GAME THREAD: GAME THREAD: NL: CHICAGO CUBS (73-70) at HOUSTON (62-81)

NL: CHICAGO CUBS (73-70) at HOUSTON (62-81)

<h3>Cubs look to continue offensive success in Houston</h3>

Chicago Cubs (73-70) at Houston (62-81) 8:05 pm EDT

HOUSTON (Ticker) -- A day after an offensive explosion, theChicago Cubs visit hitter-friendly Minute Maid Park in theopener of a three-game series with the Houston Astros onTuesday.


Chicago, which had scored 15 runs in its previous four games,routed the St. Louis Cardinals, 12-3, in a makeup game onMonday.


Aramis Ramirez and Derrek Lee both homered for the Cubs, who aretied with the Milwaukee Brewers (73-70) for first place in theNational League Central Division.


Jason Marquis (11-8, 4.13 ERA) takes the mound Tuesday and wouldlike to see the offense keep producing, which would help himpick up a rare road win. The righthander has just one win inhis last 10 road starts.


On Thursday, Marquis allowed two runs and four hits in seveninnings but watched his bullpen squander a two-run lead in a 7-4loss to Los Angeles.


Houston, which was swept by the New York Mets over the weekend,has lost five straight games and could finish with its firstlosing season since 2000.


Brandon Backe (0-1, 4.76) makes his second start since returningfrom elbow surgery in August of last season. The righthanderallowed four runs and eight hits in 5 2/3 innings of a 5-3 lossto Milwaukee on Tuesday.

 

NL: CHICAGO CUBS at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">CHICAGO CUBS AT HOUSTON -- LINEUPS

CHICAGO CUBS HOUSTON
AVG HR RBI AVG HR RBI
Alfonso Soriano LF .294 24 53 Hunter Pence CF .323 14 56
Ryan Theriot SS .275 3 42 Craig Biggio 2B .252 10 47
Derrek Lee 1B .315 18 74 Lance Berkman 1B .279 29 90
Cliff Floyd RF .282 5 40 Carlos Lee LF .298 27 105
Aramis Ramirez 3B .320 22 86 Mark Loretta SS .276 2 34
Mark Derosa 2B .288 8 65 Luke Scott RF .258 18 63
Jacque Jones CF .271 5 56 Ty Wigginton 3B .295 3 12
Jason Kendall C .286 1 18 Humberto Quintero C .214 0 1
Jason Marquis RHP .145 1 4 Brandon Backe RHP .000 0 0
(11-8, 4.13) (0-1, 4.76)</div>

 

NL: CHICAGO CUBS at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">NL AT HOUSTON
WARMUPS: CHN - JASON MARQUIS (11-8, 4.13)
HOU - BRANDON BACKE (0-1, 4.76)

UMPIRES: HP - ANDY FLETCHER
1B - MIKE REILLY
2B - JEFF KELLOGG
3B - ERIC COOPER

WEATHER: INDOORS</div>

 

NL: CHICAGO CUBS at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">NL AT HOUSTON
STARTING BATS: CHN - JASON MARQUIS AND JASON KENDALL
HOU - BRANDON BACKE AND HUMBERTO QUINTERO

DUE UP FOR CHICAGO CUBS: A SORIANO (.294, 24 HR, 53 RBI)
R THERIOT (.275, 3 HR, 42 RBI)
D LEE (.315, 18 HR, 74 RBI)</div>

 

NL: CHICAGO CUBS at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">NL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
CHICAGO CUBS 0 0 1 0
HOUSTON 0 0 0 (BOT 1)

CURRENT PITCHERS: CHN - JASON MARQUIS
HOU - BRANDON BACKE

DUE UP FOR HOUSTON: H PENCE (.323, 14 HR, 56 RBI)
C BIGGIO (.252, 10 HR, 47 RBI)
L BERKMAN (.279, 29 HR, 90 RBI)</div>

 

NL: CHICAGO CUBS at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">CHICAGO CUBS (0) VS HOUSTON (0) - MID 1ST - IN PROGRESS

CHICAGO CUBS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
A Soriano lf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .293
R Theriot ss 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .275
D Lee 1b 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .314
C Floyd rf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .285
A Ramirez 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .320
M DeRosa 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .288
J Jones cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .271
J Kendall c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .286
J Marquis p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .145

Totals 4 0 1 0 1 2 3

BATTING: Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - A Ramirez 1. Team LOB - 2.



HOUSTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
H Pence cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .323
C Biggio 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .252
L Berkman 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .279
C Lee lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .298
M Loretta ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .276
L Scott rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .258
T Wigginton 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .295
H Quintero c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .214
B Backe p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000

Totals 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

BATTING: Team LOB - 0.


----------------------------------------------------
CHICAGO CUBS - 0 -- 0
HOUSTON - -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

CHICAGO CUBS ip h r er bb so hr era
J Marquis 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4.13

HOUSTON ip h r er bb so hr era
B Backe 1 1 0 0 1 2 0 4.05

Pitches-strikes: B Backe 23-14. Ground balls-fly balls: B Backe 0-1. Batters
faced: B Backe 5.

UMPIRES: HP--Andy Fletcher. 1B--Mike Reilly. 2B--Jeff Kellogg. 3B--Eric
Cooper.

Weather: INDOORS.</div>

 

NL: CHICAGO CUBS at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">NL AT HOUSTON
CONFIRMED STARTERS: CHN - JASON MARQUIS
HOU - BRANDON BACKE</div>

 

NL: CHICAGO CUBS at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">NL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
CHICAGO CUBS 0 0 1 0
HOUSTON 0 0 1 0 (TOP 2)

CURRENT PITCHERS: CHN - JASON MARQUIS
HOU - BRANDON BACKE

DUE UP FOR CHICAGO CUBS: M DEROSA (.288, 8 HR, 65 RBI)
J JONES (.271, 5 HR, 56 RBI)
J KENDALL (.286, 1 HR, 18 RBI)</div>

 

NL: CHICAGO CUBS at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">CHICAGO CUBS (0) VS HOUSTON (0) - END 1ST - IN PROGRESS

CHICAGO CUBS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
A Soriano lf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .293
R Theriot ss 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .275
D Lee 1b 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .314
C Floyd rf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .285
A Ramirez 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .320
M DeRosa 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .288
J Jones cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .271
J Kendall c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .286
J Marquis p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .145

Totals 4 0 1 0 1 2 3

BATTING: Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - A Ramirez 1. Team LOB - 2.



HOUSTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
H Pence cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .322
C Biggio 2b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .254
L Berkman 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .279
C Lee lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .297
M Loretta ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .276
L Scott rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .258
T Wigginton 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .295
H Quintero c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .214
B Backe p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000

Totals 4 0 1 0 0 0 1

BATTING: 2B - C Biggio (29, J Marquis). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out
- C Lee 1. Team LOB - 1.


----------------------------------------------------
CHICAGO CUBS - 0 -- 0
HOUSTON - 0 -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

CHICAGO CUBS ip h r er bb so hr era
J Marquis 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 4.11

HOUSTON ip h r er bb so hr era
B Backe 1 1 0 0 1 2 0 4.05

Pitches-strikes: J Marquis 13-8; B Backe 23-14. Ground balls-fly balls: J
Marquis 1-2; B Backe 0-1. Batters faced: J Marquis 4; B Backe 5.

UMPIRES: HP--Andy Fletcher. 1B--Mike Reilly. 2B--Jeff Kellogg. 3B--Eric
Cooper.

Weather: INDOORS.</div>

 

NL: CHICAGO CUBS at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">NL AT HOUSTON - SCORING UPDATE
DOUBLE BY JASON KENDALL SCORED JACQUE JONES.
SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, J KENDALL ON SECOND, 1 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: CHICAGO CUBS 1
HOUSTON 0 TOP, 2ND

DUE UP FOR CHICAGO CUBS: J MARQUIS (.145, 1 HR, 4 RBI)</div>

 

NL: CHICAGO CUBS at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">NL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
CHICAGO CUBS 0 1 1 3 0
HOUSTON 0 0 1 0 (BOT 2)

CURRENT PITCHERS: CHN - JASON MARQUIS
HOU - BRANDON BACKE

DUE UP FOR HOUSTON: M LORETTA (.276, 2 HR, 34 RBI)
L SCOTT (.258, 18 HR, 63 RBI)
T WIGGINTON (.295, 3 HR, 12 RBI)</div>

 

NL: CHICAGO CUBS at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">CHICAGO CUBS (1) VS HOUSTON (0) - MID 2ND - IN PROGRESS

CHICAGO CUBS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
A Soriano lf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .293
R Theriot ss 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 .275
D Lee 1b 2 0 0 0 0 1 4 .313
C Floyd rf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .285
A Ramirez 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .320
M DeRosa 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .287
J Jones cf 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .273
J Kendall c 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 .291
J Marquis p 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .143

Totals 9 1 3 1 2 2 7

BATTING: 2B - J Kendall (10, B Backe). RBI - J Kendall (19). Runners left in
scoring position, 2 out - D Lee 2, A Ramirez 1. Team LOB - 5.


HOUSTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
H Pence cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .322
C Biggio 2b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .254
L Berkman 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .279
C Lee lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .297
M Loretta ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .276
L Scott rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .258
T Wigginton 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .295
H Quintero c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .214
B Backe p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000

Totals 4 0 1 0 0 0 1

BATTING: 2B - C Biggio (29, J Marquis). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out
- C Lee 1. Team LOB - 1.


----------------------------------------------------
CHICAGO CUBS - 01 -- 1
HOUSTON - 0 -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

CHICAGO CUBS ip h r er bb so hr era
J Marquis 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 4.11

HOUSTON ip h r er bb so hr era
B Backe 2 3 1 1 2 2 0 4.70

HBP - A Soriano (by B Backe). Pitches-strikes: J Marquis 13-8; B Backe 48-27.
Ground balls-fly balls: J Marquis 1-2; B Backe 0-4. Batters faced: J Marquis 4;
B Backe 12.

UMPIRES: HP--Andy Fletcher. 1B--Mike Reilly. 2B--Jeff Kellogg. 3B--Eric
Cooper.

Weather: INDOORS.</div>

 

NL: CHICAGO CUBS at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">NL AT HOUSTON - SCORING UPDATE
WILD PITCH BY JASON MARQUIS ALLOWED LUKE SCOTT TO SCORE.
SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, NONE ON, 2 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: CHICAGO CUBS 1
HOUSTON 1 BOTTOM, 2ND

DUE UP FOR HOUSTON: H QUINTERO (.214, 0-FOR-0)</div>

 

NL: CHICAGO CUBS at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">NL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
CHICAGO CUBS 0 1 1 3 0
HOUSTON 0 1 1 2 0 (TOP 3)

CURRENT PITCHERS: CHN - JASON MARQUIS
HOU - BRANDON BACKE

DUE UP FOR CHICAGO CUBS: C FLOYD (.285, 1-FOR-1)
A RAMIREZ (.320, 0-FOR-1)
M DEROSA (.287, 0-FOR-1)</div>

 

NL: CHICAGO CUBS at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">CHICAGO CUBS (1) VS HOUSTON (1) - END 2ND - IN PROGRESS

CHICAGO CUBS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
A Soriano lf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .293
R Theriot ss 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 .275
D Lee 1b 2 0 0 0 0 1 4 .313
C Floyd rf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .285
A Ramirez 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .320
M DeRosa 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .287
J Jones cf 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .273
J Kendall c 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 .291
J Marquis p 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .143

Totals 9 1 3 1 2 2 7

BATTING: 2B - J Kendall (10, B Backe). RBI - J Kendall (19). Runners left in
scoring position, 2 out - D Lee 2, A Ramirez 1. Team LOB - 5.


HOUSTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
H Pence cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .322
C Biggio 2b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .254
L Berkman 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .279
C Lee lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .297
M Loretta ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .275
L Scott rf 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .260
T Wigginton 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .292
H Quintero c 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .209
B Backe p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000

Totals 8 1 2 0 0 0 1

BATTING: 2B - C Biggio (29, J Marquis). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out
- C Lee 1. Team LOB - 1.


----------------------------------------------------
CHICAGO CUBS - 01 -- 1
HOUSTON - 01 -- 1
----------------------------------------------------

CHICAGO CUBS ip h r er bb so hr era
J Marquis 2 2 1 1 0 0 0 4.14

HOUSTON ip h r er bb so hr era
B Backe 2 3 1 1 2 2 0 4.70

WP - J Marquis 2. HBP - A Soriano (by B Backe). Pitches-strikes: J Marquis
29-16; B Backe 48-27. Ground balls-fly balls: J Marquis 2-4; B Backe 0-4.
Batters faced: J Marquis 8; B Backe 12.

UMPIRES: HP--Andy Fletcher. 1B--Mike Reilly. 2B--Jeff Kellogg. 3B--Eric
Cooper.

Weather: INDOORS.</div>

 

NL: CHICAGO CUBS at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">NL AT HOUSTON - SCORING UPDATE
THREE-RUN HOME RUN BY MARK DEROSA (9) TO LEFT WITH 0 OUT IN
THE 3RD OFF BRANDON BACKE SCORED CLIFF FLOYD AND ARAMIS RAMIREZ.
CURRENT SCORE: CHICAGO CUBS 4, HOUSTON 1

DUE UP FOR CHICAGO CUBS: J JONES (.273, 1-FOR-1)</div>

 

NL: CHICAGO CUBS at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">NL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
CHICAGO CUBS 0 1 3 4 5 0
HOUSTON 0 1 1 2 0 (BOT 3)

CURRENT PITCHERS: CHN - JASON MARQUIS
HOU - BRANDON BACKE

DUE UP FOR HOUSTON: B BACKE (.000, 0 HR, 0 RBI)
H PENCE (.322, 0-FOR-1)
C BIGGIO (.254, 1-FOR-1)</div>

 

NL: CHICAGO CUBS at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">CHICAGO CUBS (4) VS HOUSTON (1) - MID 3RD - IN PROGRESS

CHICAGO CUBS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
A Soriano lf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .293
R Theriot ss 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 .275
D Lee 1b 2 0 0 0 0 1 4 .313
C Floyd rf 1 1 1 0 1 0 0 .285
A Ramirez 3b 2 1 1 0 0 0 2 .321
M DeRosa 2b 2 1 1 3 0 0 0 .289
J Jones cf 2 1 1 0 0 0 0 .272
J Kendall c 2 0 1 1 0 0 0 .289
J Marquis p 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 .141

Totals 14 4 5 4 3 2 7

BATTING: 2B - J Kendall (10, B Backe). HR - M Derosa (9, 3rd inning off B Backe
2 on, 0 Out). RBI - J Kendall (19), M DeRosa 3 (68). Runners left in scoring
position, 2 out - D Lee 2, A Ramirez 1. Team LOB - 5.


HOUSTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
H Pence cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .322
C Biggio 2b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .254
L Berkman 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .279
C Lee lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .297
M Loretta ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .275
L Scott rf 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .260
T Wigginton 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .292
H Quintero c 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .209
B Backe p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000

Totals 8 1 2 0 0 0 1

BATTING: 2B - C Biggio (29, J Marquis). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out
- C Lee 1. Team LOB - 1.


----------------------------------------------------
CHICAGO CUBS - 013 -- 4
HOUSTON - 01 -- 1
----------------------------------------------------

CHICAGO CUBS ip h r er bb so hr era
J Marquis 2 2 1 1 0 0 0 4.14

HOUSTON ip h r er bb so hr era
B Backe 3 5 4 4 3 2 1 7.27

WP - J Marquis 2. HBP - A Soriano (by B Backe). Pitches-strikes: J Marquis
29-16; B Backe 71-38. Ground balls-fly balls: J Marquis 2-4; B Backe 2-5.
Batters faced: J Marquis 8; B Backe 18.

UMPIRES: HP--Andy Fletcher. 1B--Mike Reilly. 2B--Jeff Kellogg. 3B--Eric
Cooper.

Weather: INDOORS.</div>

 

NL: CHICAGO CUBS at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">NL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
CHICAGO CUBS 0 1 3 4 5 0
HOUSTON 0 1 0 1 3 0 (TOP 4)

CURRENT PITCHERS: CHN - JASON MARQUIS
HOU - BRANDON BACKE

DUE UP FOR CHICAGO CUBS: A SORIANO (.293, 0-FOR-1, HBP)
R THERIOT (.275, 0-FOR-0, 2 BB)
D LEE (.313, 0-FOR-2)</div>

 

NL: CHICAGO CUBS at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">CHICAGO CUBS (4) VS HOUSTON (1) - END 3RD - IN PROGRESS

CHICAGO CUBS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
A Soriano lf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .293
R Theriot ss 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 .275
D Lee 1b 2 0 0 0 0 1 4 .313
C Floyd rf 1 1 1 0 1 0 0 .285
A Ramirez 3b 2 1 1 0 0 0 2 .321
M DeRosa 2b 2 1 1 3 0 0 0 .289
J Jones cf 2 1 1 0 0 0 0 .272
J Kendall c 2 0 1 1 0 0 0 .289
J Marquis p 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 .141

Totals 14 4 5 4 3 2 7

BATTING: 2B - J Kendall (10, B Backe). HR - M Derosa (9, 3rd inning off B Backe
2 on, 0 Out). RBI - J Kendall (19), M DeRosa 3 (68). Runners left in scoring
position, 2 out - D Lee 2, A Ramirez 1. Team LOB - 5.

FIELDING: Outfield assists - A Soriano (H Pence at 2nd base).


HOUSTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
H Pence cf 2 0 1 0 0 0 0 .324
C Biggio 2b 2 0 1 0 0 0 1 .253
L Berkman 1b 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 .278
C Lee lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .297
M Loretta ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .275
L Scott rf 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .260
T Wigginton 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .292
H Quintero c 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .209
B Backe p 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000

Totals 12 1 3 0 0 0 3

BATTING: 2B - C Biggio (29, J Marquis). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out
- C Lee 1. Team LOB - 2.


----------------------------------------------------
CHICAGO CUBS - 013 -- 4
HOUSTON - 010 -- 1
----------------------------------------------------

CHICAGO CUBS ip h r er bb so hr era
J Marquis 3 3 1 1 0 0 0 4.11

HOUSTON ip h r er bb so hr era
B Backe 3 5 4 4 3 2 1 7.27

WP - J Marquis 2. HBP - A Soriano (by B Backe). Pitches-strikes: J Marquis
40-25; B Backe 71-38. Ground balls-fly balls: J Marquis 5-4; B Backe 2-5.
Batters faced: J Marquis 12; B Backe 18.

UMPIRES: HP--Andy Fletcher. 1B--Mike Reilly. 2B--Jeff Kellogg. 3B--Eric
Cooper.

Weather: INDOORS.</div>