• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Lilly looks to keep Cubs going in right direction

Jul 2, 2007 - 2:00 PM Chicago Cubs (40-40) at Washington (33-48) 7:05 pm EDT

WASHINGTON (Ticker) -- The Chicago Cubs aim to continue their strong recent play when they kick off a four-game series at the Washington Nationals on Monday.

Trying to climb over the .500 mark for the first time since they were 16-15 on May 9, the Cubs have won eight of their last nine contests. They owe a great deal of their recent success to an offense that has been averaging 5.4 runs. It is a full run more than in the first 71 games.

Chicago is coming off a 5-1 win in the rubber game of a weekend series with the Milwaukee Brewers, cutting their deficit to 6 1/2 games in the National League Central.

Ted Lilly (6-4, 4.03 ERA), who is winless on the road since May 13, looks to benefit from the added run support. He is coming off a poor outing on Tuesday against the Colorado Rockies despite getting the win, surrendering four runs and six hits with five walks over six innings in an 8-5 victory.

The lefthander is 2-2 with a 2.25 ERA in five career starts against the Nationals.

Jason Simontacchi (5-5, 5.81) aims to post a second consecutive quality start one outing after surrendering 10 runs over three frames against the Detroit Tigers on June 19.

In his last start against the Cleveland Indians on June 24, the 33-year-old righthander allowed one run and tied a season high with six strikeouts in a 3-1 victory.

Simontacchi, who has won three of his last four starts, is 1-2 in five lifetime starts against Chicago.