The Cubs lost their 2009 season opener against the Orioles 13-9 on 4/19!
The defending league champion Cubs only had 9 players available to play on opening day against the Orioles.
They played a scrappy game but came up a little short in the 13-9 loss.
The offensive star of the game was Glenn D'Avanzo who collected 5 RBIs in a 3-4 game that included a
3 run bases loaded double and a 2 run bases loaded single. It was a great return to the lineup for Glenn
who had missed the last three years with a variety of injuries. The Cubs had 10 walks including 3 by Ken
Hamm and 2 by Rich Wenning and Matt Corkum.
Tom Barnes started and threw 5+ innings. Tom had a great pickoff play in the 5th inning. Kenny Hamm
pitched the 6th and 7th. Earl Carpenter pitched the 8th.
The Cubs fell behind 5-0 through 4 innings, but them scored 4 runs in the 5th and 2 in the 6th to take
a 6-5 lead. Chris Ricker started the 5th inning rally with a line frive single to right center which was
the first Cubs hit of the day. With two outs, Paul Sonnett singled and Ken Hamm walked before Glenn's bases
loaded double and Tom Barnes RBI single plated the 4 runs. An Earl Carpenter fielders choice scored Matt
Corkum and then a first and third double steal scored Earl for the lead in the 6th. A 5 run bottom of the
6th put the Cubs in a hole they could not get out of. The Cubs picked up a run in the 7th on a Rich Wenning
single scoring Glenn. They scored two more in the 8th on Glenn's bases loaded single.
The Cubs played solid defense for a first gaem of the year. Earl Carpenter was very good at short and
Chris Ricker had a nice day at second. Matt Corkum made a great shoestring catch in right.