Colvin's RBI all Lilly needs as Cubs top Dodgers 1-0

[May 28, 2010]  CHICAGO (AP) -- Ted Lilly pitched seven scoreless innings, Tyler Colvin drove in the lone run with a double in the eighth, and the Chicago Cubs beat the Los Angeles Dodgers 1-0 on Thursday.

Mike Fontenot led off the eighth with a triple down the right-field line and came around on a one-out double down the line by Colvin, who went to third when right fielder Xavier Paul had trouble picking up the ball. That chased tough luck loser John Ely (3-2) and sent the Cubs to their eighth win in 11 games.

Both players had come on in the eighth for the Cubs, with Colvin going to left as part of a double switch in which Sean Marshall replaced Lilly.

Fontenot replaced Jeff Baker at third when he walked off the field with a vision problem in his right eye following a leadoff single by Russell Martin. Marshall (5-1) also gave up a one-out single to Matt Kemp, putting runners on first and second, before Casey Blake lined to first and James Loney grounded to second.

Carlos Marmol came on in the ninth and walked Blake DeWitt with one out before striking out pinch hitters Manny Ramirez and Garrett Anderson for his 11th save in 13 chances.

Lilly pitched three-hit ball in his best start this season but still is searching for his first win since April 24 -- his first appearance after offseason surgery. He's 0-4 in his last six outings.

Ely, who grew up in suburban Homewood, Ill., held the Cubs to four hits in 7 1-3 innings in his first Chicago start.

A White Sox fan, Ely was drafted by them and spent three years in their system before he was dealt to the Dodgers as part of the Juan Pierre trade in December. He got called up on April 28 and allowed five runs in a loss to the Mets, but has since turned it around.

Ely robbed Starlin Castro when he caught a hard liner on one knee leading off the fourth before Derrek Lee followed with a double to the right-field corner, and former Cub Reed Johnson saved a run with a shoestring catch on Kosuke Fukudome's liner to left with two out.

There were several other sparkling plays, including when Xavier Paul slid across the right-field bullpen mound to catch Lilly's pop down the line in the third and avoid first baseman James Loney. Second baseman Blake DeWitt dove to snag Starlin Castro's liner in the sixth after bobbling the ball.

And the Cubs got a sliding catch from second baseman Ryan Theriot on Johnson's foul pop to the right-field bullpen in the sixth, drawing loud cheers from the crowd.

NOTES: Dodgers OF Andre Ethier, out with a broken right pinky finger, could return from the 15-day disabled list Monday. Manager Joe Torre said he's scheduled to play for Triple-A Albuquerque on Friday and Saturday and take Sunday off. ... The Dodgers designated RHP Ramon Ortiz for assignment and purchased the contract of right-hander Justin Miller from Triple-A. ... The Cubs hope to have 3B Aramis Ramirez back in the lineup Friday against St. Louis after holding him out for the fourth straight game because of a bruised left thumb. ... Manager Lou Piniella agrees that Tom Gorzelanny doesn't deserve to lose his spot in the rotation. The problem is someone has to go to the bullpen to make room for Carlos Zambrano. "I don't think anybody deserves it, but we're not going to have a six-man rotation," Piniella said. No decision has been announced. Gorzelanny (2-5, 3.66 ERA) could be the odd man out after allowing a season-high seven runs (five earned) in five-plus innings on Wednesday, although he said afterward he doesn't deserve to be. Zambrano, who moved to the bullpen last month, is expected to start early next week.

[Associated Press; By ANDREW SELIGMAN]

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