Wednesday night's game with the Pirates started like a nightmare for Cubs' starter Jon Martin. The Pirates' first 3 hitters loaded the bases with 2 walks and an error. Len Hunter followed with a 2-RBI single and Carlo Agneta blasted a 2-RBI double, to give the Pirates a 4 - 0 lead, with a runner on second and nobody out. Not exactly what Jon Martin had in mind as the way he wanted the game to go on a night when he turned 49 years old. Jon took a deep breath, and got the next hitter to hit a grounder to short. Ron Lochner threw to 1st for the first out, and Mike Girard threw to 3rd to nail Agneta, who was trying to get to 3rd with one out. Mr. Martin used that lift to change the course for the night. After a Mike Clary single, Jon struck out Mike Labanowski to end the inning. Once out of the first, Jonny Martin was lights out the rest of the way. The Pirates were only able to score one more unearned run in the 7th inning. Jon only gave up one single and two walks in the final 6 innings. That turn around gave the Cubs a chance to stage a comeback.
The Cubs got one back, in the bottom of the first on a two-out RBI single by Andy Hoyle. The Pirates had two errors to lead off the Cubs half of the second inning, and the Cubs took advantage, scoring two runs, with Tom Shepardson's RBI single being the big hit. The Cubs pulled even at 4, in the bottom of the fourth inning, on two walks and a RBI single by Phil Gadomski. Leading 35+ MVP candidate, Andy Hoyle, continued his spectacular season with a 3-run home run in the bottom of the 5th inning to put the Cubs in control 7-4 . Andy would also add a RBI single to cap a 4-run 6th inning for the Cubs. He finished the night 3 for 4, with a single, double, homer, 1 run scored, and 5 RBI's.
Tom Shepardson, Phil Gadomski, and Ron Lochner added two hits each, for the Cubbies. Len Hunter led the Pirates offense with two singles and a walk.
The Cubs stay atop the leagues standings at 11-1-1 with the victory. Next up a second meeting with the 4th place Rays, Saturday morning at New Scotland.
-- Edited by mgirard11 on Thursday 19th of July 2012 08:08:44 AM
