On a night where there was just enough rain to be annoying, the Cubs and Hummnbirds squared off in game 2 of the semi-finals, at Dutchmen field in Guilderland.
The Hummnbirds wasted no time as they scored a run, in the top of the 1st inning, on a lead off walk by Eddie Alvarez, a stolen base, a wild pitch, and a Jed Sagazie RBI ground out to short.
The Birds would stretch the lead to 2-0, in the top of the 3rd. With one out, the visitors got singles by Bert Myers and Eddie Alvarez. Brian Williams followed with a walk to load the bases. Cubs starter, Ron Massaroni, then induced a hard ground ball to second, but the run scored when the Cubs were unable to turn a double play, settling instead for the out at first. Massaroni then struck out Kingston's clean up hitter to end the rally.
The Cubs would answer back, in the bottom of the third. Steve Lounello led off with a single, but was forced at second on a Tom Maney fielder's choice. Tom advanced to third on a Phil Gadomski single, and scored on a Jon Martin fielder's choice, to cut the lead in half.
When the Cubs struggled to score runs this year, they were unable to put their hits together. Lesson learned! On this night, when Jerry Solomon and Earl Mitchell allowed only seven Cubs singles, the Cubs were able to get four of them in a row in the bottom of the fourth. After a lead-off walk and stolen base by Shawn Maney, the Cubs got consecutive RBI singles by Randy Craft, Mike Girard, Andy Hoyle, and Ron Lochner, to give the defending champs a 5-2 lead. Earl Mitchell came on for the Birds and put out the fire by getting the next 3 Cubs in order, but the damage was already done.
Ron Massaroni would give way to Steve Lounello, in the top of the 6th inning, after surrendering a lead off single to Eddie Alvarez. Alvarez stole second on the first pitch by Lounello. Steve then struck out the next batter, before Jed Sagazie lined a double over the head of Shawn Maney in right field. Alvarez started back toward 2nd base because it looked like the ball might be caught, but turned and headed toward third when the ball landed over Maney's head. Shawn raced to the ball and threw a strike to Massaroni (now playing second base) and Mazz threw a strike to home, where Dave Mitchell made the catch and applied the tag to Alvarez just in time. Tom Bruck followed with a RBI single to close the gap to 5-3, but Lounello induced a fly out to end the inning with the Cubs clinging to a 2-run lead.
Lounello's second inning of work was a lot less eventful, as he struck out two and induced a weak ground ball to second to record his second save in as many games.
The Cubs' victory sets up a match up, in the finals, between the defending champions and the pitching-rich Dodgers. It should be a great series where two teams with great pitching and defense face the two most high powered offenses in the league! It is a must see! Stay tuned to comissioner Tommy Smith for the details on the schedule for the finals.
-- Edited by mgirard11 on Friday 2nd of September 2011 08:48:16 AM
Total team effort by the Cubs to get passed a very good h-bird squad!
Big defensive play early in this one. Birds were up 2-0 already and threatened for more. With two on and no outs, Andy Hoyle was playing up at third, expecting the bunt. Instead, hard chopper was hit to him, and he raced back to the bag, then threw across the diamond. Mike Girard, did again, what he always seems to be able to do: dig out a low throw in the dirt to complete the double play! Mike has saved atleast 3 runs in the playoffs already on similar plays - Gold Glover!
Cubs have used four different starting pitchers in their four playoff wins, with Steve L logging 2 saves as the closer. It will take a HUGE effort against the heavily favored Dodgers. Should be a great challenge for the Cubs!
Yeah ~ Against the HEAVILY favored Dodgers is right... Shook and Pearsall on the same team is bordering on not even being a fair fight ~ against ANY team at this level... Cubs have ZERO chance unless one of them gets hurt... And even then, Mick ain't a half-bad #3 and can hit like a wild banshee while playing a smooth short! Even though of course you still gotta play the game, the Dodgers win in 2 easy games, no doubt...
Kinda a shame really though ~ cause wouldn't it be nice if we had a Jim v JJ pitching duel in the finals? It'd be a LOT more competitive league as they basically dominate everyone and almost make their games not even fun after the shock and awe of the first couple innings...
Mr. Aurelius (chicken to let us know who he really is) forgets how the Cubs treated Mr. Pearsall on their way to the championship last year. Not fair? Hardly! Great job by Ralphie Marrero getting the team together that he has...but the Cubs don't go into any series thinking that we don't have a chance. We welcome the challenge! Yes, the Dodgers are heavily favored, as they should be based on the regular season, but we don't hand out the league trophy based on the regular season. Thanks for the inspiration!
-- Edited by mgirard11 on Sunday 4th of September 2011 08:01:09 AM
