Atlanta (39-43) at Chi Cubs (41-39)

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atl

Vazquez returns to Chicago to face Cubs

Mark Bowman / MLB.com
Javier Vazquez didn't have much success against the Cubs when he was with the White Sox. But now, he's returning to town to take on the North Siders, hoping for a little more luck.
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Braves probable pitcher

Javier Vazquez

  • #33 RHP
  • (5-7) 3.05 ERA 130 SO
Vazquez's recent run of tough luck continued on Thursday against the Phillies, when he threw 5 1/3 innings and surrendered two runs on his way to a no-decision. Over his last six starts, Vazquez has surrendered just 10 earned runs in 41 2/3 innings of work, but has just one win to show for his efforts. His last win came against the Cubs at Turner Field, when he threw 6 2/3 innings of scoreless ball.
  W-L ERA IP BB SO AVG
Career 132-136 4.26 2382.2 627 2145 .258
Season 5-7 3.05 112.0 23 130 .232
July 0-0 3.38 5.1 0 5 .304
Vs. Chi Cubs 1-0 0.00 6.2 2 5 .333

Series at a Glance

Standings - 07/07/2009 W L PCT GB Home Away
Atlanta Braves (NL East) 39 43 .476 5.0 21-21 18-22
Chicago Cubs (NL Central) 41 39 .513 2.0 25-14 16-25
Stats - 07/07/2009 AVG R HR RBI SB SO ERA IP H BB SO
ATL .261 346 66 331 29 492 3.90 736.0 698 292 614
CHC .248 336 89 322 32 602 3.85 719.1 662 305 622
chc

Johnson to lead off for Cubs vs. lefties

Carrie Muskat / MLB.com
If Lou Piniella is looking for another leadoff possibility, Reed Johnson will be the man. Piniella said after Monday's game he would insert Johnson into the leadoff spot against lefties.
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Cubs probable pitcher

Carlos Zambrano

  • #38 RHP
  • (4-3) 3.50 ERA 69 SO
Ryan Dempster was placed on the 15-day disabled list Tuesday with a right toe fracture, and Carlos Zambrano, who was scheduled to start Wednesday, will move up a day. Zambrano notched his 10th quality start in his last outing against the Brewers, but didn't get the win. He also picked up an RBI single. Big Z wasn't throwing 95, 95 mph as usual, but effectively used his slider, and gave up one run on five hits over seven innings. He was effective. He just needs some more run support. Zambrano has not faced the Braves this year.
  W-L ERA IP BB SO AVG
Career 100-64 3.48 1472.0 658 1241 .229
Season 4-3 3.50 90.0 38 69 .243
July 0-0 1.29 7.0 3 3 .200

Braves hitters vs Carlos Zambrano

  2009 2004-2008
Hitter AVG AB HR RBI AVG AB HR RBI
Blanco, Gregor - - - - .333 3 0 0
Canizares, Barbaro - - - - - - - -
Church, Ryan - - - - .211 19 0 1
Conrad, Brooks - - - - .333 3 0 0
Diaz, Matt - - - - - - - -
Escobar, Yunel - - - - .000 6 0 0
Hernandez, Diory - - - - - - - -
Infante, Omar - - - - - - - -
Johnson, Kelly - - - - .286 14 0 1
Jones, Brandon - - - - - - - -
Jones, Chipper - - - - .294 17 1 2
McCann, Brian - - - - .583 12 0 4
McLouth, Nate .000 3 0 0 .208 24 0 4
Prado, Martin - - - - .500 2 0 0
Ross, David - - - - .167 12 2 3
Sammons, Clint - - - - - - - -
Schafer, Jordan - - - - - - - -

Cubs hitters vs Javier Vazquez

  2009 2004-2008
Hitter AVG AB HR RBI AVG AB HR RBI
Adduci, James - - - - - - - -
Baker, Jeff - - - - - - - -
Blanco, Andres .333 3 0 0 .333 3 0 0
Bradley, Milton - - - - .167 18 0 0
Castillo, Welington - - - - - - - -
Colvin, Tyler - - - - - - - -
Fontenot, Mike .500 2 0 0 .300 10 0 0
Fox, Jake .500 4 0 0 .500 4 0 0
Fukudome, Kosuke .000 3 0 0 .000 9 0 0
Fuld, Sam - - - - - - - -
Hill, Koyie - - - - .333 3 0 1
Hoffpauir, Micah .333 3 0 0 .333 6 0 0
Lee, Derrek .333 3 0 0 .478 23 0 6
Miles, Aaron - - - - .400 5 0 0
Ramirez, Aramis - - - - .474 19 2 8
Soriano, Alfonso - - - - .214 14 1 1
Soto, Geovany .333 3 0 0 .125 8 0 0
Theriot, Ryan .500 4 0 0 .313 16 0 0

Vazquez takes it to Cubs (40-43) (41-40)

Braves 2, Cubs 1

Starter in control

Mark Bowman / MLB.com
In his return to Chicago, Javier Vazquez was strong against the Cubs, halting Atlanta's three-game skid. Though the Braves' trend of not giving Vazquez much run support continued, the position players compensated in the field with several great defensive plays.

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Series at a Glance

 

Z fills in well

Andrew Simon / MLB.com
Carlos Zambrano started on short rest to fill in for Ryan Dempster, who missed his scheduled start due to a fractured toe. Big Z couldn't deliver a win, but pitched six innings, giving up two runs on five hits. A quiet Cubs offense cost Chicago a chance for the win.
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Braves 2, Cubs 1

Atlanta AB R H RBI BB SO LOB AVG
McLouth, CF 4 1 1 0 1 0 2 .270
Prado, 3B 4 1 1 0 0 0 3 .317
Anderson, G, LF 3 0 0 0 1 1 3 .275
McCann, C 4 0 2 2 0 1 1 .306
Escobar, Y, SS 4 0 0 0 0 2 2 .292
Kotchman, 1B 3 0 1 0 1 0 0 .273
Francoeur, RF 4 0 1 0 0 1 2 .247
Conrad, 2B 4 0 2 0 0 1 2 .364
Vazquez, J, P 3 0 0 0 0 1 2 .059
  Gonzalez, M, P 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
  a-Diaz, M, PH 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .309
  Soriano, R, P 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
Totals 34 2 8 2 3 7 19  

a-Bunted out for Gonzalez, M in the 9th.

BATTING
2B: McCann (16, Zambrano, C), McLouth (15, Guzman, A).
3B: Conrad (1, Zambrano, C).
TB: McLouth 2; Prado; McCann 3; Kotchman; Francoeur; Conrad 4.
RBI: McCann 2 (35).
2-out RBI: McCann 2.
Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Vazquez, J 2; Escobar, Y; Anderson, G; Prado.
S: Prado.
Team RISP: 1-for-10.
Team LOB: 9.
 
Chi Cubs AB R H RBI BB SO LOB AVG
Fukudome, CF 3 0 0 0 0 2 0 .264
  b-Johnson, Re, PH-CF 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .265
Theriot, SS 4 0 1 0 0 0 0 .288
Lee, D, 1B 4 0 0 0 0 2 1 .284
Hoffpauir, M, RF 4 1 1 0 0 0 0 .243
Ramirez, A, 3B 4 0 2 0 0 1 0 .351
Soriano, A, LF 4 0 2 0 0 1 3 .230
Fontenot, 2B 4 0 0 0 0 0 5 .232
Hill, K, C 3 0 1 1 0 0 1 .233
Zambrano, C, P 2 0 0 0 0 1 2 .216
  Guzman, A, P 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
  Marshall, P 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .231
  a-Bradley, PH 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .241
  Heilman, P 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
Totals 34 1 7 1 0 7 12  

a-Lined out for Marshall in the 8th. b-Flied out for Fukudome in the 8th.

BATTING
2B: Theriot (14, Gonzalez, M).
TB: Theriot 2; Hoffpauir, M; Ramirez, A 2; Soriano, A 2; Hill, K.
RBI: Hill, K (8).
2-out RBI: Hill, K.
Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Zambrano, C; Lee, D.
Team RISP: 1-for-5.
Team LOB: 6.
 
Atlanta IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA
Vazquez, J (W, 6-7) 7.0 5 1 1 0 6 0 2.95
Gonzalez, M (H, 8) 1.0 1 0 0 0 0 0 3.12
Soriano, R (S, 9) 1.0 1 0 0 0 1 0 1.59
 
Chi Cubs IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA
Zambrano, C (L, 4-4) 6.0 5 2 2 3 6 0 3.47
Guzman, A 1.0 1 0 0 0 1 0 2.45
Marshall 1.0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4.21
Heilman 1.0 2 0 0 0 0 0 3.66

Pitches-strikes: Vazquez, J 108-78, Gonzalez, M 12-8, Soriano, R 19-13, Zambrano, C 91-54, Guzman, A 29-22, Marshall 9-6, Heilman 12-8.
Groundouts-flyouts: Vazquez, J 11-4, Gonzalez, M 0-3, Soriano, R 1-1, Zambrano, C 7-5, Guzman, A 0-2, Marshall 2-1, Heilman 1-2.
Batters faced: Vazquez, J 26, Gonzalez, M 4, Soriano, R 4, Zambrano, C 26, Guzman, A 4, Marshall 3, Heilman 5.
Umpires: HP: Todd Tichenor. 1B: Jim Joyce. 2B: Bill Miller. 3B: Derryl Cousins.
Weather: 65 degrees, overcast.
Wind: 7 mph, In from RF.
T: 2:44.
Att: 40,359.
July 7, 2009

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