GAME THREAD: GAME THREAD: NL: CHICAGO CUBS (42-40) at WASHINGTON (33-50)

NL: CHICAGO CUBS at WASHINGTON

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CHICAGO CUBS (0) AT WASHINGTON (6) - HOW THEY SCORED
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WASHINGTON 1ST: N Logan struck out swinging. R Belliard flied out to left.
R Zimmerman homered to left. D Young lined out to center. (1 Run, 1 Hit,
0 Errors) CHICAGO CUBS 0, WASHINGTON 1.

WASHINGTON 5TH: J Flores singled to left. M Chico sacrificed to catcher,
J Flores to second. N Logan singled to left, J Flores to third. R Belliard
doubled to left, J Flores scored, N Logan to third. R Zimmerman intentionally
walked. D Young homered to left, N Logan, R Belliard and R Zimmerman scored.
A Kearns lined out to center. F Lopez struck out swinging. (5 Runs, 4 Hits,
0 Errors) CHICAGO CUBS 0, WASHINGTON 6.</div>

 

NL: CHICAGO CUBS at WASHINGTON

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CHICAGO CUBS (0) AT WASHINGTON (6) - EVENT LOG
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Chicago Cubs Starting Lineups -- A Soriano LF, R Theriot SS, D Lee 1B,
A Ramirez 3B, M DeRosa RF, A Pagan CF, M Fontenot 2B, R Bowen C, R Hill LHP.

Washington Starting Lineups -- N Logan CF, R Belliard 2B, R Zimmerman 3B,
D Young 1B, A Kearns RF, F Lopez SS, R Fick LF, J Flores C, M Chico LHP.

Umpires -- Mike Reilly (HP), Jeff Kellogg (1B), Scott Barry (2B), Andy Fletcher (3B).

Gametime Weather: 83 degrees, Partly Cloudy, wind out to left at 16 mph.


CHICAGO CUBS 1ST: A Soriano grounded out to third. R Theriot grounded
out to third. D Lee fouled out to first. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors)
CHICAGO CUBS 0, WASHINGTON 0.

WASHINGTON 1ST: N Logan struck out swinging. R Belliard flied out to left.
R Zimmerman homered to left. D Young lined out to center. (1 Run, 1 Hit,
0 Errors) CHICAGO CUBS 0, WASHINGTON 1.

CHICAGO CUBS 2ND: A Ramirez safe at first on throwing error by shortstop
F Lopez. M DeRosa singled to center, A Ramirez to second. A Pagan flied out
to center. M Fontenot popped out to second. R Bowen grounded out to second.
(0 Runs, 1 Hit, 1 Error) CHICAGO CUBS 0, WASHINGTON 1.

WASHINGTON 2ND: A Kearns flied out to right. F Lopez singled to left.
R Fick struck out swinging, F Lopez stole second, F Lopez to third on throwing
error by catcher R Bowen. J Flores struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 1 Hit,
1 Error) CHICAGO CUBS 0, WASHINGTON 1.

CHICAGO CUBS 3RD: R Hill struck out swinging. A Soriano flied out to
right. R Theriot doubled to left. D Lee fouled out to first. (0 Runs, 1 Hit,
0 Errors) CHICAGO CUBS 0, WASHINGTON 1.

WASHINGTON 3RD: M Chico singled to left. N Logan flied out to left.
R Belliard grounded into double play, third to second to first, M Chico out
at second. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) CHICAGO CUBS 0, WASHINGTON 1.

CHICAGO CUBS 4TH: A Ramirez flied out to right. M DeRosa grounded out to
third. A Pagan popped out to second. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) CHICAGO CUBS 0,
WASHINGTON 1.

WASHINGTON 4TH: R Zimmerman reached on infield single to shortstop.
D Young singled to left, R Zimmerman to second. A Kearns struck out looking.
F Lopez flied out to right. R Fick flied out to right. (0 Runs, 2 Hits,
0 Errors) CHICAGO CUBS 0, WASHINGTON 1.

CHICAGO CUBS 5TH: M Fontenot struck out swinging. R Bowen flied out to
center. R Hill singled to left. R Hill to second on wild pitch by M Chico.
A Soriano struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) CHICAGO CUBS 0,
WASHINGTON 1.

WASHINGTON 5TH: J Flores singled to left. M Chico sacrificed to catcher,
J Flores to second. N Logan singled to left, J Flores to third. R Belliard
doubled to left, J Flores scored, N Logan to third. R Zimmerman intentionally
walked. D Young homered to left, N Logan, R Belliard and R Zimmerman scored.
A Kearns lined out to center. F Lopez struck out swinging. (5 Runs, 4 Hits,
0 Errors) CHICAGO CUBS 0, WASHINGTON 6.

CHICAGO CUBS 6TH: R Theriot flied out to center. D Lee grounded out to
third. A Ramirez singled to center. M DeRosa lined out to center. (0 Runs,
1 Hit, 0 Errors) CHICAGO CUBS 0, WASHINGTON 6.

WASHINGTON 6TH: R Fick fouled out to third. J Flores singled to right
center. M Chico sacrificed to pitcher, J Flores to second. N Logan struck
out looking. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) CHICAGO CUBS 0, WASHINGTON 6.

CHICAGO CUBS 7TH: A Pagan grounded out to shortstop. M Fontenot popped
out to shortstop. R Bowen struck out looking. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors)
CHICAGO CUBS 0, WASHINGTON 6.

WASHINGTON 7TH: R Theriot at second base. B Petrick relieved R Hill.
C Izturis at shortstop. R Belliard popped out to first. R Zimmerman flied
out to center. D Young doubled to left. A Kearns lined out to second.
(0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) CHICAGO CUBS 0, WASHINGTON 6.

CHICAGO CUBS 8TH: S Rivera relieved M Chico. R Fick at first base.
R Langerhans in left field. C Izturis lined out to shortstop. A Soriano
doubled to left. R Theriot grounded out to third, A Soriano to third.
D Lee grounded out to second. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) CHICAGO CUBS 0,
WASHINGTON 6.

WASHINGTON 8TH: S Eyre relieved B Petrick. F Lopez flied out to center.
T Batista hit for R Fick. T Batista walked. J Flores flied out to center.
R Langerhans struck out looking. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) CHICAGO CUBS 0,
WASHINGTON 6.

CHICAGO CUBS 9TH: R King relieved S Rivera. T Batista at first base.
A Ramirez lined out to left. M DeRosa walked. A Pagan flied out to right.
K Hill hit for S Eyre. K Hill grounded out to third. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors)
CHICAGO CUBS 0, WASHINGTON 6.</div>

 

Chico dazzles Cubs to finally pick up win

<h3>WASHINGTON 6, CHICAGO CUBS 0</h3>WASHINGTON (Ticker) -- Matt Chico finally picked up an elusivewin.

Chico threw seven dominant innings and All-Star Dmitri Young hita grand slam as the Washington Nationals posted a 6-0 victoryover the Chicago Cubs in the third game of the four-game serieson Wednesday.

Winless in his previous eight starts, Chico (4-5) yielded fourhits - two doubles - and struck out four batters without issuinga walk to capture his victory since May 17.

The 24-year-old lefthander did pitch well during that drought,allowing two earned runs or less in five outings over than span.He has not allowed a run over his last 13 innings,successfully following up his six scoreless frames in a 3-2 lossat the Pittsburgh Pirates on Friday.

Chico experienced his only real problem in the second inningwhen Aramis Ramirez reached leading off on a throwing error byshortstop Felipe Lopez and Mark DeRosa singled. However, thesouthpaw retired the next three batters to extend his scorelessstreak.

Named as the Nationals' lone All-Star representative on Sunday,Young celebrated his second trip to the Midseason Classic byknocking out three hits, including his sixth career grand slamin the fifth inning.

Already trailing 2-0, Cubs starter Rich Hill (5-6) decided tointentionally walk Ryan Zimmerman to load the bases for Young,who drilled a 1-2 pitch over the left field fence for his eighthhomer of the season.

The reason that Hill opted to walk Zimmerman had largely to dowith the home run that the young third baseman hit with two outsin the first inning to open the scoring.

It was the 13th homer of the season and second in as many gamesplayed on July 4 for Zimmerman, who connected on a game-winningthree-run shot against then-Florida Marlins closer Joe Borowskihere last year as a rookie.

Hill finished with six runs and 10 hits allowed in six inningsin losing for the fifth time in six decisions.

The 27-year-old lefthander has had his problems avoiding biginnings, following a five-run first in his previous outingagainst the Milwaukee Brewers with another Wednesday that wasstarted by Ronnie Belliard's RBI double.

 

Chico dazzles Cubs to finally pick up win

<h3>WASHINGTON 6, CHICAGO CUBS 0</h3>WASHINGTON (Ticker) -- Matt Chico finally picked up an elusivewin.

Chico threw seven dominant innings and All-Star Dmitri Young hita grand slam as the Washington Nationals posted a 6-0 victoryover the Chicago Cubs in the third game of the four-game serieson Wednesday.

Winless in his previous eight starts, Chico (4-5) yielded fourhits - two doubles - and struck out four batters without issuinga walk to capture his victory since May 17.

"He's had some tough luck before where he's given a good effortand come out of there without a decision, but today was hisday," Nationals manager Manny Acta said. "He was in completecontrol, he had good command of his pitches. No walks, thattells you the story right there."

The 24-year-old lefthander did pitch well during that drought,allowing two earned runs or less in five outings over than span.He has not allowed a run over his last 13 innings, successfullyfollowing up his six scoreless frames in a 3-2 loss at thePittsburgh Pirates on Friday.

"I went out there just trying to get my ground balls, popups andtrying to hit my spots," Chico said. "It was a lot of fun. Igot a little excited early on. I just tried to hit the glove.To have no walks, I was most happy about that."

Chico experienced his only real problem in the second inningwhen Aramis Ramirez reached leading off on a throwing error byshortstop Felipe Lopez and Mark DeRosa singled. However, thesouthpaw retired the next three batters to extend his scorelessstreak.

"He mixed his pitches and he had very good location," said CubsAll-Star outfielder Alfonso Soriano, who was 1-for-4 with adouble. "I think that was the key, he pitched a very goodgame."

Young, who was named as the Nationals' lone All-Starrepresentative on Sunday, celebrated his second trip to theMidseason Classic by knocking out three hits, including hissixth career grand slam in the fifth inning.

Already trailing 2-0, Cubs starter Rich Hill (5-6) decided tointentionally walk Ryan Zimmerman to load the bases for Young,who drilled a 1-2 pitch over the left field fence for his eighthhomer of the season.

"I was wanting them to do that (walk Zimmerman)," Young said."That put me in a situation where I actually needed to focus andtry to get us some runs ... and I took advantage. I just gotgood wood and got myself in good position to hit."

"We tried to set up a double play. The shortstop doesn't playin the bullpen," Cubs manager Lou Piniella said. "(Hill) hadtwo strikes on him and hung him a curveball. Young is swingingthe bat well."

Hill also opted to walk Zimmerman largely due to the home runthat the young third baseman hit with two outs in the firstinning to open the scoring.

It was the 13th homer of the season and second in as many gamesplayed on July 4 for Zimmerman, who connected on a game-winningthree-run shot against then-Florida Marlins closer Joe Borowskihere last year as a rookie.

Hill has had his problems avoiding big innings, following afive-run first in his previous outing against the MilwaukeeBrewers with another Wednesday that was started by RonnieBelliard's RBI double.

"I think he wastes to much energy fighting himself instead ofjust concentrating on getting hitters," Piniella said. "I'mgoing to talk to him about that. You don't have to be perfect.He gets mad every time somebody gets a base hit. You don'thave to be perfect in this game."

The 27-year-old lefthander, who surrendered a season-high sixruns and 10 hits in six innings, agreed with his manager'ssentiment.

"It's a little frustrating going out there and getting your(butt) handed to you everyday," said Hill, who has lost five ofhis last six decisions. "It's not very fun."

The Cubs, who entered Wednesday's game having won 10 of 11 gamesoverall, had their five-game winning streak over the Nationalssnapped. They were attempting to record six straight wins overthe franchise formerly known as the Montreal Expos since May24-June 2, 1991.