GAME THREAD: NL: HOUSTON (54-65) at CHICAGO CUBS (60-58)

NL: HOUSTON (54-65) at CHICAGO CUBS (60-58)

<h3>Soriano, Cubs look to avenge earlier sweep vs. Astros</h3>



<div class="pre">Houston (60-74) at Chicago Cubs (68-64) 2:20 pm EDT</div>

CHICAGO (Ticker) - After giving themselves some cushion in theNational League Central, Alfonso Soriano and the Chicago Cubslook to beat up on the lowly Houston Astros on Friday.

Soriano and Matt Murton hit back-to-back home runs in the sixthinning to lift the Cubs to a 5-4 win over the Milwaukee Brewerson Thursday. It was Soriano's first home run since returningfrom the disabled list on Tuesday.


The win allowed Chicago to pick up a game in the standings ontheir closest challengers, the Brewers and the resurgent St.Louis Cardinals.


The Cubs, who now lead the Brewers by 2 1/2 games and theCardinals by three, will now set their sights on the Astros, whoswept Chicago in a home series from August 6-8.


Sean Marshall (7-6, 4.04 ERA) will take the mound for the Cubs,who are just 5-4 in their last nine games.


The lefthanded Marshall is unbeaten in his last six starts. Heallowed just one run and two hits in six innings of a 6-2 winover the Arizona Diamondbacks last Friday.


The previous sweep over Chicago did very little for strugglingHouston, which fired both manager Phil Garner and generalmanager Tim Purpura on Monday. Interim manager Cecil Cooper didguide the Astros to a series win over the Cardinals this weekamid the changes.


Despite winning their last two games, Houston now turns to WandyRodriguez (7-12, 4.67), who will make a dreaded road start.Rodriguez is 1-9 with a 7.80 ERA in 12 road starts this season,dropping his last five outings away from home.


The lefthander, who had been outstanding at home, is coming offa pair of subpar starts at Minute Maid Park, giving up 11 runsover his last 10 1/3 innings.

 

NL: HOUSTON (61-74) at CHICAGO CUBS (68-65)

<h3>Marquis, Cubs look to rebound vs. Astros</h3>



Houston (61-74) at Chicago Cubs (68-65), 1:05 pm EDT

CHICAGO (Ticker) - Jason Marquis and the Chicago Cubs look torebound from a disappointing loss.


Marquis and the Cubs look to even their three-game set when theyface the Houston Astros on Saturday.


Chicago was held to seven hits - four by Houston starter WandyRodriguez - when it lost, 6-1, on Friday.


It was an unsatisfying start for the Cubs after taking two ofthree in the previous series against the Milwaukee Brewers,their closest pursuers in the National League Central Divisionrace.


Marquis (10-8, 4.26 ERA) takes the mound after suffering hiseighth loss of the season in his last start. The righthanderallowed five runs and six hits - including two homers - in 5 1/3frames of a 5-4 defeat to the Arizona Diamondbacks last Sunday.

The Cubs will look for Marquis to improve upon his 7-3 homerecord, as opposed to a 3-5 mark on the road. The eight-yearveteran is 7-5 lifetime against the Astros, going 0-1 in twostarts versus Houston in 2007.


The Astros counter with rookie Troy Patton (0-1, 4.76), who ismaking his second major league start.


The 21-year-old received a loss in his debut against Pittsburghlast Saturday, when he allowed three runs and six hits in 5 2/3innings in a 4-1 defeat.


Houston has won four straight against Chicago, and is 6-4overall versus the Cubs this season.

 

NL: HOUSTON at CHICAGO CUBS

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

HOUSTON CHICAGO CUBS
AVG HR RBI AVG HR RBI
Hunter Pence CF .325 14 52 Alfonso Soriano LF .293 19 43
Chris Burke 2B .227 4 21 Ryan Theriot SS .281 3 39
Lance Berkman 1B .280 26 86 Derrek Lee 1B .307 15 68
Carlos Lee LF .302 26 103 Aramis Ramirez 3B .316 18 80
Mark Loretta SS .278 2 32 Craig Monroe RF .267 0 0
Luke Scott RF .256 15 58 Mark Derosa 2B .289 8 62
Ty Wigginton 3B .256 3 9 Jason Kendall C .316 1 15
Brad Ausmus C .231 3 22 Jacque Jones CF .273 5 50
Troy Patton LHP .000 0 0 Jason Marquis RHP .153 1 4
(0-1, 4.76) (10-8, 4.26)</div>

 

NL: HOUSTON at CHICAGO CUBS

<div class="pre">NL AT CHICAGO CUBS
WARMUPS: HOU - TROY PATTON (0-1, 4.76)
CHN - JASON MARQUIS (10-8, 4.26)

UMPIRES: HP - LARRY VANOVER
1B - TONY RANDAZZO
2B - GERRY DAVIS
3B - GREG GIBSON

WEATHER: 75 Degrees, sunny
WIND: 4 mph, right to left</div>

 

NL: HOUSTON at CHICAGO CUBS

<div class="pre">NL AT CHICAGO CUBS
STARTING BATS: HOU - TROY PATTON AND BRAD AUSMUS
CHN - JASON MARQUIS AND JASON KENDALL

DUE UP FOR HOUSTON: H PENCE (.325, 14 HR, 52 RBI)
C BURKE (.227, 4 HR, 21 RBI)
L BERKMAN (.280, 26 HR, 86 RBI)</div>

 

NL: HOUSTON at CHICAGO CUBS

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: HOU - TROY PATTON
CHN - JASON MARQUIS

DUE UP FOR CHICAGO CUBS: A SORIANO (.293, 19 HR, 43 RBI)
R THERIOT (.281, 3 HR, 39 RBI)
D LEE (.307, 15 HR, 68 RBI)</div>

 

NL: HOUSTON at CHICAGO CUBS

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

HOUSTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
H Pence cf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .324
C Burke 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .226
L Berkman 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .279
C Lee lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .302
M Loretta ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .278
L Scott rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .256
T Wigginton 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .256
B Ausmus c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .231
T Patton p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000

Totals 3 0 0 0 0 1 0

BATTING: Team LOB - 0.


CHICAGO CUBS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
A Soriano lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .293
R Theriot ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .281
D Lee 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .307
A Ramirez 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .316
C Monroe rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .267
M DeRosa 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .289
J Kendall c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .316
J Jones cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .273
J Marquis p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .153

Totals 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

BATTING: Team LOB - 0.


----------------------------------------------------
HOUSTON - 0 -- 0
CHICAGO CUBS - -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

HOUSTON ip h r er bb so hr era
T Patton 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4.76

CHICAGO CUBS ip h r er bb so hr era
J Marquis 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 4.24

Pitches-strikes: J Marquis 11-8. Ground balls-fly balls: J Marquis 1-1.
Batters faced: J Marquis 3.

UMPIRES: HP--Larry Vanover. 1B--Tony Randazzo. 2B--Gerry Davis. 3B--Greg
Gibson.

Weather: 75 degrees, sunny. Wind: 4 mph, right to left.</div>

 

NL: HOUSTON at CHICAGO CUBS

<div class="pre">NL AT CHICAGO CUBS
CONFIRMED STARTERS: HOU - TROY PATTON
CHN - JASON MARQUIS</div>

 

NL: HOUSTON at CHICAGO CUBS

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: HOU - TROY PATTON
CHN - JASON MARQUIS

DUE UP FOR HOUSTON: C LEE (.302, 26 HR, 103 RBI)
M LORETTA (.278, 2 HR, 32 RBI)
L SCOTT (.256, 15 HR, 58 RBI)</div>

 

NL: HOUSTON at CHICAGO CUBS

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

HOUSTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
H Pence cf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .324
C Burke 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .226
L Berkman 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .279
C Lee lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .302
M Loretta ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .278
L Scott rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .256
T Wigginton 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .256
B Ausmus c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .231
T Patton p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000

Totals 3 0 0 0 0 1 0

BATTING: Team LOB - 0.


CHICAGO CUBS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
A Soriano lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .293
R Theriot ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .280
D Lee 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .306
A Ramirez 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .316
C Monroe rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .267
M DeRosa 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .289
J Kendall c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .316
J Jones cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .273
J Marquis p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .153

Totals 3 0 0 0 0 0 0

BATTING: Team LOB - 0.


----------------------------------------------------
HOUSTON - 0 -- 0
CHICAGO CUBS - 0 -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

HOUSTON ip h r er bb so hr era
T Patton 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 4.05

CHICAGO CUBS ip h r er bb so hr era
J Marquis 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 4.24

Pitches-strikes: T Patton 11-10; J Marquis 11-8. Ground balls-fly balls: T
Patton 0-3; J Marquis 1-1. Batters faced: T Patton 3; J Marquis 3.

UMPIRES: HP--Larry Vanover. 1B--Tony Randazzo. 2B--Gerry Davis. 3B--Greg
Gibson.

Weather: 75 degrees, sunny. Wind: 4 mph, right to left.</div>

 

NL: HOUSTON at CHICAGO CUBS

<div class="pre">NL AT CHICAGO CUBS - SCORING UPDATE
SOLO HOME RUN BY LUKE SCOTT (16) TO RIGHT CENTER WITH 2 OUT
IN THE 2ND OFF JASON MARQUIS.
CURRENT SCORE: HOUSTON 1, CHICAGO CUBS 0

DUE UP FOR HOUSTON: T WIGGINTON (.256, 3 HR, 9 RBI)</div>

 

NL: HOUSTON at CHICAGO CUBS

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: HOU - TROY PATTON
CHN - JASON MARQUIS

DUE UP FOR CHICAGO CUBS: A RAMIREZ (.316, 18 HR, 80 RBI)
C MONROE (.267, 0 HR, 0 RBI)
M DEROSA (.289, 8 HR, 62 RBI)</div>

 

NL: HOUSTON at CHICAGO CUBS

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

HOUSTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
H Pence cf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .324
C Burke 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .226
L Berkman 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .279
C Lee lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .302
M Loretta ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .277
L Scott rf 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 .258
T Wigginton 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .253
B Ausmus c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .231
T Patton p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000

Totals 7 1 1 1 0 1 0

BATTING: HR - L Scott (16, 2nd inning off J Marquis 0 on, 2 Out). RBI - L Scott
(59). 2-out RBI - L Scott. Team LOB - 0.


CHICAGO CUBS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
A Soriano lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .293
R Theriot ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .280
D Lee 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .306
A Ramirez 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .316
C Monroe rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .267
M DeRosa 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .289
J Kendall c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .316
J Jones cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .273
J Marquis p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .153

Totals 3 0 0 0 0 0 0

BATTING: Team LOB - 0.


----------------------------------------------------
HOUSTON - 01 -- 1
CHICAGO CUBS - 0 -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

HOUSTON ip h r er bb so hr era
T Patton 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 4.05

CHICAGO CUBS ip h r er bb so hr era
J Marquis 2 1 1 1 0 1 1 4.27

Pitches-strikes: T Patton 11-10; J Marquis 18-13. Ground balls-fly balls: T
Patton 0-3; J Marquis 2-3. Batters faced: T Patton 3; J Marquis 7.

UMPIRES: HP--Larry Vanover. 1B--Tony Randazzo. 2B--Gerry Davis. 3B--Greg
Gibson.

Weather: 75 degrees, sunny. Wind: 4 mph, right to left.</div>

 

NL: HOUSTON at CHICAGO CUBS

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: HOU - TROY PATTON
CHN - JASON MARQUIS

DUE UP FOR HOUSTON: B AUSMUS (.231, 3 HR, 22 RBI)
T PATTON (.000, 0 HR, 0 RBI)
H PENCE (.324, 0-FOR-1)</div>

 

NL: HOUSTON at CHICAGO CUBS

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

HOUSTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
H Pence cf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .324
C Burke 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .226
L Berkman 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .279
C Lee lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .302
M Loretta ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .277
L Scott rf 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 .258
T Wigginton 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .253
B Ausmus c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .231
T Patton p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000

Totals 7 1 1 1 0 1 0

BATTING: HR - L Scott (16, 2nd inning off J Marquis 0 on, 2 Out). RBI - L Scott
(59). 2-out RBI - L Scott. Team LOB - 0.

FIELDING: E - L Berkman (9, catch).


CHICAGO CUBS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
A Soriano lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .293
R Theriot ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .280
D Lee 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .306
A Ramirez 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .315
C Monroe rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .250
M DeRosa 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .288
J Kendall c 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .313
J Jones cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .273
J Marquis p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .153

Totals 7 0 0 0 0 0 3

BATTING: Team LOB - 1.


----------------------------------------------------
HOUSTON - 01 -- 1
CHICAGO CUBS - 00 -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

HOUSTON ip h r er bb so hr era
T Patton 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 3.52

CHICAGO CUBS ip h r er bb so hr era
J Marquis 2 1 1 1 0 1 1 4.27

Pitches-strikes: T Patton 27-21; J Marquis 18-13. Ground balls-fly balls: T
Patton 1-5; J Marquis 2-3. Batters faced: T Patton 7; J Marquis 7.

UMPIRES: HP--Larry Vanover. 1B--Tony Randazzo. 2B--Gerry Davis. 3B--Greg
Gibson.

Weather: 75 degrees, sunny. Wind: 4 mph, right to left.</div>

 

NL: HOUSTON at CHICAGO CUBS

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: HOU - TROY PATTON
CHN - JASON MARQUIS

DUE UP FOR CHICAGO CUBS: J JONES (.273, 5 HR, 50 RBI)
J MARQUIS (.153, 1 HR, 4 RBI)
A SORIANO (.293, 0-FOR-1)</div>

 

NL: HOUSTON at CHICAGO CUBS

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

HOUSTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
H Pence cf 1 0 0 0 1 1 0 .324
C Burke 2b 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 .225
L Berkman 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .279
C Lee lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .302
M Loretta ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .277
L Scott rf 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 .258
T Wigginton 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .253
B Ausmus c 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .230
T Patton p 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .500

Totals 10 1 2 1 1 1 2

BATTING: HR - L Scott (16, 2nd inning off J Marquis 0 on, 2 Out). RBI - L Scott
(59). 2-out RBI - L Scott. GIDP - C Burke. Team LOB - 1.

FIELDING: E - L Berkman (9, catch).


CHICAGO CUBS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
A Soriano lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .293
R Theriot ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .280
D Lee 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .306
A Ramirez 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .315
C Monroe rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .250
M DeRosa 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .288
J Kendall c 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .313
J Jones cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .273
J Marquis p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .153

Totals 7 0 0 0 0 0 3

BATTING: Team LOB - 1.

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


----------------------------------------------------
HOUSTON - 010 -- 1
CHICAGO CUBS - 00 -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

HOUSTON ip h r er bb so hr era
T Patton 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 3.52

CHICAGO CUBS ip h r er bb so hr era
J Marquis 3 2 1 1 1 1 1 4.24

Pitches-strikes: T Patton 27-21; J Marquis 33-20. Ground balls-fly balls: T
Patton 1-5; J Marquis 5-3. Batters faced: T Patton 7; J Marquis 11.

UMPIRES: HP--Larry Vanover. 1B--Tony Randazzo. 2B--Gerry Davis. 3B--Greg
Gibson.

Weather: 75 degrees, sunny. Wind: 4 mph, right to left.</div>

 

NL: HOUSTON at CHICAGO CUBS

<div class="pre">NL AT CHICAGO CUBS - SCORING UPDATE
ERROR BY HUNTER PENCE ALLOWED ALFONSO SORIANO TO SCORE.
SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, R THERIOT ON SECOND, 2 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: HOUSTON 1
CHICAGO CUBS 1 BOTTOM, 3RD

DUE UP FOR CHICAGO CUBS: D LEE (.306, 0-FOR-1)</div>

 

NL: HOUSTON at CHICAGO CUBS

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: HOU - TROY PATTON
CHN - JASON MARQUIS

DUE UP FOR HOUSTON: L BERKMAN (.279, 0-FOR-1)
C LEE (.302, 0-FOR-1)
M LORETTA (.277, 0-FOR-1)</div>

 

NL: HOUSTON at CHICAGO CUBS

<div class="pre">HOUSTON (1) VS CHICAGO CUBS (1) - END 3RD - IN PROGRESS

HOUSTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
H Pence cf 1 0 0 0 1 1 0 .324
C Burke 2b 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 .225
L Berkman 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .279
C Lee lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .302
M Loretta ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .277
L Scott rf 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 .258
T Wigginton 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .253
B Ausmus c 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .230
T Patton p 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .500

Totals 10 1 2 1 1 1 2

BATTING: HR - L Scott (16, 2nd inning off J Marquis 0 on, 2 Out). RBI - L Scott
(59). 2-out RBI - L Scott. GIDP - C Burke. Team LOB - 1.

FIELDING: E - L Berkman (9, catch); H Pence (3, throw).


CHICAGO CUBS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
A Soriano lf 1 1 0 0 1 0 0 .293
R Theriot ss 2 0 1 0 0 0 0 .282
D Lee 1b 2 0 0 0 0 1 1 .305
A Ramirez 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .315
C Monroe rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .250
M DeRosa 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .288
J Kendall c 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .313
J Jones cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .272
J Marquis p 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .150

Totals 11 1 1 0 1 1 4

BATTING: 2B - R Theriot (27, T Patton). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out
- D Lee 1. Team LOB - 2.

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


----------------------------------------------------
HOUSTON - 010 -- 1
CHICAGO CUBS - 001 -- 1
----------------------------------------------------

HOUSTON ip h r er bb so hr era
T Patton 3 1 1 1 1 1 0 4.15

CHICAGO CUBS ip h r er bb so hr era
J Marquis 3 2 1 1 1 1 1 4.24

Pitches-strikes: T Patton 45-31; J Marquis 33-20. Ground balls-fly balls: T
Patton 2-6; J Marquis 5-3. Batters faced: T Patton 12; J Marquis 11.

UMPIRES: HP--Larry Vanover. 1B--Tony Randazzo. 2B--Gerry Davis. 3B--Greg
Gibson.

Weather: 75 degrees, sunny. Wind: 4 mph, right to left.</div>