Another nail biter for the Cubs, Friday night at the A-Diamond, in Schenectady.

The Cubs got off to a good start, in the bottom of the first, when Paul Miles led off with a single and stole second.
Miles was on the move again when Alex Marin grounded the ball to third, so the Americans' third baseman had no choice
but to make the play at first. Mike Girard followed with a fairly deep fly ball to center to plate Miles, and the Cubs were up 1-0.

Meanwhile, both starting pitchers were throwing well. Scott Ross for the Cubs and Rich Garbarino for the Americans. That lone run
stood up until the top of the 4th, when the Americans got a lead off walk by Bob Yakatan. Two consecutive ground outs moved him over
to third, and Dave Hartman followed with a hard grounder in the hole between first and second. The Cubs first baseman ranged far to his
right and speared the ball, but found no pitcher covering and was too late running to the bag as Hartman beat out the infield single, and the
score was tied at 1.

The Cubs would get the go ahead run in the bottom of the fifth. Again Paul Miles was the instigator. This time he walked and moved to second
on a wild pitch. After a ground out to short, Mike Girard delivered Miles with a RBI single, and the Cubs were back in front 2-1.

Proving their grittiness again, the Americans scratched out the tying run in the top of the 6th. Ben Petrone led off with a walk, and was sacrificed to
second by Brad Buchan. After a strike out, for out number 2, Bob Yakatan grounded a slow roller to second. His speed forced the Cubs second baseman
to hurry, and he threw the ball away, and Petrone scored on the play. Game tied, 2-2.

The bottom of the 6th proved to be the deciding inning in this one. Guess who was the man starting the rally. Great guess, Paul Miles. This time he started
the rally with a two out single, and again stole second. Alex Marin came through in the clutch with a RBI double (game winning RBI). Girard followed with
a RBI double of his own, and the score was 4-2.

Scott Ross came out with a purpose in the 7th, and got 3 consecutive ground outs from the Americans' 2, 3, and 4 hitters, and the Cubs walked away with their
third win in as many games. In the end, the Americans made the most of their chances, but could not solve the Cubs' lefty starter. Ross finished the game
with giving up just one hit, which led to the Americans only earned run, and if he had remembered to cover first on that play, he would have had a No-No.
He gave up just two walks and struck out 4. He faced just 4 hitters over the minimum . . . a great effort!

Great gentlemen up and down the lineup for the Americans, and we loved sharing that great field with them on this beautiful Friday night. Can't wait to do it again.



-- Edited by mgirard11 on Saturday 18th of July 2020 07:04:46 AM