GAME THREAD: NL: HOUSTON (39-50) at CHICAGO CUBS (44-43)

NL: HOUSTON (39-50) at CHICAGO CUBS (44-43)

<h3>Red-hot Zambrano gets back-to-back starts</h3>

Houston (39-50) at Chicago Cubs (44-43) 2:20 pm EDT

CHICAGO (Ticker) -- Carlos Zambrano gets his second consecutivestart as the Chicago Cubs host the Houston Astros in the openerof a three-game series Friday.


Zambrano (10-7, 4.03 ERA) has been one of the best pitchers inthe major leagues since his dugout altercation with formerteammate Michael Barrett, who is now a member of the San DiegoPadres.


The 26-year-old righthander has posted a 5-2 record with a 1.75ERA and 56 strikeouts in 51 1/3 innings over his previous sevenstarts.


Zambrano did absorb a loss in his last start on Sunday, allowingthree runs and four hits with five strikeouts in seven inningsof Chicago's a 6-2 setback at the Pittsburgh Pirates.

He will be opposed by Jason Jennings (1-4, 4.07), who is winlessin his last three starts. The 28-year-old righthander is 0-3with a 4.95 ERA in that span.


Jennings allowed five runs and nine hits with three walks andfour strikeouts over six innings in a 6-2 loss to the New YorkMets on July 5.


The Astros have lost three of their last five contests.

Cubs outfielder Alfonso Soriano, who blasted a two-run homer inthe ninth inning of Tuesday's All-Star Game, is on a seven-gamehitting streak but is homerless in his last 13 contests.

 

NL: HOUSTON at CHICAGO CUBS

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

HOUSTON CHICAGO CUBS
AVG HR RBI AVG HR RBI
Craig Biggio 2B .259 5 29 Alfonso Soriano LF .309 15 33
Hunter Pence CF .342 11 42 Ryan Theriot SS .276 1 25
Lance Berkman 1B .263 15 57 Derrek Lee 1B .330 6 42
Carlos Lee LF .297 16 73 Aramis Ramirez 3B .312 15 51
Mark Loretta SS .317 2 29 Cliff Floyd RF .292 4 30
Mike Lamb 3B .295 7 25 Mark Derosa 2B .291 7 49
Luke Scott RF .226 10 38 Jacque Jones CF .233 2 20
Eric Munson C .250 2 7 Geovany Soto C .000 0 0
Jason Jennings RHP .091 0 0 Carlos Zambrano RHP .238 2 4
(1-4, 4.07) (10-7, 4.03)</div>

 

NL: HOUSTON at CHICAGO CUBS

<div class="pre">NL AT CHICAGO CUBS
WARMUPS: HOU - JASON JENNINGS (1-4, 4.07)
CHN - CARLOS ZAMBRANO (10-7, 4.03)

UMPIRES: HP - GREG GIBSON
1B - LARRY VANOVER
2B - TONY RANDAZZO
3B - CHARLIE RELIFORD

WEATHER: 70 Degrees, sunny
WIND: 11 mph, in from center</div>

 

NL: HOUSTON at CHICAGO CUBS

<div class="pre">NL AT CHICAGO CUBS
STARTING BATS: HOU - JASON JENNINGS AND ERIC MUNSON
CHN - CARLOS ZAMBRANO AND GEOVANY SOTO

DUE UP FOR HOUSTON: C BIGGIO (.259, 5 HR, 29 RBI)
H PENCE (.342, 11 HR, 42 RBI)
L BERKMAN (.263, 15 HR, 57 RBI)</div>

 

NL: HOUSTON at CHICAGO CUBS

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: HOU - JASON JENNINGS
CHN - CARLOS ZAMBRANO

DUE UP FOR CHICAGO CUBS: A SORIANO (.309, 15 HR, 33 RBI)
R THERIOT (.276, 1 HR, 25 RBI)
D LEE (.330, 6 HR, 42 RBI)</div>

 

NL: HOUSTON at CHICAGO CUBS

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

HOUSTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
C Biggio 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .259
H Pence cf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .341
L Berkman 1b 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .263
C Lee lf 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .296
M Loretta ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .317
M Lamb 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .295
L Scott rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .226
E Munson c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .250
J Jennings p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .091

Totals 3 0 0 0 1 2 1

BATTING: Team LOB - 1.


CHICAGO CUBS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
A Soriano lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .309
R Theriot ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .276
D Lee 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .330
A Ramirez 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .312
C Floyd rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .292
M DeRosa 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .291
J Jones cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .233
G Soto c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
C Zambrano p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .238

Totals 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

BATTING: Team LOB - 0.


----------------------------------------------------
HOUSTON - 0 -- 0
CHICAGO CUBS - -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

HOUSTON ip h r er bb so hr era
J Jennings 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4.07

CHICAGO CUBS ip h r er bb so hr era
C Zambrano 1 0 0 0 1 2 0 4.00

Pitches-strikes: C Zambrano 20-10. Ground balls-fly balls: C Zambrano 0-1.
Batters faced: C Zambrano 4.

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

Weather: 70 degrees, sunny. Wind: 11 mph, in from center.</div>

 

NL: HOUSTON at CHICAGO CUBS

<div class="pre">NL AT CHICAGO CUBS
CONFIRMED STARTERS: HOU - JASON JENNINGS
CHN - CARLOS ZAMBRANO</div>

 

NL: HOUSTON at CHICAGO CUBS

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: HOU - JASON JENNINGS
CHN - CARLOS ZAMBRANO

DUE UP FOR HOUSTON: M LORETTA (.317, 2 HR, 29 RBI)
M LAMB (.295, 7 HR, 25 RBI)
L SCOTT (.226, 10 HR, 38 RBI)</div>

 

NL: HOUSTON at CHICAGO CUBS

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

HOUSTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
C Biggio 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .259
H Pence cf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .341
L Berkman 1b 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .263
C Lee lf 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .296
M Loretta ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .317
M Lamb 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .295
L Scott rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .226
E Munson c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .250
J Jennings p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .091

Totals 3 0 0 0 1 2 1

BATTING: Team LOB - 1.


CHICAGO CUBS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
A Soriano lf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .308
R Theriot ss 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .279
D Lee 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .329
A Ramirez 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .311
C Floyd rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .292
M DeRosa 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .291
J Jones cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .233
G Soto c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
C Zambrano p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .238

Totals 4 0 1 0 0 1 2

BATTING: Team LOB - 1.


----------------------------------------------------
HOUSTON - 0 -- 0
CHICAGO CUBS - 0 -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

HOUSTON ip h r er bb so hr era
J Jennings 1 1 0 0 0 1 0 4.01

CHICAGO CUBS ip h r er bb so hr era
C Zambrano 1 0 0 0 1 2 0 4.00

Pitches-strikes: J Jennings 12-9; C Zambrano 20-10. Ground balls-fly balls: J
Jennings 0-2; C Zambrano 0-1. Batters faced: J Jennings 4; C Zambrano 4.

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

Weather: 70 degrees, sunny. Wind: 11 mph, in from center.</div>

 

NL: HOUSTON at CHICAGO CUBS

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: HOU - JASON JENNINGS
CHN - CARLOS ZAMBRANO

DUE UP FOR CHICAGO CUBS: C FLOYD (.292, 4 HR, 30 RBI)
M DEROSA (.291, 7 HR, 49 RBI)
J JONES (.233, 2 HR, 20 RBI)</div>

 

NL: HOUSTON at CHICAGO CUBS

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

HOUSTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
C Biggio 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .259
H Pence cf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .341
L Berkman 1b 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .263
C Lee lf 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .296
M Loretta ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .316
M Lamb 3b 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .293
L Scott rf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .225
E Munson c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .250
J Jennings p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .091

Totals 6 0 0 0 1 4 1

BATTING: Team LOB - 1.


CHICAGO CUBS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
A Soriano lf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .308
R Theriot ss 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .279
D Lee 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .329
A Ramirez 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .311
C Floyd rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .292
M DeRosa 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .291
J Jones cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .233
G Soto c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
C Zambrano p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .238

Totals 4 0 1 0 0 1 2

BATTING: Team LOB - 1.


----------------------------------------------------
HOUSTON - 00 -- 0
CHICAGO CUBS - 0 -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

HOUSTON ip h r er bb so hr era
J Jennings 1 1 0 0 0 1 0 4.01

CHICAGO CUBS ip h r er bb so hr era
C Zambrano 2 0 0 0 1 4 0 3.97

Pitches-strikes: J Jennings 12-9; C Zambrano 37-21. Ground balls-fly balls: J
Jennings 0-2; C Zambrano 0-2. Batters faced: J Jennings 4; C Zambrano 7.

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

Weather: 70 degrees, sunny. Wind: 11 mph, in from center.</div>

 

NL: HOUSTON at CHICAGO CUBS

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: HOU - JASON JENNINGS
CHN - CARLOS ZAMBRANO

DUE UP FOR HOUSTON: E MUNSON (.250, 2 HR, 7 RBI)
J JENNINGS (.091, 0 HR, 0 RBI)
C BIGGIO (.259, 0-FOR-1)</div>

 

NL: HOUSTON at CHICAGO CUBS

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

HOUSTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
C Biggio 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .259
H Pence cf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .341
L Berkman 1b 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .263
C Lee lf 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .296
M Loretta ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .316
M Lamb 3b 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .293
L Scott rf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .225
E Munson c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .250
J Jennings p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .091

Totals 6 0 0 0 1 4 1

BATTING: Team LOB - 1.


CHICAGO CUBS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
A Soriano lf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .308
R Theriot ss 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .279
D Lee 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .329
A Ramirez 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .311
C Floyd rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .290
M DeRosa 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .290
J Jones cf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .236
G Soto c 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .000
C Zambrano p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .238

Totals 8 0 2 0 0 2 3

BATTING: Team LOB - 2.


----------------------------------------------------
HOUSTON - 00 -- 0
CHICAGO CUBS - 00 -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

HOUSTON ip h r er bb so hr era
J Jennings 2 2 0 0 0 2 0 3.94

CHICAGO CUBS ip h r er bb so hr era
C Zambrano 2 0 0 0 1 4 0 3.97

Pitches-strikes: J Jennings 26-17; C Zambrano 37-21. Ground balls-fly balls:
J Jennings 1-3; C Zambrano 0-2. Batters faced: J Jennings 8; C Zambrano 7.

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

Weather: 70 degrees, sunny. Wind: 11 mph, in from center.</div>

 

NL: HOUSTON at CHICAGO CUBS

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: HOU - JASON JENNINGS
CHN - CARLOS ZAMBRANO

DUE UP FOR CHICAGO CUBS: C ZAMBRANO (.238, 2 HR, 4 RBI)
A SORIANO (.308, 0-FOR-1)
R THERIOT (.279, 1-FOR-1)</div>

 

NL: HOUSTON at CHICAGO CUBS

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

HOUSTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
C Biggio 2b 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 .258
H Pence cf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .341
L Berkman 1b 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .263
C Lee lf 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .296
M Loretta ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .316
M Lamb 3b 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .293
L Scott rf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .225
E Munson c 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .245
J Jennings p 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .083

Totals 9 0 0 0 1 5 1

BATTING: Team LOB - 1.


CHICAGO CUBS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
A Soriano lf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .308
R Theriot ss 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .279
D Lee 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .329
A Ramirez 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .311
C Floyd rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .290
M DeRosa 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .290
J Jones cf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .236
G Soto c 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .000
C Zambrano p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .238

Totals 8 0 2 0 0 2 3

BATTING: Team LOB - 2.


----------------------------------------------------
HOUSTON - 000 -- 0
CHICAGO CUBS - 00 -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

HOUSTON ip h r er bb so hr era
J Jennings 2 2 0 0 0 2 0 3.94

CHICAGO CUBS ip h r er bb so hr era
C Zambrano 3 0 0 0 1 5 0 3.94

Pitches-strikes: J Jennings 26-17; C Zambrano 50-29. Ground balls-fly balls:
J Jennings 1-3; C Zambrano 2-2. Batters faced: J Jennings 8; C Zambrano 10.

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

Weather: 70 degrees, sunny. Wind: 11 mph, in from center.</div>

 

NL: HOUSTON at CHICAGO CUBS

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: HOU - JASON JENNINGS
CHN - CARLOS ZAMBRANO

DUE UP FOR HOUSTON: H PENCE (.341, 0-FOR-1)
L BERKMAN (.263, 0-FOR-0, BB)
C LEE (.296, 0-FOR-1)</div>

 

NL: HOUSTON at CHICAGO CUBS

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

HOUSTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
C Biggio 2b 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 .258
H Pence cf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .341
L Berkman 1b 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .263
C Lee lf 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .296
M Loretta ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .316
M Lamb 3b 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .293
L Scott rf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .225
E Munson c 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .245
J Jennings p 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .083

Totals 9 0 0 0 1 5 1

BATTING: Team LOB - 1.


CHICAGO CUBS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
A Soriano lf 2 0 0 0 0 2 0 .307
R Theriot ss 2 0 2 0 0 0 0 .282
D Lee 1b 1 0 0 0 1 0 1 .329
A Ramirez 3b 2 0 0 0 0 0 3 .310
C Floyd rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .290
M DeRosa 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .290
J Jones cf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .236
G Soto c 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .000
C Zambrano p 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .233

Totals 12 0 3 0 1 4 5

BATTING: Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - A Ramirez 1. Team LOB - 4.


BASERUNNING: SB - R Theriot (15, 2nd base off J Jennings/E Munson).


----------------------------------------------------
HOUSTON - 000 -- 0
CHICAGO CUBS - 000 -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

HOUSTON ip h r er bb so hr era
J Jennings 3 3 0 0 1 4 0 3.88

CHICAGO CUBS ip h r er bb so hr era
C Zambrano 3 0 0 0 1 5 0 3.94

Pitches-strikes: J Jennings 55-34; C Zambrano 50-29. Ground balls-fly balls:
J Jennings 1-4; C Zambrano 2-2. Batters faced: J Jennings 13; C Zambrano 10.

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

Weather: 70 degrees, sunny. Wind: 11 mph, in from center.</div>

 

NL: HOUSTON at CHICAGO CUBS

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: HOU - JASON JENNINGS
CHN - CARLOS ZAMBRANO

DUE UP FOR CHICAGO CUBS: C FLOYD (.290, 0-FOR-1)
M DEROSA (.290, 0-FOR-1)
J JONES (.236, 1-FOR-1)</div>

 

NL: HOUSTON at CHICAGO CUBS

<div class="pre">HOUSTON (0) VS CHICAGO CUBS (0) - MID 4TH - IN PROGRESS

HOUSTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
C Biggio 2b 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 .258
H Pence cf 2 0 1 0 0 1 0 .343
L Berkman 1b 1 0 0 0 1 0 1 .262
C Lee lf 2 0 0 0 0 1 1 .295
M Loretta ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .316
M Lamb 3b 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .293
L Scott rf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .225
E Munson c 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .245
J Jennings p 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .083

Totals 12 0 1 0 1 5 2

BATTING: Team LOB - 1.


CHICAGO CUBS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
A Soriano lf 2 0 0 0 0 2 0 .307
R Theriot ss 2 0 2 0 0 0 0 .282
D Lee 1b 1 0 0 0 1 0 1 .329
A Ramirez 3b 2 0 0 0 0 0 3 .310
C Floyd rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .290
M DeRosa 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .290
J Jones cf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .236
G Soto c 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .000
C Zambrano p 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .233

Totals 12 0 3 0 1 4 5

BATTING: Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - A Ramirez 1. Team LOB - 4.


BASERUNNING: SB - R Theriot (15, 2nd base off J Jennings/E Munson).

FIELDING: DP: 1 (M DeRosa-D Lee).


----------------------------------------------------
HOUSTON - 000 0 -- 0
CHICAGO CUBS - 000 -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

HOUSTON ip h r er bb so hr era
J Jennings 3 3 0 0 1 4 0 3.88

CHICAGO CUBS ip h r er bb so hr era
C Zambrano 4 1 0 0 1 5 0 3.91

Pitches-strikes: J Jennings 55-34; C Zambrano 64-37. Ground balls-fly balls:
J Jennings 1-4; C Zambrano 3-3. Batters faced: J Jennings 13; C Zambrano 13.

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

Weather: 70 degrees, sunny. Wind: 11 mph, in from center.</div>

 

NL: HOUSTON at CHICAGO CUBS

<div class="pre">NL AT CHICAGO CUBS - SCORING UPDATE
SACRIFICE FLY BY JACQUE JONES SCORED CLIFF FLOYD.
SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, M DEROSA ON SECOND, 1 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: HOUSTON 0
CHICAGO CUBS 1 BOTTOM, 4TH

DUE UP FOR CHICAGO CUBS: G SOTO (.000, 0-FOR-1)</div>