The Cubs beat the previously unbeaten Red Sox 3-1 on 6/10.
What a game for the Cubs who have run their league best winning streak to 4 games! The Red Sox
had won 11 straight games dating back to last August when the Cubs beat them 9-3.
In this one, Tom Barnes threw his second consecutive complete game gem. This one was even better
than last week. Tom allowed only 1 earned run and 4 hits while collecting 4 Ks. Tom had a perfect
game through 3 innings and a no hitter through 5 innings. He was at his best though in the 8th.
The Cubs had a 3-0 lead when the number 3 hitter hit a one out double to score a run and put runners
on second and third, the potential tying runs. Tom managed to get the 4th and 5th hitters to ground
out to third where Luis Tiant made the plays to end the only real threat the Red Sox had all day.
The Cubs had a great day in the field behind Tom too. The Cubs committed just 1 error and made
several outstanding plays. In the 7th with a runner on first, Steve
Saraceno from the Red Sox hit a bullet into right center that Eddie Murray got a great jump on
and made a diving catch to rob Steve of extra bases. The Cubs turned sweet double plays in the
4th and 5th innings too. In the 4th it was a 5-4-3 DP from Rich Wenning to Chris Ricker to Ken
Hamm. In the 5th it was a 1-6-3 from Tom to Alex Scott and Ken. Earl Carpenter made a nice catch
in the first on a liner to deep left while battling a tough sun. Alex also made a nice over
the shoulder catch in shallow left down the line from his shortstop position. Paul Sonnett called
a great game for Tom and was solid behind the plate as always.
On offense, the Cubs scraped for all three runs. In the second inning, Louis Tiant and Dennis
Fontecchio led off with singles and moved to second and third on an error during Dennis' single.
Rich Wenning hit a sac fly to right to score Luis. In the fourth, Eddie Murray smashed a one
out double down the left field line and moved to third on a Paul Sonnett single. The Cubs then
executed the double steal with Eddie's pinch runner Alex Scott scoring when the Red Sox middle
infieders botched the throw from the catcher. The final Cubs run was scored in the fifth after
the first two batters made outs. Rich Wenning doubled and scored on Tim Shaver's single. Rich made
a great slide to avoid the catcher's tag. This was a crucial insurance run especially when the
Red Sox threatened in the 8th. Chris Ricker had a great day at the plate going 2-2 with a long
double to center.