Chi Cubs (1-1) at Houston (1-1)

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chc

'Biggest game of the year' for Lilly

Carrie Muskat / MLB.com
Ted Lilly will make his first start of the 2009 season on Wednesday in the series finale against the Houston Astros.
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Cubs probable pitcher

Ted Lilly

  • #30 LHP
  • (0-0) -.-- ERA 0 SO
Lilly set career highs in wins and strikeouts (184) last season, and tied his career high with 34 starts. The lefty pitched for Team USA in the World Baseball Classic, making two starts. This spring, he's worked on getting his changeup going; it was one of the reasons he got off to a slow start last year, going 1-4 with a 6.46 ERA in six April starts. "We'll really find out where I am once the season kicks off," he said. "That counts the most. My goal is to make sure I'm prepared to get off to a good start."
  W-L ERA IP BB SO AVG
Career 91-75 4.40 1347.2 501 1157 .247

Series at a Glance

Standings - 04/08/2009 W L PCT GB Home Away
Chicago Cubs (NL Central) 1 1 .500 - 0-0 1-1
Houston Astros (NL Central) 1 1 .500 - 1-1 0-0
Stats - 04/08/2009 AVG R HR RBI SB SO ERA IP H BB SO
CHC .224 6 3 6 0 13 2.45 18.1 18 10 14
HOU .273 5 1 5 1 14 2.84 19.0 15 5 13
hou

Lineup spot not an issue for Pence

Alyson Footer / MLB.com
If Hunter Pence has an opinion about hitting seventh in the order, he's keeping it to himself. "I'm going to play wherever I can help us win," said Pence.
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Astros probable pitcher

Brian Moehler

  • #38 RHP
  • (0-0) -.-- ERA 0 SO
Moehler was the surprise of the rotation in '08, logging 11 wins after working himself into the rotation once the season started. Moehler originally was a fill-in for the injured Wandy Rodriguez, but he pitched so well that he maintained his starting job even after Rodriguez returned. Moehler ranked second in wins among Astros pitchers and third in games started last year. He recorded a five-game winning streak from July 9-Aug. 19, his longest since he won six straight in 2000. The Astros were 16-10 in his 26 starts last season, and he allowed four runs or fewer in 20 of those.
  W-L ERA IP BB SO AVG
Career 75-91 4.73 1356.0 377 740 .292

Cubs hitters vs Brian Moehler

  2009 2004-2008
Hitter AVG AB HR RBI AVG AB HR RBI
Adduci, James - - - - - - - -
Baker, Jeff - - - - .200 5 0 0
Blanco, Andres - - - - .500 2 0 0
Bradley, Milton - - - - .250 12 1 1
Castillo, Welington - - - - - - - -
Colvin, Tyler - - - - - - - -
Fontenot, Mike - - - - .417 12 1 2
Fox, Jake - - - - - - - -
Fukudome, Kosuke - - - - .294 17 0 2
Fuld, Sam - - - - - - - -
Hill, Koyie - - - - .333 3 0 1
Hoffpauir, Micah - - - - .000 2 0 0
Lee, Derrek - - - - .350 20 3 7
Miles, Aaron - - - - - 0 0 0
Ramirez, Aramis - - - - .389 18 0 6
Soriano, Alfonso - - - - .375 24 0 0
Soto, Geovany - - - - .214 14 1 4
Theriot, Ryan - - - - .214 14 0 2

Astros hitters vs Ted Lilly

  2009 2004-2008
Hitter AVG AB HR RBI AVG AB HR RBI
Berkman, Lance - - - - .115 26 1 2
Blum, Geoff - - - - .222 9 0 1
Bogusevic, Brian - - - - - - - -
Bourgeois, Jason - - - - - - - -
Bourn, Michael - - - - .125 8 0 1
Johnson, Chris - - - - - - - -
Keppinger, Jeff - - - - .280 25 1 3
Lee, Carlos - - - - .240 25 1 2
Manzella, Tommy - - - - - - - -
Matsui, Kazuo - - - - .200 15 1 1
Maysonet, Edwin - - - - .000 2 0 0
Pence, Hunter - - - - .217 23 0 1
Quintero, Humberto - - - - .111 9 0 0
Ramirez, Yordany - - - - - - - -
Sutil, Wladimir - - - - - - - -
Towles, J.R. - - - - .000 2 0 0
Vallejo, Jose - - - - - - - -

Fourgone conclusion (2-1) (1-2)

Cubs 11, Astros 6

Fours wild

Carrie Muskat / MLB.com
The Cubs scored four in each of the first two innings and received four RBIs apiece from Mike Fontenot, who hit a three-run homer, and Aramis Ramirez, who had four hits. Kosuke Fukudome also had four hits, with a homer, to back Ted Lilly, who yielded four long balls but won.

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Series at a Glance

Ted Lilly surrendered four homers in five innings, but earned his first win. (AP)

Five homers too few

Alyson Footer / MLB.com
The Astros used power to carve into a hefty early deficit, getting back-to-back homers from Jeff Keppinger and Lance Berkman, a two-run shot from Ivan Rodriguez and solo blasts from Kaz Matsui and Hunter Pence. But Brian Moehler's seven runs allowed proved too daunting.
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Cubs 11, Astros 6

Chi Cubs AB R H RBI BB SO LOB AVG
Soriano, A, LF 5 2 2 0 1 0 0 .333
Fukudome, CF 5 4 4 1 1 0 1 .444
  Guzman, A, P 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
Lee, D, 1B 6 1 1 1 0 3 5 .154
Bradley, RF 2 2 0 0 3 1 2 .000
Ramirez, A, 3B 6 1 4 4 0 1 2 .429
Fontenot, 2B 5 1 2 4 0 1 3 .385
Theriot, SS 4 0 2 1 1 0 1 .556
Hill, K, C 5 0 1 0 0 2 5 .143
Lilly, P 3 0 0 0 0 1 4 .000
  a-Hoffpauir, M, PH 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .500
  Patton, D, P 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
  Marmol, P 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
  b-Gathright, PH-CF 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
Totals 43 11 16 11 6 9 23  

a-Flied out for Lilly in the 6th. b-Grounded out for Marmol in the 9th.

BATTING
2B: Lee, D (1, Moehler), Fukudome (1, Ortiz, R), Ramirez, A (1, Sampson), Soriano, A (1, Geary).
HR: Fontenot (1, 2nd inning off Ortiz, R, 2 on, 2 out), Fukudome (1, 9th inning off Brocail, 0 on, 2 out).
TB: Soriano, A 3; Fukudome 8; Lee, D 2; Ramirez, A 5; Fontenot 5; Theriot 2; Hill, K.
RBI: Lee, D (2), Ramirez, A 4 (5), Fontenot 4 (4), Theriot (2), Fukudome (1).
2-out RBI: Ramirez, A 3; Fontenot 3; Fukudome.
Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Lilly 3; Bradley 2; Fontenot 2; Ramirez, A.
GIDP: Hill, K.
Team RISP: 7-for-18.
Team LOB: 12.

BASERUNNING
SB: Fukudome (1, 2nd base off Ortiz, R/Rodriguez, I), Soriano, A (1, 3rd base off Ortiz, R/Rodriguez, I).
 
Houston AB R H RBI BB SO LOB AVG
Matsui, K, 2B 5 1 1 1 0 0 1 .250
Keppinger, 3B 5 1 2 1 0 0 1 .500
Berkman, 1B 4 1 1 1 0 1 1 .300
Lee, C, LF 4 0 1 0 0 0 1 .083
Tejada, SS 4 1 1 0 0 0 1 .455
Pence, RF 4 1 2 1 0 0 1 .400
Rodriguez, I, C 4 1 2 2 0 0 1 .250
Bourn, CF 4 0 1 0 0 1 1 .333
Moehler, P 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
  Ortiz, R, P 2 0 0 0 0 2 0 .000
  Sampson, P 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
  a-Smith, J, PH 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .000
  Geary, P 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
  Wright, W, P 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
  Brocail, P 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
  b-Erstad, PH 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .000
Totals 38 6 11 6 0 6 9  

a-Struck out for Sampson in the 6th. b-Struck out for Brocail in the 9th.

BATTING
2B: Rodriguez, I (1, Lilly), Lee, C (1, Lilly), Pence (1, Marmol).
HR: Keppinger (1, 3rd inning off Lilly, 0 on, 2 out), Berkman (1, 3rd inning off Lilly, 0 on, 2 out), Rodriguez, I (1, 4th inning off Lilly, 1 on, 1 out), Matsui, K (1, 5th inning off Lilly, 0 on, 0 out), Pence (2, 6th inning off Patton, D, 0 on, 0 out).
TB: Matsui, K 4; Keppinger 5; Berkman 4; Lee, C 2; Tejada; Pence 6; Rodriguez, I 6; Bourn.
RBI: Keppinger (2), Berkman (1), Rodriguez, I 2 (2), Matsui, K (1), Pence (3).
2-out RBI: Keppinger; Berkman.
Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Bourn; Tejada; Rodriguez, I.
Team RISP: 0-for-3.
Team LOB: 5.

FIELDING
E: Tejada (2, fielding).
DP: (Berkman-Rodriguez, I).
 
Chi Cubs IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA
Lilly (W, 1-0) 5.0 8 5 5 0 3 4 9.00
Patton, D 2.0 1 1 1 0 2 1 4.50
Marmol 1.0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0.00
Guzman, A 1.0 1 0 0 0 1 0 0.00
 
Houston IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA
Moehler (L, 0-1) 1.2 8 7 7 1 1 0 37.80
Ortiz, R 3.0 4 3 3 4 6 1 9.00
Sampson 1.1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0.00
Geary 1.0 1 0 0 0 1 0 3.00
Wright, W 1.0 1 0 0 0 1 0 0.00
Brocail 1.0 1 1 1 1 0 1 6.75

HBP: Bradley (by Moehler).
Pitches-strikes: Lilly 73-50, Patton, D 25-16, Marmol 16-8, Guzman, A 16-11, Moehler 37-24, Ortiz, R 73-41, Sampson 17-12, Geary 24-15, Wright, W 11-9, Brocail 20-11.
Groundouts-flyouts: Lilly 4-8, Patton, D 3-1, Marmol 2-1, Guzman, A 2-0, Moehler 3-1, Ortiz, R 1-2, Sampson 2-2, Geary 2-0, Wright, W 1-1, Brocail 1-2.
Batters faced: Lilly 23, Patton, D 7, Marmol 4, Guzman, A 4, Moehler 14, Ortiz, R 17, Sampson 5, Geary 4, Wright, W 4, Brocail 6.
Inherited runners-scored: Ortiz, R 2-2, Sampson 3-2.
Umpires: HP: Bill Miller. 1B: Brian Knight. 2B: Derryl Cousins. 3B: Jim Joyce.
Weather: 74 degrees, partly cloudy.
Wind: 14 mph, Out to CF.
T: 3:14.
Att: 30,047.
April 8, 2009

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