Chi Cubs (51-35) at St. Louis (49-38)

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chc

Big Z makes his return vs. the Redbirds

David Biderman / MLB.com
After two weeks on the DL, Cubs ace Carlos Zambrano will be back on the mound Friday for the series opener against the Cardinals at Busch Stadium.
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Cubs probable pitcher

Carlos Zambrano

  • #38 RHP
  • (8-3) 3.13 ERA
Cubs: Zambrano was expected to be activated from the disabled list for this game, which will be his first start since June 18. He had to come out of that game because of a strained right shoulder, and went on the disabled list for the first time in his career. The right-hander had a bullpen session on Sunday, and said he benefited from the time off. He felt great, especially his slider and sinker. He was 3-0 with a 1.69 ERA last year against the Cardinals.
  W-L ERA IP BB SO AVG
Career 90-58 3.39 1299.2 584 1110 .228
Season 8-3 3.13 106.1 36 68 .259

Series at a Glance

Standings - 07/04/2008 W L PCT GB Home Away
Chicago Cubs (NL Central) 51 35 .593 - 33-10 18-25
St. Louis Cardinals (NL Central) 49 38 .563 2.5 25-19 24-19
Stats - 07/04/2008 AVG R HR RBI SB SO ERA IP H BB SO
CHC .282 462 96 438 52 628 3.92 774.2 731 292 641
STL .274 408 90 385 35 511 4.17 783.1 809 273 495
stl

Rivalry a battle for division supremacy

Lee Hurwitz / MLB.com
With the halfway point of the season in the rearview mirror and both teams contending, the Cardinals' rivalry with the Cubs takes on increased importance.
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Cardinals probable pitcher

Braden Looper

  • #41 RHP
  • (9-5) 4.26 ERA
Cardinals: Looper was the victim of a strange start his last time out. Against the Royals, Looper lasted 3 1/3 innings and was given a quick hook from manager Tony La Russa. Rather than let things get out of hand on a windy day, La Russa took out Looper who was not sharp in his outing. Looper has a great deal of experience against the Cubs, facing them 36 times in his career. So far, that experience has led to success on the mound as Looper has produced a 2.37 ERA in 64 2/3 innings.
  W-L ERA IP BB SO AVG
Career 55-49 3.92 881.2 290 505 .268
Season 9-5 4.26 99.1 26 44 .288

Cubs hitters vs Braden Looper

  2008 2003-2007
Hitter AVG AB HR RBI AVG AB HR RBI
Baker, Jeff .000 1 0 0 .000 1 0 0
Blanco, Andres - - - - 1.000 1 0 0
Bradley, Milton - - - - .000 2 0 0
Colvin, Tyler - - - - - - - -
Fontenot, Mike - - - - .111 9 0 1
Fox, Jake - - - - - - - -
Fukudome, Kosuke - - - - .308 13 1 1
Fuld, Sam - - - - - - - -
Hill, Koyie - - - - .000 3 0 0
Hoffpauir, Micah - - - - .333 3 0 1
Johnson, Reed - - - - .000 3 0 0
Lee, Derrek - - - - .292 24 1 2
Miles, Aaron - - - - - - - -
Ramirez, Aramis - - - - .304 23 0 2
Soriano, Alfonso - - - - .231 13 0 1
Soto, Geovany - - - - .400 10 1 1
Theriot, Ryan - - - - .250 20 0 0

Cardinals hitters vs Carlos Zambrano

  2008 2003-2007
Hitter AVG AB HR RBI AVG AB HR RBI
Anderson, Bryan - - - - - - - -
Ankiel, Rick - - - - .000 6 0 0
Craig, Allen - - - - - - - -
DeRosa, Mark - - - - .400 5 0 0
Freese, David - - - - - - - -
Glaus, Troy - - - - .300 10 2 5
Greene, Khalil .200 5 0 0 .056 18 0 0
Greene, Tyler - - - - - - - -
Hamilton, Mark - - - - - - - -
Holliday, Matt - - - - .250 12 0 0
Jay, Jon - - - - - - - -
Jones, Daryl - - - - - - - -
LaRue, Jason - - - - .211 19 0 1
Ludwick, Ryan - - - - .750 4 0 1
Lugo, Julio - - - - - - - -
Mather, Joe - - - - - - - -
Molina, Yadier - - - - .240 25 1 4
Pagnozzi, Matt - - - - - - - -
Pujols, Albert - - - - .235 51 4 6
Rasmus, Colby - - - - - - - -
Robinson, Shane - - - - - - - -
Ryan, Brendan - - - - .000 3 0 0
Schumaker, Skip - - - - .368 19 1 3
Stavinoha, Nick - - - - - - - -

Welcome back, Big Z (52-35) (49-39)

Cubs 2, Cardinals 1

Rookies go deep

Carrie Muskat / MLB.com
Carlos Zambrano returned from the DL to limit the Cardinals to four singles in six shutout innings. Kosuke Fukudome and Geovany Soto homered to provide the ace with all the support he needed.

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Series at a Glance

 

Mr. 300

Lee Hurwitz / MLB.com
Albert Pujols became the fifth-youngest player to reach 300 career homers with his solo shot in the eighth inning, but the Cardinals offense was otherwise silent in the series opener against the Cubs.
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Cubs 2, Cardinals 1

Chi CubsABRHRBIBBSOLOBAVG
Johnson, R, LF4000012.266
Fukudome, RF4111022.289
Lee, 1B4020001.298
Ramirez, A, 3B4000002.281
Edmonds, CF4000031.236
Soto, C3131100.290
DeRosa, 2B4000012.286
Theriot, SS4010002.306
Zambrano, C, P3010001.360
  Howry, P0000000.000
  Cotts, P0000000.000
  Wood, P0000000.000
Totals342821713 

BATTING
2B: Lee (22, Looper).
HR: Fukudome (7, 1st inning off Looper, 0 on, 1 out), Soto (14, 4th inning off Looper, 0 on, 2 out).
TB: Fukudome 4; Lee 3; Soto 6; Theriot; Zambrano, C.
RBI: Fukudome (35), Soto (51).
2-out RBI: Soto.
Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Fukudome.
Team LOB: 6.
 
St. LouisABRHRBIBBSOLOBAVG
Schumaker, RF4010001.301
Miles, SS4000001.317
Pujols, 1B4121011.348
Ankiel, CF3000110.259
Glaus, 3B4000022.266
Duncan, LF3000112.239
Molina, Y, C4020000.306
  1-Ryan, PR0000000.266
Looper, P2000022.333
  a-Barton, PH1000000.248
  Springer, P0000000.000
  Isringhausen, P0000000.000
  b-Ludwick, PH1000001.291
Kennedy, 2B3010000.271
Totals331612710 

a-Grounded out for Looper in the 7th. b-Grounded out for Isringhausen in the 9th.
1-Ran for Molina, Y in the 9th.

BATTING
HR: Pujols (18, 8th inning off Howry, 0 on, 2 out).
TB: Schumaker; Pujols 5; Molina, Y 2; Kennedy.
RBI: Pujols (48).
2-out RBI: Pujols.
Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Looper; Pujols; Duncan.
Team LOB: 7.

BASERUNNING
SB: Schumaker (7, 2nd base off Zambrano, C/Soto).
 
Chi CubsIPHRERBBSOHRERA
Zambrano, C (W, 9-3)6.04002502.96
Howry (H, 13)1.21110014.46
Cotts (H, 3)0.10000103.00
Wood (S, 22)1.01000102.32
 
St. LouisIPHRERBBSOHRERA
Looper (L, 9-6)7.06221524.15
Springer 1.01000102.05
Isringhausen 1.01000105.34

Pitches-strikes: Zambrano, C 87-53, Howry 16-12, Cotts 5-4, Wood 16-10, Looper 120-81, Springer 13-10, Isringhausen 21-15.
Groundouts-flyouts: Zambrano, C 5-8, Howry 2-3, Cotts 0-0, Wood 1-1, Looper 10-5, Springer 0-2, Isringhausen 2-0.
Batters faced: Zambrano, C 24, Howry 6, Cotts 1, Wood 4, Looper 27, Springer 4, Isringhausen 4.
Umpires: HP: Ted Barrett. 1B: Dana DeMuth. 2B: Lance Barksdale. 3B: Doug Eddings.
Weather: 75 degrees, partly cloudy.
Wind: 8 mph, Out to RF.
T: 2:40.
Att: 46,450.
July 4, 2008

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