Chi Cubs (57-39) at Houston (45-51)

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chc

No limitations for Zambrano vs. Astros

Jim Molony / MLB.com
All-Star right-hander Carlos Zambrano will make his third start since coming off the DL, and he will no longer have to follow pitch count limitations in his next start.
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Cubs probable pitcher

Carlos Zambrano

  • #38 RHP
  • (10-3) 2.84 ERA 78 SO
Cubs: The All-Star right-hander will try to pick up where he left off in the second half. Zambrano held the Reds to one hit over eight innings in his last start prior to the break. Big Z was limited to 100-105 pitches in that game because it was his second start after being on the disabled list with a strained right shoulder. In his two starts since coming off the DL, he's given up one run on five hits over 14 innings. This was the second straight first half in which Zambrano won 10 games. Let's see if he can match that in the second half.
  W-L ERA IP BB SO AVG
Career 92-58 3.36 1313.2 586 1120 .227
Season 10-3 2.84 120.1 38 78 .243
July 2-0 0.64 14.0 2 10 .106
Vs. Houston 1-0 2.57 7.0 0 7 .269

Series at a Glance

Standings - 07/19/2008 W L PCT GB Home Away
Chicago Cubs (NL Central) 57 39 .594 - 37-12 20-27
Houston Astros (NL Central) 45 51 .469 12.0 23-21 22-30
Stats - 07/19/2008 AVG R HR RBI SB SO ERA IP H BB SO
CHC .280 508 108 479 53 705 3.85 865.1 811 322 713
HOU .260 416 97 398 84 592 4.45 849.0 892 315 615
hou

Erstad sees more action against Cubs

Krysten Oliphant / MLB.com
Darin Erstad will be patrolling center field more often in place of Michael Bourn, beginning against the Cubs in the second-half's opening series.
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Astros probable pitcher

Wandy Rodriguez

  • #51 LHP
  • (4-3) 3.48 ERA 65 SO
Astros: Rodriguez has a 3-4 record and a 4.50 ERA over eight career games vs. the Cubs. He allowed eight hits over 5 1/3 innings against the Nationals on July 12, getting a win despite four earned runs.
  W-L ERA IP BB SO AVG
Career 32-36 4.93 522.0 201 401 .268
Season 4-3 3.48 75.0 23 65 .249
July 1-0 6.89 15.2 7 14 .328

Cubs hitters vs Wandy Rodriguez

  2008 2003-2007
Hitter AVG AB HR RBI AVG AB HR RBI
Adduci, James - - - - - - - -
Baker, Jeff - - - - - - - -
Blanco, Andres - - - - .167 6 0 0
Bradley, Milton .333 3 0 0 .167 6 0 0
Castillo, Welington - - - - - - - -
Colvin, Tyler - - - - - - - -
Fontenot, Mike - - - - .000 3 0 0
Fox, Jake - - - - - - - -
Fukudome, Kosuke - - - - .167 6 0 0
Fuld, Sam - - - - - - - -
Hill, Koyie - - - - .500 2 0 0
Hoffpauir, Micah - - - - - - - -
Lee, Derrek - - - - .500 22 2 7
Miles, Aaron .000 5 0 0 .125 8 0 0
Ramirez, Aramis - - - - .217 23 0 1
Soriano, Alfonso - - - - .111 9 0 1
Soto, Geovany - - - - .167 6 0 1
Theriot, Ryan - - - - .500 16 1 1

Astros hitters vs Carlos Zambrano

  2008 2003-2007
Hitter AVG AB HR RBI AVG AB HR RBI
Berkman, Lance - - - - .145 55 3 4
Blum, Geoff .000 3 0 0 .143 21 0 1
Bogusevic, Brian - - - - - - - -
Bourgeois, Jason - - - - - - - -
Bourn, Michael .333 3 0 0 .143 7 0 0
Johnson, Chris - - - - - - - -
Keppinger, Jeff .100 10 0 1 .200 25 0 2
Lee, Carlos .333 3 0 0 .356 45 3 10
Manzella, Tommy - - - - - - - -
Matsui, Kazuo - - - - .125 8 0 0
Maysonet, Edwin - - - - - - - -
Pence, Hunter .333 3 0 0 .250 16 0 1
Quintero, Humberto - - - - .200 5 0 0
Ramirez, Yordany - - - - - - - -
Sutil, Wladimir - - - - - - - -
Towles, J.R. .000 3 0 0 .000 3 0 0
Vallejo, Jose - - - - - - - -

Astros take second straight from Cubs (57-40) (46-51)

Astros 4, Cubs 1

Zambrano's Cubs fall

Jim Molony / MLB.com
Starting pitcher Carlos Zambrano helped his own cause with a solo shot to right field in the seventh inning, but it wasn't enough after he gave up four runs on six hits in 6 1/3 innings. The loss was Chicago's second straight in Houston.

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Series at a Glance

 
Wandy Rodriguez limited the Cubs to one run in 6 2/3 innings. (Dave Einsel/AP)

Wandy dazzles Cubs

Krysten Oliphant / MLB.com
Carlos Lee and Miguel Tejada hit back-to-back RBI singles in the third inning of Saturday's win over the Cubs, the Astros' second straight over the division leaders. Wandy Rodriguez gave up one earned run on nine hits in 6 2/3 innings.
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Astros 4, Cubs 1

Chi CubsABRHRBIBBSOLOBAVG
Theriot, SS4030000.325
Johnson, R, CF3010012.269
  a-Ward, PH-LF1000011.259
Lee, 1B4010012.303
Ramirez, A, 3B4000013.278
Soto, C4000012.284
DeRosa, LF-RF4010010.280
Fukudome, RF-CF4010021.275
Cedeno, 2B3010001.271
  b-Fontenot, PH1000000.265
Zambrano, C, P3111022.351
  Gaudin, P0000000.000
Totals3519101014 

a-Struck out for Johnson, R in the 7th. b-Lined out for Cedeno in the 9th.

BATTING
2B: Theriot (14, Rodriguez, W).
HR: Zambrano, C (2, 7th inning off Rodriguez, W, 0 on, 2 out).
TB: Theriot 4; Johnson, R; Lee; DeRosa; Fukudome; Cedeno; Zambrano, C 4.
RBI: Zambrano, C (7).
2-out RBI: Zambrano, C.
Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Zambrano, C; Soto.
GIDP: Cedeno.
Team LOB: 7.
 
HoustonABRHRBIBBSOLOBAVG
Matsui, 2B1000301.281
Erstad, CF-LF4001025.280
Berkman, 1B3110101.343
Lee, LF3111102.301
  Valverde, P0000000.000
Tejada, SS4021002.282
Pence, RF4001003.266
Wigginton, 3B4000011.273
Ausmus, C3000121.218
Rodriguez, W, P1110000.115
  Sampson, P0000000.150
  a-Newhan, PH1110000.292
  Brocail, P0000000.000
  Bourn, CF0000000.218
Totals284646516 

a-Tripled for Sampson in the 7th.

BATTING
3B: Newhan (1, Zambrano, C).
TB: Berkman; Lee; Tejada 2; Rodriguez, W; Newhan 3.
RBI: Pence (48), Lee (78), Tejada (45), Erstad (16).
2-out RBI: Lee; Tejada.
Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Ausmus; Pence; Erstad; Tejada.
S: Rodriguez, W.
Team LOB: 7.

BASERUNNING
CS: Matsui (4, 2nd base by Zambrano, C/Soto).

FIELDING
DP: (Wigginton-Matsui-Berkman).
 
Chi CubsIPHRERBBSOHRERA
Zambrano, C (L, 10-4)6.16446302.98
Gaudin 1.20000203.39
 
HoustonIPHRERBBSOHRERA
Rodriguez, W (W, 5-3)6.29110713.31
Sampson (H, 6)0.10000104.48
Brocail (H, 17)1.00000003.77
Valverde (S, 25)1.00000203.72

Pitches-strikes: Zambrano, C 109-64, Gaudin 23-16, Rodriguez, W 104-71, Sampson 4-3, Brocail 13-10, Valverde 16-12.
Groundouts-flyouts: Zambrano, C 11-4, Gaudin 1-2, Rodriguez, W 6-7, Sampson 0-0, Brocail 2-1, Valverde 0-1.
Batters faced: Zambrano, C 30, Gaudin 5, Rodriguez, W 28, Sampson 1, Brocail 3, Valverde 3.
Inherited runners-scored: Gaudin 2-0, Sampson 1-0.
Umpires: HP: Paul Emmel. 1B: Bill Miller. 2B: Jerry Meals. 3B: Gary Darling.
Weather: 73 degrees, roof closed.
Wind: 0 mph, None.
T: 2:24.
Att: 43,129.
July 19, 2008

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