GAME THREAD: NL: CHICAGO CUBS (0-0) at ARIZONA (0-0)

NL: CHICAGO CUBS (0-0) at ARIZONA (0-0)

<h3>Zambrano, Cubs face Webb, Diamondbacks in Game One of NLDS</h3>

<div class="pre">Chicago at Arizona 10:00 pm EDT</div><div class="pre">National League Division Series Game One</div>

PHOENIX (Ticker) -- Carlos Zambrano and the Chicago Cubs surviveda celebrated dugout fight, a managerial blowup and a lengthyloss of their highest-priced free agent, yet here they are inthe playoffs.


Zambrano and the Cubs hope for a quick start in Game One oftheir best-of-five National League Division Series tilt againstthe Arizona Diamondbacks on Wednesday.


Chicago is making its second postseason appearance in the lastfive years after holding off the Milwaukee Brewers for the NLCentral Division crown in the last week of the regular season.

The Cubs (85-77), who had the worst record in the NationalLeague in 2006, started off poorly in 2007 as well. In themidst of a season-long, six-game losing streak, Zambrano anddeparted catcher Michael Barrett got into a highly publicizedbrawl that continued into the clubhouse in an 8-5 loss to theAtlanta Braves on June 1.


A day later against Atlanta, manager Lou Piniella's targetedblowup at an umpire helped lead to Chicago's sixth straightdefeat, 5-3. However, the Cubs went on to win five of theirnext six games, and posted a 52-38 mark since June 23, the bestrecord in the NL.


"I think it's overrated," Piniella said. "I think my situationand the situation with the fight, I think that it happens to alot of teams, it really does. I don't see either situationbeing too responsible for anything."


Zambrano, who dropped to 5-5 after that loss on June 1, went13-8 the rest of the way to set a personal career high invictories with 18. The big righthander, who had a minor setbackin the month of August by going 0-4 with 7.06 ERA, anchored apitching staff that led the majors in strikeouts for the seventhconsecutive season.


"I think you have to know yourself," Zambrano said. "I knowmyself; I know what I can do."


Zambrano will have to do better against Arizona than his careerstats suggest, going 1-2, 4.88 ERA in four starts. His<div class="pre">postseason record could also be better as well, as he went 0-1</div>with a 5.40 ERA in three postseason starts from 2003.

Against Arizona, Chicago will depend on a lineup that belted afranchise-record 45 homers in September. The spark in thebatting order is Alfonso Soriano, who missed 23 days in Augustdue to a strained right quad.


However, once the All-Star left fielder returned, he drilled 14home runs in September, including a major league-record sevenleadoff shots.


Signed to a seven-year, $136 million contract in the offseason,Soriano led the Cubs with 33 homers.


The Diamondbacks (90-72), who led the NL in victories, sendsBrandon Webb to the mound.


Webb, the reigning NL Cy Young Award winner, went 18-10 with3.10 ERA. The ace of the Arizona staff also reached a careerhigh in wins, and also tacked on a streak of 42 consecutivescoreless innings during the season as well.


The righthander, who finished third in the majors in ERA, hasbeen fairly successful vs. Chicago, going 4-1 with a 2.53 ERA inseven career starts.


Webb is one of the leaders of a club that was outscored 732-712,and became the first team since the 1906 Chicago White Sox(.246) to have the best record in the league despite the worstbatting average (.250).


Another reason Arizona has been cast as the underdog is thatjust three members of the 25-man roster have ever participatedin postseason play.


"I haven't been in any postseason, not even in minor leagueshave I had this opportunity," Webb said. "It's something new tome as well as new to a lot of the guys in our clubhouse. ButI'm going to take it just like a game that I would go out andpitch during the regular season. I'm going to go out and attackand execute regular pitches."


Despite the inexperience, Arizona comes in with a slight edge,winning four of six games against Chicago this season.

 

Re: NL: CHICAGO CUBS (0-0) at ARIZONA (0-0)

'Zona will win this, but Cubbies will take the series.</p>

 

Re: NL: CHICAGO CUBS (0-0) at ARIZONA (0-0)

I wore my 2003 NLCS shirt today to remind me not to get my hopes up.</p>

 

NL: CHICAGO CUBS at ARIZONA

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

CHICAGO CUBS ARIZONA
AVG HR RBI AVG HR RBI
Alfonso Soriano LF .000 0 0 Chris Young CF .000 0 0
Jacque Jones CF .000 0 0 Stephen Drew SS .000 0 0
Derrek Lee 1B .000 0 0 Eric Byrnes LF .000 0 0
Aramis Ramirez 3B .000 0 0 Tony Clark 1B .000 0 0
Cliff Floyd RF .000 0 0 Mark Reynolds 3B .000 0 0
Mark Derosa 2B .000 0 0 Jeff Salazar RF .000 0 0
Geovany Soto C .000 0 0 Chris Snyder C .000 0 0
Ryan Theriot SS .000 0 0 Augie Ojeda 2B .000 0 0
Carlos Zambrano RHP .000 0 0 Brandon Webb RHP .000 0 0
(NO RECORD) (NO RECORD)</div>

 

NL: CHICAGO CUBS at ARIZONA

<div class="pre">NL AT ARIZONA
WARMUPS: CHN - CARLOS ZAMBRANO (NO RECORD)
ARI - BRANDON WEBB (NO RECORD)

UMPIRES: HP - ED MONTAGUE
1B - SAM HOLBROOK
2B - GREG GIBSON
3B - MIKE EVERITT
LF - MIKE REILLY
RF - MARK CARLSON

WEATHER: 95 Degrees, clear
WIND: 5 mph, out to center</div>

 

NL: CHICAGO CUBS at ARIZONA

<div class="pre">NL AT ARIZONA
STARTING BATS: CHN - CARLOS ZAMBRANO AND GEOVANY SOTO
ARI - BRANDON WEBB AND CHRIS SNYDER

DUE UP FOR CHICAGO CUBS: A SORIANO (.000, 0 HR, 0 RBI)
J JONES (.000, 0 HR, 0 RBI)
D LEE (.000, 0 HR, 0 RBI)</div>

 

NL: CHICAGO CUBS at ARIZONA

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: CHN - CARLOS ZAMBRANO
ARI - BRANDON WEBB

DUE UP FOR ARIZONA: C YOUNG (.000, 0 HR, 0 RBI)
S DREW (.000, 0 HR, 0 RBI)
E BYRNES (.000, 0 HR, 0 RBI)</div>

 

NL: CHICAGO CUBS at ARIZONA

<div class="pre">CHICAGO CUBS (0) VS ARIZONA (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 .000
J Jones cf 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .000
D Lee 1b 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .000
A Ramirez 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .000
C Floyd rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
M DeRosa 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
G Soto c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
R Theriot ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
C Zambrano p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000

Totals 3 0 0 0 1 1 2

BATTING: Team LOB - 1.


ARIZONA ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
C Young cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
S Drew ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
E Byrnes lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
T Clark 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
M Reynolds 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
J Salazar rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
C Snyder c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
A Ojeda 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
B Webb p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000

Totals 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

BATTING: Team LOB - 0.


----------------------------------------------------
CHICAGO CUBS - 0 -- 0
ARIZONA - -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

CHICAGO CUBS ip h r er bb so hr era
C Zambrano 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 ###

ARIZONA ip h r er bb so hr era
B Webb 1 0 0 0 1 1 0 0.00

Pitches-strikes: B Webb 12-7. Ground balls-fly balls: B Webb 2-0. Batters
faced: B Webb 4.

UMPIRES: HP--Ed Montague. 1B--Sam Holbrook. 2B--Greg Gibson. 3B--Mike
Everitt. LF--Mike Reilly. RF--Mark Carlson.

Weather: 95 degrees, clear. Wind: 5 mph, out to center.</div>

 

NL: CHICAGO CUBS at ARIZONA

<div class="pre">NL AT ARIZONA
CONFIRMED STARTERS: CHN - CARLOS ZAMBRANO
ARI - BRANDON WEBB</div>

 

NL: CHICAGO CUBS at ARIZONA

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: CHN - CARLOS ZAMBRANO
ARI - BRANDON WEBB

DUE UP FOR CHICAGO CUBS: C FLOYD (.000, 0 HR, 0 RBI)
M DEROSA (.000, 0 HR, 0 RBI)
G SOTO (.000, 0 HR, 0 RBI)</div>

 

NL: CHICAGO CUBS at ARIZONA

<div class="pre">CHICAGO CUBS (0) VS ARIZONA (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 .000
J Jones cf 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .000
D Lee 1b 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .000
A Ramirez 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .000
C Floyd rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
M DeRosa 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
G Soto c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
R Theriot ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
C Zambrano p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000

Totals 3 0 0 0 1 1 2

BATTING: Team LOB - 1.


ARIZONA ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
C Young cf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 1.000
S Drew ss 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .000
E Byrnes lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
T Clark 1b 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .000
M Reynolds 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
J Salazar rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
C Snyder c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
A Ojeda 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
B Webb p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000

Totals 4 0 1 0 0 2 2

BATTING: Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - T Clark 1. Team LOB - 1.

BASERUNNING: SB - C Young (1, 2nd base off C Zambrano/G Soto).


----------------------------------------------------
CHICAGO CUBS - 0 -- 0
ARIZONA - 0 -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

CHICAGO CUBS ip h r er bb so hr era
C Zambrano 1 1 0 0 0 2 0 0.00

ARIZONA ip h r er bb so hr era
B Webb 1 0 0 0 1 1 0 0.00

Pitches-strikes: C Zambrano 17-10; B Webb 12-7. Ground balls-fly balls: C
Zambrano 1-0; B Webb 2-0. Batters faced: C Zambrano 4; B Webb 4.

UMPIRES: HP--Ed Montague. 1B--Sam Holbrook. 2B--Greg Gibson. 3B--Mike
Everitt. LF--Mike Reilly. RF--Mark Carlson.

Weather: 91 degrees, clear. Wind: 5 mph, out to center.</div>

 

NL: CHICAGO CUBS at ARIZONA

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: CHN - CARLOS ZAMBRANO
ARI - BRANDON WEBB

DUE UP FOR ARIZONA: M REYNOLDS (.000, 0 HR, 0 RBI)
J SALAZAR (.000, 0 HR, 0 RBI)
C SNYDER (.000, 0 HR, 0 RBI)</div>

 

NL: CHICAGO CUBS at ARIZONA

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

CHICAGO CUBS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
A Soriano lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
J Jones cf 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .000
D Lee 1b 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .000
A Ramirez 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .000
C Floyd rf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .000
M DeRosa 2b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 1.000
G Soto c 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
R Theriot ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .000
C Zambrano p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000

Totals 7 0 1 0 1 2 3

BATTING: Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - R Theriot 1. Team LOB - 2.



ARIZONA ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
C Young cf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 1.000
S Drew ss 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .000
E Byrnes lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
T Clark 1b 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .000
M Reynolds 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
J Salazar rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
C Snyder c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
A Ojeda 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
B Webb p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000

Totals 4 0 1 0 0 2 2

BATTING: Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - T Clark 1. Team LOB - 1.

BASERUNNING: SB - C Young (1, 2nd base off C Zambrano/G Soto).


----------------------------------------------------
CHICAGO CUBS - 00 -- 0
ARIZONA - 0 -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

CHICAGO CUBS ip h r er bb so hr era
C Zambrano 1 1 0 0 0 2 0 0.00

ARIZONA ip h r er bb so hr era
B Webb 2 1 0 0 1 2 0 0.00

Pitches-strikes: C Zambrano 17-10; B Webb 24-15. Ground balls-fly balls: C
Zambrano 1-0; B Webb 4-0. Batters faced: C Zambrano 4; B Webb 8.

UMPIRES: HP--Ed Montague. 1B--Sam Holbrook. 2B--Greg Gibson. 3B--Mike
Everitt. LF--Mike Reilly. RF--Mark Carlson.

Weather: 91 degrees, clear. Wind: 5 mph, out to center.</div>

 

NL: CHICAGO CUBS at ARIZONA

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: CHN - CARLOS ZAMBRANO
ARI - BRANDON WEBB

DUE UP FOR CHICAGO CUBS: C ZAMBRANO (.000, 0 HR, 0 RBI)
A SORIANO (.000, 0-FOR-1)
J JONES (.000, 0-FOR-0, BB)</div>

 

NL: CHICAGO CUBS at ARIZONA

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

CHICAGO CUBS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
A Soriano lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
J Jones cf 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .000
D Lee 1b 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .000
A Ramirez 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .000
C Floyd rf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .000
M DeRosa 2b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 1.000
G Soto c 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
R Theriot ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .000
C Zambrano p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000

Totals 7 0 1 0 1 2 3

BATTING: Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - R Theriot 1. Team LOB - 2.


FIELDING: DP: 1 (R Theriot-M DeRosa-D Lee).


ARIZONA ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
C Young cf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 1.000
S Drew ss 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .000
E Byrnes lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
T Clark 1b 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .000
M Reynolds 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
J Salazar rf 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .000
C Snyder c 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .000
A Ojeda 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
B Webb p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000

Totals 6 0 1 0 1 2 3

BATTING: Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - T Clark 1. GIDP - C Snyder.
Team LOB - 1.

BASERUNNING: SB - C Young (1, 2nd base off C Zambrano/G Soto).


----------------------------------------------------
CHICAGO CUBS - 00 -- 0
ARIZONA - 00 -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

CHICAGO CUBS ip h r er bb so hr era
C Zambrano 2 1 0 0 1 2 0 0.00

ARIZONA ip h r er bb so hr era
B Webb 2 1 0 0 1 2 0 0.00

Pitches-strikes: C Zambrano 28-15; B Webb 24-15. Ground balls-fly balls: C
Zambrano 4-0; B Webb 4-0. Batters faced: C Zambrano 7; B Webb 8.

UMPIRES: HP--Ed Montague. 1B--Sam Holbrook. 2B--Greg Gibson. 3B--Mike
Everitt. LF--Mike Reilly. RF--Mark Carlson.

Weather: 91 degrees, clear. Wind: 5 mph, out to center.</div>