The Cubs swept their semi-final series with a 11-5 victory over the Twins on Monday night, at the A-Diamond.
The Cubs spotted the Twins a 2-0 lead through 2 innings, but found their stride in the 3rd and 4th innings, pounding out 10 hits in those 2 frames, pushing across 9 runs and never looked back. The two inning surge provided the Cubs with a comfortable margin with Ron Massaroni on the hill through the first 6 innings. and Chris Dunn pitching the final frame.
The Twins were able to get one run in the first on consecutive 2-out singles by Steve Rychik, Jeff Whitehead, and Rick Saidenburg. In the second they played small ball to acquire a 2-0 lead. Rodney Smith led off with a single and Jim Tino followed with a walk. Greg Briscoe laid down a sacrifice bunt to move both runners into scoring position, and a RBI fly out by Frank Owens made the lead 2-0.
The top of the Cubs order got things going in the top of the 3rd inning. Consecutive one-out singles by Carlos Espada, Chris Dunn, and Mike Girard, along with a 2-out RBI single by Jerry Rosen brought 3 runs in, and the Cubs had a 3-2 lead. After Massaroni got the Cubs bats back up quickly in the 4th with that same 1 run lead, the Cubs erupted for 6 runs on 6 hits. Massaroni walked with one out to get the ball rolling. With two outs, Sherwin So and Alex Marin hit consecutive doubles plating 2 runs and bringing the top of the order up again. Espada walked and Dunn, Girard, Mike Reutter, and Rosen all singled to boost the lead to 9-2.
After the Cubs were held scoreless in the top of the 5th, the meat of the Twins order produced 2 runs with the help of singles by Craig Tynan, Rychik, and Saidenburg. With the score 9-4 through 5 complete innings, the Cubs added insurance runs in the top of the 6th and 7th innings bringing the score to 11-3. Girard drove in Espada in the 6th and Jim Bonaparte had the RBI single in the 7th after Rosen, Andy Hoyle and Massaroni had worked walks to load the bases.
Chris Dunn came on for the 7th, to close things out. He hit Rick Saidenburg with a pitch and he advanced all of the way around to 3rd due to defensive indifference. Rodney Smith singled him home to close out the scoring at 11-5. Massaroni pitched well in winning for the Cubs, allowing just 4 runs (3 earned) while scattering 9 hits and 3 walks, and striking out 3.
It was a great season for the Twins. Jim Edelman has added some important pieces to his roster and built a team that can beat anybody in the division on any given night. There will be no lower division start to the 2025 season for this team. The future is bright for the Twins.
With the win, it is on to the Championship finals for the Cubs, who await the winner of the Yankees vs Whiz Kids semi-final. Game 2 of that series is played tonight at the A-Diamond, with the Whiz Kids holding a 1-0 advantage. The Yanks will need to win to extend the series to a 3rd and deciding game later this week. It should be a great game!
