Recap: Chicago Cubs vs. Philadelphia
Sports Network | August 29, 2008
Chicago, IL (Sports Network) - Alfonso Soriano's solo home run in the seventh inning was the difference, as the Chicago Cubs clipped the Philadelphia Phillies, 3-2, in the second of a four-game series at Wrigley Field. Kosuke Fukudome and Daryle Ward each drove in a run for the Cubs, who won their seventh game in a row despite mustering only four hits. Jeff Samardzija (1-0) tossed 1 1/3 innings to pick up his first big league victory. Carlos Marmol recorded the final five outs to notch his seventh save. Chicago owns the best record in the majors at 85-50. Pat Burrell had two hits and knocked in a run for Philadelphia, which has dropped three straight. Chase Utley scored both runs for the Phillies. Clay Condrey (3-4) served up the long ball to Soriano to absorb the loss. The game featured a pair of pitchers that began this season as teammates with the Oakland Athletics. Rich Harden, dealt to the Cubs on July 8, gave up two runs -- one earned -- on three hits with five strikeouts and four walks in five innings of work. Philadelphia acquired Joe Blanton on July 17 and he allowed two runs on two hits with five walks and four strikeouts in 5 2/3 innings. After giving up the tying run in the previous frame, Philadelphia looked to regain the lead in the seventh, but was denied because of a controversial call. With runners on the corners and two away, first baseman Derrek Lee fumbled a chopper off the bat of Ryan Howard, but recovered and flipped to Samardzija to record the third out. However, Howard appeared to have beaten the throw and third base coach Steve Smith was subsequently ejected by home plate umpire Bill Welke for arguing. Adding salt in the wound, Chicago quickly pulled ahead in the home half on Soriano's 23rd home run of the season, a one-out blast to left. The Phillies wasted a golden opportunity in the eighth. Burrell singled and Jayson Werth walked to open the frame. After Greg Dobbs flied out, Marmol relived Samardzija and fanned Pedro Feliz and Chris Coste to end the threat. Marmol tossed a 1-2-3 ninth to close out the game. The Phillies scratched out a run in the opening frame. Utley was hit by a pitch with two outs and Howard walked before Burrell stroked an RBI single to left. Philadelphia then picked up another run in the fifth. Utley had a two- out single and Howard followed with a bullet down the right-field line. Utley took third on the play and scored when Fukudome's throw hit Howard at first. Chicago, though, got on the board in the home half courtesy of a throwing mishap that wiped out a potential inning-ending double play. Mark DeRosa drew a lead-off walk, swiped second and advanced to third on a one-out infield single by Henry Blanco. Pinch-hitter Ward then grounded into a seemingly harmless double play, but Jimmy Rollins' relay throw to first sailed over the head of Howard, allowing DeRosa to score. After Blanton walked the bases loaded with two outs in the sixth, Scott Eyre entered from the Philadelphia bullpen and promptly issued a free pass to Fukudome, forcing in the tying run. The left-hander then fanned Blanco to avoid further damage. Game Notes The Cubs are a major league-best 51-19 at home this season...Chicago matched its win total from last season...The Phillies failed to produce an extra-base hit for the first time since June 18 versus Boston...Philadelphia left 10 men on base, while the Cubs stranded eight...Philadelphia's Brett Myers (7-10) and Chicago's Ted Lilly (13-7) are scheduled to start on Saturday. Game Notes The Cubs are a major league-best 51-19 at home this season...Chicago matched its win total from last season...The Phillies failed to produce an extra-base hit for the first time since June 18 versus Boston...Philadelphia left 10 men on base, while the Cubs stranded eight...Philadelphia's Brett Myers (7-10) and Chicago's Ted Lilly (13-7) are scheduled to start on Saturday.
