The 2003 Chicago Cubs season was the 132nd season of the

Chicago Cubs The Chicago Cubs are an American professional baseball team based in Chicago. The Cubs compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (baseball), National League (NL) National League Central, Central Division. Th ...

franchise, the 128th in the

National League National League often refers to: *National League (baseball), one of the two baseball leagues constituting Major League Baseball in the United States and Canada *National League (division), the fifth division of the English football (soccer) system ...

and the 88th at

Wrigley Field Wrigley Field is a ballpark on the North Side, Chicago, North Side of Chicago, Illinois. It is the home ballpark of Major League Baseball's Chicago Cubs, one of the city's two MLB franchises. It first opened in 1914 as Weeghman Park for Charl ...

. The Cubs were managed by Dusty Baker in his first year in Chicago. The Cubs went 88–74 during the 2003 season and won the

National League Central The National League Central is one of Major League Baseball's six divisions. This division was created in 1994, by moving two teams from the National League West (the Cincinnati Reds and the Houston Astros) and three teams from the National Le ...

for the first time since the division's formation in 1994, and the team's first division title since its

1989 1989 was a turning point in political history with the "Revolutions of 1989" which ended communism in Eastern Bloc of Europe, starting in Poland and Hungary, with experiments in power-sharing coming to a head with the opening of the Berlin W ...

NL East title. In the NLDS, the Cubs defeated the

Atlanta Braves The Atlanta Braves are an American professional baseball team based in the Atlanta metropolitan area. The Braves compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (baseball), National League (NL) National League Eas ...

three games to two for their first postseason series win since

1908 This is the longest year in either the Julian or Gregorian calendars, having a duration of 31622401.38 seconds of Terrestrial Time (or ephemeris time), measured according to the definition of mean solar time. Events January * January ...

. The Cubs lost to the

Florida Marlins The Miami Marlins are an American professional baseball team based in Miami. The Marlins compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) East Division. The team plays its home games at LoanDepot Park. The ...

four games to three in the

NLCS The National League Championship Series (NLCS) is a Playoff format#Best-of-seven playoff, best-of-seven playoff and one of two League Championship Series comprising the penultimate round of Major League Baseball's (MLB) Major League Baseball po ...

Previous season

The Cubs were coming off of a poor year in

2002 The effects of the September 11 attacks of the previous year had a significant impact on the affairs of 2002. The war on terror was a major political focus. Without settled international law, several nations engaged in anti-terror operation ...

, finishing 67–95 in fifth place in the NL Central and costing manager Don Baylor his job. The Cubs hired Dusty Baker, fresh off his

World Series The World Series is the annual championship series of Major League Baseball (MLB). It has been contested since between the champion teams of the American League (AL) and the National League (NL). The winning team, determined through a best- ...

appearance with the

San Francisco Giants The San Francisco Giants are an American professional baseball team based in San Francisco. The Giants compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (baseball), National League (NL) National League West, West Div ...

, to replace Baylor.

Offseason

* December 4, 2002: Todd Hundley and Chad Hermansen were traded by the Cubs to the

Los Angeles Dodgers The Los Angeles Dodgers are an American professional baseball team based in Los Angeles. The Dodgers compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (baseball), National League (NL) National League West, West Div ...

for

Mark Grudzielanek Mark James Grudzielanek (; born June 30, 1970) is an American former Major League Baseball second baseman and shortstop. Grudzielanek played for six different teams during his 15-season career. He batted and threw right-handed. He was most recent ...

and Eric Karros. *January 13, 2003: Midre Cummings was signed as a free agent with the Cubs. *January 13, 2003: Aaron Small was signed as a free agent with the Cubs. *March 4, 2003: Trenidad Hubbard was signed as a free agent with the Cubs. *March 29, 2003: Aaron Small was released by the Cubs.

Regular season

Summary

The team's success can be attributed first and foremost to its starting rotation, which featured Mark Prior, Kerry Wood, Carlos Zambrano, and Matt Clement, each of whom won at least 13 games. The pitching staff as a whole led the National League in strikeouts with 1,404, over 100 more than any other team. While not nearly as dominant in hitting, the Cubs' lineup was bolstered by acquisitions at what was a very active trade deadline, including Aramis Ramírez, Randall Simon, and

Kenny Lofton Kenneth Lofton (born May 31, 1967) is an American former Major League Baseball (MLB) center fielder. Lofton was a six-time All-Star (1994–1999), four-time Gold Glove Award winner (1993–1996), and at retirement, was ranked 15th among ...

. The team started slow but finished September with a 19–8 record to win the NL Central. As the division winner with the third best record, the Cubs faced the Atlanta Braves who had finished the season in a tie for the best record in the majors in a best of five games format. The Cubs won the first game of the series and the teams alternated wins leading to a game 5 at

Turner Field Turner Field was a baseball stadium located in Atlanta, Georgia. From 1997 Atlanta Braves season, 1997 to 2016 Atlanta Braves season, 2016, it served as the home ballpark to the Atlanta Braves of Major League Baseball (MLB). Originally built ...

to determine the series winner. The Cubs won the game 5–1. The series win, their first since 1908, resulted in a matchup against the Florida Marlins for the right to go to the

. The Marlins won the first game in Chicago, but the Cubs won the next three to take a three games to one lead. Florida won game five as the series shifted back to Chicago for games six and seven. With Mark Prior on the mound, the Cubs took a 3–1 lead into the 8th inning before a series of errors led to an 8-run inning for the Marlins. The win forced a game seven with Kerry Wood on the mound for the Cubs. In a high-scoring affair that included a Kerry Wood home run, the Marlins shocked the Cubs 9–6 to deny the Cubs a trip to their first World Series since

1945 1945 marked the end of World War II, the fall of Nazi Germany, and the Empire of Japan. It is also the year concentration camps were liberated and the only year in which atomic weapons have been used in combat. Events World War II will be ...

. The 2003 season brought a great deal of national attention to the Cubs, both positive and negative. On one hand, their surprising regular season run to first place in the NL Central, and the excellent performances of their top three pitchers, all of whom were age 26 or younger, seemed to suggest that the Cubs would be contenders for the foreseeable future. At the same time, however, the Cubs' squandering of the 3–1 series lead in the NLCS, and the manner in which it occurred, seemed to reaffirm the perceptions of the Cubs as " lovable losers" and a cursed franchise.

Season standings

National League Central

Record vs. opponents

Transactions

*April 21, 2003: Trenidad Hubbard was purchased by the Cubs from Oaxaca (Mexican League). *May 9, 2003: Alan Benes was sent to the Texas Rangers by the Cubs as part of a conditional deal. *June 3, 2003: Sam Fuld was drafted by the Cubs in the 24th round of the 2003 amateur draft, but did not sign. *June 3, 2003: Tim Lincecum was drafted by the Cubs in the 48th round of the 2003 amateur draft, but did not sign. *June 20, 2003: Mark Bellhorn was traded by the Cubs to the

Colorado Rockies The Colorado Rockies are an American professional baseball team based in Denver. The Rockies compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (baseball), National League (NL) National League West, West Division. Th ...

for José Hernández. * July 23, 2003:

and Aramis Ramírez were traded by the

Pittsburgh Pirates The Pittsburgh Pirates are an American professional baseball team based in Pittsburgh. The Pirates compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (baseball), National League (NL) National League Central, Central ...

with cash to the Cubs for a player to be named later, José Hernández, and Matt Bruback. The Cubs sent Bobby Hill (August 15, 2003) to the Pirates to complete the trade. *August 17, 2003: Randall Simon was traded by the Pirates to the Cubs for Ray Sadler.

Roster

Game log

, - align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" , 1 , , March 31 , , @ Mets , , 15–2 , ,

Wood Wood is a structural tissue/material found as xylem in the stems and roots of trees and other woody plants. It is an organic materiala natural composite of cellulosic fibers that are strong in tension and embedded in a matrix of lignin t ...

(1–0) , , Glavine (0–1) , , , , 53,586 , , 1–0 ,

, - , - align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" , 2 , , April 2 , , @ Mets , , 4–1 , , Al Leiter, Leiter (1–0) , , Clement (0–1) , , Benítez (1) , , 20,594 , , 1–1 ,

, - align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" , 3 , , April 3 , , @ Mets , , 6–3 , , Mark Prior, Prior (1–0) , , Trachsel (0–1) , , , , 17,244 , , 2–1 ,

, - align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" , 4 , , April 4 , , @ Cincinnati Reds, Reds , , 10–9 , , Williamson (1–0) , , Veres (0–1) , , , , 29,048 , , 2–2 ,

, - align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" , 5 , , April 5 , , @ Cincinnati Reds, Reds , , 9–7 , , Carlos Zambrano, Zambrano (1–0) , ,

Haynes Haynes may refer to: People *Haynes (surname) Places Australia * Haynes, Western Australia Canada * Haynes, Alberta United Kingdom *Haynes, Bedfordshire **Haynes Church End United States *Haynes, Arkansas *Haynes, North Dakota *Hayne ...

(0–2) , , Borowski (1) , , 28,908 , , 3–2 ,

, - align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" , 6 , , April 6 , , @ Cincinnati Reds, Reds , , 5–4 , , Gabe White, White (1–0) , , Guthrie (0–1) , , Williamson (1) , , 24,023 , , 3–3 ,

, - align="center" bgcolor="bbbbbb" , – , , April 7 , , Montreal Expos, Expos , , colspan=7, ''Postponed (snow)'' Rescheduled for April 8 , - align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" , 7 , , April 8 , , Montreal Expos, Expos , , 6–1 , , Clement (1–1) , ,

Day A day is the time rotation period, period of a full Earth's rotation, rotation of the Earth with respect to the Sun. On average, this is 24 hours (86,400 seconds). As a day passes at a given location it experiences morning, afternoon, evening, ...

(1–1) , , , , 29,138 , , 4–3 ,

, - align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" , 8 , , April 9 , , Montreal Expos, Expos , , 3–0 , , Mark Prior, Prior (2–0) , , Javier Vázquez (baseball), Vázquez (1–1) , , , , 29,966 , , 5–3 ,

, - align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" , 9 , , April 10 , , Montreal Expos, Expos , , 7–1 , , Tony Armas Jr., Armas (2–1) , , Estes (0–1) , , , , 30,225 , , 5–4 ,

, - align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" , 10 , , April 11 , , Pittsburgh Pirates, Pirates , , 3–2 , , D'Amico (1–1) , , Carlos Zambrano, Zambrano (1–1) , , Williams (5) , , 33,605 , , 5–5 ,

, - align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" , 11 , , April 12 , , Pittsburgh Pirates, Pirates , , 4–0 , ,

(2–0) , , Kris Benson, Benson (2–1) , , Borowski (2) , , 35,226 , , 6–5 ,

, - align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" , 12 , , April 13 , , Pittsburgh Pirates, Pirates , , 4–3 , , Kyle Farnsworth, Farnsworth (1–0) , , Boehringer (0–1) , , Borowski (3) , , 29,558 , , 7–5 ,

, - align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" , 13 , , April 14 , , Cincinnati Reds, Reds , , 11–3 , , Jimmy Anderson (baseball), Anderson (1–1) , , Mark Prior, Prior (2–1) , , Riedling (1) , , 37,528 , , 7–6 ,

, - align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" , 14 , , April 15 , , Cincinnati Reds, Reds , , 11–1 , , Estes (1–1) , , Danny Graves, Graves (0–2) , , , , 31,642 , , 8–6 ,

, - align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" , 15 , , April 16 , , Cincinnati Reds, Reds , , 10–4 , , Carlos Zambrano, Zambrano (2–1) , , Paul Wilson (baseball), Wilson (0–1) , , , , 27,388 , , 9–6 ,

, - align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" , 16 , , April 17 , , Cincinnati Reds, Reds , , 16–3 , ,

(3–0) , ,

(0–4) , , Alan Benes, Benes (1) , , 29,672 , , 10–6 ,

, - align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" , 17 , , April 18 , , @ Pittsburgh Pirates, Pirates , , 7–2 , , Clement (2–1) , , Kris Benson, Benson (2–2) , , , , 15,037 , , 11–6 ,

, - align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" , 18 , , April 19 , , @ Pittsburgh Pirates, Pirates , , 6–1 (10) , , Mark Prior, Prior (3–1) , , Scott Sauerbeck, Sauerbeck (0–1) , , , , 31,518 , , 12–6 ,

, - align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" , 19 , , April 20 , , @ Pittsburgh Pirates, Pirates , , 8–2 , , Salomón Torres, Torres (2–0) , , Estes (1–2) , , , , 14,854 , , 12–7 ,

, - align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" , 20 , , April 22 , , San Diego Padres, Padres , , 7–2 , , Carlos Zambrano, Zambrano (3–1) , , Lawrence (2–2) , , , , 35,185 , , 13–7 ,

, - align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" , 21 , , April 23 , , San Diego Padres, Padres , , 2–0 , , Adam Eaton (pitcher), Eaton (1–1) , ,

(3–1) , , Herges (1) , , 35,768 , , 13–8 ,

, - align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" , 22 , , April 24 , , San Diego Padres, Padres , , 2–1 , , Óliver Pérez, Pérez (1–2) , , Clement (2–2) , ,

Wright Wright is an occupational surname originating in England and Scotland. The term 'Wright' comes from the circa 700 AD Old English word 'wryhta' or 'wyrhta', meaning worker or shaper of wood. Later it became any occupational worker (for example, a ...

(2) , , 35,673 , , 13–9 ,

, - align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" , 23 , , April 25 , , @ Colorado Rockies, Rockies , , 11–7 , , Mark Prior, Prior (4–1) , ,

Cruz Cruz is mostly a surname but is also used as a first name. It is of Iberian Peninsula, Iberian origin, first found in Castile (historical region), Castile, Spain, and later spread throughout the territories of the former Spanish Empire, Spanish ...

(3–1) , , , , 32,162 , , 14–9 ,

, - align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" , 24 , , April 26 , , @ Colorado Rockies, Rockies , , 8–5 , , Shawn Chacón, Chacón (4–0) , , Estes (1–3) , , Jiménez (5) , , 35,604 , , 14–10 ,

, - align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" , 25 , , April 27 , , @ Colorado Rockies, Rockies , , 6–3 , , Darren Oliver, Oliver (1–2) , , Carlos Zambrano, Zambrano (3–2) , , Jiménez (6) , , 35,070 , , 14–11 ,

, - align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" , 26 , , April 29 , , @ San Francisco Giants, Giants , , 4–2 , ,

(4–1) , , Rueter (2–1) , , Borowski (4) , , 39,839 , , 15–11 ,

, - align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" , 27 , , April 30 , , @ San Francisco Giants, Giants , , 5–0 , , Jason Schmidt, Schmidt (3–0) , , Clement (2–3) , , , , 40,124 , , 15–12 ,

, - , - align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" , 28 , , May 1 , , @ San Francisco Giants, Giants , , 5–1 (10) , , Juan Cruz (baseball), Cruz (1–0) , , Worrell (1–1) , , , , 41,524 , , 16–12 ,

, - align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" , 29 , , May 2 , , Colorado Rockies, Rockies , , 7–4 , , Estes (2–3) , , Shawn Chacón, Chacón (4–1) , , Borowski (5) , , 29,236 , , 17–12 ,

, - align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" , 30 , , May 3 , , Colorado Rockies, Rockies , , 6–4 , , Justin Speier, Speier (2–0) , , Guthrie (0–2) , , Jiménez (7) , , 38,332 , , 17–13 ,

, - align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" , 31 , , May 4 , , Colorado Rockies, Rockies , , 5–4 (10), , Borowski (1–0) , , Steve Reed (baseball), Reed (2–1) , , , , 37,223 , , 18–13 ,

, - align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" , 32 , , May 5 , , Milwaukee Brewers, Brewers , , 5–3 , , Sheets (3–3) , , Clement (2–4) , , DeJean (6) , , 35,304 , , 18–14 ,

, - align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" , 33 , , May 6 , , Milwaukee Brewers, Brewers , , 9–6 , , Curt Leskanic, Leskanic (2–0) , , Juan Cruz (baseball), Cruz (1–1) , , DeJean (7) , , 34,240 , , 18–15 ,

, - align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" , 34 , , May 7 , , Milwaukee Brewers, Brewers , , 2–1 , , Estes (3–3) , , Glendon Rusch, Rusch (1–6) , , Borowski (6) , , 37,574 , , 19–15 ,

, - align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" , 35 , , May 9 , , St. Louis Cardinals, Cardinals , , 6–3 , , Morris (4–2) , , Carlos Zambrano, Zambrano (3–3) , , Fassero (1) , , 38,531 , , 19–16 ,

, - align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" , 36 , , May 10 , , St. Louis Cardinals, Cardinals , , 3–2 (10) , , Mike Remlinger, Remlinger (1–0) , , Eldred (2–1) , , , , 38,106 , , 20–16 ,

, - align="center" bgcolor="bbbbbb" , – , , May 11 , , St. Louis Cardinals, Cardinals , , colspan=7, ''Postponed (rain)'' Rescheduled for September 2 , - align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" , 37 , , May 12 , , @ Milwaukee Brewers, Brewers , , 11–5 , , Mark Prior, Prior (5–1) , , Glendon Rusch, Rusch (1–7) , , , , 19,106 , , 21–16 ,

, - align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" , 38 , , May 13 , , @ Milwaukee Brewers, Brewers , , 7–2 , , Estes (4–3) , , Ruben Quevedo, Quevedo (0–1) , , , , 18,454 , , 22–16 ,

, - align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" , 39 , , May 14 , , @ Milwaukee Brewers, Brewers , , 6–1 , , Carlos Zambrano, Zambrano (4–3) , , Matt Kinney, Kinney (2–3) , , , , 27,566 , , 23–16 ,

, - align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" , 40 , , May 15 , , @ Milwaukee Brewers, Brewers , , 4–2 (17) , , Kyle Farnsworth, Farnsworth (2–0) , , Brooks Kieschnick, Kieschnick (0–1) , , Wellemeyer (1) , , 31,624 , , 24–16 ,

, - align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" , 41 , , May 16 , , @ St. Louis Cardinals, Cardinals , , 7–4 , , Woody Williams, Williams (5–0) , , Clement (2–5) , , Eldred (2) , , 42,589 , , 24–17 ,

, - align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" , 42 , , May 17 , , @ St. Louis Cardinals, Cardinals , , 2–1 , , Mike Remlinger, Remlinger (2–0) , , Steve Kline (left-handed pitcher), Kline (1–4) , , Borowski (7) , , 45,385 , , 25–17 ,

, - align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" , 43 , , May 18 , , @ St. Louis Cardinals, Cardinals , , 6–3 , , Dustin Hermanson, Hermanson (1–1) , , Juan Cruz (baseball), Cruz (1–2) , , Eldred (3) , , 45,773 , , 25–18 ,

, - align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" , 44 , , May 19 , , @ St. Louis Cardinals, Cardinals , , 2–0 , , Morris (5–3) , , Carlos Zambrano, Zambrano (4–4) , , , , 46,734 , , 25–19 ,

, - align="center" bgcolor="bbbbbb" , – , , May 20 , , @ Pittsburgh Pirates, Pirates , , colspan=7, ''Postponed (rain)'' Rescheduled for September 19 , - align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" , 45 , , May 21 , , @ Pittsburgh Pirates, Pirates , , 5–2 , , D'Amico (4–4) , ,

(4–2) , , Williams (13) , , 35,086 , , 25–20 ,

, - align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" , 46 , , May 22 , , @ Pittsburgh Pirates, Pirates , , 3–2 , , Mike Remlinger, Remlinger (3–0) , , Scott Sauerbeck, Sauerbeck (0–4) , , Borowski (8) , , 14,544 , , 26–20 ,

, - align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" , 47 , , May 23 , , @ Houston Astros, Astros , , 7–5 , , Linebrink (1–1) , , Mark Prior, Prior (5–2) , ,

Wagner Wilhelm Richard Wagner ( ; ; 22 May 181313 February 1883) was a German composer, theatre director, essayist, and conductor who is chiefly known for his operas (or, as some of his mature works were later known, "music dramas"). Unlike most o ...

(13) , , 29,660 , , 26–21 ,

, - align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" , 48 , , May 24 , , @ Houston Astros, Astros , , 3–2 , , Estes (5–3) , , Tim Redding, Redding (3–4) , , Borowski (9) , , 37,839 , , 27–21 ,

, - align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" , 49 , , May 25 , , @ Houston Astros, Astros , , 7–3 , , Carlos Zambrano, Zambrano (5–4) , , Wade Miller, Miller (2–6) , , , , 37,565 , , 28–21 ,

, - align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" , 50 , , May 26 , , Pittsburgh Pirates, Pirates , , 10–0 , , Josh Fogg, Fogg (2–2) , ,

(4–3) , , , , 40,225 , , 28–22 ,

, - align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" , 51 , , May 27 , , Pittsburgh Pirates, Pirates , , 9–4 , , Kris Benson, Benson (5–5) , , Clement (2–6) , , , , 35,961 , , 28–23 ,

, - align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" , 52 , , May 28 , , Pittsburgh Pirates, Pirates , , 5–4 , , Mark Prior, Prior (6–2) , , D'Amico (4–5) , , Borowski (10) , , 32,406 , , 29–23 ,

, - align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" , 53 , , May 30 , , Houston Astros, Astros , , 9–1 , , Wade Miller, Miller (3–6) , , Estes (5–4) , , , , 36,687 , , 29–24 ,

, - align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" , 54 , , May 31 , , Houston Astros, Astros , , 1–0 (16) , , Wellemeyer (1–0) , , Ricky Stone, Stone (4–1) , , , , 37,719 , , 30–24 ,

, - , - align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" , 55 , , June 1 , , Houston Astros, Astros , , 9–3 , , Jeriome Robertson, Robertson (4–3) , ,

(4–4) , , , , 37,787 , , 30–25 ,

, - align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" , 56 , , June 3 , , Tampa Bay Devil Rays, Devil Rays , , 3–2 , , Mike Remlinger, Remlinger (4–0) , , Levine (2–2) , , , , 32,210 , , 31–25 ,

, - align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" , 57 , , June 4 , , Tampa Bay Devil Rays, Devil Rays , , 5–2 , , Víctor Zambrano, Zambrano (2–3) , , Estes (5–5) , , , , 33,317 , , 31–26 ,

, - align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" , 58 , , June 5 , , Tampa Bay Devil Rays, Devil Rays , , 8–1 , , Clement (3–6) , , Dewon Brazelton, Brazelton (1–5) , , , , 28,713 , , 32–26 ,

, - align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" , 59 , , June 6 , , New York Yankees, Yankees , , 5–3 , , Wells (8–2) , , Carlos Zambrano, Zambrano (5–5) , ,

Rivera Rivera () is the capital of Rivera Department of Uruguay. The border with Brazil joins it with the Brazilian city of Santana do Livramento, which is only a block away from it, at the north end of Route 5 (Uruguay), Route 5. Together, they form an ...

(5) , , 39,359 , , 32–27 ,

, - align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" , 60 , , June 7 , , New York Yankees, Yankees , , 5–2 , ,

(5–4) , , Roger Clemens, Clemens (6–4) , , , , 39,363 , , 33–27 ,

, - align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" , 61 , , June 8 , , New York Yankees, Yankees , , 8–7 , , Mark Prior, Prior (7–2) , , Andy Pettitte, Pettitte (5–6) , , Borowski (11) , , 39,341 , , 34–27 ,

, - align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" , 62 , , June 10 , , @ Baltimore Orioles, Orioles , , 4–0 , , Estes (6–5) , , Hentgen (1–4) , , , , 32,484 , , 35–27 ,

, - align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" , 63 , , June 11 , , @ Baltimore Orioles, Orioles , , 7–6 , , Clement (4–6) , , Omar Daal, Daal (4–7) , , Borowski (12) , , 28,013 , , 36–27 ,

, - align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" , 64 , , June 12 , , @ Baltimore Orioles, Orioles , , 6–1 , , Rick Helling, Helling (4–4) , , Carlos Zambrano, Zambrano (5–6) , , Driskill (1) , , 30,557 , , 36–28 ,

, - align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" , 65 , , June 13 , , @ Toronto Blue Jays, Blue Jays , , 5–1 , , Escobar (4–3) , ,

(5–5) , , , , 23,018 , , 36–29 ,

, - align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" , 66 , , June 14 , , @ Toronto Blue Jays, Blue Jays , , 4–2 , , Mark Prior, Prior (8–2) , , Doug Davis (pitcher), Davis (3–4) , , Borowski (13) , , 33,167 , , 37–29 ,

, - align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" , 67 , , June 15 , , @ Toronto Blue Jays, Blue Jays , , 5–4 (10) , , Aquilino López, López (1–1) , , Guthrie (0–3) , , , , 34,221 , , 37–30 ,

, - align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" , 68 , , June 16 , , @ Cincinnati Reds, Reds , , 4–3 , , Clement (5–6) , , Jimmy Anderson (baseball), Anderson (1–3) , , Borowski (14) , , 28,669 , , 38–30 ,

, - align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" , 69 , , June 17 , , @ Cincinnati Reds, Reds , , 2–1 (10) , , Williamson (4–2) , , Mike Remlinger, Remlinger (4–1) , , , , 28,999 , , 38–31 ,

, - align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" , 70 , , June 18 , , @ Cincinnati Reds, Reds , , 4–1 , ,

(6–5) , ,

(1–6) , , , , 39,053 , , 39–31 ,

, - align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" , 71 , , June 19 , , @ Cincinnati Reds, Reds , , 3–1 , , Paul Wilson (baseball), Wilson (5–4) , , Mark Prior, Prior (8–3) , , Williamson (17) , , 41,692 , , 39–32 ,

, - align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" , 72 , , June 20 , , Chicago White Sox, White Sox , , 12–3 , ,

Garland A garland is a decorative braid, knot or wreath of flowers, leaves, or other material. Garlands can be worn on the head or around the neck, hung on an inanimate object, or laid in a place of cultural or religious importance. In contemporary times ...

(5–6) , , Estes (6–6) , , , , 39,080 , , 39–33 ,

, - align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" , 73 , , June 21 , , Chicago White Sox, White Sox , , 7–6 , , Mark Buehrle, Buehrle (4–10) , , Clement (5–7) , , Koch (10) , , 38,938 , , 39–34 ,

, - align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" , 74 , , June 22 , , Chicago White Sox, White Sox , , 2–1 , , Carlos Zambrano, Zambrano (6–6) , , Dámaso Marte, Marte (2–1) , , Borowski (15) , , 38,223 , , 40–34 ,

, - align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" , 75 , , June 24 , , Milwaukee Brewers, Brewers , , 9–1 , ,

(7–5) , , Ruben Quevedo, Quevedo (1–4) , , , , 40,389 , , 41–34 ,

, - align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" , 76 , , June 25 , , Milwaukee Brewers, Brewers , , 12–6 (10) , , Luis Vizcaíno, Vizcaíno (2–3) , , Wellemeyer (1–1) , , , , 38,357 , , 41–35 ,

, - align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" , 77 , , June 26 , , Milwaukee Brewers, Brewers , , 5–3 , , Leo Estrella, Estrella (2–0) , , Borowski (1–1) , , DeJean (16) , , 39,711 , , 41–36 ,

, - align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" , 78 , , June 27 , , @ Chicago White Sox, White Sox , , 4–3 , , Koch (3–4) , , Antonio Alfonseca, Alfonseca (0–1) , , , , 45,147 , , 41–37 ,

, - align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" , 79 , , June 28 , , @ Chicago White Sox, White Sox , , 7–6 , , Koch (4–4) , , Juan Cruz (baseball), Cruz (1–3) , , , , 45,440 , , 41–38 ,

, - align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" , 80 , , June 29 , , @ Chicago White Sox, White Sox , , 5–2 , ,

(8–5) , , Esteban Loaiza, Loaiza (11–3) , , , , 44,858 , , 42–38 ,

, - align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" , 81 , , June 30 , , @ Philadelphia Phillies, Phillies , , 4–3 , , Padilla (7–7) , , Estes (6–7) , ,

Mesa A mesa is an isolated, flat-topped elevation, ridge, or hill, bounded from all sides by steep escarpments and standing distinctly above a surrounding plain. Mesas consist of flat-lying soft sedimentary rocks, such as shales, capped by a ...

(18) , , 23,323 , , 42–39 ,

, - , - align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" , 82 , , July 1 , , @ Philadelphia Phillies, Phillies , , 4–3 , , Terry Adams (baseball), Adams (1–2) , , Mike Remlinger, Remlinger (4–2) , , , , 25,307 , , 42–40 ,

, - align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" , 83 , , July 2 , , @ Philadelphia Phillies, Phillies , , 1–0 , , Kyle Farnsworth, Farnsworth (3–0) , , Turk Wendell, Wendell (1–2) , , Borowski (16) , , 23,591 , , 43–40 ,

, - align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" , 84 , , July 3 , , @ Philadelphia Phillies, Phillies , , 12–2 , , Brett Myers, Myers (8–6) , , Carlos Zambrano, Zambrano (6–7) , , , , 57,326 , , 43–41 ,

, - align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" , 85 , , July 4 , , St. Louis Cardinals, Cardinals , , 11–8 , , Brett Tomko, Tomko (5–5) , ,

(8–6) , , , , 39,756 , , 43–42 ,

, - align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" , 86 , , July 5 , , St. Louis Cardinals, Cardinals , , 6–5 , , Mike Remlinger, Remlinger (5–2) , , Fassero (1–4) , , , , 38,953 , , 44–42 ,

, - align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" , 87 , , July 6 , , St. Louis Cardinals, Cardinals , , 4–1 , , Woody Williams, Williams (11–3) , , Mark Prior, Prior (8–4) , , Jason Isringhausen, Isringhausen (3) , , 37,713 , , 44–43 ,

, - align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" , 88 , , July 7 , , Florida Marlins, Marlins , , 6–3 , , Clement (6–7) , , Beckett (3–4) , , Borowski (17) , , 38,662 , , 45–43 ,

, - align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" , 89 , , July 8 , , Florida Marlins, Marlins , , 4–3 , , Nate Bump, Bump (2–0) , , Mike Remlinger, Remlinger (5–3) , , Looper (16) , , 33,227 , , 45–44 ,

, - align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" , 90 , , July 9 , , Florida Marlins, Marlins , , 5–1 , ,

(9–6) , , Carl Pavano, Pavano (6–10) , , , , 33,054 , , 46–44 ,

, - align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" , 91 , , July 10 , , Atlanta Braves, Braves , , 13–3 , , Maddux (7–8) , , Estes (6–8) , , , , 38,756 , , 46–45 ,

, - align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" , 92 , , July 11 , , Atlanta Braves, Braves , , 9–5 , , Mike Hampton, Hampton (5–5) , , Mark Prior, Prior (8–5) , , , , 39,334 , , 46–46 ,

, - align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" , 93 , , July 12 , , Atlanta Braves, Braves , , 7–3 , , Clement (7–7) , , Horacio Ramírez, Ramírez (8–3) , , , , 39,980 , , 47–46 ,

, - align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" , 94 , , July 13 , , Atlanta Braves, Braves , , 7–2 , , Shane Reynolds, Reynolds (7–4) , , Carlos Zambrano, Zambrano (6–8) , , , , 39,832 , , 47–47 ,

, - align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" , 95 , , July 18 , , @ Florida Marlins, Marlins , , 6–0 , , Mark Redman, Redman (8–4) , , Clement (7–8) , , , , 26,174 , , 47–48 ,

, - align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" , 96 , , July 19 , , @ Florida Marlins, Marlins , , 1–0 , ,

(10–6) , , Brad Penny, Penny (8–7) , , , , 30,432 , , 48–48 ,

, - align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" , 97 , , July 20 , , @ Florida Marlins, Marlins , , 16–2 , , Carlos Zambrano, Zambrano (7–8) , , Dontrelle Willis, Willis (9–2) , , , , 25,574 , , 49–48 ,

, - align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" , 98 , , July 21 , , @ Atlanta Braves, Braves , , 15–6 , , Veres (1–1) , , Shane Reynolds, Reynolds (7–5) , , , , 39,950 , , 50–48 ,

, - align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" , 99 , , July 22 , , @ Atlanta Braves, Braves , , 8–4 , , Maddux (9–8) , , Sergio Mitre, Mitre (0–1) , , , , 39,226 , , 50–49 ,

, - align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" , 100 , , July 23 , , Philadelphia Phillies, Phillies , , 3–0 , , Randy Wolf, Wolf (11–5) , , Clement (7–9) , , , , 40,377 , , 50–50 ,

, - align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" , 101 , , July 24 , , Philadelphia Phillies, Phillies , , 14–6 , , Padilla (9–8) , ,

(10–7) , , , , 40,266 , , 50–51 ,

, - align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" , 102 , , July 25 , , @ Houston Astros, Astros , , 5–3 , , Carlos Zambrano, Zambrano (8–8) , , Octavio Dotel, Dotel (6–4) , , Borowski (18) , , 43,013 , , 51–51 ,

, - align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" , 103 , , July 26 , , @ Houston Astros, Astros , , 3–1 , , Tim Redding, Redding (7–9) , , Juan Cruz (baseball), Cruz (1–4) , ,

(31) , , 42,679 , , 51–52 ,

, - align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" , 104 , , July 27 , , @ Houston Astros, Astros , , 5–3 , , Estes (7–8) , , Jeriome Robertson, Robertson (10–4) , , Borowski (19) , , 42,422 , , 52–52 ,

, - align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" , 105 , , July 29 , , San Francisco Giants, Giants , , 3–0 , , Clement (8–9) , , Damian Moss, Moss (9–7) , , , , 40,221 , , 53–52 ,

, - align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" , 106 , , July 30 , , San Francisco Giants, Giants , , 6–3 , , Jason Schmidt, Schmidt (11–4) , ,

(10–8) , , , , 39,973 , , 53–53 ,

, - align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" , 107 , , July 31 , , San Francisco Giants, Giants , , 9–4 , , Carlos Zambrano, Zambrano (9–8) , , Jim Brower, Brower (7–3) , , , , 39,422 , , 54–53 ,

, - , - align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" , 108 , , August 1 , , Arizona Diamondbacks, D-backs , , 4–3 (14) , , Antonio Alfonseca, Alfonseca (1–1) , , Oropesa (2–2) , , , , 38,738 , , 55–53 ,

, - align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" , 109 , , August 2 , , Arizona Diamondbacks, D-backs , , 4–3 , , Óscar Villarreal (baseball), Villarreal (7–4) , , Borowski (1–2) , , Mantei (12) , , 40,304 , , 55–54 ,

, - align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" , 110 , , August 3 , , Arizona Diamondbacks, D-backs , , 2–1 , , Clement (9–9) , , Óscar Villarreal (baseball), Villarreal (7–5) , , Veres (1) , , 39,473 , , 56–54 ,

, - align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" , 111 , , August 5 , , @ San Diego Padres, Padres , , 3–0 , , Mark Prior, Prior (9–5) , , Lawrence (5–14) , , Borowski (20) , , 30,932 , , 57–54 ,

, - align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" , 112 , , August 6 , , @ San Diego Padres, Padres , , 3–2 , ,

(11–8) , , Adam Eaton (pitcher), Eaton (6–8) , , Borowski (21) , , 29,265 , , 58–54 ,

, - align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" , 113 , , August 7 , , @ San Diego Padres, Padres , , 9–3 , , Carlos Zambrano, Zambrano (10–8) , , Kevin Jarvis, Jarvis (4–4) , , , , 27,673 , , 59–54 ,

, - align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" , 114 , , August 8 , , @ LA Dodgers, Dodgers , , 3–1 , , Ashby (3–9) , , Estes (7–9) , , Gagné (31) , , 52,911 , , 59–55 ,

, - align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" , 115 , , August 9 , , @ LA Dodgers, Dodgers , , 6–1 , , Wilson Álvarez, Álvarez (2–1) , , Clement (9–10) , , , , 54,181 , , 59–56 ,

, - align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" , 116 , , August 10 , , @ LA Dodgers, Dodgers , , 3–1 , , Mark Prior, Prior (10–5) , , Kevin Brown (right-handed pitcher), Brown (11–6) , , , , 51,729 , , 60–56 ,

, - align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" , 117 , , August 11 , , Houston Astros, Astros , , 3–1 , , Wade Miller, Miller (9–10) , ,

(11–9) , ,

(34) , , 39,889 , , 60–57 ,

, - align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" , 118 , , August 12 , , Houston Astros, Astros , , 3–0 , , Carlos Zambrano, Zambrano (11–8) , , Tim Redding, Redding (8–10) , , , , 39,751 , , 61–57 ,

, - align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" , 119 , , August 13 , , Houston Astros, Astros , , 6–4 , , Guthrie (1–3) , , Jeriome Robertson, Robertson (11–6) , , Borowski (22) , , 39,631 , , 62–57 ,

, - align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" , 120 , , August 14 , , Houston Astros, Astros , , 7–1 , , Clement (10–10) , , Jared Fernandez, Fernandez (1–2) , , , , 39,769 , , 63–57 ,

, - align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" , 121 , , August 15 , , LA Dodgers, Dodgers , , 2–1 , , Mark Prior, Prior (11–5) , , Masao Kida, Kida (0–1) , , , , 40,188 , , 64–57 ,

, - align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" , 122 , , August 16 , , LA Dodgers, Dodgers , , 10–5 , , Odalis Pérez, Pérez (9–9) , , Mike Remlinger, Remlinger (5–4) , , , , 40,032 , , 64–58 ,

, - align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" , 123 , , August 17 , , LA Dodgers, Dodgers , , 3–0 , , Hideo Nomo, Nomo (14–9) , , Carlos Zambrano, Zambrano (11–9) , , Gagné (41) , , 40,124 , , 64–59 ,

, - align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" , 124 , , August 19 , , @ Houston Astros, Astros , , 12–8 , , Dan Miceli, Miceli (2–3) , , Clement (10–11) , , , , 32,707 , , 64–60 ,

, - align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" , 125 , , August 20 , , @ Houston Astros, Astros , , 6–0 , , Mark Prior, Prior (12–5) , , Jared Fernandez, Fernandez (1–3) , , , , 32,810 , , 65–60 ,

, - align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" , 126 , , August 21 , , @ Houston Astros, Astros , , 9–3 , , Ron Villone, Villone (5–2) , ,

(11–10) , , , , 29,555 , , 65–60 ,

, - align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" , 127 , , August 22 , , @ Arizona Diamondbacks, D-backs , , 4–1 , , Carlos Zambrano, Zambrano (12–9) , , Curt Schilling, Schilling (7–7) , , , , 39,612 , , 66–61 ,

, - align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" , 128 , , August 23 , , @ Arizona Diamondbacks, D-backs , , 13–2 , , Miguel Batista, Batista (8–7) , , Estes (7–10) , , , , 40,820 , , 66–62 ,

, - align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" , 129 , , August 24 , , @ Arizona Diamondbacks, D-backs , , 5–3 , , Clement (11–11) , , Stephen Randolph, Randolph (7–1) , , Borowski (23) , , 40,129 , , 67–62 ,

, - align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" , 130 , , August 26 , , @ St. Louis Cardinals, Cardinals , , 7–4 , , Mark Prior, Prior (13–5) , , Garrett Stephenson, Stephenson (7–13) , , , , 36,563 , , 68–62 ,

, - align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" , 131 , , August 27 , , @ St. Louis Cardinals, Cardinals , , 4–2 , , Steve Kline (left-handed pitcher), Kline (5–5) , , Kyle Farnsworth, Farnsworth (3–1) , , Jason Isringhausen, Isringhausen (15) , , 32,667 , , 68–63 ,

, - align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" , 132 , , August 28 , , @ St. Louis Cardinals, Cardinals , , 3–2 , , DeJean (5–7) , , Mike Remlinger, Remlinger (5–5) , , , , 37,370 , , 68–64 ,

, - align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" , 133 , , August 29 , , Milwaukee Brewers, Brewers , , 4–2 , , Clement (12–11) , , Sheets (10–11) , , , , 38,215 , , 69–64 ,

, - align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" , 134 , , August 30 , , Milwaukee Brewers, Brewers , , 9–5 , , Matt Kinney, Kinney (10–9) , , Estes (7–11) , , , , 39,805 , , 69–65 ,

, - align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" , 135 , , August 31 , , Milwaukee Brewers, Brewers , , 2–0 , , Doug Davis (pitcher), Davis (6–6) , , Juan Cruz (baseball), Cruz (1–5) , , Danny Kolb, Kolb (14) , , 38,946 , , 69–66 ,

, - , - align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" , 136 , , September 1 , , St. Louis Cardinals, Cardinals , , 7–0 , , Mark Prior, Prior (14–5) , , Woody Williams, Williams (14–7) , , , , 38,410 , , 70–66 ,

, - align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" , 137 , , September 2 , , St. Louis Cardinals, Cardinals , , 4–2 (15) , , Guthrie (2–3) , , Fassero (1–7) , , , , 31,990 , , 71–66 ,

, - align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" , 138 , , September 2 , , St. Louis Cardinals, Cardinals , , 2–0 , , Morris (9–6) , ,

(11–11) , , Jason Isringhausen, Isringhausen (17) , , 39,290 , , 71–67 ,

, - align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" , 139 , , September 3 , , St. Louis Cardinals, Cardinals , , 8–7 , , Borowski (2–2) , , Woody Williams, Williams (14–8) , , , , 32,710 , , 72–67 ,

, - align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" , 140 , , September 4 , , St. Louis Cardinals, Cardinals , , 7–6 , , Mike Remlinger, Remlinger (6–5) , , DeJean (5–8) , , Borowski (24) , , 35,129 , , 73–67 ,

, - align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" , 141 , , September 5 , , @ Milwaukee Brewers, Brewers , , 4–2 , , Juan Cruz (baseball), Cruz (2–5) , , Sheets (10–12) , , Borowski (25) , , 42,909 , , 74–67 ,

, - align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" , 142 , , September 6 , , @ Milwaukee Brewers, Brewers , , 8–4 , , Mark Prior, Prior (15–5) , , Matt Kinney, Kinney (10–10) , , , , 46,218 , , 75–67 ,

, - align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" , 143 , , September 7 , , @ Milwaukee Brewers, Brewers , , 9–2 , ,

(12–11) , , Doug Davis (pitcher), Davis (6–7) , , , , 42,127 , , 76–67 ,

, - align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" , 144 , , September 9 , , @ Montreal Expos, Expos , , 4–3 , , Carlos Zambrano, Zambrano (13–9) , ,

(7–7) , , Borowski (26) , , 15,632 , , 77–67 ,

, - align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" , 145 , , September 10 , , @ Montreal Expos, Expos , , 8–4 , , Luis Ayala (baseball), Ayala (9–3) , , Kyle Farnsworth, Farnsworth (3–2) , , , , 18,002 , , 77–68 ,

, - align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" , 146 , , September 11 , , @ Montreal Expos, Expos , , 3–2 , , Tomokazu Ohka, Ohka (9–12) , , Mark Prior, Prior (15–6) , , Eischen (1) , , 12,559 , , 77–69 ,

, - align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" , 147 , , September 12 , , Cincinnati Reds, Reds , , 7–6 , , Antonio Alfonseca, Alfonseca (2–1) , , Scott Randall, Randall (2–2) , , Borowski (27) , , 38,219 , , 78–69 ,

, - align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" , 148 , , September 13 , , Cincinnati Reds, Reds , , 9–6 , , Antonio Alfonseca, Alfonseca (3–1) , , Matt Belisle, Belisle (1–1) , , Borowski (28) , , 39,983 , , 79–69 ,

, - align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" , 149 , , September 14 , , Cincinnati Reds, Reds , , 1–0 , , Riedling (2–3) , , Carlos Zambrano, Zambrano (13–10) , , Chris Reitsma, Reitsma (9) , , 38,827 , , 79–70 ,

, - align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" , 150 , , September 15 , , Mets , , 4–1 , , Clement (13–11) , , Jeremy Griffiths, Griffiths (1–3) , , Borowski (29) , , 38,698 , , 80–70 ,

, - align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" , 151 , , September 16 , , Mets , , 3–2 , , Mark Prior, Prior (16–6) , , Jae Weong Seo, Seo (8–12) , , Borowski (30) , , 39,534 , , 81–70 ,

, - align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" , 152 , , September 17 , , Mets , , 2–0 , ,

(13–11) , , Al Leiter, Leiter (14–9) , , , , 38,482 , , 82–70 ,

, - align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" , 153 , , September 19 , , @ Pittsburgh Pirates, Pirates , , 10–9 , , Veres (2–1) , , Nelson Figueroa, Figueroa (2–1) , , Borowski (31) , , , , 83–70 ,

, - align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" , 154 , , September 19 , , @ Pittsburgh Pirates, Pirates , , 10–6 , , Salomón Torres, Torres (6–5) , , Juan Cruz (baseball), Cruz (2–6) , , , , 16,248 , , 83–71 ,

, - align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" , 155 , , September 20 , , @ Pittsburgh Pirates, Pirates , , 8–2 , , Ryan Vogelsong, Vogelsong (2–1) , , Clement (13–12) , , , , 32,869 , , 83–72 ,

, - align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" , 156 , , September 21 , , @ Pittsburgh Pirates, Pirates , , 4–1 , , Mark Prior, Prior (17–6) , , Óliver Pérez, Pérez (4–10) , , Borowski (32) , , 21,497 , , 84–72 ,

, - align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" , 157 , , September 23 , , @ Cincinnati Reds, Reds , , 6–0 , ,

(14–11) , , Scott Randall, Randall (2–4) , , , , 26,124 , , 85–72 ,

, - align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" , 158 , , September 24 , , @ Cincinnati Reds, Reds , , 8–0 , , Estes (8–11) , , Josh Hall (baseball), Hall (0–2) , , , , 27,021 , , 86–72 ,

, - align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" , 159 , , September 25 , , @ Cincinnati Reds, Reds , , 9–7 , , Todd Van Poppel, Van Poppel (3–1) , , Carlos Zambrano, Zambrano (13–11) , , Chris Reitsma, Reitsma (12) , , 36,963 , , 86–73 ,

, - align="center" bgcolor="bbbbbb" , – , , September 26 , , Pittsburgh Pirates, Pirates , , colspan=7, ''Postponed (rain)'' Rescheduled for September 27 , - align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" , 160 , , September 27 , , Pittsburgh Pirates, Pirates , , 4–2 , , Mark Prior, Prior (18–6) , , Josh Fogg, Fogg (10–9) , , Borowski (33) , , , , 87–73 ,

, - align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" , 161 , , September 27 , , Pittsburgh Pirates, Pirates , , 7–2 , , Clement (14–12) , , Ryan Vogelsong, Vogelsong (2–2) , , , , 40,121 , , 88–73 ,

, - align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" , 162 , , September 28 , , Pittsburgh Pirates, Pirates , , 3–2 , , Kip Wells, Wells (10–9) , , Juan Cruz (baseball), Cruz (2–7) , , Tavárez (11) , , 39,940 , , 88–74 ,

, -

Player stats

Batting

Source ''Note: G = Games played; AB = At bats; R = Runs; H = Hits; 2B = Doubles; 3B = Triples; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in; Avg. = Batting average; OBP = On base percentage; SLG = Slugging percentage; SB = Stolen bases''

Pitching

Source ''Note: W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; G = Games pitched; GS = Games started; SV = Saves; IP = Innings pitched; H = Hits allowed; R = Runs allowed; ER = Earned runs allowed; BB = Walks allowed; K = Strikeouts''

Postseason

2003 NLDS

vs. Chicago Cubs

Game 1 – Chicago 4, ''Atlanta 2''

Game 2 – ''Atlanta 5'', Chicago 3

Game 3 – ''Chicago 3'', Atlanta 1

Game 4 – Atlanta 6, ''Chicago 4''

Game 5 – Chicago 5, ''Atlanta 1''

For the first time since October 14. 1908, the Cubs had won a postseason series, doing so at

Atlanta Atlanta ( ) is the List of capitals in the United States, capital and List of municipalities in Georgia (U.S. state), most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia (U.S. state), Georgia. It is the county seat, seat of Fulton County, Georg ...

2003 NLCS

Game 1

October 7:

Chicago Chicago is the List of municipalities in Illinois, most populous city in the U.S. state of Illinois and in the Midwestern United States. With a population of 2,746,388, as of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, it is the List of Unite ...

Game 2

October 8:

Game 3

October 10: Pro Player Stadium,

Miami, Florida Miami is a East Coast of the United States, coastal city in the U.S. state of Florida and the county seat of Miami-Dade County, Florida, Miami-Dade County in South Florida. It is the core of the Miami metropolitan area, which, with a populat ...

Game 4

October 11: Pro Player Stadium,

Miami Miami is a East Coast of the United States, coastal city in the U.S. state of Florida and the county seat of Miami-Dade County, Florida, Miami-Dade County in South Florida. It is the core of the Miami metropolitan area, which, with a populat ...

Game 5

October 12: Pro Player Stadium,

With the Marlins facing elimination, Josh Beckett kept them alive by dominating the Cubs, holding them to just two hits and one walk as part of his standout 2003 postseason. The game was scoreless until the sixth inning when Mike Lowell hit a two-run homer. Iván Rodríguez and Jeff Conine homered in the seventh and eighth innings respectively. Even with the loss, the Cubs looked good going back home with their two aces, Mark Prior and Kerry Wood ready to start Games 6 and 7.

Game 6

October 14:

Illinois Illinois ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Midwestern United States, Midwestern United States. It borders on Lake Michigan to its northeast, the Mississippi River to its west, and the Wabash River, Wabash and Ohio River, Ohio rivers to its ...

The Cubs held a 3–0 lead going into the top of the eighth inning in Game 6 and, after Mike Mordecai hit a high

pop fly In the sports of baseball and softball, a batted ball is a pitch that has been contacted by the batter's bat. Batted balls are either fair or foul, and can be characterized as a fly ball, pop-up, line drive, or ground ball. In baseball, a fou ...

to left field for the first out of the inning, had only two outs left in the inning—leaving the team a mere 5 outs away from their first World Series berth since 1945. Prior had retired the last eight hitters and had allowed only three hits up to that point.

Center fielder A center fielder, abbreviated CF, is the outfielder in baseball who plays defense in center field – the baseball and softball fielding position between left field and right field. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the ...

Juan Pierre (who was later traded to the Cubs) then hit a

double Double, The Double or Dubble may refer to: Mathematics and computing * Multiplication by 2 * Double precision, a floating-point representation of numbers that is typically 64 bits in length * A double number of the form x+yj, where j^2=+1 * A ...

off Prior. On the eighth pitch of his

at bat In baseball, an at bat (AB) or time at bat is a batter's turn batting against a pitcher. An at bat is different from a plate appearance. A batter is credited with a plate appearance regardless of what happens upon completion of his turn at bat, ...

, Luis Castillo hit a high foul ball toward the left field wall. Cubs left fielder Moisés Alou headed toward the stands to catch the ball for the potential second out. As Alou reached for the ball, Cubs fan Steve Bartman, along with others near the area, did the same. The ball bounced off Bartman's hand and into the stands. Though the Cubs pleaded for a call of fan interference, the

umpire An umpire is an official in a variety of sports and competition, responsible for enforcing the rules of the sport, including sportsmanship decisions such as ejection. The term derives from the Old French , , and , : (as evidenced in cricke ...

ruled that the ball had left the field of play and was therefore up for grabs. Alou initially said that he would not have made the catch, though he later denied making the statement, saying that if he had, it was only to make Bartman feel better. As a result, Castillo remained an active batter at home plate. On the next pitch, Prior walked Castillo on a

wild pitch In baseball, a wild pitch (WP) is charged against a pitcher when his pitch is too high, too short, or too wide of home plate for the catcher to control with ordinary effort, thereby allowing a baserunner, or the batter (on an uncaught third st ...

that got away from

catcher Catcher is a position in baseball and softball. When a batter takes their turn to hit, the catcher crouches behind home plate, in front of the (home) umpire, and receives the ball from the pitcher. In addition to this primary duty, the catc ...

Paul Bako, also allowing Pierre to advance to third base. Next,

Iván Rodríguez Iván Rodríguez Torres (born November 27, 1971), nicknamed "Pudge" and "I-Rod", is a Puerto Rican former professional baseball catcher who played 21 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB). He played for the Texas Rangers (baseball), Texas Ran ...

hit an 0-2 pitch hard into left field, singling and scoring Pierre. Miguel Cabrera then hit a ground ball toward Cubs

shortstop Shortstop, abbreviated SS, is the baseball positions, baseball or softball fielding position between second base, second and third base, which is considered to be among the Defensive spectrum, most demanding defensive positions. Historically, the ...

Alex Gonzalez that could have ended the inning on a

double play In baseball and softball, a double play (denoted as DP in baseball statistics) is the act of making two outs during the same continuous play. Double plays can occur any time there is at least one baserunner and fewer than two outs. In Major Le ...

. Gonzalez, who led all NL shortstops in

fielding percentage In baseball statistics, fielding percentage, also known as fielding average, is a measure that reflects the percentage of times a baseball positions, defensive player properly handles a batted or thrown ball. It is calculated by the sum of putout ...

, closed his glove a little too early and the ball landed in the dirt, allowing Cabrera to get on base, loading the bases. On the next pitch, Derrek Lee (a future Cubs' All-Star) drilled a

into left field, scoring Castillo and Rodríguez to tie the game at 3-3. Prior was then taken out of the game and replaced by Kyle Farnsworth, who intentionally walked Mike Lowell to load the bases.

Jeff Conine Jeffrey Guy Conine (; born June 27, 1966) is an American former professional baseball left fielder / first baseman and current front office assistant for the Miami Marlins, who played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for 17 seasons, with six teams ...

then hit a sacrifice fly to right field for the second out of the inning, allowing Cabrera to score from third and the other runners to each advance one base. This gave the Marlins their first lead of the night. Farnsworth intentionally walked Todd Hollandsworth (another future Cub) to once again load the bases. The Marlins now having batted around the order, Farnsworth faced Mike Mordecai, who was looking to make up for his earlier out. This time, Mordecai prevailed, hitting a bases-clearing double to left-center field, allowing Lee, Lowell and Hollandsworth to score and making it a 7-3 Marlins lead. Farnsworth was then taken out of the game and replaced by Mike Remlinger, who gave up a single to Pierre to score Mordecai from second base. Finally, Luis Castillo hit a high pop fly ball to shallow right field for the third out. The Marlins' lead held, forcing a final Game 7.

Game 7

October 15:

The Marlins got off to a quick 3–0 lead in the first inning against Cubs pitching ace Kerry Wood, who hadn't lost at Wrigley Field in nearly six weeks. The Cubs responded by tying the ball game 3–3 in the second inning, which featured a two-run home run by Wood. Moisés Alou's two-run home run the following inning put Chicago up 5–3, but the lead wouldn't last. In the fifth inning, Florida capitalized on a pair of walks and scored three runs to go on top 6–5, a lead they would not relinquish. The Marlins added a run in the sixth and two more in the seventh to expand their lead to 9–5. Cubs pinch-hitter Troy O'Leary hit a home run the bottom of the seventh, making the score 9–6. After the Cubs were retired in order in the eighth inning, Florida closer Ugueth Urbina hit Aramis Ramírez with a pitch to lead off the ninth inning and proceeded to retire the following three batters, giving the Marlins their second National League pennant in their eleven-year existence.

Farm system

LEAGUE CHAMPIONS: Lansing

References

External links

*
2003 Chicago Cubs full season schedule
at MLB.com {{Chicago Cubs Chicago Cubs seasons Chicago Cubs season National League Central champion seasons Cub 2003 in Chicago