Chi Cubs (4-3) at Pittsburgh (3-4)

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chc

Lee finding power stroke

Carrie Muskat / MLB.com
Derrek Lee will look to keep his power stroke going when starter Ryan Dempster and the Cubs take on the Pirates at PNC Park on Wednesday at 6:05 p.m. CT.
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Cubs probable pitcher

Ryan Dempster

  • #46 RHP
  • (1-0) 1.50 ERA 5 SO
Dempster had a strong spring, and proved it was no fluke. In his first start, he gave up two runs, one earned, on three hits over six innings while striking out five. This was his first start in more than two years after being the Cubs' closer. He was relaxed, used all his pitches, and was in command. It was his first win as a starter since April 16, 2005, when he beat the Pirates, 4-3.
  W-L ERA IP BB SO AVG
Career 60-75 4.81 1224.1 633 1012 .266
Season 1-0 1.50 6.0 2 5 .150
April 1-0 1.50 6.0 2 5 .150

Series at a Glance

Standings - 04/09/2008 W L PCT GB Home Away
Chicago Cubs (NL Central) 4 3 .571 2.0 3-3 1-0
Pittsburgh Pirates (NL Central) 3 4 .429 3.0 0-1 3-3
Stats - 04/09/2008 AVG R HR RBI SB SO ERA IP H BB SO
CHC .257 36 8 33 9 42 4.03 67.0 64 19 51
PIT .276 42 5 36 5 54 6.04 67.0 76 29 54
pit

Bucs look to rebound vs. Cubs

Jenifer Langosch / MLB.com
After dropping a heartbreaker in their home opener, the Bucs will turn to Zach Duke to even the series against Cubs on Wednesday at 7:05 p.m. ET.
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Pirates probable pitcher

Zach Duke

  • #57 LHP
  • (0-0) 3.18 ERA 1 SO
While he didn't factor in the decision last Thursday against the Braves, Duke showed some promising signs that he is back on the right track after a disappointing 2007. He is using a longer stride and lessening the time between his pitches, which seems to have the lefty much more in sync. Duke also has a newfound confidence that is a result of him finally being healthy again. Duke is 4-2 with a 2.10 ERA in eight starts against the Cubs in his career.
  W-L ERA IP BB SO AVG
Career 21-25 4.18 413.0 117 217 .310
Season 0-0 3.18 5.2 1 1 .370
April 0-0 3.18 5.2 1 1 .370

Cubs hitters vs Zach Duke

  2008 2003-2007
Hitter AVG AB HR RBI AVG AB HR RBI
Adduci, James - - - - - - - -
Baker, Jeff - - - - .333 6 1 2
Blanco, Andres - - - - - - - -
Bradley, Milton - - - - .500 4 0 0
Castillo, Welington - - - - - - - -
Colvin, Tyler - - - - - - - -
Fontenot, Mike - - - - - - - -
Fox, Jake - - - - - - - -
Fukudome, Kosuke - - - - .167 6 0 0
Fuld, Sam - - - - - - - -
Hill, Koyie - - - - - - - -
Hoffpauir, Micah - - - - - - - -
Lee, Derrek - - - - .286 35 1 3
Miles, Aaron - - - - .385 13 0 1
Ramirez, Aramis - - - - .314 35 1 4
Soriano, Alfonso - - - - .560 25 2 3
Soto, Geovany - - - - .250 12 0 0
Theriot, Ryan - - - - .320 25 0 2

Pirates hitters vs Ryan Dempster

  2008 2003-2007
Hitter AVG AB HR RBI AVG AB HR RBI
Alvarez, Pedro - - - - - - - -
Bixler, Brian - - - - .000 3 0 0
Cedeno, Ronny - - - - - - - -
Clement, Jeff - - - - - - - -
Cruz, Luis - - - - - - - -
Diaz, Argenis - - - - - - - -
Doumit, Ryan - - - - .222 9 0 0
Hernandez, Gorkys - - - - - - - -
Iwamura, Akinori - - - - .000 2 0 0
Jaramillo, Jason - - - - - - - -
Jones, Garrett - - - - - - - -
LaRoche, Andy - - - - - - - -
McCutchen, Andrew - - - - - - - -
Milledge, Lastings - - - - .500 4 0 1
Moss, Brandon - - - - - - - -
Pearce, Steve - - - - - - - -
Tabata, Jose - - - - - - - -
Vazquez, Ramon - - - - 1.000 1 0 1
Walker, Neil - - - - - - - -
Young, Delwyn - - - - - - - -

Marathon men: Cubs win in 15 (5-3) (3-5)

Cubs 6, Pirates 4 (15)

Happy as Pie

Carrie Muskat / MLB.com
Felix Pie's two-run single in the 15th inning gave the Cubs, who have won four straight, their second consecutive extra-inning win against the Pirates at PNC Park. Starter Ryan Dempster was outstanding, allowing one hit in seven scoreless innings.

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Series at a Glance

 

Bucs hang tough

Jenifer Langosch / MLB.com
Jason Bay sent the game to extra innings with a solo homer in the ninth, and Adam LaRoche extended the game with a two-run shot in the 14th, but Bucs couldn't hold off the Cubs a third time in dropping their second straight extra-inning game.
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Cubs 6, Pirates 4

Chi CubsABRHRBIBBSOLOBAVG
Soriano, LF6020221.132
Johnson, R, CF3021010.375
  Pie, CF4012012.200
Lee, 1B6100218.333
Ramirez, A, 3B7232004.250
Fukudome, RF7020011.419
DeRosa, 2B6010114.290
Soto, C5010214.250
Cedeno, SS2110101.333
  a-Ward, PH1000000.000
  Marmol, P0000000.000
  Wood, P0000000.000
  Howry, P0000000.000
  d-Zambrano, C, PH0000000.000
  Wuertz, P0000000.000
  e-Blanco, H, PH1000011.200
  Hart, K, P1100001.000
  Marshall, P0000000.000
Dempster, P1000010.000
  b-Fontenot, PH0000000.429
  c-Theriot, PH-SS4110014.207
Totals54614581131 

a-Reached on error for Cedeno in the 8th. b-Batted for Dempster in the 8th. c-Flied out for Fontenot in the 8th. d-Hit a sacrifice bunt for Howry in the 11th. e-Struck out for Wuertz in the 13th.

BATTING
2B: Ramirez, A (1, Duke).
HR: Ramirez, A (2, 14th inning off Dumatrait, 1 on, 2 out).
TB: Soriano 2; Johnson, R 2; Pie; Ramirez, A 7; Fukudome 2; DeRosa; Soto; Cedeno; Theriot.
RBI: Johnson, R (3), Ramirez, A 2 (5), Pie 2 (2).
2-out RBI: Ramirez, A 2; Pie 2.
Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Ramirez, A 2; Soto 2; Lee 2; Theriot 2; Pie.
S: Dempster 2; Zambrano, C.
GIDP: Lee; Ramirez, A.
Team LOB: 15.

BASERUNNING
CS: Fukudome (1, 2nd base by Capps/Doumit).

FIELDING
Outfield assists: Soriano (Mientkiewicz at 2nd base).
DP: (Lee-DeRosa).
 
PittsburghABRHRBIBBSOLOBAVG
McLouth, CF7011011.390
Sanchez, F, 2B5000111.208
Bay, LF5231110.259
LaRoche, Ad, 1B5112133.107
Nady, RF6000013.324
Doumit, C6000021.367
Bautista, J, 3B5110010.212
  Dumatrait, P0000000.000
  d-Paulino, PH1000000.200
Bixler, SS2000000.000
  a-Morgan, PH0000000.222
  Grabow, P0000000.000
  Capps, P0000000.000
  c-Mientkiewicz, PH1010000.333
  Yates, P0000000.000
  Gomez, 3B2010000.412
Duke, P2000000.000
  Osoria, P0000000.000
  Marte, P0000000.000
  b-Rivas, L, PH-SS4000003.269
Totals5148431012 

a-Hit by pitch for Bixler in the 8th. b-Hit into a double play for Marte in the 8th. c-Singled for Capps in the 10th. d-Popped out for Dumatrait in the 15th.

BATTING
2B: McLouth (6, Marmol), Gomez (2, Marshall).
HR: Bay (1, 9th inning off Wood, 0 on, 0 out), LaRoche, Ad (1, 14th inning off Hart, K, 1 on, 1 out).
TB: McLouth 2; Bay 6; LaRoche, Ad 4; Bautista, J; Mientkiewicz; Gomez 2.
RBI: McLouth (10), Bay (1), LaRoche, Ad 2 (2).
2-out RBI: McLouth.
Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Nady; Sanchez, F; McLouth.
Team LOB: 6.

FIELDING
E: Osoria (1, missed catch).
DP: 2 (Bixler-Sanchez, F-LaRoche, Ad, Rivas, L-Sanchez, F-LaRoche, Ad).
 
Chi CubsIPHRERBBSOHRERA
Dempster 7.01002500.69
Marmol (H, 3)1.02110002.57
Wood (BS, 1)1.01110217.20
Howry 1.01000009.64
Wuertz 2.00001200.00
Hart, K (W, 2-0)2.02220115.68
Marshall (S, 1)1.01000000.00
 
PittsburghIPHRERBBSOHRERA
Duke 7.08111602.13
Osoria 0.21101005.40
Marte 0.100000014.73
Grabow 1.00000200.00
Capps 1.01000105.79
Yates 2.01002001.17
Dumatrait (L, 0-1)3.03444214.50

WP: Dumatrait.
IBB: Soriano (by Yates), Soriano (by Dumatrait).
HBP: Morgan (by Marmol), Johnson, R (by Duke).
Pitches-strikes: Dempster 98-67, Marmol 11-7, Wood 17-11, Howry 11-8, Wuertz 30-19, Hart, K 27-17, Marshall 16-8, Duke 116-76, Osoria 14-6, Marte 8-5, Grabow 11-8, Capps 9-6, Yates 33-17, Dumatrait 62-34.
Groundouts-flyouts: Dempster 8-8, Marmol 1-1, Wood 1-0, Howry 0-2, Wuertz 2-2, Hart, K 3-2, Marshall 1-2, Duke 9-6, Osoria 0-2, Marte 0-1, Grabow 1-0, Capps 0-1, Yates 5-1, Dumatrait 5-2.
Batters faced: Dempster 24, Marmol 5, Wood 4, Howry 3, Wuertz 7, Hart, K 8, Marshall 4, Duke 30, Osoria 5, Marte 1, Grabow 3, Capps 3, Yates 8, Dumatrait 16.
Inherited runners-scored: Marte 2-0.
Umpires: HP: Andy Fletcher. 1B: Mike Reilly. 2B: Scott Barry. 3B: Alfonso Marquez.
Weather: 69 degrees, partly cloudy.
Wind: 8 mph, R to L.
T: 4:20.
Att: 9,735.
April 9, 2008

Box score official statistics approved by Major League Baseball Office of the Commissioner