GAME THREAD: GAME THREAD: NL: CHICAGO CUBS (72-69) at PITTSBURGH (62-80)

NL: CHICAGO CUBS (72-69) at PITTSBURGH (62-80)

<h3>Cubs look for sixth straight win against Morris</h3>

Chicago Cubs (72-69) at Pittsburgh (62-80), 1:35 pm EDT

<div class="pre">PITTSBURGH (Ticker) - The Chicago Cubs hope to ride the</div>momentum of Carlos Zambrano's best start in over a month intoSunday's finale of a three-game series with the PittsburghPirates.


Zambrano, who had lost his five previous starts and was booed atWrigley Field after his last start, took a one-hitter into theseventh inning in Saturday's 6-1 triumph that allowed the Cubsto remain tied atop the National League Central with theMilwaukee Brewers (72-69). Each club is two games ahead of theSt. Louis Cardinals (69-70).


Recently acquired Steve Trachsel (0-1, 4.50) will make hissecond start for the Cubs, who dropped the opener of the series,6-1. Acquired from the Baltimore Orioles on August 31,Trachsel was 6-8 with a 4.45 ERA in 25 starts for the Orioles.

The righthander who pitched for the Cubs from 1993-99, allowedthree runs and seven hits over six innings in a 6-2 defeat tothe Los Angeles Dodgers on Tuesday.


Matt Morris (8-9, 4.54) will try to derail Chicago's pennantstretch drive. However, the righthander has lost his last fivestarts against the Cubs after going 11-3 in his first 24 starts.

The righthander who was acquired from the San Francisco Giantsat the trade deadline, has just one win in seven starts for thePirates. He yielded five runs and five hits in five frames of a6-2 loss to St. Louis on Tuesday.

 

NL: CHICAGO CUBS at PITTSBURGH

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

CHICAGO CUBS PITTSBURGH
AVG HR RBI AVG HR RBI
Alfonso Soriano LF .296 23 51 Nyjer Morgan CF .240 0 1
Ryan Theriot SS .281 3 42 Nate Mclouth LF .247 11 29
Derrek Lee 1B .312 17 73 Freddy Sanchez 2B .314 11 73
Aramis Ramirez 3B .315 20 84 Adam Laroche 1B .270 21 82
Matt Murton RF .265 6 17 Jose Bautista 3B .259 14 58
Jacque Jones CF .266 5 54 Steven Pearce RF .240 0 1
Mark Derosa 2B .290 8 65 Ronny Paulino C .257 10 47
Jason Kendall C .286 1 15 Jack Wilson SS .286 9 50
Steve Trachsel RHP .000 0 0 Matt Morris RHP .196 1 3
(0-1, 4.50) (8-9, 4.54)</div>

 

NL: CHICAGO CUBS at PITTSBURGH

<div class="pre">NL AT PITTSBURGH
WARMUPS: CHN - STEVE TRACHSEL (0-1, 4.50)
PIT - MATT MORRIS (8-9, 4.54)

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

WEATHER: 78 Degrees, cloudy
WIND: 3 mph, in from right</div>

 

NL: CHICAGO CUBS at PITTSBURGH

<div class="pre">NL AT PITTSBURGH
STARTING BATS: CHN - STEVE TRACHSEL AND JASON KENDALL
PIT - MATT MORRIS AND RONNY PAULINO

DUE UP FOR CHICAGO CUBS: A SORIANO (.296, 23 HR, 51 RBI)
R THERIOT (.281, 3 HR, 42 RBI)
D LEE (.312, 17 HR, 73 RBI)</div>

 

NL: CHICAGO CUBS at PITTSBURGH

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: CHN - STEVE TRACHSEL
PIT - MATT MORRIS

DUE UP FOR PITTSBURGH: N MORGAN (.240, 0 HR, 1 RBI)
N MCLOUTH (.247, 11 HR, 29 RBI)
F SANCHEZ (.314, 11 HR, 73 RBI)</div>

 

NL: CHICAGO CUBS at PITTSBURGH

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

CHICAGO CUBS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
A Soriano lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .295
R Theriot ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .280
D Lee 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .312
A Ramirez 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .315
M Murton rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .265
J Jones cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .266
M DeRosa 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .290
J Kendall c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .286
S Trachsel p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000

Totals 3 0 0 0 0 0 0

BATTING: Team LOB - 0.


PITTSBURGH ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
N Morgan cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .240
N McLouth lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .247
F Sanchez 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .314
A LaRoche 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .270
J Bautista 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .259
S Pearce rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .240
R Paulino c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .257
J Wilson ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .286
M Morris p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .196

Totals 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

BATTING: Team LOB - 0.


----------------------------------------------------
CHICAGO CUBS - 0 -- 0
PITTSBURGH - -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

CHICAGO CUBS ip h r er bb so hr era
S Trachsel 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4.50

PITTSBURGH ip h r er bb so hr era
M Morris 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 4.52

Pitches-strikes: M Morris 10-7. Ground balls-fly balls: M Morris 3-0. Batters
faced: M Morris 3.

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

Weather: 77 degrees, cloudy. Wind: 3 mph, in from right.</div>

 

NL: CHICAGO CUBS at PITTSBURGH

<div class="pre">NL AT PITTSBURGH
CONFIRMED STARTERS: CHN - STEVE TRACHSEL
PIT - MATT MORRIS</div>

 

NL: CHICAGO CUBS at PITTSBURGH

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: CHN - STEVE TRACHSEL
PIT - MATT MORRIS

DUE UP FOR CHICAGO CUBS: A RAMIREZ (.315, 20 HR, 84 RBI)
M MURTON (.265, 6 HR, 17 RBI)
J JONES (.266, 5 HR, 54 RBI)</div>

 

NL: CHICAGO CUBS at PITTSBURGH

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

CHICAGO CUBS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
A Soriano lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .295
R Theriot ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .280
D Lee 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .312
A Ramirez 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .315
M Murton rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .265
J Jones cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .266
M DeRosa 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .290
J Kendall c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .286
S Trachsel p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000

Totals 3 0 0 0 0 0 0

BATTING: Team LOB - 0.


PITTSBURGH ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
N Morgan cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .231
N McLouth lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .246
F Sanchez 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .313
A LaRoche 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .270
J Bautista 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .259
S Pearce rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .240
R Paulino c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .257
J Wilson ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .286
M Morris p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .196

Totals 3 0 0 0 0 0 0

BATTING: Team LOB - 0.


----------------------------------------------------
CHICAGO CUBS - 0 -- 0
PITTSBURGH - 0 -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

CHICAGO CUBS ip h r er bb so hr era
S Trachsel 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 3.86

PITTSBURGH ip h r er bb so hr era
M Morris 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 4.52

Pitches-strikes: S Trachsel 14-10; M Morris 10-7. Ground balls-fly balls: S
Trachsel 2-1; M Morris 3-0. Batters faced: S Trachsel 3; M Morris 3.

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

Weather: 77 degrees, cloudy. Wind: 3 mph, in from right.</div>

 

NL: CHICAGO CUBS at PITTSBURGH

<div class="pre">NL AT PITTSBURGH - SCORING UPDATE
SINGLE BY JASON KENDALL SCORED MATT MURTON AND JACQUE
JONES.
SITUATION: 2 RUNS IN, J KENDALL ON FIRST, 2 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: CHICAGO CUBS 2
PITTSBURGH 0 TOP, 2ND

DUE UP FOR CHICAGO CUBS: S TRACHSEL (.000, 0 HR, 0 RBI)</div>

 

NL: CHICAGO CUBS at PITTSBURGH

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: CHN - STEVE TRACHSEL
PIT - MATT MORRIS

DUE UP FOR PITTSBURGH: A LAROCHE (.270, 21 HR, 82 RBI)
J BAUTISTA (.259, 14 HR, 58 RBI)
S PEARCE (.240, 0 HR, 1 RBI)</div>

 

NL: CHICAGO CUBS at PITTSBURGH

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

CHICAGO CUBS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
A Soriano lf 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 .295
R Theriot ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .280
D Lee 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .312
A Ramirez 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .315
M Murton rf 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .269
J Jones cf 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 .266
M DeRosa 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .289
J Kendall c 1 0 1 2 0 0 0 .291
S Trachsel p 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .333

Totals 9 2 3 2 1 0 2

BATTING: RBI - J Kendall 2 (17). 2-out RBI - J Kendall 2. Runners left in
scoring position, 2 out - A Soriano 2. Team LOB - 2.


PITTSBURGH ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
N Morgan cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .231
N McLouth lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .246
F Sanchez 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .313
A LaRoche 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .270
J Bautista 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .259
S Pearce rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .240
R Paulino c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .257
J Wilson ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .286
M Morris p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .196

Totals 3 0 0 0 0 0 0

BATTING: Team LOB - 0.


----------------------------------------------------
CHICAGO CUBS - 02 -- 2
PITTSBURGH - 0 -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

CHICAGO CUBS ip h r er bb so hr era
S Trachsel 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 3.86

PITTSBURGH ip h r er bb so hr era
M Morris 2 3 2 2 1 0 0 4.59

WP - M Morris. Pitches-strikes: S Trachsel 14-10; M Morris 32-20. Ground
balls-fly balls: S Trachsel 2-1; M Morris 4-2. Batters faced: S Trachsel 3; M
Morris 10.

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

Weather: 77 degrees, cloudy. Wind: 3 mph, in from right.</div>

 

NL: CHICAGO CUBS at PITTSBURGH

<div class="pre">NL AT PITTSBURGH - SCORING UPDATE
SINGLE BY STEVEN PEARCE SCORED ADAM LAROCHE.
SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, S PEARCE ON FIRST, 1 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: CHICAGO CUBS 2
PITTSBURGH 1 BOTTOM, 2ND

DUE UP FOR PITTSBURGH: R PAULINO (.257, 10 HR, 47 RBI)</div>

 

NL: CHICAGO CUBS at PITTSBURGH

<div class="pre">NL AT PITTSBURGH - SCORING UPDATE
DOUBLE BY JACK WILSON SCORED STEVEN PEARCE.
SITUATION: 2 RUNS IN, J WILSON ON SECOND, 2 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: CHICAGO CUBS 2
PITTSBURGH 2 BOTTOM, 2ND

DUE UP FOR PITTSBURGH: M MORRIS (.196, 1 HR, 3 RBI)</div>

 

NL: CHICAGO CUBS at PITTSBURGH

<div class="pre">NL AT PITTSBURGH - SCORING UPDATE
SINGLE BY NYJER MORGAN SCORED JACK WILSON.
SITUATION: 3 RUNS IN, N MORGAN ON FIRST, M MORRIS ON SECOND, 2 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: CHICAGO CUBS 2
PITTSBURGH 3 BOTTOM, 2ND

DUE UP FOR PITTSBURGH: N MCLOUTH (.246, 0-FOR-1)</div>

 

NL: CHICAGO CUBS at PITTSBURGH

<div class="pre">NL AT PITTSBURGH - SCORING UPDATE
TRIPLE BY FREDDY SANCHEZ SCORED MATT MORRIS, NYJER MORGAN
AND NATE MCLOUTH.
SITUATION: 6 RUNS IN, 0 LEFT ON, 3 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: CHICAGO CUBS 2
PITTSBURGH 6 END BOTTOM, 2ND</div>

 

NL: CHICAGO CUBS at PITTSBURGH

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: CHN - STEVE TRACHSEL
PIT - MATT MORRIS

DUE UP FOR CHICAGO CUBS: R THERIOT (.280, 0-FOR-1)
D LEE (.312, 0-FOR-1)
A RAMIREZ (.315, 0-FOR-1)</div>

 

NL: CHICAGO CUBS at PITTSBURGH

<div class="pre">CHICAGO CUBS (2) VS PITTSBURGH (6) - END 2ND - IN PROGRESS

CHICAGO CUBS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
A Soriano lf 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 .295
R Theriot ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .280
D Lee 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .312
A Ramirez 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .315
M Murton rf 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .269
J Jones cf 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 .266
M DeRosa 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .289
J Kendall c 1 0 1 2 0 0 0 .291
S Trachsel p 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .333

Totals 9 2 3 2 1 0 2

BATTING: RBI - J Kendall 2 (17). 2-out RBI - J Kendall 2. Runners left in
scoring position, 2 out - A Soriano 2. Team LOB - 2.

FIELDING: Outfield assists - J Jones (F Sanchez at Home).


PITTSBURGH ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
N Morgan cf 2 1 1 1 0 0 0 .259
N McLouth lf 1 1 0 0 1 0 0 .246
F Sanchez 2b 2 0 1 3 0 0 0 .314
A LaRoche 1b 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .271
J Bautista 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .258
S Pearce rf 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 .269
R Paulino c 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .256
J Wilson ss 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 .288
M Morris p 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .212

Totals 11 6 6 6 1 0 1

BATTING: 2B - A LaRoche (33, S Trachsel); J Wilson (27, S Trachsel). 3B - F
Sanchez (3, S Trachsel). RBI - S Pearce (2), J Wilson (51), N Morgan (2), F
Sanchez 3 (76). 2-out RBI - J Wilson, N Morgan, F Sanchez 3. Team LOB - 0.


----------------------------------------------------
CHICAGO CUBS - 02 -- 2
PITTSBURGH - 06 -- 6
----------------------------------------------------

CHICAGO CUBS ip h r er bb so hr era
S Trachsel 2 6 6 6 1 0 0 10.12

PITTSBURGH ip h r er bb so hr era
M Morris 2 3 2 2 1 0 0 4.59

WP - M Morris, S Trachsel. Pitches-strikes: S Trachsel 47-31; M Morris 32-20.
Ground balls-fly balls: S Trachsel 3-2; M Morris 4-2. Batters faced: S Trachsel
12; M Morris 10.

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

Weather: 77 degrees, cloudy. Wind: 3 mph, in from right.</div>

 

NL: CHICAGO CUBS at PITTSBURGH

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: CHN - STEVE TRACHSEL
PIT - MATT MORRIS

DUE UP FOR PITTSBURGH: A LAROCHE (.271, 1-FOR-1)
J BAUTISTA (.258, 0-FOR-1)
S PEARCE (.269, 1-FOR-1, RBI)</div>

 

NL: CHICAGO CUBS at PITTSBURGH

<div class="pre">CHICAGO CUBS (2) VS PITTSBURGH (6) - MID 3RD - IN PROGRESS

CHICAGO CUBS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
A Soriano lf 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 .295
R Theriot ss 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 .279
D Lee 1b 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 .311
A Ramirez 3b 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 .314
M Murton rf 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .269
J Jones cf 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 .266
M DeRosa 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .289
J Kendall c 1 0 1 2 0 0 0 .291
S Trachsel p 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .333

Totals 12 2 3 2 1 0 2

BATTING: RBI - J Kendall 2 (17). 2-out RBI - J Kendall 2. Runners left in
scoring position, 2 out - A Soriano 2. Team LOB - 2.

FIELDING: Outfield assists - J Jones (F Sanchez at Home).


PITTSBURGH ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
N Morgan cf 2 1 1 1 0 0 0 .259
N McLouth lf 1 1 0 0 1 0 0 .246
F Sanchez 2b 2 0 1 3 0 0 0 .314
A LaRoche 1b 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .271
J Bautista 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .258
S Pearce rf 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 .269
R Paulino c 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .256
J Wilson ss 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 .288
M Morris p 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .212

Totals 11 6 6 6 1 0 1

BATTING: 2B - A LaRoche (33, S Trachsel); J Wilson (27, S Trachsel). 3B - F
Sanchez (3, S Trachsel). RBI - S Pearce (2), J Wilson (51), N Morgan (2), F
Sanchez 3 (76). 2-out RBI - J Wilson, N Morgan, F Sanchez 3. Team LOB - 0.


----------------------------------------------------
CHICAGO CUBS - 020 -- 2
PITTSBURGH - 06 -- 6
----------------------------------------------------

CHICAGO CUBS ip h r er bb so hr era
S Trachsel 2 6 6 6 1 0 0 10.12

PITTSBURGH ip h r er bb so hr era
M Morris 3 3 2 2 1 0 0 4.57

WP - M Morris, S Trachsel. Pitches-strikes: S Trachsel 47-31; M Morris 46-29.
Ground balls-fly balls: S Trachsel 3-2; M Morris 6-3. Batters faced: S Trachsel
12; M Morris 13.

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

Weather: 77 degrees, cloudy. Wind: 3 mph, in from right.</div>