Unfortunately the Cubs season which started with so much promise and a
chance to repeat as League Champions, came to an end at the National
League Championship game. The Phillies won a hard fought game by the
score of 9-5. The score was 6-5 with two outs in the bottom of the
eighth when the Phillies hit back to back homers to pretty much end
any Cubs' comeback chance.
Tom Barnes pitched very well, striking out 8 and walking none in eight
innings of work. However, the Phillies scored 3 runs in the third and
three in the eighth with two outs. Tom was not helped much
defensively as a couple errors and misplays helped the Phillies score
some of the runs. Tom had an awesome season for the Cubs as he pitched
half of all the innings the team pitched.
While the defense had some shaky moments, some great plays were also
made. Dan Gould made two terrific over the shoulder catches in left
field. On the second one, he managed to throw a strike back to Pete
DiNatale who threw another bullet to Bryon Withers to almost nail a
runner trying to tag from third. That was an amazing play, as the
runner should have scored easily but was almost gunned out.
Offensively, the Cubs showed a lot of fight. Down three to nothing in
the fourth, 3 runs were scored to tie the game. Dan Gould led off with
a double, Pete DiNatale walked, Bryon Withers scored Dan with a sac fly,
and John Sudkin drove in Pete with a groundout. Bob Zeleznik then hit
a clutch double and scored on Andy Luckhardt's single. In the fifth,
the Cubs took their only lead of the game when Rich Schwarz scored on
Tom Jette's single. Tom Jette also drove in the last Cubs run in the
eighth with a single to score Andy Luckhardt. The Cubs were victimized
by some bad luck too as three absolute rockets (Pete D to left field,
Rich S to third and Bryon Withers to right field) were hit right at
Phillies.
Best wishes to the Phillies as they will next take on the Orioles in
the League Championship game to be held on 9/26/99 at Ashland High.
The Phillies suffered a major setback during the game when their second
pitcher Demian Gage broke his arm while throwing a pitch. We all wish
a speedy recovery for Demian.
With some better luck and fewer miscues this game could have gone the
Cubs way. However, the Phillies played better ball than the Cubs on
this day. The Cubs were also shorthanded without their regular season
RBI leader Eddie Murray who was injured and not being able to pitch
Andy Luckhardt in relief as his arm was not ready to throw. Despite
the pain of ending the season with a loss, a lot of great things
happened during the season and there is a lot of hope for
next season as there is a solid foundation for the Cubs team's of the
future. Next year the Cubs will try for title number 2 in their fifth season of
existence!!!