Philadelphia @ Chicago preview
Wrigley Field
Last Meeting ( Jul 15, 2010 ) Philadelphia 6, Chi. Cubs 12
After limping into the All-Star break, the Chicago Cubs certainly put on their track shoes to begin the second half of the season.
The Cubs scored six runs in the first three innings on Thursday and slugged their way to a 12-6 triumph over the Philadelphia Phillies.
Chicago (40-50) will look for its second straight win against Philadelphia (47-41) during Friday's matinee at Wrigley Field.
Thursday's contest was a far cry from what the Windy City faithful has seen from the Cubs of late. Chicago hit a paltry .221 in its last seven home games and, as a result, was blown out to the tune of 35-12 in that stretch.
Things looked to continue their downward turn for the Cubs after Phillies All-Star Ryan Howard launched a two-run homer in the top of the first inning.
It turned around in a hurry.
Aramis Ramirez blasted a pair of two-run doubles and Derrek Lee and Geovany Soto belted two-run homers as Chicago banged out 16 hits.
Alfonso Soriano had a solo shot and added a pair of RBI singles and rookie Starlin Castro tripled and stole home.
Every member of the Cubs' starting lineup had at least one hit - with the exception of Marlon Byrd, who scored twice in the contest.
Howard would add another two-run shot in the ninth for Philadelphia, which saw its four-game winning streak come to an end.
The teams will send a pair of struggling hurlers to the mound today.
Chicago's Ted Lilly (3-8, 4.08 ERA) has permitted 16 runs in 10 1/3 innings over his last two starts - both losses. In his last outing, the 34-year-old left-hander allowed seven runs and seven hits in 3 2/3 innings en route to a 9-7 loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers on July 9.
Philadelphia will counter with Joe Blanton (3-5, 6.41 ERA), who has yet to get untracked after starting the season on the sideline with an oblique injury.
The 29-year-old Tennessee native has recorded three straight no-decisions - including a six-run, 12-hit effort in 5 1/3 innings against the Cincinnati Reds a week ago.
As for some positive news for Charlie Manuel's club, the Phillies welcomed back right-hander Chad Durbin prior to Thursday's contest - thus signifying the first time that the bullpen has been at full strength this season.
Durbin allowed one hit in one scoreless inning against the Cubs.