CUBS WIN!!!! Game 5 – Recap

Astros – 7
CUBS – 9

W: K. Hart (1-0)
L: Oswalt (0-2)
S: Wood (2)

Co-Most Valuable Cub: Derrek Lee (4/4 – 2B, HR, 3R, 2 RBI)
Co-Most Valuable Cub: Koskue Fukudome (2/4 – 2B, R, 2 RBI, GW RBIs in 7th inning)

Game 5 – Preview

Astros (2-3) @ CUBS (1-3)
Sat., April 5, 12:05 p.m. CT
TV: CSN Chicago
Radio: WGN 720 AM

Probables:
Astros: RHP Roy Oswalt (0-1, 5.06 ERA)
CUBS: RHP Jason Marquis (12-9, 4.60 ERA in 2007)

Projected Lineup:

1. Soriano, LF
2. Johnson, CF
3. Lee, 1B
4. Ramirez, 3B
5. Fukudome, RF
6. DeRosa, 2B
7. Soto, C
8. Theriot, SS
9. Marquis, P

After a 1-3 start in which they only averaged 3.5 runs per game, the Cubs hope to get off to a fast start against Astros starter Roy Oswalt, who is 4-5 with a 4.47 ERA against the Cubs over the past three years. In that same time span, Oswalt is 1-2 with an 8.27 ERA at Wrigley Field.

The Cubs will counter with Jason Marquis, who just edged out righty Jon Lieber for the final spot in the Cubs rotation during spring training. Marquis is 7-3 over the past three years against the Astros, despite a bloated 4.52 ERA against the club. Marquis’ final spring training appearance was one he’d probably rather forget. The righty allowed five runs (four earned) on six hits (three home runs) in 3.0 innings of work against the Seattle Mariners on March 28 in Las Vegas.

It appears that manger Lou Piniella will try to get a spark out of his offense by making some minor changes for today’s game. Newly-acquired center fielder Reed Johnson will make his first start for the Men in Blue on Saturday, hitting in the second spot. Johnson pinch-hit in the sixth for Rich Hill and drilled a double off the top of the left field wall on Thursday.  Shortstop Ryan Theriot was dropped from the two hole to the eighth spot in the order accommodate Johnson.

Perennial Cubs All-Stars Lee, Ramirez, and Soriano are typically some of the biggest bats in the Cubs lineup. The trio hit a combined .309 in 2007, but the group is only hitting .148 (7-for-48) on the young season.

Newcomer Koskue Fukudome, who some thought may struggle making the transition from Japanese ball to the MLB, is off to a blistering 6-for-12 start (2 2B, 1 HR, 3 RBI). ‘Dome his hitting .500 with a .625 OBP, and has one stolen base on the year.  He has reached base safely in 10 of his 16 at-bats as a Cub.

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