6/5 CUBS (Lilly) @ Brewers (Vargas) 7:05 WGN TV

[Garwilly]

and here's where we come crashing back down to earth

 

Won't be a very long fall at least.

[CubmanPi]

and here's where we come crashing back down to earth

 

Won't be a very long fall at least.

An excellent point.

[pitchcs]

I'm thinking Lou may go with the exact same lineup as last night. Maybe Theriot in there, possibly Murt but I doubt it.

[Moonlight Graham]

Soriano stays hot and the Cubs win 6-3.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

I don't have a good feeling about this one. Hardy and Mench will go deep off Lilly.

[cubscausestress]

cubs lose. turbo, ozone and kelly say "who cares"

 

http://i123.photobucket.com/albums/o293/SandrineM/OzoneTurboKelly.jpg

[cubweiser03]

Is official. The Cubs are on fire.

Look out.

[BRASKYS SCOTCH]

cubs lose. turbo, ozone and kelly say "who cares"

 

http://i123.photobucket.com/albums/o293/SandrineM/OzoneTurboKelly.jpg

 

Of course they would. They have their sights set on higher goals that exceed saving the after-school community youth center ... again. They're breakin' for Jesus, bra!

 

http://wiw.org/~jess/weblog/breakdance.jpg

[jjwalker48]

Cubs win 7-4..despite Hardy hitting 2 homers. Lilly settles in and gives 6 strong innings....

The Brewers are really pushing this series as "Take Back Miller Park from the Cubs Fans".

[Yeti]

The Brewers are really pushing this series as "Take Back Miller Park from the Cubs Fans".

 

too bad for them there were more Cubs fans there last night and i expect more of the same tonight

[Allroy]

Dear Theodore-

Please keep the ball down.

 

Dear Alfonso-

Please continue to rake.

 

Dear Cesar-

Please don't play today.

 

Dear Cubs-

Pease win.

 

Thanks.

Edited June 5, 2007 by Allroy

[baseball7897]

Please win.

[moorecg]

The Brewers are really pushing this series as "Take Back Miller Park from the Cubs Fans".

 

too bad for them there were more Cubs fans there last night and i expect more of the same tonight

 

Yeah...you could hear the crowd erupt when Fonzi hit that shot....almost as loud as if it were in Wrigley.

[Friendly Confines]

I really like the idea of hitting Pie in the 2 spot....but I know he wont stay there because we have 21 outfielders.

[gflore34]

I really like the idea of hitting Pie in the 2 spot....but I know he wont stay there because we have 21 outfielders.

 

I wrote yesterday that a 1-4 of Soriano, Pie, Lee and Ramirez may start to click, thus far, 17 runs have been scored. If the Cubs put 5+ tonight, can we call a trend?

[alroy88]

I really like the idea of hitting Pie in the 2 spot....but I know he wont stay there because we have 21 outfielders.

 

and 20 of them haven't solidified a spot on the roster, so i don't see any reason why he couldn't stay.

[cubweiser03]

The Brewers are really pushing this series as "Take Back Miller Park from the Cubs Fans".

 

too bad for them there were more Cubs fans there last night and i expect more of the same tonight

 

Yeah...you could hear the crowd erupt when Fonzi hit that shot....almost as loud as if it were in Wrigley.

 

Most animated ive seen the dugout this year too.

[Sammy Sofa]

Please win, my darlings.

[brewfandave]

Mench will go deep off Lilly.

 

Not likely. Mench couldn't go deep off Glendon Rusch with a corked bat.

 

Here's what Mench's line will be at the end of the night:

 

0-4, 1K, pop out to 2B, GIDP, HBP, 1 RBI, the only RBI coming when, in a bases-loaded situation, he swings at a meatball over the plate in a desperate attempt to duplicate his earlier double play and cement his place in rally-killer legend, but his massive head gets in the way and he takes one off the helmet, gets awarded first base and drives in his first run since, while it may not quite reach the time preceding helmets, long pants and even the dinosaurs, only seems that way. Book it.

 

So, yeah, you guys might be in trouble with Kevin Mench at the plate.

 

I'll be at the game. LF bleachers.

[rawaction]

I really like the idea of hitting Pie in the 2 spot....but I know he wont stay there because we have 21 outfielders.

 

While, I'd love to see a guaranteed .350 OBP up there, it's a great spot for Felix to be in. I'm not sure if I believe in protection, but if batting behind a baserunning threat and ahead of a great hitter makes a player see more pitches to hit, then Pie is in the perfect spot. I wouldn't set the lineup in stone, but give Felix 10 days or so there and see what happens.

[hawkcub]

Just win. It always puts me in a better mood. :D

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

Game Notes

 

The Cubs have won back-to-back games for the first time since May 18-19 vs. the White Sox, thanks to last night’s 7-2 victory in Milwaukee and a 10-1 win vs. Atlanta Sunday … Chicago is looking to win 3 straight games for the first time since a season-best 5-game winning streak, May 1-6 … tonight, the Cubs can win consecutive road contests for the first time since May 1-2 in Pittsburgh.

 

THE BATS ARE WAKING UP: The Cubs have recorded 25 hits and 17 runs over their last 2 games after scoring a total of 16 runs during their 6-game losing streak, May 27-June 2 … after hitting just .237 (99-for-418) in a 12-game span May 20-June 2, Chicago has a .342 batting average (25-for-73) since Sunday.

 

Overall, the Cubs are batting .269 this season – that ranks third in the N.L. behind New York (.275) and Atlanta (.270) … Chicago has hit .542 (13-for-24) with RISP over its last 2 games, and its .294 season average with RISP ranks first in the N.L. and third in the majors behind Detroit (.321) and Seattle (.307).

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

More from the game notes....

 

This one stands out!

 

THAT’S A RELIEF: The Cubs bullpen combined to toss 3.2 scoreless innings last night, their longest scoreless outing of the season since tossing 5.0 shutout innings April 13 vs. Cincinnati … Chicago’s relief corps have thrown 6.0 scoreless innings over the team’s last 2 games after allowing runs in every game of the team’s 6-game losing streak, May 27-June 2.

 

The Cubs stranded 3 inherited runners last night while Carlos Marmol earned the bullpen’s first victory since Bob Howry picked up the win May 24 in San Diego.

 

Chicago’s bullpen has stranded 71 of 93 inherited runners this season, and its 76.3-percent rate of success ranks fourth in the N.L. … the Padres boast the top mark in the League, stranding 42 of 50 inherited runners (84-percent).

 

Chicago needs to win 1 of these next 2 games in Milwaukee to snap a 4-series losing streak since winning their last series, 2-games-to-1, May 18-20 vs. the White Sox … the Cubs, who have dropped 4 straight road series, can also win their first series away from home since taking 2-of-3 in Pittsburgh, April 30-May 2.

 

Chicago has a chance to win consecutive series at Miller Park for the first time since 2004, when the team took 3-of-4 July 26-29 and 2-of-3 August 17-19 … earlier this season, the Cubs went 2-1 in a 3-game set at Miller Park, April 6-8.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

And even more from the game notes...

 

HOT BAT AT THE HOT CORNER: Aramis Ramirez has raised his average from .257 to .302 in a 17-game span that has seen him bat .400 (26-for-65) since May 17 in New York … the .400 batting average in that timeframe ranks third in the N.L.

 

Ramirez’ 26 hits rank tied for second in the League over that span with teammate Alfonso Soriano and Houston’s Hunter Pence … Washington’s Dmitri Young leads with 27 hits.

 

 

The third baseman recorded multi-hit games in 3 straight games, June 1-3, and in 11 of his last 17 games.

 

The Cubs are in the fifth day (2-2) of a stretch that sees the club play 17 consecutive days through June 17 … Chicago is slated to play 5 straight series against clubs with a winning record, beginning with the just-completed 3-game set vs. Atlanta (1-2), save for a June 11 make-up game vs. Houston.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

One final installment from the game notes...

 

Lilly has held hitters a .224 batting average (59-for-263) this season while walking 15 and striking out 65 … produced quality starts in his first 5 outings this season making him the first pitcher to toss quality starts in his first 5 outings as a Cub since Mike Harkey did it 6 straight times in 1988-89.

 

Was 3-0 with a 3.72 ERA (16 ER/38.2 IP) in 6 starts from April 25-May 25 before his loss in his last start.

 

Of his 11 starts this season, just 4 have come on the road … is 2-3 with a 3.26 ERA (17 ER/47.0 IP) in 7 Wrigley Field starts, compared to a 2-0 with a 4.01 ERA (11 ER/24.2 IP) in 4 road outings.

 

Finished April 2-2 with a 2.18 ERA (8 ER/33.0 IP) in 5 starts.

 

Has 8 quality starts in 11 outings this season … has pitched into the sixth inning in 10 of his 11 starts this season.

 

Limiting right-handed hitters to a .218 batting average (45-for-206) while lefties are batting .246 (14-for-57) against him.

 

In his 171 Big League starts, Lilly has:

Nine double-digit strikeout games.

 

Worked at least 6.0 innings 93 times … at least 7.0 innings 40 times … at least 8.0 innings eight times … and has four complete games.

 

Issued two or fewer walks 109 times — including 15 no-walk outings … his career-high walk total is eight (6/17/01 at New York Mets).