Last May 6, the Cubs lost 11-1 to the Pirates. In so doing, they had a run and six hits.
It was the 7,004th consecutive game in which the Cubs had at least one hit, establishing a new major league record. Since then, the Cubs have had a hit in every game they played the rest of 2010 and 2011, extending that record to 7,234 straight games.
I have thought on several occasions that this offensively-challenged Cubs team might finally get no-hit this year. Cliff Lee gave the Cubs only four hits in eight innings last month in Philadelphia and has never had a bad start in his career against the Cubs. Maybe it'll be his night.
Or maybe it'll be Matt Garza's. Garza no-hit the Tigers just about a year ago and he has allowed just 10 hits and one run in his last 16 innings pitched at Wrigley Field.
The hot and humid conditions tonight aren't really conducive to no-hitters; the moisture in the air helps give lift to baseballs. But Garza has allowed just seven home runs this year.
Maybe this will be the night we'll see some baseball history.
Cubs lineup:
Johnson RF, Castro SS, Ramirez 3B, Baker 2B, Byrd CF, Soriano LF, Peña 1B, Soto C, Garza P
Phillies lineup:
Rollins SS, Martinez 3B, Utley 2B, Howard 1B, Victorino CF, Ibanez LF, Brown RF, Ruiz C, Lee P
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Matt Garza has made two starts vs. the Phillies in his career, including matching up with Cliff Lee on June 11 in Philadelphia. Garza was taken out of the game when it was tied 1-1, and the bullpen gave the game away. Garza's lifetime ERA vs. the Phillies: 1.29. However, he has allowed five HR to current Phillies hitters.
Cliff Lee has totally dominated the Cubs in his career -- a 1.59 ERA and 1.059 WHIP in 39.2 innings over five career starts, four of which he's won and the fifth, his bullpen blew for him after he left with a 7-3 lead. He's allowed six home runs to Cubs hitters (in 122 AB); three of those are by Carlos Pena. Unless Pena can hit him (and Pena is just 6-for-39 lifetime vs. Lee), we are probably doomed.
Today's game is on CSN Chicago, and MY-17 in Philadelphia. It's also on MLB Network nationally, for anyone outside the Chicago and Philadelphia markets. Here is the complete MLB.com Mediacenter for today.
Baseball-reference.com game preview
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Today's first pitch thread will be up at 7:05 p.m. CDT and the overflow threads will post at 8 pm, 9 pm and 9:45 pm CDT. If you need more overflows due to extra innings or rain delays, post them in the fanshot section.
Discuss amongst yourselves.