The Cubs swept the first place Braves 6-5 and 7-2 on 8/2.
Wow, what a day for the Cubs. They came into the game trailing the 11-1 Braves by 3.5 games and now
with the sweep, the Cubs have an outside chance to get first place in the National League!
John Gordon pitched the second game and gave up one unearned run in 6 innings to pick up the win. Earl
Carpenter closed out the win with one inning of work allowing one unearned run.
On defense, the Cubs gunned down two potential base stealers in game 2. Paul Sonnett threw out 2 runners in
the 4th inning. The first he threw out while falling to his right hip on an outside pitch. Chris Ricker has
been filling in at short on occassion the last few weeks and has been very solid. Chris made a great play on
the second caught stealing in the 4th inning of game 2 diving to apply the tag. Ken Hamm was busy in left
and had a good day. Another big play occurred in teh third inning. The Braves had already taken their first
and only lead of the day 1-0 on an error and a single. Then with runners on first and second and two outs
a single to center looked like trouble. However the runner from first rounded second too far and the lead
runner had stopped at third. Glenn D'Avanzo at second took the cutoff throw from center and executed a
perfect run down. He ran the runner towards the occupied bag at third which forced that runner to try to go
home. Glenn threw to Paul Sonnett at the plate to nail the runner and end the threat.
The Cubs pounded out 12 hits in each game with contributions up and down the whole lineup. Trailing 1-0 in
the bottom of the third, the Cubs responded. Brad Adams and Rich Schwarz drew walks. Glenn then came up
with two outs and two runners on. Glenn delivered a bomb to left over everything easily scoring two runs
to put the Cubs up 2-1. It remained a 2-1 game until the bottom of the 6th when the Cubs poured across
5 runs to open up a tense game. Again it was Brad Adams setting the stage with a lead off double to right
center that was crushed. Rich Schwarz bunted for a hit to put runners at first and third with one out.
Glenn drove in his 4th run of the day with a single. John Gordon followed with a run scoring single and a
4-1 lead. After the second out, Ken Hamm followed with a roped double to left center scoring Glenn and John.
PJ O'Toole singled Ken home. Earl Carpenter followed with his third single of the game before the inning ended.