NewsCubs hope trip to PNC jolts their bats
Chicago (68-67) at Pittsburgh (54-81), 11:35 a.m. CT
By Tim Britton / MLB.com
09/06/09 7:27 PM ET
NEW YORK -- After a frustrating loss in the rubber game in New York on Sunday, the Cubs face a quick turnaround and an early start on Monday at PNC Park. Chicago wasted a chance to win its third consecutive series and first on the road since the opening week of August, when the Cubs took two of three at Great American Ball Park. Instead, they'll have to get back on the horse against the last-place Pirates. The Cubs were doomed once again by an inability to hit with runners in scoring position, going 0-for-9 in Sunday's finale and 3-for-25 in the series. That offensive flaw has marred the Cubs' run of phenomenal starting pitching in the last week. Randy Wells allowed one earned run in six innings, meaning Chicago starters have given up just three earned runs in their past 38 2/3 innings. That's an ERA of 0.70 in the most recent six games. Ted Lilly, who pitched eight shutout innings his last time out against the Astros, will try to continue that streak in Pittsburgh. The Cubs have won six of eight meetings with the Pirates in 2009, and their pitchers have held Pittsburgh to a .259 batting average and two home runs in those contests. Chicago pitching allowed just four earned runs in a three-game series at PNC Park earlier this year. That pitching has tried to carry an offense that has sputtered the past few games. Since an 11-4 win over the Mets last Saturday, Chicago has scored 19 runs in its last eight games. Again though, the Pirates may be the cure. The Cubs have crossed the plate 46 times in their eight games against Pittsburgh, batting .303 with eight home runs. Kosuke Fukudome has three of his 11 home runs this season against Pirates pitching. The Cubs may also benefit from two early starts in the Steel City. The series opener on Monday and the finale on Wednesday each start at 11:35 a.m. CT. Chicago bats .269 in day games as opposed to .241 at night and has scored over a run more per game in the afternoon. Aramis Ramirez is the biggest beneficiary of the early starts, with a .398 average and half of his 12 home runs coming in the afternoon. In his career, Ramirez hits 24 points better during the day than at night. Pitching matchupCHC: LHP Ted Lilly (10-8, 3.17 ERA)
Lilly picked up his 10th win in his last start, against the Astros. The lefty threw eight scoreless innings, giving up four hits and striking out five. With the win, he's posted seven straight 10-win seasons. Over his past 86 innings, Lilly has walked 12 and struck out 71. In his past four starts, he's given up four earned runs over 27 1/3 innings for a 1.32 ERA. The only thing wrong with his win over the Astros was an ill-advised attempt to steal second and his headfirst slide into the base. He won't be doing that again. PIT: RHP Daniel McCutchen (0-0, 4.50 ERA)
McCutchen made his Major League debut last Monday and fared pretty well. After allowing a leadoff homer, McCutchen settled in to finish six innings. He allowed three runs and five hits. With the Pirates now going with a six-man rotation for the rest of the season, McCutchen will be a mainstay among the starters. He's not going to overwhelm anyone with his fastball, which is in the 90- to 93-mph range, but he's a guy with above-average command. Tidbits
Andres Blanco left Sunday's game in the seventh inning with tenderness in his hamstring. Blanco sustained the injury while running out a double in the top of the inning. "I'm OK. I just feel a little sore," Blanco said after the game. "I hope [Monday] will be better." ... Wells lost his third straight road start on Sunday, despite allowing just two runs in six innings. Wells has a 3.00 ERA in the three losses. ... Derrek Lee went 0-for-3 with a walk on his 34th birthday. It was the first time Lee didn't have a hit on his birthday since 2002. Lee was 4-for-6 on his 33rd birthday last year and recorded at least two hits on his birthday in each of the past four years before Sunday. Tickets
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• Tuesday: Cubs (Ryan Dempster, 8-8, 3.96) at Pirates (Zach Duke, 10-13, 3.71), 6:05 p.m. CT
• Wednesday: Cubs (Carlos Zambrano, 7-6, 3.80) at Pirates (Kevin Hart, 4-5, 4.67), 11:35 a.m. CT
• Thursday: Off-day
Tim Britton is an associate reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
