GAME THREAD: NL: CINCINNATI (68-82) at CHICAGO CUBS (79-72)

NL: CINCINNATI at CHICAGO CUBS

<div class="pre">NL AT CHICAGO CUBS - MID INNING UPDATE
PLAY: D Ward hit for M Wuertz.
SITUATION: 0 RUNS IN, J JONES ON SECOND, 2 OUTS
CURRENT SCORE: CINCINNATI 5
CHICAGO CUBS 2 BOTTOM, 9TH

DUE UP FOR CHICAGO CUBS: D Ward (.330, 3 HR, 19 RBI)</div>

 

NL: CINCINNATI at CHICAGO CUBS

<div class="pre">NL FINAL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
CINCINNATI 2 1 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 5 10 1
CHICAGO CUBS 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 7 0 (FINAL)

BATTERIES: CIN - AARON HARANG, JARED BURTON (8TH), DAVID WEATHERS (9TH) AND
JAVIER VALENTIN

CHN - CARLOS ZAMBRANO, CARLOS MARMOL (6TH), WILL OHMAN
(8TH), KERRY WOOD (8TH), MIKE WUERTZ (9TH) AND JASON KENDALL

HOME RUNS: CIN - EDWIN ENCARNACION (14) OFF CARLOS ZAMBRANO IN THE 6TH, 0 ON

CHN - NONE</div>

 

NL: CINCINNATI at CHICAGO CUBS

<div class="pre">NL FINAL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
CINCINNATI 2 1 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 5 10 1
CHICAGO CUBS 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 7 0 (FINAL)

BATTERIES: CIN - AARON HARANG, JARED BURTON (8TH), DAVID WEATHERS (9TH) AND
JAVIER VALENTIN

CHN - CARLOS ZAMBRANO, CARLOS MARMOL (6TH), WILL OHMAN
(8TH), KERRY WOOD (8TH), MIKE WUERTZ (9TH) AND JASON KENDALL


WP - AARON HARANG (16-4)
LP - CARLOS ZAMBRANO (16-13)
SAVE - DAVID WEATHERS (31)

HOME RUNS: CIN - EDWIN ENCARNACION (14) OFF CARLOS ZAMBRANO IN THE 6TH, 0 ON

CHN - NONE


TIME: 2:51 ATT: 40,801

PROBABLES: CIN - TOM SHEARN (3-0, 4.15)
CHN - TED LILLY (15-7, 3.82)</div>

 

NL: CINCINNATI at CHICAGO CUBS

<div class="pre">CINCINNATI (5) VS CHICAGO CUBS (2) - FINAL

CINCINNATI ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
N Hopper cf 5 1 2 1 0 1 0 .333
J Keppinger ss 4 0 0 0 0 1 0 .338
K Griffey Jr rf 5 0 1 0 0 1 3 .279
B Phillips 2b 4 2 2 1 1 1 1 .295
A Dunn lf 1 0 0 0 3 0 0 .266
J Ellison lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .050
E Encarnacion 3b 4 1 3 2 0 0 1 .293
J Votto 1b 4 0 1 0 0 0 6 .405
J Valentin c 3 1 1 1 1 1 1 .273
A Harang p 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 .101
a-J Cantu ph 1 0 0 0 0 0 3 .345
J Burton p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
D Weathers p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000

Totals 33 5 10 5 5 5 15

a-grounded to shortstop for A Harang in the 8th.

BATTING: 2B - J Valentin (18, C Zambrano). HR - E Encarnacion (14, 6th inning
off C Zambrano 0 on, 1 Out). S - A Harang. RBI - B Phillips (91), E Encarnacion
2 (72), N Hopper (12), J Valentin (32). 2-out RBI - E Encarnacion, J Valentin.
Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - J Cantu 2, K Griffey Jr 1, B Phillips
1, J Votto 3. GIDP - E Encarnacion. Team LOB - 8.

BASERUNNING: SB - B Phillips (32, 2nd base off W Ohman/J Kendall). Picked Off
- J Votto (1st base, C Marmol).

FIELDING: E - B Phillips (8, ground ball). DP: 1 (B Phillips-J Keppinger-J
Votto).


CHICAGO CUBS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
A Soriano lf 4 0 1 0 0 0 1 .291
R Theriot ss 4 0 1 0 0 1 1 .266
D Lee 1b 4 0 0 0 0 0 1 .310
A Ramirez 3b 4 1 1 0 0 1 0 .316
M Murton rf 4 1 1 0 0 2 0 .272
M DeRosa 2b 3 0 2 0 1 0 0 .294
J Jones cf 4 0 1 2 0 1 2 .274
J Kendall c 3 0 0 0 1 1 2 .284
C Zambrano p 2 0 0 0 0 1 1 .253
C Marmol p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
a-C Floyd ph 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .287
W Ohman p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
K Wood p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
M Wuertz p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
b-D Ward ph 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .327

Totals 34 2 7 2 2 8 10

a-grounded to shortstop for C Marmol in the 7th; b-struck out looking for M
Wuertz in the 9th.

BATTING: RBI - J Jones 2 (59). 2-out RBI - J Jones 2. Runners left in scoring
position, 2 out - J Kendall 1, D Lee 1, D Ward 1. GIDP - C Floyd. Team LOB - 7.


BASERUNNING: SB - R Theriot (27, 2nd base off A Harang/J Valentin).

FIELDING: Outfield assists - J Jones (J Keppinger at 3rd base). PB - J
Kendall. DP: 1 (R Theriot-M DeRosa-D Lee).


----------------------------------------------------
CINCINNATI - 210 001 010 -- 5
CHICAGO CUBS - 000 200 000 -- 2
----------------------------------------------------

CINCINNATI ip h r er bb so hr era
A Harang (W, 16-4) 7 6 2 2 2 6 0 3.61
J Burton (H, 10) 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 2.41
D Weathers (S, 31) 1 1 0 0 0 1 0 3.79

CHICAGO CUBS ip h r er bb so hr era
C Zambrano (L, 16-13) 5 1/3 7 4 4 3 1 1 4.20
C Marmol 1 2/3 0 0 0 0 1 0 1.25
W Ohman 1/3 1 1 1 1 0 0 5.09
K Wood 2/3 1 0 0 1 0 0 4.42
M Wuertz 1 1 0 0 0 3 0 3.69

IBB - A Dunn (by C Zambrano). HBP - J Keppinger (by C Zambrano).
Pitches-strikes: A Harang 107-70; J Burton 16-11; D Weathers 12-8; C Zambrano
100-57; C Marmol 16-10; W Ohman 12-7; K Wood 16-10; M Wuertz 17-12. Ground
balls-fly balls: A Harang 6-9; J Burton 0-2; D Weathers 2-0; C Zambrano 8-6; C
Marmol 1-2; W Ohman 1-0; K Wood 1-1; M Wuertz 0-0. Batters faced: A Harang 29;
J Burton 3; D Weathers 4; C Zambrano 25; C Marmol 4; W Ohman 3; K Wood 4; M
Wuertz 4.

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

T--2:51. Att--40,801.
Weather: 84 degrees, clear. Wind: 6 mph, out to left.</div>

 

NL: CINCINNATI at CHICAGO CUBS

<div class="pre">** CONFIRMED **
NL
CINCINNATI 5
CHICAGO CUBS 2 FINAL</div>

 

Encarnacion, Harang help Reds best Cubs

<h3>CINCINNATI 5, CHICAGO CUBS 2</h3>CHICAGO (Ticker) -- Edwin Encarnacion gave the Chicago Cubs'faithful every reason to boo Carlos Zambrano, but they did nottake the bait.


Encarnacion drove in two runs and hit a solo home run to leftfield off Zambrano in the sixth inning as the Cincinnati Redsposted a 5-2 win over the Cubs on Tuesday.


Zambrano, who was making his first home start since being booedoff the mound on September 3, when he allowed eight runs andseven hits in 4 1/3 innings against Los Angeles, left the gameafter allowing the one-out homer to Encarnacion and a single torookie Joey Votto.


However, instead of hearing the "bronx cheers", Zambrano(16-13), who was pitching on three days' rest, received animprobable ovation as walked off after allowing four runs andseven hits in 5 1/3 innings.


Jacque Jones drove in a pair of runs for Chicago (79-73), whichhad its three-game winning streak snapped and fell into a tiewith Milwaukee (78-72) for first place in the National LeagueCentral. The Brewers beat Houston.


In a matchup of staff aces, it was Aaron Harang (16-4) whopitched like his team was in a pennant race. Harang retired 11of the first 12 hitters he faced and held a 3-0 lead until theCubs put together a two-out rally in the fourth.


Chicago loaded the bases as Aramis Ramirez and Matt Murtonsingled and Mark DeRosa drew a walk. Jones then reached out andslapped a single through the hole between first and secondbase, plating two runs to slice the lead to 3-2.


However Harang, who improved to 8-2 in 14 career starts againstChicago, allowed just three hits the rest of the way. The 6-7righthander allowed two runs and six hits in seven innings withsix strikeouts and two walks.


<div class="pre">Jared Burton threw a scoreless eighth and closer David Weathers</div>rebounded from blowing the save in Monday's game, by workingthe ninth for his 31st save in 37 chances.


The Reds scored two runs in the first off Zambrano, who entered2-0 with a 1.29 ERA in his last two starts.


Norris Hopper reached on an infield single and Zambrano hit JeffKeppinger. Brandon Phillips then put the Reds up 1-0 with asingle to center and advanced to second on the throw home. Onebatter later Encarnacion made the score 2-0 by plating Phillipswith a single to right.


Adam Dunn walked three times for Cincinnati, which snapped athree-game skid.

 

NL: CINCINNATI at CHICAGO CUBS

<div class="pre">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
CINCINNATI (5) AT CHICAGO CUBS (2) - HOW THEY SCORED
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

CINCINNATI 1ST: N Hopper reached on infield single to third. J Keppinger
hit by pitch, N Hopper to second. K Griffey Jr struck out swinging.
B Phillips singled to center, N Hopper scored, J Keppinger out at third,
B Phillips to second advancing on throw. A Dunn intentionally walked.
E Encarnacion singled to right, B Phillips scored, A Dunn to second,
E Encarnacion to second, A Dunn to third advancing on throw. J Votto flied out
to left. (2 Runs, 3 Hits, 0 Errors) CINCINNATI 2, CHICAGO CUBS 0.

CINCINNATI 2ND: J Valentin doubled to deep left center. A Harang
sacrificed to pitcher, J Valentin to third. N Hopper singled to right,
J Valentin scored. J Keppinger grounded out to shortstop, N Hopper to second.
K Griffey Jr flied out to left. (1 Run, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) CINCINNATI 3,
CHICAGO CUBS 0.

CHICAGO CUBS 4TH: R Theriot flied out to right. D Lee flied out to right.
A Ramirez singled to left. M Murton singled to center, A Ramirez to second.
M DeRosa walked, A Ramirez to third, M Murton to second. J Jones singled to
right, A Ramirez and M Murton scored, M DeRosa to third. J Kendall struck out
swinging. (2 Runs, 3 Hits, 0 Errors) CINCINNATI 3, CHICAGO CUBS 2.

CINCINNATI 6TH: A Dunn grounded out to first. E Encarnacion homered to
left. J Votto singled to right. C Marmol relieved C Zambrano. J Votto picked
off first. J Valentin struck out looking. (1 Run, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) CINCINNATI 4,
CHICAGO CUBS 2.

CINCINNATI 8TH: W Ohman relieved C Marmol. K Griffey Jr grounded out to
first. B Phillips singled to left. B Phillips stole second. A Dunn walked.
K Wood relieved W Ohman. E Encarnacion singled to center, B Phillips to third,
A Dunn to second. J Votto fouled out to third. J Valentin walked, B Phillips
scored, A Dunn to third, E Encarnacion to second. J Cantu hit for A Harang.
J Cantu grounded out to shortstop. (1 Run, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) CINCINNATI 5,
CHICAGO CUBS 2.</div>

 

NL: CINCINNATI at CHICAGO CUBS

<div class="pre">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
CINCINNATI (5) AT CHICAGO CUBS (2) - EVENT LOG
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Cincinnati Starting Lineups -- N Hopper CF, J Keppinger SS, K Griffey Jr RF,
B Phillips 2B, A Dunn LF, E Encarnacion 3B, J Votto 1B, J Valentin C,
A Harang RHP.

Chicago Cubs Starting Lineups -- A Soriano LF, R Theriot SS, D Lee 1B,
A Ramirez 3B, M Murton RF, M DeRosa 2B, J Jones CF, J Kendall C,
C Zambrano RHP.

Umpires -- Tim Timmons (HP), Alfonso Marquez (1B), Chuck Meriwether (2B),
Rick Reed (3B).

Gametime Weather: 84 degrees, Clear, wind out to left at 6 mph.


CINCINNATI 1ST: N Hopper reached on infield single to third. J Keppinger
hit by pitch, N Hopper to second. K Griffey Jr struck out swinging.
B Phillips singled to center, N Hopper scored, J Keppinger out at third,
B Phillips to second advancing on throw. A Dunn intentionally walked.
E Encarnacion singled to right, B Phillips scored, A Dunn to second,
E Encarnacion to second, A Dunn to third advancing on throw. J Votto flied
out to left. (2 Runs, 3 Hits, 0 Errors) CINCINNATI 2, CHICAGO CUBS 0.

CHICAGO CUBS 1ST: A Soriano grounded out to second. R Theriot struck out
swinging. D Lee fouled out to first. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) CINCINNATI 2,
CHICAGO CUBS 0.

CINCINNATI 2ND: J Valentin doubled to deep left center. A Harang
sacrificed to pitcher, J Valentin to third. N Hopper singled to right,
J Valentin scored. J Keppinger grounded out to shortstop, N Hopper to second.
K Griffey Jr flied out to left. (1 Run, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) CINCINNATI 3,
CHICAGO CUBS 0.

CHICAGO CUBS 2ND: A Ramirez fouled out to first. M Murton struck out
looking. M DeRosa flied out to right. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) CINCINNATI 3,
CHICAGO CUBS 0.

CINCINNATI 3RD: B Phillips walked. A Dunn walked, B Phillips to second.
E Encarnacion grounded into double play, shortstop to second to first, A Dunn out
at second, B Phillips to third. J Votto lined out to center. (0 Runs, 0 Hits,
0 Errors) CINCINNATI 3, CHICAGO CUBS 0.

CHICAGO CUBS 3RD: J Jones lined out to second. J Kendall safe at first on
error by second baseman B Phillips. C Zambrano grounded into fielder's choice
to second, J Kendall out at second. A Soriano grounded into fielder's choice
to third, C Zambrano out at second. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 1 Error) CINCINNATI 3,
CHICAGO CUBS 0.

CINCINNATI 4TH: J Valentin flied out to center. A Harang grounded out to
second. N Hopper grounded out to second. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors)
CINCINNATI 3, CHICAGO CUBS 0.

CHICAGO CUBS 4TH: R Theriot flied out to right. D Lee flied out to right.
A Ramirez singled to left. M Murton singled to center, A Ramirez to second.
M DeRosa walked, A Ramirez to third, M Murton to second. J Jones singled to
right, A Ramirez and M Murton scored, M DeRosa to third. J Kendall struck out
swinging. (2 Runs, 3 Hits, 0 Errors) CINCINNATI 3, CHICAGO CUBS 2.

CINCINNATI 5TH: J Keppinger grounded out to first. K Griffey Jr flied out
to center. B Phillips lined out to center. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors)
CINCINNATI 3, CHICAGO CUBS 2.

CHICAGO CUBS 5TH: C Zambrano struck out swinging. A Soriano flied out to
center. R Theriot singled to right. R Theriot stole second. D Lee lined out
to right. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) CINCINNATI 3, CHICAGO CUBS 2.

CINCINNATI 6TH: A Dunn grounded out to first. E Encarnacion homered to
left. J Votto singled to right. C Marmol relieved C Zambrano. J Votto picked
off first. J Valentin struck out looking. (1 Run, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) CINCINNATI 4,
CHICAGO CUBS 2.

CHICAGO CUBS 6TH: A Ramirez flied out to left. M Murton struck out
swinging. M DeRosa singled to left. J Jones struck out swinging. (0 Runs,
1 Hit, 0 Errors) CINCINNATI 4, CHICAGO CUBS 2.

CINCINNATI 7TH: A Harang grounded out to shortstop. N Hopper flied out to
right. J Keppinger flied out to right. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) CINCINNATI 4,
CHICAGO CUBS 2.

CHICAGO CUBS 7TH: J Kendall walked. C Floyd hit for C Marmol. C Floyd
grounded into double play, second to shortstop to first, J Kendall out at
second. A Soriano singled to left. R Theriot grounded into fielder's choice to
shortstop, A Soriano out at second. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) CINCINNATI 4,
CHICAGO CUBS 2.

CINCINNATI 8TH: W Ohman relieved C Marmol. K Griffey Jr grounded out to
first. B Phillips singled to left. B Phillips stole second. A Dunn walked.
K Wood relieved W Ohman. E Encarnacion singled to center, B Phillips to third,
A Dunn to second. J Votto fouled out to third. J Valentin walked, B Phillips
scored, A Dunn to third, E Encarnacion to second. J Cantu hit for A Harang.
J Cantu grounded out to shortstop. (1 Run, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) CINCINNATI 5,
CHICAGO CUBS 2.

CHICAGO CUBS 8TH: J Burton relieved A Harang. D Lee flied out to right.
A Ramirez struck out swinging. M Murton flied out to center. (0 Runs, 0 Hits,
0 Errors) CINCINNATI 5, CHICAGO CUBS 2.

CINCINNATI 9TH: M Wuertz relieved K Wood. N Hopper struck out swinging.
J Keppinger struck out swinging. K Griffey Jr singled to right center.
K Griffey Jr to second on passed ball by J Kendall. B Phillips struck out
swinging. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) CINCINNATI 5, CHICAGO CUBS 2.

CHICAGO CUBS 9TH: J Ellison in left field. D Weathers relieved J Burton.
M DeRosa singled to left. J Jones grounded into fielder's choice to second,
M DeRosa out at second. J Kendall grounded out to shortstop, J Jones to second.
D Ward hit for M Wuertz. D Ward struck out looking. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors)
CINCINNATI 5, CHICAGO CUBS 2.</div>

 

Encarnacion, Harang help Reds best Cubs

<h3>CINCINNATI 5, CHICAGO CUBS 2</h3>CHICAGO (Ticker) -- Edwin Encarnacion gave the Chicago Cubs'faithful every reason to boo Carlos Zambrano, but they did nottake the bait.


Encarnacion drove in two runs and hit a solo home run to leftfield off Zambrano in the sixth inning as the Cincinnati Redsposted a 5-2 win over the Cubs on Tuesday.


Zambrano, who was making his first home start since being booedoff the mound on September 3 when he allowed eight runs andseven hits in 4 1/3 innings against Los Angeles, left the gameafter allowing the one-out homer to Encarnacion and a single torookie Joey Votto.


"It was a pitch where I guessed right and hit the ball perfect,"Encarnacion said. "I think it was my best swing of the game."

However, instead of hearing the "bronx cheers", Zambrano(16-13), who was pitching on three days' rest, received animprobable ovation as he walked off after allowing four runs andseven hits in 5 1/3 innings.


"These are the greatest fans in baseball and they have the rightto do whatever they want," Zambrano said. "They paid to see agreat pitcher, they paid to see a great show. We are still infirst place, that's all that matters."


Jacque Jones drove in a pair of runs for Chicago (79-73), whichhad its three-game winning streak snapped and fell into a tiewith Milwaukee (78-72) for first place in the National LeagueCentral. The Brewers beat Houston.


"You are not going to win them all," Cubs manager Lou Piniellasaid. "If Milwaukee wins every game the rest of the way they aregoing to win it. It's plain and simple, right now we have towin this series against the Reds."


In a matchup of staff aces, it was Aaron Harang (16-4) whopitched like his team was in a pennant race. Harang retired 11of the first 12 hitters he faced and held a 3-0 lead until theCubs put together a two-out rally in the fourth.


Chicago loaded the bases as Aramis Ramirez and Matt Murtonsingled and Mark DeRosa drew a walk. Jones then reached out andslapped a single through the hole between first and secondbase, plating two runs to slice the lead to 3-2.


"Games like this are fun to pitch in," Harang said. "I was ableto hit my spots early and keep my pitches down in the zone."

However Harang, who improved to 8-2 in 14 career starts againstChicago, allowed just three hits the rest of the way. The 6-7righthander allowed two runs and six hits in seven innings withsix strikeouts and two walks.


"The Cubs are an aggressive hitting team so you have to go outand throw strikes against them," Harang said.


"They have great power so it's important to keep the guys infront of Ramirez and (Derrek) Lee off base. The ball can flyout of here (Wrigley Field) quickly so it's important to keepthe ball down."


<div class="pre">Jared Burton threw a scoreless eighth and closer David Weathers</div>rebounded from blowing the save in Monday's game, by workingthe ninth for his 31st save in 37 chances.


"My favorite part about pitching in relief is that you can goback out the next day and redeem yourself," Weathers said. "Ihad much better control and movement on my pitches tonight."

The Reds scored two runs in the first off Zambrano, who entered2-0 with a 1.29 ERA in his last two starts.


"Early on he looked a little fidgity," Piniella said. "Once hesettled in he threw the ball fine. We just didn't have manychances to score and get him any runs."


Norris Hopper reached on an infield single and Zambrano hit JeffKeppinger.


Brandon Phillips then put the Reds up 1-0 with a single tocenter and advanced to second on the throw home. One batterlater Encarnacion made the score 2-0 by plating Phillips with asingle to right.


"It didn't matter who was pitching," Encarnacion said. "Wewanted to go out there and make up for last night's loss."

Adam Dunn walked three times for Cincinnati, which snapped athree-game skid.