Cincinnati (43-48) at Chi Cubs (54-36)

TV: FSN-HD | Radio: WLW 700 8:05 pm ET Wrigley Field TV: CSN Chicago | Radio: WGN 720
cin

Keppinger looking to regain stroke

Mark Sheldon / MLB.com
Despite snapping an 0-for-22 streak at the plate Tuesday, Reds shortstop Jeff Keppinger still hasn't regained his stroke since he returned from the disabled list June 22. The Reds hope he'll start getting hot in Wednesday's matchup against the Cubs.
Full story >

Reds probable pitcher

Johnny Cueto

  • #47 RHP
  • (7-8) 4.63 ERA 91 SO
Reds: Cueto gave the Reds' overworked bullpen the rest it needed in his last start, against the Nationals on Thursday. The 22-year-old rookie pitched seven solid innings, giving up just three runs on seven hits, walking one and striking out eight. He threw just 95 pitches, with 66 going for strikes. Cueto has given up just six runs in his last four starts. His only career start against the Cubs came on May 5, when he pitched six innings and gave up three runs on six hits, with two walks and eight strikeouts.
  W-L ERA IP BB SO AVG
Career 7-8 4.63 105.0 38 91 .259
Season 7-8 4.63 105.0 38 91 .259
July 1-0 3.86 7.0 1 8 .259
Vs. Chi Cubs 1-0 4.50 6.0 2 8 .261

Series at a Glance

Standings - 07/09/2008 W L PCT GB Home Away
Cincinnati Reds (NL Central) 43 48 .473 11.5 26-19 17-29
Chicago Cubs (NL Central) 54 36 .600 - 34-10 20-26
Stats - 07/09/2008 AVG R HR RBI SB SO ERA IP H BB SO
CIN .247 387 97 368 60 624 4.47 812.0 854 312 699
CHC .282 482 103 456 53 658 3.85 810.1 758 305 670
chc

Big Z trying to join 10-win club

Nick Zaccardi / MLB.com
With the newly acquired Rich Harden taking the spotlight in Chicago, fans shouldn't overlook Carlos Zambrano's return to Wrigley Field on Wednesday for his first home start since June 12. He'll be on the mound and looking to become the club's second 10-game winner as he faces the Reds.
Full story >

Cubs probable pitcher

Carlos Zambrano

  • #38 RHP
  • (9-3) 2.96 ERA 73 SO
Cubs: Zambrano looked well rested and sharp in his first start coming off the disabled list last Friday against the St. Louis Cardinals. The right-hander threw six shutout innings and struck out five. He gave up four hits, and only two got out of the infield. He had good tempo and command of his pitches. The Cubs limited him to 87 pitches in the outing, and he'll probably be able to go deeper against the Reds. He's 2-0 this season against Cincinnati.
  W-L ERA IP BB SO AVG
Career 91-58 3.37 1305.2 586 1115 .228
Season 9-3 2.96 112.1 38 73 .255
July 1-0 0.00 6.0 2 5 .182
Vs. Cincinnati 2-0 1.20 15.0 4 8 .200

Reds hitters vs Carlos Zambrano

  2008 2003-2007
Hitter AVG AB HR RBI AVG AB HR RBI
Alonso, Yonder - - - - - - - -
Balentien, Wladimir - - - - - - - -
Bruce, Jay - - - - .167 6 1 1
Dickerson, Chris - - - - .500 2 0 0
Francisco, Juan - - - - - - - -
Gomes, Jonny - - - - - - - -
Hanigan, Ryan - - - - - - - -
Heisey, Chris - - - - - - - -
Hernandez, Ramon - - - - .167 6 0 0
Janish, Paul - - - - - - - -
Phillips, Brandon .000 6 0 0 .229 35 1 4
Rolen, Scott - - - - .205 39 2 4
Rosales, Adam - - - - .000 1 0 0
Stubbs, Drew - - - - - - - -
Sutton, Drew - - - - - - - -
Taveras, Willy - - - - .174 23 0 1
Valaika, Chris - - - - - - - -
Votto, Joey .400 5 0 1 .353 17 0 1

Cubs hitters vs Johnny Cueto

  2008 2003-2007
Hitter AVG AB HR RBI AVG AB HR RBI
Adduci, James - - - - - - - -
Baker, Jeff - - - - - - - -
Blanco, Andres - - - - - - - -
Bradley, Milton - - - - - - - -
Castillo, Welington - - - - - - - -
Colvin, Tyler - - - - .500 6 2 4
Fontenot, Mike .000 3 0 0 .000 4 0 0
Fox, Jake - - - - - - - -
Fukudome, Kosuke .000 3 0 0 .222 9 0 1
Fuld, Sam - - - - .000 1 0 1
Hill, Koyie - - - - - - - -
Hoffpauir, Micah - - - - .000 3 0 1
Lee, Derrek .333 3 0 1 .333 12 0 2
Miles, Aaron .000 1 0 0 .000 1 0 0
Ramirez, Aramis - - - - .286 7 1 1
Soriano, Alfonso .333 3 0 0 .333 9 2 2
Soto, Geovany 1.000 2 1 1 .455 11 1 1
Theriot, Ryan .667 3 0 1 .538 13 0 1

From ace to Z (43-49) (55-36)

Cubs 5, Reds 1

Cueto's mistake costly

Mark Sheldon / MLB.com
Johnny Cueto was strong most of the way against the Cubs, but made a costly mistake in the form of a homer to Aramis Ramirez in the sixth and was roughed up in the seventh. The Reds didn't give him much support against Cubs ace Carlos Zambrano.

Full story >

Reds Wrap >

More Reds Headlines

Tickets | MLB.TV | Multimedia | Shop

Series at a Glance

 

Zambrano excellent

Carrie Muskat / MLB.com
Carlos Zambrano didn't get a lot of run support, but he didn't need much either, as he dazzled Reds hitters all night, giving up a home run to Adam Dunn but very little else. Aramis Ramirez hit a no-doubt home run in the sixth inning in support of the Cubs' ace.
Full story >

Cubs Wrap >

More Cubs Headlines

Tickets | MLB.TV | Multimedia | Shop

Cubs 5, Reds 1

CincinnatiABRHRBIBBSOLOBAVG
Bruce, CF4010010.265
Keppinger, SS3000100.289
Griffey Jr., RF3000111.236
Phillips, B, 2B4000013.285
Dunn, LF3111000.227
Encarnacion, 3B3000010.245
Votto, 1B3000000.279
Bako, C3000000.221
Cueto, P2000010.038
  Weathers, P0000000.000
  a-Patterson, PH1000000.191
Totals29121254 

a-Flied out for Weathers in the 9th.

BATTING
HR: Dunn (23, 2nd inning off Zambrano, C, 0 on, 1 out).
TB: Bruce; Dunn 4.
RBI: Dunn (53).
Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Phillips, B 2.
Team LOB: 3.

BASERUNNING
CS: Keppinger (1, 2nd base by Zambrano, C/Soto).

FIELDING
E: Keppinger (2, fielding), Encarnacion (13, fielding), Phillips, B (2, throw).
DP: (Keppinger-Phillips, B-Votto).
 
Chi CubsABRHRBIBBSOLOBAVG
Theriot, SS5020011.313
Fukudome, RF5121014.287
Lee, 1B4111104.304
Ramirez, A, 3B3122102.291
Soto, C4110012.289
Edmonds, CF3000121.226
DeRosa, 2B4000003.285
Johnson, R, LF4110011.270
Zambrano, C, P3010001.358
  Marmol, P0000000.000
  Wood, P0000000.000
Totals3551043619 

BATTING
2B: Soto (24, Cueto), Fukudome (17, Cueto), Ramirez, A (22, Weathers).
HR: Ramirez, A (16, 6th inning off Cueto, 0 on, 0 out).
TB: Theriot 2; Fukudome 3; Lee; Ramirez, A 6; Soto 2; Johnson, R; Zambrano, C.
RBI: Ramirez, A 2 (63), Fukudome (36), Lee (54).
2-out RBI: Fukudome; Lee; Ramirez, A.
Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Soto; DeRosa 2; Lee.
S: Zambrano, C.
GIDP: Ramirez, A.
Team LOB: 10.

FIELDING
E: Ramirez, A (8, fielding).
DP: (Soto-Theriot).
 
CincinnatiIPHRERBBSOHRERA
Cueto (L, 7-9)6.28542614.67
Weathers 1.12001003.75
 
Chi CubsIPHRERBBSOHRERA
Zambrano, C (W, 10-3)8.01110512.84
Marmol 0.21002003.51
Wood (S, 23)0.10000002.89

WP: Cueto, Marmol.
Pitches-strikes: Cueto 111-75, Weathers 33-20, Zambrano, C 103-66, Marmol 22-11, Wood 5-3.
Groundouts-flyouts: Cueto 9-5, Weathers 1-3, Zambrano, C 11-7, Marmol 1-1, Wood 0-1.
Batters faced: Cueto 30, Weathers 9, Zambrano, C 25, Marmol 5, Wood 1.
Inherited runners-scored: Weathers 1-1, Wood 3-0.
Umpires: HP: Tim Tschida. 1B: Jim Joyce. 2B: Jeff Nelson. 3B: Adrian Johnson.
Weather: 78 degrees, clear.
Wind: 4 mph, In from RF.
T: 2:31.
Att: 41,605.
July 9, 2008

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