Chi Cubs (27-17) at Houston (25-20)

TV: CSN Chicago, ESPN | Radio: WGN 720 7:05 pm ET Minute Maid Park TV: FSN-HD, ESPN, CSN | Radio: KTRH 740, KLAT 1010
chc

Cubs aim to take momentum on the road

Nick Zaccardi / MLB.com
After winning eight of 10 at home, the Cubs are looking to stay hot when they kick off a six-game road trip Monday vs. the Astros at Minute Maid Park.
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Cubs probable pitcher

Ted Lilly

  • LHP
  • (4-4) 5.33 ERA
Cubs: Lilly has reached double-digit strikeouts in back to back games for the first time in his career. On May 9, he fanned 10 Diamondbacks, and in his last start, he struck out 11 Padres. The lefty picked up wins in both games, and is now 3-0 in May. Against San Diego, Lilly gave up four runs on six hits over six innings. All the K's don't make him a power pitcher, though. Lilly still has to work on his breaking pitches, but he has been able to find one that works effectively in his last two starts.
  W-L ERA IP BB SO AVG
Career 78-70 4.49 1193.2 454 1023 .248
Season 4-4 5.33 50.2 17 50 .242
May 3-0 3.60 20.0 4 25 .203

Series at a Glance

Standings - 05/19/2008 W L PCT GB Home Away
Chicago Cubs (NL Central) 27 17 .614 - 19-8 8-9
Houston Astros (NL Central) 25 20 .556 2.5 11-6 14-14
Stats - 05/19/2008 AVG R HR RBI SB SO ERA IP H BB SO
CHC .284 255 48 240 30 301 3.72 401.2 361 147 318
HOU .264 223 49 211 48 280 4.38 394.2 426 142 292
hou

Berkman knows it's still early for Astros

Jim Molony / MLB.com
The Astros now return home to face off against the NL Central-leading Chicago Cubs. Lance Berkman is pleased with the Astros' recent play, but knows it's a long season.
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Astros probable pitcher

Brian Moehler

  • RHP
  • (1-0) 4.58 ERA
Astros: Wandy Rodriguez will have to complete a Minor League rehab assignment before rejoining the Astros' rotation, so Moehler will receive his third consecutive start in place of the left-hander. Moehler took a no-decision after allowing three runs over five innings against the Giants on May 14.
  W-L ERA IP BB SO AVG
Career 65-83 4.74 1223.2 345 668 .294
Season 1-0 4.58 17.2 4 10 .316
May 1-0 2.70 10.0 1 7 .317

Cubs hitters vs Brian Moehler

  2008 2003-2007
Hitter AVG AB HR RBI AVG AB HR RBI
Adduci, James - - - - - - - -
Baker, Jeff .000 2 0 0 .000 3 0 0
Blanco, Andres - - - - - - - -
Bradley, Milton - - - - .250 4 0 0
Castillo, Welington - - - - - - - -
Colvin, Tyler - - - - - - - -
Fontenot, Mike - - - - .250 8 0 0
Fox, Jake - - - - - - - -
Fukudome, Kosuke - - - - .143 7 0 0
Fuld, Sam - - - - - - - -
Hill, Koyie - - - - - - - -
Hoffpauir, Micah - - - - .000 2 0 0
Lee, Derrek - - - - .273 11 2 3
Miles, Aaron - - - - - 0 0 0
Ramirez, Aramis - - - - .308 13 0 3
Soriano, Alfonso - - - - .333 15 0 0
Soto, Geovany - - - - .200 10 1 3
Theriot, Ryan - - - - .167 6 0 0

Astros hitters vs Ted Lilly

  2008 2003-2007
Hitter AVG AB HR RBI AVG AB HR RBI
Berkman, Lance - - - - .063 16 0 1
Blum, Geoff - - - - .250 8 0 1
Bogusevic, Brian - - - - - - - -
Bourgeois, Jason - - - - - - - -
Bourn, Michael - - - - .333 3 0 1
Johnson, Chris - - - - - - - -
Keppinger, Jeff .667 3 0 0 .333 15 0 2
Lee, Carlos - - - - .222 18 1 2
Manzella, Tommy - - - - - - - -
Matsui, Kazuo - - - - .167 6 0 0
Maysonet, Edwin - - - - - - - -
Pence, Hunter - - - - .167 12 0 1
Quintero, Humberto - - - - .000 6 0 0
Ramirez, Yordany - - - - - - - -
Sutil, Wladimir - - - - - - - -
Towles, J.R. - - - - .000 2 0 0
Vallejo, Jose - - - - - - - -

And ... action! Cubs roll highlights (28-17) (25-21)

Cubs 7, Astros 2

Makin' it look good

Carrie Muskat / MLB.com
Geovany Soto turned a near-traditional homer into a three-run, inside-the-park job, Jim Edmonds introduced his Gold Glove to Cubs fans with a dazzling catch on Tal's Hill and Aramis Ramirez went yard in a theatrical win in Houston. Ted Lilly won his fourth straight start.

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Series at a Glance

 

Outdone by leaders

Alyson Footer / MLB.com
Brian Moehler kept the first-place Cubs in sight with five innings of three-run ball, but the Astros were denied the big play while their rivals stole the show in the series opener. Carlos Lee and Michael Bourn had RBIs, but Lance Berkman's 17-game hitting streak came to an end.
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Cubs 7, Astros 2

Chi CubsABRHRBIBBSOLOBAVG
Soriano, LF4000123.287
Theriot, SS5121004.333
Lee, 1B5121010.292
Ramirez, A, 3B5232001.285
Fukudome, RF4120101.319
Soto, C5113014.317
Edmonds, CF5010001.182
DeRosa, 2B4120000.306
Lilly, P2010010.267
  Lieber, P0000000.000
  a-Cedeno, PH0000100.324
  Wuertz, P0000000.000
  Marmol, P0000000.000
  Howry, P0000000.000
Totals3971473514 

a-Walked for Lieber in the 8th.

BATTING
2B: Theriot (9, Nieve), Lee (12, Borkowski).
HR: Soto (9, 4th inning off Moehler, 2 on, 1 out), Ramirez, A (7, 9th inning off Borkowski, 1 on, 0 out).
TB: Theriot 3; Lee 3; Ramirez, A 6; Fukudome 2; Soto 4; Edmonds; DeRosa 2; Lilly.
RBI: Soto 3 (33), Lee (30), Theriot (13), Ramirez, A 2 (29).
2-out RBI: Theriot.
Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Edmonds; Theriot 2; Soto.
S: Lilly.
Team LOB: 9.

FIELDING
DP: (Theriot-DeRosa-Lee).
 
HoustonABRHRBIBBSOLOBAVG
Bourn, CF4021000.200
Matsui, 2B3010112.292
Tejada, SS4110015.342
Berkman, 1B4000034.389
Lee, LF4021002.286
Pence, RF4000012.282
Wigginton, 3B4110010.217
Ausmus, C4000011.207
Moehler, P1000010.000
  a-Cruz, PH0000100.122
  Byrdak, P0000000.333
  Nieve, P0000000.000
  b-Erstad, PH1000000.308
  Wright, P0000000.000
  Borkowski, P0000000.000
Totals332722916 

a-Walked for Moehler in the 5th. b-Popped out for Nieve in the 7th.

BATTING
2B: Tejada (14, Lilly), Wigginton (4, Lilly).
TB: Bourn 2; Matsui; Tejada 2; Lee 2; Wigginton 2.
RBI: Lee (32), Bourn (8).
2-out RBI: Lee.
Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Tejada 2; Lee 2.
GIDP: Pence.
Team LOB: 6.

BASERUNNING
SB: Matsui (10, 2nd base off Marmol/Soto), Bourn (19, 2nd base off Wuertz/Soto), Tejada (3, 3rd base off Lilly/Soto).

FIELDING
Outfield assists: Bourn (Cedeno at 3rd base).
 
Chi CubsIPHRERBBSOHRERA
Lilly (W, 5-4)5.14222605.14
Lieber (H, 2)1.21000003.38
Wuertz 0.02000003.18
Marmol (H, 12)1.00000101.55
Howry 1.00000205.96
 
HoustonIPHRERBBSOHRERA
Moehler (L, 1-1)5.07332114.76
Byrdak 1.00000100.00
Nieve 1.03110103.38
Wright 0.11111004.60
Borkowski 1.23220214.50

Wuertz pitched to 2 batters in the 8th.

WP: Moehler.
IBB: Soriano (by Moehler).
Pitches-strikes: Lilly 96-61, Lieber 15-11, Wuertz 8-6, Marmol 13-6, Howry 13-9, Moehler 95-60, Byrdak 9-7, Nieve 27-15, Wright 16-9, Borkowski 23-16.
Groundouts-flyouts: Lilly 4-6, Lieber 3-2, Wuertz 0-0, Marmol 1-1, Howry 0-1, Moehler 9-5, Byrdak 1-1, Nieve 1-1, Wright 1-0, Borkowski 1-1.
Batters faced: Lilly 22, Lieber 5, Wuertz 2, Marmol 3, Howry 3, Moehler 24, Byrdak 3, Nieve 6, Wright 3, Borkowski 7.
Inherited runners-scored: Marmol 2-0, Borkowski 2-1.
Umpires: HP: Ed Hickox. 1B: CB Bucknor. 2B: Joe West. 3B: Ed Rapuano.
Weather: 75 degrees, roof closed.
Wind: 0 mph, None.
T: 3:19.
Att: 32,458.
May 19, 2008

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