The Cubs and A's benefitted from some great groundskeeping by Jamie Duncan at Swift Road Park in New Scotland Saturday morning. After a late night downpour on Friday night, Jamie got the field in great shape for, what turned out to be a great game Saturday morning at 10:00 am. Another awesome job by the men who get that field ready for us! The Cubs got a RBI single from Jon Martin, in the top of the second, to stake the Cubs to an early 1-0 lead. Steve Lounello's RBI single, in the top of the third, would make it 2-0, but the A's would answer back in the bottom of the frame with 2 of their own to tie the game. Ed Powell and Will Ferguson had the two A's hits in the inning. The game would remain tied at 2 until the top of the 5th, when the Cubs would get a two out single from Ron Lochner, a double by Mike Girard, and a two RBI triple from Andy Hoyle to take a 4-2 lead. The A's would again even the score in the bottom of the frame. Dan Mirabile would lead off with a single and Jeff Jeanette would reach on a HBP. After a ground out to third, Will Ferguson would tie the game with a two RBI double. Ed Powell, on in relief for the A's, would escape jams in the 6th and 7th innings, but the Cubs would touch him up with the go-ahead run in the top of the eighth. Tom Maney started the rally with a single and a stolen base. After Powell sandwiched two strike outs around a walk, Ron Massaroni would work a walk to load the bases with two outs. Bryce Cutler stepped onto center stage and delivered a solid RBI single to provide the go-ahead run. The A's would get a lead off single in the bottom of the seventh off of Cubs' reliever Steve Lounello, but Steve would get a ground out to first, a fly out to left, and a game-ending strike out. These teams played two very competitive games in less than 48 hours and the Cubs feel very lucky to get away with the sweep. No team will look forward to seeing these A's in the playoffs! Good Luck the rest of the way to Ed Class and his team.
-- Edited by mgirard11 on Sunday 10th of July 2011 08:37:35 AM
