Just 40 minutes after a heartbreaking loss to the Border City Brewers, the Cubs squared off the Nova Scotia Monarchs. Both teams were facing elimination from the Double Elimination playoffs. The Cubs got off to a flying start in the top of the first. A walk by Shawn Martin; a single by PJ Martone, and a walk by Gene Hallenbeck loaded the bases with no outs. One out later, a wild pitch scored Martin and moved the other 2 runners into scoring position. Another walk by Mike Girard reloaded the bases, and another wild pitch scored the second run of the inning. Another walk and another wild pitch pushed across another run. The Cubs were happy to be patient until the Monarch's starting pitcher found his release point. The end result was a 3-0 Cubs lead.
The Monarchs showed the Cubs why they were the number 4 seed, in the bottom half of the inning. They hit the crap out of the ball. Their #2 hitter doubled with one out, Two singles later and the Cubs' lead was trimmed to 3-1. The Monarchs' starting pitcher was back on point in the second inning and the Cubs failed to score. Two Cubs' errors in the second inning, with 2 outs, enabled the Monarchs to tie the game at 3, in the bottom of the second.
The next 2 innings were scoreless as Ron Massaroni and the Monarchs pitcher both settled in. The Cubs scored 2 in the top of the 5th, with the help of a hit by pitch (Joe Careccia) and Paul Miles reaching on an error. Both Careccia and Miles stole bases to put runners on second and third with nobody out. Shawn Martin and PJ Martone both followed with consecutive sacrifice flies, and the Cubs possessed a 5-3 lead.
That lead was short lived. The inning started off with a ground out, a single, and a strike out. Two more singles brought in one run. Then it looked like the inning would be over, a routine ground ball to short turned into a very costly error because the Monarchs followed that error with a double and 3 singles. Instead of getting out of the inning with one run, the Monarchs plated 6 runs and held a 9-5 lead.
Neither team scored in the 6th but the 7th saw the Cubs scoring 3 runs. Ralph Caputo, hitting for Darrell Duncan was plunked to lead off the inning. Bob Bolt singled him to 3rd. Careccia grounded out to SS, scoring Caputo. One out later Paul Graziano reached on an error, with Bolt scoring on the play. Graziano then stole second and Martin drove him in with a RBI single. Massaroni got through the 7th w/o allowing a run, and when the inning was over, the Cubs were down just one run.
Down one run with only six outs, Gene Hallenbeck singled and stole second. Dave Mitchell then hit a grounder to short. Hallenbeck was cut down at third, trying to advance on the grounder. Mitchell then stole second. One out later, Jerry Rosen delivered a single that scored Mitchell with the tying run. Mike Girard came on for a tiring Massaroni in the bottom of the inning and held the Monarchs scoreless, bring the game to the 9th inning with the game tied at 9.
The Cubs got a lead off double by Bolt and a single by Paul Miles, left runners on the corners with one out. Alas those runners were stranded and it was on the bottom of the 9th. Girard, who had just pitched 8-1/3 innings in the morning game came back out for the 9th to try to get the game to the 10th. The first batter walked and was sacrificed to second and the tension ramped up. With a tight ump and a tired arm, Girard walked the next two hitters to load the bases with just one out. It was in that moment that Bolt, who was unable to pitch all week due to a sore arm, volunteered to relieve Girard. He got the first hitter he faced on a strike out and induced a weak grounder to first. What an effort!
PJ Martone led off the rally with a single. Hallenbeck followed with a double that scored Martone all of the way from first. On to the bottom of the inning and Bob Bolt ran back out and shut down the Monarchs to send them home and save the day for the Cubs. All week long Bobby tried to evaluate his arm in the bullpen, but never could get to the mound. The fact that he volunteered to put himself into that situation, and then came through, will never be forgotten by anyone on this team, especially me.
It is on to another double header on Friday with a battered, tired, and sore team.
-- Edited by mgirard11 on Saturday 15th of November 2025 09:14:16 AM
