GAME THREAD: GAME THREAD: NL: CHICAGO CUBS (83-75) at CINCINNATI (71-87)

NL: CHICAGO CUBS (83-75) at CINCINNATI (71-87)

<h3>Cubs look to wrap up NL Central vs. Reds</h3>

Chicago Cubs (83-76) at Cincinnati (71-88) 7:10 pm EDT

CINCINNATI (Ticker) -- The Chicago Cubs are one win away from atleast a share of the division title.


The Cubs look to lock down their hold on the National LeagueCentral Division when they open a three-game series with theCincinnati Reds on Friday.


Chicago enters the contest with a two-game advantage in the NLCentral over the Milwaukee Brewers (81-78), who led the divisionfor the majority of the campaign.


The Cubs were unable to win their first division title since2003 and second since 1989 earlier this week because they wereswept by the Florida Marlins in a three-game series.

On Friday, the Cubs turn to ace Carlos Zambrano (17-13, 4.08ERA), who is coming off a brilliant outing.


The two-time All-Star hurled six scoreless innings, surrenderingjust three hits and three walks with six strikeouts in an 8-0triumph over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Sunday.


The Reds will counter with Bronson Arroyo (9-14, 4.22), who hasstruggle against the Cubs this year. The righthander is 0-2with a 3.38 ERA in four starts against the Cubs in 2007.

Cincinnati has lost five consecutive games, including Thursday's4-3 loss to the Houston Astros.

 

NL: CHICAGO CUBS (83-75) at CINCINNATI (71-87)

<h3>With division clinched, Cubs face Harang and Reds</h3>

<div class="pre">Chicago Cubs (84-76) at Cincinnati (71-89) 3:55 pm EDT</div>

CINCINNATI (Ticker) - The Chicago Cubs may have a littlehangover when they face Aaron Harang and the Cincinnati Reds inthe middle game of a three-game series on Saturday.

Alfonso Soriano homered and threw out a runner at the plate asthe Cubs posted a 6-0 win on Friday. Chicago clinched theNational League Central Division when the Milwaukee Brewers lostto San Diego later that night.


Luckily for Chicago, it faces Harang with little at stake. The6-7 righthander has been outstanding this season, despitepitching for a terrible team.


Harang (16-5, 3.70 ERA) is looking for his career-high 17th winand will try and stop the Reds' six-game slide. Harang was notsharp in his last start as he let a four-run lead slip away in a5-4 loss to San Francisco on Sunday.


Harang, who is 8-2 with a 4.43 ERA in 14 career starts vs. theCubs, yielded five runs and 10 hits in seven innings in the lossto the Giants. He is 3-1 with a 4.85 ERA in five startsagainst the Cubs this season.


Rich Hill (10-8, 4.05) takes the mound for Chicago, which willbe in the postseason for the first time since 2003 . Hill, whois aiming for his third straight winning decision, is pitchingon six days' rest.

 

NL: CHICAGO CUBS (85-76) at CINCINNATI (71-90)

<h3>Lilly, Cubs aim to end regular season with sweep of Reds</h3>

<div class="pre">Chicago Cubs (84-76) at Cincinnati (71-89) 1:15 pm EDT</div>

CINCINNATI (Ticker) -- The Chicago Cubs look to head into thepostseason on a high note when they aim for a three-game sweepof the Cincinnati Reds on Sunday.


Chicago, which clinched the National League Central Division forthe first time since 2003 on Friday, rested several regulars inSaturday's 4-0 win.


Alfonso Soriano, Derrek Lee and Aramis Ramirez all did not playas the Cubs prepare for what they hope is a long playoff run.

While, Chicago is likely to rest its regulars once again, oneperson who will not have the day off in this one is Ted Lilly.

Lilly (15-8, 3.86 ERA) has been Chicago's most consistentpitcher and is looking to record a career high in wins. Thelefthander would like to gain some positive momentum, havinggone winless in his last three starts.


As for Cincinnati, it has lost seven straight and will get onelast glimpse of the future of ace of its staff.


Homer Bailey (3-2, 5.67) makes his third start of the month forthe Reds, who trail the season series, 9-8.


The seventh overall pick of the 2004 draft, Bailey allowed tworuns and three hits in 5 2/3 innings, but did not receive adecision in an 8-5 loss to the Houston Astros on Tuesday.

 

NL: CHICAGO CUBS at CINCINNATI

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

CHICAGO CUBS CINCINNATI
AVG HR RBI AVG HR RBI
Alfonso Soriano LF .295 32 67 Jeff Keppinger SS .336 5 32
Mike Fontenot 2B .283 3 29 Ryan Hanigan C .167 0 0
Derrek Lee 1B .317 22 82 Joey Votto LF .313 3 12
Cliff Floyd RF .285 9 45 Edwin Encarnacion 3B .290 16 76
Aramis Ramirez 3B .312 26 101 Jorge Cantu 1B .283 1 8
Jacque Jones CF .282 5 65 Buck Coats CF .233 0 2
Ronny Cedeno SS .200 4 13 Jason Ellison RF .159 1 2
Jason Kendall C .266 1 19 Pedro Lopez 2B .171 0 0
Ted Lilly LHP .137 0 5 Homer Bailey RHP .333 0 2
(15-8, 3.86) (3-2, 5.67)</div>

 

NL: CHICAGO CUBS at CINCINNATI

<div class="pre">NL AT CINCINNATI
WARMUPS: CHN - TED LILLY (15-8, 3.86)
CIN - HOMER BAILEY (3-2, 5.67)

UMPIRES: HP - JIM REYNOLDS
1B - GARY CEDERSTROM
2B - LANCE BARKSDALE
3B - TIM WELKE

WEATHER: 78 Degrees, sunny
WIND: 5 mph, right to left</div>

 

NL: CHICAGO CUBS at CINCINNATI

<div class="pre">NL AT CINCINNATI
STARTING BATS: CHN - TED LILLY AND JASON KENDALL
CIN - HOMER BAILEY AND RYAN HANIGAN

DUE UP FOR CHICAGO CUBS: A SORIANO (.295, 32 HR, 67 RBI)
M FONTENOT (.283, 3 HR, 29 RBI)
D LEE (.317, 22 HR, 82 RBI)</div>

 

NL: CHICAGO CUBS at CINCINNATI

<div class="pre">NL AT CINCINNATI - SCORING UPDATE
SOLO HOME RUN BY ALFONSO SORIANO (33) TO LEFT WITH 0 OUT IN
THE 1ST OFF HOMER BAILEY.
CURRENT SCORE: CHICAGO CUBS 1, CINCINNATI 0

DUE UP FOR CHICAGO CUBS: M FONTENOT (.283, 3 HR, 29 RBI)</div>

 

NL: CHICAGO CUBS at CINCINNATI

<div class="pre">NL CHICAGO CUBS AT CINCINNATI
NOTE: THE HOME RUN BY CHICAGO LEFT FIELDER ALFONSO SORIANO
OFF HOMER BAILEY LED OFF THE GAME.</div>

 

NL: CHICAGO CUBS at CINCINNATI

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: CHN - TED LILLY
CIN - HOMER BAILEY

DUE UP FOR CINCINNATI: J KEPPINGER (.336, 5 HR, 32 RBI)
R HANIGAN (.167, 0 HR, 0 RBI)
J VOTTO (.313, 3 HR, 12 RBI)</div>

 

NL: CHICAGO CUBS at CINCINNATI

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

CHICAGO CUBS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
A Soriano lf 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 .296
M Fontenot 2b 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .283
D Lee 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .316
C Floyd rf 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .285
A Ramirez 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .311
J Jones cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .282
R Cedeno ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .200
J Kendall c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .266
T Lilly p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .137

Totals 3 1 1 1 2 0 2

BATTING: HR - A Soriano (33, 1st inning off H Bailey 0 on, 0 Out). RBI - A
Soriano (68). GIDP - D Lee. Team LOB - 1.


CINCINNATI ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
J Keppinger ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .336
R Hanigan c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .167
J Votto lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .313
E Encarnacion 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .290
J Cantu 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .283
B Coats cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .233
J Ellison rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .159
P Lopez 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .171
H Bailey p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .333

Totals 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

BATTING: Team LOB - 0.

FIELDING: DP: 1 (J Keppinger-P Lopez-J Cantu).


----------------------------------------------------
CHICAGO CUBS - 1 -- 1
CINCINNATI - -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

CHICAGO CUBS ip h r er bb so hr era
T Lilly 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3.86

CINCINNATI ip h r er bb so hr era
H Bailey 1 1 1 1 2 0 1 5.75

Pitches-strikes: H Bailey 21-9. Ground balls-fly balls: H Bailey 2-1. Batters
faced: H Bailey 5.

UMPIRES: HP--Jim Reynolds. 1B--Gary Cederstrom. 2B--Lance Barksdale. 3B--Tim
Welke.

Weather: 81 degrees, sunny. Wind: 5 mph, right to left.</div>

 

NL: CHICAGO CUBS at CINCINNATI

<div class="pre">NL AT CINCINNATI
CONFIRMED STARTERS: CHN - TED LILLY
CIN - HOMER BAILEY</div>

 

NL: CHICAGO CUBS at CINCINNATI

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: CHN - TED LILLY
CIN - HOMER BAILEY

DUE UP FOR CHICAGO CUBS: J JONES (.282, 5 HR, 65 RBI)
R CEDENO (.200, 4 HR, 13 RBI)
J KENDALL (.266, 1 HR, 19 RBI)</div>

 

NL: CHICAGO CUBS at CINCINNATI

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

CHICAGO CUBS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
A Soriano lf 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 .296
M Fontenot 2b 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .283
D Lee 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .316
C Floyd rf 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .285
A Ramirez 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .311
J Jones cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .282
R Cedeno ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .200
J Kendall c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .266
T Lilly p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .137

Totals 3 1 1 1 2 0 2

BATTING: HR - A Soriano (33, 1st inning off H Bailey 0 on, 0 Out). RBI - A
Soriano (68). GIDP - D Lee. Team LOB - 1.


CINCINNATI ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
J Keppinger ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .335
R Hanigan c 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .143
J Votto lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .309
E Encarnacion 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .290
J Cantu 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .283
B Coats cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .233
J Ellison rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .159
P Lopez 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .171
H Bailey p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .333

Totals 3 0 0 0 0 0 0

BATTING: Team LOB - 0.

FIELDING: DP: 1 (J Keppinger-P Lopez-J Cantu).


----------------------------------------------------
CHICAGO CUBS - 1 -- 1
CINCINNATI - 0 -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

CHICAGO CUBS ip h r er bb so hr era
T Lilly 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 3.84

CINCINNATI ip h r er bb so hr era
H Bailey 1 1 1 1 2 0 1 5.75

Pitches-strikes: T Lilly 10-7; H Bailey 21-9. Ground balls-fly balls: T Lilly
1-2; H Bailey 2-1. Batters faced: T Lilly 3; H Bailey 5.

UMPIRES: HP--Jim Reynolds. 1B--Gary Cederstrom. 2B--Lance Barksdale. 3B--Tim
Welke.

Weather: 81 degrees, sunny. Wind: 5 mph, right to left.</div>

 

NL: CHICAGO CUBS at CINCINNATI

<div class="pre">NL AT CINCINNATI - SCORING UPDATE
SINGLE BY ALFONSO SORIANO SCORED JACQUE JONES AND JASON
KENDALL.
SITUATION: 2 RUNS IN, A SORIANO ON FIRST, 2 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: CHICAGO CUBS 3
CINCINNATI 0 TOP, 2ND

DUE UP FOR CHICAGO CUBS: M FONTENOT (.283, 0-FOR-0, BB)</div>

 

NL: CHICAGO CUBS at CINCINNATI

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: CHN - TED LILLY
CIN - HOMER BAILEY

DUE UP FOR CINCINNATI: E ENCARNACION (.290, 16 HR, 76 RBI)
J CANTU (.283, 1 HR, 8 RBI)
B COATS (.233, 0 HR, 2 RBI)</div>

 

NL: CHICAGO CUBS at CINCINNATI

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

CHICAGO CUBS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
A Soriano lf 2 1 2 3 0 0 0 .298
M Fontenot 2b 1 0 0 0 1 0 1 .281
D Lee 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .316
C Floyd rf 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .285
A Ramirez 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .311
J Jones cf 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .283
R Cedeno ss 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .197
J Kendall c 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 .266
T Lilly p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .137

Totals 7 3 3 3 3 1 4

BATTING: HR - A Soriano (33, 1st inning off H Bailey 0 on, 0 Out). S - T Lilly.
RBI - A Soriano 3 (70). 2-out RBI - A Soriano 2. GIDP - D Lee. Team LOB - 2.


CINCINNATI ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
J Keppinger ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .335
R Hanigan c 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .143
J Votto lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .309
E Encarnacion 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .290
J Cantu 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .283
B Coats cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .233
J Ellison rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .159
P Lopez 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .171
H Bailey p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .333

Totals 3 0 0 0 0 0 0

BATTING: Team LOB - 0.

FIELDING: DP: 1 (J Keppinger-P Lopez-J Cantu).


----------------------------------------------------
CHICAGO CUBS - 12 -- 3
CINCINNATI - 0 -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

CHICAGO CUBS ip h r er bb so hr era
T Lilly 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 3.84

CINCINNATI ip h r er bb so hr era
H Bailey 2 3 3 3 3 1 1 6.05

Pitches-strikes: T Lilly 10-7; H Bailey 41-21. Ground balls-fly balls: T
Lilly 1-2; H Bailey 3-2. Batters faced: T Lilly 3; H Bailey 11.

UMPIRES: HP--Jim Reynolds. 1B--Gary Cederstrom. 2B--Lance Barksdale. 3B--Tim
Welke.

Weather: 81 degrees, sunny. Wind: 5 mph, right to left.</div>

 

NL: CHICAGO CUBS at CINCINNATI

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: CHN - TED LILLY
CIN - HOMER BAILEY

DUE UP FOR CHICAGO CUBS: D LEE (.316, 0-FOR-1)
C FLOYD (.285, 0-FOR-0, BB)
A RAMIREZ (.311, 0-FOR-1)</div>

 

NL: CHICAGO CUBS at CINCINNATI

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

CHICAGO CUBS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
A Soriano lf 2 1 2 3 0 0 0 .298
M Fontenot 2b 1 0 0 0 1 0 1 .281
D Lee 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .316
C Floyd rf 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .285
A Ramirez 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .311
J Jones cf 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .283
R Cedeno ss 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .197
J Kendall c 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 .266
T Lilly p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .137

Totals 7 3 3 3 3 1 4

BATTING: HR - A Soriano (33, 1st inning off H Bailey 0 on, 0 Out). S - T Lilly.
RBI - A Soriano 3 (70). 2-out RBI - A Soriano 2. GIDP - D Lee. Team LOB - 2.


CINCINNATI ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
J Keppinger ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .335
R Hanigan c 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .143
J Votto lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .309
E Encarnacion 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .289
J Cantu 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .278
B Coats cf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .226
J Ellison rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .159
P Lopez 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .171
H Bailey p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .333

Totals 6 0 0 0 0 1 0

BATTING: Team LOB - 0.

FIELDING: DP: 1 (J Keppinger-P Lopez-J Cantu).


----------------------------------------------------
CHICAGO CUBS - 12 -- 3
CINCINNATI - 00 -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

CHICAGO CUBS ip h r er bb so hr era
T Lilly 2 0 0 0 0 1 0 3.83

CINCINNATI ip h r er bb so hr era
H Bailey 2 3 3 3 3 1 1 6.05

Pitches-strikes: T Lilly 21-15; H Bailey 41-21. Ground balls-fly balls: T
Lilly 1-4; H Bailey 3-2. Batters faced: T Lilly 6; H Bailey 11.

UMPIRES: HP--Jim Reynolds. 1B--Gary Cederstrom. 2B--Lance Barksdale. 3B--Tim
Welke.

Weather: 81 degrees, sunny. Wind: 5 mph, right to left.</div>

 

NL: CHICAGO CUBS at CINCINNATI

<div class="pre">NL AT CINCINNATI - SCORING UPDATE
DOUBLE BY JACQUE JONES SCORED DERREK LEE.
SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, J JONES ON SECOND, 2 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: CHICAGO CUBS 4
CINCINNATI 0 TOP, 3RD

DUE UP FOR CHICAGO CUBS: R CEDENO (.197, 0-FOR-1)</div>

 

NL: CHICAGO CUBS at CINCINNATI

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: CHN - TED LILLY
CIN - HOMER BAILEY

DUE UP FOR CINCINNATI: J ELLISON (.159, 1 HR, 2 RBI)
P LOPEZ (.171, 0 HR, 0 RBI)
H BAILEY (.333, 0 HR, 2 RBI)</div>