GAME THREAD: NL: CHICAGO CUBS (22-25) at LA DODGERS (28-21)

NL: CHICAGO CUBS at LA DODGERS

<div class="pre">NL AT LA DODGERS - SCORING UPDATE
JUAN PIERRE HIT BY CARLOS MARMOL PITCH WITH BASES LOADED
SCORED RAMON MARTINEZ.

FINAL SCORE: LA DODGERS 2, CHICAGO CUBS 1</div>

 

NL: CHICAGO CUBS at LA DODGERS

<div class="pre">NL FINAL 11
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
- - - - - - - - -
CHICAGO CUBS 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
LA DODGERS 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0

10 11 R H E
-- -- - - -
CHICAGO CUBS 0 0 1 7 0
LA DODGERS 0 1 2 4 1 (FINAL 11)

BATTERIES: CHN - RICH HILL, MIKE WUERTZ (7TH), SCOTT EYRE (8TH), BOBBY HOWRY
(8TH), ANGEL GUZMAN (9TH), CARLOS MARMOL (11TH) AND MICHAEL
BARRETT

LOS - RANDY WOLF, RUDY SEANEZ (7TH), JOE BEIMEL (8TH),
JONATHAN BROXTON (9TH), CHAD BILLINGSLEY (11TH) AND RUSSELL
MARTIN

HOME RUNS: CHN - NONE

LOS - ANDRE ETHIER (4) OFF SCOTT EYRE IN THE 8TH, 0 ON</div>

 

NL: CHICAGO CUBS at LA DODGERS

<div class="pre">NL FINAL 11
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
- - - - - - - - -
CHICAGO CUBS 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
LA DODGERS 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0

10 11 R H E
-- -- - - -
CHICAGO CUBS 0 0 1 7 0
LA DODGERS 0 1 2 4 1 (FINAL 11)

BATTERIES: CHN - RICH HILL, MIKE WUERTZ (7TH), SCOTT EYRE (8TH), BOBBY HOWRY
(8TH), ANGEL GUZMAN (9TH), CARLOS MARMOL (11TH) AND MICHAEL
BARRETT

LOS - RANDY WOLF, RUDY SEANEZ (7TH), JOE BEIMEL (8TH),
JONATHAN BROXTON (9TH), CHAD BILLINGSLEY (11TH) AND RUSSELL
MARTIN


WP - CHAD BILLINGSLEY (3-0)
LP - ANGEL GUZMAN (0-1)
SAVE - NONE

HOME RUNS: CHN - NONE

LOS - ANDRE ETHIER (4) OFF SCOTT EYRE IN THE 8TH, 0 ON


TIME: 3:22 ATT: 51,198

PROBABLES: LOS - BRAD PENNY (6-1, 2.26)
WAS - JASON SIMONTACCHI (2-2, 4.37)

PROBABLES: FLA - BYUNG-HYUN KIM (2-2, 7.02)
CHN - SEAN MARSHALL (0-1, 2.57)</div>

 

NL: CHICAGO CUBS at LA DODGERS

<div class="pre">CHICAGO CUBS (1) VS LA DODGERS (2) - FINAL IN 11 INNINGS

CHICAGO CUBS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
A Soriano lf 4 1 2 0 1 0 1 .301
R Theriot 2b 5 0 1 0 0 1 4 .279
D Lee 1b 5 0 1 1 0 2 0 .357
M Barrett c 4 0 0 0 1 0 2 .250
M DeRosa 3b 5 0 0 0 0 1 2 .246
M Murton rf 4 0 1 0 1 0 0 .287
A Pagan cf 3 0 2 0 0 1 2 .308
b-A Ramirez ph 1 0 0 0 0 0 3 .294
J Jones cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .248
C Izturis ss 3 0 0 0 1 0 2 .267
R Hill p 2 0 0 0 0 2 2 .048
a-D Ward ph 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .286
M Wuertz p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
S Eyre p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
B Howry p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
c-C Floyd ph 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .281
A Guzman p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
C Marmol p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000

Totals 39 1 7 1 4 8 20

a-lined out to second for R Hill in the 7th; b-flied out to right for A Pagan
in the 8th; c-struck out swinging for B Howry in the 9th.

BATTING: 2B - M Murton (7, R Wolf); A Pagan (2, R Seanez). RBI - D Lee (28).
Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - D Ward 1, A Ramirez 2, R Theriot 2.
GIDP - A Soriano. Team LOB - 9.

BASERUNNING: CS - M Barrett (2, 3rd base by R Wolf/R Martin).

FIELDING: DP: 1 (D Lee).


LA DODGERS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
R Furcal ss 4 0 2 0 1 0 0 .307
J Pierre cf 4 0 0 1 0 0 1 .274
R Martin c 4 0 0 0 0 1 1 .307
J Kent 2b 4 0 0 0 0 1 0 .287
O Saenz 1b 3 0 0 0 1 1 0 .227
L Gonzalez lf 4 0 1 0 0 0 1 .275
A LaRoche 3b 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 .200
b-A Ethier ph-rf 2 1 1 1 0 0 0 .280
B Clark rf 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 .239
c-N Garciaparra ph 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .281
J Broxton p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
C Billingsley p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
e-R Martinez ph 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 .161
R Wolf p 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .100
a-T Abreu ph 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .250
R Seanez p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
J Beimel p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
d-W Betemit ph-3b 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 .188

Totals 32 2 4 2 5 4 5

a-grounded to shortstop for R Wolf in the 6th; b-homered to right for A
Laroche in the 8th; c-flied out to center for B Clark in the 8th; d-flied out
to right for J Beimel in the 8th; e-walked for C Billingsley in the 11th.

BATTING: HR - A Ethier (4, 8th inning off S Eyre 0 on, 0 Out). RBI - A Ethier
(23), J Pierre (12). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - B Clark 1. Team
LOB - 6.

BASERUNNING: SB - R Martinez (1, 3rd base off A Guzman/M Barrett). CS - R
Furcal (3, 2nd base by R Hill).

FIELDING: E - R Furcal (7, ground ball). DP: 1 (R Furcal-J Kent-O Saenz).


----------------------------------------------------
CHICAGO CUBS - 000 000 010 00 -- 1
LA DODGERS - 000 000 010 01 -- 2

No outs when winning run scored.
----------------------------------------------------

CHICAGO CUBS ip h r er bb so hr era
R Hill 6 3 0 0 2 3 0 3.06
M Wuertz 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1.64
S Eyre (B, 4) 0 1 1 1 0 0 1 8.16
B Howry 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 5.32
A Guzman (L, 0-1) 2 0 1 1 2 1 0 2.96
C Marmol 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0.00

LA DODGERS ip h r er bb so hr era
R Wolf 6 3 0 0 2 5 0 3.41
R Seanez 1 2/3 4 1 1 1 0 0 2.88
J Beimel 1/3 0 0 0 0 0 0 4.09
J Broxton 2 0 0 0 1 3 0 1.65
C Billingsley (W, 3-0) 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 4.00

S Eyre pitched to 1 batter in the 8th.
A Guzman pitched to 2 batters in the 11th.
C Marmol pitched to 2 batters in the 11th.

WP - R Wolf. IBB - R Furcal (by C Marmol). HBP - J Pierre (by C Marmol).
Pitches-strikes: R Hill 66-39; M Wuertz 12-8; S Eyre 3-3; B Howry 13-9; A
Guzman 35-16; C Marmol 7-2; R Wolf 101-59; R Seanez 32-21; J Beimel 1-1; J
Broxton 30-20; C Billingsley 14-9. Ground balls-fly balls: R Hill 7-6; M Wuertz
0-3; S Eyre 0-0; B Howry 0-3; A Guzman 3-2; C Marmol 0-0; R Wolf 9-3; R Seanez
2-3; J Beimel 0-1; J Broxton 3-0; C Billingsley 1-2. Batters faced: R Hill 21;
M Wuertz 3; S Eyre 1; B Howry 3; A Guzman 8; C Marmol 2; R Wolf 23; R Seanez
10; J Beimel 1; J Broxton 6; C Billingsley 3.

UMPIRES: HP--Dana Demuth. 1B--Derryl Cousins. 2B--Kerwin Danley. 3B--Doug
Eddings.

T--3:22. Att--51,198.
Weather: 71 degrees, sunny. Wind: 8 mph, out to
center.</div>

 

NL: CHICAGO CUBS at LA DODGERS

<div class="pre">** CONFIRMED **
NL
CHICAGO CUBS 1
LA DODGERS 2 FINAL</div>

 

Dodgers use hit and run to sink Cubs

<h3>LA DODGERS 2, CHICAGO CUBS 1</h3>LOS ANGELES (Ticker) -- In a battle of bullpens, the LosAngeles Dodgers had to like their chances against the ChicagoCubs.

Juan Pierre was hit by a pitch to force in the winning run inthe bottom of the 11th inning to lift the Dodgers to a 2-1victory over the Cubs in the rubber game of a three-game serieson Sunday.

It was a bizarre ending to an otherwise magnificent pitchingperformance by both squads. The Cubs' bullpen suffered theirsecond blown save of the series, having coughed up a three-runlead in Friday's 9-8 defeat.

Angel Guzman (0-1), the fifth pitcher for the Cubs, opened the11th by issuing consecutive walks to Ramon Martinez and WilsonBetemit.

After a failed pickoff attempt that landed Martinez on thirdbase, Carlos Marmol relieved Guzman and intentionally walkedRafael Furcal to load the bases.

That strategy backfired when Marmol hit Pierre with a pitch topush in the deciding run.

The Cubs had forged ahead with a single run in the eighth - andit could have been more. Alfonso Soriano, Ryan Theriot andDerrek Lee opened the inning with consecutive singles offreliever Rudy Seanez, with Lee's plating Soriano for a 1-0 lead.

Seanez battled back to get two outs before Joe Beimel needed onepitch to get out of the bases-loaded threat by retiring AramisRamirez on a deep fly ball to right field.

The Cubs' bullpen handed it right back, as lefthander Scott Eyreserved up a solo home run to pinch hitter Andre Ethier on an0-2 pitch to lead off the eighth for a 1-1 tie.

Chad Billingsley (3-0), the fifth pitcher for the Dodgers, gotthe win by working a scoreless 11th inning.

Both lefthanded starters, Chicago's Rich Hill and Los Angeles'Randy Wolf, were outstanding.

Hill worked six innings before being removed for pinch hitterDaryle Ward in the seventh. The lefthander yielded just threehits to go with three strikeouts and two walks.

Wolf also allowed three hits while striking out five and walkingtwo in six innings.

Hill had lost his previous three decisions - all on the road -but looked much better Sunday, allowing only a single to leadoff the game in the first four innings while throwing just 41pitches.

Wolf, conversely, entered riding a three-game winning streak andalso breezed through the first four innings before running intotrouble in the fifth.

Matt Murton led off the frame with a double as the Cubseventually loaded the bases against Wolf, who escaped unscathedby getting Theriot to ground to first base on his 34th pitch ofthe inning.

Hill encountered his first problems in the fifth as well,putting two runners on with two out, but averted further damageby retiring Brady Clark on a groundout to shortstop.

Wolf bounced back to retire the side in order in the sixth toend his day.

With Angel Pagan on third base in the seventh, Ward, who wasbatting for Hill, made a bid to break up the scoreless game byripping a shot headed toward right field, only to see secondbaseman Jeff Kent dive to stab his line drive for the third out.

 

NL: CHICAGO CUBS at LA DODGERS

<div class="pre">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
CHICAGO CUBS (1) AT LA DODGERS (2) - HOW THEY SCORED
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

CHICAGO CUBS 8TH: A Soriano singled to left. R Theriot singled to deep
right, A Soriano to third. D Lee singled to center, A Soriano scored,
R Theriot to second. M Barrett bunted into fielder's choice to pitcher,
R Theriot out at third, D Lee to second. M DeRosa flied out to center, D Lee to
third. M Murton walked, M Barrett to second. J Beimel relieved R Seanez.
A Ramirez hit for A Pagan. A Ramirez flied out to right. (1 Run, 3 Hits,
0 Errors) CHICAGO CUBS 1, LA DODGERS 0.

LA DODGERS 8TH: J Jones in center field. A Ethier hit for A LaRoche. S Eyre
relieved M Wuertz. A Ethier homered to right. N Garciaparra hit for B Clark.
B Howry relieved S Eyre. N Garciaparra flied out to center. W Betemit hit for
J Beimel. W Betemit flied out to right. R Furcal flied out to right. (1 Run,
1 Hit, 0 Errors) CHICAGO CUBS 1, LA DODGERS 1.

LA DODGERS 11TH: R Martinez hit for C Billingsley. R Martinez walked.
W Betemit walked, R Martinez to second. R Martinez stole third. C Marmol
relieved A Guzman. R Furcal intentionally walked, W Betemit to second.
J Pierre hit by pitch, R Martinez scored, W Betemit to third, R Furcal to second.
(1 Run, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) CHICAGO CUBS 1, LA DODGERS 2.</div>

 

NL: CHICAGO CUBS at LA DODGERS

<div class="pre">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
CHICAGO CUBS (1) AT LA DODGERS (2) - EVENT LOG
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Chicago Cubs Starting Lineups -- A Soriano LF, R Theriot 2B, D Lee 1B,
M Barrett C, M DeRosa 3B, M Murton RF, A Pagan CF, C Izturis SS, R Hill LHP.

La Dodgers Starting Lineups -- R Furcal SS, J Pierre CF, R Martin C, J Kent 2B,
O Saenz 1B, L Gonzalez LF, A LaRoche 3B, B Clark RF, R Wolf LHP.

Umpires -- Dana Demuth (HP), Derryl Cousins (1B), Kerwin Danley (2B),
Doug Eddings (3B).

Gametime Weather: 71 degrees, Sunny, wind out to center at 8 mph.


CHICAGO CUBS 1ST: A Soriano grounded out to shortstop. R Theriot grounded
out to shortstop. D Lee flied out to center. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors)
CHICAGO CUBS 0, LA DODGERS 0.

LA DODGERS 1ST: R Furcal singled to center. R Furcal caught stealing
second, pitcher to first. J Pierre flied out to left. R Martin grounded out to
second. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) CHICAGO CUBS 0, LA DODGERS 0.

CHICAGO CUBS 2ND: M Barrett walked. M DeRosa struck out swinging.
M Murton safe at first on error by shortstop R Furcal, M Barrett to second.
A Pagan struck out swinging. M Barrett caught stealing third, catcher to
third.(0 Runs, 0 Hits, 1 Error) CHICAGO CUBS 0, LA DODGERS 0.

LA DODGERS 2ND: J Kent grounded out to third. O Saenz walked. L Gonzalez
lined into double play, to first, O Saenz doubled off first.(0 Runs, 0 Hits,
0 Errors) CHICAGO CUBS 0, LA DODGERS 0.

CHICAGO CUBS 3RD: C Izturis flied out to right. R Hill struck out
swinging. A Soriano singled to left. R Theriot grounded into fielder's choice
to pitcher, A Soriano out at second. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) CHICAGO CUBS 0,
LA DODGERS 0.

LA DODGERS 3RD: A LaRoche flied out to left. B Clark grounded out to
second. R Wolf struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors)
CHICAGO CUBS 0, LA DODGERS 0.

CHICAGO CUBS 4TH: D Lee struck out swinging. M Barrett grounded out to
third. M DeRosa grounded out to shortstop. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors)
CHICAGO CUBS 0, LA DODGERS 0.

LA DODGERS 4TH: R Furcal grounded out to second. J Pierre flied out to
center. R Martin struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors)
CHICAGO CUBS 0, LA DODGERS 0.

CHICAGO CUBS 5TH: M Murton doubled to deep center. A Pagan reached on bunt
single to pitcher, M Murton to third. A Pagan to second on wild pitch by
R Wolf. C Izturis grounded out to third. R Hill struck out swinging. A Soriano
walked. R Theriot grounded out to first. (0 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors)
CHICAGO CUBS 0, LA DODGERS 0.

LA DODGERS 5TH: J Kent struck out swinging. O Saenz grounded out to
shortstop. L Gonzalez singled to left. A LaRoche walked, L Gonzalez to
second. B Clark grounded out to shortstop. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors)
CHICAGO CUBS 0, LA DODGERS 0.

CHICAGO CUBS 6TH: D Lee grounded out to third. M Barrett fouled out to
catcher. M DeRosa grounded out to shortstop. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors)
CHICAGO CUBS 0, LA DODGERS 0.

LA DODGERS 6TH: T Abreu hit for R Wolf. T Abreu grounded out to shortstop.
R Furcal singled to left. J Pierre flied out to right. R Martin flied out to
right. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) CHICAGO CUBS 0, LA DODGERS 0.

CHICAGO CUBS 7TH: R Seanez relieved R Wolf. M Murton fouled out to catcher.
A Pagan doubled to deep right. C Izturis grounded out to first, A Pagan to
third. D Ward hit for R Hill. D Ward lined out to second. (0 Runs, 1 Hit,
0 Errors) CHICAGO CUBS 0, LA DODGERS 0.

LA DODGERS 7TH: M Wuertz relieved R Hill. J Kent flied out to center.
O Saenz popped out to first. L Gonzalez lined out to center. (0 Runs, 0 Hits,
0 Errors) CHICAGO CUBS 0, LA DODGERS 0.

CHICAGO CUBS 8TH: A Soriano singled to left. R Theriot singled to deep
right, A Soriano to third. D Lee singled to center, A Soriano scored,
R Theriot to second. M Barrett bunted into fielder's choice to pitcher,
R Theriot out at third, D Lee to second. M DeRosa flied out to center, D Lee to
third. M Murton walked, M Barrett to second. J Beimel relieved R Seanez.
A Ramirez hit for A Pagan. A Ramirez flied out to right. (1 Run, 3 Hits,
0 Errors) CHICAGO CUBS 1, LA DODGERS 0.

LA DODGERS 8TH: J Jones in center field. A Ethier hit for A LaRoche. S Eyre
relieved M Wuertz. A Ethier homered to right. N Garciaparra hit for B Clark.
B Howry relieved S Eyre. N Garciaparra flied out to center. W Betemit hit for
J Beimel. W Betemit flied out to right. R Furcal flied out to right. (1 Run,
1 Hit, 0 Errors) CHICAGO CUBS 1, LA DODGERS 1.

CHICAGO CUBS 9TH: A Ethier in right field. J Broxton relieved J Beimel.
W Betemit at third base. C Izturis walked. C Floyd hit for B Howry. C Floyd
struck out swinging. A Soriano grounded into double play, shortstop to second
to first, C Izturis out at second.(0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) CHICAGO CUBS 1,
LA DODGERS 1.

LA DODGERS 9TH: A Guzman relieved B Howry. J Pierre flied out to right.
R Martin grounded out to pitcher. J Kent popped out to first. (0 Runs, 0 Hits,
0 Errors) CHICAGO CUBS 1, LA DODGERS 1.

CHICAGO CUBS 10TH: R Theriot struck out looking. D Lee struck out
swinging. M Barrett grounded out to shortstop. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors)
CHICAGO CUBS 1, LA DODGERS 1.

LA DODGERS 10TH: O Saenz struck out swinging. L Gonzalez grounded out to
second. A Ethier grounded out to first. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors)
CHICAGO CUBS 1, LA DODGERS 1.

CHICAGO CUBS 11TH: C Billingsley relieved J Broxton. M DeRosa lined out to
center. M Murton lined out to shortstop. J Jones grounded out to catcher.
(0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) CHICAGO CUBS 1, LA DODGERS 1.

LA DODGERS 11TH: R Martinez hit for C Billingsley. R Martinez walked.
W Betemit walked, R Martinez to second. R Martinez stole third. C Marmol
relieved A Guzman. R Furcal intentionally walked, W Betemit to second.
J Pierre hit by pitch, R Martinez scored, W Betemit to third, R Furcal to second.
(1 Run, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) CHICAGO CUBS 1, LA DODGERS 2.</div>

 

Dodgers use hit and run to sink Cubs

<h3>LA DODGERS 2, CHICAGO CUBS 1</h3>LOS ANGELES (Ticker) -- In a battle of bullpens, the LosAngeles Dodgers had to like their chances against the ChicagoCubs.

Juan Pierre was hit by a pitch to force in the winning run inthe bottom of the 11th inning to lift the Dodgers to a 2-1victory over the Cubs in the rubber game of a three-game serieson Sunday.

It was a bizarre ending to an otherwise magnificent pitchingperformance by both squads. The Cubs' bullpen suffered theirsecond blown save of the series, having coughed up a three-runlead in Friday's 9-8 defeat.

"It's something that you don't see every day," Cubs manager LouPiniella said. "The first game of the series our bullpen didn'tdo their job, (Saturday) they looked amazing and then today itwasn't a good one again. We just need to get some consistencycause I know we got good arms out there."

Los Angeles improved to 3-0 in extra-inning games this seasonand remained tied atop the National League West with San Diego.

Angel Guzman (0-1), the fifth pitcher for the Cubs, opened the11th by issuing consecutive walks to Ramon Martinez and WilsonBetemit.

After a failed pickoff attempt that landed Martinez on thirdbase, Carlos Marmol relieved Guzman and intentionally walkedRafael Furcal to load the bases.

That strategy backfired when Marmol hit Pierre with a pitch topush in the deciding run.

"That was something I wasn't expecting at all," Pierre said. "Iwas just looking for a pitch that I can lift like I had done inmy other at-bats to get a sacrifice."

The Cubs had forged ahead with a single run in the eighth - andit could have been more. Alfonso Soriano, Ryan Theriot andDerrek Lee opened the inning with consecutive singles offreliever Rudy Seanez, with Lee's plating Soriano for a 1-0 lead.

Seanez battled back to get two outs before Joe Beimel needed onepitch to get out of the bases-loaded threat by retiring AramisRamirez on a deep fly ball to right field.

The Cubs' bullpen handed it right back, as lefthander Scott Eyreserved up a solo home run to pinch hitter Andre Ethier on an0-2 pitch to lead off the eighth for a 1-1 tie.

"I was pumped up because it was a big game and it was amazingfor me to come off the bench after a couple hours and get apitch to drive with two strikes on me," Ethier said. "The waythe game was going I felt like that was going to be a big runfor us."

It was the four pinch-hit homer for Los Angeles, tying the clubwith the Cubs and Arizona Diamondback for the major league lead.

The blast was the 12th allowed by Chicago relievers, who have acombined 4-13 record this season.

Chad Billingsley (3-0), the fifth pitcher for the Dodgers, gotthe win by working a scoreless 11th inning.

"Chad came in after pitching three innings for us last night anddid a great job again and got the win," Dodgers startingpitcher Randy Wolf said.

Wolf and Chicago's Rich Hill were outstanding in the duel oflefthanded starters.

Hill worked six innings before being removed for pinch hitterDaryle Ward in the seventh. The lefthander yielded just threehits to go with three strikeouts and two walks.

"I felt like I have been pitching a lot better and felt like Ipitched a good game and gave us a chance to win," Hill said. "Iagree to take me out of the game at that time because the waythe game was going, one run was going to win it and the time wasright to take me out for a pinch hitter."

Wolf also allowed three hits while striking out five and walkingtwo in six innings. He now has 71 strikeouts on the season,which is third in the National League.

"I was just trying to make pitches and get quick outs," Wolfsaid. "This was a good pitchers' game and it doesn't matter tome how we win a game, because all that matters is who has moreruns on the board in the end."

Hill had lost his previous three decisions - all on the road -but looked much better Sunday, allowing only a single to leadoff the game in the first four innings while throwing just 41pitches.

Wolf, conversely, entered riding a three-game winning streak andalso breezed through the first four innings before running intotrouble in the fifth.

Matt Murton led off the frame with a double as the Cubseventually loaded the bases against Wolf, who escaped unscathedby getting Theriot to ground to first base on his 34th pitch ofthe inning.

"We definitely had our chances to put more runs on the board,but you just have to tip your hat to their pitchers over there,"Piniella said.

Hill encountered his first problems in the fifth as well,putting two runners on with two out, but averted further damageby retiring Brady Clark on a groundout to shortstop.

Wolf bounced back to retire the side in order in the sixth toend his day.

With Angel Pagan on third base in the seventh, Ward, who wasbatting for Hill, made a bid to break up the scoreless game byripping a shot headed toward right field, only to see secondbaseman Jeff Kent dive to stab his line drive for the third out.