Astros 4 - 3 Cubs
Final
  for this game

Cubs hope Fukudome continues hot start vs. Astros

Apr 4, 2008 - 12:01 PM Houston (1-3) at Chicago Cubs (1-2) 2:20 pm EDT

CHICAGO (Ticker) - So far, the Chicago Cubs have to like what they see from Japanese import Kosuke Fukudome.

Fukudome looks to continue his strong start to the season as the Cubs host the Houston Astros on Friday in the opener of a three-game series.

The 30-year-old Fukudome signed a four-year, $48 million deal with the Cubs this offseason to be their right fielder.

A former star for the Chunichi Dragons, Fukudome has had no problem adapting to major-league pitching. He went 4-for-8 with a pair of doubles and a home run in the season-opening series vs. Milwaukee.

Fukudome smashed a game-tying, three-run homer in Monday's 4-3 loss to the Brewers. He also had a pair of walks and a stolen base as the Cubs avoided a three-game sweep with a 6-3 win over Milwaukee on Thursday.

Cubs manager Lou Piniella is already singing Fukudome's praises.

"He's very patient," Piniella said. "He works the count very well. He's just a professional hitter. He probably takes more pitches than anybody else on the team. He's in a three-ball count a heck of a lot."

Rich Hill will make his first start of the season for Chicago. The 28-year-old lefthander went 11-8 with a 3.92 ERA in 32 starts last season.

Houston will counter with Chris Sampson. The righthander went 7-8 with a 4.59 ERA in 24 games last season before having season-ending elbow surgery in September.

Houston's offense has struggled to start the season, posting a .203 average. Slugger Carlos Lee has been one of the culprits, as he is mired in a 3-for-17 slump.








  • NL
    FINAL
    1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
    - - - - - - - - - - - -
    HOUSTON 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 2 0 4 5 0
    CHICAGO CUBS 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 1 3 9 1 (FINAL)

    BATTERIES: HOU - CHRIS SAMPSON, WESLEY WRIGHT (7TH), DOUG BROCAIL (8TH), JOSE
    VALVERDE (9TH) AND J.R. TOWLES
    CHN - RICH HILL, JON LIEBER (7TH), MICHAEL WUERTZ (9TH)
    AND GEOVA

    Apr 4 4:49 PM


  • NL
    AT CHICAGO CUBS - SCORING UPDATE
    SOLO HOME RUN BY MARK DEROSA (1) TO LEFT WITH 1 OUT IN THE
    9TH OFF JOSE VALVERDE.
    CURRENT SCORE: HOUSTON 4, CHICAGO CUBS 3
    DUE UP FOR CHICAGO CUBS: G SOTO (.182, 1-FOR-3, 2 RBI)

    Astros 4, Cubs 3  Bot 9, 0 OutsApr 4 4:45 PM
  • 40
    roots
    RUWTbot Added 35 roots (Close Finish)

    Astros 4, Cubs 3  Bot 9, 0 OutsApr 4 4:45 PM


  • NL
    AT CHICAGO CUBS - SCORING UPDATE
    SACRIFICE FLY BY TY WIGGINTON SCORED MIGUEL TEJADA.
    SITUATION: 2 RUNS IN, NONE ON, 2 OUT
    CURRENT SCORE: HOUSTON 4
    CHICAGO CUBS 2 TOP, 8TH
    DUE UP FOR HOUSTON: M LORETTA (.231, 0-FOR-2, BB)

    Astros 4, Cubs 2  Top 8, 0 OutsApr 4 4:18 PM


  • NL
    AT CHICAGO CUBS - SCORING UPDATE
    TRIPLE BY MIGUEL TEJADA SCORED LANCE BERKMAN.
    SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, M TEJADA ON THIRD, 1 OUT
    CURRENT SCORE: HOUSTON 3
    CHICAGO CUBS 2 TOP, 8TH
    DUE UP FOR HOUSTON: T WIGGINTON (.176, 0-FOR-2, BB)

    Astros 3, Cubs 2  Top 8, 0 OutsApr 4 4:17 PM


  • NL
    AT CHICAGO CUBS - SCORING UPDATE
    SINGLE BY GEOVANY SOTO SCORED ARAMIS RAMIREZ AND KOSUKE
    FUKUDOME.
    SITUATION: 2 RUNS IN, G SOTO ON FIRST, 2 OUT
    CURRENT SCORE: HOUSTON 2
    CHICAGO CUBS 2 BOTTOM, 7TH
    DUE UP FOR CHICAGO CUBS: F PIE (.231, 0-FOR-2)

    Astros 2, Cubs 2  Bot 7, 0 OutsApr 4 4:05 PM


  • NL
    AT CHICAGO CUBS - SCORING UPDATE
    TWO-RUN HOME RUN BY J.R. TOWLES (1) TO LEFT WITH 2 OUT IN
    THE 4TH OFF RICH HILL SCORED MARK LORETTA.
    CURRENT SCORE: HOUSTON 2, CHICAGO CUBS 0
    DUE UP FOR HOUSTON: C SAMPSON (.000, 0-FOR-1)

    Astros 2, Cubs 0  Top 4, 0 OutsApr 4 3:09 PM

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