The Cubs came to Watervliet High School last night with a purpose. A win versus the Dodgers would clinch the regular season title and the number 1 seed for the playoffs. To a man the team was laser focused to get it done on this night.
The top of the first saw Paul Miles lead off with a single on the very first pitch of the night. On the next pitch, he stole second. Miles was moved to third, on a round out by Chris Dunn. Mike Girard followed with an RBI single, and the Cubs had a 1-0 lead. The Dodgers evened the score in the bottom half of the inning. Harvey Staulters singled and stole second. He advanced to third on a Mark Trinchillo ground out and scored on a Mark Callahan RBI ground out.
The Dodgers seized the lead, in the bottom of the 2nd, on singles by Greg Gougler, Tim Burns, and a RBI single by John Weber. Losing the lead and facing the always tough John Weber served as a wake-up call for the Cubs. The top of the 3rd inning started innocently enough when Alex Marin walked and stole second, but was stranded there when Weber got two quick ground outs, with Marin unable to advance. Then Jim McQuade and Paul Miles were patient and worked walks, to load the bases with two outs. Chris Dunn then changed the course of the game, when he followed with a bases clearing 3-RBI double in the left center gap. Girard then moved Dunn to 3rd with a single, and Ron Lochner plated Dunn with a RBI single. That quickly, the Cubs turned a 2-1 deficit into a 5-2 lead.
Dunn got in a bit of trouble, on the mound, in the bottom of the 3rd when Mike Surin singled and Staulters got his second hit of the night, with the help of the sun. A fielder's choice and a strike out provided two outs, but then Dunn hit Pat Alston with a pitch and the bases were loaded with two outs. Dennis Lane then hit a rocket that looked destined for right field and at least one run, if not two. Jim Bonaparte, playing second, made a diving catch of that rocket and the Dodgers were left disappointed with no runs, and still chasing 3 runs.
The game remained at 5-2 until the 6th inning. Then the Cubs broke it open. Miles got things going again, this time with a walk and a stolen base. After a pop out to 2nd and a walk to Girard, Lochner delivered Miles with a RBI single. Dave Mitchell walked to load the bases. The Cubs got their second run of the inning when Andy Hoyle worked a RBI walk. Bonaparte followed with a RBI single and Hernandez plated the 4th Cubs run of the inning on a Dan Hernandez RBI fielder's choice. Cubs left the top of the 6th with a 9-2 lead. The Dodgers closed the gap to 9-3, in the bottom of the inning on a Pat Alston RBI single, but that was as close as they would get.
The Cubs closed out the scoring in the top of the 7th with 2 runs on singles by Chris Mason and Paul Miles; an RBI groundout by Miles, and a RBI single by Dunn (his 4th RBI of the night). Chris was also the story on the defensive side for the Cubs as he pitched a complete game, scattering 11 hits, 2 HBP's, and 1 walk, while striking out 4. Only 2 of the 3 Dogger's runs were earned. A great job on a night when he didn't have his best stuff.
The Cubs will play their final two games of the regular season next week, with the knowledge that they will be the number one seed when the playoffs begin. No small feat with the tough competition at the top of the 55+age division. The Dodgers have a tough finish, due to the large number of rainouts they suffered late this season. They have already played two games this week with a double header on Saturday, and two more games next week. Good luck! See you in the playoffs!
