The Cubs and Whiz got together on Tuesday night at the A-Diamond for the last of 4 regular season meetings. The first three games were tight affairs, and this one went down to the final frame as well.
The Whiz broke out on top in the first with three consecutive singles by Dave Siriani, Jeff Friedman, and Shawn Martin, to earn a 1-0 lead.
The Cubs would take a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the second. Ron Lochner led off with a single and courtesy runner Paul Miles stole second. Mike Reutter doubled him home to tie the game. After a strikeout, Andy Hoyle singled and Reutter advanced to third. The Cubs then worked a double steal and Reutter beat the throw home to provide the Cubs with a one run lead.
The top of the 3rd would see the Whiz come right back. A Siriani triple led off the inning. After a shallow fly out to center for the 1st out, Shawn Martin hit a grounder to third, and Siriani was caught too far off third and was tagged out by a hustling Andy Hoyle. An error on a grounder extended the inning for the Whiz, and they did what good teams do, they took advantage. Mike Kane hit bloop just past the infield and down the right field line enough to fall in for a 2 RBI single, and the Whiz had a 3-2 edge.
Again the Cubs responded, in the bottom half of the frame. Jim Bonaparte and Dan Hernandez led off with walks. Ron Massaroni executed a perfect sacrifice bunt to move both runners into scoring position. Pete Geanellis, the Whiz starter, got a pop up to the mound for the second out. Mike Girard then singled to deliver both runners and the Cubs had a 4-3 lead.
Both Girard and Geanellis got through the 4th, 5th, and 6th innings without giving up any runs, so we moved on to the 7th, with the Cubs holding onto a slim 4-3 lead. Girard got Geanellis out on a pop out to the catcher, and had Greg Mangoine on a 1-2 count when the next pitch got away from him and drilled Mangoine in the back. This seemed harmless enough, but again the Whiz did what good teams do, they went on a tear. Bob Holmes doubled in the tying run on a 2-2 pitch to tie the game at 4.
It was obvious that Girard was out of gas, so the Cubs brought on Ron Massaroni. A hit batter and a triple from Jeff Friedman made it 6-4. A single by Shawn Martin made it 7-4. After Massaroni got the 2nd out by striking out the Whiz's clean up hitter, Mike Kane got a RBI single, to push the lead to 4. Jan Friedman singled and John Rigos lifted soft pop up behind 3rd base. Dave Mitchell came running hard from his left field position and dove for the ball. He could not quite get to it in time. Dave hurt his hip on the play, and while he laid on the ground the two base runners came all of the way around to score to give the Whiz a 10-4 lead. With the daylight fading fast, Pete Geanellis swung at 3 pitches before they were halfway to home plate, to strike out on purpose to move the game along to the bottom of the 7th.
The Cubs would plate one run in that inning on a walk to Andy Hoyle, an infield error, an infield single by Jim Bonaparte, and a RBI single by Dan Hernandez, but that is all that they could muster and the final score was 10-5. Not indicative at all of the way the game went for the first 6 innings. The Cubs got good news from the urgent care center on Union Ave. Dave Mitchell did not come away with a serious injury, just a severely bruised hip. With some ice and rest, he should be back in time for the playoffs.
The Cubs are looking forward to seeing the Whiz in the playoffs, as all 4 games this year were very competitive, and those games are the most enjoyable. The Cubs just need to find a little of the magic that they had in their previous title runs in 2019 and 2020, and they will be fine.
Next week: The final week of the regular season will see the Cubs play the Twins on Tuesday and Dodgers on Wednesday. Both teams are tough opponents and these competitive games should help get the Cubs ready for a deep playoff run.
-- Edited by mgirard11 on Wednesday 17th of August 2022 08:45:22 AM
-- Edited by mgirard11 on Wednesday 17th of August 2022 09:11:13 AM
