Game 30 Thread / Cubs @ Cardinals (2 of 3)
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SP | *Ted Lilly |
SP |
Kyle Lohse |
1-4, 6.46, 25 K, 13 BB | 3-0, 2.36, 14 K, 8 BB | ||
LF |
Alfonso Soriano | LF |
*Skip Schumaker |
SS |
Ryan Theriot | 2B |
Brendan Ryan |
1B |
Derrek Lee | 1B |
Albert Pujols |
RF |
*Kosuke Fukudome | RF |
Ryan Ludwick |
3B |
Mark DeRosa | 3B |
Troy Glaus |
C |
Geovany Soto | CF |
*Rick Ankiel |
2B |
*Mike Fontenot | C |
Yadier Molina |
CF |
Reed Johnson | P |
Kyle Lohse |
P |
*Ted Lilly |
SS |
#Cesar Izturis |
Breaking News: The Cubs have demoted Rich Hill to AAA Iowa and replaced him on the roster with Sean Gallagher, who will be available to pitch this afternoon in St. Louis.
Of the now departed Hill and his one-inning, four-walk effort last night in St. Louis, Cubs manager Lou Piniella said:
"Hill can't start like this in the big leagues. C'mon. Every time he pitches, it's an adventure. He's doing his best, but we have no bullpen. I don't know what the solution is, but I can't start him anymore until this thing gets taken care of."
About this afternoon's game: With the stink of last night's loss still in the air, the Cubs try to square their series against the Cardinals. The Cards have won three in a row and five of six; the Cubs have lost six of eight. Still, the Cubs have MLB's third-best record, while the Cardinals, who better get to work if they're going to see that 90-loss season so many of us were planning for them, have the game's second-best mark at 19-11. (The D-backs lead the way at 20-9).
Ted Lilly is coming off a loss last Sunday at Washington, in which he gave up just 2 ER over 6 innings and struck out a season-high 7 men. After another busy night for the Cub bullpen last evening, Lilly, who's averaging just a little over 5 IP per start this year, could do Lou Piniella and the relievers a big favor by gobbling up some innings.
Kyle Lohse was one of the abandoned orphans of the 2008 Free Agent Class, not signing with the Cards--and only getting a one-year deal in the process--until mid-March. Regardless, he is 3-0 with a terrific ERA and has won 7 decisions in a row, dating back to late last July. He's 1-1 lifetime against the Cubs, including a dazzling 8 IP, 12 K performance last April in Wrigley when Lohse was a Redleg.
Aramis Ramirez is not in the starting lineup after getting plunked on the wrist last night. X-rays showed no fractures, and Ramirez is on "ice and pain-killers," which could make for a helluva bar drink with the right merchandising. (Note to fellow TCR staffers: we need to get to work on this.)
Finally, my compliments to Bob Brenly, who didn't hold anything back in his criticism last night of Alfonso Soriano and the fact that he is trying to get his game back together on the Major League stage instead of in Iowa or Tennessee. That said, I shudder at the thought of the imbeciles who will greet Soriano with all sorts of insane rage and hostility when he next plays in Wrigley Field, unless he significantly turns his fortunes around on the remainder of the road trip.
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