Post by Fish Troll on May 26, 2007 9:51:07 GMT -5
Cubs and Dodgers to face off on FOX
Zambrano, Hendrickson set to take the hill on Saturday
By Jayson Addcox / MLB.com
LOS ANGELES -- The last time the Cubs came to Los Angeles, they took two of three from the Dodgers, but lost their best player and saw their season unravel in the same three-game stretch.
Last April, Derrek Lee fractured his wrist on a collision at first base with Dodgers shortstop Rafael Furcal, and the injury put him on the disabled list for two months and sent the Cubs' young season into a tailspin.
This year the Dodgers welcome the Cubs back to Chavez Ravine in a nationally broadcasted game on FOX, with Tim McCarver and Matt Vasgersian in the booth Saturday at 3:55 p.m. ET (12:55 p.m. PT; 2:55 p.m. CT).
The Dodgers enter the weekend series leading the San Diego Padres, who just finished a four-game series with the Cubs, by a game and a half in the National League West and will send their crafty lefty Mark Hendrickson (2-1, 3.22) to the mound.
The Cubs come into the series having lost three out of four to the Padres and are now 6 1/2 games behind the Milwaukee Brewers in the NL Central. Hard-throwing righty Carlos Zambrano (4-4, 5.61) will make the start for the Cubs.
"I think the Cubs got swept by the Padres, so they're going to be wanting some lunch this weekend," said catcher Russell Martin after Wednesday night's victory over the Brewers. "We're going to have to go out there and have the right game plan and execute." Martin said.
Martin will be one of the key players for the Dodgers this weekend. The catcher had a strong series against the Brewers and has been the catalyst for the Dodgers offense.
Martin was 3-for-8 (.375) with a home run, six RBIs and three runs scored in the three-game series. So far this season Martin leads all Major League catchers in runs (30) and stolen bases (8), and is second in hits (49), RBIs (32) and doubles (13).
The Cubs, who feature a fearsome threesome of Lee, Alfonso Soriano and Aramis Ramirez, were 4-2 against the Dodgers last season including 2-1 at Dodger Stadium.
Lee comes into weekend series hitting a Major League-best .370 with three homers and 25 RBIs. Soriano and Ramirez have also been solid for the Cubs, batting .288 and .293, respectively.
The Cubs and Dodgers have played 2,009 games in more than 100 seasons in the NL, with the Cubs leading the series 1,005-1,004. The two teams are also in the midst of their longest droughts without a World Series Championship. The Cubs have not won a World Series since 1908 and the Dodgers last won the Fall Classic in 1988.
"The Cubs are a good team and it's going to be a good series," said Dodgers manager Grady Little.
Jayson Addcox is an associate reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
Zambrano, Hendrickson set to take the hill on Saturday
By Jayson Addcox / MLB.com
LOS ANGELES -- The last time the Cubs came to Los Angeles, they took two of three from the Dodgers, but lost their best player and saw their season unravel in the same three-game stretch.
Last April, Derrek Lee fractured his wrist on a collision at first base with Dodgers shortstop Rafael Furcal, and the injury put him on the disabled list for two months and sent the Cubs' young season into a tailspin.
This year the Dodgers welcome the Cubs back to Chavez Ravine in a nationally broadcasted game on FOX, with Tim McCarver and Matt Vasgersian in the booth Saturday at 3:55 p.m. ET (12:55 p.m. PT; 2:55 p.m. CT).
The Dodgers enter the weekend series leading the San Diego Padres, who just finished a four-game series with the Cubs, by a game and a half in the National League West and will send their crafty lefty Mark Hendrickson (2-1, 3.22) to the mound.
The Cubs come into the series having lost three out of four to the Padres and are now 6 1/2 games behind the Milwaukee Brewers in the NL Central. Hard-throwing righty Carlos Zambrano (4-4, 5.61) will make the start for the Cubs.
"I think the Cubs got swept by the Padres, so they're going to be wanting some lunch this weekend," said catcher Russell Martin after Wednesday night's victory over the Brewers. "We're going to have to go out there and have the right game plan and execute." Martin said.
Martin will be one of the key players for the Dodgers this weekend. The catcher had a strong series against the Brewers and has been the catalyst for the Dodgers offense.
Martin was 3-for-8 (.375) with a home run, six RBIs and three runs scored in the three-game series. So far this season Martin leads all Major League catchers in runs (30) and stolen bases (8), and is second in hits (49), RBIs (32) and doubles (13).
The Cubs, who feature a fearsome threesome of Lee, Alfonso Soriano and Aramis Ramirez, were 4-2 against the Dodgers last season including 2-1 at Dodger Stadium.
Lee comes into weekend series hitting a Major League-best .370 with three homers and 25 RBIs. Soriano and Ramirez have also been solid for the Cubs, batting .288 and .293, respectively.
The Cubs and Dodgers have played 2,009 games in more than 100 seasons in the NL, with the Cubs leading the series 1,005-1,004. The two teams are also in the midst of their longest droughts without a World Series Championship. The Cubs have not won a World Series since 1908 and the Dodgers last won the Fall Classic in 1988.
"The Cubs are a good team and it's going to be a good series," said Dodgers manager Grady Little.
Jayson Addcox is an associate reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
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