GAME THREAD: NL: CINCINNATI (68-81) at CHICAGO CUBS (78-72)

NL: CINCINNATI (68-81) at CHICAGO CUBS (78-72)

<h3>Cubs look to increase NL Central lead</h3>

<div class="pre">Cincinnati (68-81) at Chicago Cubs (78-72) 8:05 pm EDT</div>

CHICAGO (Ticker) -- Coming off a successful seven-game road trip,the Chicago Cubs look to maintain their slim lead in theNational League Central as they begin a three-game series withthe Cincinnati Reds on Monday.


Chicago downed the Cardinals, 4-0, on Sunday on the strength ofa solid performance from starter Jason Marquis, helping the Cubsgo 5-2 on their latest road trip through Houston and St. Louis.As a result, the Cubs hold a one-game division lead oversecond-place Milwaukee (76-72) in the division.


To keep the Cubs going, the Cubs will turn to Rich Hill (9-8,3.91 ERA), who is coming off a win on Wednesday in a 3-2 triumphover Houston. He permitted just one run and three hits with sevenstrikeouts over seven frames to break a two-game string of pooroutings in which he had allowed 11 runs over 11 innings.

In six career games against the Reds, Hill is 2-2 with a 4.30 ERA.

Bronson Arroyo (9-14, 4.31) will look to win for the third timein as many starts. He allowed just one run and six hits oversix innings in a 5-1 victory on Wednesday - his fourth win inhis last five decisions.


The righthander is 4-5 with a 2.76 ERA in 13 career games - 11starts - against the Cubs.

 

NL: CINCINNATI at CHICAGO CUBS

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

CINCINNATI CHICAGO CUBS
AVG HR RBI AVG HR RBI
Norris Hopper CF .335 0 10 Alfonso Soriano LF .290 27 58
Jeff Keppinger SS .337 4 26 Ryan Theriot SS .268 3 44
Ken Griffey Jr RF .280 30 92 Derrek Lee 1B .312 18 74
Brandon Phillips 2B .291 29 89 Aramis Ramirez 3B .315 23 90
Adam Dunn LF .269 39 104 Cliff Floyd RF .287 8 43
Edwin Encarnacion 3B .287 13 70 Mark Derosa 2B .284 9 69
Jorge Cantu 1B .400 1 6 Jacque Jones CF .274 5 56
David Ross C .200 16 36 Jason Kendall C .282 1 19
Bronson Arroyo RHP .111 1 3 Rich Hill LHP .140 0 5
(9-14, 4.31) (9-8, 3.91)</div>

 

NL: CINCINNATI at CHICAGO CUBS

<div class="pre">NL AT CHICAGO CUBS
WARMUPS: CIN - BRONSON ARROYO (9-14, 4.31)
CHN - RICH HILL (9-8, 3.91)

UMPIRES: HP - RICK REED
1B - TIM TIMMONS
2B - ALFONSO MARQUEZ
3B - CHUCK MERIWETHER

WEATHER: 75 Degrees, partly cloudy
WIND: 13 mph, right to left</div>

 

NL: CINCINNATI at CHICAGO CUBS

<div class="pre">NL AT CHICAGO CUBS
STARTING BATS: CIN - BRONSON ARROYO AND DAVID ROSS
CHN - RICH HILL AND JASON KENDALL

DUE UP FOR CINCINNATI: N HOPPER (.335, 0 HR, 10 RBI)
J KEPPINGER (.337, 4 HR, 26 RBI)
K GRIFFEY J (.280, 30 HR, 92 RBI)</div>

 

NL: CINCINNATI at CHICAGO CUBS

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: CIN - BRONSON ARROYO
CHN - RICH HILL

DUE UP FOR CHICAGO CUBS: A SORIANO (.290, 27 HR, 58 RBI)
R THERIOT (.268, 3 HR, 44 RBI)
D LEE (.312, 18 HR, 74 RBI)</div>

 

NL: CINCINNATI at CHICAGO CUBS

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

CINCINNATI ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
N Hopper cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .333
J Keppinger ss 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .340
K Griffey Jr rf 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .280
B Phillips 2b 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .290
A Dunn lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .269
E Encarnacion 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .287
J Cantu 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .400
D Ross c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .200
B Arroyo p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .111

Totals 4 0 1 0 0 2 2

BATTING: 3B - J Keppinger (2, R Hill). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out
- B Phillips 1. Team LOB - 1.


CHICAGO CUBS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
A Soriano lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .290
R Theriot ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .268
D Lee 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .312
A Ramirez 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .315
C Floyd rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .287
M DeRosa 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .284
J Jones cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .274
J Kendall c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .282
R Hill p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .140

Totals 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

BATTING: Team LOB - 0.


----------------------------------------------------
CINCINNATI - 0 -- 0
CHICAGO CUBS - -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

CINCINNATI ip h r er bb so hr era
B Arroyo 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4.30

CHICAGO CUBS ip h r er bb so hr era
R Hill 1 1 0 0 0 2 0 3.89

Pitches-strikes: R Hill 15-10. Ground balls-fly balls: R Hill 0-1. Batters
faced: R Hill 4.

UMPIRES: HP--Rick Reed. 1B--Tim Timmons. 2B--Alfonso Marquez. 3B--Chuck
Meriwether.

Weather: 75 degrees, partly cloudy. Wind: 13 mph, right to left.</div>

 

NL: CINCINNATI at CHICAGO CUBS

<div class="pre">NL AT CHICAGO CUBS
CONFIRMED STARTERS: CIN - BRONSON ARROYO
CHN - RICH HILL</div>

 

NL: CINCINNATI at CHICAGO CUBS

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: CIN - BRONSON ARROYO
CHN - RICH HILL

DUE UP FOR CINCINNATI: A DUNN (.269, 39 HR, 104 RBI)
E ENCARNACION (.287, 13 HR, 70 RBI)
J CANTU (.400, 1 HR, 6 RBI)</div>

 

NL: CINCINNATI at CHICAGO CUBS

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

CINCINNATI ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
N Hopper cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .333
J Keppinger ss 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .340
K Griffey Jr rf 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .280
B Phillips 2b 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .290
A Dunn lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .269
E Encarnacion 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .287
J Cantu 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .400
D Ross c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .200
B Arroyo p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .111

Totals 4 0 1 0 0 2 2

BATTING: 3B - J Keppinger (2, R Hill). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out
- B Phillips 1. Team LOB - 1.


CHICAGO CUBS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
A Soriano lf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .291
R Theriot ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .268
D Lee 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .312
A Ramirez 3b 1 0 0 0 0 1 2 .314
C Floyd rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .286
M DeRosa 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .284
J Jones cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .274
J Kendall c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .282
R Hill p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .140

Totals 4 0 1 0 0 1 4

BATTING: 2B - A Soriano (37, B Arroyo). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out
- C Floyd 1. Team LOB - 2.


----------------------------------------------------
CINCINNATI - 0 -- 0
CHICAGO CUBS - 0 -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

CINCINNATI ip h r er bb so hr era
B Arroyo 1 1 0 0 0 1 0 4.28

CHICAGO CUBS ip h r er bb so hr era
R Hill 1 1 0 0 0 2 0 3.89

HBP - D Lee (by B Arroyo). Pitches-strikes: B Arroyo 13-9; R Hill 15-10.
Ground balls-fly balls: B Arroyo 1-1; R Hill 0-1. Batters faced: B Arroyo 5; R
Hill 4.

UMPIRES: HP--Rick Reed. 1B--Tim Timmons. 2B--Alfonso Marquez. 3B--Chuck
Meriwether.

Weather: 75 degrees, partly cloudy. Wind: 8 mph, right to left.</div>

 

NL: CINCINNATI at CHICAGO CUBS

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: CIN - BRONSON ARROYO
CHN - RICH HILL

DUE UP FOR CHICAGO CUBS: M DEROSA (.284, 9 HR, 69 RBI)
J JONES (.274, 5 HR, 56 RBI)
J KENDALL (.282, 1 HR, 19 RBI)</div>

 

NL: CINCINNATI at CHICAGO CUBS

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

CINCINNATI ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
N Hopper cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .333
J Keppinger ss 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .340
K Griffey Jr rf 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .280
B Phillips 2b 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .290
A Dunn lf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .269
E Encarnacion 3b 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .286
J Cantu 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .385
D Ross c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .200
B Arroyo p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .111

Totals 7 0 1 0 0 4 2

BATTING: 3B - J Keppinger (2, R Hill). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out
- B Phillips 1. Team LOB - 1.


CHICAGO CUBS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
A Soriano lf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .291
R Theriot ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .268
D Lee 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .312
A Ramirez 3b 1 0 0 0 0 1 2 .314
C Floyd rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .286
M DeRosa 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .284
J Jones cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .274
J Kendall c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .282
R Hill p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .140

Totals 4 0 1 0 0 1 4

BATTING: 2B - A Soriano (37, B Arroyo). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out
- C Floyd 1. Team LOB - 2.


----------------------------------------------------
CINCINNATI - 00 -- 0
CHICAGO CUBS - 0 -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

CINCINNATI ip h r er bb so hr era
B Arroyo 1 1 0 0 0 1 0 4.28

CHICAGO CUBS ip h r er bb so hr era
R Hill 2 1 0 0 0 4 0 3.87

HBP - D Lee (by B Arroyo). Pitches-strikes: B Arroyo 13-9; R Hill 26-18.
Ground balls-fly balls: B Arroyo 1-1; R Hill 0-2. Batters faced: B Arroyo 5; R
Hill 7.

UMPIRES: HP--Rick Reed. 1B--Tim Timmons. 2B--Alfonso Marquez. 3B--Chuck
Meriwether.

Weather: 75 degrees, partly cloudy. Wind: 8 mph, right to left.</div>

 

NL: CINCINNATI at CHICAGO CUBS

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: CIN - BRONSON ARROYO
CHN - RICH HILL

DUE UP FOR CINCINNATI: D ROSS (.200, 16 HR, 36 RBI)
B ARROYO (.111, 1 HR, 3 RBI)
N HOPPER (.333, 0-FOR-1)</div>

 

NL: CINCINNATI at CHICAGO CUBS

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

CINCINNATI ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
N Hopper cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .333
J Keppinger ss 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .340
K Griffey Jr rf 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .280
B Phillips 2b 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .290
A Dunn lf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .269
E Encarnacion 3b 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .286
J Cantu 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .385
D Ross c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .200
B Arroyo p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .111

Totals 7 0 1 0 0 4 2

BATTING: 3B - J Keppinger (2, R Hill). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out
- B Phillips 1. Team LOB - 1.


CHICAGO CUBS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
A Soriano lf 2 0 1 0 0 1 2 .291
R Theriot ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .268
D Lee 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .312
A Ramirez 3b 1 0 0 0 0 1 2 .314
C Floyd rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .286
M DeRosa 2b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .286
J Jones cf 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .273
J Kendall c 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .287
R Hill p 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .138

Totals 9 0 3 0 0 3 8

BATTING: 2B - A Soriano (37, B Arroyo). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out
- C Floyd 1, A Soriano 1. Team LOB - 4.


----------------------------------------------------
CINCINNATI - 00 -- 0
CHICAGO CUBS - 00 -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

CINCINNATI ip h r er bb so hr era
B Arroyo 2 3 0 0 0 3 0 4.26

CHICAGO CUBS ip h r er bb so hr era
R Hill 2 1 0 0 0 4 0 3.87

HBP - D Lee (by B Arroyo). Pitches-strikes: B Arroyo 27-22; R Hill 26-18.
Ground balls-fly balls: B Arroyo 2-1; R Hill 0-2. Batters faced: B Arroyo 10; R
Hill 7.

UMPIRES: HP--Rick Reed. 1B--Tim Timmons. 2B--Alfonso Marquez. 3B--Chuck
Meriwether.

Weather: 75 degrees, partly cloudy. Wind: 8 mph, right to left.</div>

 

NL: CINCINNATI at CHICAGO CUBS

<div class="pre">NL AT CHICAGO CUBS - SCORING UPDATE
GROUND OUT BY NORRIS HOPPER SCORED DAVID ROSS.
SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, NONE ON, 2 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: CINCINNATI 1
CHICAGO CUBS 0 TOP, 3RD

DUE UP FOR CINCINNATI: J KEPPINGER (.340, 1-FOR-1)</div>

 

NL: CINCINNATI at CHICAGO CUBS

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: CIN - BRONSON ARROYO
CHN - RICH HILL

DUE UP FOR CHICAGO CUBS: R THERIOT (.268, 0-FOR-1)
D LEE (.312, 0-FOR-0, HBP)
A RAMIREZ (.314, 0-FOR-1)</div>

 

NL: CINCINNATI at CHICAGO CUBS

<div class="pre">CINCINNATI (1) VS CHICAGO CUBS (0) - MID 3RD - IN PROGRESS

CINCINNATI ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
N Hopper cf 2 0 0 1 0 0 0 .332
J Keppinger ss 1 0 1 0 1 0 0 .340
K Griffey Jr rf 2 0 0 0 0 2 2 .279
B Phillips 2b 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .290
A Dunn lf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .269
E Encarnacion 3b 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .286
J Cantu 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .385
D Ross c 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .203
B Arroyo p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .111

Totals 10 1 2 1 1 5 3

BATTING: 2B - D Ross (9, R Hill). 3B - J Keppinger (2, R Hill). S - B Arroyo.
RBI - N Hopper (11). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - B Phillips 1.
Team LOB - 2.


CHICAGO CUBS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
A Soriano lf 2 0 1 0 0 1 2 .291
R Theriot ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .268
D Lee 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .312
A Ramirez 3b 1 0 0 0 0 1 2 .314
C Floyd rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .286
M DeRosa 2b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .286
J Jones cf 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .273
J Kendall c 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .287
R Hill p 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 .140

Totals 8 0 3 0 0 3 8

BATTING: 2B - A Soriano (37, B Arroyo). S - R Hill. Runners left in scoring
position, 2 out - C Floyd 1, A Soriano 1. Team LOB - 4.


----------------------------------------------------
CINCINNATI - 001 -- 1
CHICAGO CUBS - 00 -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

CINCINNATI ip h r er bb so hr era
B Arroyo 2 3 0 0 0 3 0 4.26

CHICAGO CUBS ip h r er bb so hr era
R Hill 3 2 1 1 1 5 0 3.90

HBP - D Lee (by B Arroyo). Pitches-strikes: B Arroyo 27-22; R Hill 42-27.
Ground balls-fly balls: B Arroyo 2-1; R Hill 2-2. Batters faced: B Arroyo 10; R
Hill 12.

UMPIRES: HP--Rick Reed. 1B--Tim Timmons. 2B--Alfonso Marquez. 3B--Chuck
Meriwether.

Weather: 75 degrees, partly cloudy. Wind: 8 mph, right to left.</div>

 

NL: CINCINNATI at CHICAGO CUBS

<div class="pre">NL AT CHICAGO CUBS - SCORING UPDATE
TWO-RUN HOME RUN BY CLIFF FLOYD (9) TO RIGHT WITH 2 OUT IN
THE 3RD OFF BRONSON ARROYO SCORED ARAMIS RAMIREZ.
CURRENT SCORE: CINCINNATI 1, CHICAGO CUBS 2

DUE UP FOR CHICAGO CUBS: M DEROSA (.286, 1-FOR-1)</div>

 

NL: CINCINNATI at CHICAGO CUBS

<div class="pre">NL AT CHICAGO CUBS - SCORING UPDATE
SOLO HOME RUN BY MARK DEROSA (10) TO LEFT WITH 2 OUT IN THE
3RD OFF BRONSON ARROYO.
CURRENT SCORE: CINCINNATI 1, CHICAGO CUBS 3

DUE UP FOR CHICAGO CUBS: J JONES (.273, 0-FOR-1)</div>

 

NL: CINCINNATI at CHICAGO CUBS

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: CIN - BRONSON ARROYO
CHN - RICH HILL

DUE UP FOR CINCINNATI: B PHILLIPS (.290, 0-FOR-1)
A DUNN (.269, 0-FOR-1)
E ENCARNACION (.286, 0-FOR-1)</div>

 

NL: CINCINNATI at CHICAGO CUBS

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

CINCINNATI ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
N Hopper cf 2 0 0 1 0 0 0 .332
J Keppinger ss 1 0 1 0 1 0 0 .340
K Griffey Jr rf 2 0 0 0 0 2 2 .279
B Phillips 2b 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .290
A Dunn lf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .269
E Encarnacion 3b 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .286
J Cantu 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .385
D Ross c 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .203
B Arroyo p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .111

Totals 10 1 2 1 1 5 3

BATTING: 2B - D Ross (9, R Hill). 3B - J Keppinger (2, R Hill). S - B Arroyo.
RBI - N Hopper (11). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - B Phillips 1.
Team LOB - 2.


CHICAGO CUBS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
A Soriano lf 2 0 1 0 0 1 2 .291
R Theriot ss 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 .267
D Lee 1b 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .312
A Ramirez 3b 1 1 0 0 1 1 2 .314
C Floyd rf 2 1 1 2 0 0 2 .289
M DeRosa 2b 2 1 2 1 0 0 0 .287
J Jones cf 2 0 0 0 0 1 1 .273
J Kendall c 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .287
R Hill p 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .138

Totals 14 3 5 3 1 4 8

BATTING: 2B - A Soriano (37, B Arroyo). HR - C Floyd (9, 3rd inning off B
Arroyo 1 on, 2 Out), M Derosa (10, 3rd inning off B Arroyo 0 on, 2 Out). RBI -
C Floyd 2 (45), M DeRosa (70). 2-out RBI - C Floyd 2, M DeRosa. Runners left in
scoring position, 2 out - C Floyd 1, A Soriano 1. Team LOB - 4.


----------------------------------------------------
CINCINNATI - 001 -- 1
CHICAGO CUBS - 003 -- 3
----------------------------------------------------

CINCINNATI ip h r er bb so hr era
B Arroyo 3 5 3 3 1 4 2 4.38

CHICAGO CUBS ip h r er bb so hr era
R Hill 3 2 1 1 1 5 0 3.90

HBP - D Lee (by B Arroyo). Pitches-strikes: B Arroyo 50-32; R Hill 42-27.
Ground balls-fly balls: B Arroyo 3-2; R Hill 2-2. Batters faced: B Arroyo 16; R
Hill 12.

UMPIRES: HP--Rick Reed. 1B--Tim Timmons. 2B--Alfonso Marquez. 3B--Chuck
Meriwether.

Weather: 75 degrees, partly cloudy. Wind: 8 mph, right to left.</div>