IGT 08/17 -- Cubbies at Metsies

[Guest d'Kong76]

Chi. Cubs at NY Mets
When: 1:10 PM ET, Sunday, August 17, 2014
Where: Citi Field, New York City, New York
SportsDirect Inc.

The New York Mets have benefited from a home run from an unexpected power source and some shoddy defense by the Chicago Cubs to win the first two contests of their four-game set. After mustering just four hits in each tilt, the Mets will look for some more conventional offense on Sunday afternoon as they vie for a series victory. Juan Lagares has two of the eight hits for the Mets, who could be without David Wright after the captain exited Saturday's 7-3 triumph after being drilled in the shoulder by a pitch in the sixth inning.

Wright hasn't provided much of a jolt against the Cubs, going 0-for-15 in five meetings this season. Chicago's Welington Castillo, on the other hand, has done just fine as he belted a solo homer among his two hits Saturday and is 8-for-23 in his career versus New York. The free-swinging Cubs continue to flail at the plate, striking out on 24 occasions in the series and 101 times in their last nine contests.

TV:
1:10 p.m. ET, CSN Chicago, SNY (New York)

PITCHING MATCHUP:
Cubs RH Jake Arrieta (6-4, 2.77 ERA) vs. Mets RH Rafael Montero (0-3, 6.12)

Arrieta suffered his second straight loss despite allowing just two runs on five hits in 7 1/3 innings in a 3-1 setback to Milwaukee on Monday. The 28-year-old has permitted one homer in back-to-back contests after keeping the ball in the park in each of his previous seven outings. Arrieta settled for a no-decision in his previous meeting with the Mets on June 3, yielding one run on seven hits in 4 2/3 innings.

Montero suffered his third loss in five outings after allowing five runs on seven hits in five innings en route to a 7-1 setback to Washington on Tuesday. The 22-year-old Dominican was victimized by the long ball, surrendering three homers to the Nationals after being recalled from Triple-A Las Vegas. Montero, who remains in search of his first major-league win, has been taken deep eight times in 25 innings.

WALK-OFFS:
1. Chicago 3B Luis Valbuena is expected to return to the starting lineup despite being mired in a 1-for-31 slump, manager Rick Renteria said.
2. New York RF Curtis Granderson is just 1-for-25 in his last six games, but is batting .409 (9-for-22) in his career versus Arrieta.
3. Cubs' prized prospect OF Matt Szczur will join the team from Triple-A Iowa prior to Sunday's game, according to multiple reports.

[Guest d'Kong76]

'Old' Get the Lead Out with fake back round singing?
gcLu8QqCSNo

[Guest d'Kong76]

Skipping LICK for 7th inning stretch ... and now I
present you the worst Aerosmith song ever ...
[youtube:2hpq30ls]PqQNBnEXF2M[/youtube:2hpq30ls]

[Guest d'Kong76]

Time to stretch!
[youtube:1c7b1vbh]yUrDLTvJT3Y[/youtube:1c7b1vbh]

[Frayed Knot]

Frustrating part about this game is that, despite the lack of hits, they've gotten the leadoff batter on I think five times in the seven innings - but two GiDPs and a bunch of strikeouts killed any momentum before it ever got going.

[Guest d'Kong76]

Keith is more buff than I would have thought. Not
that I noticed or anything.

[Edgy MD]

One huge hit aside, Campbell has been bringing a real Satinist element to the mix of late.

[Zvon]

I'm here for the Aerosmith. Good thing too, the way these guys are hitting.

Arrieta, huh? 6-4 Arreita holding us to 2 hits. Gah.

Gary says he's done for the day. Good.

[Frayed Knot]

This Szczur guy who's pinch-running for the Cubs reminds me of the fan's sign during an old Twins post-season game: HEY HRBEK, BUY A VOWEL!

[Zvon]

Good job by Montero. Nice to see.

[Guest d'Kong76]

We need a sweep, nothing less.

[Zvon]

d'Kong76 wrote: We need a sweep, nothing less.

I agree 100%. Was thinking this during game one.

Edgin does his job. Nice

[MFS62]

Just saw the in-game box score.
For a team not hitting, why isn't Wilmer playing?
Is he (shudder) hurt?

Later

[Zvon]

No Idea. Late to the party myself.

Ugh, Torres. If these runs score I'm going to find a way to have beer siphoned out of you.

[Zvon]

Hah. Thank you Ratso Rizzo.

[Guest d'Kong76]

MFS62 wrote: For a team not hitting, why isn't Wilmer playing?

Menstrual cramps?

[Zvon]

Hmmm. He better steal...

[Zvon]

If the Mets didn't swing at one pitch today, took everything, we'd be winning.

[Zvon]

YEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!
Big hit Grandy!

But T coulda scored on that. Curtis gets to 2nd!

[Edgy MD]

An out steeped in hugeness for Torres.

And Granderson builds on it.

Thanks for lifting Arrieta, Cubbies.

[Guest d'Kong76]

Granderson rung up on strike two by blue ... don't
think I've ever seen that.

Then he ties it!

Let's keep it rollin'!

[youtube:3q81o6o2]2urpAl081kY[/youtube:3q81o6o2]

[ashie62]

Easy come easy go...

[Zvon]

You gotta be kiddin me

[Edgy MD]

Work so hard to scratch out a run, and bam, it's taken away.

Hit that guy in the boob, too.

[ashie62]

I wish Familia was the closer...

[Frayed Knot]

How do you solve a problem like Mejia?
How do you take a save and nail it down?

[Frayed Knot]

MFS62 wrote: Just saw the in-game box score. For a team not hitting, why isn't Wilmer playing? Is he (shudder) hurt? Later

DGANG.
And, besides, Tejada has two of the hits.

[Guest d'Kong76]

We will sing one more song today!

[Guest d'Kong76]

Or not.

[Frayed Knot]

Geez ump, got an early dinner reservation?