The Cubs failed to get off to a good start for the first time in the tournament, and it was the worst time to do so. This time, their opponent got an early lead. The A's got a run in the top of the first on a leadoff single, a sac bunt, and a RBI single. They would get two more in the top of the 5th, to take a 3-0 lead at the half way point in the game.
The Cubs would get to within 2 runs, in the bottom of the inning. Jack Griffin would get the rally started with lead off walk, followed immediately by a single by Jerry Rosen. One out later, Andy Hoyle got the Cubs on the board with a RBI single.
The A's got a single run off of the Cubs' starter, Darrell Duncan, in the 7th inning to push the lead to 4-1. In the bottom half of the inning, Jim McQuade led off with the double. One out later, Jerry Rosen got him home with RBI single. This pulled the Cubs to within 2 runs, but time (innings) were running out quickly.
The bottom of the ninth was at hand and the Cubs were chasing two runs. Jack Griffin singled and stole second. Jerry Rosen again came through with a RBI single and the margin was just one. One out later Andy Hoyle singled and Jim Hicks was hit by a pitch. With the bases loaded and just one out Rosen and Bob Bolt executed a perfect suicide squeeze play, and the game was tied. Elimination had been staved off, at least for the time being.
Innings 10 and 11 saw the A's get runners into scoring position in both innings only to be foiled by great pitching by Jim Hicks and good defense behind him. The Cubs went down in order in both innings. So, starting in the 12th inning runners were put on 1st and 2nd and each batter in the inning started with a 2-2 count. Interesting speed up rule , but effective. The A's started with runners on first and second, and their big cleanup hitter who already had 3 hits in the game. Jim Hicks made a good pitch and induced a 6-4-3 double play. Still the go ahead run for the A's was just 90 feet away. Hicks got another grounder to TJ Scorsone and he was equal to the task, and the Cubs were out of the inning with no runs.
Mike Girard started the inning on second and Andy Hoyle was at first. Jim Hicks led off with an infield single to load the bases. A strike out (starting with a 2-2 count) and a pop out to the infield put the A's on the verge of pulling a "Houdini". 2020 MVP, Ron Massaroni, came up with two outs, the bases loaded and a 2-2 count. Ron took a called ball, to start the runners with the bases loaded and two outs. The pitch came in low, and Massaroni took it for a walk off walk. Cubs win it 5-4 and move on to the quarter final!
