GAME THREAD: NL: HOUSTON (61-75) at CHICAGO CUBS (69-65)

NL: HOUSTON at CHICAGO CUBS

<div class="pre">** CONFIRMED **
NL
HOUSTON 5
CHICAGO CUBS 6 FINAL</div>

 

NL: HOUSTON at CHICAGO CUBS

<div class="pre">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
HOUSTON (5) AT CHICAGO CUBS (6) - HOW THEY SCORED
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

HOUSTON 1ST: H Pence walked. C Biggio struck out looking. L Berkman
homered to center, H Pence scored. C Lee popped out to first. T Wigginton
singled to center. T Wigginton stole second. C Burke walked. E Bruntlett
struck out looking. (2 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) HOUSTON 2, CHICAGO CUBS 0.

HOUSTON 2ND: E Munson fouled out to left. W Williams singled to center.
H Pence doubled to left center, W Williams scored. C Biggio popped out to first.
L Berkman walked. C Lee grounded out to second. (1 Run, 2 Hits, 0 Errors)
HOUSTON 3, CHICAGO CUBS 0.

CHICAGO CUBS 3RD: R Hill grounded out to first. A Soriano struck out
swinging. R Theriot walked. R Theriot stole second, R Theriot safe at third
on throwing error by catcher E Munson. D Lee reached on infield single to
third, R Theriot scored. A Ramirez singled to right, D Lee to second. C Floyd
popped out to shortstop. (1 Run, 2 Hits, 1 Error) HOUSTON 3, CHICAGO CUBS 1.

HOUSTON 5TH: L Berkman hit by pitch. C Lee flied out to left. T Wigginton
doubled to deep left, L Berkman scored. C Burke flied out to left.
E Bruntlett doubled to deep left, T Wigginton scored. E Munson grounded out to
first. (2 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) HOUSTON 5, CHICAGO CUBS 1.

CHICAGO CUBS 6TH: M McLemore relieved W Williams. C Burke at second base.
J Anderson in right field. J Jones walked. J Kendall grounded into fielder's
choice to shortstop, J Jones safe at second on error by shortstop E Bruntlett.
C Monroe hit for M Wuertz. C Monroe walked, J Jones to third, J Kendall to
second. D Borkowski relieved M McLemore. A Soriano hit sacrifice fly to
center, J Jones scored. R Theriot singled to center, J Kendall scored,
C Monroe to second. D Lee flied out to center. A Ramirez struck out looking.
(2 Runs, 1 Hit, 1 Error) HOUSTON 5, CHICAGO CUBS 3.

CHICAGO CUBS 7TH: T Miller relieved D Borkowski. M Murton hit for C Floyd.
M Murton homered to center. M DeRosa flied out to right. J Jones struck out
swinging. J Kendall flied out to left. (1 Run, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) HOUSTON 5,
CHICAGO CUBS 4.

CHICAGO CUBS 8TH: L Scott in right field. C Qualls relieved T Miller.
E Patterson hit for C Marmol. E Patterson struck out swinging. A Soriano singled
to center. R Theriot flied out to right. D Lee homered to center, A Soriano
scored. M Fontenot flied out to center. (2 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) HOUSTON 5,
CHICAGO CUBS 6.</div>

 

Re: NL: HOUSTON (61-75) at CHICAGO CUBS (69-65)

Nice homerun by Derek Lee to win the game. Dempster with some nice pitches to seal the game in the 9th, striking out one guy I think (he sort of struck out Berkman, but the catcher dropped it, so out at first).

 

NL: HOUSTON at CHICAGO CUBS

<div class="pre">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
HOUSTON (5) AT CHICAGO CUBS (6) - EVENT LOG
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Houston Starting Lineups -- H Pence CF, C Biggio 2B, L Berkman 1B, C Lee LF,
T Wigginton 3B, C Burke RF, E Bruntlett SS, E Munson C, W Williams RHP.

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

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

Gametime Weather: 80 degrees, Sunny, wind out to center at 6 mph.


HOUSTON 1ST: H Pence walked. C Biggio struck out looking. L Berkman
homered to center, H Pence scored. C Lee popped out to first. T Wigginton
singled to center. T Wigginton stole second. C Burke walked. E Bruntlett
struck out looking. (2 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) HOUSTON 2, CHICAGO CUBS 0.

CHICAGO CUBS 1ST: A Soriano doubled to left. R Theriot grounded out to
first, A Soriano to third. D Lee hit by pitch. A Ramirez struck out swinging.
C Floyd struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) HOUSTON 2,
CHICAGO CUBS 0.

HOUSTON 2ND: E Munson fouled out to left. W Williams singled to center.
H Pence doubled to left center, W Williams scored. C Biggio popped out to first.
L Berkman walked. C Lee grounded out to second. (1 Run, 2 Hits, 0 Errors)
HOUSTON 3, CHICAGO CUBS 0.

CHICAGO CUBS 2ND: M DeRosa flied out to center. J Jones struck out
looking. J Kendall grounded out to third. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors)
HOUSTON 3, CHICAGO CUBS 0.

HOUSTON 3RD: T Wigginton struck out looking. C Burke struck out looking.
E Bruntlett struck out looking. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) HOUSTON 3,
CHICAGO CUBS 0.

CHICAGO CUBS 3RD: R Hill grounded out to first. A Soriano struck out
swinging. R Theriot walked. R Theriot stole second, R Theriot safe at third
on throwing error by catcher E Munson. D Lee reached on infield single to
third, R Theriot scored. A Ramirez singled to right, D Lee to second. C Floyd
popped out to shortstop. (1 Run, 2 Hits, 1 Error) HOUSTON 3, CHICAGO CUBS 1.

HOUSTON 4TH: E Munson grounded out to second. W Williams grounded out to
second. H Pence walked. H Pence stole second. C Biggio flied out to center.
(0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) HOUSTON 3, CHICAGO CUBS 1.

CHICAGO CUBS 4TH: M DeRosa grounded out to third. J Jones fouled out to
first. J Kendall hit by pitch. R Hill grounded out to shortstop. (0 Runs,
0 Hits, 0 Errors) HOUSTON 3, CHICAGO CUBS 1.

HOUSTON 5TH: L Berkman hit by pitch. C Lee flied out to left. T Wigginton
doubled to deep left, L Berkman scored. C Burke flied out to left.
E Bruntlett doubled to deep left, T Wigginton scored. E Munson grounded out to
first. (2 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) HOUSTON 5, CHICAGO CUBS 1.

CHICAGO CUBS 5TH: A Soriano flied out to center. R Theriot popped out to
shortstop. D Lee singled to left. A Ramirez walked, D Lee to second. C Floyd
walked, D Lee to third, A Ramirez to second. M DeRosa grounded into fielder's
choice to third, A Ramirez out at third. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) HOUSTON 5,
CHICAGO CUBS 1.

HOUSTON 6TH: M Wuertz relieved R Hill. J Anderson hit for W Williams.
J Anderson struck out swinging. H Pence grounded out to shortstop. C Biggio
struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) HOUSTON 5, CHICAGO CUBS 1.

CHICAGO CUBS 6TH: M McLemore relieved W Williams. C Burke at second base.
J Anderson in right field. J Jones walked. J Kendall grounded into fielder's
choice to shortstop, J Jones safe at second on error by shortstop E Bruntlett.
C Monroe hit for M Wuertz. C Monroe walked, J Jones to third, J Kendall to
second. D Borkowski relieved M McLemore. A Soriano hit sacrifice fly to
center, J Jones scored. R Theriot singled to center, J Kendall scored,
C Monroe to second. D Lee flied out to center. A Ramirez struck out looking.
CHI Cubs' A Ramirez ejected by T Randazzo. (2 Runs, 1 Hit, 1 Error) HOUSTON 5,
CHICAGO CUBS 3.

HOUSTON 7TH: M Fontenot at second base. M DeRosa at third base. K Wood
relieved M Wuertz. L Berkman flied out to center. C Lee popped out to second.
T Wigginton flied out to center. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) HOUSTON 5,
CHICAGO CUBS 3.

CHICAGO CUBS 7TH: T Miller relieved D Borkowski. M Murton hit for C Floyd.
M Murton homered to center. M DeRosa flied out to right. J Jones struck out
swinging. J Kendall flied out to left. (1 Run, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) HOUSTON 5,
CHICAGO CUBS 4.

HOUSTON 8TH: M Murton in right field. C Burke flied out to left.
E Bruntlett walked. S Eyre relieved K Wood. E Bruntlett stole second. E Munson
lined out to center. M Loretta hit for J Anderson. C Marmol relieved S Eyre.
M Loretta flied out to center. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) HOUSTON 5,
CHICAGO CUBS 4.

CHICAGO CUBS 8TH: L Scott in right field. C Qualls relieved T Miller.
E Patterson hit for C Marmol. E Patterson struck out swinging. A Soriano singled
to center. R Theriot flied out to right. D Lee homered to center, A Soriano
scored. M Fontenot flied out to center. (2 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) HOUSTON 5,
CHICAGO CUBS 6.

HOUSTON 9TH: F Pie in center field. J Jones in right field. R Dempster
relieved C Marmol. H Pence grounded out to second. L Scott struck out
swinging. L Berkman struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) HOUSTON 5,
CHICAGO CUBS 6.</div>

 

NL: HOUSTON at CHICAGO CUBS

<div class="pre">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
HOUSTON (5) AT CHICAGO CUBS (6) - HOW THEY SCORED
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

HOUSTON 1ST: H Pence walked. C Biggio struck out looking. L Berkman
homered to center, H Pence scored. C Lee popped out to first. T Wigginton
singled to center. T Wigginton stole second. C Burke walked. E Bruntlett
struck out looking. (2 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) HOUSTON 2, CHICAGO CUBS 0.

HOUSTON 2ND: E Munson fouled out to left. W Williams singled to center.
H Pence doubled to left center, W Williams scored. C Biggio popped out to first.
L Berkman walked. C Lee grounded out to second. (1 Run, 2 Hits, 0 Errors)
HOUSTON 3, CHICAGO CUBS 0.

CHICAGO CUBS 3RD: R Hill grounded out to first. A Soriano struck out
swinging. R Theriot walked. R Theriot stole second, R Theriot safe at third
on throwing error by catcher E Munson. D Lee reached on infield single to
third, R Theriot scored. A Ramirez singled to right, D Lee to second. C Floyd
popped out to shortstop. (1 Run, 2 Hits, 1 Error) HOUSTON 3, CHICAGO CUBS 1.

HOUSTON 5TH: L Berkman hit by pitch. C Lee flied out to left. T Wigginton
doubled to deep left, L Berkman scored. C Burke flied out to left.
E Bruntlett doubled to deep left, T Wigginton scored. E Munson grounded out to
first. (2 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) HOUSTON 5, CHICAGO CUBS 1.

CHICAGO CUBS 6TH: M McLemore relieved W Williams. C Burke at second base.
J Anderson in right field. J Jones walked. J Kendall grounded into fielder's
choice to shortstop, J Jones safe at second on error by shortstop E Bruntlett.
C Monroe hit for M Wuertz. C Monroe walked, J Jones to third, J Kendall to
second. D Borkowski relieved M McLemore. A Soriano hit sacrifice fly to
center, J Jones scored. R Theriot singled to center, J Kendall scored,
C Monroe to second. D Lee flied out to center. A Ramirez struck out looking.
CHI Cubs' A Ramirez ejected by T Randazzo. (2 Runs, 1 Hit, 1 Error) HOUSTON 5,
CHICAGO CUBS 3.

CHICAGO CUBS 7TH: T Miller relieved D Borkowski. M Murton hit for C Floyd.
M Murton homered to center. M DeRosa flied out to right. J Jones struck out
swinging. J Kendall flied out to left. (1 Run, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) HOUSTON 5,
CHICAGO CUBS 4.

CHICAGO CUBS 8TH: L Scott in right field. C Qualls relieved T Miller.
E Patterson hit for C Marmol. E Patterson struck out swinging. A Soriano singled
to center. R Theriot flied out to right. D Lee homered to center, A Soriano
scored. M Fontenot flied out to center. (2 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) HOUSTON 5,
CHICAGO CUBS 6.</div>

 

Lee's late blasts gives Cubs comeback win over Astros

<h3>CHICAGO CUBS 6, HOUSTON 5</h3>CHICAGO (Ticker) -- Perhaps the Chicago Cubs are finallyfinding their power stroke.


Matt Murton hit a pinch-hit homer in the seventh inning andDerrek Lee belted his second blast in two days in the eighth tolift the Cubs to a 6-5 victory over the Houston Astros in therubber game of a three-game series on Sunday afternoon.

Behind a homer by Lance Berkman, a rare solid start at WrigleyField by Woody Williams and a couple of misplayed fly balls byleft fielder Alfonso Soriano, the Cubs (70-65) faced a 5-1deficit entering the sixth and looked in danger of losing a gameto both Milwaukee (69-67) and St. Louis (67-66) in the NationalLeague Central standings.


Instead, Chicago rallied for two runs in the sixth off theHouston bullpen on a sacrifice fly by Soriano and an RBI singleby rookie Ryan Theriot before pulling within 5-4 in the seventhon Murton's second pinch homer of the season against TreverMiller.


In the eighth, Soriano delivered a one-out single to left offChad Qualls (6-4) before Lee drove an 0-1 offering into the netabove the left-center field fence for his 17th home run of theseason and a 6-5 edge.


Coming into the season, the Cubs were expected to be among thetop home-run hitting teams in the majors, but they enteredSunday third from the bottom. However, they did get two blastsin Saturday's 4-3 win.


Carlos Marmol (5-1) worked a scoreless eighth to pick up the winand Ryan Dempster logged a perfect ninth for his 25th save forChicago, which remained 1 1/2 games ahead of Milwaukee and twogames ahead of St. Louis.


Berkman opened the scoring with a two-run homer off Chicagostarter Rich Hill in the first inning. The switch-hittingBerkman drilled a 2-0 offering over the center field fence forhis 27th homer of the season - fourth batting righthanded - anda quick 2-0 lead.


After Pence doubled in Williams, who led off the second with ahit, for a 3-0 edge, Berkman started another rally when Hillplunked him to begin the fifth.


Soriano then aided the Houston cause when Ty Wigginton strokedan outside breaking ball deep to left field one out later.

Soriano was tentative as he went back to the wall, and the ballhit shoulder high off the left field ivy, allowing Berkman toscore and Wigginton to pull in with a double.


After Chris Burke flied out, Eric Bruntlett hit a drive to leftthat Soriano also seemed to drift back on. The ball bounced offthe left field wall, and Wigginton scored for a 5-1 edge asSoriano heard a smattering of boos from the Wrigley crowd.

Williams, who entered 1-7 with a 5.31 ERA, allowed a run andfour hits with three walks and four strikeouts in five innings.

Hill allowed five runs and six hits in five innings.

 

Lee's late blast gives Cubs comeback win over Astros

<h3>CHICAGO CUBS 6, HOUSTON 5</h3>CHICAGO (Ticker) -- Perhaps the Chicago Cubs are finallyfinding their power stroke.


Matt Murton hit a pinch-hit homer in the seventh inning andDerrek Lee belted his second blast in two days in the eighth tolift the Cubs to a 6-5 victory over the Houston Astros in therubber game of a three-game series on Sunday afternoon.

Behind a homer by Lance Berkman, a rare solid start at WrigleyField by Woody Williams and a couple of misplayed fly balls byleft fielder Alfonso Soriano, the Cubs (70-65) faced a 5-1deficit entering the sixth and looked in danger of losing a gameto both Milwaukee (69-67) and St. Louis (67-66) in the NationalLeague Central standings.


Instead, Chicago rallied for two runs in the sixth off theHouston bullpen on a sacrifice fly by Soriano and an RBI singleby rookie Ryan Theriot before pulling within 5-4 in the seventhon Murton's second pinch homer of the season against TreverMiller.


In the eighth, Soriano delivered a one-out single to left offChad Qualls (6-4) before Lee drove an 0-1 offering into the netabove the left-center field fence for his 17th home run of theseason and a 6-5 edge.


Coming into the season, the Cubs were expected to be among thetop home-run hitting teams in the majors, but they enteredSunday third from the bottom. However, they did get two blastsin Saturday's 4-3 win.


Carlos Marmol (5-1) worked a scoreless eighth to pick up the winand Ryan Dempster logged a perfect ninth for his 25th save forChicago, which remained 1 1/2 games ahead of Milwaukee and twogames ahead of St. Louis.


Berkman opened the scoring with a two-run homer off Chicagostarter Rich Hill in the first inning. The switch-hittingBerkman drilled a 2-0 offering over the center field fence forhis 27th homer of the season - fourth batting righthanded - anda quick 2-0 lead.


After Pence doubled in Williams, who led off the second with ahit, for a 3-0 edge, Berkman started another rally when Hillplunked him to begin the fifth.


Soriano then aided the Houston cause when Ty Wigginton strokedan outside breaking ball deep to left field one out later.

Soriano was tentative as he went back to the wall, and the ballhit shoulder high off the left field ivy, allowing Berkman toscore and Wigginton to pull in with a double.


After Chris Burke flied out, Eric Bruntlett hit a drive to leftthat Soriano also seemed to drift back on. The ball bounced offthe left field wall, and Wigginton scored for a 5-1 edge asSoriano heard a smattering of boos from the Wrigley crowd.

Williams, who entered 1-7 with a 5.31 ERA, allowed a run andfour hits with three walks and four strikeouts in five innings.

Hill allowed five runs and six hits in five innings.

 

Lee's late blast gives Cubs comeback win over Astros

<h3>CHICAGO CUBS 6, HOUSTON 5</h3>CHICAGO (Ticker) -- Perhaps the Chicago Cubs are finallyfinding their power stroke.


Matt Murton hit a pinch-hit homer in the seventh inning andDerrek Lee belted his second blast in two days in the eighth tolift the Cubs to a 6-5 victory over the Houston Astros in therubber game of a three-game series on Sunday afternoon.

Behind a homer by Lance Berkman, a rare solid start at WrigleyField by Woody Williams and a couple of misplayed fly balls byleft fielder Alfonso Soriano, the Cubs (70-65) faced a 5-1deficit entering the sixth and looked in danger of losing a gameto both Milwaukee (69-67) and St. Louis (67-66) in the NationalLeague Central standings.


"It is a big win, Milwaukee and St. Louis had won," Lee said."It's crunch time, we needed to get this series."


Instead, Chicago rallied for two runs in the sixth off theHouston bullpen on a sacrifice fly by Soriano and an RBI singleby rookie Ryan Theriot before pulling within 5-4 in the seventhon Murton's second pinch homer of the season against TreverMiller.


"The biggest thing I have been trying to do as of late is toslow the game down," Murton said. "I am trying to use my handsmore and not be overly aggressive. I knew he was a side-arminglefty and I concentrated on staying slow and waiting for his offspeed pitches. He gave me a good pitch to hit right over theplate and it worked out well."


In the eighth, Soriano delivered a one-out single to left offChad Qualls (6-4) before Lee drove an 0-1 offering into the netabove the left-center field fence for his 17th home run of theseason and a 6-5 edge.


"I have been trying not to do too much in each at-bat," Leesaid. "Yesterday when I hit the home run it was probably theeasiest swing I have taken all year. I tried to duplicate thattoday."


Qualls took the blame for letting the game get away and denyingthe Astros a chance to win the series.


"It was truely my fault today," Qualls said. "We had a two-runlead going into the eighth inning and I should have held it intothe ninth. I threw him a fastball and left it up. Lee is agood hitter and he hit it out of the ballpark, I tip my cap."

Coming into the season, the Cubs were expected to be among thetop home-run hitting teams in the majors, but they enteredSunday third from the bottom. However, they did get two blastsin Saturday's 4-3 win.


"It's our biggest win of the year,"Cubs manager Lou Piniellasaid. "That was a clutch, clutch home run by Mr. Lee. We talkedthe other day about the big boys getting going in crunch time,they have delivered big time the last two games."


Carlos Marmol (5-1) worked a scoreless eighth to pick up the winand Ryan Dempster logged a perfect ninth for his 25th save forChicago, which remained 1 1/2 games ahead of Milwaukee and twogames ahead of St. Louis.


"That was awesome, that was a big win," Dempster said. "To bedown early and to be able to catch up, was a huge for us. Itwas impressive to come back and beat a quality reliever likeQualls."


Berkman opened the scoring with a two-run homer off Chicagostarter Rich Hill in the first inning. The switch-hittingBerkman drilled a 2-0 offering over the center field fence forhis 27th homer of the season - fourth batting righthanded - anda quick 2-0 lead.


After Pence doubled in Williams, who led off the second with ahit, for a 3-0 edge, Berkman started another rally when Hillplunked him to begin the fifth.


Soriano then aided the Houston cause when Ty Wigginton strokedan outside breaking ball deep to left field one out later.

Soriano was tentative as he went back to the wall, and the ballhit shoulder high off the left field ivy, allowing Berkman toscore and Wigginton to pull in with a double.


After Chris Burke flied out, Eric Bruntlett hit a drive to leftthat Soriano also seemed to drift back on. The ball bounced offthe left field wall, and Wigginton scored for a 5-1 edge asSoriano heard a smattering of boos from the Wrigley crowd.

"I thought the fourth and fifth runs were a gift," Astrosmanager Cecil Cooper said. "There was a couple of balls in theivy that could have been caught."


Williams, who entered 1-7 with a 5.31 ERA, allowed a run andfour hits with three walks and four strikeouts in five innings.

"I felt good. I thought I moved the ball around pretty well,"Williams said. "Things like this happen when a starter only goesfive innings in a game."


Hill allowed five runs and six hits in five innings.