GAME THREAD: NL: ST LOUIS (58-61) at CHICAGO CUBS (62-59)

NL: ST LOUIS (58-61) at CHICAGO CUBS (62-59)

<h3>Cubs look to thrive with NL Central lead vs. Cardinals</h3>

<div class="pre">St Louis (58-61) at Chicago Cubs (62-59) 3:55 pm EDT</div>

CHICAGO (Ticker) -- The Chicago Cubs are finally atop theNational League Central. They will try to stay there when theyhost the St. Louis Cardinals on Saturday.


The Cubs captured a 2-1 win on Friday to pass the strugglingMilwaukee Brewers (62-60), climbing into first place in theCentral by one-half game. The loss snapped a five-game winningstreak for the Cardinals, who now sit three games off the pacein the division.


Jacque Jones' two-run homer provided the winning margin andcontinued a hot streak for the much-maligned outfielder, who hasbeen on the trading block since last season. In the month ofAugust, Jones is batting .426 with three homers and 17 RBI.

Chicago will send struggling Sean Marshall (5-6, 4.25 ERA) tothe mound on Saturday. The 24-year-old lefthander is 0-2 with a10.38 ERA in his last three starts, allowing opponents a .393batting average.


In his four prior starts, Marshall was 1-1 with a 2.31 ERA. Hehas faced St. Louis twice in his career, going 0-0 with a 5.06ERA.


The Cardinals will counter with Anthony Reyes (2-11, 5.48). The25-year-old righthander began the season 0-10 but has pitchedwell lately, going 2-2 with a 3.10 ERA while holding opponentsto a .216 batting average over his last five starts.

In four career games - three starts - against the Cubs, however,Reyes is 0-4 with a 5.40 ERA.

 

NL: ST LOUIS at CHICAGO CUBS

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

ST LOUIS CHICAGO CUBS
AVG HR RBI AVG HR RBI
David Eckstein SS .301 2 24 Ryan Theriot SS .290 3 38
So Taguchi CF .296 2 19 Jacque Jones CF .276 5 46
Albert Pujols 1B .319 26 78 Derrek Lee 1B .310 13 62
Juan Encarnacion RF .285 7 43 Aramis Ramirez 3B .321 18 73
Scott Rolen 3B .267 8 53 Daryle Ward RF .306 0 8
Ryan Ludwick LF .249 10 35 Mark Derosa 2B .293 7 58
Yadier Molina C .277 3 26 Matt Murton LF .263 4 15
Anthony Reyes RHP .091 0 1 Jason Kendall C .299 1 13
(2-11, 5.48) Sean Marshall LHP .087 0 0
Brendan Ryan 2B .333 3 9 (5-6, 4.25)</div>

 

NL: ST LOUIS at CHICAGO CUBS

<div class="pre">NL AT CHICAGO CUBS
NOTE: THE START OF THE GAME IS BEING DELAYED DUE TO RAIN.</div>

 

NL: ST LOUIS at CHICAGO CUBS

<div class="pre">NL AT CHICAGO CUBS
WARMUPS: STL - ANTHONY REYES (2-11, 5.48)
CHN - SEAN MARSHALL (5-6, 4.25)

UMPIRES: HP - TED BARRETT
1B - MARK CARLSON
2B - DERRYL COUSINS
3B - ANGEL HERNANDEZ

WEATHER: 69 Degrees, overcast
WIND: 4 mph, right to left</div>

 

NL: ST LOUIS at CHICAGO CUBS

<div class="pre">NL AT CHICAGO CUBS
NOTE: THE GAME IS UNDERWAY AFTER A 1 HOUR AND 0 MINUTE
DELAY.</div>

 

NL: ST LOUIS at CHICAGO CUBS

<div class="pre">NL AT CHICAGO CUBS
STARTING BATS: STL - ANTHONY REYES AND YADIER MOLINA
CHN - SEAN MARSHALL AND JASON KENDALL

DUE UP FOR ST LOUIS: D ECKSTEIN (.301, 2 HR, 24 RBI)
S TAGUCHI (.296, 2 HR, 19 RBI)
A PUJOLS (.319, 26 HR, 78 RBI)</div>

 

NL: ST LOUIS at CHICAGO CUBS

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: STL - ANTHONY REYES
CHN - SEAN MARSHALL

DUE UP FOR CHICAGO CUBS: R THERIOT (.290, 3 HR, 38 RBI)
J JONES (.276, 5 HR, 46 RBI)
D LEE (.310, 13 HR, 62 RBI)</div>

 

NL: ST LOUIS at CHICAGO CUBS

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

ST LOUIS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
D Eckstein ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .300
S Taguchi cf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .299
A Pujols 1b 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .319
J Encarnacion rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .284
S Rolen 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .267
R Ludwick lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .249
Y Molina c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .277
An Reyes p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .091
B Ryan 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .333

Totals 3 0 1 0 1 0 2

BATTING: GIDP - J Encarnacion. Team LOB - 1.


CHICAGO CUBS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
R Theriot ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .290
J Jones cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .276
D Lee 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .310
A Ramirez 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .321
D Ward rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .306
M DeRosa 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .293
M Murton lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .263
J Kendall c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .299
S Marshall p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .087

Totals 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

BATTING: Team LOB - 0.

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


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

ST LOUIS ip h r er bb so hr era
An Reyes 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 5.48

CHICAGO CUBS ip h r er bb so hr era
S Marshall 1 1 0 0 1 0 0 4.20

Pitches-strikes: S Marshall 11-7. Ground balls-fly balls: S Marshall 3-0.
Batters faced: S Marshall 4.

UMPIRES: HP--Ted Barrett. 1B--Mark Carlson. 2B--Derryl Cousins. 3B--Angel
Hernandez.

(Plus rain delay totaling 60 minutes in the 1st). Weather: 69 degrees,
overcast. Wind: 4 mph, right to left.</div>

 

NL: ST LOUIS at CHICAGO CUBS

<div class="pre">NL AT CHICAGO CUBS
CONFIRMED STARTERS: STL - ANTHONY REYES
CHN - SEAN MARSHALL</div>

 

NL: ST LOUIS at CHICAGO CUBS

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: STL - ANTHONY REYES
CHN - SEAN MARSHALL

DUE UP FOR ST LOUIS: S ROLEN (.267, 8 HR, 53 RBI)
R LUDWICK (.249, 10 HR, 35 RBI)
Y MOLINA (.277, 3 HR, 26 RBI)</div>

 

NL: ST LOUIS at CHICAGO CUBS

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

ST LOUIS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
D Eckstein ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .300
S Taguchi cf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .299
A Pujols 1b 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .319
J Encarnacion rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .284
S Rolen 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .267
R Ludwick lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .249
Y Molina c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .277
An Reyes p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .091
B Ryan 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .333

Totals 3 0 1 0 1 0 2

BATTING: GIDP - J Encarnacion. Team LOB - 1.


CHICAGO CUBS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
R Theriot ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .290
J Jones cf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .275
D Lee 1b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .312
A Ramirez 3b 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .321
D Ward rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .306
M DeRosa 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .293
M Murton lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .263
J Kendall c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .299
S Marshall p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .087

Totals 4 0 1 0 0 2 1

BATTING: Team LOB - 1.

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


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

ST LOUIS ip h r er bb so hr era
An Reyes 1 1 0 0 0 2 0 5.42

CHICAGO CUBS ip h r er bb so hr era
S Marshall 1 1 0 0 1 0 0 4.20

Pitches-strikes: An Reyes 11-8; S Marshall 11-7. Ground balls-fly balls: An
Reyes 0-1; S Marshall 3-0. Batters faced: An Reyes 4; S Marshall 4.

UMPIRES: HP--Ted Barrett. 1B--Mark Carlson. 2B--Derryl Cousins. 3B--Angel
Hernandez.

(Plus rain delay totaling 60 minutes in the 1st). Weather: 64 degrees,
overcast. Wind: 8 mph, right to left.</div>

 

NL: ST LOUIS at CHICAGO CUBS

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: STL - ANTHONY REYES
CHN - SEAN MARSHALL

DUE UP FOR CHICAGO CUBS: D WARD (.306, 0 HR, 8 RBI)
M DEROSA (.293, 7 HR, 58 RBI)
M MURTON (.263, 4 HR, 15 RBI)</div>

 

NL: ST LOUIS at CHICAGO CUBS

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

ST LOUIS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
D Eckstein ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .300
S Taguchi cf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .299
A Pujols 1b 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .319
J Encarnacion rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .284
S Rolen 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .266
R Ludwick lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .247
Y Molina c 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .280
An Reyes p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .091
B Ryan 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .329

Totals 7 0 2 0 1 0 4

BATTING: S - An Reyes. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - B Ryan 2. GIDP
- J Encarnacion. Team LOB - 3.


CHICAGO CUBS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
R Theriot ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .290
J Jones cf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .275
D Lee 1b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .312
A Ramirez 3b 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .321
D Ward rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .306
M DeRosa 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .293
M Murton lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .263
J Kendall c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .299
S Marshall p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .087

Totals 4 0 1 0 0 2 1

BATTING: Team LOB - 1.

FIELDING: E - A Ramirez (6, ground ball). DP: 1 (R Theriot-M DeRosa-D Lee).



----------------------------------------------------
ST LOUIS - 00 -- 0
CHICAGO CUBS - 0 -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

ST LOUIS ip h r er bb so hr era
An Reyes 1 1 0 0 0 2 0 5.42

CHICAGO CUBS ip h r er bb so hr era
S Marshall 2 2 0 0 1 0 0 4.15

Pitches-strikes: An Reyes 11-8; S Marshall 24-16. Ground balls-fly balls: An
Reyes 0-1; S Marshall 4-2. Batters faced: An Reyes 4; S Marshall 9.

UMPIRES: HP--Ted Barrett. 1B--Mark Carlson. 2B--Derryl Cousins. 3B--Angel
Hernandez.

(Plus rain delay totaling 60 minutes in the 1st). Weather: 64 degrees,
overcast. Wind: 8 mph, right to left.</div>

 

NL: ST LOUIS at CHICAGO CUBS

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: STL - ANTHONY REYES
CHN - SEAN MARSHALL

DUE UP FOR ST LOUIS: D ECKSTEIN (.300, 0-FOR-1)
S TAGUCHI (.299, 1-FOR-1)
A PUJOLS (.319, 0-FOR-0, BB)</div>

 

NL: ST LOUIS at CHICAGO CUBS

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

ST LOUIS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
D Eckstein ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .300
S Taguchi cf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .299
A Pujols 1b 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .319
J Encarnacion rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .284
S Rolen 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .266
R Ludwick lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .247
Y Molina c 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .280
An Reyes p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .091
B Ryan 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .329

Totals 7 0 2 0 1 0 4

BATTING: S - An Reyes. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - B Ryan 2. GIDP
- J Encarnacion. Team LOB - 3.

FIELDING: E - J Encarnacion (8, dropped foul ball).


CHICAGO CUBS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
R Theriot ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .290
J Jones cf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .275
D Lee 1b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .312
A Ramirez 3b 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .321
D Ward rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .301
M DeRosa 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .292
M Murton lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .262
J Kendall c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .299
S Marshall p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .087

Totals 7 0 1 0 0 2 1

BATTING: Team LOB - 1.

FIELDING: E - A Ramirez (6, ground ball). DP: 1 (R Theriot-M DeRosa-D Lee).



----------------------------------------------------
ST LOUIS - 00 -- 0
CHICAGO CUBS - 00 -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

ST LOUIS ip h r er bb so hr era
An Reyes 2 1 0 0 0 2 0 5.36

CHICAGO CUBS ip h r er bb so hr era
S Marshall 2 2 0 0 1 0 0 4.15

Pitches-strikes: An Reyes 19-15; S Marshall 24-16. Ground balls-fly balls: An
Reyes 1-3; S Marshall 4-2. Batters faced: An Reyes 7; S Marshall 9.

UMPIRES: HP--Ted Barrett. 1B--Mark Carlson. 2B--Derryl Cousins. 3B--Angel
Hernandez.

(Plus rain delay totaling 60 minutes in the 1st). Weather: 64 degrees,
overcast. Wind: 8 mph, right to left.</div>

 

NL: ST LOUIS at CHICAGO CUBS

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: STL - ANTHONY REYES
CHN - SEAN MARSHALL

DUE UP FOR CHICAGO CUBS: J KENDALL (.299, 1 HR, 13 RBI)
S MARSHALL (.087, 0 HR, 0 RBI)
R THERIOT (.290, 0-FOR-1)</div>

 

NL: ST LOUIS at CHICAGO CUBS

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

ST LOUIS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
D Eckstein ss 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 .299
S Taguchi cf 2 0 1 0 0 0 0 .298
A Pujols 1b 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 .318
J Encarnacion rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .284
S Rolen 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .266
R Ludwick lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .247
Y Molina c 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .280
An Reyes p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .091
B Ryan 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .329

Totals 10 0 2 0 1 0 4

BATTING: S - An Reyes. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - B Ryan 2. GIDP
- J Encarnacion. Team LOB - 3.

FIELDING: E - J Encarnacion (8, dropped foul ball).


CHICAGO CUBS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
R Theriot ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .290
J Jones cf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .275
D Lee 1b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .312
A Ramirez 3b 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .321
D Ward rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .301
M DeRosa 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .292
M Murton lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .262
J Kendall c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .299
S Marshall p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .087

Totals 7 0 1 0 0 2 1

BATTING: Team LOB - 1.

FIELDING: E - A Ramirez (6, ground ball). DP: 1 (R Theriot-M DeRosa-D Lee).



----------------------------------------------------
ST LOUIS - 000 -- 0
CHICAGO CUBS - 00 -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

ST LOUIS ip h r er bb so hr era
An Reyes 2 1 0 0 0 2 0 5.36

CHICAGO CUBS ip h r er bb so hr era
S Marshall 3 2 0 0 1 0 0 4.10

Pitches-strikes: An Reyes 19-15; S Marshall 35-24. Ground balls-fly balls: An
Reyes 1-3; S Marshall 6-3. Batters faced: An Reyes 7; S Marshall 12.

UMPIRES: HP--Ted Barrett. 1B--Mark Carlson. 2B--Derryl Cousins. 3B--Angel
Hernandez.

(Plus rain delay totaling 60 minutes in the 1st). Weather: 64 degrees,
overcast. Wind: 8 mph, right to left.</div>

 

NL: ST LOUIS at CHICAGO CUBS

<div class="pre">NL AT CHICAGO CUBS - SCORING UPDATE
SINGLE BY DERREK LEE SCORED JASON KENDALL.
SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, D LEE ON FIRST, J JONES ON SECOND, 2 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: ST LOUIS 0
CHICAGO CUBS 1 BOTTOM, 3RD

DUE UP FOR CHICAGO CUBS: A RAMIREZ (.321, 0-FOR-1)</div>

 

NL: ST LOUIS at CHICAGO CUBS

<div class="pre">NL AT CHICAGO CUBS - SCORING UPDATE
GRAND SLAM BY DARYLE WARD (1) TO CENTER WITH 2 OUT IN THE
3RD OFF ANTHONY REYES SCORED JACQUE JONES, DERREK LEE AND ARAMIS
RAMIREZ.
CURRENT SCORE: ST LOUIS 0, CHICAGO CUBS 5

DUE UP FOR CHICAGO CUBS: M DEROSA (.292, 0-FOR-1)</div>

 

NL: ST LOUIS at CHICAGO CUBS

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: STL - ANTHONY REYES
CHN - SEAN MARSHALL

DUE UP FOR ST LOUIS: J ENCARNACION (.284, 0-FOR-1)
S ROLEN (.266, 0-FOR-1)
R LUDWICK (.247, 0-FOR-1)</div>