This one wasn't decided until the bottom of the 6th! A real struggle all of the way.

This game promised to be a close and exciting game, and it did not disappoint.
The Dodgers threatened in each of the first two innings, putting two runners on in each frame,
with one out, but Cubs' starter Mike Girard, struck out the final two batters in each frame to escape
without any damage.

The Cubs used a lead-off single by Jerry Rosen, a productive out by Jim Bonaparte, that moved Rosen to second,
and a throwing error by the Dodgers' shortstop to take a 1 - 0 lead in the bottom of the 2nd inning.

The Dodgers bounced right back in the top of the 3rd inning, on a one out single by Harry Staulters, a balk by Girard,
and a Cubs error, that moved Staulters to third with one out. Ray Colletta plated the tying run on a RBI ground out to short,
to tie the game at 1.

The Cubs would take the lead back in the bottom of the frame. A lead-off walk by George Schillinger, a single by Dave Schillinger,
and a one out walk to Paul Miles loaded the bases. Girard lifted a fly ball to center field that was deep enough to plate Geo, with the go ahead run.
Dodgers starter, Jim Tesoriero escaped further damage with some fine pitching.

The lead would move to 3-1 in the bottom of the 4th, when Ron Massaroni singled, and stole second to start the inning. The next Cubs batter
struck out on a ball in the dirt, and when the catcher threw to first, Massaroni alertly moved to third. Alex Marin then delivered Massaroni with a RBI single.
to push the score to 3 - 1.

The Dodgers again threatened in the 5th, when Joe Kosek and Staulters singled with two outs (it was Staulters 3rd hit on the game). Marc Trinchillo then
hit a sinking liner down the left field line, but George Schillinger came on hard and made a difficult running catch to preserve the lead. The Dodgers would
get within a run in the top of the sixth, when Colletta reached on an infield error. After one out, Colleta advanced to third on another infield error.
Jim Tesererio followed with a single scoring Colletta and advancing Tim Borwick to third. With runners on second and third with just one out, and a precarious one run lead,
Girard induced a ground out, with the infield drawn in (runners were unable to advance), and got a fly ball to left to keep the score at 3-2.

The Cubs got 3 very important insurance runs in the bottom of the 6th, to provide some breathing room. The rally started with a Ron Lochner single, and a walk to Jerry Rosen.
Ron Massaroni then laid down a perfect sacrifice bunt to advance the runners to second and third, with just one out. Alex Marin came though again, with a RBI single, and
Ed Class followed with another RBI single. With two outs and runners on first and third, Dave Schillinger courageously came to the plate after having pulled his quad earlier in the game.
He hit a hard ground ball that the third baseman was unable to handle, and the ball caromed far enough away to score the 3rd run of the inning, and make the score 6-2.

Mike Girard finished up with a 1-2-3 seventh inning, and the Cubs walked away with the victory. Girard gave up just 2 unearned runs, scattering 7 hits and hitting one batter,
while striking out 10. This game was way closer than the 6-2 final score would indicate. This Dodger team has "top four" talent and is a great bunch of guys. The Cubs wish you well
in this 2020 season, and look forward to another highly competitive game later this year.



-- Edited by mgirard11 on Thursday 16th of July 2020 09:09:13 AM

-- Edited by mgirard11 on Thursday 16th of July 2020 09:15:22 AM