Sun 09/23/2001
The Cubs lost the National League Championship series to the Phillies two games to one.
In the final game, the Phillies scored a run with two outs in the bottom of the ninth
to win 4-3. It was a great team effort that just came up a run short. Tom Barnes, making
his first playoff appearance was fantastic, allowing just 3 earned runs.
The Cubs season ended with a loss in the third game of the National League Championship
Series 4-3 to the Phillies. The Cubs battled until the last out of the last inning
and got beaten on a clean single to right. As has been the case all year, everyone contributed
during this final game. Tom Barnes was masterful on the mound in his first playoff appearance in
2001. He held a good Phillie offense to three earned runs through 8 and two thirds innings. Tom
allowed just 8 hits and had 5 strikeouts.
The defense made several fine plays in this game. There was the great relay from right field, Mark
Grogan to Tim Shaver to Tom Jette to nail a Phillie runner trying to get a triple on a shot to right.
There were two inning ending double plays, Tom Jette to Tim to Earl Carpenter in the 4th
and Dennis Fontecchio to Earl in the 6th. Paul Sonnett threw out a Phillie base stealer to end the
eighth inning.
Offensively, the Cubs had to earn all their runs. Dayton only allowed one walk and the Phillie
defense allowed just one runner to reach by error. That combination makes it tough in this league
to produce a lot of runs. The Cubs scored the first two runs of the game in the top of the fourth.
As was the case in all playoff games, when the leadoff man reached, at least one run would score. This
game was no different. Tom Jette led off the fourth with a grounder back to the mound that eluded
the Phillie pitcher for a base hit. Andy Luckhardt courtesy ran for Tom. After an out and stolen
base, Andy Schultz delivered yet another critical hit placing runners at first and third. Rich Schwarz
pinch ran for Andy and stole second. Dan Gould had a tremendous at bat. After getting two strikes,
Dan delivered a clutch two run single to center. The seventh started with a single to center by
Rich Schwarz. Rich got to second on the Andy Luckhardt sac bunt. Then with two outs, Mark Grogan
picked up a huge two out RBI single to tie the game at three. The Cubs would not end up scoring again,
but they did apply pressure. In the eighth, Bruce Sher (2-3) reached second on an infield single and
an error with one out. Eddie Murray walked. After an out, Tom Barnes reached on an error to load the
bases with two outs in the tie game. Unfortunately, the Cubs couldn't deliver another clutch hit to
break open the game.
This was a tough season for the Cubs. There were a lot of injuries and assorted other reasons that
caused us to use a different lineup every week. We did a great job to come together as a team this
year despite all the adversity. No one expected the Cubs to get out of the first round of the
playoffs, let alone come within one out of getting to the League Championships. We played four
terrific playoff games this year and with a little luck could still be playing!!! I hope you all
enjoyed playing as much as I did this season. See you next year!!!