Archive for July 19th, 2008
Cubs 1 Astros 4
AP Photo/Dave Einsel
Box score. Not Zambrano’s best outing, giving up 4 ER, 6 hits, and 6 walks in 6 1/3, with just 3 Ks. He did, however, provide the Cubs’ only run, with a opposite field solo shot. Gaudin was solid, perfect in 1 2/3 innings of relief, with 2 Ks.
With Big Z’s home run, he moves into first place all-time in home runs for Cubs pitchers, with 14. Fergie Jenkins hit 13, Claude Passeau hit 12, and Charley Root hit 11. Big Z is .351/.351/.526 batting on the year.
The Cubs managed to out-hit the Astros 9 to 6, but the Astros out-walked the Cubs 6 to 0. Ramirez and Soto were each 0-4.
Random stats: pitching platoon
Let’s examine how handedness has affected Cubs pitching. Here are the OPS’s allowed by Cubs pitchers this year:
Righties vs. RHB LHB Difference
Hart .674 1.330 .656
Marmol .434 .795 .361
Lieber .732 1.082 .350
Dempster .571 .682 .111
Marquis .699 .785 .086
Zambrano .622 .684 .062
Wood .571 .629 .058
Wuertz .741 .748 .007
Harden .593 .589 -.004
Howry .858 .787 -.071
Gaudin .722 .646 -.076
Lefties vs. RHB LHB Difference
Eyre .909 .835 .074
Marshall .722 .824 -.102
Cotts .690 .793 -.103
Lilly .741 .885 -.144
A positive difference indicates the pitcher has done better against same-handed hitters; a negative difference means the pitcher has done better again opposite-handed hitters. All Cubs pitchers have been either more or less indifferent, or better against righties.
Cubs 1 Astros 2
AP Photo/David J. Phillip
Box score. Just painfully little to report in this game. An Edmonds solo shot, a Carlos Lee solo shot onto some toy train tracks, and then somehow the Astros scored in the 9th. Lilly was the tough luck loser, giving up 6 hits and 1 run through 7, with 2 walks and 6 Ks.
Hopefully, Soriano will be back Thursday when the Cubs return home to face the Marlins. He’s scheduled for a couple of games at rookie-league Mesa and then a AAA game with the Iowa Cubs, who’ll be in Tucson.
