vs.



Starting Lineups

Chicago Cubs

1. SS Ryan Theriot
2. LF Alfonso Soriano
3. 1B Derrek Lee
4. 3B Aramis Ramirez
5. RF Kosuke Fukudome
6. 2B Mark DeRosa
7. C Geovany Soto
8. CF Felix Pie
9. P Ted Lilly

Milwaukee Brewers

1. 2B Rickie Weeks
2. CF Tony Gwynn, Jr.
3. 1B Prince Fielder
4. LF Ryan Braun
5. 3B Bill Hall
6. RF Corey Hart
7. SS J.J. Hardy
8. P Jeff Suppan
9. C Jason Kendall

Player to Watch



Kosuke Fukudome

1.000, R, HR, 3 RBI (3 AB)

Originally Posted by Brian34Cook Brewers: 2B Weeks CF Kapler 1B Fielder LF Braun 3B Hall RF Hart SS Hardy SP Suppan C Kendall Cubs: SS Theriot LF Soriano 1B Lee 3B Ramirez RF Fukudome 2B DeRosa C Sota CF Pie SP Lilly

CHICAGO (AP)—Incessant talk of the 100-year anniversary of the Chicago Cubs’ last World Series title already has grown old and really has nothing to do with their 0-2 start in 2008. Blame the early stumble on the Milwaukee Brewers and their talented young lineup, one featuring speed and power. And one that got a lift Wednesday from ex-Cub Jason Kendall. “It’s certainly not a good start,” Chicago manager Lou Piniella said after Wednesday’s 8-2 beating from the Brewers. “I told our baseball team they better be ready to play. I meant it. I wasn’t joking around.” Piniella said Monday’s 4-3, 10-inning loss to Milwaukee in the opener was a matter of getting beat. “Today we didn’t play well. One of the things we need to do here is play good defensive baseball and not give away runs,” he said. During Wednesday’s loss, the Cubs made two errors, watched Milwaukee steal three bases and heard some boos at Wrigley Field. And as soon as it was over, Piniella announced he already was making a lineup change by moving Alfonso Soriano—who is 0-for-9—back into the leadoff spot from No. 2 in the order. “At this point whatever will make the team better I’m available,” Soriano said. The Brewers got some strong pitching from Jeff Suppan, who held Chicago to two runs and six hits in 6 1-3 innings. Rickie Weeks homered on the game’s first pitch and Kendall, who played 57 games for the Cubs last season, reached base five straight times. “He’s come in and worked hard to learn our pitching staff,” Milwaukee manager Ned Yost said of the catcher. “What I really like about him is that his focus is on that pitcher and whatever he gives us offensively is gravy.” Kendall’s gravy included a single, two doubles, two RBIs, a walk and a stolen base. Ryan Braun also had three hits in Milwaukee’s 14-hit attack. The Cubs were 8 1/2 games back of the Brewers in late June last season after a slow start before overtaking Milwaukee to win the NL Central. “We don’t want to put ourselves in the position where we have to go from last to first” like last year, said Cubs’ shortstop Ryan Theriot, who will flip with Soriano in the batting order. “I don’t think anybody is pushing the panic button.”