SB Nation Chicago - Cubs Knock Out Doc, Win Opener 6-1https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/48877/chicago-fave.png2011-07-18T22:50:50-05:00http://chicago.sbnation.com/rss/stream/20451182011-07-18T22:50:50-05:002011-07-18T22:50:50-05:00Rodrigo Lopez Shuts Down Phillies Bats
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<p>Luckily for the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/">Cubs</a>, baseball games are played on the field and not on paper. Looking at the matchup, very few would have given the Cubs (39-58) a chance against CY Young Award winner <span>Roy Halladay</span> and the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.thegoodphight.com/">Philadelphia Phillies</a> (59-36). The Cubs put the poor series they played against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/mlb/teams/florida-marlins">Marlins</a> behind them and took the opener with the Phillies 6-1.</p>
<p>The Cubs got off to a fast start Monday evening at Wrigley. Aramis Ramirez gave the Cubs the lead on a solo homer in the first. The Cubs scored two more in the third which proved to be enough to get the victory.</p>
<p><span>Carlos Pena</span> was the offensive star for the Cubs. Pena had three hits including his 20th homerun of the season. The Cubs two through five hitters in the lineup combined to go 8-15.</p>
<p><span>Rodrigo Lopez</span> pitched well again Monday evening. Lopez went six and two-thirds and allowed just one run on five hits. The veteran right-hander improved to 2-2 on the season.</p>
<p>Roy Halladay didn’t have his best stuff in the series opener. Halladay left the game after the fourth inning after feeling ill because of the heat and humidity. The Phillies righty fell to 11-4 on the season.</p>
<p>Things won’t get easier for the Cubs in game two of the series Tuesday when they face <span>Cliff Lee</span>.</p>
https://chicago.sbnation.com/chicago-cubs/2011/7/18/2282363/rodrigo-lopez-shuts-down-phillies-batsTim Sieck2011-07-18T10:27:16-05:002011-07-18T10:27:16-05:00Cubs Welcome Phillies To Town For Three-Game Set
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<p>Just when you thought things couldn't get worse for the <a href="https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Cubs</a>, they now get to face <span>Roy Halladay</span> and the <a href="https://www.thegoodphight.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Philadelphia Phillies</a>. Philadelphia enters Monday's game 24 games over .500 and in first-place in the NL East while the Cubs are 20 games below .500 and in fifth-place in the NL Central. One thing that could be in the Cubs favor is that they are fairly healthy and the Phillies are banged up. The Phillies have seven players on the DL including starters <span>Shane Victorino</span> and <span>Placido Polanco</span>.</p>
<p>Getting the start for the Cubs Monday will be <span>Rodrigo Lopez</span>. Lopez is 1-2 on the season with an ERA of 4.02. The Cubs veteran has pitched better of late. In his last three starts, Lopez is 1-1 with an ERA of 2.04. The right hander has made four starts against Philadelphia in his career and is 1-1 with an ERA of 6.46.</p>
<p>Roy Halladay gets the start for Philadelphia. Halladay is 11-3 on the season with an ERA of 2.45. The Phillies have won each of Halladay's last 10 starts and are 16-3 when the righty has pitched this season.</p>
<p>One key for the Cubs will be to slow down <span>Ryan Howard</span>. Howard has an 18-game hitting streak at Wrigley Field and in his last nine games at the Friendly Confines is hitting .417 with six homeruns and 15 RBI's.</p>
<p>The forecast at the time of first pitch is temps in the 90's under partly cloudy skies. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 CST. The game can be seen on WCIU.</p>
https://chicago.sbnation.com/2011/7/18/2338040/cubs-welcome-phillies-to-town-for-three-game-setTim Sieck