The Cubs and Twins got together for their second meeting at Watervliet High School, on a beautiful Thursday night.
The first three innings were played at a blistering pace. Cubs' starter, Mike Girard, and Twins starter Gary Webber, were sharp. Girard allowed just two base runners: a hit by pitch and a pop up to the infield that was lost in the sun. Webber topped that by allowing just one runner on an error, over his first 3 frames.
The Twins offense looked like a different team the second time through the order. Craig Tynan singled sharply to left to lead off the 4th inning. Steve Rychik then blasted a long double to left, scoring Tynan. Rick Saidenburg was next and fought off a tough inside pitch for a RBI single, and the Twins had a 2-0 lead. With Saidenburg on first and nobody out, Joe Parker hit a hard grounder, that looked like it might get through to right field, but Cubs' first baseman, Dan Hernandez, ranged far to his right picking the ball cleanly, and made a perfect throw to SS, Carlos Espada, who in turn fired to second baseman Alex Marin, covering first in time for a very pretty double play. That changed the complexion of the inning and game. After a Gary Webber single, Girard got Stefan Koustakis to hit a pop out in foul territory by the first base dugout. Hernandez came racing in and made a Superman dive to spear the ball just before it hit the ground, and the inning was over on a Sports Center Top 10 play!
The Cubs answered right back, in the bottom half of the 4th inning. Carlos Espada singled and stole second to start the rally. After a fly out to right, Mike Girard singled Espada home, and the lead was cut in half. Courtesy runner, Chris Dunn then stole second. Ron Lochner followed with a RBI single of his own scoring Dunn, on a close play at the plate. With the score tied at 2, a runner on first, and one out, Jerry Rosen singled. Ron Massaroni hit a hard grounder to short, that looked like it would be an inning ending double play, but Ron hustled right out of the box and beat the relay throw to first by a step. With the inning still alive and runners on first and third, Hernandez and Marin came through with 2-out RBI singles. That hustle by Massaroni was directly responsible for those two runs, and the Cubs owned a 4-2 lead, when the inning was over. A perfect example of why you hustle out every ground ball!
Girard returned to the form he had in the first 3 innings, when he returned to the mound in the 5th. The only hit he allowed was to Ed Seney, his second hit of the day (neither left the infield). John Coulombe made a fine running catch in right center for the final out of the inning, that looked like it might find the gap for a sure RBI double.
The Cubs used consecutive singles by Dunn, Girard, and Lochner to add an insurance run in the bottom of the 5th, and plated their final run in the 6th on singles by Marin and Hernandez, followed by a RBI fielder's choice by Coulombe. Girard got the Twins' 2-7 hitters in order in the 6th and 7th, and the Cubs were proud owners of a hard fought 6-2 victory. The game was completed in a crisp 1 hour and 37 minutes. Well played game all around!
The Cubs maintain their hold on first place at 8-1, with the victory. The Twins drop to 4-5-1 with the tough loss. Their record belies the fact that this Twins team is a much improved version from past years, and will be a very scary opponent in the playoffs. Rookies Craig Tynan and Steve Rychik bring added defense and offense to a team that was only needing a piece or two. Take these guys lightly at your own risk. Good luck the rest of the way to Jim Edelman and his team.
