Game Notes For Sunday
* It’s fair to say that the Cubs have owned the Pirates since June of last year.
Cubs vs. Pirates, Since 6/5/2004
Cubs Pirates
Wins 18 3
Runs/Game 5.4 (113/21) 2.7 (57/21)
ERA 2.53 (54/192.0) 5.21 (107/184.2)
Batting Avg .283 (203/717) .215 (149/693)
Home Runs 31 11
* And it’s hard to say who feels more at home in PNC Park. The Cubs have pulled out all the close ones at PNC since May of last year dominating the decisive innings.
Cubs @ Pirates, Since 5/30/2004
Cubs Pirates
Wins 10 1
1 Run Wins 5 0
Runs/Game 5.5 (60/11) 3.1 (34/11)
ERA 3.09 (34/99.0) 4.50 (50/100.0)
Batting Avg .276 (105/380) .246 (91/370)
Errors 4 12
Runs, Inning 9+ 16 1
* It should not be a surprise that the Cubs have dominated the Pirates in 1 run games, because only the lowly Royals are worse than the Pirates in such games this season.
Lowest Win Pct. In 1-Run Games, 2005 MLB
Royals 13-25 .342
Pirates 12-23 .343
Orioles 10-17 .370
Blue Jays 14-23 .378
Indians 20-30 .400
* The run support has not been there for Kip Wells all season, but since the middle of June Wells has coupled bad run support with bad pitching to win just twice in his last 14 trips to the bump.
Kip Wells First 13 Starts vs. Last 14 Starts, 2005
First 13 Starts Last 14 Starts
W-L 5-4 2-10
ERA 3.39 6.10
Opp BA .235 .283
Run Support 3.94 2.24*
* Lowest Run Support Average Since 6/14/2005.
* Wells mound opponent on Sunday, Jerome Williams, will look rebound from a frustrating outing last Monday when poor command, a tight strike zone, and bad Cub defense combined for an awful day. Williams has been best when he has some extra time between starts, but unfortunately he will be working on normal rest today.
Jerome Williams by Starts on 0-5 vs. 6+ Days Rest, 2005
0-5 Days Rest 6+ Days Rest
Starts 10 4
W-L 1-7 3-0
ERA 6.70 (38/50.1) 2.54 (8/28.1)
Opp. BA .313 (63/201) .179 (17/95)
* Jason Bay is three steals shy of his first 20 HR/20 SB season. Bay has picked the right spots to run this season.
Most Stolen Bases Without Being Caught, Season, Since 1951
1988 Kevin McReynolds, NYM 21
1994 Paul Molitor, Tor 20
2005 Jason Bay, Pit 17
1982 Jimmy Sexton, Oak 16
1989 Gary Thurman, KC 16
* After a miserable start to the season, Nomar Garciaparra has begun to regain the form that made him a Boston legend.
Nomar Garciaparra, First 31 Games vs. Last 5 Games, 2005
First 31 Games Last 5 Games
At Bats 109 17
Home Runs 2 3
Runs Batted In 8 7