News
Gregg getting comfortable with Cubs
Chicago (39-39) vs. Milwaukee (43-38), 1:20 p.m. CT
By Carrie Muskat / MLB.com
07/04/09 4:45 PM ET
CHICAGO -- It's taken nearly all of the first half, but Kevin Gregg is feeling more comfortable in the Cubs' bullpen. The right-hander, who hopes to pick up a save in Sunday's series finale against the Milwaukee Brewers, enters the game 1-0 with one save this month. He picked up the win when he pitched two innings on Friday in relief. "I don't mind it," Gregg said of the extra work. "If it takes two innings to get a victory, I'm glad I helped out." Gregg's numbers have improved each month in his first season as the Cubs' closer. In April, he was 0-1 with a 5.59 ERA and one save in two chances over 10 games. In May, he posted a 3.86 ERA in 13 games, going 7-for-7 in save opportunities. In June, he appeared in 13 games again, was 2-1 with a 2.77 ERA, and notched saves in five of seven tries. "I'm just getting comfortable, I guess," Gregg said. "The way the first part of the season went, I had some unfortunate breaks. There were a couple balls lost in lights, and things like that. The ball's starting to bounce my way, I guess." Gregg ranks among the National League leaders in games finished, but that's probably not enough to earn him a trip to the All-Star Game. The rosters will be announced on Sunday at noon CT, and that will give the TBS crew of Chip Caray and Buck Martinez plenty to talk about. Caray knows Wrigley Field and the Cubs well, having served as the team's television broadcaster after his grandfather, Harry Caray, passed away in 1998. Gregg isn't thinking about where he'll be July 14, when the All-Stars gather in St. Louis. The Cubs have an important homestand to finish before the break. A year ago, the Cubs swept the Brewers in late July at Miller Park, a series that seemed to spark the Cubs to the National League Central title. This season, the two teams have switched places with the Brewers on top. The Cubs will get reinforcements on Monday when Aramis Ramirez, Reed Johnson and Angel Guzman are expected to be activated from the disabled list. Guzman had a 2.53 ERA in 28 games before he was sidelined, working his way into a key part of the bullpen. "You can't say enough about Guzzie," Gregg said. "What he did before he got hurt was outstanding. It shows the depth of our 'pen that we can have a guy like that go down and rest and get ready for the second part of the season, and still not lose any ground." First up, one more with the Brewers, whom the Cubs don't face again until Sept. 21-23 at Miller Park. Pitching matchupCHC: LHP Ted Lilly (7-6, 3.35 ERA)
Lilly lost his second successive start in his last game, giving up three runs (two earned) in seven innings during a shutout loss to the Pirates on Tuesday. Despite the setback, Lilly leads the club in victories and strikeouts (88). This will be his first start against the Brewers this season, but he's 2-2 with a 4.72 ERA in his career against Milwaukee. Lilly has been dominating at home so far this season, going 4-1 with a 1.85 ERA in seven starts. MIL: RHP Mike Burns (1-1, 3.31 ERA)
Burns allowed a two-run home run in the first inning, then blanked the Mets for the rest of his 6 2/3-inning stint to notch his first Major league win on Tuesday. Manager Ken Macha provided the analysis: "He walks the first hitter and then no walks after that. Sixty-six strikes, 29 balls. He throws a curve, fastball, slider, changeup, and with every one of those pitches he was more than 50 percent strikes. He threw 16 first-pitch strikes. If you throw first-pitch strikes, you make the batter swing the bat, and he got 10 outs in three pitches or less. I think it's especially impressive going up against Johan Santana." Burns will be making his third Major League start and his first on the road. Tidbits
Monday's game vs. the Braves will start at 6:05 p.m. CT to accommodate ESPN. ... Triple-A Iowa beat Oklahoma City, 7-1, on Friday. Nate Spears had three hits and an RBI. Casey Fossum made his Iowa debut, giving up one run on four hits and two walks over 4 2/3 innings. ... Marcos Mateo gave up one run on three hits over six innings in Double-A Tennessee's 5-3 win over Huntsville. Smokies manager Ryne Sandberg was ejected from the game, the second time he was tossed in the series. Mateo struck out five. ... James Leverton gave up three runs on five hits over three innings in Class A Daytona's 4-2 loss to Brevard County. ... Johnson and Ramirez each had a hit in Class A Peoria's 7-1 win over Kane County. Kyler Burke had two RBIs. Tickets
Buy tickets now to catch the game in person.
On the Internet
MLB.TV
Gameday Audio• Gameday
• Official game notes On television
• CSN, TBS On radio
• WGN 720 Up next
• Monday: Cubs (Randy Wells, 3-3, 2.43) vs. Braves (Derek Lowe, 7-6, 4.44), 6:05 p.m. CT
• Tuesday: Cubs (Ryan Dempster, 5-5, 4.09) vs. Braves (Javier Vazquez, 5-7, 3.05), 7:05 p.m. CT
• Wednesday: Cubs (Carlos Zambrano, 4-3, 3.50) vs. Braves (Kenshin Kawakami, 4-6, 4.46), 1:20 p.m. CT
Carrie Muskat is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
