The Cubs played the Brewers who were 0-14 coming into the game. It looked like the potential
for a let down was in place, but the Cubs responded with a tremendous 14-0 win. Every phase
of the Cubs game was clicking today. The pitching allowed just one infield single over 9
innings, the defense played brilliantly without an error, and the offense pounded out 19 hits.
This marks the 10th consecutive win for the Cubs over the Brewers dating back to the 1997 season.
In fact, the Cubs are a perfect 10-0 against the Brewers all-time. That ties the longest win streak
for the Cubs against any other team. The Cubs were 10-0 against the Phillies from 1996-1998 before
losing the first game of the 1999 season to the Phillies.
Anyway, the Cubs used 5 pitchers to shut down the Brewers offense. Tom Barnes started and threw
4 innings allowing the one infield single in the third. Tom only faced one batter over the minimum
as the only other runner reached by a walk and was thrown out stealing. That runner was caught
stealing when Paul Sonnett threw a strike to Dennis Fontecchio who made a great tag to end the first
inning. Andy Schultz came in to face just 7 batters allowing a walk in his two innings. Mark Grogan
started the 7th but had to leave after 5 pitches when his elbow flared up again. Eddie Murray stepped
in and pitched into and out of the only jam of the game, a first and third with one out. Earl Carpenter
was dominant, facing 6 batters and striking out the last 4!
On defense, Earl Carpenter made a nice play at short when he barehanded a slow roller up the middle
and threw the runner out at first. Dennis Fontecchio also made a great play running down a ball
in left center from shortstop. There was only one outfield putout the entire game and it was a diving
catch in shallow left center by Rich Schwarz.
The Cubs scored 14 runs while collecting 19 hits. The only 1-2-3 inning for the Cubs was in the last
inning! The Brewers defense made several errors to help the
Cubs cause, but there were also many line drive hits by the Cubs. Bruce Sher led off for the first
time this season and went 3-5 with 2 RBIs and 2 runs scored. Bruce raised his batting average to .550 for
the season. Eddie Murray went 1-3 on the day and still leads the Cubs with a .556 batting average. Tim
Shaver batted second and was also 3-5 with a first inning triple an RBI and a run scored. Paul Sonnett
was busy with 2 singles and he reached by error twice. Paul scored 3 runs. Tom Jette had 2 run
scoring singles. Tom Barnes had 2 singles and 2 runs scored. Dennis Fontecchio had a run scoring double
and two runs scored. Andy Schultz and Mark Grogan contributed run scoring singles. Andy Luckhardt
played the last 4 innings which was enough to get credit for his 9th game of playoff eligibility. Andy
is now eligible to pitch during the playoffs.