Sun 09/10/2000
The Cubs won the first game of the best of three NLCS against the Braves 4-0.
Earl Carpenter was dominating allowing just 4 singles. The Cubs defense made
no errors and some tough plays.
This was a tremendous team effort win for the Cubs. The Cubs faced the Braves
ace and scratched out 4 hard fought runs. Earl Carpenter outdueled their ace
and tossed a 4 hit shutout! Mark Grogan drove in 2 of the 4 runs.
Earl was dominant. From the second through the fifth innings he retired 12
of 13 batters. He escaped a rough first inning that included two walks when
the umpire was squeezing him. Earl also made a great play in the sixth. With
runners at first and second a sac bunt was dropped down the third base line.
Earl raced off the mound whirled around to throw a strike to Tom Jette to get
the lead runner out.
The defense was perfect, not a single error. Dan Gould recorded 4 putouts in
left. Dennis Fontecchio played another great game at short. Tom Jette has
been getting stronger and stronger at third each week. He made a great diving
play to snare a soft line drive and avoid the broken bat which went further
than the ball. Pete DiNatale caught the entire game and called a smart game
helping keep the Braves batters off stride.
The Cubs battled for every run. Two runs scored in the second. Tom Barnes led
off with a solid single. John Sudkin followed with a single to put runners at
first and second. Dennis Fontecchio then laid down a sac bunt and reached first
when the Braves first baseman couldn't field the great bunt. After a groundout
forced Barnes out at home, Mark Grogan followed with an infield single to drive
in a run. Tim Shaver followed with a fielders choice to drive in a run. The
third Cubs run scored when Rich Schwarz reached on a bunt single with two outs.
After Schwarz stole second base, Mark Grogan followed with a shot to center
that the Braves center fielder lost in the sun. That single drove in a run. The
last run scored when Package led off with his second HBP of the playoffs. Dan
Gould forced out Tony and then stole second. Eddie Murray then hit a ball to
third and the third baseman made a wild throw which allowed Dan to score and Eddie
to reach second base. Other bright moments came in the first when Pete DiNatale,
batting second, lined a single to center. Although Pete didn't end up scoring, it
sent a message to the team that the Braves ace was hittable. Matt Corkum hit
an absolute bomb of a triple in the third inning. That ball cleared the left
fielder by a mile.