Game 13 Recap- CUBS 9, Reds 5

Lee, homers help Dempster
Derrek Lee turned in a workmanlike performance Tuesday night and Ryan Dempster was helped by the longball as the Cubs beat the Reds 9-5 at Wrigley Field. Lee went 3-for-5 on the night with a home run, three RBIs, and two runs scored. Mark DeRosa and Ryan Theriot also added home runs in support of Dempster, who struggled at times in his third start of the season.

The Reds opened the scoring in the bottom of the first when Edwin Encarnacion singled and scored Brandon Phillips. The teams traded leads with a Cubs home run by Mark DeRosa, followed by a Reds homer by Ken Griffey, Jr., but Lee put the Cubs ahead for good with a booming three-run jack to the left-center field bleachers in the fifth inning. The Cubs win spoiled Dusty Baker’s return to Wrigley Field. Baker, who now manages the Reds, was the Cubs’ skipper between 2003-2006.

Flashin’ the Leather
Lee also made an outstanding defensive play on the night. In the top of the seventh, with the Cubs clinging to a 5-4 lead and one run in during the inning, reliever Carlos Marmol was in trouble with one out and runners at the corners. Griffey, Jr. hit a ground ball to Lee, who threw to shortstop Theriot to get the out at second. Theriot threw back to Lee at first to get Griffey, Jr. to complete the 3-6-3 double play.

Soriano Injured
Not everything was positive for the Cubs Tuesday night. Left fielder Alfonso Soriano left the game after the top of the first inning with a strained right calf. The injury occurred when Soriano jogged in to corral a lazy fly ball to end the Reds’ half of the first inning. Just as he caught the ball, Soriano gave a slight hop – as he always does – but appeared to land awkwardly on his right leg. In obvious pain, Soriano was helped off the field by Theriot and Cubs trainer Mark O’Neal.

Mike Fontoent led off the bottom of the first, hitting for Soriano. Defensively, Fontoent stayed in the game, and played second base, while DeRosa, who began the game at second, took over Soriano’s post in left.

In his post-game remarks, manager Lou Piniella said Soriano would undergo an MRI late Tuesday or early Wednesday to determine the extent of the damage to the Cubs $136 million man. Late Tuesday, published reports said Soriano could be on the disabled list for as long as two weeks.

Statshot
W: Dempster (2-0, 2.37 ERA)
6.0 IP, 5 H, 4 R/ER, 5 BB, 3 K

L: Harang (1-2, 3.33 ERA)
6.0 IP, 8 H, 5 R/ER, 2 BB, 6 K

Most Valuable Cub
Lee – 3/5, 2 R, 3 RBI, HR

News & Notes
Griffey’s home run was his 595th of his career…Broadcasters Len Kasper and Bob Brenley reported that Dempster has an unusual bet with Piniellia. If Dempster successfully converts a sacrifice bunt in eight consecutive attempts, Piniella will give Dempster the go-ahead to steal second base the next time he reaches first safely. Dempster was 1/2 Tuesday night with a single and a sac bunt…Baker wasn’t the only one in a Reds uniform who was making a return to Wrigley. Reds catcher Paul Bako played for the Cubs during the 2003 and 2004 seasons, and center fielder Corey Patterson played for the Cubs between 2000-2005. Bako was 1-for-3 with a run scored and a walk. Patterson was 0-for-4.

Next Game
Wednesday, April 16
7:05 p.m.

Reds: Josh Fogg, RHP (1-1, 7.00 ERA)
CUBS: Carlos Zambrano (1-1, 3.20 ERA)

(Image courtesy of http://mlb.imageg.net/graphics/product_images/pMLB2-3496971dt.jpg)

Game 13 Preview – Reds @ CUBS

Reds (6-7) @ CUBS (7-5)

Tues., April 15, 7:05 p.m. CT
TV: CSN Chicago
Radio: WGN 720 AM

Probables
Reds: Aaron Harang, RHP (1-1, 2.14 ERA)
CUBS: Ryan Dempster, RHP (1-0, 0.69 ERA)

Preview
On this date in 1912, The Titanic famously sunk after striking an iceberg in the northern Atlantic Ocean. In some ways, Dusty Baker’s four-year managerial career with the Cubs could be related to the doomed cruise ship. Both Baker’s tenure with the Cubs and the Titanic were highly-touted before their voyages began. Both faced a long, trying journey in the face of uncertainties, and both sunk in the end.

Baker’s career with the Cubs seemed to be all downhill after he led the team to an 88-74 record in 2003, and a birth in the NLCS. In the following years, the Cubs never won the division under Baker, and his contract was not renewed following a 66-96 finish in 2006, paving the way for current Cubs manager Lou Piniellia to take over.

On Tuesday night, Baker returns to the proverbial iceberg -Wrigley Field- when he leads his new team, the Cincinnati Reds, into the first of a three-game set between the division rivals.

The Cubs are coming off a 4-2 Pennsylvania road trip which saw the club sweep the Pirates 3-0 late last week, before salvaging the final game of a three-game set with the Phillies over the weekend. Tuesday’s game, the first of an eight-game homestand for the North Siders follows a much-needed day off Monday. During the road trip, the Cubs played three extra-inning games, winning all three.

Ryan Dempster, who was converted from closer to starter during Spring Training will take the ball for the Cubs. Dempster’s first two starts since 2005 have been nothing short of spectacular. In his last outing April 9, the Canadian-born righty gave up only one hit over seven innings of work in what would wind up being a 15-inning Cubs win.

The Reds will counter with ace Aaron Harang. Harang was equally impressive in his last start on April 10 against Milwaukee. The big right-hander surrendered only one earned run in eight innings of work while he went on to collect the win. The Reds come into town after getting swept in three games by the Pirates over the weekend.

The Cubs Derrek Lee, who now leads the team in batting average (.346) after Koskue Fukudome has cooled off slightly, should be glad to see Wrigley Field again. Lee is batting .400 with three home runs and three doubles in six games at the Friendly Confines this season.

Weather
Tuesday is Cubs knit hat giveaway night at the ballpark, and fans might need them. Game-time temperature is expected to be about a seasonal 60 degrees, but the wind will be blowing at 17 m.p.h. Any Cubs fan knows that 60 degrees for a night game with 17 m.p.h winds at a ballpark blocks from Lake Michigan won’t feel like 60 degrees at all.