GAME THREAD: NL: CHICAGO CUBS (51-46) at ST LOUIS (45-50)

NL: CHICAGO CUBS (51-46) at ST LOUIS (45-50)

<h3>Red-hot Zambrano goes against division foes</h3>

Chicago Cubs (51-46) at St Louis (45-50) 8:10 pm EDT

ST. LOUIS (Ticker) -- Carlos Zambrano will look to continue hisrecent success when the Chicago Cubs square off against the St.Louis Cardinals on Tuesday in the opener of a three-game series.

Zambrano (12-7, 3.69 ERA) is 7-2 with a 1.43 ERA and 64strikeouts in 63 innings over his last nine starts.

The 26-year-old Venezuelan pitched five scoreless innings,yielding just two hits and two walks with three strikeouts in a12-1 triumph over the San Francisco Giants on Wednesday.

Zambrano has not surrendered a run over his last 16 inningspitched.


He will be opposed by Kip Wells (4-12, 5.75), who is coming offhis best start of the season.


The 30-year-old righthander pitched eight scoreless innings,allowing just two hits and two walks with four strikeouts in a6-0 victory over the Florida Marlins last Wednesday.

This starts an important stretch for the Cardinals, who play thetwo teams they trail in their quest for the National LeagueCentral division title, the Cubs and the Milwaukee Brewers, overtheir next seven games.

 

NL: CHICAGO CUBS at ST LOUIS

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

CHICAGO CUBS ST LOUIS
AVG HR RBI AVG HR RBI
Alfonso Soriano LF .299 16 37 Adam Kennedy 2B .223 2 17
Ryan Theriot SS .277 2 26 Skip Schumaker RF .315 2 8
Derrek Lee 1B .337 8 48 Albert Pujols 1B .322 22 60
Aramis Ramirez 3B .314 16 64 Chris Duncan LF .294 19 55
Cliff Floyd RF .291 4 31 Jim Edmonds CF .235 7 24
Mark Derosa 2B .285 7 50 Scott Rolen 3B .264 5 42
Jacque Jones CF .245 2 26 Aaron Miles SS .272 0 16
Jason Kendall C .091 0 0 Yadier Molina C .249 1 15
Carlos Zambrano RHP .250 2 5 Kip Wells RHP .273 1 2
(12-7, 3.69) (4-12, 5.75)</div>

 

NL: CHICAGO CUBS at ST LOUIS

<div class="pre">NL AT ST LOUIS
WARMUPS: CHN - CARLOS ZAMBRANO (12-7, 3.69)
STL - KIP WELLS (4-12, 5.75)

UMPIRES: HP - LARRY PONCINO
1B - BRUCE DRECKMAN
2B - JERRY MEALS
3B - GARY DARLING

WEATHER: 83 Degrees, clear
WIND: 7 mph, in from right</div>

 

NL: CHICAGO CUBS at ST LOUIS

<div class="pre">NL AT ST LOUIS -- REVISED WARMUPS
WARMUPS: CHN - CARLOS ZAMBRANO (12-7, 3.69)
STL - KIP WELLS (4-12, 5.75)

UMPIRES: HP - LARRY PONCINO
1B - JERRY MEALS
2B - SCOTT BARRY
3B - GARY DARLING

WEATHER: 83 Degrees, clear
WIND: 7 mph, in from right</div>

 

NL: CHICAGO CUBS at ST LOUIS

<div class="pre">NL AT ST LOUIS
STARTING BATS: CHN - CARLOS ZAMBRANO AND JASON KENDALL
STL - KIP WELLS AND YADIER MOLINA

DUE UP FOR CHICAGO CUBS: A SORIANO (.299, 16 HR, 37 RBI)
R THERIOT (.277, 2 HR, 26 RBI)
D LEE (.337, 8 HR, 48 RBI)</div>

 

NL: CHICAGO CUBS at ST LOUIS

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: CHN - CARLOS ZAMBRANO
STL - KIP WELLS

DUE UP FOR ST LOUIS: A KENNEDY (.223, 2 HR, 17 RBI)
S SCHUMAKER (.315, 2 HR, 8 RBI)
A PUJOLS (.322, 22 HR, 60 RBI)</div>

 

NL: CHICAGO CUBS at ST LOUIS

<div class="pre">CHICAGO CUBS (0) VS ST LOUIS (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 .298
R Theriot ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .276
D Lee 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .336
A Ramirez 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .314
C Floyd rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .291
M DeRosa 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .285
J Jones cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .245
J Kendall c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .091
C Zambrano p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .250

Totals 3 0 0 0 0 0 0

BATTING: Team LOB - 0.


ST LOUIS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
A Kennedy 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .223
S Schumaker rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .315
A Pujols 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .322
C Duncan lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .294
J Edmonds cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .235
S Rolen 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .264
A Miles ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .272
Y Molina c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .249
K Wells p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .273

Totals 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

BATTING: Team LOB - 0.


----------------------------------------------------
CHICAGO CUBS - 0 -- 0
ST LOUIS - -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

CHICAGO CUBS ip h r er bb so hr era
C Zambrano 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3.69

ST LOUIS ip h r er bb so hr era
K Wells 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 5.70

Pitches-strikes: K Wells 5-5. Ground balls-fly balls: K Wells 1-2. Batters
faced: K Wells 3.

UMPIRES: HP--Larry Poncino. 1B--Jerry Meals. 2B--Scott Barry. 3B--Gary
Darling.

Weather: 82 degrees, clear. Wind: 7 mph, in from right.</div>

 

NL: CHICAGO CUBS at ST LOUIS

<div class="pre">NL AT ST LOUIS
CONFIRMED STARTERS: CHN - CARLOS ZAMBRANO
STL - KIP WELLS</div>

 

NL: CHICAGO CUBS at ST LOUIS

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: CHN - CARLOS ZAMBRANO
STL - KIP WELLS

DUE UP FOR CHICAGO CUBS: A RAMIREZ (.314, 16 HR, 64 RBI)
C FLOYD (.291, 4 HR, 31 RBI)
M DEROSA (.285, 7 HR, 50 RBI)</div>

 

NL: CHICAGO CUBS at ST LOUIS

<div class="pre">CHICAGO CUBS (0) VS ST LOUIS (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 .298
R Theriot ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .276
D Lee 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .336
A Ramirez 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .314
C Floyd rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .291
M DeRosa 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .285
J Jones cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .245
J Kendall c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .091
C Zambrano p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .250

Totals 3 0 0 0 0 0 0

BATTING: Team LOB - 0.


ST LOUIS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
A Kennedy 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .222
S Schumaker rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .311
A Pujols 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .321
C Duncan lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .294
J Edmonds cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .235
S Rolen 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .264
A Miles ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .272
Y Molina c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .249
K Wells p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .273

Totals 3 0 0 0 0 0 0

BATTING: Team LOB - 0.


----------------------------------------------------
CHICAGO CUBS - 0 -- 0
ST LOUIS - 0 -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

CHICAGO CUBS ip h r er bb so hr era
C Zambrano 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 3.66

ST LOUIS ip h r er bb so hr era
K Wells 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 5.70

Pitches-strikes: C Zambrano 14-8; K Wells 5-5. Ground balls-fly balls: C
Zambrano 2-1; K Wells 1-2. Batters faced: C Zambrano 3; K Wells 3.

UMPIRES: HP--Larry Poncino. 1B--Jerry Meals. 2B--Scott Barry. 3B--Gary
Darling.

Weather: 82 degrees, clear. Wind: 7 mph, in from right.</div>

 

NL: CHICAGO CUBS at ST LOUIS

<div class="pre">NL AT ST LOUIS - SCORING UPDATE
SINGLE BY JACQUE JONES SCORED CLIFF FLOYD.
SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, J JONES ON FIRST, 2 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: CHICAGO CUBS 1
ST LOUIS 0 TOP, 2ND

DUE UP FOR CHICAGO CUBS: J KENDALL (.091, 0 HR, 0 RBI)</div>

 

NL: CHICAGO CUBS at ST LOUIS

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: CHN - CARLOS ZAMBRANO
STL - KIP WELLS

DUE UP FOR ST LOUIS: C DUNCAN (.294, 19 HR, 55 RBI)
J EDMONDS (.235, 7 HR, 24 RBI)
S ROLEN (.264, 5 HR, 42 RBI)</div>

 

NL: CHICAGO CUBS at ST LOUIS

<div class="pre">CHICAGO CUBS (1) VS ST LOUIS (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 .298
R Theriot ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .276
D Lee 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .336
A Ramirez 3b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .316
C Floyd rf 1 1 0 0 0 0 1 .290
M DeRosa 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .284
J Jones cf 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 .248
J Kendall c 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .083
C Zambrano p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .250

Totals 8 1 2 1 0 0 2

BATTING: RBI - J Jones (27). 2-out RBI - J Jones. Team LOB - 1.


ST LOUIS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
A Kennedy 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .222
S Schumaker rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .311
A Pujols 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .321
C Duncan lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .294
J Edmonds cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .235
S Rolen 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .264
A Miles ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .272
Y Molina c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .249
K Wells p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .273

Totals 3 0 0 0 0 0 0

BATTING: Team LOB - 0.


----------------------------------------------------
CHICAGO CUBS - 01 -- 1
ST LOUIS - 0 -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

CHICAGO CUBS ip h r er bb so hr era
C Zambrano 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 3.66

ST LOUIS ip h r er bb so hr era
K Wells 2 2 1 1 0 0 0 5.73

Pitches-strikes: C Zambrano 14-8; K Wells 25-18. Ground balls-fly balls: C
Zambrano 2-1; K Wells 4-2. Batters faced: C Zambrano 3; K Wells 8.

UMPIRES: HP--Larry Poncino. 1B--Jerry Meals. 2B--Scott Barry. 3B--Gary
Darling.

Weather: 82 degrees, clear. Wind: 7 mph, in from right.</div>

 

NL: CHICAGO CUBS at ST LOUIS

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: CHN - CARLOS ZAMBRANO
STL - KIP WELLS

DUE UP FOR CHICAGO CUBS: C ZAMBRANO (.250, 2 HR, 5 RBI)
A SORIANO (.298, 0-FOR-1)
R THERIOT (.276, 0-FOR-1)</div>

 

NL: CHICAGO CUBS at ST LOUIS

<div class="pre">CHICAGO CUBS (1) VS ST LOUIS (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 .298
R Theriot ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .276
D Lee 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .336
A Ramirez 3b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .316
C Floyd rf 1 1 0 0 0 0 1 .290
M DeRosa 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .284
J Jones cf 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 .248
J Kendall c 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .083
C Zambrano p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .250

Totals 8 1 2 1 0 0 2

BATTING: RBI - J Jones (27). 2-out RBI - J Jones. Team LOB - 1.


ST LOUIS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
A Kennedy 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .222
S Schumaker rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .311
A Pujols 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .321
C Duncan lf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .293
J Edmonds cf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .234
S Rolen 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .263
A Miles ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .272
Y Molina c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .249
K Wells p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .273

Totals 6 0 0 0 0 2 0

BATTING: Team LOB - 0.


----------------------------------------------------
CHICAGO CUBS - 01 -- 1
ST LOUIS - 00 -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

CHICAGO CUBS ip h r er bb so hr era
C Zambrano 2 0 0 0 0 2 0 3.63

ST LOUIS ip h r er bb so hr era
K Wells 2 2 1 1 0 0 0 5.73

Pitches-strikes: C Zambrano 30-16; K Wells 25-18. Ground balls-fly balls: C
Zambrano 2-2; K Wells 4-2. Batters faced: C Zambrano 6; K Wells 8.

UMPIRES: HP--Larry Poncino. 1B--Jerry Meals. 2B--Scott Barry. 3B--Gary
Darling.

Weather: 82 degrees, clear. Wind: 7 mph, in from right.</div>

 

NL: CHICAGO CUBS at ST LOUIS

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: CHN - CARLOS ZAMBRANO
STL - KIP WELLS

DUE UP FOR ST LOUIS: A MILES (.272, 0 HR, 16 RBI)
Y MOLINA (.249, 1 HR, 15 RBI)
K WELLS (.273, 1 HR, 2 RBI)</div>

 

NL: CHICAGO CUBS at ST LOUIS

<div class="pre">CHICAGO CUBS (1) VS ST LOUIS (0) - MID 3RD - IN PROGRESS

CHICAGO CUBS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
A Soriano lf 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 .297
R Theriot ss 2 0 0 0 0 1 0 .276
D Lee 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .336
A Ramirez 3b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .316
C Floyd rf 1 1 0 0 0 0 1 .290
M DeRosa 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .284
J Jones cf 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 .248
J Kendall c 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .083
C Zambrano p 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .245

Totals 11 1 2 1 0 2 2

BATTING: RBI - J Jones (27). 2-out RBI - J Jones. Team LOB - 1.


ST LOUIS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
A Kennedy 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .222
S Schumaker rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .311
A Pujols 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .321
C Duncan lf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .293
J Edmonds cf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .234
S Rolen 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .263
A Miles ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .272
Y Molina c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .249
K Wells p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .273

Totals 6 0 0 0 0 2 0

BATTING: Team LOB - 0.


----------------------------------------------------
CHICAGO CUBS - 010 -- 1
ST LOUIS - 00 -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

CHICAGO CUBS ip h r er bb so hr era
C Zambrano 2 0 0 0 0 2 0 3.63

ST LOUIS ip h r er bb so hr era
K Wells 3 2 1 1 0 2 0 5.68

Pitches-strikes: C Zambrano 30-16; K Wells 35-25. Ground balls-fly balls: C
Zambrano 2-2; K Wells 5-2. Batters faced: C Zambrano 6; K Wells 11.

UMPIRES: HP--Larry Poncino. 1B--Jerry Meals. 2B--Scott Barry. 3B--Gary
Darling.

Weather: 82 degrees, clear. Wind: 7 mph, in from right.</div>

 

NL: CHICAGO CUBS at ST LOUIS

<div class="pre">NL AT ST LOUIS - MID INNING UPDATE
PLAY: R Theriot at second base.
SITUATION: 0 RUNS IN, NONE ON, 0 OUTS
CURRENT SCORE: CHICAGO CUBS 1
ST LOUIS 0 BOTTOM, 3RD

DUE UP FOR ST LOUIS: A Miles (.272, 0-FOR-0)</div>

 

NL: CHICAGO CUBS at ST LOUIS

<div class="pre">NL AT ST LOUIS - MID INNING UPDATE
PLAY: R Cedeno at shortstop.
SITUATION: 0 RUNS IN, NONE ON, 0 OUTS
CURRENT SCORE: CHICAGO CUBS 1
ST LOUIS 0 BOTTOM, 3RD

DUE UP FOR ST LOUIS: A Miles (.272, 0-FOR-0)</div>

 

NL: CHICAGO CUBS at ST LOUIS

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: CHN - CARLOS ZAMBRANO
STL - KIP WELLS

DUE UP FOR CHICAGO CUBS: D LEE (.336, 0-FOR-1)
A RAMIREZ (.316, 1-FOR-1)
C FLOYD (.290, 0-FOR-1)</div>