GAME THREAD: NL: CHICAGO CUBS (83-75) at FLORIDA (68-90)

NL: CHICAGO CUBS at FLORIDA

<div class="pre">CHICAGO CUBS (4) VS FLORIDA (6) - FINAL

CHICAGO CUBS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
A Soriano lf 4 0 2 1 1 1 0 .294
R Theriot ss 4 1 0 0 1 0 5 .268
D Lee 1b 5 0 1 0 0 2 0 .317
A Ramirez 3b 5 1 4 1 0 0 0 .312
M DeRosa 2b 5 0 0 0 0 2 5 .292
G Soto c 3 1 1 0 0 1 3 .375
b-C Floyd ph-rf 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .287
C Monroe rf 3 1 0 0 1 0 0 .213
H Blanco c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .170
J Jones cf 4 0 2 1 0 1 3 .277
S Trachsel p 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 .143
W Ohman p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
K Hart p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
a-M Murton ph 1 0 0 0 0 1 2 .279
S Eyre p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
K Wood p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
c-M Fontenot ph 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .284
R Dempster p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000

Totals 37 4 10 3 4 9 19

a-struck out swinging for K Hart in the 6th; b-walked for G Soto in the 7th;
c-struck out looking for K Wood in the 8th.

BATTING: 2B - D Lee (42, S Olsen); J Jones (31, S Olsen); A Soriano (40, M
Lindstrom); A Ramirez (35, J Miller). RBI - A Ramirez (101), J Jones (63), A
Soriano (66). 2-out RBI - A Soriano. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out -
J Jones 2, R Theriot 3, G Soto 1. GIDP - R Theriot. Team LOB - 10.

FIELDING: DP: 2 (A Ramirez-D Lee, R Theriot-M DeRosa-D Lee).


FLORIDA ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
H Ramirez ss 4 2 2 2 0 0 4 .333
D Uggla 2b 3 1 0 0 1 0 1 .246
J Hermida rf 4 0 2 0 0 1 1 .295
M Cabrera 3b 2 0 1 1 2 0 0 .322
M Jacobs 1b 3 0 0 1 0 2 4 .269
T Linden lf 3 0 1 0 1 1 2 .249
R Abercrombie pr 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 .200
K Gregg p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
M Olivo c 3 1 1 0 1 0 1 .237
A De Aza cf 4 1 2 1 0 1 1 .221
S Olsen p 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .176
M Lindstrom p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
a-J Wood ph 1 0 0 0 0 1 3 .246
J Miller p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
R Pinto p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
L Gardner p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
b-C Ross ph 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 .339
B Carroll pr-lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .209

Totals 29 6 10 6 5 7 17

a-struck out swinging for M Lindstrom in the 6th; b-doubled to deep center for
L Gardner in the 8th.

BATTING: 2B - H Ramirez (46, S Trachsel); A De Aza (7, S Trachsel); M Cabrera
(38, K Hart); C Ross (18, R Dempster). HR - H Ramirez (29, 5th inning off S
Trachsel 0 on, 1 Out). S - S Olsen. SF - M Jacobs , H Ramirez. RBI - M Jacobs
(53), A De Aza (7), H Ramirez 2 (81), M Cabrera (116), C Ross (36). 2-out RBI -
M Cabrera, C Ross. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - T Linden 1, M
Jacobs 1, H Ramirez 1. GIDP - H Ramirez, M Jacobs. Team LOB - 7.

BASERUNNING: SB - R Abercrombie (7, 2nd base off R Dempster/H Blanco).

FIELDING: E - M Cabrera (23, throw). DP: 1 (L Gardner-H Ramirez-M Jacobs).


----------------------------------------------------
CHICAGO CUBS - 100 003 000 -- 4
FLORIDA - 120 020 01x -- 6
----------------------------------------------------

CHICAGO CUBS ip h r er bb so hr era
S Trachsel (L, 1-3) 4 1/3 5 5 5 2 4 1 8.31
W Ohman 1/3 0 0 0 0 0 0 5.00
K Hart 1/3 1 0 0 0 1 0 0.82
S Eyre 0 2 0 0 1 0 0 4.21
K Wood 2 1 0 0 1 1 0 3.47
R Dempster 1 1 1 1 1 1 0 4.31

FLORIDA ip h r er bb so hr era
S Olsen (W, 10-15) 5 1/3 7 4 2 2 4 0 5.81
M Lindstrom (H, 18) 2/3 1 0 0 0 1 0 3.18
J Miller (H, 17) 2/3 1 0 0 0 2 0 3.73
R Pinto (H, 17) 1/3 0 0 0 2 1 0 3.79
L Gardner (H, 8) 1 1 0 0 0 1 0 1.96
K Gregg (S, 31) 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 3.62

S Eyre pitched to 3 batters in the 6th.

IBB - M Cabrera (by S Trachsel). Pitches-strikes: S Trachsel 77-45; W Ohman
2-2; K Hart 6-5; S Eyre 15-8; K Wood 21-14; R Dempster 17-9; S Olsen 101-66; M
Lindstrom 9-8; J Miller 17-10; R Pinto 14-5; L Gardner 8-5; K Gregg 8-5. Ground
balls-fly balls: S Trachsel 4-5; W Ohman 0-1; K Hart 0-0; S Eyre 0-0; K Wood
4-1; R Dempster 1-1; S Olsen 6-7; M Lindstrom 1-0; J Miller 0-0; R Pinto 0-0; L
Gardner 2-0; K Gregg 1-2. Batters faced: S Trachsel 20; W Ohman 1; K Hart 2; S
Eyre 3; K Wood 6; R Dempster 5; S Olsen 26; M Lindstrom 3; J Miller 3; R Pinto
3; L Gardner 3; K Gregg 3.

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

T--3:09. Att--24,809.
Weather: 88 degrees, partly cloudy. Wind: 6 mph, out to
right.</div>

 

NL: CHICAGO CUBS at FLORIDA

<div class="pre">** CONFIRMED **
NL
CHICAGO CUBS 4
FLORIDA 6 FINAL</div>

 

NL: CHICAGO CUBS at FLORIDA

<div class="pre">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
CHICAGO CUBS (4) AT FLORIDA (6) - HOW THEY SCORED
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

CHICAGO CUBS 1ST: A Soriano grounded out to second. R Theriot walked.
D Lee doubled to left, R Theriot to third. A Ramirez singled to left,
R Theriot scored, D Lee to third. M DeRosa flied out to left. G Soto
struck out swinging. (1 Run, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) CHICAGO CUBS 1, FLORIDA 0.

FLORIDA 1ST: H Ramirez doubled to deep center. D Uggla popped out to
shortstop. J Hermida singled to center, H Ramirez to third, J Hermida to
second advancing on throw. M Cabrera intentionally walked. M Jacobs hit
sacrifice fly to right, H Ramirez scored, J Hermida to third. T Linden struck
out swinging. (1 Run, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) CHICAGO CUBS 1, FLORIDA 1.

FLORIDA 2ND: M Olivo singled to center. A De Aza doubled to deep left
center, M Olivo scored. S Olsen sacrificed to third, A De Aza to third.
H Ramirez hit sacrifice fly to right, A De Aza scored. D Uggla grounded
out to third. (2 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) CHICAGO CUBS 1, FLORIDA 3.

FLORIDA 5TH: S Olsen struck out swinging. H Ramirez homered to center.
D Uggla walked. W Ohman relieved S Trachsel. J Hermida flied out to right.
K Hart relieved W Ohman. M Cabrera doubled to right, D Uggla scored. M Jacobs
struck out swinging. (2 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) CHICAGO CUBS 1, FLORIDA 5.

CHICAGO CUBS 6TH: A Ramirez singled to center. M DeRosa flied out to left.
G Soto singled to left, A Ramirez to second. C Monroe grounded into fielder's
choice to third, A Ramirez to third, A Ramirez scored, G Soto safe at third on
throwing error by third baseman M Cabrera. J Jones singled to center, G Soto
scored, C Monroe to second. M Murton hit for K Hart. M Lindstrom relieved
S Olsen. M Murton struck out swinging. A Soriano doubled to deep left center,
C Monroe scored, J Jones to third. R Theriot grounded out to second. (3 Runs,
4 Hits, 1 Error) CHICAGO CUBS 4, FLORIDA 5.

FLORIDA 8TH: R Dempster relieved K Wood. T Linden walked. R Abercrombie
ran for T Linden. M Olivo fouled out to first. R Abercrombie stole second.
A De Aza struck out swinging. C Ross hit for L Gardner. C Ross doubled to deep
center, R Abercrombie scored. B Carroll ran for C Ross. H Ramirez grounded out
to shortstop. (1 Run, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) CHICAGO CUBS 4, FLORIDA 6.</div>

 

NL: CHICAGO CUBS at FLORIDA

<div class="pre">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
CHICAGO CUBS (4) AT FLORIDA (6) - EVENT LOG
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Chicago Cubs Starting Lineups -- A Soriano LF, R Theriot SS, D Lee 1B,
A Ramirez 3B, M DeRosa 2B, G Soto C, C Monroe RF, J Jones CF, S Trachsel RHP.

Florida Starting Lineups -- H Ramirez SS, D Uggla 2B, J Hermida RF, M Cabrera 3B,
M Jacobs 1B, T Linden LF, M Olivo C, A De Aza CF, S Olsen LHP.

Umpires -- Jeff Kellogg (HP), Eric Cooper (1B), Andy Fletcher (2B), Mike Reilly (3B).

Gametime Weather: 88 degrees, Partly Cloudy, wind out to right at 6 mph.


CHICAGO CUBS 1ST: A Soriano grounded out to second. R Theriot walked.
D Lee doubled to left, R Theriot to third. A Ramirez singled to left,
R Theriot scored, D Lee to third. M DeRosa flied out to left. G Soto
struck out swinging. (1 Run, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) CHICAGO CUBS 1, FLORIDA 0.

FLORIDA 1ST: H Ramirez doubled to deep center. D Uggla popped out to
shortstop. J Hermida singled to center, H Ramirez to third, J Hermida to
second advancing on throw. M Cabrera intentionally walked. M Jacobs hit
sacrifice fly to right, H Ramirez scored, J Hermida to third. T Linden struck
out swinging. (1 Run, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) CHICAGO CUBS 1, FLORIDA 1.

CHICAGO CUBS 2ND: C Monroe popped out to third. J Jones doubled to deep
right center. S Trachsel grounded out to shortstop. A Soriano walked.
R Theriot lined out to left. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) CHICAGO CUBS 1,
FLORIDA 1.

FLORIDA 2ND: M Olivo singled to center. A De Aza doubled to deep left
center, M Olivo scored. S Olsen sacrificed to third, A De Aza to third.
H Ramirez hit sacrifice fly to right, A De Aza scored. D Uggla grounded
out to third. (2 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) CHICAGO CUBS 1, FLORIDA 3.

CHICAGO CUBS 3RD: D Lee grounded out to third. A Ramirez singled to
center. M DeRosa struck out looking. G Soto lined out to left. (0 Runs,
1 Hit, 0 Errors) CHICAGO CUBS 1, FLORIDA 3.

FLORIDA 3RD: J Hermida struck out swinging. M Cabrera lined out to center.
M Jacobs struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) CHICAGO CUBS 1,
FLORIDA 3.

CHICAGO CUBS 4TH: C Monroe flied out to center. J Jones grounded out to
shortstop. S Trachsel lined out to right. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors)
CHICAGO CUBS 1, FLORIDA 3.

FLORIDA 4TH: T Linden bunt grounded out to pitcher. M Olivo lined out
to center. A De Aza grounded out to second. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors)
CHICAGO CUBS 1, FLORIDA 3.

CHICAGO CUBS 5TH: A Soriano struck out swinging. R Theriot grounded out to
second. D Lee struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) CHICAGO CUBS 1,
FLORIDA 3.

FLORIDA 5TH: S Olsen struck out swinging. H Ramirez homered to center.
D Uggla walked. W Ohman relieved S Trachsel. J Hermida flied out to right.
K Hart relieved W Ohman. M Cabrera doubled to right, D Uggla scored. M Jacobs
struck out swinging. (2 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) CHICAGO CUBS 1, FLORIDA 5.

CHICAGO CUBS 6TH: A Ramirez singled to center. M DeRosa flied out to left.
G Soto singled to left, A Ramirez to second. C Monroe grounded into fielder's
choice to third, A Ramirez to third, A Ramirez scored, G Soto safe at third on
throwing error by third baseman M Cabrera. J Jones singled to center, G Soto
scored, C Monroe to second. M Murton hit for K Hart. M Lindstrom relieved
S Olsen. M Murton struck out swinging. A Soriano doubled to deep left center,
C Monroe scored, J Jones to third. R Theriot grounded out to second. (3 Runs,
4 Hits, 1 Error) CHICAGO CUBS 4, FLORIDA 5.

FLORIDA 6TH: S Eyre relieved K Hart. T Linden singled to right. M Olivo
walked, T Linden to second. A De Aza singled to right, T Linden to third,
M Olivo to second. J Wood hit for M Lindstrom. K Wood relieved S Eyre.
J Wood struck out swinging. H Ramirez grounded into double play, third to
first, M Olivo out at third. (0 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) CHICAGO CUBS 4,
FLORIDA 5.

CHICAGO CUBS 7TH: J Miller relieved M Lindstrom. D Lee struck out swinging.
A Ramirez doubled to deep left center. M DeRosa struck out swinging. C Floyd
hit for G Soto. R Pinto relieved J Miller. C Floyd walked. C Monroe walked,
A Ramirez to third, C Floyd to second. J Jones struck out swinging. (0 Runs,
1 Hit, 0 Errors) CHICAGO CUBS 4, FLORIDA 5.

FLORIDA 7TH: C Floyd in right field. H Blanco catching. D Uggla flied out
to left. J Hermida reached on infield single to pitcher. M Cabrera walked,
J Hermida to second. M Jacobs grounded into double play, shortstop to second
to first, M Cabrera out at second.(0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) CHICAGO CUBS 4,
FLORIDA 5.

CHICAGO CUBS 8TH: L Gardner relieved R Pinto. M Fontenot hit for K Wood.
M Fontenot struck out looking. A Soriano singled to center. R Theriot
grounded into double play, pitcher to shortstop to first, A Soriano out
at second. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) CHICAGO CUBS 4, FLORIDA 5.

FLORIDA 8TH: R Dempster relieved K Wood. T Linden walked. R Abercrombie
ran for T Linden. M Olivo fouled out to first. R Abercrombie stole second.
A De Aza struck out swinging. C Ross hit for L Gardner. C Ross doubled to deep
center, R Abercrombie scored. B Carroll ran for C Ross. H Ramirez grounded out
to shortstop. (1 Run, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) CHICAGO CUBS 4, FLORIDA 6.

CHICAGO CUBS 9TH: K Gregg relieved L Gardner. B Carroll in left field.
D Lee flied out to center. A Ramirez grounded out to third. M DeRosa flied
out to right. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) CHICAGO CUBS 4, FLORIDA 6.</div>

 

Ramirez helps Marlins complete three-game sweep of Cubs

<h3>FLORIDA 6, CHICAGO CUBS 4</h3>MIAMI (Ticker) -- Hanley Ramirez helped the Florida Marlinssock it to the Chicago Cubs.


Ramirez homered, drove in two runs and scored twice as theMarlins completed a three-game sweep of the Cubs with a 6-4victory on Thursday afternoon.


Scott Olsen pitched 5 1/3 effective innings and Mike Jacobs androokie Alejandro De Aza each had an RBI for Florida, which hasbeaten Chicago 10 straight times - the longest active winningstreak by one major league club over another.


The loss by the Cubs (83-76) dropped their lead to 1 1/2 gamesover the Milwaukee Brewers (81-77) in the National LeagueCentral Division with three games left. Milwaukee playsThursday night in the first of a four-game series with the SanDiego Padres.


Chicago next travels to Cincinnati for a three-gameseason-ending set with the Reds.


After the Cubs took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first on an RBIsingle by Aramis Ramirez, the Marlins began to take control.

Hanley Ramirez led off with a double off the wall in left-centerfield before moving to third on a single by Jeremy Hermida, whoadvanced to second when no one covered the base. After MiguelCabrera was walked intentionally to load the bases, Jacobslofted a pitch by Cubs starter Steve Trachsel into right fieldfor a sacrifice fly, scoring Hanley Ramirez and tying the gameat 1-1.


Miguel Olivo led off the bottom of the second with a single andDe Aza drilled a run-scoring double to left-center to giveFlorida the lead. De Aza moved to third on a sacrifice by Olsenbefore a sacrifice fly by Hanley Ramirez increased the Marlins'advantage to 3-1.


With one out in the fifth, Hanley Ramirez deposited an 0-1 pitchfrom Trachsel over the center field wall to give Florida athree-run lead. An RBI double by Cabrera off rookie relieverKevin Hart later in the frame made it 5-1.


Trachsel (1-3) allowed five runs, five hits and two walks in 41/3 innings en route to his first loss in his last four startsagainst the Marlins.


Olsen (10-15) cruised before running into trouble in the sixth.

Aramis Ramirez led off the inning with a base hit and, one outlater, moved to second on a single by rookie Geovany Soto.Aramis Ramirez scored when a grounder to third by Craig Monroewas thrown away by Cabrera, cutting Chicago's deficit to 5-2.

A run-scoring single by Jacque Jones up the middle knocked Olsenout of the game and an RBI double by Alfonso Soriano offreliever Matt Lindstrom later in the frame drew the Cubs within5-4.


However, an RBI double by pinch hitter Cody Ross in the eighthadded an insurance run for Florida.


Olsen allowed four runs - two earned - and seven hits with twowalks and four strikeouts in snapping a career-high six-gamelosing streak. It was just the second time in seven outings thelefthander yielded less than five runs.


Lindstrom and Justin Miller each recorded two outs before RenyelPinto struck out Jones with the bases loaded in the seventh toget out of a jam. Lee Gardner worked around a one-out single bySoriano in the eighth before Kevin Gregg pitched a 1-2-3 ninthto record his 31st save in 35 opportunities.


Aramis Ramirez went 4-for-5 for the Cubs, who have lost threestraight and have not beaten the Marlins since April 25, 2006.

 

Ramirez helps Marlins complete three-game sweep of Cubs

<h3>FLORIDA 6, CHICAGO CUBS 4</h3>MIAMI (Ticker) -- Hanley Ramirez helped the Florida Marlinssock it to the Chicago Cubs.


Ramirez homered, drove in two runs and scored twice as theMarlins completed a three-game sweep of the Cubs with a 6-4victory on Thursday afternoon.


Scott Olsen pitched 5 1/3 effective innings and Mike Jacobs androokie Alejandro De Aza each had an RBI for Florida, which hasbeaten Chicago 10 straight times - the longest active winningstreak by one major league club over another.


"We haven't figured out how to beat them yet," Cubs manager LouPiniella said. "We've got three games to play, we've got a 11/2 game lead. We're in the driver's seat. There shouldn't beany uneasiness." Yet, that's not how the Marlins saw things."You could see them panicking in the dugout," Marlins outfielderCody Ross said. "If you're not going to be in the playoffs,you might as well spoil it for someone else."


The loss by the Cubs (83-76) dropped their lead to 1 1/2 gamesover the Milwaukee Brewers (81-77) in the National LeagueCentral Division with three games left.


"Believe it or not, as bad as it was we still have confidence inourselves," Cubs closer Ryan Dempster said.


Milwaukee plays Thursday night in the first of a four-gameseries with the San Diego Padres.


"We don't want to rely on Milwaukee," Cubs first baseman DerrekLee said. "We control our own destiny."


Chicago next travels to Cincinnati for a three-gameseason-ending set with the Reds.


"The only message I have is we better play better in Cincinnatithan we have here," Piniella said.


After the Cubs took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first on an RBIsingle by Aramis Ramirez, the Marlins began to take control.

Hanley Ramirez led off with a double off the wall in left-centerfield before moving to third on a single by Jeremy Hermida, whoadvanced to second when no one covered the base. After MiguelCabrera was walked intentionally to load the bases, Jacobslofted a pitch by Cubs starter Steve Trachsel into right fieldfor a sacrifice fly, scoring Hanley Ramirez and tying the gameat 1-1.


Miguel Olivo led off the bottom of the second with a single andDe Aza drilled a run-scoring double to left-center to giveFlorida the lead. De Aza moved to third on a sacrifice by Olsenbefore a sacrifice fly by Hanley Ramirez increased the Marlins'advantage to 3-1.


With one out in the fifth, Hanley Ramirez deposited an 0-1 pitchfrom Trachsel over the center field wall to give Florida athree-run lead.


"We need to start thinking about next year because I want to bein the playoffs," Ramirez said.


An RBI double by Cabrera off rookie reliever Kevin Hart later inthe frame made it 5-1.


Trachsel (1-3) allowed five runs, five hits and two walks in 41/3 innings en route to his first loss in his last four startsagainst the Marlins.


Olsen (10-15) cruised before running into trouble in the sixth.

Aramis Ramirez led off the inning with a base hit and, one outlater, moved to second on a single by rookie Geovany Soto.Aramis Ramirez scored when a grounder to third by Craig Monroewas thrown away by Cabrera, cutting Chicago's deficit to 5-2.

A run-scoring single by Jacque Jones up the middle knocked Olsenout of the game and an RBI double by Alfonso Soriano offreliever Matt Lindstrom later in the frame drew the Cubs within5-4.


However, an RBI double by pinch hitter Cody Ross in the eighthadded an insurance run for Florida.


Olsen allowed four runs - two earned - and seven hits with twowalks and four strikeouts in snapping a career-high six-gamelosing streak. It was just the second time in seven outings thelefthander yielded less than five runs.


Lindstrom and Justin Miller each recorded two outs before RenyelPinto struck out Jones with the bases loaded in the seventh toget out of a jam. Lee Gardner worked around a one-out single bySoriano in the eighth before Kevin Gregg pitched a 1-2-3 ninthto record his 31st save in 35 opportunities.


"That's the kind of baseball we needed to play all year long,"Gregg said. "It's the way a baseball game is supposed to bescripted."


Aramis Ramirez went 4-for-5 for the Cubs, who have lost threestraight and have not beaten the Marlins since April 25, 2006.

"These guys have our number," said Lee, who won a World Serieswith the Marlins in 2003. "They outplayed us. They just cameout (this series) and flat out beat us. ... We didn't envision asweep."