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May 9, 2008 - 2:14PM
Updated: May 9, 2008 - 8:03PM
Lilly comes up big with arm, bat
Comments | RecommendJack Magruder, Tribune
CHICAGO - The last time Ted Lilly faced the Diamondbacks, he was so disgusted with himself that he threw his glove to the mound after permitting a three-run home run to Chris Young in the second inning of Game 2 of the 2007 NLDS.
View the D-Backs - Cubs box score
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Read Jack Magruder's blog, 'Inside Baseball'
Young homered in the first inning Friday, but not only was Lilly unfazed, he recovered to drive in the tying run in the Cubs’ two-run fifth inning for a wind-aided 3-1 victory at Wrigley Field.
“I was pretty pumped for a number of reasons. Last year was one of them,” Lilly said.
“You don’t forget, but at the same time you don’t want to come out of your game.”
Lilly struck out 10, and the D-Backs got only one hit after the third inning to waste a solid start by Dan Haren, who got two outs in the fifth inning before the Cubs scored all they would need.
Mark DeRosa doubled with two outs and the D-Backs intentionally walked No. 8 hitter Reed Johnson to bring up Lilly.
“I’ll take my chances against Lilly,” Haren said of the strategy.
“If Johnson gets a hit there, I feel worse than this outcome. You have to let the pitcher beat you,” manager Bob Melvin said.
Lilly lined a 1-0 pitch to center field, and Alfonso Soriano doubled inside the bag at third on the next pitch for a 2-1 lead. Derrek Lee homered in the eighth.
“If you fall behind (a pitcher) 1-0, it’s a 99 percent chance he is going to get a fastball,” Haren said.
“He knew that. Everyone knew that. He did a good piece of hitting. He didn’t try to do too much. He just put his bat on the ball.”
Haren struck out five while giving up five hits.
“He didn’t deserve that outcome,” Melvin said.
“I felt great. I’m finally getting back to normal,” said Haren, who lost 10 pounds earlier this season because of the upper respiratory infection that spread through the clubhouse.
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