Houston (73-66) at Chi Cubs (85-54)

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hou

Astros' callups eager to perform

Alyson Footer / MLB.com
A total of seven newcomers have joined the Astros in the past two days, five players and two staffers, and all are excited to suit up for Houston and make an impact in September.
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Astros probable pitcher

Randy Wolf

  • LHP
  • (8-11) 4.73 ERA 134 SO
Wolf had another strong outing for the Astros, who are 6-1 when he is on the mound. He gave up one earned run, allowing another on a double-error, in a 3-2 win against the Cardinals in his last outing, and the lefty said he feels the strongest he has ever been. Wolf is 2-6 over 13 career games against Chicago with a 4.98 ERA.
  W-L ERA IP BB SO AVG
Career 86-77 4.31 1435.2 540 1199 .257
Season 8-11 4.73 158.0 64 134 .270
Vs. Chi Cubs 0-1 15.75 4.0 5 2 .421

Series at a Glance

Standings - 09/03/2008 W L PCT GB Home Away
Houston Astros (NL Central) 73 66 .525 12.0 39-29 34-37
Chicago Cubs (NL Central) 85 54 .612 - 51-23 34-31
Stats - 09/03/2008 AVG R HR RBI SB SO ERA IP H BB SO
HOU .264 624 153 600 96 885 4.43 1232.1 1272 439 936
CHC .281 750 161 713 82 1007 3.77 1254.1 1149 457 1094
chc

Wuertz makes most of demotion

Carrie Muskat / MLB.com
September callup Michael Wuertz can't wait for Cubs manager Lou Piniella to call upon him again. He's pitched a scoreless inning in each of the first two games of Chicago's series against the Astros, and vows not to return to the Minors again.
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Cubs probable pitcher

Ryan Dempster

  • #46 RHP
  • (15-5) 2.95 ERA 160 SO
Dempster was given an extra day between starts. He'll be vying for a career-high 16th win. He did not get a decision in his last start against the Phillies, giving up four runs on eight hits over six innings and striking out seven.
  W-L ERA IP BB SO AVG
Career 74-80 4.59 1395.0 700 1167 .261
Season 15-5 2.95 176.2 69 160 .218
Vs. Houston 1-2 2.84 19.0 4 19 .233

Astros hitters vs Ryan Dempster

  2008 2003-2007
Hitter AVG AB HR RBI AVG AB HR RBI
Berkman, Lance .222 9 0 0 .138 29 0 0
Blum, Geoff .400 5 0 0 .294 17 0 0
Bogusevic, Brian - - - - - - - -
Bourgeois, Jason - - - - - - - -
Bourn, Michael .000 3 0 0 .333 6 0 0
Johnson, Chris - - - - - - - -
Keppinger, Jeff .444 9 0 2 .417 12 0 2
Lee, Carlos .500 8 0 1 .412 17 1 3
Manzella, Tommy - - - - - - - -
Matsui, Kazuo .100 10 0 0 .091 11 0 0
Maysonet, Edwin - - - - - - - -
Pence, Hunter .500 8 1 4 .429 14 1 4
Quintero, Humberto .000 1 0 1 .250 4 0 2
Ramirez, Yordany - - - - - - - -
Sutil, Wladimir - - - - - - - -
Towles, J.R. .000 5 0 0 .000 5 0 0
Vallejo, Jose - - - - - - - -

Cubs hitters vs Randy Wolf

  2008 2003-2007
Hitter AVG AB HR RBI AVG AB HR RBI
Adduci, James - - - - - - - -
Baker, Jeff .000 2 0 0 .000 2 0 0
Blanco, Andres - - - - - - - -
Bradley, Milton - - - - .000 3 0 0
Castillo, Welington - - - - - - - -
Colvin, Tyler - - - - - - - -
Fontenot, Mike - - - - - - - -
Fox, Jake - - - - - - - -
Fukudome, Kosuke .000 1 0 0 .000 1 0 0
Fuld, Sam - - - - - - - -
Hill, Koyie - - - - - - - -
Hoffpauir, Micah - - - - - - - -
Lee, Derrek .667 3 0 1 .300 20 0 3
Miles, Aaron - - - - .333 3 0 1
Ramirez, Aramis .333 3 0 1 .200 15 1 3
Soriano, Alfonso .333 3 1 2 .250 16 2 3
Soto, Geovany .500 2 0 2 .375 8 0 3
Theriot, Ryan 1.000 2 0 0 .182 11 0 0

Eight alive: Wolf devours Cubs (74-66) (85-55)

Astros 4, Cubs 0

Break out brooms

Alyson Footer / MLB.com
Randy Wolf pitched his first complete game in four years, striking out eight on 128 pitches, as the Astros won their eighth in a row and swept the Cubs out of Wrigley. Ty Wigginton homered.

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Series at a Glance

 

Dumped

Nick Zaccardi / MLB.com
Ryan Dempster allowed three runs in seven innings, but the Cubs scattered just six hits off Randy Wolf and were shut out for the second time in three days for their season-high fifth straight loss.
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Astros 4, Cubs 0

HoustonABRHRBIBBSOLOBAVG
Bourn, CF4130100.226
Wigginton, LF5112014.295
Tejada, SS4010002.283
Berkman, 1B3000100.332
Blum, 3B4000032.235
Pence, RF4120020.272
Newhan, 2B3110111.263
Quintero, H, C4011011.239
Wolf, P4010013.137
Totals3541033913 

BATTING
2B: Pence (30, Dempster).
HR: Wigginton (22, 5th inning off Dempster, 1 on, 2 out).
TB: Bourn 3; Wigginton 4; Tejada; Pence 3; Newhan; Quintero, H; Wolf.
RBI: Quintero, H (10), Wigginton 2 (54).
2-out RBI: Quintero, H; Wigginton 2.
Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Wolf; Blum; Wigginton.
GIDP: Wigginton; Tejada.
Team LOB: 7.

BASERUNNING
SB: Newhan (1, home off Samardzija/Soto).

FIELDING
Outfield assists: Wigginton (Cedeno at home).
DP: (Tejada-Berkman).
 
Chi CubsABRHRBIBBSOLOBAVG
Soriano, LF4010001.286
Theriot, SS4000012.311
Lee, 1B3010120.292
Ramirez, A, 3B4000012.276
Soto, C4010012.294
DeRosa, RF4010012.291
Johnson, R, CF3000023.304
Cedeno, 2B2020100.280
Dempster, P0000000.151
  a-McGehee, C, PH1000001.000
  Cotts, P0000000.000
  Samardzija, P0000000.000
Totals290602813 

a-Grounded into a double play for Dempster in the 7th.

BATTING
TB: Soriano; Lee; Soto; DeRosa; Cedeno 2.
Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Theriot; Johnson, R.
S: Dempster 2.
GIDP: McGehee, C.
Team LOB: 6.

FIELDING
E: Theriot (14, throw).
DP: 2 (Theriot-Lee 2).
 
HoustonIPHRERBBSOHRERA
Wolf (W, 9-11)9.06002804.47
 
Chi CubsIPHRERBBSOHRERA
Dempster (L, 15-6)7.08333712.99
Cotts 1.01110204.11
Samardzija 1.01000001.23

Cotts pitched to 1 batter in the 9th.

Pitches-strikes: Wolf 128-94, Dempster 110-74, Cotts 19-13, Samardzija 12-8.
Groundouts-flyouts: Wolf 8-10, Dempster 10-4, Cotts 0-1, Samardzija 0-3.
Batters faced: Wolf 33, Dempster 30, Cotts 4, Samardzija 4.
Inherited runners-scored: Samardzija 1-1.
Umpires: HP: Jim Reynolds. 1B: Tim Timmons. 2B: Gary Cederstrom. 3B: Fieldin Culbreth.
Weather: 66 degrees, overcast.
Wind: 12 mph, In from CF.
T: 2:32.
Att: 40,163.
September 3, 2008

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