The Whiz Kids and Cubs got together Wednesday night at the B-Diamond for the 1st of 4 regular season matchups. Both teams were missing a couple of key players, but the majority of each starting line up was in place for both squads.
Jeff Friedman and Mike Girard squared off in what turned out to be a pitching duel. Jeff Friedman held the Cubs scoreless until the 6th inning, and Girard had four 1-2-3 innings in his 7 innings of work, surrendering just 5 hits to the high scoring Whiz Kids line up.
The Whiz Kids struck first with 3 runs in the 3rd inning. A Jan Friedman leadoff single, a fielder's choice and a Cubs' error put runners on 1st and 2nd with one out. Bobby Bolt drilled a single to left center. The relay throw home looked like it would be in plenty of time to get Bob Holmes trying to score, but the throw hit something in front of the plate and took a crazy bounce over the catcher's head all of the way to the backstop. Because Girard was not in the proper back up position, Dave Siriani also came in to score and Bolt hustled all of the way around to 3rd. Bad mental mistake! Sean Martin followed with a sacrifice fly, and the Whiz Kids suddenly had a 3-0 lead, with Friedman scattering 5 singles through his first 5 innings.
The Whiz would get a very important 4th run in the top of the 6th. Sean Martin worked a one out walk and went to second on a wild pickoff throw from Girard. With an open base Girard was a little too careful pitching to the dangerous Gene Hallenbeck, walking him to put runners on 1st and 2nd with one out. Mike Kane then grounded into a fielder's choice putting runners on first and third with two outs. An error on a routine grounder to short, and the Whiz were now up 4-0.
There was no hanging of heads on the Cubs, even when Friedman looked like he would retire the Cubs 1-2-3 in the 6th. With two outs, an error on a grounder to short gave the Cubs a little life. The Cubs used that break to mount a furious comeback. Mike Reutter singled and Jerry Rosen walked to load the bases. Dave Mitchell then came through with a 2-RBI single to cut the Whiz lead in half, 4-2. Whiz manager Gene Hallenbeck made a move to bring Mike Kane in to put out the fire. Andy Hoyle then walked to load the bases, and Dan Hernandez singled to make the score 4-3. The bases were still loaded and the tension was thick. It was even thicker, when Kane went to 3-0 on Dave Schillinger. Schillinger took a strike to go to 3-1. That is when Kane located a perfect pitch that induced a Schillinger grounder to 3rd and the inning was over.
Girard retired the Whiz in order in the top of the 7th, and the Cubs were poised to attempt a last inning rally, with the top of the order coming up after one out was recorder in the bottom of the 7th. Paul Miles singled and put a very speedy runner on 1st. He took off on the first pitch attempting to steal second, but Jan Friedman got rid of a perfect throw quickly and nailed Miles at second on a very close play. It was Jeff's second throw out of an attempted steal in the game. Absolutely huge in a one run game! Kane got the last out on a comebacker to the mound (he leads the planet on getting comebackers), and the Whiz walked off with a hard earned 4-3 victory.
This was an outstanding game to be a part of, I can't wait for the next 3 games. Hopefully both teams will be completely healthy and have all of their players back for all 3. The Whiz move to 4-0 on the season, and the Cubs drop to 3-2 with a tough game vs the Yankees up next after the holiday weekend. Have a great weekend with your loved ones everybody!
-- Edited by mgirard11 on Thursday 26th of May 2022 11:53:02 AM
-- Edited by mgirard11 on Thursday 26th of May 2022 11:54:17 AM
