The two teams that have won the past five 55+ championships, renewed their rivalry on the field last night at Kuhn Field, in Cook Park. What transpired was a very crisply played game that took around 90 minutes.
After Cubs' starter, Mike Girard, set down the Whiz in order in the top of the first, The Cubs jumped on Whiz starter Jeff Friedman in the bottom half of the inning. Carlos Espada singled, but was picked off of first base. Bryce Cutler then reached on an error. Chris Dunn and Jerry Rosen both singled to load the bases with 1 out. Mike Girard drove home 2 runs with a line drive single to right. After Jim Bonaparte was hit by a pitch, Friedman got out of the jam by inducing a ground ball that turned into a 1-2-3 double play.
This would be the last time a Cub crossed the plate all night. Friedman settled in and only allowed 3 hits and a walk over the next 4 innings. Mike Kane came on and pitched the bottom of the 6th for the Whiz, and kept the Cubs from adding to the lead, surrendering just a two out single to Sherwin So.
Meanwhile, Girard made his 2 RBI single stand up through 6 innings, allowing only one runner to reach second base through the first 5. The top of the order came up in the top of the 6th for the Whiz. Paul Scuteri tried to bunt his way on, but Girard got him at first. Paul Graziano then reached on an error and Jeff Friedman singled. Doug Reisinger then fought off an inside fastball, muscling it into right field for an RBI single. The decision was then made to intentionally walk Gene Hallenbeck to load the bases with one out. Girard made that strategy work by inducing a pop out to second and a pop out to the catcher to end the inning and maintain the one run lead.
Chris Dunn came on to close out the game in the 7th. Jim Hicks led off with a single and Greg Mangione laid down a perfect sacrifice bunt to get Hicks into scoring position with just one out. Dunn then got a fly ball to right and stuck out the Whiz leadoff hitter on a nasty slider to end the game and give the Cubs the 2-1 victory. The two Cubs pitchers allowed just 5 singles and 2 walks (one was intentional). The final strike out was the only one for the Cubs on the night.
The Cubs will return to action next Thursday night at the Twin Town baseball complex at 6:00 pm. The opponent will be the Dodgers, who always give the Cubs a tough battle. It should be a great game.
