The Cubs swept the Braves in the NLCS on 9/13/09.
The Cubs beat the Braves 10-1 and 4-2 in the NLCS and are now 4-0 in the playoffs and have outscored
the opposition 37-6. The Cubs started Tom Barnes in game 1. Tom was very impressive, throwing a 4 hitter.
Tom carried a no hitter into the 5th inning. However 7 walks and 1 hit batter caused some jams.
In the second inning the Braves had the bases full with 2 outs in a 2-0 game. Tom induced a weak
grounder to second to escape the jam. In the 4th, runners were on first and second with two out when
Tom picked up one of his three strike outs. In the 5th, after the Braves had collected three hits and a
run, Tom picked a runner off second to end the inning. Tom closed the game out allowing just one runner
in the 6th and 7th innings. Tom was dominant, allowing just one putout in the outfield the entire game.
The Cubs played very well on defense for the day. The Cubs turned 2 6-4-3 double plays in game one.
Alex Scott had a great day at short and Brad Adams was huge at first. Alex had a great over the
shoulder catch in shallow left to lead off the third inning. Brad made a couple nice scoops, one on
a throw from Tom. PJ O'Toole was very good at third making every play. Earl Carpenter and Paul Sonnett
split the catching duties and were solid.
Offensively, the Cubs had contributions from everyone in the lineup. The leadoff hitter Alex Scott had 2
hits and 2 runs scored. He led off the game with a single on the first pitch and after moving to third on a
steal and passed ball scored on a ground out. Glenn D'Avanzo was 2-2 with 2 runs scored in game one
including a booming triple. The Cubs scored 4 runs in the 4th to open up a 2-0 game and then scored 4 more
in the top of the 7th to ice the game. Alex Scott led off the 4th with a single. Then came possibly the play
of the game. John Gordon hit a grounder up the middle that looked like it might be a double play ball. The
ball eluded the shortstop though and put runners on first and third with no outs. Glenn walked to load the
bases and then Ken Hamm delivered a huge 2 run double. Paul Sonnett singled home Glenn and then PJ O'Toole
drove a run home with a groundout to short. Andy Luckhardt led off the 7th with a double. PJ O'Toole hit a
bullett single to right to put runners at first and third. After a stolen base, Earl Carpenter grounded out
up the middle to bring in the first run. Tom Barnes reached on an error to short to bring in the second run.
Chris Ricker singled and on a botched pickoff throw from the cather went all the way to third. Brad Adams
drove Ricker home with an RBI ground out.