The Cubs completed their comeback against the Rays with a 3-1 victory on Friday night at Bob Moore in Scotia.

The big story was the pitching of Steve Lounello, for the Cubs. Steve held the Rays scoreless through the first 6 innings,
allowing only two singles: one to Jan Friedman in the second, and one to his brother Barry in the 3rd. Through those
six innings Steve allowed no walks and struck out six in dominating a very good hitting line up.

That dominance was huge as it allowed the Cubs to be in the game, while they were struggling against Rays starter, Paul Moore, through the first 3 innings. Paul gave up just two walks through the first three innings in keeping the game scoreless.

The top of the 4th inning was when the Cubs got their first hit, and they made it count. After Paul Moore struck out the first batter, he hit Mike Girard with a 2-2 pitch. After a fly out to left, for the second out of the inning, Girard then surprised the Rays by stealing second (with a very bad groin strain) on a 2-2 count to Ron Lochner. Lochner then worked the walk, to put runners on first and second with two outs. Thats when Dave Mitchell came through with the Cubs first hit -- a single to left center that scored Girard with the games first run. Mitchell took second on the throw to the plate. With runners on second and third, Shawn Maney came up huge with a 2 RBI double, and the Cubs had a 3-0 lead.

The Rays would not go quietly. As Steve Lounello tired in the 7th, the Rays pulled off an impressive rally. Steve got the first two batters, and with the way Steve had been throwing all night, the Rays could have easily laid down, but Mike Pickett worked a walk and Freddy McIntosh singled to right to put runners on the corners. Mark Dabney followed with a double to score the Rays first run and put the tying runners on 2nd and 3rd. They were just one single away from tying the game when Lounello induced a grounder to short. By the time Randy Craft got to the ball it was soaking wet, but the 2011 defensive player of the year made a sure throw to first in time to get the out, and the Cubs were winners!

The Cubs now await the winners of the deciding game between the HummnBirds and the Dodgers on Monday night at Bob Moore. It should be a great final series, regardless of the outcome.