Minnesota (32-32) at Chi Cubs (29-30)

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Punto's versatility being used to its max

Jesse Temple / MLB.com
During his nine-year career, Nick Punto has become an infielding virtuoso of sorts. But even he admitted to experiencing some trepidation about his move from shortstop to second base for this weekend's series against the Cubs at Wrigley Field.
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Twins probable pitcher

Scott Baker

  • #30 RHP
  • (4-6) 5.59 ERA 57 SO
In his first eight innings against the A's, Baker allowed just three batters to reach base -- one on a hit-by-pitch and the other two on hits. But his scoreless streak was snapped in the ninth when he loaded the bases before being taken out and then was charged for three runs. He struck out eight batters in the contest and picked up his second straight win. It's the first time this season that Baker has earned wins in back-to-back starts. The right-hander will next face the Cubs for the first time in his career. He's 6-2 with a 3.88 ERA in eight career Interleague starts.
  W-L ERA IP BB SO AVG
Career 32-30 4.41 520.2 113 394 .272
Season 4-6 5.59 67.2 12 57 .253
June 2-0 3.00 15.0 2 18 .189

Series at a Glance

Standings - 06/14/2009 W L PCT GB Home Away
Minnesota Twins (AL Central) 32 32 .500 3.0 21-12 11-20
Chicago Cubs (NL Central) 29 30 .492 3.5 16-12 13-18
Stats - 06/14/2009 AVG R HR RBI SB SO ERA IP H BB SO
MIN .273 313 69 294 33 435 4.51 564.2 576 178 409
CHC .246 250 64 238 25 456 3.85 530.1 468 228 472
chc

Lilly building strong All-Star case

Carrie Muskat / MLB.com
One Cubs player who should get some All-Star consideration will start Sunday in the series finale, as Ted Lilly will be vying for his team-leading eighth win when he faces the Minnesota Twins at Wrigley Field.
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Cubs probable pitcher

Ted Lilly

  • #30 LHP
  • (7-4) 3.00 ERA 63 SO
Lilly is coming off a win against the Astros in which he held them to three hits over 6 2/3 innings. The lefty also notched his first Major League triple in the game and joked after that he didn't realize how hard it was to run from home to third. He is 3-1 with a 3.52 ERA in his career against the Twins, which covers six starts. He's had great success at home so far, posting a 4-1 record and 1.29 ERA in five games at Wrigley Field.
  W-L ERA IP BB SO AVG
Career 98-79 4.32 1425.2 521 1220 .245
Season 7-4 3.00 78.0 20 63 .218
June 1-0 0.66 13.2 3 11 .176

Twins hitters vs Ted Lilly

  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. - - - - .158 19 1 1
Harris, Brendan - - - - .000 4 0 0
Hughes, Luke - - - - - - - -
Kubel, Jason - - - - .250 4 0 0
Mauer, Joe - - - - .429 7 0 0
Morales, Jose - - - - - - - -
Morneau, Justin - - - - .000 7 0 0
Plouffe, Trevor - - - - - - - -
Pridie, Jason - - - - - - - -
Punto, Nick - - - - .500 6 0 1
Ramos, Wilson - - - - - - - -
Span, Denard - - - - - - - -
Tolbert, Matt - - - - .000 4 0 0
Tolleson, Steven - - - - - - - -
Valencia, Danny - - - - - - - -
Young, Delmon - - - - .571 7 0 0

Cubs hitters vs Scott Baker

  2009 2004-2008
Hitter AVG AB HR RBI AVG AB HR RBI
Adduci, James - - - - - - - -
Baker, Jeff - - - - - - - -
Blanco, Andres - - - - .000 2 0 0
Bradley, Milton - - - - .333 9 0 0
Castillo, Welington - - - - - - - -
Colvin, Tyler - - - - - - - -
Fontenot, Mike - - - - .000 3 0 0
Fox, Jake - - - - - - - -
Fukudome, Kosuke - - - - .000 3 0 0
Fuld, Sam - - - - - - - -
Hill, Koyie - - - - - - - -
Hoffpauir, Micah - - - - - - - -
Lee, Derrek - - - - .333 3 0 0
Miles, Aaron - - - - .000 3 0 0
Ramirez, Aramis - - - - - - - -
Soriano, Alfonso - - - - .000 3 0 0
Soto, Geovany - - - - .667 3 0 1
Theriot, Ryan - - - - .500 2 0 1

Theriot delivers celebration (32-33) (30-30)

Cubs 3, Twins 2

Twins fall in ninth

Jesse Temple / MLB.com
Carlos Gomez hit his first homer, Joe Mauer had three hits and Scott Baker turned in his third straight strong start, limiting the Cubs to two runs over seven innings. But the Twins couldn't get over the top late, and Jesse Crain yielded the decisive run in the ninth.

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Series at a Glance

 
Ted Lilly's ERA stands at 2.94 after Sunday's start. (Nam Y. Huh/AP)

Theriot clutch

Carrie Muskat / MLB.com
Ted Lilly delivered a big performance, keeping the Cubs close by tossing 7 2/3 innings of two-run ball. Carlos Marmol came on to keep the Twins at bay over an inning and a third, getting the victory when Ryan Theriot knocked in the game-winner with a one-out single in the ninth.
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Cubs 3, Twins 2

Minnesota AB R H RBI BB SO LOB AVG
Tolbert, 3B 4 0 0 0 1 2 0 .175
Mauer, C 5 0 3 0 0 0 2 .414
Morneau, 1B 5 0 0 0 0 0 4 .329
Kubel, RF 4 0 1 0 0 0 4 .312
Harris, B, SS 4 0 0 0 0 2 3 .284
Young, D, LF 4 0 1 0 0 1 0 .252
Gomez, C, CF 4 2 2 1 0 0 2 .227
Punto, 2B 4 0 2 1 0 1 0 .211
Baker, S, P 3 0 0 0 0 1 2 .000
  Ayala, P 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
  a-Buscher, PH 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .192
  Crain, P 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
Totals 37 2 9 2 2 7 17  

a-Walked for Ayala in the 9th.

BATTING
2B: Gomez, C (7, Lilly).
HR: Gomez, C (1, 6th inning off Lilly, 0 on, 2 out).
TB: Mauer 3; Kubel; Young, D; Gomez, C 6; Punto 2.
RBI: Punto (13), Gomez, C (9).
2-out RBI: Punto; Gomez, C.
Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Harris, B; Gomez, C; Morneau.
Team RISP: 1-for-6.
Team LOB: 10.

BASERUNNING
SB: Gomez, C (5, 3rd base off Lilly/Soto).
 
Chi Cubs AB R H RBI BB SO LOB AVG
Soriano, A, LF 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 .229
Fukudome, CF 4 0 0 0 0 1 0 .266
Bradley, RF 4 1 1 0 0 0 0 .227
Lee, D, 1B 4 2 2 0 0 0 1 .278
Soto, C 4 0 3 1 0 1 0 .223
Fontenot, 3B 3 0 0 0 1 1 3 .236
Theriot, SS 3 0 2 2 0 1 1 .283
Miles, 2B 3 0 0 0 0 0 2 .200
  Marmol, P 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
Lilly, P 2 0 0 0 0 1 0 .100
  Blanco, A, 2B 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .212
Totals 32 3 8 3 1 6 7  

BATTING
2B: Soto 2 (6, Baker, S, Baker, S), Bradley (5, Baker, S).
TB: Bradley 2; Lee, D 2; Soto 5; Theriot 2.
RBI: Theriot 2 (25), Soto (16).
Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Miles; Theriot.
SF: Theriot.
Team RISP: 2-for-7.
Team LOB: 6.

FIELDING
E: Miles (2, fielding).
 
Minnesota IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA
Baker, S 7.0 5 2 2 0 5 0 5.30
Ayala 1.0 0 0 0 0 1 0 3.99
Crain (L, 2-3) 0.1 3 1 1 1 0 0 8.15
 
Chi Cubs IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA
Lilly 7.2 9 2 2 0 6 1 2.94
Marmol (W, 2-1) 1.1 0 0 0 2 1 0 3.26

IBB: Fontenot (by Crain).
Pitches-strikes: Baker, S 98-70, Ayala 22-16, Crain 11-6, Lilly 111-81, Marmol 28-14.
Groundouts-flyouts: Baker, S 5-11, Ayala 0-2, Crain 1-0, Lilly 6-11, Marmol 1-2.
Batters faced: Baker, S 26, Ayala 3, Crain 5, Lilly 33, Marmol 6.
Inherited runners-scored: Marmol 2-0.
Umpires: HP: Phil Cuzzi. 1B: Tom Hallion. 2B: Mike Estabrook. 3B: Dan Bellino.
Weather: 67 degrees, sunny.
Wind: 6 mph, In from LF.
T: 2:44.
Att: 40,814.
June 14, 2009

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