The Cubs faced perennial power Orlando Royals in game two of the doubleheader, after just playing one of their worst tournament games ever. This team beat the Cubs last year once in the round robin and one in the first game of the playoffs last year.
Darrel Duncan was on the hill for the Cubs. He hit the second batter he faced with a pitch and walked the next hitter and both runners scored on a long single by the Royals clean up hitter. The Royals would pick up their third run in the bottom of the second inning, when Duncan hit another batter with two outs. That batter stole second and scored on a RBI single by their #10 hitter.
Down 3-0 to a team of this caliber, right after kicking the ball around in game one was a huge test of guts for Duncan and the rest of the Cubs. Both passed the test in a big way. Duncan pitched scoreless baseball for the next 6 innings, giving his team a chance. Now it was up to the Cubs offense to get the job done. They would get a single run in the 4th on a leadoff double by Gene Hallenbeck and a 2-out single by Jerry Rosen. Hallenbeck was right in the middle of the Cubs 6th inning rally with a lead off single. He then moved to 2nd on a wild pick off throw. Rosen again plated Hallenbeck with a RBI single. Royals 3 - Cubs 2 after 6 innings.
The Cubs evened the score in the top of the 7th when Bob Bolt doubled; Ron Massaroni walked; Ralph Caputo sacrificed both runners into scoring position and a Shawn Martin single tied the game at 3. The game went into the 9th inning tied at 3.
The Royals brought on their ace pitcher Willie Castro to shut down the Cubs. The Cubs were not daunted. Joe Careccia led off with a single and stole second. Ron McCarthy sacrificed him to third with just one out. Bob Bolt bunted on a safety squeeze and the play was made at home but Careccia made a great slide and was safe with the go ahead run. Massaroni then singled but Bolt was thrown out trying to reach third. Willie Castro got the last out via strikeout and and it was on to the bottom of the 9th.
The first batter for the Royals doubled and made it to 3rd on an error by the Cubs' first baseman. That runner advanced to second on a stole base. The next Royal batter singled in both runners and the Cubs were dealt a heart breaking defeat. It would have been a tough loss for either team. I must add that Ron Massaroni made two sectacular plays at short to wreck innings for the Royals in the 6th and 8th innings and Shawn Martin made a great over the shoulder catch also in the 8th. All 3 plays would have been on ESPN's Top 10 plays of the day!
Last game of the Round Robin comes today at 1:45 pm at the Twins spring training Stadium. One last effort to try to win a game while saving as many resources as is possible, then it will be on to the playoffs!
