GAME THREAD: GAME THREAD: NL: ATLANTA (31-23) at CHICAGO CUBS (22-30)

NL: ATLANTA (31-23) at CHICAGO CUBS (22-30)

<h3>Cubs look to leave slow start, Friday fight in the past</h3>



<div class="pre">Atlanta (31-23) at Chi Cubs (22-30) 1:05 pm EDT</div>

CHICAGO (Ticker) -- The Chicago Cubs spent well over a quarter ofa million dollars on improving their team in the offseason. Sofar, all it has brought them is mediocrity and a meltdown.

The Cubs continue their three-game weekend series with theAtlanta Braves on Saturday at Wrigley Field.

After spending millions of dollars on securing the rights tomanager Lou Piniella as well as players like Alfonso Soriano,Jason Marquis and Ted Lilly, the Cubs have bought themselvesjust a two-game improvement over last season after 52 games.

Their latest issue was a dugout and clubhouse scuffle on Fridaybetween starter Carlos Zambrano and catcher Michael Barrett.

Rich Hill (4-4, 3.06 ERA) has the unenviable task of trying tohelp Chicago put Friday in the rear view mirror and pick up hisfirst win in five tries. After winning his first three startsthis season with a 0.41 ERA capped by a six-frame, three-hitperformance against the Braves on April 19, he is just 1-4 witha 4.43 ERA in his seven starts since.

Perhaps rediscovering his early season form, the lefthanderyielded three hits over six scoreless innings on Sunday, notfactoring into the decision in a 2-1, 11-inning defeat againstthe Dodgers. He is 2-0 with an 0.66 ERA in two lifetime startsagainst the Braves.

Chuck James (5-4, 3.86), who has alternated wins and losses overhis last five decisions, gets the start for the Bravesfollowing one of his best starts of the season, striking out aseason-high eight over six frames to get the decision in a 2-1win over the Brewers. The lefthander won his only start againstChicago last September, yielding two runs over seven innings.

 

NL: ATLANTA at CHICAGO CUBS

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

ATLANTA CHICAGO CUBS
AVG HR RBI AVG HR RBI
Martin Prado 2B .200 0 0 Alfonso Soriano LF .289 4 12
Yunel Escobar 3B .000 0 0 Ryan Theriot SS .273 1 18
Edgar Renteria SS .335 7 27 Derrek Lee 1B .362 5 32
Andruw Jones CF .229 8 36 Aramis Ramirez 3B .294 13 38
Jeff Francoeur RF .294 7 41 Mark Derosa 2B .252 5 21
Matt Diaz LF .342 4 12 Angel Pagan CF .302 2 5
Jarrod Saltalamacc C .313 1 5 Jacque Jones RF .247 2 17
Scott Thorman 1B .233 6 25 Koyie Hill C .000 0 0
Chuck James LHP .133 0 0 Rich Hill LHP .048 0 1
(5-4, 3.86) (4-4, 3.06)</div>

 

NL: ATLANTA at CHICAGO CUBS

<div class="pre">NL AT CHICAGO CUBS
WARMUPS: ATL - CHUCK JAMES (5-4, 3.86)
CHN - RICH HILL (4-4, 3.06)

UMPIRES: HP - BRUCE FROEMMING
1B - JAMES HOYE
2B - BRIAN RUNGE
3B - MARK WEGNER

WEATHER: 77 Degrees, cloudy
WIND: 9 mph, out to center</div>

 

NL: ATLANTA at CHICAGO CUBS

<div class="pre">NL AT CHICAGO CUBS
STARTING BATS: ATL - CHUCK JAMES AND JARROD SALTALAMACCHIA
CHN - RICH HILL AND KOYIE HILL

DUE UP FOR ATLANTA: M PRADO (.200, 0 HR, 0 RBI)
Y ESCOBAR (.000, 0 HR, 0 RBI)
E RENTERIA (.335, 7 HR, 27 RBI)</div>

 

NL: ATLANTA at CHICAGO CUBS

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: ATL - CHUCK JAMES
CHN - RICH HILL

DUE UP FOR CHICAGO CUBS: A SORIANO (.289, 4 HR, 12 RBI)
R THERIOT (.273, 1 HR, 18 RBI)
D LEE (.362, 5 HR, 32 RBI)</div>

 

NL: ATLANTA at CHICAGO CUBS

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

ATLANTA ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
M Prado 2b 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .192
Y Escobar 3b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 1.000
E Renteria ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .333
A Jones cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .229
J Francoeur rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .294
M Diaz lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .342
J Saltalamacchia c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .313
S Thorman 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .233
C James p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .133

Totals 3 0 1 0 0 1 1

BATTING: GIDP - E Renteria. Team LOB - 0.


CHICAGO CUBS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
A Soriano lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .289
R Theriot ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .273
D Lee 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .362
A Ramirez 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .294
M DeRosa 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .252
A Pagan cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .302
J Jones rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .247
K Hill c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
R Hill p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .048

Totals 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

BATTING: Team LOB - 0.

FIELDING: DP: 1 (A Ramirez-M DeRosa-D Lee).


----------------------------------------------------
ATLANTA - 0 -- 0
CHICAGO CUBS - -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

ATLANTA ip h r er bb so hr era
C James 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3.86

CHICAGO CUBS ip h r er bb so hr era
R Hill 1 1 0 0 0 1 0 3.02

Pitches-strikes: R Hill 15-11. Ground balls-fly balls: R Hill 2-0. Batters
faced: R Hill 3.

UMPIRES: HP--Bruce Froemming. 1B--James Hoye. 2B--Brian Runge. 3B--Mark
Wegner.

Weather: 78 degrees, cloudy. Wind: 14 mph, out to center.</div>

 

NL: ATLANTA at CHICAGO CUBS

<div class="pre">NL AT CHICAGO CUBS
CONFIRMED STARTERS: ATL - CHUCK JAMES
CHN - RICH HILL</div>

 

NL: ATLANTA at CHICAGO CUBS

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: ATL - CHUCK JAMES
CHN - RICH HILL

DUE UP FOR ATLANTA: A JONES (.229, 8 HR, 36 RBI)
J FRANCOEUR (.294, 7 HR, 41 RBI)
M DIAZ (.342, 4 HR, 12 RBI)</div>

 

NL: ATLANTA at CHICAGO CUBS

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

ATLANTA ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
M Prado 2b 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .192
Y Escobar 3b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 1.000
E Renteria ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .333
A Jones cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .229
J Francoeur rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .294
M Diaz lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .342
J Saltalamacchia c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .313
S Thorman 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .233
C James p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .133

Totals 3 0 1 0 0 1 1

BATTING: GIDP - E Renteria. Team LOB - 0.


CHICAGO CUBS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
A Soriano lf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .287
R Theriot ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .272
D Lee 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .360
A Ramirez 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .294
M DeRosa 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .252
A Pagan cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .302
J Jones rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .247
K Hill c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
R Hill p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .048

Totals 3 0 0 0 0 1 0

BATTING: Team LOB - 0.

FIELDING: DP: 1 (A Ramirez-M DeRosa-D Lee).


----------------------------------------------------
ATLANTA - 0 -- 0
CHICAGO CUBS - 0 -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

ATLANTA ip h r er bb so hr era
C James 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 3.79

CHICAGO CUBS ip h r er bb so hr era
R Hill 1 1 0 0 0 1 0 3.02

Pitches-strikes: C James 12-9; R Hill 15-11. Ground balls-fly balls: C James
0-2; R Hill 2-0. Batters faced: C James 3; R Hill 3.

UMPIRES: HP--Bruce Froemming. 1B--James Hoye. 2B--Brian Runge. 3B--Mark
Wegner.

Weather: 78 degrees, cloudy. Wind: 14 mph, out to center.</div>

 

NL: ATLANTA at CHICAGO CUBS

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: ATL - CHUCK JAMES
CHN - RICH HILL

DUE UP FOR CHICAGO CUBS: A RAMIREZ (.294, 13 HR, 38 RBI)
M DEROSA (.252, 5 HR, 21 RBI)
A PAGAN (.302, 2 HR, 5 RBI)</div>

 

NL: ATLANTA at CHICAGO CUBS

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

ATLANTA ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
M Prado 2b 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .192
Y Escobar 3b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 1.000
E Renteria ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .333
A Jones cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .228
J Francoeur rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .293
M Diaz lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .339
J Saltalamacchia c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .313
S Thorman 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .233
C James p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .133

Totals 6 0 1 0 0 1 1

BATTING: GIDP - E Renteria. Team LOB - 0.


CHICAGO CUBS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
A Soriano lf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .287
R Theriot ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .272
D Lee 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .360
A Ramirez 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .294
M DeRosa 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .252
A Pagan cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .302
J Jones rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .247
K Hill c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
R Hill p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .048

Totals 3 0 0 0 0 1 0

BATTING: Team LOB - 0.

FIELDING: DP: 1 (A Ramirez-M DeRosa-D Lee).


----------------------------------------------------
ATLANTA - 00 -- 0
CHICAGO CUBS - 0 -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

ATLANTA ip h r er bb so hr era
C James 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 3.79

CHICAGO CUBS ip h r er bb so hr era
R Hill 2 1 0 0 0 1 0 2.97

Pitches-strikes: C James 12-9; R Hill 24-16. Ground balls-fly balls: C James
0-2; R Hill 3-2. Batters faced: C James 3; R Hill 6.

UMPIRES: HP--Bruce Froemming. 1B--James Hoye. 2B--Brian Runge. 3B--Mark
Wegner.

Weather: 78 degrees, cloudy. Wind: 14 mph, out to center.</div>

 

NL: ATLANTA at CHICAGO CUBS

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: ATL - CHUCK JAMES
CHN - RICH HILL

DUE UP FOR ATLANTA: J SALTALAMACCHIA (.313, 1 HR, 5 RBI)
S THORMAN (.233, 6 HR, 25 RBI)
C JAMES (.133, 0 HR, 0 RBI)</div>

 

NL: ATLANTA at CHICAGO CUBS

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

ATLANTA ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
M Prado 2b 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .192
Y Escobar 3b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 1.000
E Renteria ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .333
A Jones cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .228
J Francoeur rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .293
M Diaz lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .339
J Saltalamacchia c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .313
S Thorman 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .233
C James p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .133

Totals 6 0 1 0 0 1 1

BATTING: GIDP - E Renteria. Team LOB - 0.


CHICAGO CUBS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
A Soriano lf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .287
R Theriot ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .272
D Lee 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .360
A Ramirez 3b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .297
M DeRosa 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .250
A Pagan cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .295
J Jones rf 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .247
K Hill c 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .000
R Hill p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .048

Totals 7 0 1 0 1 1 4

BATTING: Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - K Hill 1. Team LOB - 2.

FIELDING: DP: 1 (A Ramirez-M DeRosa-D Lee).


----------------------------------------------------
ATLANTA - 00 -- 0
CHICAGO CUBS - 00 -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

ATLANTA ip h r er bb so hr era
C James 2 1 0 0 1 1 0 3.73

CHICAGO CUBS ip h r er bb so hr era
R Hill 2 1 0 0 0 1 0 2.97

Pitches-strikes: C James 32-21; R Hill 24-16. Ground balls-fly balls: C James
1-4; R Hill 3-2. Batters faced: C James 8; R Hill 6.

UMPIRES: HP--Bruce Froemming. 1B--James Hoye. 2B--Brian Runge. 3B--Mark
Wegner.

Weather: 78 degrees, cloudy. Wind: 14 mph, out to center.</div>

 

NL: ATLANTA at CHICAGO CUBS

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: ATL - CHUCK JAMES
CHN - RICH HILL

DUE UP FOR CHICAGO CUBS: R HILL (.048, 0 HR, 1 RBI)
A SORIANO (.287, 0-FOR-1)
R THERIOT (.272, 0-FOR-1)</div>

 

NL: ATLANTA at CHICAGO CUBS

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

ATLANTA ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
M Prado 2b 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .192
Y Escobar 3b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 1.000
E Renteria ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .333
A Jones cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .228
J Francoeur rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .293
M Diaz lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .339
J Saltalamacchia c 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .303
S Thorman 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .231
C James p 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .125

Totals 9 0 1 0 0 2 1

BATTING: GIDP - E Renteria. Team LOB - 0.


CHICAGO CUBS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
A Soriano lf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .287
R Theriot ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .272
D Lee 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .360
A Ramirez 3b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .297
M DeRosa 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .250
A Pagan cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .295
J Jones rf 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .247
K Hill c 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .000
R Hill p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .048

Totals 7 0 1 0 1 1 4

BATTING: Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - K Hill 1. Team LOB - 2.

FIELDING: DP: 1 (A Ramirez-M DeRosa-D Lee).


----------------------------------------------------
ATLANTA - 000 -- 0
CHICAGO CUBS - 00 -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

ATLANTA ip h r er bb so hr era
C James 2 1 0 0 1 1 0 3.73

CHICAGO CUBS ip h r er bb so hr era
R Hill 3 1 0 0 0 2 0 2.93

Pitches-strikes: C James 32-21; R Hill 37-24. Ground balls-fly balls: C James
1-4; R Hill 3-4. Batters faced: C James 8; R Hill 9.

UMPIRES: HP--Bruce Froemming. 1B--James Hoye. 2B--Brian Runge. 3B--Mark
Wegner.

Weather: 78 degrees, cloudy. Wind: 14 mph, out to center.</div>

 

NL: ATLANTA at CHICAGO CUBS

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: ATL - CHUCK JAMES
CHN - RICH HILL

DUE UP FOR ATLANTA: M PRADO (.192, 0-FOR-1)
Y ESCOBAR (1.000, 1-FOR-1)
E RENTERIA (.333, 0-FOR-1)</div>

 

NL: ATLANTA at CHICAGO CUBS

<div class="pre">ATLANTA (0) VS CHICAGO CUBS (0) - END 3RD - IN PROGRESS

ATLANTA ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
M Prado 2b 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .192
Y Escobar 3b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 1.000
E Renteria ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .333
A Jones cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .228
J Francoeur rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .293
M Diaz lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .339
J Saltalamacchia c 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .303
S Thorman 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .231
C James p 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .125

Totals 9 0 1 0 0 2 1

BATTING: GIDP - E Renteria. Team LOB - 0.


CHICAGO CUBS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
A Soriano lf 2 0 0 0 0 1 0 .286
R Theriot ss 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 .270
D Lee 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .360
A Ramirez 3b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .297
M DeRosa 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .250
A Pagan cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .295
J Jones rf 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .247
K Hill c 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .000
R Hill p 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .045

Totals 10 0 1 0 1 1 4

BATTING: Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - K Hill 1. Team LOB - 2.

FIELDING: DP: 1 (A Ramirez-M DeRosa-D Lee).


----------------------------------------------------
ATLANTA - 000 -- 0
CHICAGO CUBS - 000 -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

ATLANTA ip h r er bb so hr era
C James 3 1 0 0 1 1 0 3.67

CHICAGO CUBS ip h r er bb so hr era
R Hill 3 1 0 0 0 2 0 2.93

Pitches-strikes: C James 41-28; R Hill 37-24. Ground balls-fly balls: C James
1-7; R Hill 3-4. Batters faced: C James 11; R Hill 9.

UMPIRES: HP--Bruce Froemming. 1B--James Hoye. 2B--Brian Runge. 3B--Mark
Wegner.

Weather: 78 degrees, cloudy. Wind: 14 mph, out to center.</div>

 

NL: ATLANTA at CHICAGO CUBS

<div class="pre">NL AT CHICAGO CUBS - SCORING UPDATE
DOUBLE BY EDGAR RENTERIA SCORED MARTIN PRADO.
SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, E RENTERIA ON SECOND, Y ESCOBAR ON THIRD, 0 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: ATLANTA 1
CHICAGO CUBS 0 TOP, 4TH

DUE UP FOR ATLANTA: A JONES (.228, 0-FOR-1)</div>

 

NL: ATLANTA at CHICAGO CUBS

<div class="pre">NL AT CHICAGO CUBS - SCORING UPDATE
GROUND OUT BY ANDRUW JONES SCORED YUNEL ESCOBAR.
SITUATION: 2 RUNS IN, E RENTERIA ON THIRD, 1 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: ATLANTA 2
CHICAGO CUBS 0 TOP, 4TH

DUE UP FOR ATLANTA: J FRANCOEUR (.293, 0-FOR-1)</div>

 

NL: ATLANTA at CHICAGO CUBS

<div class="pre">NL AT CHICAGO CUBS - SCORING UPDATE
DOUBLE BY MATT DIAZ SCORED EDGAR RENTERIA.
SITUATION: 3 RUNS IN, M DIAZ ON SECOND, 2 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: ATLANTA 3
CHICAGO CUBS 0 TOP, 4TH

DUE UP FOR ATLANTA: J SALTALAMACCHIA (.303, 0-FOR-1)</div>