After losing 3 of their last 4, the Cubs finally put together a total effort, and got a win.
On Wednesday night, two of the top 4 teams got together for a game at the beautiful Watervliet High School field. The Dodgers hosted the Cubs in what was a close game through the first six innings, but the Cubs plated 5 runs in the top of the 7th to pull away and win comfortably.
The game started with the Cubs getting 2 runs in the top of the 1st. Chris Mason led off with a single and stole second. Paul Miles followed with a RBI single. Mike Girard blooped a single to right and Miles motored to 3rd. Ron Lochner then hit into a double play, but Miles scored with the Cubs second run.
The Dodgers announced their presence with authority by storming right back with 3 runs of their own, in the bottom half of the frame. Harry Staulters reached on an error leading off the inning. Marc Trinchillo then singled and a grounder to first moved both runners into scoring position. Pat Alston walked to load the bases, Ray Coletta singled home two. Greg Gougler followed with a RBI single of his own, and the Dodgers had a 3-2 lead after 1.
The Cubs would tie the game with a run in the top of the third. A one out single by Girard, and a stolen base by courtesy runner Miles, and the table was set. One out later a Mike Reutter double over the center fielder's head delivered the tying run.
The Dodgers answered with a run of their own in the bottom of the inning, when John Cortese was hit by a pitch leading off the inning. An errant pick-off throw put Cortese in scoring position and one out later, Trinchillo delivered him to put the Dodgers up 4-3.
That is when the Cubs kicked it into another gear. They got 3 in the top of the 4th to take a 6-4 lead. The Cubs got 2 singles (Girard and Jerry Rosen), a walk (Miles), and benefitted from 3 Dodgers' errors. They entered the 5th with a 2-run lead and got an insurance run on a Dave Mitchell single, a Andy Hoyle stolen base (courtesy runner), and a Miles RBI single with two outs. Cubs lead 7-4.
In the meantime, Mike Girard (Cubs' starter) was settling in, scattering 3 hits over the last 6 innings, hitting one batter and striking out 6. That allowed the Cubs to relax and enjoy the 7th inning, putting up 5 more runs, on 7 hits (Hernandez, Girard, Lochner, Reutter, Rosen-double, Hoyle, and Mitchell). The final score wound up 12-4, but that was no indication of the competitive nature of the game through the first 6 innings. Jerry Rosen led the way for the resurgent Cubs offense with a perfect 5-5 night. Mike Girard added a 4-5 night, and Paul Miles, Ron Lochner, Mike Reutter, and Dave Mitchell added two hits each. The Cubs pounded out 20 hits in all. Marc Trinchillo led the way for the Dodgers' offense with a 2 for 3 night. Harry Staulters, Ray Colleta, Greg Gougler, and Jim Bradley had the other hits for the Dodgers.
It is always a good time getting together with classy Don Ball and his band of merry men. Watch out for this team come playoff time! They will not be an easy out for any team. Good luck Dodgers! We hope to see you again in the finals.
There is an old adage about - you better knock them out early. And the Dodgers couldn't knock the Cubs out early. We hung with them through three innings. Then, as Mike says, the Cubs found another gear and the Dodgers had no answer.
Mike got stronger and stronger on the mound. Everyone in the Cubs' batting order can hit. And the Cubs defense kept making plays. Fun team to play against. Tough team to beat.
