GAME THREAD: GAME THREAD: NL: CHICAGO CUBS (24-31) at MILWAUKEE (32-26)

NL: CHICAGO CUBS (24-31) at MILWAUKEE (32-26)

<h3>Soriano finding groove, looks to start Cubs winning streak</h3>

Chicago Cubs (24-31) at Milwaukee (32-26) 8:05 pm EDT

MILWAUKEE (Ticker) -- When a player signs as big of a contractas the one Alfonso Soriano signed in the offseason, he will beblamed for the team's failures and lauded for the team'ssuccess. Maybe the latter is starting to happen for the ChicagoCubs.

Soriano and the Cubs continue their three-game series with theMilwaukee Brewers on Tuesday at Miller Park.

Inked to a $136 million over eight years in the offseason,Soriano started slowly in the home run and RBI departments, butis batting over 20 points of his career average.

The five-time All-Star is picking up his game lately though, ashe is hitting .667 (10-for-15) over his last three contests,with homers in each game.

Ted Lilly (4-3, 3.52 ERA) looks to benefit from Soriano's recentsurge and increase Chicago's two-game winning streak. Heallowed a season-high six runs and seven hits but struck outnine over seven frames in a 9-0 loss to Florida on Wednesday -his first loss since April 20.

Lilly surrendered three runs or less in eight of his first ninestarts but has since regressed, allowing at least five runs ineach of his last two contests. He is 0-2 with a 9.00 ERA in sixappearances - two starts - lifetime against Chicago.

The Brewers will counter with Claudio Vargas (3-1, 3.90), who is0-2 with a 9.00 ERA in six outings - two starts - in his careeragainst the Cubs. Despite being the victim of sixno-decisions, Milwaukee is 8-2 in his starts.

Vargas yielded three runs - two earned - and struck out six butdid receive the decision in the Brewers' 4-3 win over Florida.He has made two appearances against Chicago this season and is0-0 despite a 10.50 ERA.

 

NL: CHICAGO CUBS at MILWAUKEE

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

CHICAGO CUBS MILWAUKEE
AVG HR RBI AVG HR RBI
Alfonso Soriano LF .316 7 17 Corey Hart RF .297 2 12
Felix Pie CF .237 1 5 J.J. Hardy SS .295 16 47
Derrek Lee 1B .357 6 34 Ryan Braun 3B .268 2 6
Aramis Ramirez 3B .302 13 39 Prince Fielder 1B .294 20 45
Cliff Floyd RF .305 2 21 Bill Hall CF .263 6 20
Michael Barrett C .243 7 25 Kevin Mench LF .283 2 16
Ryan Theriot 2B .266 1 18 Damian Miller C .226 0 4
Cesar Izturis SS .254 0 6 Tony Graffanino 2B .198 1 10
Ted Lilly LHP .125 0 1 Claudio Vargas RHP .125 0 0
(4-3, 3.52) (3-1, 3.90)</div>

 

NL: CHICAGO CUBS at MILWAUKEE

<div class="pre">NL AT MILWAUKEE
WARMUPS: CHN - TED LILLY (4-3, 3.52)
MIL - CLAUDIO VARGAS (3-1, 3.90)

UMPIRES: HP - HUNTER WENDELSTEDT
1B - RANDY MARSH
2B - BOB DAVIDSON
3B - SAM HOLBROOK

WEATHER: INDOORS</div>

 

NL: CHICAGO CUBS at MILWAUKEE

<div class="pre">NL AT MILWAUKEE
STARTING BATS: CHN - TED LILLY AND MICHAEL BARRETT
MIL - CLAUDIO VARGAS AND DAMIAN MILLER

DUE UP FOR CHICAGO CUBS: A SORIANO (.316, 7 HR, 17 RBI)
F PIE (.237, 1 HR, 5 RBI)
D LEE (.357, 6 HR, 34 RBI)</div>

 

NL: CHICAGO CUBS at MILWAUKEE

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: CHN - TED LILLY
MIL - CLAUDIO VARGAS

DUE UP FOR MILWAUKEE: C HART (.297, 2 HR, 12 RBI)
J HARDY (.295, 16 HR, 47 RBI)
R BRAUN (.268, 2 HR, 6 RBI)</div>

 

NL: CHICAGO CUBS at MILWAUKEE

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

CHICAGO CUBS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
A Soriano lf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .319
F Pie cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .233
D Lee 1b 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .355
A Ramirez 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .301
C Floyd rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .305
M Barrett c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .243
R Theriot 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .266
C Izturis ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .254
T Lilly p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .125

Totals 4 0 1 0 0 1 3

BATTING: 2B - A Soriano (17, C Vargas). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out
- A Ramirez 1. Team LOB - 1.


MILWAUKEE ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
C Hart rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .297
J Hardy ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .295
R Braun 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .268
P Fielder 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .294
B Hall cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .263
K Mench lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .283
D Miller c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .226
T Graffanino 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .198
C Vargas p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .125

Totals 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

BATTING: Team LOB - 0.


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

CHICAGO CUBS ip h r er bb so hr era
T Lilly 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3.52

MILWAUKEE ip h r er bb so hr era
C Vargas 1 1 0 0 0 1 0 3.83

Pitches-strikes: C Vargas 18-12. Ground balls-fly balls: C Vargas 0-2.
Batters faced: C Vargas 4.

UMPIRES: HP--Hunter Wendelstedt. 1B--Randy Marsh. 2B--Bob Davidson. 3B--Sam
Holbrook.

Weather: INDOORS.</div>

 

NL: CHICAGO CUBS at MILWAUKEE

<div class="pre">NL AT MILWAUKEE
CONFIRMED STARTERS: CHN - TED LILLY
MIL - CLAUDIO VARGAS</div>

 

NL: CHICAGO CUBS at MILWAUKEE

<div class="pre">NL AT MILWAUKEE - SCORING UPDATE
SACRIFICE FLY BY PRINCE FIELDER SCORED J.J. HARDY.
SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, R BRAUN ON THIRD, 2 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: CHICAGO CUBS 0
MILWAUKEE 1 BOTTOM, 1ST

DUE UP FOR MILWAUKEE: B HALL (.263, 6 HR, 20 RBI)</div>

 

NL: CHICAGO CUBS at MILWAUKEE

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: CHN - TED LILLY
MIL - CLAUDIO VARGAS

DUE UP FOR CHICAGO CUBS: C FLOYD (.305, 2 HR, 21 RBI)
M BARRETT (.243, 7 HR, 25 RBI)
R THERIOT (.266, 1 HR, 18 RBI)</div>

 

NL: CHICAGO CUBS at MILWAUKEE

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

CHICAGO CUBS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
A Soriano lf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .319
F Pie cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .233
D Lee 1b 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .355
A Ramirez 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .301
C Floyd rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .305
M Barrett c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .243
R Theriot 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .266
C Izturis ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .254
T Lilly p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .125

Totals 4 0 1 0 0 1 3

BATTING: 2B - A Soriano (17, C Vargas). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out
- A Ramirez 1. Team LOB - 1.


MILWAUKEE ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
C Hart rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .294
J Hardy ss 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .298
R Braun 3b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .286
P Fielder 1b 0 0 0 1 0 0 2 .294
B Hall cf 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .263
K Mench lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .281
D Miller c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .226
T Graffanino 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .198
C Vargas p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .125

Totals 4 1 2 1 1 0 4

BATTING: SF - P Fielder. RBI - P Fielder (46). Runners left in scoring
position, 2 out - K Mench 1. Team LOB - 2.


----------------------------------------------------
CHICAGO CUBS - 0 -- 0
MILWAUKEE - 1 -- 1
----------------------------------------------------

CHICAGO CUBS ip h r er bb so hr era
T Lilly 1 2 1 1 1 0 0 3.59

MILWAUKEE ip h r er bb so hr era
C Vargas 1 1 0 0 0 1 0 3.83

WP - T Lilly. Pitches-strikes: T Lilly 29-15; C Vargas 18-12. Ground
balls-fly balls: T Lilly 0-3; C Vargas 0-2. Batters faced: T Lilly 6; C Vargas
4.

UMPIRES: HP--Hunter Wendelstedt. 1B--Randy Marsh. 2B--Bob Davidson. 3B--Sam
Holbrook.

Weather: INDOORS.</div>

 

NL: CHICAGO CUBS at MILWAUKEE

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: CHN - TED LILLY
MIL - CLAUDIO VARGAS

DUE UP FOR MILWAUKEE: D MILLER (.226, 0 HR, 4 RBI)
T GRAFFANINO (.198, 1 HR, 10 RBI)
C VARGAS (.125, 0 HR, 0 RBI)</div>

 

NL: CHICAGO CUBS at MILWAUKEE

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

CHICAGO CUBS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
A Soriano lf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .319
F Pie cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .233
D Lee 1b 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .355
A Ramirez 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .301
C Floyd rf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .302
M Barrett c 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .241
R Theriot 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .265
C Izturis ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .254
T Lilly p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .125

Totals 7 0 1 0 0 2 3

BATTING: 2B - A Soriano (17, C Vargas). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out
- A Ramirez 1. Team LOB - 1.


MILWAUKEE ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
C Hart rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .294
J Hardy ss 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .298
R Braun 3b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .286
P Fielder 1b 0 0 0 1 0 0 2 .294
B Hall cf 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .263
K Mench lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .281
D Miller c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .226
T Graffanino 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .198
C Vargas p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .125

Totals 4 1 2 1 1 0 4

BATTING: SF - P Fielder. RBI - P Fielder (46). Runners left in scoring
position, 2 out - K Mench 1. Team LOB - 2.


----------------------------------------------------
CHICAGO CUBS - 00 -- 0
MILWAUKEE - 1 -- 1
----------------------------------------------------

CHICAGO CUBS ip h r er bb so hr era
T Lilly 1 2 1 1 1 0 0 3.59

MILWAUKEE ip h r er bb so hr era
C Vargas 2 1 0 0 0 2 0 3.77

WP - T Lilly. Pitches-strikes: T Lilly 29-15; C Vargas 32-20. Ground
balls-fly balls: T Lilly 0-3; C Vargas 0-4. Batters faced: T Lilly 6; C Vargas
7.

UMPIRES: HP--Hunter Wendelstedt. 1B--Randy Marsh. 2B--Bob Davidson. 3B--Sam
Holbrook.

Weather: INDOORS.</div>

 

NL: CHICAGO CUBS at MILWAUKEE

<div class="pre">NL AT MILWAUKEE - SCORING UPDATE
SOLO HOME RUN BY TONY GRAFFANINO (2) TO LEFT WITH 1 OUT IN
THE 2ND OFF TED LILLY.
CURRENT SCORE: CHICAGO CUBS 0, MILWAUKEE 2

DUE UP FOR MILWAUKEE: C VARGAS (.125, 0 HR, 0 RBI)</div>

 

NL: CHICAGO CUBS at MILWAUKEE

<div class="pre">NL AT MILWAUKEE - SCORING UPDATE
SOLO HOME RUN BY COREY HART (3) TO LEFT WITH 2 OUT IN THE
2ND OFF TED LILLY.
CURRENT SCORE: CHICAGO CUBS 0, MILWAUKEE 3

DUE UP FOR MILWAUKEE: J HARDY (.298, 1-FOR-1)</div>

 

NL: CHICAGO CUBS at MILWAUKEE

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: CHN - TED LILLY
MIL - CLAUDIO VARGAS

DUE UP FOR CHICAGO CUBS: C IZTURIS (.254, 0 HR, 6 RBI)
T LILLY (.125, 0 HR, 1 RBI)
A SORIANO (.319, 1-FOR-1)</div>

 

NL: CHICAGO CUBS at MILWAUKEE

<div class="pre">CHICAGO CUBS (0) VS MILWAUKEE (3) - END 2ND - IN PROGRESS

CHICAGO CUBS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
A Soriano lf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .319
F Pie cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .233
D Lee 1b 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .355
A Ramirez 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .301
C Floyd rf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .302
M Barrett c 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .241
R Theriot 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .265
C Izturis ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .254
T Lilly p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .125

Totals 7 0 1 0 0 2 3

BATTING: 2B - A Soriano (17, C Vargas). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out
- A Ramirez 1. Team LOB - 1.


MILWAUKEE ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
C Hart rf 2 1 1 1 0 0 0 .300
J Hardy ss 2 1 1 0 0 0 0 .297
R Braun 3b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .286
P Fielder 1b 0 0 0 1 0 0 2 .294
B Hall cf 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .263
K Mench lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .281
D Miller c 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .222
T Graffanino 2b 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 .205
C Vargas p 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .118

Totals 9 3 4 3 1 0 4

BATTING: HR - T Graffanino (2, 2nd inning off T Lilly 0 on, 1 Out), C Hart (3,
2nd inning off T Lilly 0 on, 2 Out). SF - P Fielder. RBI - P Fielder (46), T
Graffanino (11), C Hart (13). 2-out RBI - C Hart. Runners left in scoring
position, 2 out - K Mench 1. Team LOB - 2.


----------------------------------------------------
CHICAGO CUBS - 00 -- 0
MILWAUKEE - 12 -- 3
----------------------------------------------------

CHICAGO CUBS ip h r er bb so hr era
T Lilly 2 4 3 3 1 0 2 3.79

MILWAUKEE ip h r er bb so hr era
C Vargas 2 1 0 0 0 2 0 3.77

WP - T Lilly. Pitches-strikes: T Lilly 52-28; C Vargas 32-20. Ground
balls-fly balls: T Lilly 1-5; C Vargas 0-4. Batters faced: T Lilly 11; C Vargas
7.

UMPIRES: HP--Hunter Wendelstedt. 1B--Randy Marsh. 2B--Bob Davidson. 3B--Sam
Holbrook.

Weather: INDOORS.</div>

 

NL: CHICAGO CUBS at MILWAUKEE

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: CHN - TED LILLY
MIL - CLAUDIO VARGAS

DUE UP FOR MILWAUKEE: R BRAUN (.286, 1-FOR-1)
P FIELDER (.294, 0-FOR-0, SF, RBI)
B HALL (.263, 0-FOR-0, BB)</div>

 

NL: CHICAGO CUBS at MILWAUKEE

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

CHICAGO CUBS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
A Soriano lf 2 0 1 0 0 1 0 .318
F Pie cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .233
D Lee 1b 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .355
A Ramirez 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .301
C Floyd rf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .302
M Barrett c 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .241
R Theriot 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .265
C Izturis ss 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .252
T Lilly p 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .120

Totals 10 0 1 0 0 4 3

BATTING: 2B - A Soriano (17, C Vargas). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out
- A Ramirez 1. Team LOB - 1.


MILWAUKEE ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
C Hart rf 2 1 1 1 0 0 0 .300
J Hardy ss 2 1 1 0 0 0 0 .297
R Braun 3b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .286
P Fielder 1b 0 0 0 1 0 0 2 .294
B Hall cf 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .263
K Mench lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .281
D Miller c 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .222
T Graffanino 2b 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 .205
C Vargas p 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .118

Totals 9 3 4 3 1 0 4

BATTING: HR - T Graffanino (2, 2nd inning off T Lilly 0 on, 1 Out), C Hart (3,
2nd inning off T Lilly 0 on, 2 Out). SF - P Fielder. RBI - P Fielder (46), T
Graffanino (11), C Hart (13). 2-out RBI - C Hart. Runners left in scoring
position, 2 out - K Mench 1. Team LOB - 2.


----------------------------------------------------
CHICAGO CUBS - 000 -- 0
MILWAUKEE - 12 -- 3
----------------------------------------------------

CHICAGO CUBS ip h r er bb so hr era
T Lilly 2 4 3 3 1 0 2 3.79

MILWAUKEE ip h r er bb so hr era
C Vargas 3 1 0 0 0 4 0 3.70

WP - T Lilly. Pitches-strikes: T Lilly 52-28; C Vargas 41-29. Ground
balls-fly balls: T Lilly 1-5; C Vargas 1-4. Batters faced: T Lilly 11; C Vargas
10.

UMPIRES: HP--Hunter Wendelstedt. 1B--Randy Marsh. 2B--Bob Davidson. 3B--Sam
Holbrook.

Weather: INDOORS.</div>

 

NL: CHICAGO CUBS at MILWAUKEE

<div class="pre">NL AT MILWAUKEE - SCORING UPDATE
DOUBLE BY KEVIN MENCH SCORED PRINCE FIELDER.
SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, K MENCH ON SECOND, 2 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: CHICAGO CUBS 0
MILWAUKEE 4 BOTTOM, 3RD

DUE UP FOR MILWAUKEE: D MILLER (.222, 0-FOR-1)</div>

 

NL: CHICAGO CUBS at MILWAUKEE

<div class="pre">NL AT MILWAUKEE - SCORING UPDATE
SINGLE BY DAMIAN MILLER SCORED KEVIN MENCH.
SITUATION: 2 RUNS IN, D MILLER ON FIRST, 2 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: CHICAGO CUBS 0
MILWAUKEE 5 BOTTOM, 3RD

DUE UP FOR MILWAUKEE: T GRAFFANINO (.205, 1-FOR-1, HR, RBI)</div>