GAME THREAD: GAME THREAD: NL: HOUSTON (39-51) at CHICAGO CUBS (45-43)

NL: HOUSTON at CHICAGO CUBS

<div class="pre">HOUSTON (3) VS CHICAGO CUBS (9) - FINAL

HOUSTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
C Burke 2b 4 1 1 0 0 0 2 .235
H Pence cf 4 0 0 1 0 2 0 .336
M Loretta 1b 4 1 1 0 0 0 0 .316
C Lee lf 3 0 0 0 1 0 1 .296
L Berkman rf 4 0 0 0 0 3 2 .257
M Ensberg 3b 4 1 3 1 0 0 0 .221
E Bruntlett ss 4 0 1 1 0 2 2 .295
B Ausmus c 4 0 1 0 0 1 2 .249
R Oswalt p 2 0 0 0 0 1 2 .125
D Borkowski p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
a-C Biggio ph 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .255
D Wheeler p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000

Totals 34 3 7 3 1 9 11

a-flied out to center for D Borkowski in the 8th.

BATTING: 2B - M Loretta (17, M Wuertz); M Ensberg (9, M Wuertz); E Bruntlett
(1, M Wuertz). 3B - C Burke (2, T Lilly). RBI - H Pence (43), M Ensberg (26), E
Bruntlett (4). 2-out RBI - M Ensberg, E Bruntlett. Runners left in scoring
position, 2 out - B Ausmus 1, C Burke 1. Team LOB - 5.

FIELDING: E - B Ausmus (2, throw).


CHICAGO CUBS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
A Soriano lf 5 2 2 3 0 2 1 .312
C Izturis ss 4 2 2 0 1 0 0 .247
D Lee 1b 4 1 1 0 1 1 2 .329
A Ramirez 3b 4 1 3 4 0 0 0 .314
A Pagan rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .267
C Floyd rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .297
M Fontenot 2b 4 0 0 0 0 3 5 .343
M DeRosa 2b-rf-3b 4 1 2 0 0 1 0 .296
J Jones cf 4 1 1 0 0 0 1 .233
R Bowen c 4 0 0 0 0 2 2 .212
T Lilly p 3 1 1 1 0 1 0 .146
a-D Ward ph 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .339
M Wuertz p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000

Totals 37 9 13 8 2 10 11

a-doubled to deep center for T Lilly in the 8th.

BATTING: 2B - D Lee (28, R Oswalt); A Ramirez (15, R Oswalt); D Ward (6, D
Wheeler). HR - A Soriano (16, 6th inning off R Oswalt 2 on, 1 Out). RBI - A
Ramirez 4 (56), T Lilly (3), A Soriano 3 (36). 2-out RBI - A Ramirez 2. Runners
left in scoring position, 2 out - D Lee 1, J Jones 1, M Fontenot 2. Team LOB -
6.


----------------------------------------------------
HOUSTON - 100 000 002 -- 3
CHICAGO CUBS - 000 324 00x -- 9
----------------------------------------------------

HOUSTON ip h r er bb so hr era
R Oswalt (L, 8-6) 5 1/3 10 9 8 2 6 1 3.91
D Borkowski 1 2/3 2 0 0 0 3 0 4.38
D Wheeler 1 1 0 0 0 1 0 5.56

CHICAGO CUBS ip h r er bb so hr era
T Lilly (W, 9-4) 8 4 1 1 1 7 0 3.51
M Wuertz 1 3 2 2 0 2 0 3.76

Pitches-strikes: R Oswalt 106-69; D Borkowski 32-23; D Wheeler 13-10; T Lilly
106-74; M Wuertz 20-12. Ground balls-fly balls: R Oswalt 6-4; D Borkowski 2-0;
D Wheeler 1-1; T Lilly 7-10; M Wuertz 0-1. Batters faced: R Oswalt 28; D
Borkowski 7; D Wheeler 4; T Lilly 29; M Wuertz 6.

UMPIRES: HP--Larry Vanover. 1B--Tony Randazzo. 2B--Charlie Reliford. 3B--Greg
Gibson.

T--2:36. Att--41,448.
Weather: 80 degrees, partly cloudy. Wind: 15 mph, out
to right.</div>

 

NL: HOUSTON at CHICAGO CUBS

<div class="pre">** CONFIRMED **
NL
HOUSTON 3
CHICAGO CUBS 9 FINAL</div>

 

NL: HOUSTON at CHICAGO CUBS

<div class="pre">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
HOUSTON (3) AT CHICAGO CUBS (9) - HOW THEY SCORED
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

HOUSTON 1ST: C Burke tripled to right. H Pence grounded out to second,
C Burke scored. M Loretta flied out to right. C Lee walked. L Berkman
struck out swinging. (1 Run, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) HOUSTON 1, CHICAGO CUBS 0.

CHICAGO CUBS 4TH: A Soriano grounded out to second. C Izturis singled to
center. D Lee doubled to deep right, C Izturis to third. A Ramirez hit a
ground rule double to deep center, C Izturis and D Lee scored. M Fontenot
struck out swinging. M DeRosa reached on infield single to catcher, A Ramirez
to third, A Ramirez scored, M DeRosa to second on throwing error by catcher
B Ausmus. J Jones grounded out to first. (3 Runs, 4 Hits, 1 Error) HOUSTON 1,
CHICAGO CUBS 3.

CHICAGO CUBS 5TH: R Bowen bunt grounded out to catcher. T Lilly struck out
looking. A Soriano singled to center. C Izturis walked, A Soriano to second.
D Lee walked, A Soriano to third, C Izturis to second. A Ramirez singled to
left, A Soriano and C Izturis scored, D Lee to second. M Fontenot struck out
swinging. (2 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) HOUSTON 1, CHICAGO CUBS 5.

CHICAGO CUBS 6TH: M DeRosa singled to center. J Jones singled to right,
M DeRosa to third. R Bowen struck out swinging. T Lilly singled to right,
M DeRosa scored, J Jones to second. A Soriano homered to left center, J Jones
and T Lilly scored. D Borkowski relieved R Oswalt. C Izturis singled to left.
D Lee struck out swinging. A Ramirez singled to center, C Izturis to third.
M Fontenot struck out swinging. (4 Runs, 6 Hits, 0 Errors) HOUSTON 1,
CHICAGO CUBS 9.

HOUSTON 9TH: A Pagan in right field. M DeRosa at third base. M Wuertz
relieved T Lilly. M Loretta doubled to left. C Lee flied out to right.
L Berkman struck out swinging. M Ensberg doubled to left, M Loretta scored.
E Bruntlett hit a ground rule double to deep center, M Ensberg scored.
B Ausmus struck out looking. (2 Runs, 3 Hits, 0 Errors) HOUSTON 3,
CHICAGO CUBS 9.</div>

 

NL: HOUSTON at CHICAGO CUBS

<div class="pre">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
HOUSTON (3) AT CHICAGO CUBS (9) - EVENT LOG
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Houston Starting Lineups -- C Burke 2B, H Pence CF, M Loretta 1B, C Lee LF,
L Berkman RF, M Ensberg 3B, E Bruntlett SS, B Ausmus C, R Oswalt RHP.

Chicago Cubs Starting Lineups -- A Soriano LF, C Izturis SS, D Lee 1B,
A Ramirez 3B, C Floyd RF, M DeRosa 2B, J Jones CF, R Bowen C, T Lilly LHP.

Umpires -- Larry Vanover (HP), Tony Randazzo (1B), Charlie Reliford (2B),
Greg Gibson (3B).

Gametime Weather: 80 degrees, Partly Cloudy, wind out to right at 15 mph.


HOUSTON 1ST: C Burke tripled to right. H Pence grounded out to second,
C Burke scored. M Loretta flied out to right. C Lee walked. L Berkman
struck out swinging. (1 Run, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) HOUSTON 1, CHICAGO CUBS 0.

CHICAGO CUBS 1ST: A Soriano struck out swinging. C Izturis grounded out to
first. D Lee grounded out to pitcher. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) HOUSTON 1,
CHICAGO CUBS 0.

HOUSTON 2ND: M Fontenot at second base. M DeRosa in right field. M Ensberg
flied out to left. E Bruntlett grounded out to shortstop. B Ausmus flied out
to left. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) HOUSTON 1, CHICAGO CUBS 0.

CHICAGO CUBS 2ND: A Ramirez flied out to center. M Fontenot lined out to
center. M DeRosa struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) HOUSTON 1,
CHICAGO CUBS 0.

HOUSTON 3RD: R Oswalt struck out swinging. C Burke popped out to
second. H Pence struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) HOUSTON 1,
CHICAGO CUBS 0.

CHICAGO CUBS 3RD: J Jones grounded out to second. R Bowen lined out to
third. T Lilly popped out to shortstop. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) HOUSTON 1,
CHICAGO CUBS 0.

HOUSTON 4TH: M Loretta grounded out to third. C Lee flied out to center.
L Berkman struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) HOUSTON 1,
CHICAGO CUBS 0.

CHICAGO CUBS 4TH: A Soriano grounded out to second. C Izturis singled to
center. D Lee doubled to deep right, C Izturis to third. A Ramirez hit a
ground rule double to deep center, C Izturis and D Lee scored. M Fontenot
struck out swinging. M DeRosa reached on infield single to catcher, A Ramirez
to third, A Ramirez scored, M DeRosa to second on throwing error by catcher
B Ausmus. J Jones grounded out to first. (3 Runs, 4 Hits, 1 Error) HOUSTON 1,
CHICAGO CUBS 3.

HOUSTON 5TH: M Ensberg singled to center. E Bruntlett struck out swinging.
B Ausmus singled to center, M Ensberg to second. R Oswalt bunted into
fielder's choice to pitcher, M Ensberg out at third, B Ausmus to second.
C Burke flied out to right. (0 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) HOUSTON 1, CHICAGO CUBS 3.

CHICAGO CUBS 5TH: R Bowen bunt grounded out to catcher. T Lilly struck out
looking. A Soriano singled to center. C Izturis walked, A Soriano to second.
D Lee walked, A Soriano to third, C Izturis to second. A Ramirez singled to
left, A Soriano and C Izturis scored, D Lee to second. M Fontenot struck out
swinging. (2 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) HOUSTON 1, CHICAGO CUBS 5.

HOUSTON 6TH: H Pence grounded out to shortstop. M Loretta grounded out to
second. C Lee grounded out to shortstop. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) HOUSTON 1,
CHICAGO CUBS 5.

CHICAGO CUBS 6TH: M DeRosa singled to center. J Jones singled to right,
M DeRosa to third. R Bowen struck out swinging. T Lilly singled to right,
M DeRosa scored, J Jones to second. A Soriano homered to left center, J Jones
and T Lilly scored. D Borkowski relieved R Oswalt. C Izturis singled to left.
D Lee struck out swinging. A Ramirez singled to center, C Izturis to third.
M Fontenot struck out swinging. (4 Runs, 6 Hits, 0 Errors) HOUSTON 1,
CHICAGO CUBS 9.

HOUSTON 7TH: L Berkman flied out to left. M Ensberg singled to center.
E Bruntlett struck out looking. B Ausmus lined out to right. (0 Runs, 1 Hit,
0 Errors) HOUSTON 1, CHICAGO CUBS 9.

CHICAGO CUBS 7TH: M DeRosa grounded out to third. J Jones grounded out to
second. R Bowen struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) HOUSTON 1,
CHICAGO CUBS 9.

HOUSTON 8TH: C Biggio hit for D Borkowski. C Biggio flied out to center.
C Burke popped out to second. H Pence struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 0 Hits,
0 Errors) HOUSTON 1, CHICAGO CUBS 9.

CHICAGO CUBS 8TH: D Wheeler relieved D Borkowski. D Ward hit for T Lilly.
D Ward doubled to deep center. A Soriano struck out swinging. C Izturis
grounded out to first, D Ward to third. D Lee flied out to right. (0 Runs,
1 Hit, 0 Errors) HOUSTON 1, CHICAGO CUBS 9.

HOUSTON 9TH: A Pagan in right field. M DeRosa at third base. M Wuertz
relieved T Lilly. M Loretta doubled to left. C Lee flied out to right.
L Berkman struck out swinging. M Ensberg doubled to left, M Loretta scored.
E Bruntlett hit a ground rule double to deep center, M Ensberg scored.
B Ausmus struck out looking. (2 Runs, 3 Hits, 0 Errors) HOUSTON 3,
CHICAGO CUBS 9.</div>

 

Lilly strong as Cubs cruise by Astros

<h3>CHICAGO CUBS 9, HOUSTON 3</h3>CHICAGO (Ticker) -- Ted Lilly and the Chicago Cubs have hittheir stride.


Lilly pitched eight outstanding innings and Aramis Ramirez drovein four runs as the Cubs posted a 9-3 victory Saturday over theHouston Astros.


Alfonso Soriano hit a three-run homer and Cesar Izturis scoredtwice for Chicago, which has clinched its third straight homeseries win.


The Cubs also closed within three games of the National LeagueCentral Division-leading Milwaukee Brewers. Milwaukee, whichhas lost six of seven, hosts the Colorado Rockies Saturdaynight.


Lilly (9-4) yielded only a run, four hits and a walk in winninghis fifth straight decision. The lefthander, who struck outseven, is 5-0 in his last six starts.


After the Astros touched Lilly in the first inning, when ChrisBurke led off with a triple to right and scored on a groundoutby rookie Hunter Pence, the Cubs began their surge in thefourth.


Izturis hit a one-out single before moving to third on a doubleby Derrek Lee. Ramirez followed with a double to center,plating both runners for a 2-1 lead.


Ramirez then scored when Astros catcher Brad Ausmus threw wideof first base on an infield single by Mark DeRosa.

The Cubs broke open the game over the next two innings againstAll-Star Roy Oswalt. With the bases loaded in the fifth,Ramirez hit a two-run single to left field to increase Chicago'slead to 5-1.


DeRosa and Jacque Jones opened the sixth with singles and, oneout later, Lilly helped his own cause with an RBI single.Soriano then deposited a 1-2 pitch from Oswalt into thebleachers in left field to provide a 9-1 bulge.


The blast ended a 10-game homerless drought for the Cubs, theirlongest since the 1988 season.


Oswalt (8-6) was tagged for nine runs - a career-high eightearned - and 10 hits en route to his fourth straight lossagainst Chicago. The 29-year-old righthander is now 10-10lifetime vs. the Cubs.


Morgan Ensberg and Eric Bruntlett each had RBI doubles in theninth for Houston, which has lost five of seven games.

 

Lilly strong as Cubs cruise by Astros

<h3>CHICAGO CUBS 9, HOUSTON 3</h3>CHICAGO (Ticker) -- Ted Lilly and the Chicago Cubs have hittheir stride.


Lilly pitched eight outstanding innings and Aramis Ramirez drovein four runs as the Cubs posted a 9-3 victory Saturday over theHouston Astros.


Alfonso Soriano hit a three-run homer and Cesar Izturis scoredtwice for Chicago, which has clinched its third straight homeseries win.


"That's the thing for us right now," Soriano said. "We arestarting to feel comfortable as a team. When you're relaxed,you always play better."


The Cubs also closed within three games of the National LeagueCentral Division-leading Milwaukee Brewers. Milwaukee, whichhas lost six of seven, hosts the Colorado Rockies Saturdaynight.


Lilly (9-4) yielded only a run, four hits and a walk in winninghis fifth straight decision. The lefthander, who struck outseven, is 5-0 in his last six starts.


"One of the things I'm doing better is locating my fastball,"Lilly said. "I haven't really thought about it too much. I'malways trying to improve on little things from start to start."

After the Astros touched Lilly in the first inning, when ChrisBurke led off with a triple to right and scored on a groundoutby rookie Hunter Pence, the Cubs began their surge in thefourth.


Izturis hit a one-out single before moving to third on a doubleby Derrek Lee. Ramirez followed with a double to center,plating both runners for a 2-1 lead.


Ramirez then scored when Astros catcher Brad Ausmus threw wideof first base on an infield single by Mark DeRosa.

The Cubs broke open the game over the next two innings againstAll-Star Roy Oswalt. With the bases loaded in the fifth,Ramirez hit a two-run single to left field to increase Chicago'slead to 5-1.


"When you bring in a lot of new guys to a team like we did, ittakes a while to jell," Ramirez said. "Every team has to getused to playing together. It appears our adjustment has kickedin."


DeRosa and Jacque Jones opened the sixth with singles and, oneout later, Lilly helped his own cause with an RBI single.Soriano then deposited a 1-2 pitch from Oswalt into thebleachers in left field to provide a 9-1 bulge.


The blast ended a 10-game homerless drought for the Cubs, theirlongest since the 1988 season.


Oswalt (8-6) was tagged for nine runs - a career-high eightearned - and 10 hits en route to his fourth straight lossagainst Chicago. The 29-year-old righthander is now 10-10lifetime vs. the Cubs.


"I was missing with my pitches after the fourth inning," Oswaltsaid. "I was trying to pitch to the bottom of the zone. In thesixth, I was running out of gas. I just kind of left the ballup for Soriano to swing at."


Morgan Ensberg and Eric Bruntlett each had RBI doubles in theninth for Houston, which has lost five of seven games.

"We should have hit better today," Astros manager Phil Garnersaid. "It was a perfect day to hit with the wind blowing out.We just didn't get it done."