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Lilly, six-run third help Cubs cruise by Mets

Aug 5, 2007 - 12:27 AM CHICAGO (Ticker) -- After stumbling in his last start, Ted Lilly got back on track.

Lilly pitched 7 2/3 strong innings and his teammates batted around in the third as the Chicago Cubs defeated the New York Mets, 6-2, on Saturday.

Mark DeRosa had a two-run single and Jacque Jones had two of his three hits in a six-run third for Chicago, which cut its deficit to one-half game behind the National League Central-leading Milwaukee Brewers. Milwaukee hosts the Philadelphia Phillies later on Saturday.

Lilly (12-5) has won seven of his last eight starts, rebounding from his only loss in that span.

"We needed innings, and Lilly really delivered for us today," Cubs manager Lou Piniella said. "We needed an outing like Lilly's. He gave us real good pitching today."

The lefthander dropped a 4-1 decision to Philadelphia on Monday, when he gave up four runs and seven hits in five innings to suffer his first loss since June 5.

Against the Mets, the nine-year veteran, in his first season with the Cubs, yielded two runs, seven hits and a walk while striking out eight.

"I had good command on my fastball," Lilly said. "It seemed to set up my slider and other pitches, making them more effective."

Lilly did surrender two solo homers to Moises Alou - in the fourth and sixth innings, respectively. It was the 30th time in his career Alou has had a multi-homer game.

"It would be great if there is a carry-over from (Alou's) performance today," Mets manager Willie Randolph said. "Moises is a great hitter, so we need for him to pick it up and help us pick up the slack. He can help carry us for a while."

After watching the Mets send nine men to the plate in a four-run ninth off Chicago closer Ryan Dempster in New York's 6-2 victory on Friday, the Cubs sent 11 men to the plate vs. John Maine in the third.

With two outs and men on second and third, Ryan Theriot hit an infield single that plated Jason Kendall to give Chicago its first run.

Replays showed that the throw from shortstop Jose Reyes on the slow roller beat Theriot to the first base bag, but he was called safe by first base umpire Marty Foster.

"I've lost my command before and was able to get it back," Maine said. "And I certainly could have gotten out of the inning with the double play if Theriot wasn't called safe."

Maine then ran into control problems, walking Derrek Lee on four pitches to load the bases before walking Aramis Ramirez on a 3-2 pitch, driving in Lilly from third. The New York righthander then plunked Cliff Floyd to give the Cubs a three-run lead.

"Walks always hurt," Maine said. "I've done a good job lately of not walking people. Today my command just got away from me."

DeRosa followed by driving a base hit up the middle to make it 5-0.

"I know for a lot of guys in here, when you see men on base, you see bases loaded, you bear down," DeRosa said. "There is a little extra incentive out there when there are (men on base) to be knocked in."

Jones, who began the inning with a double, singled to right to score Floyd from second to finish the scoring.

That was it for Maine (12-6), who was tagged for six runs, four hits and three walks in 2 2/3 innings. The six runs were the second most Maine had given up this season; he allowed seven to the Cincinnati Reds on July 13. It was also his shortest outing of 2007.

"John has been our best pitcher all year," Randolph said. "Today, he just wasn't sharp. His location was off. And he struggled to get back in rhythm. We just turn the page because he's been one of our top guys all year."

Luis Castillo also had two hits for New York, which saw its three-game winning streak come to an end.