In the first game of the twin bill, The Cubs ran their win streak to
four straight with an 8-5 victory over the Phillies. As always, the
win started with solid pitching. Tom Barnes and Andy Schultz combined
to allow 4 earned runs and 6 hits. Tom actually started and closed to
pick up the win and save! Tom pitched 6 innings allowing just 2 hits.
He reentered the game in the bottom of the seventh with the team holding
a three run lead and Phillies on second and third with no one out. Tom
prevented either of those runs from scoring to preserve the win. He
struck out the first two and then induced a ground out to short. Andy
pitched fairly well but a couple cheap end of the bat hits produced a
couple runs in the sixth.
The defense was not as solid as its been lately, but some very good
plays were made. A tremendous hustle play was made by Package in the sixth
inning. Tony was playing left and an overthrow of third looked to be
heading into the stands which would have scored at least one run. Tony
totally laid out to snare the ball 1 foot before it went out of play!
Bob Zeleznik scooped a hot one hopper at third. Eddie Murray made a great
running catch in right in the first inning to prevent a double. The sixth
inning started with a very strange play. The Phillie batter hit a shot
down the right field line that looked like it might go for a triple or
inside the park homer. Eddie Murray tracked the ball down and threw the
ball in. The throw eluded the cutoff so the Phillie runner tried to go
home. Center fielder Rich Schwarz picked up the ball bear handed on
the run towards the infield and threw a high change up to Bryon Withers.
Bryon made an outstanding play to catch the ball and tag out the runner
who actually ran into Bryon pretty hard.
The offense only had 8 hits, but used them very effectively. Seven walks
and three hits batsmen hurt the Phillies. Eddie Murray continued his
hot RBI streak with a key 2 out 2 RBI single in the first inning. Eddie
also walked twice. Pete DiNatale walked and scored twice. Bryon Withers
just continues to amaze, he went 2 for 2 with a HBP and he scored 3
times. John Sudkin hit a big RBI single in the 4 run sixth inning. Dan
Gould ran for Suds after that hit and put a lot of pressure on the
Phillies by stealing 2 more bases for a total of three on the day. Bob
Zeleznik had another good day at the plate with a single and sac fly to
drive in three runs.