3rd baseman Aramis Ramirez (35 HRs, 110 RBIs, .293 BA) drove in 7 of  Chicago’s first 8 runs while going 4-5 for the game as the Cubs got off to an 8-0 lead on the Phillies enroute to an ugly 11-6 win at Philadelphia’s  Citizen’s Bank Park. 

In losing, the Phillies dropped to 2 games behind the NL wild card leading  San Diego Padres who dropped a wild 11-10 game to the L.A. Dodgers in 10 innings as those two teams keep exchanging the NL West and NL wild card leads. 

The Phillies won a coin toss to be host of a one-game playoff against the Dodgers or San Diego Padres if they ended tied for the wild-card spot.

The Cubs lit into Phils starter and losing pitcher Jon Lieber (8-9) for 3 runs to start the game on 3rd baseman Aramis Ramirez’s first of two 3 run homers, a blast to left centerfield, in the game before Lieber retired the next 3 hitters to end the 1st inning.  Lieber seemed to straighten out in the 2nd inning, retiring the side in order. 

In the 3rd inning, the Cubs continued the scoring as leadoff hitter, centerfielder Juan Pierre (3 HRs, 37 RBIs, .290 BA) clubbed a solo homer and Ramirez got an RBI single as the Cubs lead increased to 5-0 and Eude Brito (1-2) was sent in to relieve Lieber. Brito retired the side in the 3rd.   

With one out in the 4th inning, Brito gave up Ramirez’2nd round- tripper, a 2 out 3 run shot to centerfield as the Cub lead swelled to 8-0.  Ramirez became the sixth Cub to have 35 homers and 35 doubles in a season. He has 17 career multihomer games, four this year.

In the Phillies 4th inning, with one out, the Phillies loaded the bases as 1st baseman Ryan Howard (57 HRs, 140 RBIs, .312 BA) was hit by a pitch followed by singles by rightfielder Jeff Conine (10 HRs, 60 RBIs, .268) and leftfielder Pat Burrell (25 HRs, 88 RBIs).  Cubs lefthander Sean Marshall (5-9) then uncorked a pitch which got past catcher Henry Blanco (5 HRs, 28 RBIs, .265 BA) as Howard scored and Burrell and Conine moved up to 2nd and 3rd base respectively.  Catcher Chris Coste (6 HRs, 27 RBIs, .315 BA) singled driving in Conine as Burrell advanced to 3rd base.  3rd baseman  Abraham Nunez (2 HRs, 25 RBIs) was then walked loading the bases.  Recent acquisition from Pittsburgh, pinch hitter Jose Hernandez (3 HRs, 19 RBIs, .268 BA) then belted a grand slam homer. The game was suddenly tight at 8-6 and starting to resemble some of the classic Wrigley Field  Phillies-Cubs games of the 1970s.  But alas, Marshall was yanked after allowing 6 runs on 5 hits in 3 1/3 innings and 5 Cubs relievers shut down the Phillies allowing them only 2 hits over the final 5 2/3 innings.

The Cubs scored their 9th run in the 5th inning off of reliever Brian Sanches (0-0) as 1st baseman Scott Moore (2 HRs, 3 RBIs) hit a solo homer. 

In the 9th inning, the Cubs capped their scoring with 2 runs off of reliever  Ryan Madison (10-9).  Shortstop Ronny Cedeno (6 HRs, 38 RBIs) tripled driving in 1 run and pinch hitter Matt Murton (12 HRs, 59 RBIs, .297 BA) drove in Cedeno with a single.

Reliever Michael Wuertz (3-1, 2.83 ERA) was awarded the win after pitching a perfect 2 inning stint at the Phils in the 5th and 6th innings.

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

Recently acquired Wade Miller (0-1) goes for the Cubs on Tuesday vs Phillies lefthander Jamie Moyer (8-14) as the Phils hope to pull even in the 3 game series.

For full coverage of all of Tuesday’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 Tuesday, September 19th, 2006 at 4:04 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.