Florida (53-49) at Chi Cubs (60-42)

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fla

Johnson warming up to Wrigley

Joe Frisaro / MLB.com
The Marlins' 24-year-old right-hander will make his first career start at Wrigley on Friday afternoon against the Cubs. It won't be his first appearance, however, at the storied park.
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Marlins probable pitcher

Josh Johnson

  • #55 RHP
  • (0-0) 3.86 ERA 10 SO
Marlins: So far, so good on Johnson's return from Tommy John elbow reconstruction surgery. In his first two starts since rebounding from the ligament replacement surgery to his right elbow, Johnson has made steady progress, although he has yet to receive a decision. In his last start, Johnson gave up two runs in 6 2/3 innings against the Phillies. He logged 92 pitches and struck out four, walking three. With his velocity in the 93-mph range, Johnson had his sinker working, as he induced 11 ground-ball outs.
  W-L ERA IP BB SO AVG
Career 12-10 3.52 196.2 93 167 .254
Season 0-0 3.86 11.2 3 10 .289
July 0-0 3.86 11.2 3 10 .289

Series at a Glance

Standings - 07/25/2008 W L PCT GB Home Away
Florida Marlins (NL East) 53 49 .520 2.0 29-23 24-26
Chicago Cubs (NL Central) 60 42 .588 - 38-12 22-30
Stats - 07/25/2008 AVG R HR RBI SB SO ERA IP H BB SO
FLA .253 487 143 470 49 857 4.64 912.1 915 402 687
CHC .278 536 115 507 55 750 3.84 916.1 853 345 759
chc

Dempster makes first start vs. old team

Nick Zaccardi / MLB.com
All-Star Ryan Dempster makes his first career start against the club he began his big league career with, the Marlins, on Friday.
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Cubs probable pitcher

Ryan Dempster

  • #46 RHP
  • (11-4) 3.05 ERA 111 SO
Cubs: In his last start, Dempster turned in one of his better outings of the season, while earning his first road victory since June 2, 2006, against the Cardinals. The right-hander pitched eight scoreless innings against Houston, limiting the Astros to six singles and a walk, while striking out seven. Dempster hasn't faced the Marlins this season and is 1-1 with three saves and a 3.00 ERA in 10 career appearances against his former team.
  W-L ERA IP BB SO AVG
Career 70-79 4.65 1351.0 682 1118 .262
Season 11-4 3.05 132.2 51 111 .211
July 2-1 2.28 27.2 10 25 .202

Marlins hitters vs Ryan Dempster

  2008 2003-2007
Hitter AVG AB HR RBI AVG AB HR RBI
Amezaga, Alfredo - - - - .000 1 0 0
Baker, John - - - - .000 2 0 1
Bonifacio, Emilio - - - - .000 4 0 0
Cantu, Jorge - - - - .200 5 0 0
Carroll, Brett - - - - - 0 0 0
Coghlan, Chris - - - - - - - -
Cousins, Scott - - - - - - - -
Hayes, Brett - - - - - - - -
Helms, Wes - - - - .556 9 0 3
Maybin, Cameron - - - - - - - -
Miller, Jai - - - - - - - -
Paulino, Ronny - - - - .200 5 0 0
Ramirez, Hanley - - - - .250 8 0 0
Ross, Cody - - - - .333 6 0 1
Sanchez, Gaby - - - - - - - -
Uggla, Dan - - - - .000 6 0 0

Cubs hitters vs Josh Johnson

  2008 2003-2007
Hitter AVG AB HR RBI AVG AB HR RBI
Adduci, James - - - - - - - -
Baker, Jeff - - - - - - - -
Blanco, Andres - - - - - - - -
Bradley, Milton - - - - - - - -
Castillo, Welington - - - - - - - -
Colvin, Tyler .000 4 0 0 .000 4 0 0
Fontenot, Mike - - - - .400 5 0 0
Fox, Jake .667 3 0 0 .500 6 0 1
Fukudome, Kosuke - - - - .000 2 0 0
Fuld, Sam - - - - .333 3 0 0
Hill, Koyie - - - - - - - -
Hoffpauir, Micah - - - - .000 3 0 0
Lee, Derrek - - - - .167 6 0 0
Miles, Aaron - - - - .333 3 0 0
Ramirez, Aramis - - - - .000 4 0 1
Soriano, Alfonso - - - - .154 13 0 0
Soto, Geovany - - - - .400 5 1 1
Theriot, Ryan - - - - .308 13 0 1

Marlins making comebacks a habit (54-49) (60-43)

Marlins 3, Cubs 2

Hermida delivers

Joe Frisaro / MLB.com
Jeremy Hermida didn't start Friday, but he made a big impact, drilling a pinch-hit homer in the ninth to put the Marlins ahead to stay. The victory gave Florida its 29th come-from-behind win of the season.

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Series at a Glance

 
Geovany Soto rounds the bases after homering in the second inning. (Nam Y. Huh/AP)

Bullpen falters

Nick Zaccardi / MLB.com
Bullpen problems caught up with the Cubs on Friday, as Jeff Samardzija suffered a blown save in his Major League debut and co-closer du jour Bob Howry gave up a decisive home run in the ninth innning.
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Marlins 3, Cubs 2

FloridaABRHRBIBBSOLOBAVG
Ramirez, H, SS5120000.300
Gonzalez, RF2010201.262
  Waechter, P0000000.167
  Pinto, P0000000.000
  Miller, Ju, P0000000.000
  c-Baker, PH-C1000001.176
Cantu, 3B-1B4011113.294
Jacobs, 1B3000113.241
  Gregg, P0000000.000
Uggla, 2B3100013.267
Willingham, LF3011100.267
Ross, CF-RF-CF3000111.257
Hoover, C3000032.205
  b-Hermida, PH-RF1111000.255
Johnson, P2000001.143
  Nelson, P0000000.000
  a-Amezaga, PH-CF-3B2000010.277
Totals323636815 

a-Struck out for Nelson in the 7th. b-Homered for Hoover in the 9th. c-Lined out for Miller, Ju in the 9th.

BATTING
2B: Gonzalez (17, Dempster), Willingham (10, Dempster), Cantu (25, Samardzija), Ramirez, H (22, Howry).
HR: Hermida (13, 9th inning off Howry, 0 on, 0 out).
TB: Ramirez, H 3; Gonzalez 2; Cantu 2; Willingham 2; Hermida 4.
RBI: Willingham (26), Cantu (59), Hermida (45).
2-out RBI: Cantu.
Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Jacobs 2; Johnson; Uggla 2; Cantu.
Team LOB: 9.

BASERUNNING
SB: Ramirez, H (24, 2nd base off Samardzija/Soto).
CS: Willingham (1, 2nd base by Dempster/Soto).

FIELDING
PB: Hoover (2).
Outfield assists: Willingham (Soriano at home).
 
Chi CubsABRHRBIBBSOLOBAVG
Soriano, LF5010012.280
Theriot, SS4020110.323
Lee, 1B5010011.296
Ramirez, A, 3B4000120.267
Fukudome, RF3000122.275
Soto, C3111110.274
Fontenot, 2B3010012.277
  b-Cedeno, PH-2B1010000.271
Johnson, R, CF3121111.285
Dempster, P2000002.146
  a-Ward, PH1000013.254
  Samardzija, P0000000.000
  c-Edmonds, PH1010000.241
  1-Marquis, PR0000000.162
  Howry, P0000000.000
Totals35210251113 

a-Struck out for Dempster in the 6th. b-Singled for Fontenot in the 8th. c-Doubled for Samardzija in the 8th.
1-Ran for Edmonds in the 8th.

BATTING
2B: Edmonds (12, Miller, Ju).
HR: Soto (17, 2nd inning off Johnson, 0 on, 2 out), Johnson, R (5, 5th inning off Johnson, 0 on, 1 out).
TB: Soriano; Theriot 2; Lee; Soto 4; Fontenot; Cedeno; Johnson, R 5; Edmonds 2.
RBI: Soto (58), Johnson, R (37).
2-out RBI: Soto.
Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Dempster; Ward 2; Fukudome 2; Soriano 2.
Team LOB: 11.

BASERUNNING
CS: Theriot (10, 2nd base by Johnson/Hoover).
 
FloridaIPHRERBBSOHRERA
Johnson 5.17223823.71
Nelson 0.20001101.35
Waechter 0.21001003.25
Pinto 0.21000102.72
Miller, Ju (W, 3-2)0.21000104.50
Gregg (S, 21)1.00000002.44
 
Chi CubsIPHRERBBSOHRERA
Dempster 6.02116602.99
Samardzija (BS, 1)2.02110204.50
Howry (L, 3-4)1.02110015.22

HBP: Uggla (by Dempster).
Pitches-strikes: Johnson 90-55, Nelson 15-10, Waechter 14-8, Pinto 14-8, Miller, Ju 9-8, Gregg 9-7, Dempster 110-68, Samardzija 31-23, Howry 26-18.
Groundouts-flyouts: Johnson 3-3, Nelson 1-0, Waechter 2-0, Pinto 0-1, Miller, Ju 0-1, Gregg 2-1, Dempster 7-4, Samardzija 1-3, Howry 0-3.
Batters faced: Johnson 24, Nelson 3, Waechter 4, Pinto 3, Miller, Ju 3, Gregg 3, Dempster 26, Samardzija 8, Howry 5.
Inherited runners-scored: Nelson 2-0, Pinto 2-0, Miller, Ju 1-0.
Umpires: HP: Brian Gorman. 1B: Gerry Davis. 2B: Rob Drake. 3B: Bruce Dreckman.
Weather: 80 degrees, partly cloudy.
Wind: 6 mph, Out to CF.
T: 3:11.
Att: 41,570.
July 25, 2008

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