Chi Cubs (28-17) at Houston (25-21)

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chc

Bullpen consistently rising to challenge

Carrie Muskat / MLB.com
Led by Carlos Marmol, the Cubs bullpen is getting the job done nearly every time it is called upon. But Lou Piniella admits he's been relying on his top three or four relievers a little too often and is looking to get everyone involved.
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Cubs probable pitcher

Ryan Dempster

  • RHP
  • (5-1) 2.35 ERA
Cubs: Dempster struck out a career-high 12 batters in his last outing against the Padres, and nearly posted a complete-game shutout. It's the first time he's pitched in the ninth inning since his days as a closer at the end of last season. The right-hander gave up six hits over 8 1/3 innings in his longest outing of the season. The Cubs now are 7-2 when Dempster starts.
  W-L ERA IP BB SO AVG
Career 64-76 4.71 1275.2 655 1055 .263
Season 5-1 2.35 57.1 24 48 .172
May 1-1 0.89 20.1 5 26 .171

Series at a Glance

Standings - 05/20/2008 W L PCT GB Home Away
Chicago Cubs (NL Central) 28 17 .622 - 19-8 9-9
Houston Astros (NL Central) 25 21 .543 3.5 11-7 14-14
Stats - 05/20/2008 AVG R HR RBI SB SO ERA IP H BB SO
CHC .286 262 50 247 30 306 3.68 410.2 368 149 327
HOU .263 225 49 213 51 289 4.44 403.2 440 145 297
hou

Berkman keeps perspective amid buzz

Alyson Footer / MLB.com
Lance Berkman may have the only level-headed view of what he's accomplished lately. Fans are buzzing, his teammates are marveling and reporters are speculating about what could be. Berkman, with his quick wit and self-deprecating humor, knows how to put things in perspective.
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Astros probable pitcher

Chris Sampson

  • RHP
  • (2-3) 6.46 ERA
Astros: Sampson struggled in his last outing against the Giants on May 15, yielding seven runs -- five earned -- on 10 hits over six innings. It was a step back from his previous start, when he induced nine ground-ball outs over seven shutout frames against the Dodgers. Sampson faced the Cubs in his first start of the season on April 4 at Wrigley Field, taking a no-decision after allowing two runs over six frames.
  W-L ERA IP BB SO AVG
Career 11-12 4.53 194.2 44 84 .287
Season 2-3 6.46 39.0 9 18 .333
May 1-0 5.51 16.1 3 9 .314
Vs. Chi Cubs 0-0 2.70 6.2 0 1 .240

Cubs hitters vs Chris Sampson

  2008 2003-2007
Hitter AVG AB HR RBI AVG AB HR RBI
Adduci, James - - - - - - - -
Baker, Jeff 1.000 1 0 2 1.000 1 0 2
Blanco, Andres - - - - .143 7 0 1
Bradley, Milton - - - - - - - -
Castillo, Welington - - - - - - - -
Colvin, Tyler - - - - - - - -
Fontenot, Mike - - - - .375 8 0 3
Fox, Jake - - - - - - - -
Fukudome, Kosuke .667 3 0 0 .333 6 0 1
Fuld, Sam - - - - - - - -
Hill, Koyie - - - - - - - -
Hoffpauir, Micah - - - - - 0 0 0
Lee, Derrek .000 3 0 0 .333 12 1 1
Miles, Aaron .000 2 0 0 .200 5 0 1
Ramirez, Aramis .333 3 0 0 .357 14 1 2
Soriano, Alfonso .000 3 0 0 .167 12 0 0
Soto, Geovany .333 3 0 2 .250 12 1 4
Theriot, Ryan .000 3 0 0 .294 17 0 1

Astros hitters vs Ryan Dempster

  2008 2003-2007
Hitter AVG AB HR RBI AVG AB HR RBI
Berkman, Lance - - - - .138 29 0 0
Blum, Geoff - - - - .294 17 0 0
Bogusevic, Brian - - - - - - - -
Bourgeois, Jason - - - - - - - -
Bourn, Michael - - - - .333 6 0 0
Johnson, Chris - - - - - - - -
Keppinger, Jeff .500 6 0 2 .417 12 0 2
Lee, Carlos - - - - .412 17 1 3
Manzella, Tommy - - - - - - - -
Matsui, Kazuo - - - - .091 11 0 0
Maysonet, Edwin - - - - - - - -
Pence, Hunter - - - - .429 14 1 4
Quintero, Humberto - - - - .250 4 0 2
Ramirez, Yordany - - - - - - - -
Sutil, Wladimir - - - - - - - -
Towles, J.R. - - - - .000 5 0 0
Vallejo, Jose - - - - - - - -

Astros win in grand fashion (28-18) (26-21)

Astros 4, Cubs 2

Slam sinks Cubs

Carrie Muskat / MLB.com
Chicago right-hander Ryan Dempster gave up four runs, all coming on a grand slam, over six innings, and the Cubs went on to fall to the Astros. Aramis Ramirez crushed a deep two-run home run, while Derrek Lee went 3-for-4 for Chicago.

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Series at a Glance

 

Pence paces Astros

Alyson Footer / MLB.com
Hunter Pence had three hits, including his second career grand slam, sending the Astros past the Cubs. Houston starter Chris Sampson allowed two runs over 6 2/3 solid innings. Jose Valverde notched his 13th save of the season.
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Astros 4, Cubs 2

Chi CubsABRHRBIBBSOLOBAVG
Soriano, LF4000033.278
Theriot, SS4000001.325
Lee, 1B4130000.302
Ramirez, A, 3B4122001.290
Fukudome, RF4000003.311
Soto, C4010020.315
Edmonds, CF3000111.176
DeRosa, 2B4020001.311
Dempster, P1000000.158
  a-Hoffpauir, PH0000100.000
  Ascanio, P0000000.000
  b-Fontenot, PH1000001.258
Totals332822611 

a-Walked for Dempster in the 7th. b-Grounded out for Ascanio in the 9th.

BATTING
2B: Lee (13, Sampson).
HR: Ramirez, A (8, 4th inning off Sampson, 1 on, 0 out).
TB: Lee 4; Ramirez, A 5; Soto; DeRosa 2.
RBI: Ramirez, A 2 (31).
Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Fukudome; Theriot; Soriano; Fontenot.
S: Dempster.
GIDP: Edmonds.
Team LOB: 7.

FIELDING
E: Edmonds (2, throw).
 
HoustonABRHRBIBBSOLOBAVG
Bourn, CF3000010.196
Matsui, 2B4010011.291
Tejada, SS3110101.342
Berkman, 1B3110122.388
Lee, LF4000014.279
  Valverde, P0000000.000
Blum, 3B3110100.209
Pence, RF4134000.293
Towles, C3000012.144
  Brocail, P0000000.000
  a-Erstad, PH-LF0000100.308
Sampson, P2000000.059
  Ausmus, C2010002.217
Totals314844612 

a-Intentionally walked for Brocail in the 8th.

BATTING
2B: Tejada (15, Dempster), Pence (11, Ascanio).
HR: Pence (5, 4th inning off Dempster, 3 on, 1 out).
TB: Matsui; Tejada 2; Berkman; Blum; Pence 7; Ausmus.
RBI: Pence 4 (27).
Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Lee; Towles; Berkman; Ausmus.
S: Bourn.
Team LOB: 8.

FIELDING
E: Bourn (4, fielding).
DP: (Matsui-Tejada-Berkman).
 
Chi CubsIPHRERBBSOHRERA
Dempster (L, 5-2)6.06442512.70
Ascanio 2.02002100.00
 
HoustonIPHRERBBSOHRERA
Sampson (W, 3-3)6.27221415.91
Brocail (H, 7)1.11000103.20
Valverde (S, 13)1.00001103.75

WP: Valverde.
IBB: Erstad (by Ascanio).
Pitches-strikes: Dempster 109-66, Ascanio 41-24, Sampson 83-54, Brocail 13-12, Valverde 13-7.
Groundouts-flyouts: Dempster 7-6, Ascanio 2-3, Sampson 12-4, Brocail 0-3, Valverde 2-0.
Batters faced: Dempster 26, Ascanio 10, Sampson 27, Brocail 5, Valverde 4.
Inherited runners-scored: Brocail 2-0.
Umpires: HP: CB Bucknor. 1B: Joe West. 2B: Ed Rapuano. 3B: Ed Hickox.
Weather: 72 degrees, roof closed.
Wind: 0 mph, None.
T: 2:31.
Att: 33,339.
May 20, 2008

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