GAME THREAD: NL: FLORIDA (24-27) at CHICAGO CUBS (22-27)

NL: FLORIDA at CHICAGO CUBS

<div class="pre">NL AT CHICAGO CUBS - MID INNING UPDATE
PLAY: L Gardner relieved J Miller.
SITUATION: 0 RUNS IN, NONE ON, 0 OUTS
CURRENT SCORE: FLORIDA 9
CHICAGO CUBS 4 BOTTOM, 9TH

DUE UP FOR CHICAGO CUBS: M Barrett (.246, 1-FOR-3)</div>

 

NL: FLORIDA at CHICAGO CUBS

<div class="pre">NL AT CHICAGO CUBS - MID INNING UPDATE
PLAY: C Floyd hit for B Howry.
SITUATION: 0 RUNS IN, A SORIANO ON FIRST, R THERIOT ON SECOND, A
PAGAN ON THIRD, 1 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: FLORIDA 9
CHICAGO CUBS 4 BOTTOM, 9TH

DUE UP FOR CHICAGO CUBS: C Floyd (.293, 2 HR, 20 RBI)</div>

 

NL: FLORIDA at CHICAGO CUBS

<div class="pre">NL AT CHICAGO CUBS - PITCHING CHANGE
FLA: KEVIN GREGG (0-2, 2.03) IN THE 9TH
SITUATION: NO RUNS IN, A SORIANO ON FIRST, R THERIOT ON SECOND, A
PAGAN ON THIRD, 1 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: FLORIDA 9, CHICAGO CUBS 4

DUE UP FOR CHCUBS: C FLOYD (.293, 2 HR, 20 RBI)</div>

 

NL: FLORIDA at CHICAGO CUBS

<div class="pre">NL AT CHICAGO CUBS - MID INNING UPDATE
PLAY: K Gregg relieved L Gardner.
SITUATION: 0 RUNS IN, A SORIANO ON FIRST, R THERIOT ON SECOND, A
PAGAN ON THIRD, 1 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: FLORIDA 9
CHICAGO CUBS 4 BOTTOM, 9TH

DUE UP FOR CHICAGO CUBS: C Floyd (.293, 0-FOR-0)</div>

 

NL: FLORIDA at CHICAGO CUBS

<div class="pre">NL FINAL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
FLORIDA 0 0 0 2 3 0 0 4 0 9 13 2
CHICAGO CUBS 1 0 1 0 0 0 2 0 0 4 8 1 (FINAL)

BATTERIES: FLA - DONTRELLE WILLIS, JUSTIN MILLER (8TH), LEE GARDNER (9TH),
KEVIN GREGG (9TH) AND MIGUEL OLIVO

CHN - JASON MARQUIS, CARLOS MARMOL (6TH), MIKE WUERTZ
(8TH), BOBBY HOWRY (9TH) AND MICHAEL BARRETT

HOME RUNS: FLA - JEREMY HERMIDA (3) OFF JASON MARQUIS IN THE 5TH, 2 ON

CHN - DERREK LEE (4) OFF DONTRELLE WILLIS IN THE 1ST, 0 ON
RYAN THERIOT (1) OFF DONTRELLE WILLIS IN THE 7TH, 1 ON</div>

 

NL: FLORIDA at CHICAGO CUBS

<div class="pre">NL FINAL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
FLORIDA 0 0 0 2 3 0 0 4 0 9 13 2
CHICAGO CUBS 1 0 1 0 0 0 2 0 0 4 8 1 (FINAL)

BATTERIES: FLA - DONTRELLE WILLIS, JUSTIN MILLER (8TH), LEE GARDNER (9TH),
KEVIN GREGG (9TH) AND MIGUEL OLIVO

CHN - JASON MARQUIS, CARLOS MARMOL (6TH), MIKE WUERTZ
(8TH), BOBBY HOWRY (9TH) AND MICHAEL BARRETT


WP - DONTRELLE WILLIS (7-3)
LP - JASON MARQUIS (5-2)
SAVE - KEVIN GREGG (6)

HOME RUNS: FLA - JEREMY HERMIDA (3) OFF JASON MARQUIS IN THE 5TH, 2 ON

CHN - DERREK LEE (4) OFF DONTRELLE WILLIS IN THE 1ST, 0 ON
RYAN THERIOT (1) OFF DONTRELLE WILLIS IN THE 7TH, 1 ON


TIME: 3:04 ATT: 39,788

PROBABLES: FLA - SERGIO MITRE (2-2, 1.89)
CHN - TED LILLY (4-2, 3.20)</div>

 

NL: FLORIDA at CHICAGO CUBS

<div class="pre">FLORIDA (9) VS CHICAGO CUBS (4) - FINAL

FLORIDA ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
A Amezaga cf 5 1 1 0 1 0 4 .245
D Uggla 2b 4 1 2 0 1 0 3 .261
H Ramirez ss 5 2 1 1 0 1 3 .317
M Cabrera 3b 5 1 2 0 0 3 5 .323
J Willingham lf 4 1 2 3 1 1 2 .277
J Hermida rf 5 2 2 3 0 2 3 .255
M Olivo c 4 0 0 1 0 2 3 .237
A Boone 1b 3 0 1 0 2 0 2 .267
D Willis p 3 0 2 1 0 0 0 .227
a-J Borchard ph 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 .197
J Miller p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
b-T Linden ph 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .188
L Gardner p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
K Gregg p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000

Totals 39 9 13 9 6 10 26

a-walked for D Willis in the 8th; b-struck out swinging for J Miller in the
9th.

BATTING: 2B - J Willingham 2 (14, J Marquis, M Wuertz). HR - J Hermida (3, 5th
inning off J Marquis 2 on, 1 Out). SF - M Olivo. RBI - M Olivo (24), D Willis
(1), J Hermida 3 (11), H Ramirez (13), J Willingham 3 (35). 2-out RBI - D
Willis, J Willingham 3. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - A Boone 2, M
Cabrera 1, D Uggla 2, J Hermida 1. GIDP - A Amezaga. Team LOB - 10.

BASERUNNING: SB - J Hermida (1, 2nd base off J Marquis/M Barrett), A Boone
(1, 2nd base off M Wuertz/M Barrett).

FIELDING: E - J Hermida (1, line drive); H Ramirez (10, ground ball).


CHICAGO CUBS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
A Soriano lf 5 1 2 0 0 0 0 .296
C Izturis ss 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 .258
M Wuertz p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
B Howry p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
b-C Floyd ph 1 0 0 0 0 1 3 .290
D Lee 1b 5 1 2 2 0 2 3 .354
A Ramirez 3b 4 0 0 0 0 1 1 .290
M Murton rf 3 0 0 0 1 0 0 .279
M DeRosa 2b 4 0 2 0 0 0 1 .255
M Barrett c 4 1 1 0 0 0 1 .244
A Pagan cf 2 0 0 0 2 1 3 .286
J Marquis p 2 0 0 0 0 1 2 .207
C Marmol p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
a-R Theriot ph-ss 2 1 1 2 0 0 0 .281

Totals 36 4 8 4 3 6 14

a-homered to center for C Marmol in the 7th; b-struck out swinging for B Howry
in the 9th.

BATTING: 2B - M DeRosa (10, D Willis); A Soriano (16, D Willis); D Lee (20, D
Willis); M Barrett (8, D Willis). HR - D Lee (4, 1st inning off D Willis 0 on,
2 Out), R Theriot (1, 7th inning off D Willis 1 on, 1 Out). RBI - D Lee 2 (30),
R Theriot 2 (18). 2-out RBI - D Lee 2. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out
- D Lee 2, A Ramirez 1, J Marquis 1. Team LOB - 8.

BASERUNNING: Picked Off - M Barrett (2nd base, M Olivo).

FIELDING: E - A Ramirez (3, throw). DP: 1 (M DeRosa-C Izturis-D Lee).


----------------------------------------------------
FLORIDA - 000 230 040 -- 9
CHICAGO CUBS - 101 000 200 -- 4
----------------------------------------------------

FLORIDA ip h r er bb so hr era
D Willis (W, 7-3) 7 7 4 4 1 2 2 4.83
J Miller 1 0 0 0 1 2 0 1.59
L Gardner 1/3 1 0 0 1 0 0 3.71
K Gregg (S, 6) 2/3 0 0 0 0 2 0 1.99

CHICAGO CUBS ip h r er bb so hr era
J Marquis (L, 5-2) 5 8 5 4 3 3 1 2.93
C Marmol 2 1 0 0 1 4 0 0.00
M Wuertz 1 3 4 4 2 2 0 3.13
B Howry 1 1 0 0 0 1 0 5.11

Pitches-strikes: D Willis 102-58; J Miller 24-14; L Gardner 20-11; K Gregg
7-6; J Marquis 101-63; C Marmol 42-27; M Wuertz 27-16; B Howry 18-14. Ground
balls-fly balls: D Willis 13-5; J Miller 0-1; L Gardner 1-0; K Gregg 0-0; J
Marquis 7-5; C Marmol 1-1; M Wuertz 1-0; B Howry 1-1. Batters faced: D Willis
29; J Miller 4; L Gardner 4; K Gregg 2; J Marquis 26; C Marmol 8; M Wuertz 8; B
Howry 4.

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

T--3:04. Att--39,788.
Weather: 76 degrees, cloudy. Wind: 9 mph, right to
left.</div>

 

NL: FLORIDA at CHICAGO CUBS

<div class="pre">** CONFIRMED **
NL
FLORIDA 9
CHICAGO CUBS 4 FINAL</div>

 

NL: FLORIDA at CHICAGO CUBS

<div class="pre">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
FLORIDA (9) AT CHICAGO CUBS (4) - HOW THEY SCORED
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

CHICAGO CUBS 1ST: A Soriano grounded out to third. C Izturis grounded out
to third. D Lee homered to left. A Ramirez grounded out to second. (1 Run,
1 Hit, 0 Errors) FLORIDA 0, CHICAGO CUBS 1.

CHICAGO CUBS 3RD: J Marquis grounded out to second. A Soriano doubled to
left. C Izturis grounded out to second, A Soriano to third. D Lee hit a
ground rule double to right, A Soriano scored. A Ramirez flied out to right.
(1 Run, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) FLORIDA 0, CHICAGO CUBS 2.

FLORIDA 4TH: M Cabrera struck out swinging. J Willingham walked.
J Hermida singled to shallow right, J Willingham to third. M Olivo hit sacrifice
fly to center, J Willingham scored. J Hermida stole second. A Boone walked.
D Willis singled to right, J Hermida scored, A Boone to third. A Amezaga walked,
D Willis to second. D Uggla lined out to left. (2 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors)
FLORIDA 2, CHICAGO CUBS 2.

FLORIDA 5TH: H Ramirez safe at second on throwing error by third baseman
A Ramirez. M Cabrera singled to center, H Ramirez to third. J Willingham popped
out to third. J Hermida homered to right, H Ramirez and M Cabrera scored.
M Olivo grounded out to third. A Boone flied out to left. (3 Runs, 2 Hits,
1 Error) FLORIDA 5, CHICAGO CUBS 2.

CHICAGO CUBS 7TH: M Barrett doubled to left. A Pagan flied out to right.
R Theriot hit for C Marmol. R Theriot homered to center, M Barrett scored.
A Soriano grounded out to second. C Izturis grounded out to second. (2 Runs,
2 Hits, 0 Errors) FLORIDA 5, CHICAGO CUBS 4.

FLORIDA 8TH: M Wuertz relieved C Marmol. R Theriot at shortstop. A Boone
walked. J Borchard hit for D Willis. A Boone stole second. J Borchard walked.
A Amezaga bunted into fielder's choice to first, A Boone out at third,
J Borchard to second. D Uggla singled to left, J Borchard to third, A Amezaga
to second. H Ramirez singled to left, J Borchard scored, A Amezaga to third,
D Uggla to second. M Cabrera struck out swinging. J Willingham doubled to deep
center, A Amezaga, D Uggla and H Ramirez scored. J Hermida struck out looking.
(4 Runs, 3 Hits, 0 Errors) FLORIDA 9, CHICAGO CUBS 4.</div>

 

NL: FLORIDA at CHICAGO CUBS

<div class="pre">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
FLORIDA (9) AT CHICAGO CUBS (4) - EVENT LOG
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Florida Starting Lineups -- A Amezaga CF, D Uggla 2B, H Ramirez SS,
M Cabrera 3B, J Willingham LF, J Hermida RF, M Olivo C, A Boone 1B,
D Willis LHP.

Chicago Cubs Starting Lineups -- A Soriano LF, C Izturis SS, D Lee 1B,
A Ramirez 3B, M Murton RF, M DeRosa 2B, M Barrett C, A Pagan CF, J Marquis RHP.

Umpires -- Tim Welke (HP), Jim Reynolds (1B), Gary Cederstrom (2B),
Lance Barksdale (3B).

Gametime Weather: 76 degrees, Cloudy, wind right to left at 9 mph.


FLORIDA 1ST: A Amezaga grounded out to shortstop. D Uggla flied out to
right. H Ramirez grounded out to third. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) FLORIDA 0,
CHICAGO CUBS 0.

CHICAGO CUBS 1ST: A Soriano grounded out to third. C Izturis grounded out
to third. D Lee homered to left. A Ramirez grounded out to second. (1 Run,
1 Hit, 0 Errors) FLORIDA 0, CHICAGO CUBS 1.

FLORIDA 2ND: M Cabrera singled to center. J Willingham doubled to deep
center, M Cabrera to third. J Hermida struck out looking. M Olivo struck out
swinging. A Boone grounded out to third. (0 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors)
FLORIDA 0, CHICAGO CUBS 1.

CHICAGO CUBS 2ND: M Murton grounded out to third. M DeRosa hit a ground
rule double to left. M Barrett grounded into fielder's choice to shortstop,
M DeRosa out at third. A Pagan walked, M Barrett to second. M Barrett picked
off second.(0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) FLORIDA 0, CHICAGO CUBS 1.

FLORIDA 3RD: D Willis singled to center. A Amezaga grounded into double
play, second to shortstop to first, D Willis out at second. D Uggla singled to
center. H Ramirez grounded out to second. (0 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors)
FLORIDA 0, CHICAGO CUBS 1.

CHICAGO CUBS 3RD: J Marquis grounded out to second. A Soriano doubled to
left. C Izturis grounded out to second, A Soriano to third. D Lee hit a
ground rule double to right, A Soriano scored. A Ramirez flied out to right.
(1 Run, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) FLORIDA 0, CHICAGO CUBS 2.

FLORIDA 4TH: M Cabrera struck out swinging. J Willingham walked.
J Hermida singled to shallow right, J Willingham to third. M Olivo hit s
acrifice fly to center, J Willingham scored. J Hermida stole second. A Boone
walked. D Willis singled to right, J Hermida scored, A Boone to third.
A Amezaga walked, D Willis to second. D Uggla lined out to left. (2 Runs,
2 Hits, 0 Errors) FLORIDA 2, CHICAGO CUBS 2.

CHICAGO CUBS 4TH: M Murton grounded out to shortstop. M DeRosa singled to
center. M Barrett safe at first on error by right fielder J Hermida, M DeRosa
to second. A Pagan struck out looking. J Marquis struck out swinging.
(0 Runs, 1 Hit, 1 Error) FLORIDA 2, CHICAGO CUBS 2.

FLORIDA 5TH: H Ramirez safe at second on throwing error by third baseman
A Ramirez. M Cabrera singled to center, H Ramirez to third. J Willingham popped
out to third. J Hermida homered to right, H Ramirez and M Cabrera scored.
M Olivo grounded out to third. A Boone flied out to left. (3 Runs, 2 Hits,
1 Error) FLORIDA 5, CHICAGO CUBS 2.

CHICAGO CUBS 5TH: A Soriano lined out to right. C Izturis lined out to
center. D Lee grounded out to third. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) FLORIDA 5,
CHICAGO CUBS 2.

FLORIDA 6TH: C Marmol relieved J Marquis. D Willis flied out to left.
A Amezaga singled to right. D Uggla walked, A Amezaga to second. H Ramirez
struck out looking. M Cabrera struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors)
FLORIDA 5, CHICAGO CUBS 2.

CHICAGO CUBS 6TH: A Ramirez grounded out to pitcher. M Murton flied out to
right. M DeRosa grounded out to shortstop. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors)
FLORIDA 5, CHICAGO CUBS 2.

FLORIDA 7TH: J Willingham struck out looking. J Hermida grounded out to
second. M Olivo struck out looking. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) FLORIDA 5,
CHICAGO CUBS 2.

CHICAGO CUBS 7TH: M Barrett doubled to left. A Pagan flied out to right.
R Theriot hit for C Marmol. R Theriot homered to center, M Barrett scored.
A Soriano grounded out to second. C Izturis grounded out to second. (2 Runs,
2 Hits, 0 Errors) FLORIDA 5, CHICAGO CUBS 4.

FLORIDA 8TH: M Wuertz relieved C Marmol. R Theriot at shortstop. A Boone
walked. J Borchard hit for D Willis. A Boone stole second. J Borchard walked.
A Amezaga bunted into fielder's choice to first, A Boone out at third,
J Borchard to second. D Uggla singled to left, J Borchard to third, A Amezaga
to second. H Ramirez singled to left, J Borchard scored, A Amezaga to third,
D Uggla to second. M Cabrera struck out swinging. J Willingham doubled to deep
center, A Amezaga, D Uggla and H Ramirez scored. J Hermida struck out looking.
(4 Runs, 3 Hits, 0 Errors) FLORIDA 9, CHICAGO CUBS 4.

CHICAGO CUBS 8TH: J Miller relieved D Willis. D Lee struck out swinging.
A Ramirez struck out swinging. M Murton walked. M DeRosa popped out to second.
(0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) FLORIDA 9, CHICAGO CUBS 4.

FLORIDA 9TH: B Howry relieved M Wuertz. M Olivo flied out to right.
A Boone singled to left. T Linden hit for J Miller. T Linden struck out
swinging. A Amezaga grounded out to third. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors)
FLORIDA 9, CHICAGO CUBS 4.

CHICAGO CUBS 9TH: L Gardner relieved J Miller. M Barrett grounded out to
third. A Pagan walked. R Theriot safe at first on error by shortstop
H Ramirez, A Pagan to second. A Soriano singled to right, A Pagan to third,
R Theriot to second. C Floyd hit for B Howry. K Gregg relieved L Gardner.
C Floyd struck out swinging. D Lee struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 1 Error)
FLORIDA 9, CHICAGO CUBS 4.</div>

 

Cubs' struggles continue with loss to Marlins

<h3>FLORIDA 9, CHICAGO CUBS 4</h3>CHICAGO (Ticker) -- Dontrelle Willis and the Florida Marlinshave started to really enjoy life on the road.

Willis went seven innings to lead the Marlins to their fifthstraight road win, a 9-4 triumph over the struggling ChicagoCubs.

Willis (7-3) allowed four runs and seven hits in seven inningsto improve to 5-1 in six road starts this season. A former Cubsprospect, Willis is 3-1 in six starts at Wrigley Field.

Derrek Lee got to Willis early with a solo home run in the firstand an RBI ground-rule double in the third to give the Cubs a2-0 lead.

The Marlins picked Willis up with two runs in the fourth andthree more in the fifth to take the lead. Miguel Olivo drove ina run with a sacrifice fly and Willis added an RBI single inthe fourth.

Jeremy Hermida gave Florida the lead with a three-run homer inthe fifth off of Chicago starter Jason Marquis.

Leading, 5-4 in the eighth, Florida gave itself some breathingroom with a four-run outburst. Hanley Ramirez drove in a runwith a single and Josh Willingham added a three-run double inthe frame to make it 9-4.

It looked like the Marlins would need the extra runs as the Cubsloaded the bases in the ninth. Kevin Gregg came on and endedany hopes of a comeback by striking out pinch hitter Cliff Floydand Lee to end the game for his sixth save.

Marquis (5-2) had won his last five decisions but picked up theloss after allowing five runs and eight hits in five innings.He last lost on April 10 and failed for the fouth consecutivestart to pick up his sixth win.

The Cubs have lost seven of their last nine and 13 of 19.

 

Cubs' struggles continue with loss to Marlins

<h3>FLORIDA 9, CHICAGO CUBS 4</h3>CHICAGO (Ticker) -- Dontrelle Willis and the Florida Marlinshave started to really enjoy life on the road.

Willis went seven innings to lead the Marlins to their fifthstraight road win, a 9-4 triumph over the struggling ChicagoCubs.

Willis (7-3) allowed four runs and seven hits in seven inningsto improve to 5-1 in six road starts this season. A former Cubsprospect, Willis is 3-1 in six starts at Wrigley Field.

"I think we get up for a challenge and this series has turnedinto a rivalry since 2003 (NLCS Playoffs)," Willis said. "Thispark has turned into a hostile environment. We enjoy theopportunity of trying to go out there and match theirintensity."

Derrek Lee got to Willis early with a solo home run in the firstand an RBI ground-rule double in the third to give the Cubs a2-0 lead.

"When you hit a home run and your team loses it's an emptyfeeling," Lee said. "I don't take much pride in that."

The Marlins picked Willis up with two runs in the fourth andthree more in the fifth to take the lead. Miguel Olivo drove ina run with a sacrifice fly and Willis added an RBI single inthe fourth.

"It helps when I can turnover the lineup and get our leadoffguys back up there," Willis said.

Jeremy Hermida gave Florida the lead with a three-run homer inthe fifth off of Chicago starter Jason Marquis.

"Marquis made some good pitches on me in my first two at-bats,"Hermida said. "My third time up he left one out over the plateon 3-2 and I was able to get the barrel on it."

Leading, 5-4 in the eighth, Florida gave itself some breathingroom with a four-run outburst. Hanley Ramirez drove in a runwith a single and Josh Willingham added a three-run double inthe frame to make it 9-4.

"The bases loaded double by the Hammer (Willingham) was big,"Marlins manager Fredi Gonzalez said. "We just pecked away thatinning, it was a pretty good effort."

It looked like the Marlins would need the extra runs as the Cubsloaded the bases in the ninth. Kevin Gregg came on and endedany hopes of a comeback by striking out pinch hitter Cliff Floydand Lee to end the game for his sixth save.

"Floyd and Lee are two of the best hitters in the game rightnow," Gregg said. "I'm just glad I could throw some fastballs bythem." Marquis (5-2) had won his last five decisions but pickedup the loss after allowing five runs and eight hits in fiveinnings. He last lost on April 10 and failed for the fouthconsecutive start to pick up his sixth win.

"I didn't locate when I needed to in key situations," Marquissaid. "I was putting myself behind the eight ball all night." TheCubs have lost seven of their last nine and 13 of 19.

"This is probably the worst game we have played all year," saidfrustrated Cubs manager Lou Piniella.