GAME THREAD: GAME THREAD: NL: HOUSTON (54-65) at CHICAGO CUBS (60-58)

NL: HOUSTON at CHICAGO CUBS

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

BATTERIES: HOU - TROY PATTON, CHRIS SAMPSON (7TH) AND BRAD AUSMUS, ERIC MUNSON
(7TH)

CHN - JASON MARQUIS, CARLOS MARMOL (7TH), BOBBY HOWRY
(8TH), RYAN DEMPSTER (9TH) AND JASON KENDALL


WP - JASON MARQUIS (11-8)
LP - TROY PATTON (0-2)
SAVE - RYAN DEMPSTER (24)

HOME RUNS: HOU - LUKE SCOTT (16) OFF JASON MARQUIS IN THE 2ND, 0 ON
CARLOS LEE (27) OFF RYAN DEMPSTER IN THE 9TH, 0 ON

CHN - ARAMIS RAMIREZ (19) OFF TROY PATTON IN THE 6TH, 1 ON
DERREK LEE (16) OFF CHRIS SAMPSON IN THE 8TH, 0 ON


TIME: 2:28 ATT: 40,606

PROBABLES: HOU - WOODY WILLIAMS (8-13, 5.04)
CHN - RICH HILL (8-7, 3.68)</div>

 

NL: HOUSTON at CHICAGO CUBS

<div class="pre">HOUSTON (3) VS CHICAGO CUBS (4) - FINAL

HOUSTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
H Pence cf 3 0 0 0 1 1 0 .322
C Burke 2b 4 0 0 0 0 1 2 .224
L Berkman 1b 4 0 0 0 0 1 0 .278
C Lee lf 4 2 2 1 0 1 0 .304
M Loretta ss 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 .275
L Scott rf 4 1 1 2 0 0 0 .255
T Wigginton 3b 3 0 2 0 0 0 0 .270
B Ausmus c 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 .229
a-M Lamb ph 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .292
C Sampson p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .154
T Patton p 2 0 1 0 0 1 1 .333
E Munson c 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .257

Totals 32 3 6 3 1 5 4

a-flied out to right for B Ausmus in the 7th.

BATTING: 2B - C Lee (38, J Marquis). HR - L Scott (16, 2nd inning off J Marquis
0 on, 2 Out), C Lee (27, 9th inning off R Dempster 0 on, 1 Out). RBI - L Scott
2 (60), C Lee (104). 2-out RBI - L Scott. Runners left in scoring position, 2
out - T Patton 1. GIDP - C Burke. Team LOB - 3.

FIELDING: E - L Berkman (9, catch); H Pence (3, throw).


CHICAGO CUBS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
A Soriano lf 3 1 1 0 1 0 1 .293
R Theriot ss 4 0 1 0 0 1 1 .281
D Lee 1b 4 2 2 1 0 1 1 .308
A Ramirez 3b 4 1 2 2 0 0 0 .318
C Monroe rf 3 0 0 0 0 1 1 .222
b-D Ward ph 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .337
F Pie pr-cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .211
M DeRosa 2b 3 0 0 0 0 2 3 .287
J Kendall c 3 0 0 0 0 0 3 .308
J Jones cf-rf 3 0 0 0 0 0 1 .271
J Marquis p 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .150
C Marmol p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
a-M Fontenot ph 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .283
B Howry p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
R Dempster p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000

Totals 30 4 7 3 1 5 11

a-grounded to second for C Marmol in the 7th; b-reached on infield single to
second for C Monroe in the 8th.

BATTING: 2B - R Theriot (27, T Patton). HR - A Ramirez (19, 6th inning off T
Patton 1 on, 1 Out), D Lee (16, 8th inning off C Sampson 0 on, 0 Out). S - J
Marquis. RBI - A Ramirez 2 (82), D Lee (69). Runners left in scoring position,
2 out - D Lee 1, A Soriano 1. Team LOB - 6.

BASERUNNING: Picked Off - A Ramirez (2nd base, E Munson).

FIELDING: DP: 1 (A Ramirez-D Lee).


----------------------------------------------------
HOUSTON - 010 000 101 -- 3
CHICAGO CUBS - 001 002 01x -- 4
----------------------------------------------------

HOUSTON ip h r er bb so hr era
T Patton (L, 0-2) 6 3 3 2 1 3 1 3.86
C Sampson 2 4 1 1 0 2 1 4.53

CHICAGO CUBS ip h r er bb so hr era
J Marquis (W, 11-8) 6 2/3 5 2 2 1 5 1 4.20
C Marmol (H, 13) 1/3 0 0 0 0 0 0 1.46
B Howry (H, 18) 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 3.61
R Dempster (S, 24) 1 1 1 1 0 0 1 3.40

HBP - J Kendall (by T Patton); M DeRosa (by T Patton). Pitches-strikes: T
Patton 92-60; C Sampson 31-22; J Marquis 81-56; C Marmol 4-3; B Howry 11-8; R
Dempster 16-10. Ground balls-fly balls: T Patton 4-11; C Sampson 2-1; J Marquis
9-6; C Marmol 0-1; B Howry 0-3; R Dempster 1-2. Batters faced: T Patton 25; C
Sampson 9; J Marquis 25; C Marmol 1; B Howry 3; R Dempster 4.

UMPIRES: HP--Larry Vanover. 1B--Tony Randazzo. 2B--Gerry Davis. 3B--Greg
Gibson.

T--2:28. Att--40,606.
Weather: 75 degrees, sunny. Wind: 4 mph, right to
left.</div>

 

NL: HOUSTON at CHICAGO CUBS

<div class="pre">** CONFIRMED **
NL
HOUSTON 3
CHICAGO CUBS 4 FINAL</div>

 

NL: HOUSTON at CHICAGO CUBS

<div class="pre">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
HOUSTON (3) AT CHICAGO CUBS (4) - HOW THEY SCORED
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

HOUSTON 2ND: C Lee flied out to right. M Loretta lined out to center.
L Scott homered to right center. T Wigginton grounded out to second. (1 Run,
1 Hit, 0 Errors) HOUSTON 1, CHICAGO CUBS 0.

CHICAGO CUBS 3RD: J Jones grounded out to second. J Marquis fouled out to
right. A Soriano walked. R Theriot doubled to left center, A Soriano to
third, A Soriano scored on throwing error by center fielder H Pence. D Lee
struck out looking. (1 Run, 1 Hit, 1 Error) HOUSTON 1, CHICAGO CUBS 1.

CHICAGO CUBS 6TH: R Theriot flied out to right. D Lee singled to right.
A Ramirez homered to left, D Lee scored. C Monroe struck out swinging.
M DeRosa hit by pitch. J Kendall flied out to right. (2 Runs, 2 Hits,
0 Errors) HOUSTON 1, CHICAGO CUBS 3.

HOUSTON 7TH: C Lee doubled to deep left. M Loretta grounded out to
shortstop, C Lee to third. L Scott grounded out to second, C Lee scored.
T Wigginton singled to left. M Lamb hit for B Ausmus. C Marmol relieved
J Marquis. M Lamb flied out to right. (1 Run, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) HOUSTON 2,
CHICAGO CUBS 3.

CHICAGO CUBS 8TH: D Lee homered to center. A Ramirez singled to left.
D Ward hit for C Monroe. D Ward reached on infield single to second, A Ramirez
to second. F Pie ran for D Ward. A Ramirez picked off second. M DeRosa struck
out swinging. J Kendall grounded out to shortstop. (1 Run, 3 Hits, 0 Errors)
HOUSTON 2, CHICAGO CUBS 4.

HOUSTON 9TH: F Pie in center field. J Jones in right field. R Dempster
relieved B Howry. L Berkman flied out to right. C Lee homered to left.
M Loretta lined out to second. L Scott grounded out to shortstop. (1 Run,
1 Hit, 0 Errors) HOUSTON 3, CHICAGO CUBS 4.</div>

 

NL: HOUSTON at CHICAGO CUBS

<div class="pre">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
HOUSTON (3) AT CHICAGO CUBS (4) - EVENT LOG
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Houston Starting Lineups -- H Pence CF, C Burke 2B, L Berkman 1B, C Lee LF,
M Loretta SS, L Scott RF, T Wigginton 3B, B Ausmus C, T Patton LHP.

Chicago Cubs Starting Lineups -- A Soriano LF, R Theriot SS, D Lee 1B,
A Ramirez 3B, C Monroe RF, M DeRosa 2B, J Kendall C, J Jones CF, J Marquis RHP.

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

Gametime Weather: 75 degrees, Sunny, wind right to left at 4 mph.


HOUSTON 1ST: H Pence struck out swinging. C Burke grounded out to first.
L Berkman lined out to first. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) HOUSTON 0, CHICAGO
CUBS 0.

CHICAGO CUBS 1ST: A Soriano popped out to shortstop. R Theriot fouled out
to catcher. D Lee lined out to second. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) HOUSTON 0,
CHICAGO CUBS 0.

HOUSTON 2ND: C Lee flied out to right. M Loretta lined out to center.
L Scott homered to right center. T Wigginton grounded out to second. (1 Run,
1 Hit, 0 Errors) HOUSTON 1, CHICAGO CUBS 0.

CHICAGO CUBS 2ND: A Ramirez safe at first on error by first baseman
L Berkman. C Monroe flied out to left. M DeRosa flied out to right.
J Kendall grounded out to first. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 1 Error) HOUSTON 1,
CHICAGO CUBS 0.

HOUSTON 3RD: B Ausmus grounded out to third. T Patton singled to center.
H Pence walked, T Patton to second. C Burke grounded into double play, third
to first, T Patton out at third.(0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) HOUSTON 1,
CHICAGO CUBS 0.

CHICAGO CUBS 3RD: J Jones grounded out to second. J Marquis fouled out to
right. A Soriano walked. R Theriot doubled to left center, A Soriano to
third, A Soriano scored on throwing error by center fielder H Pence. D Lee
struck out looking. (1 Run, 1 Hit, 1 Error) HOUSTON 1, CHICAGO CUBS 1.

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

CHICAGO CUBS 4TH: A Ramirez lined out to left. C Monroe grounded out to
catcher. M DeRosa struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) HOUSTON 1,
CHICAGO CUBS 1.

HOUSTON 5TH: L Scott flied out to right. T Wigginton singled to left.
B Ausmus grounded out to shortstop, T Wigginton to second. T Patton struck
out looking. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) HOUSTON 1, CHICAGO CUBS 1.

CHICAGO CUBS 5TH: J Kendall hit by pitch. J Jones flied out to left.
J Marquis sacrificed to third, J Kendall to second. A Soriano fouled out
to catcher. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) HOUSTON 1, CHICAGO CUBS 1.

HOUSTON 6TH: H Pence flied out to left. C Burke struck out looking.
L Berkman flied out to left. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) HOUSTON 1,
CHICAGO CUBS 1.

CHICAGO CUBS 6TH: R Theriot flied out to right. D Lee singled to right.
A Ramirez homered to left, D Lee scored. C Monroe struck out swinging.
M DeRosa hit by pitch. J Kendall flied out to right. (2 Runs, 2 Hits,
0 Errors) HOUSTON 1, CHICAGO CUBS 3.

HOUSTON 7TH: C Lee doubled to deep left. M Loretta grounded out to
shortstop, C Lee to third. L Scott grounded out to second, C Lee scored.
T Wigginton singled to left. M Lamb hit for B Ausmus. C Marmol relieved
J Marquis. M Lamb flied out to right. (1 Run, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) HOUSTON 2,
CHICAGO CUBS 3.

CHICAGO CUBS 7TH: C Sampson relieved T Patton. E Munson catching. J Jones
flied out to right. M Fontenot hit for C Marmol. M Fontenot grounded out to
second. A Soriano singled to left. R Theriot struck out swinging. (0 Runs,
1 Hit, 0 Errors) HOUSTON 2, CHICAGO CUBS 3.

HOUSTON 8TH: B Howry relieved C Marmol. E Munson fouled out to left.
H Pence flied out to center. C Burke flied out to left. (0 Runs, 0 Hits,
0 Errors) HOUSTON 2, CHICAGO CUBS 3.

CHICAGO CUBS 8TH: D Lee homered to center. A Ramirez singled to left.
D Ward hit for C Monroe. D Ward reached on infield single to second, A Ramirez
to second. F Pie ran for D Ward. A Ramirez picked off second. M DeRosa struck
out swinging. J Kendall grounded out to shortstop. (1 Run, 3 Hits, 0 Errors)
HOUSTON 2, CHICAGO CUBS 4.

HOUSTON 9TH: F Pie in center field. J Jones in right field. R Dempster
relieved B Howry. L Berkman flied out to right. C Lee homered to left.
M Loretta lined out to second. L Scott grounded out to shortstop. (1 Run,
1 Hit, 0 Errors) HOUSTON 3, CHICAGO CUBS 4.</div>

 

Cubs even series with Astros behind Ramirez, Marquis

<h3>CHICAGO CUBS 4, HOUSTON 3</h3>CHICAGO (Ticker) -- Aramis Ramirez hit a two-run homer andJason Marquis outdueled rookie Troy Patton as the Chicago Cubsdefeated the Houston Astros, 4-3, on Saturday.


The Cubs' victory evened the three-game series between the teamsafter the Astros won 6-1 on Friday. Houston had won fourstraight against Chicago entering the contest.


Ramirez broke a 1-1 tie in the sixth inning with his 19th homerun of the season off Patton with Derrek Lee aboard. It wasChicago's first home run with a runner on base since DaryleWard's grand slam against the St. Louis Cardinals on August 18.

That made a winner of Marquis (11-8), who pitched 6 1/3 innings,allowing two runs and five hits. The righthander struck outfive and walked one to improve his record at Wrigley Field to8-3 this season.


Carlos Marmol and Bobby Howry bridged the gap to Ryan Dempster,who allowed Carlos Lee's 27th home run in the ninth beforeearning his 24th save.


Luke Scott put Houston ahead 1-0 in the second inning when hedeposited a pitch from Marquis over the center field wall forhis 16th homer of the season.


The Cubs tied the score in the third inning when Alfonso Sorianowalked and Ryan Theriot doubled to center. Astros centerfielder Hunter Pence committed a throwing error on the play,allowing Soriano to score the tying run.


Scott struck again for Houston in the seventh inning, groundingout to short to score Carlos Lee from third to pull his teamwithin 3-2.


The Cubs tacked on an insurance run in the eighth inning onDerrek Lee's 16th home run of the season off Astros relieverChris Sampson.


Lee and Ramirez each finished with a pair of hits to paceChicago's seven-hit attack.


In his second career start, Patton (0-2) pitched six innings,allowing three runs - two earned - and three hits. The21-year-old lefthander walked one and struck out three batters.

 

Cubs even series with Astros behind Ramirez, Marquis

<h3>CHICAGO CUBS 4, HOUSTON 3</h3>CHICAGO (Ticker) -- Aramis Ramirez hit a two-run home run andJason Marquis outdueled rookie Troy Patton as the Chicago Cubsdefeated the Houston Astros, 4-3, on Saturday.


The Cubs' victory evened the three-game series between the teamsafter the Astros won, 6-1, on Friday. Houston had won fourstraight against Chicago entering the contest.


Ramirez broke a 1-1 tie in the sixth inning with his 19th homerun of the season off Patton with Derrek Lee aboard. It wasChicago's first home run with a runner on base since DaryleWard's grand slam against the St. Louis Cardinals on August 18.

"We don't have to hit home runs to win," Ramirez said. "The waythe wind has been blowing in this year, it has been hard tohit the ball out. All we have to worry about is scoring runsand playing good baseball."


That made a winner of Marquis (11-8), who pitched 6 1/3 innings,allowing two runs and five hits. The righthander struck outfive and walked one to improve his record at Wrigley Field to8-3 this season.


"Marquis pitched well, he came in and threw strikes," Cubsmanager Lou Piniella said. "We got hitting from our big boys,Ramirez and Lee. It was a good way to start the month."

Carlos Marmol and Bobby Howry bridged the gap to Ryan Dempster,who allowed Carlos Lee's 27th home run in the ninth beforeearning his 24th save.


Luke Scott put Houston ahead 1-0 in the second inning when hedeposited a pitch from Marquis over the center field wall forhis 16th homer of the season.


The Cubs tied the score in the third inning when Alfonso Sorianowalked and Ryan Theriot doubled to center. Astros centerfielder Hunter Pence committed a throwing error on the play,allowing Soriano to score the tying run.


"You don't want to give up runs that way," Astros manager CecilCooper said. "Good teams like the Cubs will take advantageof plays like that and they did."


Scott struck again for Houston in the seventh inning, groundingout to short to score Carlos Lee from third to pull his teamwithin 3-2.


The Cubs tacked on an insurance run in the eighth inning onDerrek Lee's 16th home run of the season off Astros relieverChris Sampson.


"I can't say it felt different today," Lee said. "We have beenplaying big games and close games for a while. We just needto try and keep the same intensity level everyday."

Lee and Ramirez each finished with a pair of hits to paceChicago's seven-hit attack.


In his second career start, Patton (0-2) pitched six innings,allowing three runs - two earned - and three hits. The21-year-old lefthander walked one and struck out three batters.

"I am pretty pleased with my outing," Patton said. "I havegiven up too many home runs and I need to keep the ball downand in the ballpark better than I have."