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Major League Baseball

April 30, 2008  Wrigley Field-Attendance: 39,908 (41,160)  Time: 3:33
 
Milwaukee 5 Chicago Cubs 19
 FINAL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
 Brewers  0 0 1 0 2 0 2 0 0 5 6 1
 Cubs  6 0 1 5 0 1 0 6 X 19 17 0
W: R. Dempster (W, 4-0); L: J. Suppan (L, 1-1)
HR: MIL: M. Rivera (1). CHC: G. Soto (4, 5).

Batting
Milwaukee
Name AB R H RBI BB SO LOB AVG
R Weeks 2B 4 3 2 0 1 0 0 .202
M Cameron CF 3 0 0 0 1 1 3 .375
R Braun LF 3 0 2 3 0 0 0 .273
   M Rivera 1B 1 1 1 2 0 0 0 .333
P Fielder 1B 3 0 1 0 0 0 3 .250
   S McClung P 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .000
   D Turnbow P 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 ---
   M Stetter P 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 ---
C Hart RF 2 0 0 0 1 0 1 .293
   G Kapler RF 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .283
B Hall 3B 4 0 0 0 0 1 1 .233
J Hardy SS 3 0 0 0 1 0 1 .234
J Suppan P 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
   B Shouse P 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 ---
   T Gwynn PH-LF 3 0 0 0 0 1 1 .333
J Kendall C 3 1 0 0 1 0 0 .294
Team totals: 32 5 6 5 5 5 5  

Individual Batting:
Doubles: R Weeks (4), R Braun (9)
Home runs: M Rivera (1, 7th inning off B Howry with 1 on, 2 outs)
RBI: M Rivera 2 (4), R Braun 3 (18)
Grounded into double play: B Hall (1)
Left in scoring position: M Cameron (2), P Fielder (2), J Hardy (1)

Team Batting:
Left on base: 5
Left in scoring position: 3
Hits with runners in scoring position: 8 at-bats, 3 hits

Fielding:
Errors: B Hall (4)

Pitching:
Wild pitches: S McClung (1)

Batting
Chicago Cubs
Name AB R H RBI BB SO LOB AVG
R Johnson LF 5 2 1 0 1 1 1 .296
R Theriot SS 5 3 2 1 1 0 0 .323
D Lee 1B 3 2 2 1 0 0 0 .364
   R Cedeno PH-2B 1 2 1 3 2 0 0 .378
A Ramirez 3B 3 1 1 3 0 0 0 .287
   D Ward PH-1B 3 0 1 1 0 1 2 .105
K Fukudome RF 4 2 2 1 0 0 2 .327
   H Blanco C 1 0 0 0 1 1 0 .333
M DeRosa 2B-3B 3 3 2 2 3 1 2 .297
G Soto C 4 2 2 6 0 1 3 .333
   B Howry P 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
   C Marmol P 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 ---
   M Fontenot PH 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .256
   M Wuertz P 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 ---
F Pie CF 4 0 0 0 1 2 3 .205
R Dempster P 3 0 1 0 0 1 1 .167
   M Murton PH-RF 2 1 1 1 0 1 3 .214
Team totals: 42 19 17 19 9 9 8  

Individual Batting:
Doubles: A Ramirez (9), R Cedeno (6), D Ward (1), D Lee (9), K Fukudome (8)
Home runs: G Soto 2 (5, 1st inning off J Suppan with 2 on, 1 outs) (4th inning off B Shouse with 2 on, 2 outs)
RBI: A Ramirez 3 (22), R Theriot (8), M DeRosa 2 (19), R Cedeno 3 (16), G Soto 6 (20), D Ward (3), D Lee (23), M Murton (4), K Fukudome (10)
Left in scoring position: M DeRosa (1), G Soto (1), F Pie (1), M Murton (2), K Fukudome (1)

Team Batting:
Left on base: 8
Left in scoring position: 3
Hits with runners in scoring position: 17 at-bats, 10 hits

Base Running:
Stolen bases: R Theriot (7)

Fielding:
Double plays: 1: (#1: M DeRosa, D Lee)

Pitching
Milwaukee
Name IP H R ER BB SO ERA
J Suppan (L, 1-1) 3.2 11 11 8 1 1 5.19
B Shouse 0.1 1 1 1 0 1 3.86
S McClung 3 1 1 1 4 5 5.40
D Turnbow 0.2 4 6 6 4 1 15.63
M Stetter 0.1 0 0 0 0 1 0.00

Pitching
Chicago Cubs
Name IP H R ER BB SO ERA
R Dempster (W, 4-0) 6 4 3 3 5 1 3.16
B Howry 1 2 2 2 0 2 8.10
C Marmol 1 0 0 0 0 2 1.56
M Wuertz 1 0 0 0 0 0 4.61

Individual Pitching
Milwaukee
Name Batters Faced Pitches Strikes Ground Balls Fly Balls
J Suppan 24 92 57 8 7
B Shouse 2 6 4 0 1
S McClung 14 72 38 1 2
D Turnbow 10 43 21 1 1
M Stetter 1 5 3 0 0

Chicago Cubs
Name Batters Faced Pitches Strikes Ground Balls Fly Balls
R Dempster 26 106 64 10 7
B Howry 5 23 15 2 1
C Marmol 3 20 11 0 1
M Wuertz 3 12 9 2 1

Officials
Umpires
Name  Position
Tom Hallion HP
Brian O'Nora 1B
Damien Beal 2B
Paul Nauert 3B

Game Highlights
NL Milwaukee at Chicago Cubs Cubs Geovany Soto has 6 RBI.

Play-By-Play
Top of the 1st
Out: Weeks grounds out to P. 1 out.
Out: Cameron flies out to 1B. 2 outs.
Out: Braun grounds out to 3B. 3 outs.
Bottom of the 1st
Hit: Johnson hits a single to LF.   0 out.
Hit: Theriot hits a single to 2B.   R Johnson to third.  0 out.
Stolen base: R Theriot steals second. 0 out.
Run scored: 1 run, double by Derrek Lee. Reed Johnson scores from 3rd.
Run scored: 2 runs, double by Aramis Ramirez. Ryan Theriot scores from 3rd, Derrek Lee scores from 2nd.
Out: Fukudome flies out to LF.  A Ramirez holds on second.  1 out.
Play: DeRosa walks. A Ramirez holds on second.  1 out.
Run scored: 3 runs, home run by Geovany Soto (4). Aramis Ramirez scores from 2nd, Mark DeRosa scores from 1st.
Out: Pie strikes out. 2 outs.
Hit: Dempster hits a single to RF.   2 outs.
Out: Johnson hits a fielders-choice to SS. 3 outs.
Top of the 2nd
Hit: Fielder hits a single to CF.   0 out.
Out: Hart flies out to 2B.  P Fielder holds on first.  1 out.
Out: Hall grounds out to 3B.  P Fielder to second.  2 outs.
Out: Hardy grounds out to 1B. 3 outs.
Bottom of the 2nd
Out: Theriot grounds out to 2B. 1 out.
Out: Lee flies out to 2B. 2 outs.
Out: Ramirez flies out to RF. 3 outs.
Top of the 3rd
Out: Suppan grounds out to P. 1 out.
Out: Kendall flies out to LF. 2 outs.
Hit: Weeks hits a single to CF.   2 outs.
Play: Cameron walks. R Weeks to second.  2 outs.
Run scored: 1 run, single by Ryan Braun. Rickie Weeks scores from 2nd.
Out: Fielder flies out to LF. 3 outs.
Bottom of the 3rd
Hit: Fukudome hits a double to SS.   0 out.
Run scored: 1 run, single by Mark DeRosa. Kosuke Fukudome scores from 2nd.
Out: Soto flies out to LF.  M DeRosa holds on first.  1 out.
Out: Pie flies out to SS.  M DeRosa holds on first.  2 outs.
Out: Dempster flies out to CF. 3 outs.
Top of the 4th
Out: Hart flies out to 2B. 1 out.
Out: Hall flies out to CF. 2 outs.
Out: Hardy grounds out to P. 3 outs.
Bottom of the 4th
Out: Johnson grounds out to 3B. 1 out.
Hit: Theriot hits a single to LF.   1 out.
Hit: Lee hits a single to CF.   R Theriot to third.  1 out.
Run scored: 1 run, Aramis Ramirez reaches on error by Bill Hall. Ryan Theriot scores from 3rd.
Out: Fukudome hits a fielders-choice to 3B.   A Ramirez out.  D Lee to third.  2 outs.
Run scored: 1 run, single by Mark DeRosa. Derrek Lee scores from 3rd.
Pitching Change: (P) Suppan replaced by (P) Shouse
Run scored: 3 runs, home run by Geovany Soto (5). Kosuke Fukudome scores from 2nd, Mark DeRosa scores from 1st.
Out: Pie strikes out. 3 outs.
Top of the 5th
Out: Shouse grounds out to 2B. 1 out.
Play: Kendall walks. 1 out.
Play: Weeks walks. J Kendall to second.  1 out.
Out: Cameron flies out to 3B.  R Weeks holds on first.  J Kendall holds on second.  2 outs.
Run scored: 2 runs, double by Ryan Braun. Jason Kendall scores from 2nd, Rickie Weeks scores from 1st.
Out: Fielder grounds out to 2B. 3 outs.
Bottom of the 5th
Defensive Substitution: (LF) Braun replaced by (1B) Rivera
Position Change: Gwynn moves to LF
Pitching Change: (P) Shouse replaced by (P) McClung
Out: Dempster strikes out. 1 out.
Out: Johnson flies out to LF. 2 outs.
Out: Theriot flies out to RF. 3 outs.
Top of the 6th
Play: Hart walks. 0 out.
Out: Hall hits into double play. 2 outs.
Play: Hardy walks. 2 outs.
Out: Gwynn strikes out. 3 outs.
Bottom of the 6th
Offensive Substitution: (1B) Lee replaced by (PH) Cedeno
Play: Cedeno walks. 0 out.
Offensive Substitution: (3B) Ramirez replaced by (PH) Ward
Out: Ward strikes out. R Cedeno holds on first.  1 out.
wild-pitch:  R Cedeno to second.  1 out.
Run scored: 1 run, single by Kosuke Fukudome. Ronny Cedeno scores from 2nd.
Play: DeRosa walks. K Fukudome to second.  1 out.
Out: Soto strikes out. M DeRosa holds on first.  K Fukudome holds on second.  2 outs.
Play: Pie walks. M DeRosa to second.  K Fukudome to third.  2 outs.
Offensive Substitution: (P) Dempster replaced by (PH) Murton
Out: Murton strikes out. 3 outs.
Top of the 7th
Position Change: Cedeno moves to 2B
Position Change: Ward moves to 1B
Defensive Substitution: (RF) Fukudome replaced by (C) Blanco
Position Change: DeRosa moves to 3B
Position Change: Murton moves to RF
Pitching Change: (P) Dempster replaced by (P) Howry
Out: Kendall grounds out to 3B. 1 out.
Hit: Weeks hits a double to LF.   1 out.
Out: Cameron strikes out. R Weeks holds on second.  2 outs.
Run scored: 2 runs, home run by Mike Rivera (1). Rickie Weeks scores from 2nd.
Out: McClung strikes out. 3 outs.
Bottom of the 7th
Defensive Substitution: (RF) Hart replaced by (RF) Kapler
Out: Johnson strikes out. 1 out.
Out: Theriot grounds out to 1B. 2 outs.
Play: Cedeno walks. 2 outs.
Out: Ward flies out to CF. 3 outs.
Top of the 8th
Pitching Change: (P) Howry replaced by (P) Marmol
Out: Kapler strikes out. 1 out.
Out: Hall strikes out. 2 outs.
Out: Hardy flies out to C. 3 outs.
Bottom of the 8th
Pitching Change: (P) McClung replaced by (P) Turnbow
Out: Blanco strikes out. 1 out.
Play: DeRosa walks. 1 out.
Offensive Substitution: (P) Marmol replaced by (PH) Fontenot
Hit: Fontenot hits a single to LF.   M DeRosa to second.  1 out.
Out: Pie flies out to RF.  M Fontenot holds on first.  M DeRosa holds on second.  2 outs.
Run scored: 1 run, single by Matt Murton. Mark DeRosa scores from 2nd.
Play: Johnson walks. M Murton to second.  M Fontenot to third.  2 outs.
Run scored: 1 run, Ryan Theriot walks. Mike Fontenot scores from 3rd.
Run scored: 3 runs, double by Ronny Cedeno. Matt Murton scores from 3rd, Reed Johnson scores from 2nd, Ryan Theriot scores from 1st.
Run scored: 1 run, double by Daryle Ward. Ronny Cedeno scores from 2nd.
Play: Blanco walks. D Ward holds on second.  2 outs.
Pitching Change: (P) Turnbow replaced by (P) Stetter
Out: DeRosa strikes out. 3 outs.
Top of the 9th
Pitching Change: (P) Marmol replaced by (P) Wuertz
Out: Gwynn grounds out to 2B. 1 out.
Out: Kendall grounds out to P. 2 outs.
Out: Weeks flies out to SS. 3 outs.

Soto's 2 3-run homers lift Cubs over Brewers

CHICAGO (AP) -Mark Cuban picked a good night to have a front-row seat at Wrigley Field. Not only did his favorite baseball team break out of a slump, it unleashed its most convincing beating in years.

The longtime Cubs fan and prospective owner watched Geovany Soto hit two three-run homers as Chicago pounded the Milwaukee Brewers 19-5 on Wednesday night.

The Cubs' biggest outburst since a 20-1 whipping of the Los Angles Dodgers on May 5, 2001, gave them a club-record 17 wins in April. The Brewers had not allowed that many runs since they gave up 19 at Colorado on Aug. 8.

The Cubs scored six runs each in the first and eighth innings and leading the charge was a rookie who appeared in just 18 games last season.

Soto homered in the first to cap the outburst and finished off a five-run fourth by going deep again off reliever Brian Shouse, who had just come in for Jeff Suppan (1-1). It was the first multihomer game for Soto, who made a big impression by batting .389 for the Cubs last year. The six RBIs were a career high.

''Guys have really helped me with the mental aspect of the game,'' he said. ''You have to go through the bad times to learn. Hopefully, it'll never happen again.''

The rout had to please Cuban, who finished off a busy day by watching his favorite baseball team from the Tribune Company's seats next to the Cubs' dugout. The Dallas Mavericks owner fired coach Avery Johnson by cell phone from Chicago. Then had a front-row seat and a beverage in hand at Wrigley Field.

Cuban's interest in buying the Cubs from Tribune is no secret, but he apparently wasn't in the mood to talk to most members of the media - ESPN's Erin Andrews being the exception. Others had been shooed away by an usher.

A longtime fan and occasional visitor to Wrigley Field over the years, he had to like what he saw before he left in the middle of the fifth with the Cubs leading 12-3.

After losing four of five and falling 10-7 in the opener of this three-game set, the NL Central leaders wasted no time jumping on Suppan.

Soto, who struck out in eight straight at-bats before going 2-for-4 on Tuesday, capped the first-inning outburst by lining a pitch out to left.

''It shows the kind of player he is,'' Ryan Dempster said. ''He's gone through some adversity.''

The rout was well under way before Soto stepped to the plate.

Back-to-back RBI doubles off the wall by Derrek Lee and Aramis Ramirez made it 3-0 with no outs, and the Cubs continued to pound away at Suppan.

The veteran right-hander allowed a career-high 11 runs (eight earned) and 11 hits over 3 2-3 innings and his ERA jumped from 3.48 to 5.19.

''They were on the attack, and I kept missing down the middle,'' he said. ''It's my job to keep us in the game, and I didn't do that from the get-go.''

An RBI single by Mark DeRosa finally knocked him out and Soto greeted Shouse by hitting his fifth homer this year.

He got a loud ovation when he came to bat with runners on first and second in the sixth, but struck out swinging.

''I did have one two-homer game in Double-A, but I didn't have six RBIs,'' Soto said.

The six RBIs gave him 20 for the month. Along with Lee and Ramirez at 23 and 22, respectively, the Cubs have two or more players with 20 RBIs in April for the first time.

''That's why you've got to stay in the game, stay focused,'' Ramirez said about Soto's performance. ''You never know what's going to happen tomorrow.''

The Cubs' 17 hits were one shy of their season high.

The onslaught made things easy for Dempster (4-0) and probably whetted Alfonso Soriano's appetite to return. He'll be back at the top of the order and in left field on Thursday after spending 15 days on the disabled list because of a strained right calf.

Dempster allowed three runs and four hits in six innings but walked five while striking out one.

Milwaukee's Rickie Weeks and Ryan Braun had two hits apiece, and Mike Rivera hit his first homer of the season - a two-run shot off Bob Howry in the seventh. As bad as Suppan was, Derrick Turnbow absorbed a six-run eighth.

''It really was just the way the night went,'' manager Ned Yost said.

Notes: Chicago's Kosuke Fukudome got an infield double leading off the third when his shot caromed off Suppan's foot and past first baseman Prince Fielder into foul territory. ... Yost said Ben Sheets, who had skipped a start because of a sore triceps, felt fine after pitching on Tuesday.