GAME THREAD: NL: CHICAGO CUBS (73-71) at HOUSTON (63-81)

NL: CHICAGO CUBS (73-71) at HOUSTON (63-81)

<h3>Hill, Cubs look to for rare win in Houston</h3>



<div class="pre">Chicago Cubs (73-71) at Houston (63-81) 8:05 pm EDT</div>

HOUSTON (Ticker) -- The Chicago Cubs cannot afford to stumbleagainst the lowly Houston Astros if they plan on playing inOctober.


Rich Hill takes the mound on Wednesday as the Cubs try andrebound from a tough loss in the middle game of a three-gameseries with the Astros.


Chicago entered this series riding the momentum of a 12-3 winover St. Louis on Monday, but Luke Scott hit a walk-off tripleas the Astros pulled out a 5-4 win in 11 innings. The Cubs, whohave lost six of nine, left 15 runners on base.


As a result, Chicago, which has lost four straight here, fellone game behind the Milwaukee Brewers (74-70) for first place inthe National League Central.


Hill (8-8, 4.02 ERA) may have a tough time helping the Cubs winhere. The lefthander has just two wins in his last 10 starts,and has struggled recently allowing 14 runs in his last 18innings.


Matt Albers (4-7, 5.88) gets the ball for Houston, which snappeda five-game skid and is 5-8 under interim manager Cecil Cooper.Albers also has just two wins in his last 10 starts, andallowed seven runs and six hits in three innings of a 14-2 lossto Milwaukee last Wednesday.

 

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 .293 24 53 Hunter Pence CF .324 14 58
Jacque Jones CF .275 5 56 Craig Biggio 2B .252 10 47
Derrek Lee 1B .314 18 74 Lance Berkman 1B .276 29 90
Cliff Floyd RF .286 5 40 Carlos Lee LF .297 27 105
Aramis Ramirez 3B .319 22 86 Mark Loretta SS .275 2 35
Mark Derosa 2B .287 9 68 Ty Wigginton 3B .294 3 12
Jason Kendall C .289 1 19 Luke Scott RF .260 18 64
Ryan Theriot SS .273 3 42 Humberto Quintero C .217 0 1
Rich Hill LHP .130 0 5 Matt Albers RHP .091 0 0
(8-8, 4.02) (4-7, 5.88)</div>

 

NL: CHICAGO CUBS at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">NL AT HOUSTON
WARMUPS: CHN - RICH HILL (8-8, 4.02)
HOU - MATT ALBERS (4-7, 5.88)

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

WEATHER: INDOORS</div>

 

NL: CHICAGO CUBS at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">NL AT HOUSTON
STARTING BATS: CHN - RICH HILL AND JASON KENDALL
HOU - MATT ALBERS AND HUMBERTO QUINTERO

DUE UP FOR CHICAGO CUBS: A SORIANO (.292, 24 HR, 53 RBI)
J JONES (.275, 5 HR, 56 RBI)
D LEE (.314, 18 HR, 74 RBI)</div>

 

NL: CHICAGO CUBS at HOUSTON

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

CHICAGO CUBS HOUSTON
AVG HR RBI AVG HR RBI
Alfonso Soriano LF .293 24 53 Hunter Pence CF .324 14 58
Jacque Jones CF .275 5 56 Craig Biggio 2B .252 10 47
Derrek Lee 1B .314 18 74 Lance Berkman 1B .276 29 90
Aramis Ramirez RF .319 22 86 Carlos Lee LF .297 27 105
Cliff Floyd 3B .286 5 40 Mark Loretta SS .275 2 35
Mark Derosa 2B .287 9 68 Ty Wigginton 3B .294 3 12
Jason Kendall C .289 1 19 Luke Scott RF .260 18 64
Ryan Theriot SS .273 3 42 Humberto Quintero C .217 0 1
Rich Hill LHP .130 0 5 Matt Albers RHP .091 0 0
(8-8, 4.02) (4-7, 5.88)</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 - RICH HILL
HOU - MATT ALBERS

DUE UP FOR HOUSTON: H PENCE (.324, 14 HR, 58 RBI)
C BIGGIO (.252, 10 HR, 47 RBI)
L BERKMAN (.276, 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 0 0 .292
J Jones cf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .276
D Lee 1b 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .314
A Ramirez rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .318
C Floyd 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .286
M DeRosa 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .287
J Kendall c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .289
R Theriot ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .273
R Hill p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .130

Totals 4 0 1 0 0 1 2

BATTING: Team LOB - 1.


HOUSTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
H Pence cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .324
C Biggio 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .252
L Berkman 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .276
C Lee lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .297
M Loretta ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .275
T Wigginton 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .294
L Scott rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .260
H Quintero c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .217
M Albers p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .091

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
R Hill 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4.02

HOUSTON ip h r er bb so hr era
M Albers 1 1 0 0 0 1 0 5.81

Pitches-strikes: M Albers 15-11. Ground balls-fly balls: M Albers 0-2.
Batters faced: M Albers 4.

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

Weather: INDOORS.</div>

 

NL: CHICAGO CUBS at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">NL AT HOUSTON
CONFIRMED STARTERS: CHN - RICH HILL
HOU - MATT ALBERS</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 - RICH HILL
HOU - MATT ALBERS

DUE UP FOR CHICAGO CUBS: C FLOYD (.286, 5 HR, 40 RBI)
M DEROSA (.287, 9 HR, 68 RBI)
J KENDALL (.289, 1 HR, 19 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 0 0 .292
J Jones cf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .276
D Lee 1b 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .314
A Ramirez rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .318
C Floyd 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .286
M DeRosa 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .287
J Kendall c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .289
R Theriot ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .273
R Hill p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .130

Totals 4 0 1 0 0 1 2

BATTING: Team LOB - 1.


HOUSTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
H Pence cf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .326
C Biggio 2b 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .251
L Berkman 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .276
C Lee lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .296
M Loretta ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .275
T Wigginton 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .294
L Scott rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .260
H Quintero c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .217
M Albers p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .091

Totals 4 0 1 0 0 1 3

BATTING: Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - C Lee 1. Team LOB - 1.

BASERUNNING: SB - H Pence (10, 2nd base off R Hill/J Kendall).


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

CHICAGO CUBS ip h r er bb so hr era
R Hill 1 1 0 0 0 1 0 4.00

HOUSTON ip h r er bb so hr era
M Albers 1 1 0 0 0 1 0 5.81

Pitches-strikes: R Hill 23-17; M Albers 15-11. Ground balls-fly balls: R Hill
0-2; M Albers 0-2. Batters faced: R Hill 4; M Albers 4.

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

Weather: INDOORS.</div>

 

NL: CHICAGO CUBS at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">NL AT HOUSTON - SCORING UPDATE
SOLO HOME RUN BY CLIFF FLOYD (6) TO RIGHT WITH 0 OUT IN THE
2ND OFF MATT ALBERS.
CURRENT SCORE: CHICAGO CUBS 1, HOUSTON 0

DUE UP FOR CHICAGO CUBS: M DEROSA (.287, 9 HR, 68 RBI)</div>

 

NL: CHICAGO CUBS at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">NL AT HOUSTON - SCORING UPDATE
SACRIFICE FLY BY RYAN THERIOT SCORED MARK DEROSA.
SITUATION: 2 RUNS IN, J KENDALL ON FIRST, 1 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: CHICAGO CUBS 2
HOUSTON 0 TOP, 2ND

DUE UP FOR CHICAGO CUBS: R HILL (.130, 0 HR, 5 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 2 2 4 0
HOUSTON 0 0 1 0 (BOT 2)

CURRENT PITCHERS: CHN - RICH HILL
HOU - MATT ALBERS

DUE UP FOR HOUSTON: M LORETTA (.275, 2 HR, 35 RBI)
T WIGGINTON (.294, 3 HR, 12 RBI)
L SCOTT (.260, 18 HR, 64 RBI)</div>

 

NL: CHICAGO CUBS at HOUSTON

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

CHICAGO CUBS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
A Soriano lf 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 .292
J Jones cf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .276
D Lee 1b 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .314
A Ramirez rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .318
C Floyd 3b 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 .289
M DeRosa 2b 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .288
J Kendall c 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .294
R Theriot ss 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 .273
R Hill p 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .127

Totals 9 2 4 2 0 2 5

BATTING: HR - C Floyd (6, 2nd inning off M Albers 0 on, 0 Out). SF - R Theriot.
RBI - C Floyd (41), R Theriot (43). Team LOB - 2.


HOUSTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
H Pence cf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .326
C Biggio 2b 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .251
L Berkman 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .276
C Lee lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .296
M Loretta ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .275
T Wigginton 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .294
L Scott rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .260
H Quintero c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .217
M Albers p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .091

Totals 4 0 1 0 0 1 3

BATTING: Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - C Lee 1. Team LOB - 1.

BASERUNNING: SB - H Pence (10, 2nd base off R Hill/J Kendall).


----------------------------------------------------
CHICAGO CUBS - 02 -- 2
HOUSTON - 0 -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

CHICAGO CUBS ip h r er bb so hr era
R Hill 1 1 0 0 0 1 0 4.00

HOUSTON ip h r er bb so hr era
M Albers 2 4 2 2 0 2 1 5.95

Pitches-strikes: R Hill 23-17; M Albers 39-26. Ground balls-fly balls: R Hill
0-2; M Albers 0-4. Batters faced: R Hill 4; M Albers 10.

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

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 2 2 4 0
HOUSTON 0 0 0 1 0 (TOP 3)

CURRENT PITCHERS: CHN - RICH HILL
HOU - MATT ALBERS

DUE UP FOR CHICAGO CUBS: J JONES (.276, 1-FOR-1)
D LEE (.314, 0-FOR-1)
A RAMIREZ (.318, 0-FOR-1)</div>

 

NL: CHICAGO CUBS at HOUSTON

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

CHICAGO CUBS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
A Soriano lf 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 .292
J Jones cf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .276
D Lee 1b 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .314
A Ramirez rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .318
C Floyd 3b 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 .289
M DeRosa 2b 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .288
J Kendall c 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .294
R Theriot ss 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 .273
R Hill p 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .127

Totals 9 2 4 2 0 2 5

BATTING: HR - C Floyd (6, 2nd inning off M Albers 0 on, 0 Out). SF - R Theriot.
RBI - C Floyd (41), R Theriot (43). Team LOB - 2.


HOUSTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
H Pence cf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .326
C Biggio 2b 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .251
L Berkman 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .276
C Lee lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .296
M Loretta ss 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .275
T Wigginton 3b 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .294
L Scott rf 1 0 0 0 0 1 2 .259
H Quintero c 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .213
M Albers p 1 0 0 0 0 1 2 .087

Totals 7 0 1 0 2 3 7

BATTING: Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - C Lee 1, M Albers 2. Team
LOB - 3.

BASERUNNING: SB - H Pence (10, 2nd base off R Hill/J Kendall).


----------------------------------------------------
CHICAGO CUBS - 02 -- 2
HOUSTON - 00 -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

CHICAGO CUBS ip h r er bb so hr era
R Hill 2 1 0 0 2 3 0 3.98

HOUSTON ip h r er bb so hr era
M Albers 2 4 2 2 0 2 1 5.95

Pitches-strikes: R Hill 49-32; M Albers 39-26. Ground balls-fly balls: R Hill
1-2; M Albers 0-4. Batters faced: R Hill 9; M Albers 10.

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

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 2 0 2 4 0
HOUSTON 0 0 0 1 0 (BOT 3)

CURRENT PITCHERS: CHN - RICH HILL
HOU - MATT ALBERS

DUE UP FOR HOUSTON: H PENCE (.326, 1-FOR-1)
C BIGGIO (.251, 0-FOR-1)
L BERKMAN (.276, 0-FOR-1)</div>

 

NL: CHICAGO CUBS at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">CHICAGO CUBS (2) VS HOUSTON (0) - MID 3RD - IN PROGRESS

CHICAGO CUBS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
A Soriano lf 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 .292
J Jones cf 2 0 1 0 0 0 0 .276
D Lee 1b 1 0 0 0 1 1 1 .314
A Ramirez 3b 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 .318
C Floyd rf 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 .289
M DeRosa 2b 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .288
J Kendall c 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .294
R Theriot ss 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 .273
R Hill p 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .127

Totals 11 2 4 2 1 2 5

BATTING: HR - C Floyd (6, 2nd inning off M Albers 0 on, 0 Out). SF - R Theriot.
RBI - C Floyd (41), R Theriot (43). Team LOB - 2.

BASERUNNING: CS - D Lee (5, 2nd base by M Albers/H Quintero).


HOUSTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
H Pence cf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .326
C Biggio 2b 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .251
L Berkman 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .276
C Lee lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .296
M Loretta ss 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .275
T Wigginton 3b 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .294
L Scott rf 1 0 0 0 0 1 2 .259
H Quintero c 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .213
M Albers p 1 0 0 0 0 1 2 .087

Totals 7 0 1 0 2 3 7

BATTING: Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - C Lee 1, M Albers 2. Team
LOB - 3.

BASERUNNING: SB - H Pence (10, 2nd base off R Hill/J Kendall).


----------------------------------------------------
CHICAGO CUBS - 020 -- 2
HOUSTON - 00 -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

CHICAGO CUBS ip h r er bb so hr era
R Hill 2 1 0 0 2 3 0 3.98

HOUSTON ip h r er bb so hr era
M Albers 3 4 2 2 1 2 1 5.88

Pitches-strikes: R Hill 49-32; M Albers 55-33. Ground balls-fly balls: R Hill
1-2; M Albers 1-5. Batters faced: R Hill 9; M Albers 13.

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

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 2 0 2 4 0
HOUSTON 0 0 0 0 1 0 (TOP 4)

CURRENT PITCHERS: CHN - RICH HILL
HOU - MATT ALBERS

DUE UP FOR CHICAGO CUBS: C FLOYD (.289, 1-FOR-1, HR, RBI)
M DEROSA (.288, 1-FOR-1)
J KENDALL (.294, 1-FOR-1)</div>

 

NL: CHICAGO CUBS at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">CHICAGO CUBS (2) VS HOUSTON (0) - END 3RD - IN PROGRESS

CHICAGO CUBS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
A Soriano lf 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 .292
J Jones cf 2 0 1 0 0 0 0 .276
D Lee 1b 1 0 0 0 1 1 1 .314
A Ramirez 3b 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 .318
C Floyd rf 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 .289
M DeRosa 2b 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .288
J Kendall c 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .294
R Theriot ss 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 .273
R Hill p 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .127

Totals 11 2 4 2 1 2 5

BATTING: HR - C Floyd (6, 2nd inning off M Albers 0 on, 0 Out). SF - R Theriot.
RBI - C Floyd (41), R Theriot (43). Team LOB - 2.

BASERUNNING: CS - D Lee (5, 2nd base by M Albers/H Quintero).


HOUSTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
H Pence cf 2 0 1 0 0 1 0 .325
C Biggio 2b 2 0 0 0 0 1 1 .251
L Berkman 1b 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 .275
C Lee lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .296
M Loretta ss 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .275
T Wigginton 3b 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .294
L Scott rf 1 0 0 0 0 1 2 .259
H Quintero c 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .213
M Albers p 1 0 0 0 0 1 2 .087

Totals 10 0 1 0 2 4 7

BATTING: Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - C Lee 1, M Albers 2. Team
LOB - 3.

BASERUNNING: SB - H Pence (10, 2nd base off R Hill/J Kendall).


----------------------------------------------------
CHICAGO CUBS - 020 -- 2
HOUSTON - 000 -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

CHICAGO CUBS ip h r er bb so hr era
R Hill 3 1 0 0 2 4 0 3.95

HOUSTON ip h r er bb so hr era
M Albers 3 4 2 2 1 2 1 5.88

Pitches-strikes: R Hill 58-39; M Albers 55-33. Ground balls-fly balls: R Hill
2-3; M Albers 1-5. Batters faced: R Hill 12; M Albers 13.

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

Weather: INDOORS.</div>