Minnesota (31-32) at Chi Cubs (29-29)

TV: FS-N HD | Radio: TRN 1500 1:05 pm ET Wrigley Field TV: CSN | Radio: WGN 720
min

Swarzak looking forward to Wrigley start

Jesse Temple / MLB.com
Anthony Swarzak believes throwing more strikes will go a long way toward helping him stay in the big leagues. So, too, will remembering to keep his excitement of being at Wrigley Field in check.
Full story >

Twins probable pitcher

Anthony Swarzak

  • #51 RHP
  • (1-2) 5.23 ERA 12 SO
Only one start remains for Swarzak until Glen Perkins is ready to rejoin the rotation and the rookie certainly didn't make a strong push to stay up with the club in his last start. The right-hander gave up three runs on four hits and walked three in just 3 2/3 innings against the A's. All of the runs came in a disastrous fourth inning. It included Swarzak throwing 10 straight balls to start the frame and striking Aaron Cunningham in the head with an errant 91-mph fastball. Swarzak will get one final shot against the Cubs to show improvement.
  W-L ERA IP BB SO AVG
Career 1-2 5.23 20.2 9 12 .277
Season 1-2 5.23 20.2 9 12 .277
June 0-1 10.57 7.2 3 6 .361

Series at a Glance

Standings - 06/13/2009 W L PCT GB Home Away
Minnesota Twins (AL Central) 31 32 .492 4.0 21-12 10-20
Chicago Cubs (NL Central) 29 29 .500 3.5 16-11 13-18
Stats - 06/13/2009 AVG R HR RBI SB SO ERA IP H BB SO
MIN .274 311 68 292 33 423 4.58 555.2 571 176 401
CHC .247 250 64 238 25 448 3.88 521.1 463 226 460
chc

Piniella shaking up order to spark bats

Carrie Muskat / MLB.com
The Cubs have been struggling with runners in scoring position, batting .230, which is next to last in the National League. Only Arizona (.225) is worse. The club stranded 31 in the just-completed three-game series in Houston.
Full story >

Cubs probable pitcher

Rich Harden

  • #40 RHP
  • (4-2) 4.74 ERA 53 SO
This will be Harden's first start since going on the disabled list with a back sprain on May 18. In his last start, May 17 against Houston, he gave up four runs on six hits and three walks over six innings while striking out seven. Harden was expected to be able to go five innings and at least 85 pitches in this game. He has a 1-0 record and 2.13 ERA in four career starts against the Twins.
  W-L ERA IP BB SO AVG
Career 45-22 3.33 656.1 283 665 .217
Season 4-2 4.74 43.2 21 53 .236

Twins hitters vs Rich Harden

  2009 2004-2008
Hitter AVG AB HR RBI AVG AB HR RBI
Butera, Drew - - - - - - - -
Casilla, Alexi - - - - - - - -
Cuddyer, Michael - - - - .286 7 1 1
De Los Santos, Estarlin - - - - - - - -
Hardy, J.J. .000 3 0 0 .100 10 1 1
Harris, Brendan - - - - .000 2 0 0
Hughes, Luke - - - - - - - -
Kubel, Jason - - - - .200 5 1 1
Mauer, Joe - - - - .182 11 1 2
Morales, Jose - - - - - - - -
Morneau, Justin - - - - .154 13 0 1
Plouffe, Trevor - - - - - - - -
Pridie, Jason - - - - - - - -
Punto, Nick - - - - .143 7 0 0
Ramos, Wilson - - - - - - - -
Span, Denard - - - - - - - -
Tolbert, Matt - - - - - - - -
Tolleson, Steven - - - - - - - -
Valencia, Danny - - - - - - - -
Young, Delmon - - - - .000 2 0 0

Cubs hitters vs Anthony Swarzak

  2009 2004-2008
Hitter AVG AB HR RBI AVG AB HR RBI
Adduci, James - - - - - - - -
Baker, Jeff - - - - - - - -
Blanco, Andres - - - - - - - -
Bradley, Milton - - - - .333 3 0 0
Castillo, Welington - - - - - - - -
Colvin, Tyler - - - - - - - -
Fontenot, Mike - - - - .000 2 0 0
Fox, Jake - - - - - - - -
Fukudome, Kosuke - - - - .000 3 0 0
Fuld, Sam - - - - .250 4 0 0
Hill, Koyie - - - - - - - -
Hoffpauir, Micah - - - - - - - -
Lee, Derrek - - - - .333 3 0 0
Miles, Aaron - - - - .333 3 0 0
Ramirez, Aramis - - - - - - - -
Soriano, Alfonso - - - - .000 3 0 0
Soto, Geovany - - - - .000 3 0 0
Theriot, Ryan - - - - .333 3 0 0

An A for Anthony (32-32) (29-30)

Twins 2, Cubs 0

Swarzak dominant

Jesse Temple / MLB.com
Making his fifth career start, Anthony Swarzak stifled the Cubs over seven scoreless innings, allowing four hits and fanning a career-high six in Minnesota's second straight victory at Wrigley. Jason Kubel belted his 11th homer out of the park, and Joe Mauer added an RBI single.

Full story >

Twins Wrap >

More Twins Headlines

Tickets | MLB.TV | Multimedia | Shop

Series at a Glance

 

Cubs lay goose egg

Carrie Muskat / MLB.com
Rich Harden made en encouraging start in his return from the disabled list, allowing two runs on five hits while striking out nine over six innings. But he received no support from the offense, as the Cubs managed just five hits and a ninth-inning rally effort that fell just short.
Full story >

Cubs Wrap >

More Cubs Headlines

Tickets | MLB.TV | Multimedia | Shop

Twins 2, Cubs 0

Minnesota AB R H RBI BB SO LOB AVG
Harris, B, SS 3 0 0 0 1 0 1 .291
Mauer, C 4 0 1 1 0 1 1 .408
Morneau, 1B 4 0 1 0 0 1 0 .336
Kubel, RF 4 1 1 1 0 2 2 .313
Crede, 3B 3 0 0 0 1 1 0 .228
Young, D, LF 3 0 0 0 0 2 1 .252
Gomez, C, CF 3 0 1 0 0 2 0 .219
Punto, 2B 3 1 1 0 0 1 0 .202
Swarzak, A, P 2 0 0 0 0 2 1 .000
  a-Buscher, PH 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .192
  Guerrier, P 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
  Nathan, P 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
Totals 30 2 5 2 2 12 6  

a-Grounded out for Swarzak, A in the 8th.

BATTING
HR: Kubel (11, 2nd inning off Harden, 0 on, 0 out).
TB: Mauer; Morneau; Kubel 4; Gomez, C; Punto.
RBI: Kubel (37), Mauer (40).
2-out RBI: Mauer.
Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Kubel.
GIDP: Young, D.
Team RISP: 1-for-3.
Team LOB: 3.

BASERUNNING
CS: Gomez, C (4, 2nd base by Harden/Soto).
 
Chi Cubs AB R H RBI BB SO LOB AVG
Soriano, A, LF 4 0 0 0 0 2 1 .233
Fontenot, 3B 3 0 0 0 1 0 0 .240
Bradley, RF 3 0 1 0 1 1 1 .226
Lee, D, 1B 4 0 2 0 0 0 1 .273
Soto, C 3 0 0 0 0 1 2 .209
  b-Blanco, A, PH 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .219
Fukudome, CF 4 0 0 0 0 2 4 .272
Theriot, SS 4 0 1 0 0 2 2 .278
Miles, 2B 3 0 1 0 0 0 1 .205
Harden, P 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .188
  Ascanio, P 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
  Marshall, P 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .231
  a-Hoffpauir, M, PH 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .261
  Gregg, P 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
Totals 30 0 5 0 2 8 12  

a-Grounded out for Marshall in the 8th. b-Hit a sacrifice bunt for Soto in the 9th.

BATTING
2B: Theriot (12, Swarzak, A).
TB: Bradley; Lee, D 2; Theriot 2; Miles.
Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Soriano, A; Fukudome; Miles; Theriot 2.
S: Harden; Blanco, A.
Team RISP: 0-for-6.
Team LOB: 7.

FIELDING
DP: (Fontenot-Miles-Lee, D).
 
Minnesota IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA
Swarzak, A (W, 2-2) 7.0 4 0 0 1 6 0 3.90
Guerrier (H, 11) 1.0 0 0 0 0 1 0 3.03
Nathan (S, 15) 1.0 1 0 0 1 1 0 1.78
 
Chi Cubs IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA
Harden (L, 4-3) 6.0 5 2 2 2 9 1 4.53
Ascanio 1.0 0 0 0 0 2 0 2.70
Marshall 1.0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4.56
Gregg 1.0 0 0 0 0 1 0 4.13

WP: Harden.
Pitches-strikes: Swarzak, A 100-63, Guerrier 13-10, Nathan 18-11, Harden 92-61, Ascanio 9-8, Marshall 9-7, Gregg 10-7.
Groundouts-flyouts: Swarzak, A 8-7, Guerrier 1-1, Nathan 1-1, Harden 4-4, Ascanio 1-0, Marshall 3-0, Gregg 0-2.
Batters faced: Swarzak, A 26, Guerrier 3, Nathan 5, Harden 23, Ascanio 3, Marshall 3, Gregg 3.
Umpires: HP: Dan Bellino. 1B: Phil Cuzzi. 2B: Tom Hallion. 3B: Mike Estabrook.
Weather: 54 degrees, overcast.
Wind: 8 mph, In from RF.
T: 2:23 (:32 delay).
Att: 40,899.
June 13, 2009

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