GAME THREAD: GAME THREAD: NL: LA DODGERS (71-65) at CHICAGO CUBS (70-65)

NL: LA DODGERS (71-65) at CHICAGO CUBS (70-65)

<h3>Zambrano gets start as Cubs try to hold top spot in NL Central</h3>

<div class="pre">LA Dodgers (71-65) at Chicago Cubs (70-65) 4:05 pm EDT</div>

CHICAGO (Ticker) - When July ended, Carlos Zambrano was a CyYoung candidate. A lot can change in a month.


Zambrano will hope to put an awful month behind him and snap afour-game losing streak when the Chicago Cubs host the LosAngeles Dodgers in the opener of a four-game series Monday.

The 26-year-old Zambrano (14-11, 4.06 ERA) went 0-4 with a 7.36ERA, 17 walks and 21 strikeouts in August. The Venezuelanrighthander was impressive in his only start against the Dodgersthis season, yielding two runs and eight hits with eightstrikeouts over 7 2/3 innings in a 4-2 triumph on May 26.

The Cubs will need Zambrano to step up as they hold just a 1 1/2game advantage in the National League Central over theMilwaukee Brewers (69-67) and the St. Louis Cardinals (67-66)sit just two games back.


Los Angeles will send recently-acquired Esteban Loaiza (1-0,1.84) to the mound. Loaiza's only two starts this season camewith the Oakland Atheletics after missing the first 4 1/2 monthsof the season with multiple injuries.


The Dodgers trail the San Diego Padres (75-61) and the ArizonaDiamondbacks (76-62) by four games in the NL West race.

 

NL: LA DODGERS at CHICAGO CUBS

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

LA DODGERS CHICAGO CUBS
AVG HR RBI AVG HR RBI
Rafael Furcal SS .279 5 43 Alfonso Soriano LF .295 19 44
Juan Pierre CF .291 0 34 Ryan Theriot SS .280 3 40
Andre Ethier RF .288 10 55 Derrek Lee 1B .312 17 72
Jeff Kent 2B .295 17 72 Aramis Ramirez 3B .318 19 82
Luis Gonzalez LF .276 12 56 Matt Murton RF .274 6 17
Russell Martin C .294 17 79 Mark Derosa 2B .284 8 62
James Loney 1B .308 6 37 Jacque Jones CF .268 5 50
Andy Laroche 3B .200 0 3 Henry Blanco C .190 0 4
Esteban Loaiza RHP .000 0 0 Carlos Zambrano RHP .254 2 5
(0-0, 0.00) (14-11, 4.06)</div>

 

NL: LA DODGERS at CHICAGO CUBS

<div class="pre">NL AT CHICAGO CUBS
WARMUPS: LOS - ESTEBAN LOAIZA (NO RECORD)
CHN - CARLOS ZAMBRANO (14-11, 4.06)

UMPIRES: HP - ED HICKOX
1B - C.B. BUCKNOR
2B - JOE WEST
3B - ED RAPUANO

WEATHER: 84 Degrees, sunny
WIND: 10 mph, right to left</div>

 

NL: LA DODGERS at CHICAGO CUBS

<div class="pre">NL AT CHICAGO CUBS
STARTING BATS: LOS - ESTEBAN LOAIZA AND RUSSELL MARTIN
CHN - CARLOS ZAMBRANO AND HENRY BLANCO

DUE UP FOR LA DODGERS: R FURCAL (.279, 5 HR, 43 RBI)
J PIERRE (.291, 0 HR, 34 RBI)
A ETHIER (.288, 10 HR, 55 RBI)</div>

 

NL: LA DODGERS at CHICAGO CUBS

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: LOS - ESTEBAN LOAIZA
CHN - CARLOS ZAMBRANO

DUE UP FOR CHICAGO CUBS: A SORIANO (.295, 19 HR, 44 RBI)
R THERIOT (.280, 3 HR, 40 RBI)
D LEE (.312, 17 HR, 72 RBI)</div>

 

NL: LA DODGERS at CHICAGO CUBS

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

LA DODGERS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
R Furcal ss 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .279
J Pierre cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .290
A Ethier rf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .290
J Kent 2b 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .295
L Gonzalez lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .276
R Martin c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .294
J Loney 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .308
A LaRoche 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .200
E Loaiza p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000

Totals 4 0 1 0 0 2 1

BATTING: Team LOB - 1.


CHICAGO CUBS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
A Soriano lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .295
R Theriot ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .280
D Lee 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .312
A Ramirez 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .318
M Murton rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .274
M DeRosa 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .284
J Jones cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .268
H Blanco c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .190
C Zambrano p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .254

Totals 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

BATTING: Team LOB - 0.


----------------------------------------------------
LA DODGERS - 0 -- 0
CHICAGO CUBS - -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

LA DODGERS ip h r er bb so hr era
E Loaiza 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 ###

CHICAGO CUBS ip h r er bb so hr era
C Zambrano 1 1 0 0 0 2 0 4.03

Pitches-strikes: C Zambrano 16-10. Ground balls-fly balls: C Zambrano 0-1.
Batters faced: C Zambrano 4.

UMPIRES: HP--Ed Hickox. 1B--C.B. Bucknor. 2B--Joe West. 3B--Ed Rapuano.

Weather: 84 degrees, sunny. Wind: 10 mph, right to left.</div>

 

NL: LA DODGERS at CHICAGO CUBS

<div class="pre">NL AT CHICAGO CUBS
CONFIRMED STARTERS: LOS - ESTEBAN LOAIZA
CHN - CARLOS ZAMBRANO</div>

 

NL: LA DODGERS at CHICAGO CUBS

<div class="pre">NL AT CHICAGO CUBS - SCORING UPDATE
SOLO HOME RUN BY ALFONSO SORIANO (20) TO LEFT WITH 0 OUT IN
THE 1ST OFF ESTEBAN LOAIZA.
CURRENT SCORE: LA DODGERS 0, CHICAGO CUBS 1

DUE UP FOR CHICAGO CUBS: R THERIOT (.280, 3 HR, 40 RBI)</div>

 

NL: LA DODGERS at CHICAGO CUBS

<div class="pre">NL LA DODGERS AT CHICAGO CUBS
NOTE: THE HOME RUN BY CHICAGO LEFT FIELDER ALFONSO SORIANO
LED OFF THE BOTTOM OF THE FIRST INNING.</div>

 

NL: LA DODGERS at CHICAGO CUBS

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: LOS - ESTEBAN LOAIZA
CHN - CARLOS ZAMBRANO

DUE UP FOR LA DODGERS: L GONZALEZ (.276, 12 HR, 56 RBI)
R MARTIN (.294, 17 HR, 79 RBI)
J LONEY (.308, 6 HR, 37 RBI)</div>

 

NL: LA DODGERS at CHICAGO CUBS

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

LA DODGERS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
R Furcal ss 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .279
J Pierre cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .290
A Ethier rf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .290
J Kent 2b 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .295
L Gonzalez lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .276
R Martin c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .294
J Loney 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .308
A LaRoche 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .200
E Loaiza p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000

Totals 4 0 1 0 0 2 1

BATTING: Team LOB - 1.

FIELDING: E - R Furcal (18, throw).


CHICAGO CUBS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
A Soriano lf 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 .297
R Theriot ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .280
D Lee 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .311
A Ramirez 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .317
M Murton rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .272
M DeRosa 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .284
J Jones cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .268
H Blanco c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .190
C Zambrano p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .254

Totals 5 1 1 1 0 0 1

BATTING: HR - A Soriano (20, 1st inning off E Loaiza 0 on, 0 Out). RBI - A
Soriano (45). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - M Murton 1. Team LOB -
1.


----------------------------------------------------
LA DODGERS - 0 -- 0
CHICAGO CUBS - 1 -- 1
----------------------------------------------------

LA DODGERS ip h r er bb so hr era
E Loaiza 1 1 1 1 0 0 1 9.00

CHICAGO CUBS ip h r er bb so hr era
C Zambrano 1 1 0 0 0 2 0 4.03

Pitches-strikes: E Loaiza 15-10; C Zambrano 16-10. Ground balls-fly balls: E
Loaiza 1-2; C Zambrano 0-1. Batters faced: E Loaiza 5; C Zambrano 4.

UMPIRES: HP--Ed Hickox. 1B--C.B. Bucknor. 2B--Joe West. 3B--Ed Rapuano.

Weather: 78 degrees, sunny. Wind: 5 mph, in from right.</div>

 

NL: LA DODGERS at CHICAGO CUBS

<div class="pre">NL AT CHICAGO CUBS - SCORING UPDATE
GROUND OUT BY ANDY LAROCHE SCORED LUIS GONZALEZ.
SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, R MARTIN ON SECOND, 2 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: LA DODGERS 1
CHICAGO CUBS 1 TOP, 2ND

DUE UP FOR LA DODGERS: E LOAIZA (.000, 0 HR, 0 RBI)</div>

 

NL: LA DODGERS at CHICAGO CUBS

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: LOS - ESTEBAN LOAIZA
CHN - CARLOS ZAMBRANO

DUE UP FOR CHICAGO CUBS: M DEROSA (.284, 8 HR, 62 RBI)
J JONES (.268, 5 HR, 50 RBI)
H BLANCO (.190, 0 HR, 4 RBI)</div>

 

NL: LA DODGERS at CHICAGO CUBS

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

LA DODGERS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
R Furcal ss 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .279
J Pierre cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .290
A Ethier rf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .290
J Kent 2b 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .295
L Gonzalez lf 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .278
R Martin c 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .296
J Loney 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .307
A LaRoche 3b 1 0 0 1 0 0 1 .195
E Loaiza p 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .000

Totals 9 1 3 1 0 3 3

BATTING: RBI - A LaRoche (4). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - E
Loaiza 1. Team LOB - 2.

FIELDING: E - R Furcal (18, throw).


CHICAGO CUBS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
A Soriano lf 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 .297
R Theriot ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .280
D Lee 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .311
A Ramirez 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .317
M Murton rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .272
M DeRosa 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .284
J Jones cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .268
H Blanco c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .190
C Zambrano p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .254

Totals 5 1 1 1 0 0 1

BATTING: HR - A Soriano (20, 1st inning off E Loaiza 0 on, 0 Out). RBI - A
Soriano (45). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - M Murton 1. Team LOB -
1.


----------------------------------------------------
LA DODGERS - 01 -- 1
CHICAGO CUBS - 1 -- 1
----------------------------------------------------

LA DODGERS ip h r er bb so hr era
E Loaiza 1 1 1 1 0 0 1 9.00

CHICAGO CUBS ip h r er bb so hr era
C Zambrano 2 3 1 1 0 3 0 4.06

Pitches-strikes: E Loaiza 15-10; C Zambrano 32-20. Ground balls-fly balls: E
Loaiza 1-2; C Zambrano 2-1. Batters faced: E Loaiza 5; C Zambrano 9.

UMPIRES: HP--Ed Hickox. 1B--C.B. Bucknor. 2B--Joe West. 3B--Ed Rapuano.

Weather: 78 degrees, sunny. Wind: 5 mph, in from right.</div>

 

NL: LA DODGERS at CHICAGO CUBS

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: LOS - ESTEBAN LOAIZA
CHN - CARLOS ZAMBRANO

DUE UP FOR LA DODGERS: R FURCAL (.279, 0-FOR-1)
J PIERRE (.290, 0-FOR-1)
A ETHIER (.290, 1-FOR-1)</div>

 

NL: LA DODGERS at CHICAGO CUBS

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

LA DODGERS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
R Furcal ss 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .279
J Pierre cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .290
A Ethier rf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .290
J Kent 2b 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .295
L Gonzalez lf 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .278
R Martin c 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .296
J Loney 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .307
A LaRoche 3b 1 0 0 1 0 0 1 .195
E Loaiza p 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .000

Totals 9 1 3 1 0 3 3

BATTING: RBI - A LaRoche (4). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - E
Loaiza 1. Team LOB - 2.

FIELDING: E - R Furcal (18, throw).


CHICAGO CUBS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
A Soriano lf 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 .297
R Theriot ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .280
D Lee 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .311
A Ramirez 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .317
M Murton rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .272
M DeRosa 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .283
J Jones cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .268
H Blanco c 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .186
C Zambrano p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .254

Totals 8 1 1 1 0 0 1

BATTING: HR - A Soriano (20, 1st inning off E Loaiza 0 on, 0 Out). RBI - A
Soriano (45). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - M Murton 1. Team LOB -
1.


----------------------------------------------------
LA DODGERS - 01 -- 1
CHICAGO CUBS - 10 -- 1
----------------------------------------------------

LA DODGERS ip h r er bb so hr era
E Loaiza 2 1 1 1 0 0 1 4.50

CHICAGO CUBS ip h r er bb so hr era
C Zambrano 2 3 1 1 0 3 0 4.06

Pitches-strikes: E Loaiza 26-17; C Zambrano 32-20. Ground balls-fly balls: E
Loaiza 1-5; C Zambrano 2-1. Batters faced: E Loaiza 8; C Zambrano 9.

UMPIRES: HP--Ed Hickox. 1B--C.B. Bucknor. 2B--Joe West. 3B--Ed Rapuano.

Weather: 78 degrees, sunny. Wind: 5 mph, in from right.</div>

 

NL: LA DODGERS at CHICAGO CUBS

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: LOS - ESTEBAN LOAIZA
CHN - CARLOS ZAMBRANO

DUE UP FOR CHICAGO CUBS: C ZAMBRANO (.254, 2 HR, 5 RBI)
A SORIANO (.297, 1-FOR-1, HR, RBI)
R THERIOT (.280, 0-FOR-1)</div>

 

NL: LA DODGERS at CHICAGO CUBS

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

LA DODGERS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
R Furcal ss 2 0 0 0 0 1 0 .278
J Pierre cf 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 .290
A Ethier rf 2 0 1 0 0 1 0 .289
J Kent 2b 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .295
L Gonzalez lf 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .278
R Martin c 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .296
J Loney 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .307
A LaRoche 3b 1 0 0 1 0 0 1 .195
E Loaiza p 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .000

Totals 12 1 3 1 0 4 3

BATTING: RBI - A LaRoche (4). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - E
Loaiza 1. Team LOB - 2.

FIELDING: E - R Furcal (18, throw).


CHICAGO CUBS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
A Soriano lf 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 .297
R Theriot ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .280
D Lee 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .311
A Ramirez 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .317
M Murton rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .272
M DeRosa 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .283
J Jones cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .268
H Blanco c 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .186
C Zambrano p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .254

Totals 8 1 1 1 0 0 1

BATTING: HR - A Soriano (20, 1st inning off E Loaiza 0 on, 0 Out). RBI - A
Soriano (45). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - M Murton 1. Team LOB -
1.


----------------------------------------------------
LA DODGERS - 010 -- 1
CHICAGO CUBS - 10 -- 1
----------------------------------------------------

LA DODGERS ip h r er bb so hr era
E Loaiza 2 1 1 1 0 0 1 4.50

CHICAGO CUBS ip h r er bb so hr era
C Zambrano 3 3 1 1 0 4 0 4.04

Pitches-strikes: E Loaiza 26-17; C Zambrano 44-28. Ground balls-fly balls: E
Loaiza 1-5; C Zambrano 4-1. Batters faced: E Loaiza 8; C Zambrano 12.

UMPIRES: HP--Ed Hickox. 1B--C.B. Bucknor. 2B--Joe West. 3B--Ed Rapuano.

Weather: 78 degrees, sunny. Wind: 5 mph, in from right.</div>

 

NL: LA DODGERS at CHICAGO CUBS

<div class="pre">NL AT CHICAGO CUBS - SCORING UPDATE
SINGLE BY RYAN THERIOT SCORED ALFONSO SORIANO.
SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, R THERIOT ON FIRST, 1 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: LA DODGERS 1
CHICAGO CUBS 2 BOTTOM, 3RD

DUE UP FOR CHICAGO CUBS: D LEE (.311, 0-FOR-1)</div>

 

NL: LA DODGERS at CHICAGO CUBS

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: LOS - ESTEBAN LOAIZA
CHN - CARLOS ZAMBRANO

DUE UP FOR LA DODGERS: J KENT (.295, 0-FOR-1)
L GONZALEZ (.278, 1-FOR-1)
R MARTIN (.296, 1-FOR-1)</div>