On a sweltering night (95 degrees at game time) at Watervliet High School last night, the Cubs and Giants battled for 8 innings, but that was not enough decide the winner.
The Giants looked like the dynasty Giants of old with the return of players like Steve Lounello and Mike Ferraro to their line-up. They got off to a flying start in the first inning, turning a Ron Smaka single and three walks into two runs.
The Cubs answered in the second with 3 runs of their own on two walks, sandwiched around a single by Dave Mitchell, followed by a RBI single from Jim Bonaparte, and a sac fly by PJ (Pat) Martone. The Cubs would expand the lead to 6-2 in the top of the third, with 3 more runs. The inning began with singles by Paul Miles, Ron Lochner (RBI), and Mike Reutter. After a walk and a strike out created a bases loaded situation, Mike Girard delivered a two out, two RBI single to right, and the Cubs had a 4 run lead.
The Giants rallied for 3 runs in the bottom of the 4th on a single by Mike Ferraro, a Cub error, a walk, and a two run double by Steve Lounello, to make it a one run game at 6-5. Mike Girard came on with Lounello at second and two outs to put out the fire.
The Cubs added an insurance run, in the 5th on a two out single by Mike Reutter, a Giants error, and a two out RBI single by Dave Mitchell.
The score would remain 7-5 until the bottom of the 7th, when the Giants staged their comeback rally. Jerry Solomon and Steve Lounello led off with consecutive singles. A fielder's choice at third gave the Cubs their first out of the inning. Mike Clary was hit by a pitch to load the bases with one out. Ron Smaka followed with a hump back liner to short that looked like it would turn into a game ending double play, but glanced off the glove of the Cub's SS and produced a run and left runners in scoring position. Doug Reisenger singled home the tying run with two outs, and Girard escaped losing the game by getting the Giants' next batter on a comebacker to the mound.
It was on to extras. Ron Lochner reached on an error to lead off the Cubs half. Jerry Rosen followed with a double leaving runners at second and third with nobody out. Dave Mitchell produced a long fly ball to left that Reisinger made a nice running catch on. One run was in, but Reisinger's catch saved what would have been a death blow in the game. After the Giants intentionally walked Girard they got a double play to end the inning, with the Cubs clinging to a one run lead 8-7.
The Giants were not done yet (no give up in this crew). A one out error and a stolen base put the tying run in scoring position. The second out was recorded via a strike out. Girard then threw a wild pitch, and the tying run was 90 feet away with two outs. The Cubs decided to walk Ferguson to put runners on first and third, to bring up Jerry Solomon. Girard wheeled to first for a pick off throw to first, but discovered that the first baseman was playing behind the runner and held onto the throw. The balk plated the tying run, and put the winning run on second. Jerry Solomon worked a walk, and Lounello was intentionally walked to re-load the bases. Girard got a grounder to third from the Giants' leadoff hitter, and the game ended in a 8-8 tie.
The Cubs slip to 6-0-1 with the tie, but remain atop the standings and undefeated. The Giants record stands at 3-3-1, but will make a lot of noise in the second half of the season and pose a real threat to any team with championship aspirations come playoff time.
This recap brings to mind the new MLB rule for extra innings starting off with a runner at 2nd. Not that Im a fan of this rule, but arent we supposed to be following MLB rules unless otherwise stated in our own rules?
And what about sticky stuff? Have the CDMSBL pitchers spin rates dropped?
