Cubs vs. Mets - 5/11

[aTrUeCUBsFaN]

5/11/2005 12:17 AM ET
Cubs try to win series with Prior on hill
New York (18-16) at Chicago (14-18), 1:20 p.m. CT
By Carrie Muskat / MLB.com

Let's see if the Chicago Cubs can win the series against the New York Mets -- and hope Mark Prior has better success against them than he did the last time he faced the Mets.

If the memory is too painful, then skip a few graphs. Last Sept. 25, Prior threw 7 2/3 scoreless innings, giving up four hits and striking out five at Shea Stadium. The Cubs had a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the ninth, but LaTroy Hawkins gave up a game-tying home run to Victor Diaz and the Cubs eventually lost, 4-3.

Prior will close the current three-game series against the Mets on Wednesday. The two teams have split the series so far. The Cubs have Thursday off before visiting RFK Stadium for a series against the Washington Nationals.

Prior struck out 10 in his last start against Philadelphia, but did not get a decision. He gave up one run on four hits over eight innings.

Mets starter Victor Zambrano hasn't faced the Cubs since 2003, when he pitched against them in an Interleague game. He was a member of the Tampa Bay Devils Rays then.

The Cubs were 4-2 against the Mets last year, including a 3-0 mark at Wrigley Field. But they lost two of three at Shea Stadium in a critical series the final week of last season.

Pitching matchup
NYM: RHP Victor Zambrano
• 2-3, 5.63 ERA in 2005
• 1-0, 1.29 ERA in 2003 vs. CHC

CHC: RHP Mark Prior
• 3-1, 3.09 ERA in 2005
• 0-0, 0.00 ERA in 2004 vs. NYM

Player to watch
It's Day 3 of the Ryan Dempster as closer experiment. Last year, Dempster was 2-for-2 in save situations. He began this season in the rotation, but as of Sunday, he's now in the pen.

Quotable
"I woke up this morning. That's all the optimism I need. One thing about it, a bad streak or a slump, everybody's waiting for you to get out of it. Basically, when you're in a slump, it doesn't take you a day to get in a slump. It will probably take twice as long to get out of a slump." -- Cubs manager Dusty Baker, when asked if he is still optimistic

On the Internet
MLB.TV
Gameday Audio
• Gameday
• Official game notes

On television
• NYM: MSG
• CHC: WGN

On radio
• NYM: WFAN 660 AM
• CHC: WGN 720 AM

Quick hits
The Cubs tied a season-high with four home runs Tuesday. ... Jon Leicester was optioned to Triple-A Iowa and Sergio Mitre called up from the Minor League team. ... Jerry Hairston is 4-for-13 against Zambrano, Todd Hollandsworth is 3-for-6, Corey Patterson 1-for-3, and Neifi Perez 1-for-8. ... Marlon Anderson is 5-for-9 against Prior with one home run, Carlos Beltran is 1-for-5, and Mike Piazza 1-for-7. ... The Cubs will play their first series against the Washington Nationals this weekend in the nation's capital. ... If the Cubs stay with their four-man rotation, it'll be Carlos Zambrano, Greg Maddux and Prior against the White Sox, May 20-22 at Wrigley Field.

On deck
• Friday: at Washington, 6:05 p.m. CT
• Saturday: at Washington, 6:05 p.m. CT
• Sunday: at Washington, 12:05 p.m. CT

Carrie Muskat is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

[aTrUeCUBsFaN]

Well, Prior's on the mound, and hopefully he can give his best.
Glad to see Baker starting to use Dubois in the LF. (It was sadi in Tribune that Dubois will be the LF). He has been doing well with his limited oppotunity.

[rockin500]

he's striking out too much.

they better play some good small ball today because there aint going to be many homers out there on a day like today.

[aTrUeCUBsFaN]

He was dominating the Mets' hitters. It was a solid game, except that Dempster blew the save (but got the win). Hopefully he will get better. Nice battle Lee had with Bell. 11-pitch at bat, and ended up with the game winner. 2 in a row now, and let's keep on rolling.

[rockin500]

I just wanna know how the hell someone got a homer on a day like today? the wind was blowing from the North at 38 mph.