Chicago Cubs Franchise (MVP 2003)

[Crown42Royal]

Starters:
Reds - Ryan Dempster (1-3)
Cubs - Kerry Wood (3-0)

Kerry Wood's streak continues as he goes 8 innings giving up no runs on 7 hits. So far this season Wood has baffled hitters with his cutter fastball and 90 degree curve that falls off the table. In 4 games this season he has 4 wins and no loses and he hasn't been scored on all season. And how many innings has he pitched this season you ask? 31 1/3! And while giving up no runs so far. When asked about the start of his season Wood had this to say, "It's nothing special. As long as we're winning games that's all that matters. I'm just trying to do my part, just like the rest of the team. And so far they've been scoring runs for me early to allow me to pitch my game. I don't even think of the streak, as far as I'm concerned it's nothing." The streak was almost over though. In the top of the 7th the Reds loaded up the bases on Wood with only one out and Austin Kearns up. On the second pitch Kearns hit a screaming groundball to Hee Seop Choi at first who tagged first base and then fired the ball home to get Adan Dunn out for the inning-ending double play. When asked about the play Wood just replied, "Lucky play."

Final score: Cubs 3 - Reds 0
Winning pitcher: Kerry Wood (4-0)
Losing pitcher: Ryan Dempster (1-4)
Save: Alfonseca (6)

Key hitter of the game: Troy O'Leary 3-3 3 1B RBI (5)
Key pitcher of the game: Kerry Wood 8 IP 7 H 2 K 0 ER

Player of the game: Kerry Wood 8 IP 7 H 2 K 0 ER

Team record: 14-2
Take a 5 game lead in the NLC

[Crown42Royal]

Starters:
Cubs - Matt Clement (2-0)
Pirates - Kris Benson (0-1)

The Cubs went into hibernation today as they lose to the Pirates 6-2. Cubs had the lead 2-1 going into the bottom of the 7th inning and everything fell apart from there. With timely hitting and Cub pitching mistakes the Pirates scored 2 in the 7th and 3 in the 8th to put the game on ice. Rip Pirtle made one simple fact clear, "We simply lost this game because we fell asleep." The loss goes to pitcher Steve Smyth who gave up 3 runs on 4 hits and only recorded two outs. This is the second straight outing Smyth has been roughed up. When asked about his struggling reliever Dusty Baker commented, "His pitches just aren't coming in for him. He better figure it out, and soon."

Final score: Pirates 6 - Cubs 2
Winning pitcher: Williams (2-1)
Losing pitcher: Smyth (0-1)
Save: Denny Reyes (1)

Key hitter of the game: Adam Hyzdu 2-4 2 RBI (8)
Key pitcher of the game: Dave Williams 3 IP 2 H 0 ER 2 K

Player of the game: Adam Hyzdu 2-4 2 RBI (8)

Team record: 14-3
4 game lead on Astros

[Crown42Royal]

Starters:
Cubs - Mark Prior (1-0)
Pirates - Josh Fogg (0-1)

As they've done all year the Cubs follow a loss with a win and a convincing one at that. Mark Prior pitched 7 1/1 solid innings as once again Sammy Sosa and Rip Pirtle provided the offense. Sosa ripped his 7th homer of the year while also adding his 4th triple of the year. Pirtle also contributed with his 6th double of the year while also getting a triple of his own, his first of this young season. The Cubs won this game relativly easy as they didn't get into trouble until the 9th inning when they had runners at first and second with no outs. But Remlinger came in and allowed no runs across as he got the last three outs. When asked about the win, Mark Prior had this to say, "It feels good to get the win. We kept it together today."

Final score: Cubs 5 - Pirates 0
Winning pitcher: Mark Prior (2-0)
Losing pitcher: Josh Fogg (0-2)

Key hitter of the game: Sosa 3-4 HR (7) 3B (4) 2 RBI (23)
Key pitcher of the game: Prior 7 1/3 IP 9 H 0 ER 2 K

Player of the game: Sosa 3-4 HR (7) 3B (4) 2 RBI (23)

Team record: 15-3
Maintain 4 game lead over Astros

[Crown42Royal]

Starters:
Cubs - Rick Ankiel (0-0)
Pirates - Kip Wells (1-2)

Corey Patterson came off the DL today and was inserted back into centerfield and back into the leadoff spot. Before his injury he was hitting around .260 and he hadn't had a hit in the 1st inning all year except in the 4th game of the year. When asked about his back before the game Patterson had this to say, "It's still alittle stiff but I'll be ready to go by gametime." And boy was he ready by gametime. He started off the game with his first triple of the year followed by a double two innings later. He ended the game by going 4-5 with one RBI. Dusty Baker commented on his centerfielder's return as, "a good sign, he showed us today that he's ready gonna be in this lineup for many years to come." Patterson wasn't the only hitting star in today's game as Rip Pirtle belted a 3-run shot in the top of the first to give the Cubs a 4-0 lead early. Sammy Sosa and Ty Wigginton also contributed with 2 RBI's each. Rick Ankiel also pitched a good, solid game for his first win of the year. He replaced Shawn Estes in the rotation when Estes went down early last week with an inflamed elbow. Estes should be back by the end of the week.

Final score: Cubs 8 - Pirates 2
Winning pitcher: Rick Ankiel (1-0)
Losing pitcher: Kip Wells (1-3)

Key hitter of the game: Rip Pirtle 2-5 HR (12) 2B (7) 3 RBI (21)
Key pitcher of the game: Rick Ankiel 6 2/3 IP 8 H 5 K

Player of the game: Corey Patterson 4-5 3B (1) 2B (5) RBI (5)

Team record: 16-3
Take a 5 game lead over Astros

[Crown42Royal]

Starters:
Padres - Oliver Perez (1-1)
Cubs - Carlos Zambrano (1-0)

Cubs only muster 7 hits to the Padres 11, but in the end they win the battle of runs 2-1. The Cubs didn't have much punch today as Zambrano was only able pitch 4 innings before he ran out of juice. Colby Lewis came in the game and pitched 4 while only giving up 1 run, Alfonseca then came in and got his 7th save of the year. "We're dissappointed in him.", said Cubs manager Dusty Baker, "We didn't expect him to tire out as quick as he did. We're going to have the trainers check him out to see if he's o.k. cause this was pretty peculilar. Luckily we get Estes back soon so if somethings wrong with Zambrano then we've got a backup plan, we'll see."

Final score: Cubs 2 - Padres 1
Winning pitcher: Colby Lewis (1-1)
Losing pitcher: Oliver Perez (1-1)
Save: Antonio Alfonseca (7)

Key hitter of the game: Sammy Sosa 2-3 2B (12) 3B (5) RBI (26)
Key pitcher of the game: nobody

Player of the game: Sammy Sosa 2-3 2B (12) 3B (5) RBI (26)

Team record: 17-3
Maintain 5 game lead over Astros

[Crown42Royal]

Starters:
Padres - Brian Lawrence (0-3)
Cubs - Kerry Wood (4-0)

The story before the game even started was all about Kerry Wood; could he continue his scoreless innings streak? In one word, YES! It may sound like old music but Kerry Wood once again pitched a masterful game. In pitching 8 innings he only gave up 4 hits and once again allowed no runs to cross the plate. "I've felt great the past couple of weeks. I've never had a start to a season like I've had this year. I got in some trouble there in the fourth inning when I had bases loaded and two outs but once again I somehow got out of the jam.", commented Wood. When asked about their star pitcher Mark Bellhorn had this to say, "He's Awesome!."

Final score: Cubs 3 - Padres 0
Winning pitcher: Kerry Wood (5-0)
Losing pitcher: Brian Lawrence (0-4)
Save: Antonio Alfonseca (8)

Key hitter of the game: nobody
Key pitcher of the game: Kerry Wood 8 IP 4 H 7 K 1 IBB

Player of the game: Kerry Wood 8 IP 4 H 7 K 1 IBB

Team record: 18-3
Maintain 5 game lead over Astros

[Crown42Royal]

St. Louis sends Woody William to Philidelphia for Jimmy Rollins
Rollins was hitting .297 with 4 HR, 10 RBI, and 6 SB
Williams was 2-1 with a 4.38 ERA, 20 K, and 11 BB

[Crown42Royal]

Starters:
Padres - Adam Eaton (0-2)
Cubs - Matt Clement (2-0)

Matt Clement pitches 5 1/3 innings allowing only 5 hits and the Padres never got it going. Cubs out played the Padres all day and it looked as if the Padres wanted to get out of Chicago as quick as possible. The key hitter of the game was Rip Pirtle who connectted with his league leading 13th homerun in the bottom of the 8th.

Final score: Cubs 6 - Padres 1
Winning pitcher: Matt Clement (3-0)
Losing pitcher: Adam Eaton (0-3)
Save: Antonio Alfonseca (9)

Key hitter of the game: Rip Pirtle 2-4 HR (13) 3 RBI (25)
Key pitcher of the game: nodody

Player of the game: Rip Pirtle 2-4 HR (13) 3 RBI (25)

Team record: 19-3
Maintain 5 game lead over Astros