The Cubs win an extra inning thriller against the Cardinals 10-5 on 7/12.
The Cubs won a critical game against a Cardinals team that had beaten the Cubs had three staight times
dating back to July 15 of 2007. Every Cubs run was scored with 2 outs as they got 4 runs in the first,
1 in the fourth and 5 runs in the tenth.
Tom Barnes started and struggled with his control allowing 7 hits, 5 walks through 5 innings. He battled
though and left after giving up three earned runs and had a 5-4 lead. John Gordon came in and pitched the
next 4 innings for his first outing of the season on the mound and picked up the win. John was a little
rusty but still was very good. John gave up a run in his first inning and ended that inning with a pickoff
at first. In all John went 4 innings giving up one run on 4 hits and 2 walks. He pitched through the 7th
through 9th innings in a tense tie game. PJ O'Toole came in to pitch a perfect 10th inning to close the
game out.
Some serious clutch hits in this one allowed the Cubs to win. In the first inning, the Cubs had runners on
first and second with 2 outs. Andy Luckhardt had a double to right to score one run. PJ followed that with
a 2 run single. Earl Carpenter hit a single down the left field line and Tom Barnes roped a single to score
the PJ with the 4th run. Earl hit a 2 out double to left center in the 4th inning to score Andy Luckhardt
who had singled and stolen second with one out. It stayed 5-5 from the 7th until the 10th without many
serious threats. Then the Cubs took control of the game with the 5 run 10th. Earl was hit by a pitch and
Chris Ricker sacrifice bunted courtesy runner PJ to second. Brad Adams drew a walk and then with two outs
Rich Schwarz also walked to load the bases. Glenn D'Avanzo delivered a huge 2 strike double to left center
to score two runs. John followed with a roller to short that Glenn alertly screened the shortstop on. The
shortstop bobbled the ball and then rushed a throw to first that got away and scored two more runs. Paul
Sonnett followed with an RBI single to right to finish the scoring. Earl Carpenter ended up 3-3 with 2
doubles and a HBP. Not bad for a guy playing on one leg. Andy Luckhardt was 3-4 with 2 runs scored. Jeff
Fitton chipped in with a 2-4 day.
There were a few nice defensive plays for the Cubs. Chris Ricker played short and in 10 innings only had two
balls hit to him, but they were both one hopper rockets that he made nice plays on. Andy Luckhardt played
left field and caught a couple hard hit line drives for big out. Brad Adams played first and had a solid
game. John Gordon made a nice diving stop on a ball up the middle in the bottom of the ninth with runners
at first and third. There's a good chance if he doesn't make that play that the Cubs lose the game as neither
middle infielder probably could have reached that ball and made an out anywhere. Tom Barnes made a nice play
to end the 4th inning on a hot one hopper back to the mound. Tom made a behind the back stab at the ball and
managed to catch the ball perfectly in the web of his glove potentially saving two runs.