2009 Chicago Cubs season

The 2009 Chicago Cubs season was the 138th season of the Chicago Cubs franchise, the 134th in the National League and the 94th at Wrigley Field. The Cubs, attempting to win the National League Central for the third consecutive season, fell short by finishing in second place with a record of 83–78.

Minor League affiliates In 2009 The Chicago Cubs had three minor league affiliates. The team's Single-A affiliate is the Peoria Chiefs, located in Peoria. The Chicago Cubs' Double-A affiliate is the Tennessee Smokies based in the Knoxville, Tennessee metropolitan area. Finally the Chicago Cubs Triple-A Affiliate is the Iowa Cubs, located in Iowa. The Iowa Cubs were coached by former Cub and Hall of Fame player Ryne Sandberg in 2009. Sandberg previously coached the Chiefs and Smokies as well.

Regular season

Season standings

Record vs. opponents

Game log

|- bgcolor="ffbbbb" |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 1 || April 6 || @ Astros || 4–2 || Zambrano (1–0) || Oswalt (0–1) || Gregg (1) || 43,827 || 1–0 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 2 || April 7 || @ Astros || 2–3 (10) || Brocail (1–0) || Cotts (0–1) || || 31,121 || 1–1 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 3 || April 8 || @ Astros || 11–6 || Lilly (1–0) || Moehler (0–1) || || 30,047 || 2–1 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 4 || April 10 || @ Brewers || 3–4 || Villanueva (1–0) || Gregg (0–1) || || 45,455 || 2–2 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 5 || April 11 || @ Brewers || 6–5 || Heilman (1–0) || Villanueva (1–1) || Mármol (1) || 43,768 || 3–2 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 6 || April 12 || @ Brewers || 8–5 || Dempster (1–0) || Suppan (0–2) || || 40,168 || 4–2 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 7 || April 13 || Rockies || 4–0 || Lilly (2–0) || Jiménez (1–1) || || 40,077 || 5–2 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 8 || April 15 || Rockies || 2–5 || Marquis (2–0) || Harden (0–1) || Grilli (1) || 39,361 || 5–3 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 9 || April 16 || Cardinals || 4–7 || Wainwright (2–0) || Patton (0–1) || Franklin (2) || 38,909 || 5–4 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 10 || April 17 || Cardinals || 8–7 || Heilman (2–0) || Pérez (0–1) || Mármol (2) || 40,250 || 6–4 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 11 || April 18 || Cardinals || 7–5 (11) || Guzmán (1–0) || Reyes (0–1) || || 40,878 || 7–4 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbbbbb" | || April 19 || Cardinals || colspan=6 | Postponed (rain) – rescheduled for July 12 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 12 || April 21 || Reds || 7–2 || Harden (1–1) || Owings (0–2) || || 38,403 || 8–4 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 13 || April 22 || Reds || 0–3 || Cueto (1–1) || Lilly (2–1) || Cordero (6) || 38,738 || 8–5 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 14 || April 23 || Reds || 1–7 || Harang (2–2) || Zambrano (1–1) || || 40,039 || 8–6 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 15 || April 24 || @ Cardinals || 3–4 || McClellan (1–0) || Mármol (0–1) || Franklin (5) || 45,812 || 8–7 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 16 || April 25 || @ Cardinals || 2–8 || Boggs (1–0) || Marshall (0–1) || || 46,707 || 8–8 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 17 || April 26 || @ Cardinals || 10–3 || Harden (2–1) || Wellemeyer (1–2) || || 44,742 || 9–8 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 18 || April 27 || @ Diamondbacks || 2–7 || Haren (2–3) || Lilly (2–2) || || 29,471 || 9–9 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 19 || April 28 || @ Diamondbacks || 11–3 || Zambrano (2–1) || Petit (0–2) || || 30,351 || 10–9 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 20 || April 29 || @ Diamondbacks || 0–10 || Davis (2–3) || Dempster (1–1) || || 26,999 || 10–10 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 21 || April 30 || Marlins || 2–8 (10) || Pinto (2–0) || Heilman (2–1) || || 37,956 || 10–11

|- bgcolor="ffbbbb" |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 22 || May 1 || Marlins || 8–6 || Patton (1–1) || Badenhop (1–1) || Gregg (2) || 38,336 || 11–11 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 23 || May 2 || Marlins || 6–1 || Lilly (3–2) || Sánchez (1–3) || || 40,083 || 12–11 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 24 || May 3 || Marlins || 6–4 || Zambrano (3–1) || Nolasco (1–3) || Gregg (3) || 40,457 || 13–11 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 25 || May 4 || Giants || 4–2 || Dempster (2–1) || Sánchez (1–2) || Gregg (4) || 39,112 || 14–11 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 26 || May 5 || Giants || 2–6 || Lincecum (3–1) || Marshall (0–2) || || 39,497 || 14–12 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 27 || May 6 || @ Astros || 6–3 || Harden (3–1) || Hampton (1–3) || Gregg (5) || 29,415 || 15–12 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 28 || May 7 || @ Astros || 8–5 || Lilly (4–2) || Ortiz (2–1) || || 28,625 || 16–12 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 29 || May 8 || @ Brewers || 2–3 || Stetter (2–0) || Heilman (2–2) || Hoffman (5) || 42,025 || 16–13 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 30 || May 9 || @ Brewers || 6–12 || Gallardo (4–1) || Dempster (2–2) || || 44,428 || 16–14 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 31 || May 10 || @ Brewers || 4–2 || Marshall (1–2) || Suppan (2–3) || Gregg (6) || 41,646 || 17–14 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 32 || May 12 || Padres || 6–2 || Harden (4–1) || Peavy (2–5) || || 39,963 || 18–14 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 33 || May 13 || Padres || 6–4 (8) || Lilly (5–2) || Young (2–2) || Mármol (3) || 38,410 || 19–14 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 34 || May 14 || Padres || 11–3 || Dempster (3–2) || Gaudin (0–3) || || 39,728 || 20–14 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbbbbb" | || May 15 || Astros || colspan=6 | Postponed (rain) – rescheduled for July 30 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 35 || May 16 || Astros || 5–4 || Marshall (2–2) || Hawkins (1–1) || || 40,549 || 21–14 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 36 || May 17 || Astros || 5–6 || Moehler (1–2) || Harden (4–2) || Sampson (1) || 40,478 || 21–15 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 37 || May 19 || @ Cardinals || 0–3 || Piñeiro (5–3) || Lilly (5–3) || || 41,374 || 21–16 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 38 || May 20 || @ Cardinals || 1–2 || Carpenter (2–0) || Dempster (3–3) || Franklin (10) || 41,703 || 21–17 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 39 || May 21 || @ Cardinals || 1–3 || Wainwright (4–2) || Marshall (2–3) || Franklin (11) || 44,235 || 21–18 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 40 || May 22 || @ Padres || 0–4 || Peavy (4–5) || Zambrano (3–2) || Bell (12) || 27,260 || 21–19 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 41 || May 23 || @ Padres || 1–3 || Geer (1–1) || Wells (0–1) || Mujica (1) || 37,798 || 21–20 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 42 || May 24 || @ Padres || 2–7 || Young (4–2) || Lilly (5–4) || || 39,593 || 21–21 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 43 || May 25 || Pirates || 8–10 || Gorzelanny (2–1) || Cotts (0–2) || Burnett (1) || 38,942 || 21–22 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 44 || May 26 || Pirates || 6–1 (6) || Marshall (3–3) || Snell (1–6) || || 38,303 || 22–22 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 45 || May 27 || Pirates || 5–2 || Mármol (1–1) || Chavez (0–2) || Gregg (7) || 38,314 || 23–22 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 46 || May 28 || Dodgers || 1–2 || Wolf (3–1) || Wells (0–2) || Troncoso (3) || 39,579 || 23–23 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 47 || May 29 || Dodgers || 2–1 || Lilly (6–4) || Billingsley (6–3) || Gregg (8) || 40,148 || 24–23 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 48 || May 30 || Dodgers || 7–0 || Dempster (4–3) || Stults (4–2) || || 41,153 || 25–23 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 49 || May 31 || Dodgers || 2–8 || Milton (2–0) || Marshall (3–4) || || 40,091 || 25–24

|- bgcolor="ffbbbb" |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 50 || June 2 || @ Braves || 5–6 (12) || Soriano (1–0) || Heilman (2–3) || || 30,262 || 25–25 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 51 || June 3 || @ Braves || 3–2 (11) || Guzmán (2–0) || Bennett (2–3) || Gregg (9) || 30,646 || 26–25 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbbbbb" | || June 4 || @ Braves || colspan=6 | Postponed (rain) – rescheduled for June 22 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 52 || June 5 || @ Reds || 2–1 || Zambrano (4–2) || Owings (3–7) || Gregg (10) || 32,374 || 27–25 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 53 || June 6 || @ Reds || 3–4 (11) || Masset (3–0) || Marshall (3–5) || || 40,914 || 27–26 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 54 || June 7 || @ Reds || 6–3 (14) || Patton (2–1) || Lincoln (1–1) || Guzmán (1) || 32,629 || 28–26 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 55 || June 9 || @ Astros || 7–1 || Lilly (7–4) || Moehler (2–4) || || 29,669 || 29–26 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 56 || June 10 || @ Astros || 1–2 || Sampson (3–0) || Guzmán (2–1) || || 29,840 || 29–27 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 57 || June 11 || @ Astros || 1–2 (13) || Fulchino (2–1) || Ascanio (0–1) || || 34,250 || 29–28 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 58 || June 12 || Twins || 4–7 || Slowey (9–2) || Wells (0–3) || Nathan (14) || 41,509 || 29–29 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 59 || June 13 || Twins || 0–2 || Swarzak (2–2) || Harden (4–3) || Nathan (15) || 40,899 || 29–30 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 60 || June 14 || Twins || 3–2 || Mármol (2–1) || Crain (2–3) || || 40,814 || 30–30 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbbbbb" | || June 16 || White Sox || colspan=6 | Postponed (rain) – rescheduled for September 3 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 61 || June 17 || White Sox || 1–4 || Danks (5–5) || Dempster (4–4) || Jenks (15) || 40,444 || 30–31 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 62 || June 18 || White Sox || 6–5 || Gregg (1–1) || Thornton (4–2) || || 40,467 || 31–31 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 63 || June 19 || Indians || 8–7 (10) || Gregg (2–1) || Vizcaíno (1–3) || || 40,155 || 32–31 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 64 || June 20 || Indians || 6–5 (13) || Patton (3–1) || Wood (2–3) || || 41,007 || 33–31 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 65 || June 21 || Indians || 6–2 || Wells (1–3) || Sowers (1–5) || Gregg (11) || 40,866 || 34–31 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 66 || June 22 || @ Braves || 0–2 || Vázquez (5–6) || Dempster (4–5) || Soriano (6) || 31,701 || 34–32 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 67 || June 23 || @ Tigers || 4–5 || Lyon (3–3) || Gregg (BS 3) (2–2) || || 38,046 || 34–33 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 68 || June 24 || @ Tigers || 3–5 || Miner (BS 2) (5–1) || Harden (4–4) || Rodney (15) || 36,438 || 34–34 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 69 || June 25 || @ Tigers || 5–6 || Galarraga (4–7) || Lilly (7–5) || Rodney (16) || 42,332 || 34–35 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 70 || June 26 || @ White Sox || 5–4 || Wells (2–3) || Contreras (2–7) || Gregg (12) || 39,015 || 35–35 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 71 || June 27 || @ White Sox || 7–8 || Jenks (2–2) || Marshall (3–6) || || 39,529 || 35–36 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 72 || June 28 || @ White Sox || 0–6 || Danks (6–6) || Zambrano (4–3) || || 39,745 || 35–37 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 73 || June 29 || @ Pirates || 3–1 || Harden (5–4) || Duke || Gregg (13) || 15,400 || 36–37 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 74 || June 30 || @ Pirates || 0–3 || Ohlendorf (7–6) || Lilly (7–6) || Capps (18) || 17,054 || 36–38

|- bgcolor="ffbbbb" |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 75 || July 1 || @ Pirates || 4–1 || Wells (3–3) || Vasquez (1–1) || Gregg (14) || 15,770 || 37–38 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 76 || July 2 || Brewers || 9–5 || Dempster (5–5) || McClung (3–2) || || 40,545 || 38–38 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 77 || July 3 || Brewers || 2–1 (10) || Gregg (3–2) || DiFelice (4–1) || || 41,204 || 39–38 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 78 || July 4 || Brewers || 2–11 || Looper (7–4) || Harden (5–5) || || 40,088 || 39–39 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 79 || July 5 || Brewers || 8–2 || Lilly (8–6) || Burns (1–2) || || 40,369 || 40–39 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 80 || July 6 || Braves || 4–2 || Wells (4–3) || Jurrjens (6–7) || Gregg (15) || 40,042 || 41–39 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 81 || July 7 || Braves || 1–2 || Vázquez (6–7) || Zambrano (4–4) || Soriano (9) || 40,359 || 41–40