Chi Cubs (82-50) at Pittsburgh (57-75)

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chc

Edmonds stays mum on Cubs' chance

Todd Krise / MLB.com
Jim Edmonds won it all with the Cards in 2006, and knows that for the Cubs to have success in October, they must keep up their hot pace throughout the rest of the regular season and into the playoffs.
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Cubs probable pitcher

Jason Marquis

  • #21 RHP
  • (8-7) 4.76 ERA 71 SO
Cubs: Marquis was cruising in his last start, against the Nationals, throwing five scoreless innings before he got into a mess, giving up an infield single and walking the next two batters. The Cubs eventually lost, 13-5, although he did not factor in the decision. Marquis was working on eight days' rest and would prefer to pitch on a regular routine, like the other starters. This will be a chance for the right-hander to show that's the best scenario.
  W-L ERA IP BB SO AVG
Career 76-68 4.58 1236.1 480 732 .268
Season 8-7 4.76 134.1 52 71 .271
August 2-1 5.09 23.0 8 9 .267
Vs. Pittsburgh 2-1 3.47 23.1 6 14 .281

Series at a Glance

Standings - 08/27/2008 W L PCT GB Home Away
Chicago Cubs (NL Central) 82 50 .621 - 49-19 33-31
Pittsburgh Pirates (NL Central) 57 75 .432 25.0 34-33 23-42
Stats - 08/27/2008 AVG R HR RBI SB SO ERA IP H BB SO
CHC .282 727 154 690 79 955 3.78 1189.1 1088 433 1036
PIT .261 611 131 586 36 835 5.21 1187.2 1346 539 781
pit

Everyday starter Moss has perked up

Jenifer Langosch / MLB.com
There was little doubt that the Pirates' outfield production would dip in August, but Brandon Moss has been adjusting to playing every day in his fourth week in Pittsburgh. The outfielder has hit .317 with three homers in his last 11 games.
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Pirates probable pitcher

Zach Duke

  • #57 LHP
  • (4-12) 5.29 ERA 72 SO
Pirates: Duke's winless drought continued in Friday's loss at Milwaukee. It's now at eight straight losses dating to June 9. He tinkered with his throwing motion last week, and despite giving up four runs in six innings to the Brewers, was pleased with his delivery. The left-hander has struggled against the Cubs this season, going 0-2 with a 5.91 ERA in four starts, but then again, he's struggled against just about everybody. Duke has had moderate success against Chicago in 12 career starts with a 4-4 record and a 3.16 ERA.
  W-L ERA IP BB SO AVG
Career 25-37 4.49 558.2 158 288 .309
Season 4-12 5.29 151.1 42 72 .309
August 0-3 5.40 25.0 4 15 .270
Vs. Chi Cubs 0-2 5.91 21.1 4 11 .362

Cubs hitters vs Zach Duke

  2008 2003-2007
Hitter AVG AB HR RBI AVG AB HR RBI
Adduci, James - - - - - - - -
Baker, Jeff .333 6 1 2 .333 6 1 2
Blanco, Andres - - - - - - - -
Bradley, Milton - - - - .500 4 0 0
Castillo, Welington - - - - - - - -
Colvin, Tyler - - - - - - - -
Fontenot, Mike - - - - - - - -
Fox, Jake - - - - - - - -
Fukudome, Kosuke .167 6 0 0 .167 6 0 0
Fuld, Sam - - - - - - - -
Hill, Koyie - - - - - - - -
Hoffpauir, Micah - - - - - - - -
Lee, Derrek .167 12 0 2 .286 35 1 3
Miles, Aaron - - - - .385 13 0 1
Ramirez, Aramis .364 11 0 1 .314 35 1 4
Soriano, Alfonso .700 10 1 2 .560 25 2 3
Soto, Geovany .222 9 0 0 .250 12 0 0
Theriot, Ryan .556 9 0 2 .320 25 0 2

Pirates hitters vs Jason Marquis

  2008 2003-2007
Hitter AVG AB HR RBI AVG AB HR RBI
Alvarez, Pedro - - - - - - - -
Bixler, Brian .250 4 0 0 .250 4 0 0
Cedeno, Ronny - - - - .500 8 0 1
Clement, Jeff - - - - - - - -
Cruz, Luis - - - - - - - -
Diaz, Argenis - - - - - - - -
Doumit, Ryan .200 5 0 0 .294 17 1 2
Hernandez, Gorkys - - - - - - - -
Iwamura, Akinori - - - - - - - -
Jaramillo, Jason - - - - - - - -
Jones, Garrett - - - - - - - -
LaRoche, Andy .333 3 0 0 .111 9 0 0
McCutchen, Andrew - - - - - - - -
Milledge, Lastings .500 2 0 1 .750 4 0 1
Moss, Brandon .000 2 0 0 .000 5 0 0
Pearce, Steve - - - - - - - -
Tabata, Jose - - - - - - - -
Vazquez, Ramon - - - - .333 3 0 1
Walker, Neil - - - - - - - -
Young, Delwyn .000 1 0 0 .000 1 0 0

Marquis makes quick work of Bucs (83-50) (57-76)

Cubs 2, Pirates 0

Cubs post sweep

Todd Krise / MLB.com
For the first six innings, the Cubs couldn't solve Zach Duke, but in the seventh, they scored twice, which was more than enough for Jason Marquis. The righty gave up just five hits over seven scoreless innings in a two-hour, 17-minute game.

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Series at a Glance

 

Pirates blanked

Jenifer Langosch / MLB.com
Seeking his first win since June 9, lefty Zach Duke gave the Pirates eight strong innings of two-run ball in the series finale, but took the loss as the Bucs were held to five hits -- two by Raul Chavez -- by Jason Marquis and the Cubs' bullpen.
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Cubs 2, Pirates 0

Chi CubsABRHRBIBBSOLOBAVG
Soriano, LF4020012.294
Theriot, SS4010011.314
Lee, 1B3000102.291
Ramirez, A, 3B3000102.284
Johnson, R, CF4110003.313
DeRosa, RF-2B4120000.291
Cedeno, 2B3001012.272
  a-Fukudome, PH-RF1000000.266
Blanco, H, C3001021.278
Marquis, P3010020.196
  Marmol, P0000000.000
  Wood, P0000000.000
Totals322722713 

a-Grounded out for Cedeno in the 9th.

BATTING
2B: Soriano (23, Duke), Theriot (18, Duke), DeRosa (26, Duke).
TB: Soriano 3; Theriot 2; Johnson, R; DeRosa 3; Marquis.
RBI: Cedeno (25), Blanco, H (10).
Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Ramirez, A; Soriano; Johnson, R.
S: Blanco, H.
Team LOB: 6.

BASERUNNING
CS: Soriano (2, 2nd base by Duke/Chavez, R).
PO: Soriano (1st base by Duke).

FIELDING
E: Soriano (5, fielding).
 
PittsburghABRHRBIBBSOLOBAVG
Morgan, RF4010022.250
Wilson, Ja, SS4010014.277
McLouth, CF4000014.272
LaRoche, Ad, 1B4000011.265
Moss, LF4000010.264
Sanchez, F, 2B4010000.256
LaRoche, An, 3B3000011.159
Chavez, R, C3020000.266
Duke, P1000001.146
  a-Mientkiewicz, PH0000100.282
  Chavez, J, P0000000.000
Totals310501713 

a-Walked for Duke in the 8th.

BATTING
3B: Sanchez, F (2, Marquis).
TB: Morgan; Wilson, Ja; Sanchez, F 3; Chavez, R 2.
Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: LaRoche, Ad; McLouth; LaRoche, An; Wilson, Ja.
S: Duke.
Team LOB: 6.

FIELDING
Pickoffs: Duke (Soriano at 1st base).
 
Chi CubsIPHRERBBSOHRERA
Marquis (W, 9-7)7.05000304.52
Marmol (H, 25)1.00001202.71
Wood (S, 27)1.00000202.63
 
PittsburghIPHRERBBSOHRERA
Duke (L, 4-13)8.07222605.14
Chavez, J 1.00000100.00

WP: Duke.
Pitches-strikes: Marquis 95-61, Marmol 16-11, Wood 10-7, Duke 117-76, Chavez, J 11-6.
Groundouts-flyouts: Marquis 11-7, Marmol 0-1, Wood 1-0, Duke 12-5, Chavez, J 1-1.
Batters faced: Marquis 26, Marmol 4, Wood 3, Duke 32, Chavez, J 3.
Umpires: HP: Tim Tschida. 1B: Jim Joyce. 2B: Jeff Nelson. 3B: Adrian Johnson.
Weather: 72 degrees, cloudy.
Wind: 12 mph, L to R.
T: 2:17.
Att: 15,260.
August 27, 2008

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