In a very important game in the 35+ standings, the Cubs beat the Nationals 15-2, Saturday morning at New Scotland. The game started well enough for the Nats, as they took advantage of some early wildness by Steve Lounello, in the first inning to take a 1-0 lead. Mr. Lounello walked the first two batters of the game, and one out later, Bobby Lane knocked home the game's first run with a RBI double. Steve then loaded the bases with his third walk of the inning. Just when it looked like the Nats would put the Cubs in a deep hole, Lounello found his release point and struck out the next two hitters to escape the jam with just giving up one run. The Nats would take a 2-0 lead, in the top of the second inning, on a long solo home run by Mike Pickett. The game would turn in the Cubs favor, in a big way in the bottom of the second inning. The Cubs got a lead off single from Ron Lochner. Tom Maney followed with a hard grounder to short that looked like a sure double play, but was misplayed and runners ended up at second and third, with no outs. Phil Gadomski then walked to load the bases. After he struck out the next Cubs' hitter, Nats starter, Jeremiah Primeau, walked in 3 runs and forced in another with a hit batter. Randy Craft then singled to make the score 5-2. With the bases still loaded and just one out, Mike Girard doubled down the right field line to plate 3 more. Ron Lochner then singled Girard home to cap the rally at 9 runs. Buoyed by the 7 run lead, Steve Lounello gave up just one single and no walks over the final 3 innings, while striking out 3. The Cubs would add a grand slam home run from Lochner in a 5-run third inning, to push the advantage to 14-2. The final run of the game was plated in the bottom of the fourth on a one out double by Mike Ferraro, followed by singles from Tom Sheperdson and Jim McQuade. With the victory, the Cubs are just one win or one Nats loss away from securing the third seed for the upcoming 35+ playoffs. These same two teams meet again Wednesday night at Dutchman Field in Guilderland.
-- Edited by mgirard11 on Sunday 7th of August 2011 11:02:47 AM
-- Edited by mgirard11 on Sunday 7th of August 2011 11:05:03 AM
