Game one of the playoffs found the 7 seed Cubs taking on the 10 seed Lansing Blue Jays. Ron Massaroni took the hill for the Cubs and pitched two scoreless innings to get the Cubs off on the right foot.
In the bottom of the first, the Cubs got the offense going early. Shawn Martin smashed a one out double and Jerry Rosen singled him home. Mike Girard singled Rosen to third, and stole second. Dave Mitchell followed with a 2 RBI double, and the Cubs were off to 3-0 lead.
The Blue Jays meat of the order showed why they were in this game, in the 3rd inning, scoring a run on 3 consecutive hits to cut the lead to 3-1. The Jays jumped out front in the top of the 4th with 4 runs. The inning started poorly for the Cubs as Massaroni uncharacteristically walked two consecutive batters after one out. An error loaded the bases, and two consecutive hits by the one and two hitters put the Blue Jays ahead 5-3.
The Jays would not be allowed to enjoy the lead for long, as the Cubs jumped on the Jays starter for 8 huge runs in the bottom half of the inning. Bob Bolt doubled with one out and PJ Martone singled him home. A single by Pete Geanellis and a hit batter loaded the bases. A Blue Jays error brought home the tying run. Massaroni then helped his own cause by singling home two runs. Tony Nardacci singled and again the bases were loaded. Shawn Martin continued his torrid hitting with a bases clearing double. Mike Girard closed out the scoring in the inning by driving home Martin with a two out RBI single. In a flash, the Cubs went from a 5-3 deficit to a 11-5 lead.
Ron Massaroni then did what winning pitchers do. He retired 9 of the next 10 hitters, allowing only one walk. The Cubs got 5 more runs in the 6th inning to close out the game. Tim Brown doubled, Jim McQuade singled, Martin singled, and Rosen doubled, and Mitchell singled in the rally. This rally was huge as it allowed the Cubs to end the game at the end of 7 innings via the 10-run mercy rule. This saved two innings of pitching and allowed the Cubs to get out of the hot Florida sun two innings earlier. Massaroni was masterful on the mound, going 7 innings, giving up 5 runs (4 earned) on just 5 hits, 2 walks, 1 hit batter, while striking out 4. Big Game Ron was at it again. On to the quarterfinals as a result!
