 0

Cubs are now 3 1/2 games up on the Brewers, and the magic number is 4.

[ARamfan]

http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w224/ryno4ever/Cubs%20Win/sweep/janitor.gif


BYE BYE PIRATES!!!!!!!

[VanMan]

DeRosa said he was calling his boys in Atlanta about helping the Cubs out.

[TRIPLE PLAY]

http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w224/ryno4ever/Tomahawk.gif WO-HOOOOOOOOO!! thanks hotlanta,and thanks cubbies! 3 up & magic # =4 ! big z and woody,d-lee etc. 3 million = fans @ turnstiles

[DLee25]

http://img208.imageshack.us/img208/9780/believecubser9.jpg

[cubbyfanforever]

I was at the game,it was awesome,great shut out,YEAH,go BIG Z!

[Cheapshots]

I was extremely happy to see Kerry Wood pitch two inning and actually get to bat.