Sun 07/30/2000
A new win streak has been started with a tough 6-4 win over the Mariners! The final
out was recorded with the tying run in scoring position.
The Cubs won 6-4 despite having only 9 players. Chris Greig pitched a complete
game to get the victory and raise his record to 2-1. Eddie Murray became the second
Cub in two games to fill in as an emergency catcher. Eddie looked awesome, he even
had the other team commenting on his cannon throws to second base. Tim Shaver caught
the final inning and also looked solid. Neither team collected an extra base hit in
this game. There were 19 singles!
You can't say enough about Chris Greig's gutty performance. It was a hot muggy day
and Chris still managed to go the distance. He allowed single runs in the first two
and the last two innings. He recorded the final out on a fly ball to right with the
tying run in scoring position. Phew!!! There were very few hard hit balls off Chris.
Of the nine singles there was a swinging bunt, a shallow pop into right and a trickling
ball that bounced off the third base bag. Chris also left the bases loaded in the first
and second innings.
This was without a doubt the best defensive game of the season for the Cubs. 25 outs
had to be recorded by the defense and not a single error was made that allowed a runner
to reach base. There was 1 errant pickoff attempt for the only error of the game. Andy
Luckhardt was fantastic at first. The Mariners had a predominantly lefty lineup. Several
hard ground balls were hit to first that Andy scooped up. He also made a great play in the
first inning. With the bases loaded, 1 out and 1 run already in, the Mariners batter hit a
bullet line drive that appeared to be going down the right field line for a bases clearing
double. Andy made the catch running towards first and he stepped on the bag to complete a
sensational inning ending double play. That was just one of three unordinary double plays
turned in. In the second inning the bases were loaded again. A fly to medium left center
was caught by Rich Schwarz who threw it in up the third base line a bit allowing a run to
score. However, Eddie Murray caught the one hopper and gunned a throw to Dan Gould at third.
Dan tagged out the runner coming from second to record a double play and end the inning. In
the seventh inning with the score 4-2 Cubs, the first two Mariners walked. Then a well hit
ball to deep center was caught by Rich Schwarz. The runner on second tagged up. Schwarz threw
to the cutoff man Dennis Fontecchio who made a great relay to Dan Gould at third. Dan barely
had to move his glove to tag out the runner for another odd double play! Perhaps the best play
of the game came in the ninth though. With the Cubs holding a 6-3 lead and Chris tiring, the
leadoff batter drilled a sinking liner to right field. Matt Corkum came charging in and dove
to make a great catch and keep the leadoff batter off base. That turned out to be a huge play
as 3 of the next 4 Mariners got on base. Matt also caught the ball for the last out of the game.
The offense was paced by Matt Corkum. I'm glad he got home from vacation a day early so
he could play in this one! Matt roped two singles and also walked twice. Andy Luckhardt ran
for Matt all four times and scored 3 runs. Dan Gould had a good day as leadoff hitter reaching
base on an error and walking twice. Dan scored a run in the first inning. Dennis Fontecchio
collected two singles and scored 1 run and drove in another. Dennis scored from first base when
he stole second and the throw went into center field. The center fielder was playing very deep
with Eddie Murray up and did not get a good jump on the poor throw from the catcher. Dennis
came all the way around to score the second Cubs run! Eddie Murray also had two singles and
drove in a run. Andy Schultz drove in a huge run in the bottom of the seventh. With two outs
and Andy Luckhardt at second, Andy Schultz hit a liner to right to drive in the sixth Cubs run of the
day. That was a critical insurance run!