The Cubs were coming into Thursday night's game with the 3rd place Yankees after playing their worst game in years. They were also facing the prospects of dropping from the top spot in the division all of the way to 3rd place, if they lost to the Yankees.
The game started on the wrong foot for the Cubs, as the Yanks took a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the 1st inning after the Cubs had gone down 1-2-3 in the top of the 1st. The Yanks got singles from Lex Herlett, Darrell Duncan, and Carlos Llera along with a hard fought walk by Joe Careccia.
Then the Cubs erupted for 4 runs in the top of the 3rd. Alex Marin reached on a one-out error to get the rally started. Dan Hernandez singled and Jim McQuade walked to load the bases. Former Yankee, Carlos Espada followed with a 2-RBI single, to tie the game. A fielders choice force at third brought the second out. Chris Dunn drove in the go ahead run with a single, and Mike Reutter (also a former Yankee) singled home the 4th run of the inning to put the Cubs out front 4-2.
Ryan Johnson singled and stole second with one out in the bottom half of the inning. Duncan singled and immediately stole second. Chad Bowman hit a hard grounder to third, but the Cubs' third baseman threw wildly to second, trying for the inning ending double play. Johnson and Duncan scored to tie the game, and while the ball was being chased down in the outfield Bowman raced all of the way around the bases and would have scored the go ahead run, except Dan Hernandez made a perfect relay throw to Cubs' first baseman Mike Girard, who relayed the ball to catcher Jerry Rosen in plenty of time for the out. The inning ended with the score tied at 4.
The Cubs grabbed a 2 run lead back in the top of the 5th inning. Espada hit a booming one out double, and one out later, Dunn traded places with him on another long double. Reutter plated Dunn with a RBI single, making the score 6-4. The Yankees didn't allow the Cubs to enjoy that 2-run cushion for long. They got a one out single from Mark Marshall and a two out RBI double from Ryan Johnson that almost left the yard in left center, hitting the hill just below the fence around the football field. Rumor has it they showed all three Godfather movies on that flight. A single by Duncan moved Johnson to third with the tying run, but Dunn got the Yanks 4 hitter on strikes to end the inning with the Cubs clinging to a 1 run lead.
The Cubs were unable to add to their lead in the top of the 6th and brought on Mike Girard on in relief. Girard retired the Yanks 5-6-7 hitters in order and the game moved on to the final frame with the Cubs holding a 6-5 lead. This time the Cubs used a lead off triple by Jim McQuade and Espada's second double of the night to increase the lead to 7-5. A perfect sacrifice bunt by Paul Miles moved Espada to third with one out, and Dunn delivered him with a sacrifice fly, giving the Cubs a 8-5 lead entering the bottom of the 7th.
Girard got 2 infield grounders before surrendering a walk to Rich Royka. The final out came on a Marshall liner that was speared by Cubs' third baseman Andy Hoyle to end the game.
The Cubs walked away with a hard fought 8-5 win, keeping them in first place at 6-1. The Yanks drop to 4-3, and drop to 4th place, with the tough loss. These two teams play twice more in the regular season and both teams are looking forward to both games, as they always seem to be nail biters.
-- Edited by mgirard11 on Friday 28th of June 2024 09:52:05 AM
