The Cubs had one of the best comebacks in team history to beat the Mariners 10-9 on Paul Sonnett's 9th inning 2 out home run.
The Cubs were trailing 7-0 after 1 inning in this game yet managed to claw their way back into the
game, tying it at 9 with a run in the 8th on a clutch RBI groundout by Andy Schultz and then winning
it in the 9th when Paul Sonnett hit an absolute bomb to left center for a home run. To make this
home run even more impressive is that the wind had been gusting in all day long and balls were not
carrying at all.
Kan Hamm pitched a gutty game without his best stuff. The Cubs were shorthanded in this game playing
with 8 regulars and 3 subs. The Cubs were short on pitching which meant Ken had to go as far into
the game as possible. He went 8 innings. After a dismal first inning where the Mariners scored 7
runs on 3 hits, 4 walks and an HBP, Kenny only allowed 2 runs the rest of the way. Kenny allowed
9 hits and 13 walks in those 8 innings but continually pitched his way out of jams. He left the
bases full in the 3rd and the 8th to give the Cubs offense an opportunity to come back. Luis Tiant
came in to pitch the ninth and picked up the first Cubs save of the year. Luis closed the deal
for the Cubs and made Paul's go ahead homer in the top of the ninth stand.
The defense made several nice plays to help Ken. There was a nice 1-5-3 DP to end the 4th (Ken to
Luis to Rich Wenning). In the 6th, Paul Sonnett nailed a runner trying to score from third on a
wild pitch with Kenny applying the tag. In the bottom of the 8th, with 2 outs and the bases full,
Dennis Fontecchio snared a soft liner in short left that would have plated 2 runs. That was a
huge play. Newcomer Rich Wenning played first and he made several nice scoops.
Of course Paul Sonnett's 9th inning homer dominates any offensive conversation, but the Cubs battled
back from a 7-0 and 9-5 holes with contributions from the entire lineup. The Cubs scored 5 runs in
the top of the second in a great response to the 7 run Mariner first inning. Tim Shaver (1-4, 1 run)
led off with a single. Dennis Fontecchio (3-4, double, 2 runs, a great day) then doubled Tim to
third base. Rich Wenning (2-3, RBI, run) singled in Tim and moved Dennis to third. Then in a critical
play, Chris Ricker (2-4, run) lined a bullet to the pitcher that he caught and threw to first to
turn a double play. The play was ruled catchers interference and instead of a runner at third with 2
outs, the bases were loaded with no outs. Andy Schultz, in his first game of 2007, (0-3, walk, 2 RBIs)
delivered an RBI groundout to score Dennis and put runners at second and third. After Dave Russo
made the second out, another key play of the game occurred. Rich Schwarz (1-5, 2 runs) hit a blooper
to second that should have been caught to end the inning with the Cubs trailing 7-2. However, the
second baseman booted the ball allowing 2 runs to score and Rich to get to second. Eddie Murray
(2-5, RBI, run) followed with a drive to right center scoring Rich for a 7-5 game. The score stayed
that way until the bottom of the 6th when the Mariners plated 2 runs to take a 9-5 lead. Again, the
Cubs staged an immediate rally scoring 3 times in the top of the 7th. Rich Schwarz hit a one out
infield single and stole second. Eddie Murray followed with an infield single. Eddie stole seceond
and then Paul Sonnett (2-5, double, homer, 2 runs, 2 RBIs) doubled home Rich and moved Eddie to third.
Ken Hamm (2-5, 2 RBIs) then plated both runners with a single making the score 9-8. The Cubs tied
the game at 9 in the 8th. Dennis Fontechhio led off with a single and then Tim Shaver courtesy ran
for Dennis. As Tim was trying to steal second, Rich Wenning hit a grounder to short and the shortstop
tried to rush the throw to second to get Tim and threw the ball into right field putting runners at
first and third with no outs. After an out, Luis Tiant pinch running for Rich stole second. Andy
Schultz had a great at bat and hit a hard grounder between first and second that the drawn in infield
could only knock down and get Andy at first to plate the tying run. The Cubs won it in the 9th when
Paul Sonnett stepped up and delivered a 2 out bases empty bomb to left center that cleared the fence
by 30 feet.
This may go down as one of the best regular season comeback victories in Cubs history. The Cubs won
their 100th game as a franchise back on 7/8/2001 when they where trailing the Phillies 10-2 after
5 innings and managed to win 11-10 in 10 innings. To be down 7-0 after one and have the heart to
battle back shows a lot about the 2007 edition of the Cubs!