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Cubs' stopper Lilly takes the hill vs. Reds

Sep 19, 2007 - 2:39 PM Cincinnati (69-82) at Chicago Cubs (79-73) 8:05 pm EDT

CHICAGO (Ticker) - Carlos Zambrano is paid like a staff ace, but it is Ted Lilly who has been the money pitcher for the Chicago Cubs this season.

Lilly takes the mound on Wednesday against the Cincinnati Reds looking to help the Cubs rebound from a tough loss.

Pitching on three days' rest, Zambrano was outdueled by Reds ace Aaron Harang as the Cubs fell, 5-2, on Tuesday. Chicago dropped into a virtual tie with the Milwaukee Brewers (78-72) for first place in the National League Central.

Zambrano signed a five-year, $91.5 million contract extension last month, but has struggled since, going 2-4 with a 5.86 ERA in six starts since.

Meanwhile, Lilly (15-7, 3.82 ERA) is one win behind Zambrano for the team lead, and has gone 9-1 following a Cubs' loss. The lefthander, who will also pitch on short rest, yielded two runs and four hits in six innings, but did not factor in a 3-2 win over the St. Louis Cardinals on Saturday.

Lilly will be opposed by a 30-year-old journeyman, Tom Shearn.

Shearn (3-0, 4.15) will be making the fifth start of his career, and was done well thus far. The righthander has allowed three runs or less in each start.