2007: May 11-13 Chicago Cubs @ Philadelphia Phillies

[JoseA]

Chicago Cubs Site

[JoseA]

Preview:

It's time to hit the road.

The Cubs head east for a seven-game road trip to Philadelphia and New York, beginning Friday night at Philly's Citizens Bank Park. Rich Hill will open the trip against Philly left-hander Cole Hamels.

In his career, Hill has kept Philly slugger Ryan Howard in check (he's 0-for-3). But Jimmy Rollins is 2-for-3, including a home run and a double.

Hill has fared well on the road, going 2-0 with a 1.23 ERA away from Wrigley Field this season. Hill ranks fourth in the National League in ERA, behind teammate Jason Marquis (1.70 ERA). What's also impressive is teammate Ted Lilly is 14th at 2.78.

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[JoseA]

Well today's matchup should be a pretty good one. Both teams send out pitches who are 4-1 and have bright promising futures.

Both of these teams have a lot of talent, but neither have really showed it decisevly. This would be a huge series for us to win.

[JoseA]

Cubs downed by Phils in opener

Soriano, Ramirez each contribute solo homers in loss

PHILADELPHIA - Just a few pitches. That's all Rich Hill needed to take back. Otherwise, the left-hander actually had the Phillies right where he wanted them. He just didn't have Pat Burrell where he wanted. The Phillies left fielder slugged two homers that were responsible for five runs in a 7-2 setback for the Cubs, before 42,473 at Citizens Bank Park on Friday night.

The loss was the second straight for the Cubs, who fell to 16-17, while Philadelphia, behind starter Cole Hamels, won its second straight to improve to 16-19.

The game was billed as a battle of two rising young lefties, who both happened to have identical 4-1 records. Hill received early run support, thanks to solo homers by Alfonso Soriano (in the second) and Aramis Ramirez (in the fourth). Hamels happened to have Burrell, who snapped out of a month-long homerless funk with two rockets.

Recap

[JoseA]

Cubs drop third straight vs. Phils

Murton, Jones key six-run seventh, but Philly strikes back

PHILADELPHIA -- All Lou Piniella could do is look on stoically in disbelief. The Cubs manager stood, arms hanging over the top padded rail of the dugout, and watched as a six-run inning was answered by another six-run inning. With it, a lead evaporated.

The Cubs couldn't respond.

Chicago dropped its third straight game, falling to the Phillies, 11-7, in front of 45,026 at Citizens Bank Park on Saturday afternoon. The loss came after a 64-minute rain delay that interrupted a wild and wacky seventh inning that saw both teams combine to score 12 runs.

Recap

[JoseA]

Lilly sharp as Cubs end losing streak

Left-hander limits Phillies to one run in eight strong innings

PHILADELPHIA -- Ted Lilly had a no-hitter going into the fifth inning and kept the Phillies off-balance in grabbing a 4-1 victory before 45,129 at Citizens Bank Park on Sunday afternoon. The victory snaps a three-game skid and helped the Cubs improve to 17-18.

Lilly drove his record to 3-2. He was superb through seven innings. Until then, he surrendered a fifth-inning, two-out single to Abraham Nunez. He recorded one-two-three innings in the second, third, fourth, sixth and seventh innings.

Chicago's offense, meanwhile, squeaked out two runs against Phils starter Jon Lieber, who wasn't too shabby, either, scattering nine hits over seven innings and giving up just two runs.

Recap