GAME THREAD: NL: LA DODGERS (73-66) at CHICAGO CUBS (71-67)

NL: LA DODGERS (73-66) at CHICAGO CUBS (71-67)

<h3>Cubs look for breathing room in NL Central</h3>



<div class="pre">LA Dodgers (73-66) at Chicago Cubs (71-67) 2:20 pm EDT</div>

CHICAGO (Ticker) - The Chicago Cubs will look for some breathingroom in the National League Central Division and salvage asplit of a four-game series when they take on the Los AngelesDodgers on Thursday.


The Cubs lead the NL Central by one-half game over the MilwaukeeBrewers (71-68) after rebounding from two straight loss to theDodgers with an 8-2 victory on Wednesday. The Brewers were ableto keep pace after routing the Houston Astros, 14-2, onWednesday.


Aramis Ramirez and Mark DeRosa both drove in a pair of runsWednesday for Chicago, which improved to 17-17 against teams inthe NL West.


The Cubs now turn to Jason Marquis (11-8, 4.20 ERA), who is 3-1over his last five starts.


In his last outing, Marquis allowed two runs and five hits over6 2/3 innings en route to a 4-3 triumph over the Houston Astroson Saturday.


In seven career appearances, including six starts, against theDodgers, Marquis is 2-1 with a 2.20 ERA.


Los Angeles, which has won seven of its last 10 games, are stillin the mix for a postseason berth, sitting four games back ofArizona (77-62) in the NL West and just three games behind SanDiego (76-63) in the wild card. Excluding Thursday's finalewith the Cubs, the Dodgers face only division opponents for therest of the season, including six against the Diamondbacks andthree against the Padres.


Derek Lowe (11-12, 3.78 ERA) will look to rebound from a roughouting when he toes the rubber for the Dodgers. After winningthree straight outings, Lowe lasted just 4 1/3 innings andsurrendered seven runs - six earned - and six hits in a 7-0 lossat San Diego on Saturday.

 

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 .276 5 44 Alfonso Soriano LF .298 20 45
Juan Pierre CF .291 0 36 Ryan Theriot SS .283 3 42
Matt Kemp RF .342 9 35 Derrek Lee 1B .309 17 72
Luis Gonzalez LF .282 12 57 Daryle Ward RF .344 2 15
Russell Martin C .297 17 81 Mark Derosa 3B .293 8 65
James Loney 1B .307 6 40 Jacque Jones CF .268 5 52
Andy Laroche 3B .208 0 6 Jason Kendall C .288 1 15
Tony Abreu 2B .288 1 9 Mike Fontenot 2B .279 3 28
Derek Lowe RHP .118 0 1 Jason Marquis RHP .150 1 4
(11-12, 3.78) (11-8, 4.20)</div>

 

NL: LA DODGERS at CHICAGO CUBS

<div class="pre">NL AT CHICAGO CUBS
WARMUPS: LOS - DEREK LOWE (11-12, 3.78)
CHN - JASON MARQUIS (11-8, 4.20)

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

WEATHER: 81 Degrees, sunny
WIND: 12 mph, out to left</div>

 

NL: LA DODGERS at CHICAGO CUBS

<div class="pre">NL AT CHICAGO CUBS
STARTING BATS: LOS - DEREK LOWE AND RUSSELL MARTIN
CHN - JASON MARQUIS AND JASON KENDALL

DUE UP FOR LA DODGERS: R FURCAL (.276, 5 HR, 44 RBI)
J PIERRE (.291, 0 HR, 36 RBI)
M KEMP (.342, 9 HR, 35 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 0 0
CHICAGO CUBS 0 0 0 (BOT 1)

CURRENT PITCHERS: LOS - DEREK LOWE
CHN - JASON MARQUIS

DUE UP FOR CHICAGO CUBS: A SORIANO (.298, 20 HR, 45 RBI)
R THERIOT (.283, 3 HR, 42 RBI)
D LEE (.309, 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 0 0 .276
J Pierre cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .291
M Kemp rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .341
L Gonzalez lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .282
R Martin c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .297
J Loney 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .307
A LaRoche 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .208
T Abreu 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .288
D Lowe p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .118

Totals 3 0 0 0 0 0 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 .298
R Theriot ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .283
D Lee 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .309
D Ward rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .344
M DeRosa 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .293
J Jones cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .268
J Kendall c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .288
M Fontenot 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .279
J Marquis p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .150

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
D Lowe 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3.78

CHICAGO CUBS ip h r er bb so hr era
J Marquis 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 4.17

Pitches-strikes: J Marquis 10-7. Ground balls-fly balls: J Marquis 2-1.
Batters faced: J Marquis 3.

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

Weather: 81 degrees, overcast. Wind: 12 mph, out to left.</div>

 

NL: LA DODGERS at CHICAGO CUBS

<div class="pre">NL AT CHICAGO CUBS
CONFIRMED STARTERS: LOS - DEREK LOWE
CHN - JASON MARQUIS</div>

 

NL: LA DODGERS at CHICAGO CUBS

<div class="pre">NL AT CHICAGO CUBS - SCORING UPDATE
SOLO HOME RUN BY ALFONSO SORIANO (21) TO LEFT CENTER WITH 0
OUT IN THE 1ST OFF DEREK LOWE.
CURRENT SCORE: LA DODGERS 0, CHICAGO CUBS 1

DUE UP FOR CHICAGO CUBS: R THERIOT (.283, 3 HR, 42 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 0 0
CHICAGO CUBS 1 1 2 0 (TOP 2)

CURRENT PITCHERS: LOS - DEREK LOWE
CHN - JASON MARQUIS

DUE UP FOR LA DODGERS: L GONZALEZ (.282, 12 HR, 57 RBI)
R MARTIN (.297, 17 HR, 81 RBI)
J LONEY (.307, 6 HR, 40 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 0 0 .276
J Pierre cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .291
M Kemp rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .341
L Gonzalez lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .282
R Martin c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .297
J Loney 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .307
A LaRoche 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .208
T Abreu 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .288
D Lowe p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .118

Totals 3 0 0 0 0 0 0

BATTING: Team LOB - 0.


CHICAGO CUBS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
A Soriano lf 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 .300
R Theriot ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .282
D Lee 1b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .311
D Ward rf 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .344
M DeRosa 3b 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .293
J Jones cf 1 0 0 0 0 1 2 .267
J Kendall c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .288
M Fontenot 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .279
J Marquis p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .150

Totals 4 1 2 1 2 1 2

BATTING: HR - A Soriano (21, 1st inning off D Lowe 0 on, 0 Out). RBI - A
Soriano (46). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - J Jones 1. Team LOB -
2.

BASERUNNING: Picked Off - D Ward (1st base, R Martin).


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

LA DODGERS ip h r er bb so hr era
D Lowe 1 2 1 1 2 1 1 3.81

CHICAGO CUBS ip h r er bb so hr era
J Marquis 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 4.17

Pitches-strikes: D Lowe 19-8; J Marquis 10-7. Ground balls-fly balls: D Lowe
1-0; J Marquis 2-1. Batters faced: D Lowe 6; J Marquis 3.

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

Weather: 81 degrees, overcast. Wind: 12 mph, out to left.</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 0 0 0
CHICAGO CUBS 1 1 2 0 (BOT 2)

CURRENT PITCHERS: LOS - DEREK LOWE
CHN - JASON MARQUIS

DUE UP FOR CHICAGO CUBS: J KENDALL (.288, 1 HR, 15 RBI)
M FONTENOT (.279, 3 HR, 28 RBI)
J MARQUIS (.150, 1 HR, 4 RBI)</div>

 

NL: LA DODGERS at CHICAGO CUBS

<div class="pre">LA DODGERS (0) 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 0 0 .276
J Pierre cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .291
M Kemp rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .341
L Gonzalez lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .281
R Martin c 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .296
J Loney 1b 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .306
A LaRoche 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .208
T Abreu 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .288
D Lowe p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .118

Totals 6 0 0 0 0 1 0

BATTING: Team LOB - 0.


CHICAGO CUBS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
A Soriano lf 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 .300
R Theriot ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .282
D Lee 1b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .311
D Ward rf 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .344
M DeRosa 3b 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .293
J Jones cf 1 0 0 0 0 1 2 .267
J Kendall c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .288
M Fontenot 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .279
J Marquis p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .150

Totals 4 1 2 1 2 1 2

BATTING: HR - A Soriano (21, 1st inning off D Lowe 0 on, 0 Out). RBI - A
Soriano (46). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - J Jones 1. Team LOB -
2.

BASERUNNING: Picked Off - D Ward (1st base, R Martin).


----------------------------------------------------
LA DODGERS - 00 -- 0
CHICAGO CUBS - 1 -- 1
----------------------------------------------------

LA DODGERS ip h r er bb so hr era
D Lowe 1 2 1 1 2 1 1 3.81

CHICAGO CUBS ip h r er bb so hr era
J Marquis 2 0 0 0 0 1 0 4.15

Pitches-strikes: D Lowe 19-8; J Marquis 22-15. Ground balls-fly balls: D Lowe
1-0; J Marquis 3-2. Batters faced: D Lowe 6; J Marquis 6.

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

Weather: 81 degrees, overcast. Wind: 12 mph, out to left.</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 0 0 0
CHICAGO CUBS 1 0 1 2 0 (TOP 3)

CURRENT PITCHERS: LOS - DEREK LOWE
CHN - JASON MARQUIS

DUE UP FOR LA DODGERS: A LAROCHE (.208, 0 HR, 6 RBI)
T ABREU (.288, 1 HR, 9 RBI)
D LOWE (.118, 0 HR, 1 RBI)</div>

 

NL: LA DODGERS at CHICAGO CUBS

<div class="pre">LA DODGERS (0) 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 0 0 .276
J Pierre cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .291
M Kemp rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .341
L Gonzalez lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .281
R Martin c 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .296
J Loney 1b 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .306
A LaRoche 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .208
T Abreu 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .288
D Lowe p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .118

Totals 6 0 0 0 0 1 0

BATTING: Team LOB - 0.


CHICAGO CUBS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
A Soriano lf 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 .300
R Theriot ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .282
D Lee 1b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .311
D Ward rf 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .344
M DeRosa 3b 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .293
J Jones cf 1 0 0 0 0 1 2 .267
J Kendall c 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .286
M Fontenot 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .278
J Marquis p 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .148

Totals 7 1 2 1 2 1 2

BATTING: HR - A Soriano (21, 1st inning off D Lowe 0 on, 0 Out). RBI - A
Soriano (46). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - J Jones 1. Team LOB -
2.

BASERUNNING: Picked Off - D Ward (1st base, R Martin).


----------------------------------------------------
LA DODGERS - 00 -- 0
CHICAGO CUBS - 10 -- 1
----------------------------------------------------

LA DODGERS ip h r er bb so hr era
D Lowe 2 2 1 1 2 1 1 3.78

CHICAGO CUBS ip h r er bb so hr era
J Marquis 2 0 0 0 0 1 0 4.15

Pitches-strikes: D Lowe 29-16; J Marquis 22-15. Ground balls-fly balls: D
Lowe 3-1; J Marquis 3-2. Batters faced: D Lowe 9; J Marquis 6.

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

Weather: 81 degrees, overcast. Wind: 12 mph, out to left.</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 0 0 0 0
CHICAGO CUBS 1 0 1 2 0 (BOT 3)

CURRENT PITCHERS: LOS - DEREK LOWE
CHN - JASON MARQUIS

DUE UP FOR CHICAGO CUBS: A SORIANO (.300, 1-FOR-1, HR, RBI)
R THERIOT (.282, 0-FOR-1)
D LEE (.311, 1-FOR-1)</div>

 

NL: LA DODGERS at CHICAGO CUBS

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

LA DODGERS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
R Furcal ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .276
J Pierre cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .291
M Kemp rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .341
L Gonzalez lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .281
R Martin c 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .296
J Loney 1b 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .306
A LaRoche 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .204
T Abreu 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .286
D Lowe p 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .115

Totals 9 0 0 0 0 1 0

BATTING: Team LOB - 0.


CHICAGO CUBS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
A Soriano lf 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 .300
R Theriot ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .282
D Lee 1b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .311
D Ward rf 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .344
M DeRosa 3b 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .293
J Jones cf 1 0 0 0 0 1 2 .267
J Kendall c 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .286
M Fontenot 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .278
J Marquis p 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .148

Totals 7 1 2 1 2 1 2

BATTING: HR - A Soriano (21, 1st inning off D Lowe 0 on, 0 Out). RBI - A
Soriano (46). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - J Jones 1. Team LOB -
2.

BASERUNNING: Picked Off - D Ward (1st base, R Martin).


----------------------------------------------------
LA DODGERS - 000 -- 0
CHICAGO CUBS - 10 -- 1
----------------------------------------------------

LA DODGERS ip h r er bb so hr era
D Lowe 2 2 1 1 2 1 1 3.78

CHICAGO CUBS ip h r er bb so hr era
J Marquis 3 0 0 0 0 1 0 4.12

Pitches-strikes: D Lowe 29-16; J Marquis 29-21. Ground balls-fly balls: D
Lowe 3-1; J Marquis 4-4. Batters faced: D Lowe 9; J Marquis 9.

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

Weather: 81 degrees, overcast. Wind: 12 mph, out to left.</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 0 0 0 0
CHICAGO CUBS 1 0 0 1 2 0 (TOP 4)

CURRENT PITCHERS: LOS - DEREK LOWE
CHN - JASON MARQUIS

DUE UP FOR LA DODGERS: R FURCAL (.276, 0-FOR-1)
J PIERRE (.291, 0-FOR-1)
M KEMP (.341, 0-FOR-1)</div>

 

NL: LA DODGERS at CHICAGO CUBS

<div class="pre">LA DODGERS (0) VS CHICAGO CUBS (1) - END 3RD - IN PROGRESS

LA DODGERS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
R Furcal ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .276
J Pierre cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .291
M Kemp rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .341
L Gonzalez lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .281
R Martin c 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .296
J Loney 1b 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .306
A LaRoche 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .204
T Abreu 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .286
D Lowe p 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .115

Totals 9 0 0 0 0 1 0

BATTING: Team LOB - 0.


CHICAGO CUBS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
A Soriano lf 2 1 1 1 0 1 0 .299
R Theriot ss 2 0 0 0 0 1 0 .281
D Lee 1b 1 0 1 0 1 0 0 .311
D Ward rf 1 0 0 0 1 0 1 .340
M DeRosa 3b 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .293
J Jones cf 1 0 0 0 0 1 2 .267
J Kendall c 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .286
M Fontenot 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .278
J Marquis p 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .148

Totals 10 1 2 1 3 3 3

BATTING: HR - A Soriano (21, 1st inning off D Lowe 0 on, 0 Out). RBI - A
Soriano (46). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - J Jones 1. Team LOB -
3.

BASERUNNING: Picked Off - D Ward (1st base, R Martin).


----------------------------------------------------
LA DODGERS - 000 -- 0
CHICAGO CUBS - 100 -- 1
----------------------------------------------------

LA DODGERS ip h r er bb so hr era
D Lowe 3 2 1 1 3 3 1 3.76

CHICAGO CUBS ip h r er bb so hr era
J Marquis 3 0 0 0 0 1 0 4.12

Pitches-strikes: D Lowe 47-27; J Marquis 29-21. Ground balls-fly balls: D
Lowe 4-1; J Marquis 4-4. Batters faced: D Lowe 13; J Marquis 9.

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

Weather: 81 degrees, overcast. Wind: 12 mph, out to left.</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 0 0 0 0 0
CHICAGO CUBS 1 0 0 1 2 0 (BOT 4)

CURRENT PITCHERS: LOS - DEREK LOWE
CHN - JASON MARQUIS

DUE UP FOR CHICAGO CUBS: M DEROSA (.293, 0-FOR-0, BB)
J JONES (.267, 0-FOR-1)
J KENDALL (.286, 0-FOR-1)</div>