The Cubs used a complete game 8 strike out performance by starter, Steve Lounello, to edge the Padres 5-4, at the Bob on Wednesday night. Steve gave up just one earned run (4 runs total) on 4 singles, 4 walks, and a hit batter, while striking out at least one Padre in every inning. The Padres got a real solid start as well, from right-hander Pete Maralja, as Pete gave up 5 runs (4 earned) while scattering 9 hits, hitting one batter, and walking none. The Cubs took a 1-0 lead, in the bottom of the 2nd inning, when Ron Lochner singled, advanced to third on 2 wild pitches, and scored on a 2-out RBI single by Randy Craft. The Padres evened the score at 1, in the top of the 3rd inning, on a single by Matt Swan, a stolen base by the courtesy runner, and a 2-out single by Jon Bricetti, to put runners on 1st and 3rd. The Padres would work a double steal to score the run. The Cubs erupted for 3 runs in the bottom of the 4th inning. The stage was set on a HBP to Steve Lounello and a single by Mike Girard with one out. Andy Hoyle singled to score Lounello and Ron Lochner doubled home Girard and Hoyle. Maralja would escape further damage by inducing a 6-4-3 double play. The Cubs would add an insurance run, in the bottom of the 5th. Tom Maney singled with 2 outs and nobody on. An error by the Padres shortstop moved Maney to second, and Jim McQuade delivered the clutch 2-out RBI single. Maney scored on a close play at the plate, when the catcher was unable to hold on to the throw as Maney slid hard into the plate. That insurance run would prove to be the game winner when the Padres scored 3 runs in the top of the 6th inning. The Padres used two Cubs' errors, a walk, a HBP, and a single to plate the 3 runs. The 7th inning was uneventful as Lounello retired the Padres in order to secure the win. The Cubs next head to Kingston this Saturday for a double header against the Humm'nBirds, then hope to finish the regular season with 3 games next week (vs the Yankees on Monday and Wednesday, and vs the A's on Friday).
-- Edited by mgirard11 on Thursday 26th of July 2012 08:45:09 AM
