The Cubs avoided a Phillies sweep as their ace Carlos Zambrano (14-5, 3.31 ERA) held the Phillies to 2 runs on 6 hits over 7 innings and showed them why he is at, or near the top, as one of the class starting pitchers in the NL while pitching for the 5th place NL Central Cubs. The Cubs also opened up their offense on losing pitcher rookie lefthander Cole Hamels (6-7) and the Phillies early to make the game a laugher, winning by a score of 11-2.

Hamels, who had a string of 5 consecutive games where he gave up 3 runs or less, including an impressive 8 inning shutout performance against the NL East leading New York Mets 10 days ago, became totally unraveled as the Cubs scored 9 runs in the first 3 innings off of the rookie southpaw.

1st baseman Ryan Howard (44 HRs, 114 RBIs, .292) got the Phillies on the board in the first inning by singling in a run and giving the Phils a shot-lived 1-0 lead.

The Cubs roared out of box in their half of the 1st as 3rd baseman Aramis Ramirez (31 HRs, 88 RBIs, .287 BA) pounded a 2 run triple to deep centerfield and catcher Michael Barrett (16 HRs, 48 RBIs, .324 BA) clubbed a 2 run homer as the Cubs took a 4-1 lead.  In the 2nd inning, troubles continued for Hamels, although he was momentarily saved. Centerfielder Juan Pierre (1 HR, 28 RBIs, .284 BA) doubled with 2 out and 2nd baseman  Ryan Theriot (4 RBIs, .300 BA) followed with a single.  Pierre was nailed at home attempting to score from 2nd on the play as the side was retired.

Hamels’ reprieve didn’t last long though.  He retired noone in the 3rd inning as leftfielder Matt Murton (9 HRs, 49 RBIs, .294 BA) drove in 2 runs with a single and rightfielder Angel Pagan (5 HRs, 14 RBIs, .276 BA) clubbed a 3 run homer to put the Cubs up 9-1.  Brian Sanches (0-0) relieved Hamels and got 3 outs to end the inning.

In the 4th inning, the Cubs scoring was capped by back-to-back solo homers by Ramirez and 1st baseman Phil Nevin (20 HRs, 62 RBIs) off of reliever Sanches.   The phils Bullpen shutdown the Cubs for the rest of the game.

The Phils scored their other run in the 7th inning as new acquisition Joe Thurston (.600 BA), who played both leftfield and 2nd base during the game, doubled and scored on a single by another recent acquisition, pinch hitter Jose Hernandez (2 HRs, 13 RBIS, .276 BA).  However, a doubleplay ball nipped the Phillies threat. 

Zambrano was relieved in the 8th inning by Jae Kuk Ryu (0-0) who shut the Phils down despite 2 hits, a hit batsman and a wild pitch.

For full recap including box scores and play-by-play on Thursday’s game click here.

On Friday, the Phils travel to New York where they will play the Mets and try to cut into that 14 1/2 game lead as well as to continue to threaten  Cincinnati for the NL wild card lead.  Lefthander Randy Wolf (2-0) will start for the Phils vs Orlando Hernandez (9-9) for the  Mets.

For full coverage of Friday’s games in both leagues; previews, recaps, box scores and play-by-play coverage click here.

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This entry was posted on Friday, August 25th, 2006 at 4:38 am and is filed under Real-Time Baseball News and Commentary. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.