The 55+ Cubs and Giants got together for the final time ever, in a regular season game, Thursday night at New Scotland. With the Giant's Manager, Steve Lounello, announcing that the Giants would be folding after the 2023 season, it gave the game added significance to both teams; and it showed.
The Giants already nailed down 5th place in the standings, and the Cubs already had sewn up the first overall seed, but with this game being the last regular season meeting in one of the division's best rivalries ever, neither team wanted to lose (not that they ever do). Chris Mason went to the mound for the Cubs, against Carlos Llera for the Giants. Chris was dominant all night for the Cubs. He went five shutout innings against a strong hitting lineup. He scattered 3 hits (one was a bunt single), 3 walks, and one HBP, while striking out 4. He saved his best pitches when he needed them most.
Carlos Llera was almost as good, as he gave up 6 runs, but only the first 2 were earned. He scattered 7 hits over his 6 innings, but walked 5 Cubs and was victim to 4 errors, 3 of which happened on consecutive batters when the Cubs had the bases loaded and 1 out in the 2nd inning. That string of errors plated 4 unearned runs. Had those plays been made behind Carlos, the score would likely have been 2-0.
The only earned run rally of the night happened in the bottom of the first inning. Paul Miles led off with a single and a stolen base. Chris Dunn followed with a gapper. Miles misread the possibility of the ball being caught and was only able to advance to third. Ron Lochner followed with a RBI groundout, and Mike Girard followed with a RBI single and the Cubs had a 2-0 lead. The rest of the game was dominated by the pitchers. End of story.
The Cubs ended the regular season at 16-1 and the Giants finished at 7-10. he Cubs will ace the 8 seed Pirates in round one of the playoffs next week. The Giants will face the Dodgers in the 4 vs 5 match up, which will likely be the best game of the first round.
Good luck to all as we start the REAL season after the holiday weekend!
