GAME THREAD: NL: MILWAUKEE (66-66) at CHICAGO CUBS (67-64)

NL: MILWAUKEE (66-66) at CHICAGO CUBS (67-64)

<h3>Brewers look to gain ground on NL Central-leading Cubs</h3>



<div class="pre">Milwaukee (66-66) at Chi Cubs (67-64) 8:05 pm EDT</div>

CHICAGO (Ticker) - For a team that has spent most of the time infirst place, the Milwaukee Brewers are finding wins hard tocome by lately. They look to change that and close the gap onthe division-leading Chicago Cubs when they meet in the rubbergame of a three-game series on Thursday.


Milwaukee led the National League Central by as many as 8 1/2games as late as June 23, but have gone just 23-35 since.

The Brewers halted their five-game losing streak on Wednesday ina 6-1 victory as they welcomed back ace Ben Sheets, who pitchedfor the first time since July 14 after a stint on the disabledlist.


As a result, Milwaukee moved to within 1 1/2 games offirst-place Chicago (67-64).


The Brewers will hand the ball to rookie Manny Parra (0-1, 3.09ERA), who will be making just his second career start and hasnever faced Chicago.


The lefthander was effective over six innings in his firststart, tossing six innings and allowing three runs - one earned- and six hits. However, he did not receive a decision in a 7-6loss to the St. Louis Cardinals on July 28.


Chicago will turn to fellow southpaw Ted Lilly (13-7, 3.85), whowill look to snap a three-game winless streak. He was sharp ina 3-1 loss to the Arizona Diamondbacks on Saturday, yieldingtwo runs and four hits with eight strikeouts over six innings.

The 31-year-old is 1-1 with a 4.97 ERA in three careerappearances - two starts - against the Brewers.


The Cubs have dropped four of their last six games.

 

NL: MILWAUKEE at CHICAGO CUBS

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

MILWAUKEE CHICAGO CUBS
AVG HR RBI AVG HR RBI
Rickie Weeks 2B .230 6 21 Alfonso Soriano LF .294 18 42
J.J. Hardy SS .278 23 72 Ryan Theriot SS .285 3 39
Ryan Braun 3B .332 25 68 Derrek Lee 1B .312 15 68
Prince Fielder 1B .282 39 97 Aramis Ramirez 3B .308 18 80
Corey Hart RF .285 18 58 Craig Monroe RF .200 0 0
Kevin Mench LF .265 6 30 Mark Derosa 2B .291 8 60
Bill Hall CF .256 12 51 Jason Kendall C .306 1 15
Damian Miller C .238 3 19 Jacque Jones CF .276 5 49
Manny Parra LHP .286 0 2 Ted Lilly LHP .133 0 4
(0-1, 3.09) (13-7, 3.85)</div>

 

NL: MILWAUKEE at CHICAGO CUBS

<div class="pre">NL AT CHICAGO CUBS
WARMUPS: MIL - MANNY PARRA (0-1, 3.09)
CHN - TED LILLY (13-7, 3.85)

UMPIRES: HP - BRIAN GORMAN
1B - PAUL NAUERT
2B - ROB DRAKE
3B - GERRY DAVIS

WEATHER: 71 Degrees, clear
WIND: 12 mph, in from left</div>

 

NL: MILWAUKEE at CHICAGO CUBS

<div class="pre">NL AT CHICAGO CUBS
STARTING BATS: MIL - MANNY PARRA AND DAMIAN MILLER
CHN - TED LILLY AND JASON KENDALL

DUE UP FOR MILWAUKEE: R WEEKS (.230, 6 HR, 21 RBI)
J HARDY (.278, 23 HR, 72 RBI)
R BRAUN (.332, 25 HR, 68 RBI)</div>

 

NL: MILWAUKEE at CHICAGO CUBS

<div class="pre">NL AT CHICAGO CUBS - SCORING UPDATE
SOLO HOME RUN BY RICKIE WEEKS (7) TO CENTER WITH 0 OUT IN
THE 1ST OFF TED LILLY.
CURRENT SCORE: MILWAUKEE 1, CHICAGO CUBS 0

DUE UP FOR MILWAUKEE: J HARDY (.278, 23 HR, 72 RBI)</div>

 

NL: MILWAUKEE at CHICAGO CUBS

<div class="pre">NL MILWAUKEE AT CHICAGO CUBS
NOTE: MILWAUKEE SECOND BASEMAN RICKIE WEEKS LED OFF THE
GAME WITH A HOME RUN TO EXTEND HIS HITTING STREAK TO 10 GAMES.</div>

 

NL: MILWAUKEE at CHICAGO CUBS

<div class="pre">NL AT CHICAGO CUBS - SCORING UPDATE
DOUBLE BY KEVIN MENCH SCORED J.J. HARDY.
SITUATION: 2 RUNS IN, K MENCH ON SECOND, P FIELDER ON THIRD, 2 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: MILWAUKEE 2
CHICAGO CUBS 0 TOP, 1ST

DUE UP FOR MILWAUKEE: B HALL (.256, 12 HR, 51 RBI)</div>

 

NL: MILWAUKEE at CHICAGO CUBS

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: MIL - MANNY PARRA
CHN - TED LILLY

DUE UP FOR CHICAGO CUBS: A SORIANO (.294, 18 HR, 42 RBI)
R THERIOT (.285, 3 HR, 39 RBI)
D LEE (.312, 15 HR, 68 RBI)</div>

 

NL: MILWAUKEE at CHICAGO CUBS

<div class="pre">MILWAUKEE (2) VS CHICAGO CUBS (0) - MID 1ST - IN PROGRESS

MILWAUKEE ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
R Weeks 2b 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 .232
J Hardy ss 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .280
R Braun 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .331
P Fielder 1b 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .282
C Hart rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .285
K Mench lf 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 .268
B Hall cf 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .256
D Miller c 1 0 0 0 0 1 3 .236
M Parra p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .286

Totals 6 2 3 2 2 1 6

BATTING: 2B - K Mench (18, T Lilly). HR - R Weeks (7, 1st inning off T Lilly 0
on, 0 Out). RBI - R Weeks (22), K Mench (31). 2-out RBI - K Mench. Runners left
in scoring position, 2 out - D Miller 2. Team LOB - 3.


CHICAGO CUBS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
A Soriano lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .294
R Theriot ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .285
D Lee 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .312
A Ramirez 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .308
C Monroe rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .200
M DeRosa 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .291
J Kendall c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .306
J Jones cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .276
T Lilly p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .133

Totals 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

BATTING: Team LOB - 0.


----------------------------------------------------
MILWAUKEE - 2 -- 2
CHICAGO CUBS - -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

MILWAUKEE ip h r er bb so hr era
M Parra 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3.09

CHICAGO CUBS ip h r er bb so hr era
T Lilly 1 3 2 2 2 1 1 3.93

Pitches-strikes: T Lilly 38-24. Ground balls-fly balls: T Lilly 0-2. Batters
faced: T Lilly 8.

UMPIRES: HP--Brian Gorman. 1B--Paul Nauert. 2B--Rob Drake. 3B--Gerry Davis.

Weather: 66 degrees, clear. Wind: 11 mph, in from left.</div>

 

NL: MILWAUKEE at CHICAGO CUBS

<div class="pre">NL AT CHICAGO CUBS
CONFIRMED STARTERS: MIL - MANNY PARRA
CHN - TED LILLY</div>

 

NL: MILWAUKEE at CHICAGO CUBS

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: MIL - MANNY PARRA
CHN - TED LILLY

DUE UP FOR MILWAUKEE: M PARRA (.286, 0 HR, 2 RBI)
R WEEKS (.232, 1-FOR-1, HR, RBI)
J HARDY (.280, 1-FOR-1)</div>

 

NL: MILWAUKEE at CHICAGO CUBS

<div class="pre">MILWAUKEE (2) VS CHICAGO CUBS (0) - END 1ST - IN PROGRESS

MILWAUKEE ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
R Weeks 2b 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 .232
J Hardy ss 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .280
R Braun 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .331
P Fielder 1b 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .282
C Hart rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .285
K Mench lf 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 .268
B Hall cf 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .256
D Miller c 1 0 0 0 0 1 3 .236
M Parra p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .286

Totals 6 2 3 2 2 1 6

BATTING: 2B - K Mench (18, T Lilly). HR - R Weeks (7, 1st inning off T Lilly 0
on, 0 Out). RBI - R Weeks (22), K Mench (31). 2-out RBI - K Mench. Runners left
in scoring position, 2 out - D Miller 2. Team LOB - 3.


CHICAGO CUBS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
A Soriano lf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .293
R Theriot ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .284
D Lee 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .311
A Ramirez 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .308
C Monroe rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .200
M DeRosa 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .291
J Kendall c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .306
J Jones cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .276
T Lilly p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .133

Totals 3 0 0 0 0 1 0

BATTING: Team LOB - 0.


----------------------------------------------------
MILWAUKEE - 2 -- 2
CHICAGO CUBS - 0 -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

MILWAUKEE ip h r er bb so hr era
M Parra 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 2.96

CHICAGO CUBS ip h r er bb so hr era
T Lilly 1 3 2 2 2 1 1 3.93

Pitches-strikes: M Parra 13-7; T Lilly 38-24. Ground balls-fly balls: M Parra
0-2; T Lilly 0-2. Batters faced: M Parra 3; T Lilly 8.

UMPIRES: HP--Brian Gorman. 1B--Paul Nauert. 2B--Rob Drake. 3B--Gerry Davis.

Weather: 66 degrees, clear. Wind: 11 mph, in from left.</div>

 

NL: MILWAUKEE at CHICAGO CUBS

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: MIL - MANNY PARRA
CHN - TED LILLY

DUE UP FOR CHICAGO CUBS: A RAMIREZ (.308, 18 HR, 80 RBI)
C MONROE (.200, 0 HR, 0 RBI)
M DEROSA (.291, 8 HR, 60 RBI)</div>

 

NL: MILWAUKEE at CHICAGO CUBS

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

MILWAUKEE ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
R Weeks 2b 2 1 1 1 0 1 0 .231
J Hardy ss 2 1 1 0 0 0 0 .279
R Braun 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .331
P Fielder 1b 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .282
C Hart rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .285
K Mench lf 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 .268
B Hall cf 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .256
D Miller c 1 0 0 0 0 1 3 .236
M Parra p 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .250

Totals 9 2 3 2 2 3 6

BATTING: 2B - K Mench (18, T Lilly). HR - R Weeks (7, 1st inning off T Lilly 0
on, 0 Out). RBI - R Weeks (22), K Mench (31). 2-out RBI - K Mench. Runners left
in scoring position, 2 out - D Miller 2. Team LOB - 3.


CHICAGO CUBS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
A Soriano lf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .293
R Theriot ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .284
D Lee 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .311
A Ramirez 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .308
C Monroe rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .200
M DeRosa 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .291
J Kendall c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .306
J Jones cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .276
T Lilly p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .133

Totals 3 0 0 0 0 1 0

BATTING: Team LOB - 0.


----------------------------------------------------
MILWAUKEE - 20 -- 2
CHICAGO CUBS - 0 -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

MILWAUKEE ip h r er bb so hr era
M Parra 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 2.96

CHICAGO CUBS ip h r er bb so hr era
T Lilly 2 3 2 2 2 3 1 3.91

Pitches-strikes: M Parra 13-7; T Lilly 52-37. Ground balls-fly balls: M Parra
0-2; T Lilly 0-3. Batters faced: M Parra 3; T Lilly 11.

UMPIRES: HP--Brian Gorman. 1B--Paul Nauert. 2B--Rob Drake. 3B--Gerry Davis.

Weather: 66 degrees, clear. Wind: 11 mph, in from left.</div>

 

NL: MILWAUKEE at CHICAGO CUBS

<div class="pre">NL AT CHICAGO CUBS - SCORING UPDATE
SINGLE BY MARK DEROSA SCORED ARAMIS RAMIREZ AND CRAIG
MONROE.
SITUATION: 2 RUNS IN, M DEROSA ON FIRST, 0 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: MILWAUKEE 2
CHICAGO CUBS 2 BOTTOM, 2ND

DUE UP FOR CHICAGO CUBS: J KENDALL (.306, 1 HR, 15 RBI)</div>

 

NL: MILWAUKEE at CHICAGO CUBS

<div class="pre">NL AT CHICAGO CUBS - SCORING UPDATE
SINGLE BY JACQUE JONES SCORED MARK DEROSA.
SITUATION: 3 RUNS IN, J JONES ON FIRST, J KENDALL ON THIRD, 0 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: MILWAUKEE 2
CHICAGO CUBS 3 BOTTOM, 2ND

DUE UP FOR CHICAGO CUBS: T LILLY (.133, 0 HR, 4 RBI)</div>

 

NL: MILWAUKEE at CHICAGO CUBS

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: MIL - MANNY PARRA
CHN - TED LILLY

DUE UP FOR MILWAUKEE: R BRAUN (.331, 0-FOR-1)
P FIELDER (.282, 0-FOR-0, BB)
C HART (.285, 0-FOR-1)</div>

 

NL: MILWAUKEE at CHICAGO CUBS

<div class="pre">MILWAUKEE (2) VS CHICAGO CUBS (3) - END 2ND - IN PROGRESS

MILWAUKEE ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
R Weeks 2b 2 1 1 1 0 1 0 .231
J Hardy ss 2 1 1 0 0 0 0 .279
R Braun 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .331
P Fielder 1b 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .282
C Hart rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .285
K Mench lf 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 .268
B Hall cf 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .256
D Miller c 1 0 0 0 0 1 3 .236
M Parra p 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .250

Totals 9 2 3 2 2 3 6

BATTING: 2B - K Mench (18, T Lilly). HR - R Weeks (7, 1st inning off T Lilly 0
on, 0 Out). RBI - R Weeks (22), K Mench (31). 2-out RBI - K Mench. Runners left
in scoring position, 2 out - D Miller 2. Team LOB - 3.


CHICAGO CUBS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
A Soriano lf 2 0 0 0 0 2 2 .292
R Theriot ss 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 .284
D Lee 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .311
A Ramirez 3b 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 .308
C Monroe rf 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .273
M DeRosa 2b 1 1 1 2 0 0 0 .293
J Kendall c 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .306
J Jones cf 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 .278
T Lilly p 1 0 0 0 0 1 2 .131

Totals 9 3 3 3 2 3 6

BATTING: 2B - C Monroe (2, M Parra). RBI - M DeRosa 2 (62), J Jones (50).
Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - R Theriot 1. Team LOB - 2.


----------------------------------------------------
MILWAUKEE - 20 -- 2
CHICAGO CUBS - 03 -- 3
----------------------------------------------------

MILWAUKEE ip h r er bb so hr era
M Parra 2 3 3 3 2 3 0 3.91

CHICAGO CUBS ip h r er bb so hr era
T Lilly 2 3 2 2 2 3 1 3.91

Pitches-strikes: M Parra 48-24; T Lilly 52-37. Ground balls-fly balls: M
Parra 0-3; T Lilly 0-3. Batters faced: M Parra 11; T Lilly 11.

UMPIRES: HP--Brian Gorman. 1B--Paul Nauert. 2B--Rob Drake. 3B--Gerry Davis.

Weather: 66 degrees, clear. Wind: 11 mph, in from left.</div>

 

NL: MILWAUKEE at CHICAGO CUBS

<div class="pre">NL AT CHICAGO CUBS - SCORING UPDATE
SACRIFICE FLY BY KEVIN MENCH SCORED RYAN BRAUN.
SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, C HART ON THIRD, 2 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: MILWAUKEE 3
CHICAGO CUBS 3 TOP, 3RD

DUE UP FOR MILWAUKEE: B HALL (.256, 0-FOR-0, BB)</div>

 

NL: MILWAUKEE at CHICAGO CUBS

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: MIL - MANNY PARRA
CHN - TED LILLY

DUE UP FOR CHICAGO CUBS: D LEE (.311, 0-FOR-1)
A RAMIREZ (.308, 0-FOR-0, BB)
C MONROE (.273, 1-FOR-1)</div>