The annual Cubs roll is on with the third consecutive victory! For the second time in three games,
the Cubs started Andy Luckhardt and a three hit shutout occurred. Andy was absolutely masterful in
pitching a perfect 5 innings. He finished with 6 innings pitched and gave up 1 hit with no walks.
He struck out at least 2 batters in all six innings for a total of 13! Over Andy's last two starts he
has pitched 11 scoreless innings allowing just 2 hits with 21 Ks and no walks! These are Clemens prime type
numbers. Tom Barnes closed out the game and picked up the win. Tom was also very impressive in throwing
three innings of shutout ball allowing just two hits. The Cubs combo of Luckhardt and Barnes threw a 9
inning three hit shutout with 14 Ks and 0 walks.
Defensively, not a single error was made for possibly the first time in Cubbies history. Eddie Murray made
the one tough play of the game in center field in the seventh inning. Andy Schultz caught the pitching gem. Thanks
to Andy for filling in for Bryon Withers who could not attend.
While the Cubs pitching was rolling, unfortunately the Cardinals pitching was too. The Cubs were held to
two hits (Tom Barnes and Andy Schultz) and no runs through the first six innings. Then in the seventh the bats woke up
and three runs were scored. After newcomer Billy Bracken reached on an error 4 straight singles produced the runs.
Billy, Dan Gould and Pete DiNatale all scored. A clutch 2 run single was hit by John Sudkin and then Eddie Murray
singled in the third run. The last run was scored by Bill Keville in the eighth inning. Bill was playing for the first
time in several weeks after recovering from a hand injury. Andy Luckhardt produced the last Cubs hit with a double in
the eighth inning.