Facing elimination in the 35+ semi-finals against the Rays, Cubs manager Jim McQuade gave the ball to his big game pitcher, Ron Massaroni. That turned out to be a great decision! Ron scattered 9 singles and 4 walks, in giving up just two runs and striking out 5 in his complete game victory. The Rays did not dent the scoreboard until the 6th inning, when the Cubs already had a 6-0 lead.
The Cubs grabbed an early 2-0 lead, in the top of the 1st inning on walks to Steve Lounello and Dave Mitchell, a hit batter (Ron Lochner) and singles by Mike Girard and Andy Hoyle. The Cubs threatened to blow the game open in the inning with 2 runs in and the bases loaded with just one out, but Freddy McIntosh got a key strike out and a fielders choice to escape further damage.
The game would remain 2-0, until the top of the 5th inning, when the Cubs struck for 4 runs to blow the game open. The inning opened with consecutive singles by Phil Gadomski and Tom Maney. Dan Mirabile then laid down a perfect bunt down the third baseline. Freddy McIntosh had only one play, and that was a back handed flip attempt to third. The flip went wide of third and into short left field allowing pinch runner Jim McQuade to score, and moving runners to second and third with nobody out. Bryce Cutler singled to score Tom Maney and Steve Lounello walked to load the bases. Mike Girard followed with a bases loaded walk. After a strike out for the first out of the inning, Ron Lochner drew a bases loaded walk for the 4th run. Two pop outs to the infield ended the rally, but the damage was done.
The Rays would do all of their scoring in the bottom of the 6th inning. Mike Pickett hustled out an infield single to start the rally. After a strike out for the first out of the inning, Mark Dabney smashed a long fly ball to center field that looked like it would be well out of the park, but the "limited flight" soft baseballs that we have used all year took effect and the ball fell straight down and hit the bottom of the center field fence for a RBI single. Jan Friedman singled courtesy runner McIntosh to third and Mario Arduini blooped a single to left to score Friedman with the second Rays run. That left runners at 1st and 3rd with just one out, but Massaroni dug deep and struck out the next hitter and got the last out on a grounder to short to snuff out the rally.
The Cubs would add an insurance run in the top of the 7th, on a lead off HBP (Cutler), a stolen base, and two wild pitches.
Massaroni retired the Rays in order, in the bottom of the seventh, and the Cubs evened the series at one game apiece!
The Cubs now send Steve Lounello to the mound for the deciding game, with Tom Shepardson and Phil Gadomski in relief.
If you don't have plans for Friday night, come out to the Bob and see what promises to be a very highly competitive game between two very hungry teams looking for a spot in the finals!
