Chi Cubs (16-8) at Washington (8-17)

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chc

Aggressive Cubs close out Nationals

Carrie Muskat / MLB.com
Lou Piniella is trying to get the baserunners in motion more in games, something they worked on this spring. Sometimes it works, and sometimes, like Friday against the Washington Nationals, it doesn't.
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Cubs probable pitcher

Ted Lilly

  • LHP
  • (1-3) 7.30 ERA
Cubs: Lilly finally picked up his first win of '08, in his last start against the Mets. The lefty gave up one run on four hits, four walks and struck out four over six innings. His velocity was better, he was able to mix in his breaking pitches, and he was more aggressive. All good signs for Lilly, who won 15 games last season. He is 3-2 with a 2.06 ERA in six games against the Nationals in his career.
  W-L ERA IP BB SO AVG
Career 75-69 4.52 1167.2 448 991 .249
Season 1-3 7.30 24.2 11 18 .282
April 1-3 7.30 24.2 11 18 .282

Series at a Glance

Standings - 04/27/2008 W L PCT GB Home Away
Chicago Cubs (NL Central) 16 8 .667 - 10-4 6-4
Washington Nationals (NL East) 8 17 .320 6.5 4-7 4-10
Stats - 04/27/2008 AVG R HR RBI SB SO ERA IP H BB SO
CHC .285 145 27 135 19 165 3.73 224.1 201 84 169
WSH .231 93 14 87 6 161 4.74 222.1 237 103 183
was

Cordero, Pena finding way out of neutral

Bill Ladson / MLB.com
Reliever Chad Cordero and outfielder Wily Mo Pena are still trying to establish themselves this season. On Saturday, Cordero pitched in his first game since Monday and didn't allow a run against the Cubs in his one inning of work.
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Nationals probable pitcher

John Lannan

  • LHP
  • (1-2) 3.42 ERA
Nationals: When the Nationals are involved in historical moments, left-hander John Lannan knows when to rise to the occasion. On Aug. 6, 2007, Giants outfielder Barry Bonds was a home run away from the being the career home-run leader. But Lannan held Bonds hitless in three at-bats in San Francisco. Tuesday was another historical night. Braves right-hander John Smoltz, 40, became the 16th pitcher to reach career strikeout No. 3,000. But the Nats won the game, 6-0, thanks to a superb performance by Lannan. He tossed seven innings and giving up five hits.
  W-L ERA IP BB SO AVG
Career 3-4 3.86 58.1 27 31 .267
Season 1-2 3.42 23.2 10 21 .258
April 1-2 3.42 23.2 10 21 .258

Cubs hitters vs John Lannan

  2008 2003-2007
Hitter AVG AB HR RBI AVG AB HR RBI
Adduci, James - - - - - - - -
Baker, Jeff - - - - .333 3 0 0
Blanco, Andres - - - - - - - -
Bradley, Milton - - - - - - - -
Castillo, Welington - - - - - - - -
Colvin, Tyler - - - - - - - -
Fontenot, Mike - - - - - - - -
Fox, Jake - - - - - - - -
Fukudome, Kosuke - - - - .250 4 0 0
Fuld, Sam - - - - - - - -
Hill, Koyie - - - - - - - -
Hoffpauir, Micah - - - - - - - -
Lee, Derrek - - - - .400 5 1 1
Miles, Aaron - - - - .000 2 0 0
Ramirez, Aramis - - - - .000 6 0 0
Soriano, Alfonso - - - - .000 2 0 0
Soto, Geovany - - - - .500 2 0 0
Theriot, Ryan - - - - .000 5 0 0

Nationals hitters vs Ted Lilly

  2008 2003-2007
Hitter AVG AB HR RBI AVG AB HR RBI
Bernadina, Roger - - - - - - - -
Desmond, Ian - - - - - - - -
Dukes, Elijah - - - - - - - -
Dunn, Adam .000 2 0 0 .222 9 1 2
Flores, Jesus - - - - .000 1 0 0
Gonzalez, Alberto - - - - - - - -
Guzman, Cristian - - - - .133 15 0 0
Harris, Willie - - - - .000 2 0 0
Maxwell, Justin - - - - - - - -
Morgan, Nyjer - - - - .000 1 0 0
Morse, Mike - - - - .250 4 0 0
Nieves, Wil - - - - .500 2 0 1
Willingham, Josh - - - - .000 2 0 0
Zimmerman, Ryan - - - - .222 9 0 0

John the Revelation (16-9) (9-17)

Nationals 2, Cubs 0

Stuck in reverse

Carrie Muskat / MLB.com
The Cubs' offense had a few fleeting opportunities to win their series in Washington, on Sunday, but couldn't manage to cash in against Nats starter John Lannan and Washington's bullpen. Ted Lilly settled down after a shaky start, hurling six solid innings and allowing just two runs.

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Series at a Glance

 
John Lannan won his second consecutive start on Sunday. (Haraz N. Ghanbari/AP)

Nats take series

Bill Ladson / MLB.com
John Lannan continued his growth as a dependable starting pitcher, running his scoreless innings streak to 19 with seven shutout frames against a formidable Cubs lineup. Wily Mo Pena and Wil Nieves chipped in with an RBI single each in the second, the only offense the southpaw would need.
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Nationals 2, Cubs 0

Chi CubsABRHRBIBBSOLOBAVG
Johnson, R, CF3010110.324
Theriot, SS3000114.326
  Wood, P0000000.000
Lee, 1B2000202.359
Ramirez, A, 3B4000013.281
Fukudome, RF4010001.326
DeRosa, LF3000102.274
Cedeno, 2B-SS4010003.364
Blanco, H, C3010001.353
  b-Ward, PH1000010.067
Lilly, P2000022.143
  a-Murton, PH1000000.091
  Wuertz, P0000000.000
  Marshall, P0000000.000
  Fontenot, 2B0000000.200
Totals300405618 

a-Flied out for Lilly in the 7th. b-Struck out for Blanco, H in the 9th.

BATTING
2B: Fukudome (7, Lannan).
TB: Johnson, R; Fukudome 2; Cedeno; Blanco, H.
Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Cedeno 2.
GIDP: Theriot.
Team LOB: 8.

BASERUNNING
SB: Cedeno (2, 3rd base off Lannan/Nieves).
 
WashingtonABRHRBIBBSOLOBAVG
Lopez, F, 2B4000011.254
Guzman, SS4010010.309
Zimmerman, R, 3B4000031.222
Johnson, 1B2110200.216
Milledge, CF2000003.280
Kearns, RF3000004.187
Pena, LF3111021.170
  Harris, LF0000000.152
Nieves, C3011000.348
Lannan, P2000011.000
  a-Mackowiak, PH0000000.063
  b-Boone, PH0000100.269
  Ayala, P0000000.000
  Rauch, P0000000.000
Totals272423811 

a-Batted for Lannan in the 7th. b-Walked for Mackowiak in the 7th.

BATTING
TB: Guzman; Johnson; Pena; Nieves.
RBI: Pena (2), Nieves (4).
2-out RBI: Pena; Nieves.
Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Lannan; Kearns.
S: Milledge.
Team LOB: 5.

FIELDING
DP: (Guzman-Johnson).
 
Chi CubsIPHRERBBSOHRERA
Lilly (L, 1-4)6.04222706.46
Wuertz 0.20000105.25
Marshall 0.10001001.80
Wood 1.00000003.46
 
WashingtonIPHRERBBSOHRERA
Lannan (W, 2-2)7.04004302.64
Ayala (H, 7)1.00001203.38
Rauch (S, 4)1.00000104.63

Pitches-strikes: Lilly 108-71, Wuertz 8-6, Marshall 14-7, Wood 9-4, Lannan 107-65, Ayala 16-9, Rauch 13-10.
Groundouts-flyouts: Lilly 4-7, Wuertz 1-0, Marshall 1-0, Wood 1-2, Lannan 10-8, Ayala 1-0, Rauch 1-1.
Batters faced: Lilly 24, Wuertz 2, Marshall 2, Wood 3, Lannan 28, Ayala 4, Rauch 3.
Umpires: HP: Ed Montague. 1B: Jerry Layne. 2B: Phil Cuzzi. 3B: Jim Wolf.
Weather: 61 degrees, overcast.
Wind: 12 mph, In from RF.
T: 2:31.
Att: 33,795.
April 27, 2008

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