The quarter-final match-up in game two on Friday was a rematch with the Baltimore Orioles, who handed the Cubs
their only loss this week, in the Round Robin finale. They came into this game at 6-0, and the Cubs were 5-1.

The Orioles got on the board first, with a single run off of Cub's starter Mike Girard. A walk and two singles plated the run
before Girard got an out. He struck out the O's clean-up man and retired the 5 and 6 hitters without further damage.

Again, the Cubs did not let their opponent enjoy the moment. Dave Mitchell got the rally going with a lead off single.
Bob Bolt, PJ Martone, and Pete Geanellis continued the rally with singles of their own. One out later, Tim Brown cleared
the bases with a long double. Ron Massaroni delivered Brown with a single. Tony Nardacci pushed Brown across and Shawn
Martin delivered the last run of the rally with a single, and suddenly the Cubs had a 6-1 lead.

The Orioles cut the lead to 6-3with a run in the 3rd inning on two walks and one hit; and one run in the 4th on two singles and an error.
Girard was struggling with command during the first 4 innings, but limited the damage with some key strike outs.

The Cubs padded the lead to 9-3, in the top of the 5th inning. Rosen was hit by a pitch, leading off the inning. Girard singled him to second.
A wild pitch moved both runners up a base. Dave Mitchell followed with a monster double all of the way to the left field wall plating both runners.
Bob Bolt singled Mitchell to 3rd, and Martone singled him home. The Cubs now had a comfortable lead (9-3) and Girard was settling in, giving up
just two singles and one walk over the final 3 innings.

The Cubs put the game on ice in the 8th, scoring 10 runs on 8 hits and two walks. Jerry Rosen had a double; Bob Bolt had two singles, and Shawn Martin,
Mike Girard, Dave Mitchell, John Cortese, and Kevin Carpenter all added singles.

The O's added two runs in the bottom half, but the game was ended via the 10-run mercy rule 19-5.
Girard pitched 7 innings, giving up just 3 runs (two earned), on 7 hits and 4 walks, while striking out 4.
John Weber came on and cleaned things up in the 8th, and it is off to the Semi-finals and Finals on Saturday!

The Semi-final match up will be with the Chicago Bay Warriors, at 10:00 am, the Final will be vs the number one seed Aurora Islanders, or the number 5 seed
St.Louis Grays. I like our chances!!!


-- Edited by mgirard11 on Saturday 11th of November 2023 07:33:17 AM