Sun 09/16/2001 Game 2
The Cubs lost the second game of the National League Championship series to the Phillies 10-8. Dennis Fontecchio
went 3-3 with 3 RBIs in the game. The Cubs lost the opportunity to sweep the Phillies from the playoffs. This loss
set up a final deciding 9 inning game on 9/23.
The Cubs lost the the second game of the National League Championship Series 10-8 to the Phillies. Andy Schultz
started and threw 5 strong innings. Unfortunately a few questionable calls and some timely errors had Andy
give up 6 runs only three of which were earned. Andy Luckhardt came in to pitch the last 4 innings. A walk
and a couple errors led to Andy allowing 4 runs 3 of which were earned. Both pitchers pitched well, but the
Phillies played very hard and outlasted the Cubs.
On defense, Dennis Fontecchio played another solid game at short. The game also saw two great diving catches
in the outfield. Andy Luckhardt came up with a full out dive in left. Mark Grogan also had a sliding catch in
right on a line drive. Earl Carpenter threw out an attempted base stealer with a great throw. Ansy Luckhardt
picked a baserunner off first by one of the largest margins ever!
The Cubs played this game with a ton of heart. They overcame deficits twice during this contest. Trailing 3-0
after 1.5 innings, the Cubs scored 5 runs in the bottom of the second. Dennis Fontecchio who was 3-3 in
game 2, got things going with a bases loaded two run single scoring Tom Barnes and Paul Sonnett who had both
singled. Tim Shaver had a single to load the bases before Dennis' big hit. Mark Grogan had a two out infield
single to score a run before we scored 2 runs on a wild pitch. Andy Luckhardt who was the runner for Tom Jette
hustled and scored from second when the throw from the catcher to the pitcher eluded the pitcher and the first
baseman. We scored 2 runs in the sixth to take a 7-6 lead. Andy Schultz lead off with a single. After a
sac bunt Bruce Sher singled to put runners at first and third. With Tim Shaver running for Andy Schultz,
Eddie Murray hit a lob to shallow right that the second baseman made a nice running catch on, Tim, made a
great play to tag up and score from third. Earl followed with a clutch two out triple to bring in the go
ahead run. The final run scored in the 7th to close the gap to 9-8. Paul Sonnett lead off with a single.
A couple miscues at short later and we had a run home.