Final
Cubs-Nationals Preview
Jul 19, 2009 - 4:13 AM By JEFF MEZYDLO STATS Senior WriterChicago (45-43) at Washington (26-63), 1:35 p.m. EDT
The manager might be different, but the results are the same for the Washington Nationals.
Still looking for their first win under interim manager Jim Riggleman, the Nationals try to avoid a fifth straight loss and being swept by the visiting Chicago Cubs on Sunday.
On Saturday, Washington (26-64) couldn't hold an early four-run lead and lost 6-5 - its third defeat in the four-game set against Chicago and remained winless since Riggleman replaced the fired Manny Acta on Monday.
"We just haven't been able to get a run home," said Riggleman, who's club has lost its last two games by a total of three runs. "It's going to happen, though. I promise you it's going to happen."
Nyjer Morgan and Nick Johnson each had three hits and an RBI, while All-Star Ryan Zimmerman drove in a pair of runs for the Nationals, who lost for the ninth time in 10 games.
Morgan has hit safely in six straight games and is 7 for 13 in this series despite the Nationals hitting .208 against the Cubs.
Former National Alfonso Soriano hit a go-ahead three-run homer in the sixth inning for the Cubs (46-43), who've won a season-high four in a row on the road and five of their last six overall.
It was the 15th homer - and first since June 7 - for Soriano, who missed Friday's contest with a swollen finger. Despite hitting .234, Soriano is 11 for 36 (.306) in 10 games since being dropped from the leadoff spot in the order.
"I feel very comfortable at home plate," Soriano said. "I had bad first half, so I hope every bad moment I had will stay in the first half and I have a new second half with a better job."
Looking to sweep their first road series of at least three games this season, the Cubs face Washington's Garrett Mock (0-2, 6.92 ERA) for the first time as a starter in this contest.
Mock is being recalled from Triple-A Syracuse to make his first start of the season after Ross Detwiler was sent to the minors. After struggling in 13 relief appearances, Mock went 5-1 with a 2.56 ERA in eight starts for Syracuse.
The right-hander went 0-3 with a 7.20 ERA as a starter in 2008.
Chicago counters with Kevin Hart (0-1, 1.69), who will be recalled from Triple-A Iowa to make his second start after Ted Lilly was pushed back to Monday because of left knee inflammation.
Hart, who's made four relief appearances for the Cubs this season, allowed one run and four hits while walking five in five innings of a 4-1 loss to Atlanta on July 8 in his first career start.
"Baseball is one of those games where sometimes you can go out there and give up five and get a win, and sometimes you can go out there and give up one and get a loss," Hart told the Cubs' official Web site.
Chicago has won 12 of its last 16 versus Washington.
- ** CONFIRMED **
NL
CHICAGO CUBS 11
WASHINGTON 3 FINAL
Jul 19 4:49 PM - NL
AT WASHINGTON - SCORING UPDATE
SOLO HOME RUN BY ADAM DUNN (24) TO RIGHT CENTER WITH 2 OUT
IN THE 7TH OFF JEFF SAMARDZIJA.
CURRENT SCORE: CHICAGO CUBS 11, WASHINGTON 3
DUE UP FOR WASHINGTON: J WILLINGHAM (.286, 0-FOR-1, 2 BB)
Cubs 11, Nationals 3 Bot 7, 0 OutsJul 19 4:10 PM - NL
AT WASHINGTON - SCORING UPDATE
THREE-RUN HOME RUN BY JAKE FOX (5) TO LEFT CENTER WITH 1 OUT
IN THE 6TH OFF RON VILLONE SCORED MICAH HOFFPAUIR AND RYAN
THERIOT.
CURRENT SCORE: CHICAGO CUBS 11, WASHINGTON 2
DUE UP FOR CHICAGO CUBS: A SORIANO (.238, 2-FOR-3, HR, 2 RBI)
Cubs 11, Nationals 2 Top 6, 0 OutsJul 19 3:39 PM - NL
AT WASHINGTON - SCORING UPDATE
SINGLE BY JAKE FOX SCORED DERREK LEE
SITUATION: 7 RUNS IN, J FOX ON FIRST, M HOFFPAUIR ON SECOND, 2 OUTS
CURRENT SCORE: CHICAGO CUBS 8
WASHINGTON 2 TOP,4TH
DUE UP FOR CHICAGO CUBS: A SORIANO (.239, 2-FOR-2, HR, 2 RBI)
Cubs 8, Nationals 2 Top 4, 0 OutsJul 19 2:53 PM - NL
AT WASHINGTON - SCORING UPDATE
SINGLE BY DERREK LEE SCORED KOSUKE FUKUDOME
SITUATION: 6 RUNS IN, D LEE ON FIRST, 2 OUTS
CURRENT SCORE: CHICAGO CUBS 7
WASHINGTON 2 TOP,4TH
DUE UP FOR CHICAGO CUBS: M HOFFPAUIR (.241, 1-FOR-2)
Cubs 7, Nationals 2 Top 4, 0 OutsJul 19 2:53 PM - NL
AT WASHINGTON - SCORING UPDATE
SACRIFICE FLY BY RYAN THERIOT SCORED KEVIN HART
SITUATION: 5 RUNS IN, K FUKUDOME ON SECOND, 2 OUTS
CURRENT SCORE: CHICAGO CUBS 6
WASHINGTON 2 TOP,4TH
DUE UP FOR CHICAGO CUBS: D LEE (.283, 0-FOR-2)
Cubs 6, Nationals 2 Top 4, 0 OutsJul 19 2:48 PM - NL
AT WASHINGTON - SCORING UPDATE
SINGLE BY KOSUKE FUKUDOME SCORED KOYIE HILL
SITUATION: 4 RUNS IN, K FUKUDOME ON FIRST, K HART ON THIRD, 1 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: CHICAGO CUBS 5
WASHINGTON 2 TOP,4TH
DUE UP FOR CHICAGO CUBS: R THERIOT (.293, 0-FOR-2)
Cubs 5, Nationals 2 Top 4, 0 OutsJul 19 2:43 PM - NL
AT WASHINGTON - SCORING UPDATE
SINGLE BY KEVIN HART SCORED MIKE FONTENOT
SITUATION: 3 RUNS IN, K HART ON FIRST, K HILL ON SECOND, 1 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: CHICAGO CUBS 4
WASHINGTON 2 TOP,4TH
DUE UP FOR CHICAGO CUBS: K FUKUDOME (.261, 1-FOR-1, BB)
Cubs 4, Nationals 2 Top 4, 0 OutsJul 19 2:40 PM - NL
AT WASHINGTON - SCORING UPDATE
TWO-RUN HOME RUN BY ALFONSO SORIANO (16) TO LEFT WITH 1 OUT
IN THE 4TH OFF GARRETT MOCK SCORED JAKE FOX.
CURRENT SCORE: CHICAGO CUBS 3, WASHINGTON 2
DUE UP FOR CHICAGO CUBS: M FONTENOT (.239, 1-FOR-1, RBI)
Cubs 3, Nationals 2 Top 4, 0 OutsJul 19 2:33 PM - NL
AT WASHINGTON - SCORING UPDATE
SACRIFICE FLY BY RYAN ZIMMERMAN SCORED NYJER MORGAN
SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, N JOHNSON ON FIRST, 1 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: CHICAGO CUBS 1
WASHINGTON 2 BOTTOM,3RD
DUE UP FOR WASHINGTON: A DUNN (.261, 0-FOR-1)
Cubs 1, Nationals 2 Bot 3, 0 OutsJul 19 2:24 PM - NL
AT WASHINGTON - SCORING UPDATE
SACRIFICE FLY BY ALBERTO GONZALEZ SCORED JOSH WILLINGHAM
SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, J BARD ON FIRST, 2 OUTS
CURRENT SCORE: CHICAGO CUBS 1
WASHINGTON 1 BOTTOM,2ND
DUE UP FOR WASHINGTON: G MOCK (-, 0 HR, 0 RBI)
Cubs 1, Nationals 1 Bot 2, 0 OutsJul 19 2:07 PM - NL
AT WASHINGTON - SCORING UPDATE
DOUBLE BY MIKE FONTENOT SCORED MICAH HOFFPAUIR
SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, M FONTENOT ON SECOND, A SORIANO ON THIRD, 1 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: CHICAGO CUBS 1
WASHINGTON 0 TOP,2ND
DUE UP FOR CHICAGO CUBS: K HILL (.220, 2 HR, 9 RBI)
Cubs 1, Nationals 0 Top 2, 0 OutsJul 19 1:55 PM
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