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Baltimore Orioles (39-37) at Chicago Cubs (49-29), 2:20 p.m.

(Sports Network) - The Chicago Cubs have been on a nice roll as of late. So has Jason Marquis, who takes the mound for the National League Central leaders for this afternoon's finale of a three-game series with the Baltimore Orioles.

Marquis comes in having recorded victories in each of his last four starts and has won five straight decisions. The right-hander hasn't lost since May 13, a span of seven outings.

His last start wasn't the sharpest of the stretch, as Marquis was touched for five runs and a pair of homers in seven innings Saturday against the White Sox. That was still good enough to earn a win in the Cubs' 11-7 triumph over their city rivals.

Prior to that showing, Marquis yielded just one earned run over 13 1/3 innings in consecutive wins over the Los Angeles Dodgers and Toronto.

The 29-year-old's two previous appearances against the Orioles both came in relief during the 2003 campaign, when Marquis was then a member of the Atlanta Braves. He allowed two runs over three innings in those games.

Marquis' team has also been doing quite well recently. The Cubs recorded their fourth win in five games with Wednesday's 7-4 decision over the Orioles, which also upped Chicago's major league-best season record to 49-29.

Geovany Soto was 2-for-3 with three runs batted in for the Cubs, while Jim Edmonds continued his hot hitting with a home run and two RBI on the night. The veteran center fielder now has four homers and seven RBI over Chicago's last four contests.

Cubs starter Ted Lilly (8-5) served up a pair of two-run homers to Jay Payton, but yielded just five hits and two walks during his seven-inning stint to pick up the win.

Wednesday's victory was Chicago's 15th in its 16 most recent tilts at Wrigley Field, where the club has compiled a tremendous 33-9 record for the season. The Orioles had snapped the Cubs' 14-game home win streak with a 7-5 decision on Tuesday.

Matt Albers (3-3) was charged with four runs on three hits in just one-third of an inning for Baltimore, which fell for the third time in four games. He was making an emergency start for Brian Burres, who was scratched due to a stomach ailment.

Albers was removed from the game after facing just five batters because of a sore shoulder.

The Orioles are counting on a more productive start today from Radhames Liz. The rookie is also coming off a short outing, having lasted just two innings in Friday's victory at Milwaukee. In that game, Liz surrendered five runs on four hits -- including a pair of homers -- while issuing four walks.

Liz has posted a 1-0 record with a 6.27 earned run average in four starts since being recalled from Triple-A Norfolk earlier this month. The Dominican's lone win came in his season debut, a 5-3 defeat of Minnesota on June 3 in which Liz tossed 5 1/3 frames of two-run ball.

In the only previous series between these teams, the Cubs took two of three games from the O's at Camden Yards from June 10-12, 2003.


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