Chi Cubs (57-38) at Houston (44-51)

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chc

Cubs eye Soriano's return in second half

Nick Zaccardi and Carrie Muskat / MLB.com
Though Alfonso Soriano won't be back for the Cubs' opener against Houston to kick off action following the All-Star break, he's not far off. The resilient Cubs have survived without him and head into the second half with the best record in the National League.
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Cubs probable pitcher

Ted Lilly

  • #30 LHP
  • (9-6) 4.68 ERA 108 SO
Cubs: Lilly is looking forward to getting off to a better start in the second half. The lefty did win nine games, but in his last outing July 10 against the Reds, he was pulled after 2 2/3 innings. It was his shortest start of the season. Lilly gave up four runs on six hits, including two home runs, in the loss. He was 7-4 in the second half last year.
  W-L ERA IP BB SO AVG
Career 83-72 4.48 1258.1 478 1081 .248
Season 9-6 4.68 115.1 41 108 .251
July 0-1 6.23 8.2 3 8 .342
Vs. Houston 1-0 3.38 5.1 2 6 .200

Series at a Glance

Standings - 07/18/2008 W L PCT GB Home Away
Chicago Cubs (NL Central) 57 38 .600 - 37-12 20-26
Houston Astros (NL Central) 44 51 .463 13.0 22-21 22-30
Stats - 07/18/2008 AVG R HR RBI SB SO ERA IP H BB SO
CHC .281 507 107 478 53 701 3.86 857.1 803 320 707
HOU .260 414 96 396 84 586 4.49 840.0 888 314 611
hou

Astros face stiff test to open second half

Michael Phillips / Special to MLB.com
After a tough first half, the Astros will have a chance to make up ground on the first-place Cubs when they return to action on Friday at Minute Maid Park.
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Astros probable pitcher

Brian Moehler

  • #38 RHP
  • (5-4) 4.28 ERA 44 SO
Astros: Moehler ended his first half on a positive note, allowing four runs over six innings in a win over the Pirates. The right-hander allowed one run over three consecutive starts before yielding five to the Braves on July 4. Moehler faced the Cubs once this year, taking a loss after yielding three runs over five innings. Lifetime vs. the Cubs, Moehler is 1-1 with a 4.18 ERA over seven games (four sarts).
  W-L ERA IP BB SO AVG
Career 69-87 4.72 1281.2 365 702 .293
Season 5-4 4.28 75.2 24 44 .272
July 1-1 6.75 12.0 4 4 .289
Vs. Chi Cubs 0-1 5.40 5.0 2 1 .333

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 .500 2 0 0 .143 7 0 0
Fuld, Sam - - - - - - - -
Hill, Koyie - - - - - - - -
Hoffpauir, Micah - - - - .000 2 0 0
Lee, Derrek .000 3 0 0 .273 11 2 3
Miles, Aaron - - - - - 0 0 0
Ramirez, Aramis .667 3 0 0 .308 13 0 3
Soriano, Alfonso .000 2 0 0 .333 15 0 0
Soto, Geovany .333 3 1 3 .200 10 1 3
Theriot, Ryan .000 3 0 0 .167 6 0 0

Astros hitters vs Ted Lilly

  2008 2003-2007
Hitter AVG AB HR RBI AVG AB HR RBI
Berkman, Lance .000 3 0 0 .063 16 0 1
Blum, Geoff - - - - .250 8 0 1
Bogusevic, Brian - - - - - - - -
Bourgeois, Jason - - - - - - - -
Bourn, Michael .333 3 0 1 .333 3 0 1
Johnson, Chris - - - - - - - -
Keppinger, Jeff .400 5 0 0 .333 15 0 2
Lee, Carlos .500 2 0 1 .222 18 1 2
Manzella, Tommy - - - - - - - -
Matsui, Kazuo .000 2 0 0 .167 6 0 0
Maysonet, Edwin - - - - - - - -
Pence, Hunter .000 2 0 0 .167 12 0 1
Quintero, Humberto - - - - .000 6 0 0
Ramirez, Yordany - - - - - - - -
Sutil, Wladimir - - - - - - - -
Towles, J.R. - - - - .000 2 0 0
Vallejo, Jose - - - - - - - -

Astros' walk-off ousts Cubs in duel (57-39) (45-51)

Astros 2, Cubs 1

Cubs drop nail-biter

Jim Molony / MLB.com
Jim Edmonds put the Cubs on the board with a solo homer in the fifth inning and Ted Lilly gave up just one run on six hits in seven innings, but Bob Howry gave up the game-winner in the ninth on Friday.

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Cubs Wrap >

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Series at a Glance

 

Pence boosts Astros

Krysten Oliphant / MLB.com
Carlos Lee's solo shot in the seventh inning Friday set up Hunter Pence's game-winner in the ninth inning against the Cubs. Brian Moehler gave up just one run in seven innings, allowing four hits in the opener.
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Astros 2, Cubs 1

Chi CubsABRHRBIBBSOLOBAVG
Theriot, SS3010100.320
Fukudome, RF4000003.276
Lee, 1B4000010.303
Ramirez, A, 3B4000000.282
Soto, C4010000.287
Edmonds, CF3111001.233
DeRosa, LF3000011.281
Fontenot, 2B3010010.267
Lilly, P2000011.189
  a-Ward, PH1000000.264
  Cotts, P0000000.000
  Howry, P0000000.000
Totals31141146 

a-Flied out for Lilly in the 8th.

BATTING
2B: Theriot (13, Moehler), Fontenot (13, Moehler).
HR: Edmonds (11, 5th inning off Moehler, 0 on, 0 out).
TB: Theriot 2; Soto; Edmonds 4; Fontenot 2.
RBI: Edmonds (36).
Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Fukudome 2.
Team LOB: 4.

FIELDING
Pickoffs: Lilly (Pence at 1st base).
 
HoustonABRHRBIBBSOLOBAVG
Matsui, 2B4010013.282
Erstad, CF3000101.288
Berkman, 1B4000001.343
Lee, LF4111000.301
Tejada, SS4130000.280
Pence, RF4031011.269
Wigginton, 3B3000013.278
Towles, C2000020.145
  a-Loretta, PH1000002.259
  Ausmus, C0000000.222
Moehler, P2000010.000
  b-Blum, PH0000100.212
  Geary, P0000000.000
Totals312822611 

a-Flied out for Towles in the 7th. b-Walked for Moehler in the 7th.

BATTING
2B: Tejada (22, Howry), Pence (20, Howry).
3B: Matsui (1, Lilly).
HR: Lee (22, 7th inning off Lilly, 0 on, 0 out).
TB: Matsui 3; Lee 4; Tejada 4; Pence 4.
RBI: Lee (77), Pence (47).
Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Erstad; Matsui 2.
Team LOB: 7.

BASERUNNING
CS: Pence (8, 2nd base by Lilly/Soto).
PO: Pence (1st base by Lilly).
 
Chi CubsIPHRERBBSOHRERA
Lilly 7.06112614.49
Cotts 0.20000002.70
Howry (L, 3-3)0.12110004.66
 
HoustonIPHRERBBSOHRERA
Moehler 7.04111314.03
Geary (W, 2-1)2.00000102.23

Howry pitched to 2 batters in the 9th.

WP: Moehler.
Pitches-strikes: Lilly 104-65, Cotts 8-5, Howry 10-7, Moehler 87-59, Geary 22-15.
Groundouts-flyouts: Lilly 5-9, Cotts 1-1, Howry 1-0, Moehler 2-16, Geary 3-2.
Batters faced: Lilly 28, Cotts 2, Howry 3, Moehler 26, Geary 6.
Umpires: HP: Gary Darling. 1B: Paul Emmel. 2B: Bill Miller. 3B: Jerry Meals.
Weather: 73 degrees, roof closed.
Wind: 0 mph, None.
T: 2:27.
Att: 42,368.
July 18, 2008

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