The Cubs beat the Tigers in an error fest 9-8 on 5/3!
This was a game that neither team deserved to win. Each team committed 7 errors in the 9 inning game and blew
leads along the way. There was only one inning all game that the Cubs led after and that was the most important
9th inning. The Cubs finished the last two innings with only 8 players in the field and despite that and 7 errors
managed to win their first game of 2009.
Tom Barnes started and went the first 5 innings. Tom allowed 4 runs, only 2 of which were earned. Unfortunately,
for the Cubs, that left them with no proven pitchers to finish off the game. Eddie Murray bravely took the mound
to start the 6th but was unable to close the inning out. Chris Ricker was the next guy to give it a shot. Chris
ended up being spectacular as he allowed just 1 hit and 1 unearned run over the final 3 and 1/3 innings. The most
amazing part was in the bottom of the ninth with the Cubs up 9-7, the first three Tiger batters reached by error.
Chris struck out a batter for the first out and then induced a groundball between first and second that John
Gordon made a diving stop on to get the batter at first. That groundout brought in a run and left runners at second
and third with two out. Chris got the final batter out on a comebacker to close out the improbable Cubs win.
The only other defensive gem in this game that I remember is Eddie Murray throwing out the batter at first base
on a clean line drive to right field to take away a hit.
Ken Hamm had a big day on offense, going 3-5 including a clutch 2 out double in teh first inning to drive home a run.
That seemed to set the tone for the Cubs as they scored a lot of two out runs in this game. Eddie Murray had a
2 out RBI single in the second inning. With the Cubs trailing 7-4 in the top of the 7th, they pulled off a huge
two outs and no one on base rally to pick up two runs. Ken Hamm singled and Glenn D'Avanzo reached by an error to
put runners on second and third. Tim Shaver followed with a 2 RBI single which cut the lead to 7-6. The Cubs tied
it in the 8th when Paul Sonnett hit a 2 out RBI single to drive home Rich Schwarz. In the 9th, the Cubs scored 2
more runs after starting the inning with two outs. Jeff Fitton reach by error and then stole second and third. Rich
Schwarz hit a 2 strike line drive back to the pitcher that was slowed down but left in no man's land to drive in
Jeff. After John Gordon walked, Rich was driven in when Chris Ricker's grounder was thrown away at first in what
proved to be the game winning run.