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Major League Baseball

September 16, 2006  Wrigley Field-Attendance: 40,526 (41,118)  Time: 2:18
 
Cincinnati 0 Chicago Cubs 4
 FINAL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
 Reds  0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 2
 Cubs  1 0 0 1 1 0 0 1 X 4 10 0
W: R. Hill (W, 6-6); L: C. Michalak (L, 1-3)
HR: CHC: J. Jones (25).

Batting
Cincinnati
Name AB R H RBI BB SO LOB AVG
R Freel CF 3 0 0 0 1 2 2 .272
N Hopper RF 4 0 1 0 0 0 0 .300
R Aurilia 1B 4 0 0 0 0 1 2 .302
E Encarnacion 3B 4 0 0 0 0 2 0 .289
A Dunn LF 3 0 0 0 0 1 0 .237
D Ross C 3 0 0 0 0 2 0 .264
R Clayton SS 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 .257
   R Olmedo PR 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .238
   B Bray P 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
B Phillips 2B 3 0 1 0 0 0 0 .284
C Michalak P 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .333
   M Belisle P 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
   C Denorfia PH 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .213
   G Majewski P 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
   B Shackelford P 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 ---
   R Franklin P 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
   J Castro PH-SS 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .274
Team totals: 29 0 2 0 1 10 4  

Individual Batting:
Doubles: B Phillips (27)
Left in scoring position: R Aurilia (1), J Castro (1), R Freel (2), C Michalak (1)

Team Batting:
Left on base: 4
Left in scoring position: 3
Hits with runners in scoring position: 6 at-bats, 1 hits

Base Running:
Stolen bases: B Phillips (25), R Freel (37)

Fielding:
Errors: R Clayton (17), E Encarnacion (24)
Double plays: 2: (#1: C Michalak, D Ross, R Aurilia), (#2: E Encarnacion, B Phillips, R Aurilia)

Pitching:
Hit by pitch: R Clayton (by R Hill)

Batting
Chicago Cubs
Name AB R H RBI BB SO LOB AVG
J Pierre CF 4 1 1 0 0 0 4 .290
R Theriot 2B 3 1 0 0 1 1 1 .300
A Ramirez 3B 4 0 2 2 0 0 1 .287
M Murton LF 4 0 1 0 0 1 0 .296
J Jones RF 3 2 1 1 0 0 2 .284
H Blanco 1B 4 0 1 0 0 1 2 .262
R Cedeno SS 4 0 2 0 0 0 0 .248
G Soto C 4 0 2 1 0 0 2 .231
R Hill P 4 0 0 0 0 3 6 .115
Team totals: 34 4 10 4 1 6 8  

Individual Batting:
Doubles: A Ramirez (35), G Soto (1), M Murton (19)
Home runs: J Jones (25, 8th inning off B Bray with 0 on, 0 outs)
RBI: A Ramirez 2 (102), J Jones (73), G Soto (2)
Grounded into double play: A Ramirez (1), J Pierre (1)
Left in scoring position: J Jones (2), H Blanco (1), R Hill (3), J Pierre (3)

Team Batting:
Left on base: 8
Left in scoring position: 5
Hits with runners in scoring position: 12 at-bats, 2 hits

Base Running:
Stolen bases: R Theriot (9)

Pitching:
Hit by pitch: J Jones (by C Michalak)

Pitching
Cincinnati
Name IP H R ER BB SO ERA
C Michalak (L, 1-3) 4.2 7 3 2 1 1 4.88
M Belisle 0.1 0 0 0 0 0 4.60
G Majewski 0.2 1 0 0 0 1 4.68
B Shackelford 0.1 0 0 0 0 0 7.47
R Franklin 1 0 0 0 0 2 4.81
B Bray 1 2 1 1 0 2 4.13

Pitching
Chicago Cubs
Name IP H R ER BB SO ERA
R Hill (W, 6-6) 9 2 0 0 1 10 4.12

Individual Pitching
Cincinnati
Name Batters Faced Pitches Strikes Ground Balls Fly Balls
C Michalak 23 70 47 13 2
M Belisle 1 4 2 0 0
G Majewski 3 14 10 1 0
B Shackelford 1 2 2 1 0
R Franklin 3 9 8 0 1
B Bray 5 17 11 0 2

Chicago Cubs
Name Batters Faced Pitches Strikes Ground Balls Fly Balls
R Hill 31 118 85 8 8

Officials
Umpires
Name  Position
Mark Carlson HP
C.B. Bucknor 1B
Chad Fairchild 2B
Wally Bell 3B

Game Highlights
NL Cincinnati at Chicago Cubs Cubs Rich Hill has 10 strikeouts through 9 IP.

Play-By-Play
Top of the 1st
Out: Freel flies out to 2B. 1 out.
Out: Hopper grounds out to P. 2 outs.
Out: Aurilia flies out to 2B. 3 outs.
Bottom of the 1st
Hit: Pierre hits a single to 1B.   0 out.
Out: Theriot flies out to RF.  J Pierre holds on first.  1 out.
Run scored: 1 run, double by Aramis Ramirez. Juan Pierre scores from 1st.
Out: Murton grounds out to 1B.  A Ramirez to third.  2 outs.
Out: Jones grounds out to 2B. 3 outs.
Top of the 2nd
Out: Encarnacion strikes out. 1 out.
Out: Dunn strikes out. 2 outs.
Out: Ross grounds out to SS. 3 outs.
Bottom of the 2nd
Hit: Blanco hits a single to LF.   0 out.
Hit: Cedeno hits a single to LF.   H Blanco to second.  0 out.
Hit: Soto hits a single to CF.   R Cedeno to second.  H Blanco to third.  0 out.
Out: Hill strikes out. G Soto holds on first.  R Cedeno holds on second.  H Blanco holds on third.  1 out.
Out: Pierre hits into double play. 3 outs.
Top of the 3rd
Out: Clayton flies out to RF. 1 out.
Hit: Phillips hits a double to CF.   1 out.
Out: Michalak strikes out. B Phillips holds on second.  2 outs.
Stolen base: B Phillips steals third. 2 outs.
Out: Freel strikes out. 3 outs.
Bottom of the 3rd
Play: Theriot - error.  0 out.
Out: Ramirez hits into double play. 2 outs.
Out: Murton grounds out to 3B. 3 outs.
Top of the 4th
Out: Hopper grounds out to P. 1 out.
Out: Aurilia strikes out. 2 outs.
Out: Encarnacion flies out to 2B. 3 outs.
Bottom of the 4th
Play: Jones hit by pitch. 0 out.
Out: Blanco grounds out to 3B.  J Jones to second.  1 out.
Play: Cedeno - error.  J Jones to third.  1 out.
Run scored: 1 run, Geovany Soto grounds into fielder's choice. Jacque Jones scores from 3rd.
Out: Hill flies out to SS. 3 outs.
Top of the 5th
Out: Dunn flies out to CF. 1 out.
Out: Ross strikes out. 2 outs.
Out: Clayton grounds out to SS. 3 outs.
Bottom of the 5th
Out: Pierre grounds out to SS. 1 out.
Play: Theriot walks. 1 out.
Stolen base: R Theriot steals second. 1 out.
Run scored: 1 run, single by Aramis Ramirez. Ryan Theriot scores from 2nd.
Hit: Murton hits a double to LF.   A Ramirez to third.  1 out.
Out: Jones hits a fielders-choice to 2B.   M Murton to third.  A Ramirez out.  2 outs.
Pitching Change: (P) Michalak replaced by (P) Belisle
Out: Blanco flies out to LF. 3 outs.
Top of the 6th
Out: Phillips flies out to LF. 1 out.
Offensive Substitution: (P) Belisle replaced by (PH) Denorfia
Out: Denorfia flies out to C. 2 outs.
Play: Freel walks. 2 outs.
Stolen base: R Freel steals second. 2 outs.
Hit: Hopper hits a single to 3B.   R Freel to third.  2 outs.
Out: Aurilia flies out to RF. 3 outs.
Bottom of the 6th
Pitching Change: (P) Belisle replaced by (P) Majewski
Out: Cedeno grounds out to SS. 1 out.
Hit: Soto hits a double to RF.   1 out.
Out: Hill strikes out. G Soto holds on second.  2 outs.
Pitching Change: (P) Majewski replaced by (P) Shackelford
Out: Pierre grounds out to SS. 3 outs.
Top of the 7th
Out: Encarnacion grounds out to SS. 1 out.
Out: Dunn grounds out to 1B. 2 outs.
Out: Ross strikes out. 3 outs.
Bottom of the 7th
Pitching Change: (P) Shackelford replaced by (P) Franklin
Out: Theriot strikes out. 1 out.
Out: Ramirez flies out to RF. 2 outs.
Out: Murton strikes out. 3 outs.
Top of the 8th
Play: Clayton hit by pitch. 0 out.
Offensive Substitution: (SS) Clayton replaced by (PR) Olmedo
Out: Phillips grounds out to 3B.  R Olmedo to second.  1 out.
Offensive Substitution: (P) Franklin replaced by (PH) Castro
Out: Castro strikes out. R Olmedo holds on second.  2 outs.
Out: Freel strikes out. 3 outs.
Bottom of the 8th
Position Change: Castro moves to SS
Pitching Change: (P) Franklin replaced by (P) Bray
Run scored: 1 run, home run by Jacque Jones (25).
Out: Blanco strikes out. 1 out.
Hit: Cedeno hits a single to CF.   1 out.
Out: Soto flies out to RF.  R Cedeno holds on first.  2 outs.
Out: Hill strikes out. 3 outs.
Top of the 9th
Out: Hopper flies out to RF. 1 out.
Out: Aurilia grounds out to SS. 2 outs.
Out: Encarnacion strikes out. 3 outs.

How they scored:

Cubs first. Pierre infield single to first. Theriot flied out to right fielder Hopper. Ramirez doubled to left, Pierre scored. Murton grounded out, first baseman Aurilia to pitcher Michalak, Ramirez to third. Jones grounded out, second baseman Phillips to first baseman Aurilia.

1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 1 left on. Cubs 1, Reds 0.

Cubs fourth. Jones was hit by a pitch. Blanco grounded out, third baseman Encarnacion to first baseman Aurilia, Jones to second. Cedeno safe on Clayton's error, Jones to third. Soto grounded into fielder's choice, shortstop Clayton to second baseman Phillips, Jones scored, Cedeno out. Hill popped out to shortstop Clayton.

1 run, 0 hits, 1 error, 1 left on. Cubs 2, Reds 0.

Cubs fifth. Pierre grounded out, shortstop Clayton to first baseman Aurilia. Theriot walked on a full count. Theriot stole second. Ramirez singled to center, Theriot scored. Murton doubled to left, Ramirez to third. Jones grounded into fielder's choice, second baseman Phillips to catcher Ross, Ramirez out, Murton to third. Belisle pitching. Blanco lined out to left fielder Dunn.

1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 2 left on. Cubs 3, Reds 0.

Cubs eighth. Bray pitching. Castro in as shortstop. Jones homered to right on a 1-0 count. Blanco struck out. Cedeno singled to center. Soto flied out to right fielder Hopper. Hill struck out.

1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 1 left on. Cubs 4, Reds 0.

Cubs 4, Reds 0

CHICAGO (AP) - After a rough start in the majors, Rich Hill is now dominating big league hitters.

Hill pitched a two-hitter for his first major league shutout and Jacque Jones homered, leading the Chicago Cubs over the fading Cincinnati Reds 4-0 Saturday.

Hill (6-6) struck out 10, fanning Edwin Encarnacion to end the Cubs' first complete game of the season.

Hill became the first rookie to pitch a shutout for the Cubs since Kyle Farnsworth did it on Aug. 29, 1999, at Los Angeles.

After starting this season 0-4, Hill was demoted to Triple-A Iowa.

''You go through a learning curve and it just depends on when you go through your ups and downs. Before it was a lot of downs and I learned a lot. I went down to Triple-A, I got it together and came back and now I'm throwing the ball with a lot more conviction and confidence,'' said Hill.

Hill was 7-1 for Triple-A Iowa this season with a 1.80 ERA.

''He didn't go down there and pout or anything, he went down there and pitched, which is what you want everyone to do,'' said Cubs manager Dusty Baker.

Hill walked one and hit a batter in his first career complete game and third straight win. The 26-year-old lefty has allowed just four earned runs in his last five starts for an 0.97 ERA.

Sergio Mitre pitched the last shutout for the Cubs on June 14, 2005, against Florida. Greg Maddux threw the Cubs' previous complete game last Sept. 27.

''Boy, it's been a long time since we've had a complete game and a shutout,'' said Baker.

Cincinnati lost for the 14th time in 20 games since moving into a virtual tie with St. Louis for the NL Central lead on Aug. 24. The Reds began the day 3 1/2 games behind San Diego in the wild-card race.

''You play all season to come down to this last month and be in the race and we are. We're playing ourselves out of it right now but we're still in it. This team, if it gets hot, we could be all right. Even though there's only 16 or 17 games left,'' catcher David Ross said.

The Reds have not won consecutive road games since beating Philadelphia Aug. 12-13.

Chris Michalak (1-3) pitched 4 2-3 innings in a spot start and allowed two earned runs and seven hits.

Aramis Ramirez drove in two runs. The Cubs won for just the seventh time in 27 games and have the worst record in the league.

Juan Pierre led off the Cubs first with a single and easily scored on Ramirez's double. A throwing error by shortstop Royce Clayton in the fourth set up Geovany Soto's RBI grounder.

Ryan Theriot walked and stole second in the fifth. Ramirez followed with a single up the middle for a 3-0 lead.

Reds manager Jerry Narron was pleased with Michalak's outing.

''He was fine. He worked out of a jam. They had the bases loaded with no outs and he got out of it. Which was great. He did everything he could. There were a couple of plays we didn't help him with that hurt. He pitched well,'' said Narron.

Jones homered off Reds reliever Bill Bray in eighth inning. It was his 25th of the season.

Notes: RHP Carlos Zambrano will start for the Cubs on Sunday. He missed his last two starts because of a sore back. ... Cubs 1B Derrek Lee missed his second straight game to tend to a family emergency, leaving his status for Sunday's game in doubt. ... Reds hitting coach Chris Chambliss was suspended for Saturday's game for leaving the dugout after being ejected on Thursday night in a 4-2 loss to San Diego. ... Reds star Ken Griffey Jr. was out of the lineup for the 10th straight game with a dislocated second toe on his right foot. ... Clayton left the game after getting hit by a pitch in the eighth inning.