Sun 09/15/2002
The Cubs won the National League Championship series two games to one over the Braves.
In the final game, the Cubs scored the winning run with two outs in the top of the ninth
to win 5-4.
In another nail biting, gut wrenching one run game, the Cubs scored a run in the top of the ninth
to beat the Braves 5-4. The Cubs have now played 4 playoff games in 2002. All four games have been
decided by 1 run and the Cubs have not held the lead after 8 innings in any of the 4 games. Somehow,
the Cardiac Cubbies have won three of these games with clutch ninth inning rallies!
In this game, Earl Carpenter pitched the final 7 innings allowing just two runs (one earned) to
pick up the victory. The Cubs scored two runs in the first on a leadoff single by Bruce Sher and
a clutch two out double by Earl Carpenter followed by a Tom Barnes single. In the third, Matt Finnegan
singled and then scored on a Bruce Sher sac fly. In the fifth, Peter DiNatale singled and scored on
a two out single by Matt Finnegan. The ninth inning rally was started by Matt Finnegan (3-3 1 RBI, 2
runs scored) with a single up the middle. After a sac bunt and ground out moved pinch runner Tim
Shaver to third, Dennis Fontecchio delivered the game winning two out single for the second consecutive
game! Defense played a huge role in the win with Tim Shaver making a nice catch in right center and
throwing out a runner at the plate from right field. Catcher Paul Sonnett picked a runner off second
base. Earl Carpenter threw out a runner at third in the seventh inning after cutting off a ball which
scored the tying run. Rich Schwarz made a diving catch in shallow center field. Bruce Sher made a
diving snare of a line drive up the middle at second base.