Chi Cubs (62-44) at Milwaukee (60-46)

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Big Z takes on Sheets in duel of aces

Carrie Muskat / MLB.com
Carlos Zambrano considers Ben Sheets a friend, but when the aces cross the line for their respective squads Tuesday, Big Z will be all business.
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Cubs probable pitcher

Carlos Zambrano

  • #38 RHP
  • (11-4) 2.96 ERA 87 SO
Cubs: Zambrano held the Marlins at bay last time out, striking out six and, more importantly, walking none in seven innings of two-run ball. The Cubs ace had walked six in his previous start. He has a 0.69 ERA in two outings against the Brewers this season, both no-decisions. You know Zambrano will be amped up for this start, facing an NL Central contender on the road.
  W-L ERA IP BB SO AVG
Career 93-59 3.36 1327.0 592 1129 .227
Season 11-4 2.96 133.2 44 87 .243
July 3-1 2.30 27.1 8 19 .175
Vs. Milwaukee 0-0 0.69 13.0 3 8 .213

Series at a Glance

Standings - 07/29/2008 W L PCT GB Home Away
Chicago Cubs (NL Central) 62 44 .585 - 39-14 23-30
Milwaukee Brewers (NL Central) 60 46 .566 2.0 32-20 28-26
Stats - 07/29/2008 AVG R HR RBI SB SO ERA IP H BB SO
CHC .278 555 121 525 58 784 3.83 955.1 884 361 809
MIL .256 498 140 480 74 777 4.03 948.0 934 360 718
mil

Pitching prominent in crucial series

Dave Fultz / MLB.com
Not only is this week's series between the Brewers and Cubs a possible postseason preview, it is also a test of two of the best starting rotations in the National League.
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Brewers probable pitcher

Ben Sheets

  • #15 RHP
  • (10-3) 2.87 ERA 115 SO
Brewers: Sheets was happy with his last outing despite the fact he was in line for a loss until Ryan Braun hit a go-ahead homer in the ninth inning. Sheets lasted seven innings and limited the Cardinals to three runs, only two of which were earned, and four hits. He's 1-0 in two starts against the Cubs this season while allowing three earned runs in 11 1/3 innings (2.38 ERA). Cubs hitters are batting just .132 against Sheets in those games (5-for-38).
  W-L ERA IP BB SO AVG
Career 83-77 3.73 1364.2 297 1163 .256
Season 10-3 2.87 135.0 31 115 .239
July 1-1 3.04 23.2 8 24 .286
Vs. Chi Cubs 1-0 2.38 11.1 9 9 .132

Cubs hitters vs Ben Sheets

  2008 2003-2007
Hitter AVG AB HR RBI AVG AB HR RBI
Adduci, James - - - - - - - -
Baker, Jeff .333 3 0 1 .333 3 0 1
Blanco, Andres - - - - .000 1 0 1
Bradley, Milton - - - - .667 3 1 1
Castillo, Welington - - - - - - - -
Colvin, Tyler - - - - - - - -
Fontenot, Mike - - - - .364 11 0 3
Fox, Jake - - - - - - - -
Fukudome, Kosuke .400 5 0 0 .300 10 0 2
Fuld, Sam - - - - - - - -
Hill, Koyie - - - - .200 5 0 2
Hoffpauir, Micah - - - - .000 1 0 0
Lee, Derrek .200 5 1 1 .340 47 6 10
Miles, Aaron .286 7 0 0 .400 20 0 0
Ramirez, Aramis .000 3 0 0 .286 42 2 9
Soriano, Alfonso .000 3 0 0 .267 15 0 1
Soto, Geovany .333 3 0 0 .333 9 0 0
Theriot, Ryan .000 6 0 0 .263 19 0 0

Brewers hitters vs Carlos Zambrano

  2008 2003-2007
Hitter AVG AB HR RBI AVG AB HR RBI
Braun, Ryan .333 6 1 1 .313 16 1 3
Cain, Lorenzo - - - - - - - -
Escobar, Alcides - - - - - - - -
Fielder, Prince .000 5 0 0 .321 28 1 3
Gamel, Mat - - - - - - - -
Gerut, Jody .500 4 1 1 .500 4 1 1
Gomez, Carlos - - - - - - - -
Hart, Corey .200 5 0 0 .294 17 0 1
Heether, Adam - - - - - - - -
Iribarren, Hernan - - - - - - - -
Kottaras, George - - - - - - - -
McGehee, Casey - - - - - - - -
Rivera, Mike - - - - .000 2 0 0
Salome, Angel - - - - - - - -
Weeks, Rickie .167 6 0 0 .241 29 1 3

Head ace: Big Z wins battle (63-44) (60-47)

Cubs 7, Brewers 1

Big Z looks at ease

Carrie Muskat / MLB.com
Carlos Zambrano only needed a fourth inning sac fly from Mark DeRosa, as he struck out nine in eight scoreless innings, but the Cubs started the sixth with seven straight hits to give their ace a well-deserved cushion to work with.

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Series at a Glance

 

Sheets socked in sixth

Adam McCalvy / MLB.com
Ben Sheets had dominating stuff early, but unfortunately for the Brewers' ace, his counterpart was just as stingy. Carlos Zambrano held the Brewers without a run and Sheets was chased in the sixth inning after allowing six runs to the rival Cubs.
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Cubs 7, Brewers 1

Chi CubsABRHRBIBBSOLOBAVG
Soriano, LF4011021.284
Theriot, SS5120014.317
Lee, 1B5110015.298
Ramirez, A, 3B5241001.277
Fukudome, CF5122002.280
DeRosa, RF4112013.273
Fontenot, 2B4110113.283
Soto, C4020021.275
Zambrano, C, P4011011.349
  Samardzija, P0000000.000
Totals4071571921 

BATTING
2B: Ramirez, A 3 (27, Sheets, Sheets, Villanueva), Fukudome (20, Shouse).
3B: Fukudome (3, Sheets), Theriot (2, Mota).
TB: Soriano; Theriot 4; Lee; Ramirez, A 7; Fukudome 5; DeRosa; Fontenot; Soto 2; Zambrano, C.
RBI: DeRosa 2 (54), Fukudome 2 (38), Zambrano, C (9), Soriano (46), Ramirez, A (72).
Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Ramirez, A; Lee 2; Fontenot 3.
SF: DeRosa; Soriano.
Team LOB: 9.

BASERUNNING
SB: Soriano (9, 2nd base off Sheets/Kendall), Theriot (16, 2nd base off Sheets/Kendall).

FIELDING
DP: (Ramirez, A-Fontenot-Lee).
 
MilwaukeeABRHRBIBBSOLOBAVG
Durham, 2B3010011.290
  Counsell, 2B1000000.237
Hardy, SS4000021.294
Braun, LF4010020.303
Fielder, 1B3010111.275
Hart, C, RF4010012.285
Branyan, 3B3100113.250
Cameron, CF3021112.230
Kendall, C4000005.248
Sheets, P2000001.087
  Villanueva, P0000000.125
  a-Weeks, PH1000011.223
  Mota, P0000000.000
  Shouse, P0000000.000
Totals3216131017 

a-Struck out for Villanueva in the 7th.

BATTING
2B: Cameron (17, Samardzija).
TB: Durham; Braun; Fielder; Hart, C; Cameron 3.
RBI: Cameron (41).
2-out RBI: Cameron.
Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Kendall 2; Weeks.
GIDP: Hardy.
Team LOB: 7.

FIELDING
E: Kendall (5, throw).
 
Chi CubsIPHRERBBSOHRERA
Zambrano, C (W, 12-4)8.05002902.80
Samardzija 1.01111103.60
 
MilwaukeeIPHRERBBSOHRERA
Sheets (L, 10-4)5.111661403.14
Villanueva 1.21000104.65
Mota 1.12110205.40
Shouse 0.21000202.23

WP: Sheets.
Pitches-strikes: Zambrano, C 118-76, Samardzija 17-9, Sheets 100-65, Villanueva 14-9, Mota 25-16, Shouse 17-11.
Groundouts-flyouts: Zambrano, C 7-8, Samardzija 1-1, Sheets 3-9, Villanueva 3-1, Mota 2-0, Shouse 0-0.
Batters faced: Zambrano, C 30, Samardzija 5, Sheets 28, Villanueva 6, Mota 6, Shouse 3.
Inherited runners-scored: Villanueva 2-0, Shouse 1-0.
Umpires: HP: Dana DeMuth. 1B: Lance Barksdale. 2B: Doug Eddings. 3B: Ted Barrett.
Weather: 83 degrees, cloudy.
Wind: 9 mph, In from CF.
T: 2:35.
Att: 45,069.
July 29, 2008

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