The Cubs swept the Braves 15-9 and 8-2 in a double header on 8/15.
By sweeping the double header, the Cubs completed the 2010 regular season with a 15-1 record. This is the best
regular season record the team has ever had. The Cubs had never won 15 games in a regular season before, congrats!
The Cubs went to Memorial Field in Millis to take on the Braves in a double header on 8/15. Game one was a back and
forth affair, as the Cubs and Braves matched runs for the first 2 innings each scoring 5 times. The Braves took a
9-6 lead after three innings. It remained that score until the 6th when the Cubs erupted for 6 runs to take a 12-9
lead. The Cubs scored 3 more times in the 7th for the 15-9 final.
As always for the Cubs, pitching was the key for both wins. Tom Barnes struggled with the Millis mound in his
three innings of work in game 1. PJ O'Toole came in and pitched the final 4 innings without allowing a run to give
the Cubs a chance for the big comeback. PJ allowed 4 hits but no walks and he struck out 4. For the 2010 season,
PJ pitched 12 innings without allowing a run!
There were a few big plays on defense. Perhaps the nicest play of the day was turned in by Chris Ricker who made
a nice sliding catch in shallow right to rob Alex Scott of a hit and started an inning ending double play. Yes,
Ricker was playing right field for the Braves in game 1 because the Braves showed up with just 8 players. PJ also
made a nice play to field a sacrifice bunt in front of the mound and then whirl around and throw a bullet to second
to start the 1-6-3 double play.
The Cubs bats were scored a lot of runs, putting up 23 runs in the two games. All 12 batters reached base at least
once in game 1. The top 7 in the order for game one scored 14 runs and drove in 10. Rich Schwarz and Paul Sonnett
scored three times, while Earl Carpenter was 3-4 with 4 RBIs. In the first inning, the Cubs scored 4 two out runs.
With Rich on second and two outs, Paul singled Rich home. Ken Hamm doubled Paul home. Earl doubled Ken home. After a
Dennis Fontecchio single, Chris Ricker singled Earl home. Mark Grogan had a sac fly in the second to score PJ O'Toole.
Rich scored a run in the third on a two out single by Ken. The big inning was the 6th though. The Cubs were trailing
9-6 and were down to theit last 6 outs. Rich led off with a walk, and John Gordon followed with an RBI double. After
walks to Paul and Ken loaded the bases, Earl tied the game with a single. Dennis drove in the go ahead run with a single
and Ricker drove in a run with a fielder's choice for the first out of the inning. PJ singled home the last run of the
inning. Rich drove in Alex Scott in the 7th. Ken and Earl drove in John and Paul for the final runs of the game.