Tue 07/29/2003
The Cubs won their 9th consecutive game, beating the Braves 2-1 in 8 innings. This rain out makeup was
supposed to be a 7 inning game. The Cubs were trailing 1-0 after 6 innings and managed to tie the game
in the top of the seventh on a HBP to Paul Sonnett and then an incredibly clutch double by Earl Carpenter
to score pinch runner Dan Gould. The Cubs won the game in the top of the 8th
which was going to be the last inning no matter what due to darkness. Andy Luckhardt led off with a
triple and Dan Gould singled him in. Dan also made a great catch in deep left to end the 7th inning
with the potential winning run on second base. Not bad for a guy making his season debut! The main
story in this one was Andy Schultz though. Andy went the distance giving up a 5th inning run. Andy allowed
7 hits and he struck out 2. He pitched out of several jams, including a bases loaded jam in the first.
This marks the second consecutive season that Andy has gone down to Millis and pitched a brilliant game
to defeat the Braves.
Wow what a win for the Cubs! The Cubs extended their team record winning streak to 9 games and they
really had to battle for this one.
Andy Schultz was masterful on the mound. Andy went all 8 innings allowing 1 run on 7 hits. Andy's
only 1-2-3 inning was in the third and he pitched out of several jams. In the first, the Braves
first batter reached on an error and the next batter leaned into a pitch to get hit putting runners
at first and second with no one out. After a flyout to center, a fielders choice and a walk, Andy was
facing a bases loaded 2 out situation. He got out of it with a popout to first. In the second, a
leadoff single was followed by two outs and then another defensive error to put runners on second and
third with 2 outs. Andy induced a flyout to center to end that threat. In the fourth the Braves had
runners at first and second with one out and Andy pitched out of that with two fielders choices. In the
fifth, the Braves scored a run and then had runners at second and third with one out. Andy picked the
runner off third on a bang bang play with Glenn Legault applying the tag. Andy struck out the next
batter to get out of that inning. In the 6th, 7th and 8th innings, the Braves were able to get a runner
to second base, but Andy didn't allow any of them to score.
On defense, the Cubs were sloppy for the first two innings, but were fantastic over the last 6 innings.
Eddie Murray made a great play in right to field a line drive hit in right and throw out a runner
trying to get to second. Eddie turned a hit into a fielders choice. It was a key moment in the game
as that was the first out opf the inning. Instead of a first and second with no outs, it was a runner
on first with one out. Peter DiNatale and Earl Carpenter had nice games at short which was key with
Dennis having to miss the game. Glenn Legault played a solid game at third. Brad Adams made two
great plays at first in the 8th inning. He left the bag to snare offline throws and was able to tag
the Braves runners to record the outs. Dan Gould made a great catch on a deep drive to left field to
end the 7th inning.
The potent Cubs offense was really put to the test in this one. The Braves started a pitcher making
his debut, and he was good. The Cubs struck out 16 times in the 8 inning game, but still managed to
put pressure on the Braves. It took 7 innings for the Cubs scored their first run, but a huge run
it was. 2 outs from a loss, Paul Sonnett was hit by a pitch to get things going. Dan Gould pinch ran
for Paul and scored when Earl Carpenter hit a bomb to center for a double. Earl was stranded at third.
in the top of the 8th, Andy Luckhardt led off with a triple to center even further than Earl's bomb
Iit was Andy's second hit of the game). Dan Gould followed with a liner to left center for the game
winning RBI and his second hit of the game.