Sun 06/26/2005
The Cubs won a huge National League game on the road against the division leading Cardinals 13-9 on
Sunday. It was the Cubs 4th straight victory.
The Cubs won a huge National League game on the road against the division leading Cardinals 13-9 on
Sunday. This was a tense battle from beginning to end on a hot summer day in Hudson.
Brad Adams, called on to make his second emergency start this month, pitched the first 5 innings and
battled out of several jams. The Cardinals took their only lead of the game in the bottom of the
first as ex-Cub Matt Finnegan led off with a double (he later tripled driving in 2 and scored 3 runs)
and scored from third one out later. The Cardinals ended up loading the bases with one out in the first
inning and Brad got a strikeout and grounder to second to esacpe with just the 1 run to set the tone
for the game. The Cubs responded with 3 two out runs in the top of the second. Jon Sundkin led off
with a single, and after an out and then a fielders choice, Chris Ricker was on first with 2 outs.
Mark Grogan drew a walk and Andy Schultz was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Rich Schwarz followed
with a nubber to the mound that Matt Finnegan tried to bare hand and missed to score a run. Dennis
Fontecchio followed with a clutch 2 run single.
The Cubs expanded the lead to 4-1 in the 3rd with a
clutch 2 out 2 strike RBI single by Chris Ricker scoring Earl who had reached on a single. The
Cardinals scored an unearned run in the bottom of the 3rd to make it 4-2. In the bottom of the 5th,
Brad escaped his final jam. The Cardinals had tied the score on 2 walks and a double to left center
and another walk had runners at first and third with 2 outs. The Cardinals cleanup hitter was up and
Brad did a fantastic job getting Murphy to ground out to second to keep the score tied.
The Cubs regained the lead in the top of the 6th as Matt Corkum (1-2 3 walks, 2 runs) led off with a
walk and Chris Ricker followed with a HBP. A wild pitch put runners and second and third with no outs.
2 outs later, no runs had come home. Rich Schwarz followed with a bunt to score the run as no one
covered first base for the Cards. Andy Schultz escaped a 2nd and third with one out situation by
inducing a grounder to third that Earl handled nicely and a popup to second to hold onto the 1 run lead.
The Cubs added 2 runs in the 7th to extend the lead to 7-4. Tim Shaver led off with a triple to left
and he scored on a wild pitch. Earl Carpenter singled and scored on a Brad Adams double. The Cardinals
fought back to tie the game with 3 in the bottom of the 7th though. In the top of the 8th, the Cubs
took the lead for good. Mark Grogan led off with a huge single and reached second on Andy Schultz's
perfect sac bunt. Earl went in to run for Mark. A wild pitch put Earl at third with one out. Rich
Schwarz hit a sac fly to right to score Earl who pulled a quad muscle on the play but still managed
to score the go ahead run.
Andy Schultz pitched a 1-2-3 bottom of the 8th, and the Cubs went on to score 5 times in the top of the
ninth for a 13-7 lead. Tim Shaver reached an error and Paul Sonnet singled to put runners at first
and third. Tim scored when Paul got caught in a rundown between first and second. Brad Adams followed
with a single and Jon Sudkin followed with an RBI single. Matt Corkum followed with his third walk of
the game to load the bases. Chris Ricker grounded into a fielders choice with the out being recorded
at home. With 2 outs and the bases full, Mark Grogan delivered a hug bases clearing double. The
Cardinals continued to fight and scored 2 in the bottom of the ninth, but their rally fell short and
the Cubs won the game.
On the defensive side of things, while there were some shaky moments, the Cubs did quite well. Tim
Shaver had a great game at second base making at least 3 nice plays to his left. Paul Sonnett turned
in his typical stellar outing behind the plate in steambath conditions. Earl Carpenter made a couple
nice plays at third.