Johnson Powers Cubs Over D'Backs
POSTED: 9:33 pm HST July 23,
2008
Phoenix, AZ -- (Sports Network) - Reed Johnson hit a grand slam and Ted Lilly was solid on the mound, as the Chicago Cubs avoided being swept with a 10-6 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks.Lilly (10-6) tossed six frames and was allowed just three runs on six hits while fanning six and walking three batters. Lilly also added an RBI single and swiped a base in the win. Derrek Lee went 2-for-5 with a solo homer for the Cubs, who, despite the win, are still 2-5 over their last seven matchups. Alfonso Soriano, who was activated from the disabled list prior to the game, went 1-for-5 with an RBI. Doug Davis (3-5) took the loss as he gave up four runs on five hits in seven innings of work. Davis also struck out six and walked two batters in defeat. "Couldn't stay away from the big inning tonight," said Davis. "No outs, second and third, and Lilly comes up with the good hit. Not only that, when he gets on second he steals third; that was a huge turning point. You've got to give props to him for catching me sleeping and when he stole third that was pretty much the winning run." Chris Snyder hit a three-run homer and Tony Clark added a two-run shot for the D'Backs, who are 3-2 over their last five games. Stephen Drew had a double, which extended his hit streak to 10 games. Chicago scored six runs in the eighth inning. Ryan Theriot opened the frame with a walk from Micah Owings before Lee flied out. Aramis Ramirez then snapped an 0-for-26 slump with a single to left. Both runners advanced into scoring position on Conor Jackson's throwing error before Geovany Soto followed suit by snapping an 0-for-21 slide with an RBI single. After a Kosuke Fukudome walk loaded the bases, Mark DeRosa worked a four- pitch, RBI walk to chase Owings from the game. Johnson greeted Leo Rosales to the contest by taking his second pitch over the wall in right-center for a grand slam that gave the Cubs a 10-3 cushion. "We've been struggling late to score runs," Johnson said. "So anytime that we can get some runs on the board is good. Ted (Lilly) ends up getting a big hit for us...and obviously the six run inning was big for us too." The D'Backs rallied in the home eighth off Bob Howry. Jackson opened the frame with a single before Mark Reynolds went down swinging. Chris Young then finagled a double before Clark lined to Lee for the second out. Snyder cleared the table with homer to left, and Arizona was within 10-6. Lee hit a homer in the first inning, his 16th of the year and first since June 20, to give the Cubs an early 1-0 lead. Arizona took the lead, 2-1, in the fourth stanza. Young led the inning off with a double over the head of Soriano in left and Clark followed with a homer beyond the fence in right. The Cubs answered right back in the fifth. It was second and third as DeRosa singled and Johnson followed with a ground-rule double. Lilly then clubbed an RBI single and Soriano followed with an RBI groundout, before Lilly stole third base. Theriot closed out the scoring with an RBI grounder as Chicago took the lead back, 4-2. Arizona got a run back in the home fifth, as Augie Ojeda walked and Jackson followed with a triple. Game Notes Prior to the game, the Cubs activated pitcher Scott Eyre from the 15-day disabled list and optioned infielder Micah Hoffpauir and pitcher Kevin Hart to Triple-A Iowa...The Cubs won the season series 4-2...Chicago improved to 24-10 against NL West...The D'Backs dropped to 28-40 vs teams outside NL West.
Copyright 2008 Courtesy of The Sports Network.








