The Cubs and Pirates got together at New Scotland on a humid Summer night, last night, for the finale
in their Home and Home series.

Again, the Cubs pitching and defense were the key to the Cubs victory. Four Cubs pitchers limited the Pirates offense to just
3 singles (Jim Jasiewicz - 2 and John Haff - 1). Mike Girard pitched the first and gave up Jim Jasiewicz's first single, but Jazzy was
erased by Jerry Rosen's right arm, when he tried to steal second. Girard struck out the other two batters he faced.

In the bottom of the first, the Cubs first 8 batters all reached base and scored. Carlos Espada and Mike Reutter reached via walks.
Chris Dunn, Ron Lochner, Mike Girard, and Alex Marin singled, but the big blows were doubles by Jerry Rosen (2 RBI's), Dan Hernandez (1 RBI),
and Carlos Espada (2 RBI's).

With the score 8-0 after one, the Cubs went to Alex Marin to pitch the second. He did not surrender a single run or hit. He gave up two walks
and one batter reached on an error, but Marin escaped the jam by inducing a liner to the right center field gap that was caught by Chris Dunn.
Carlos Espada pitched the 3rd and 4th innings and was very successful surrendering just two harmless singles, while keeping the shut out in tact.
Jerry Rosen pitched the 5th inning, giving up just a 2-out walk.

Meanwhile, Jim Dalton came on in relief for the Buccos and kept the Cubs' total at 8 until the bottom of the 5th inning. Espada led off the bottom of the 5th
with his second walk on the night. Chris Dunn singled him to third, and then stole second. Ron Lochner got everybody to their coolers with a line
drive single that scored both runners, and the game ended via the 10-run rule in a crisp 1 hour and 30 minutes. Both teams enjoyed their rehydration sessions!

The Cubs offense pounded out 17 hits in 5 innings, but stranded 8 runners. That is something they will need to clean up for their next game on Friday 08/09/24,
at New Scotland Town Park, against the defending champion Whiz Kids. Stranding runners and giving extra outs against a team that good just won't work.

Good luck to that merry bunch of Pirates the rest of the year!