This one was a classic!!!
Even with the Cubs on the short side and yours truly being the goat with the blown save, I would have paid to see this one.
The Venezuelans scored first with two in the bottom of the first. The Cubs came right back with a run in the top of the second, on a Pete Geanellis single, a past ball, and a two out RBI single by Ralph Caputo. The Venezuelans grew the lead to 3-1, in the bottom of the 3rd.
The Cubbies cut the lead to one with one run in the top of the 4th. Ralph Caputo again got the RBI, driving in Dave Mitchell who had singled to start the inning.
The Cubbies grabbed a 4-3 lead, in the top of the 6th. Mike Girard led off with a single and Dave Mitchell drove him in with a two out RBI triple. Ron Lochner lined a single to left to give the Cubbies their first lead.
That lead was short lived as the Venezuelans plated a single run in the bottom of the inning. They grabbed the lead back (5-4), with a run in the bottom of the 7th.
Jonny Martin who had pitched the first seven innings for the Cubs cntinued on into the 8th, but gave way to Mike Girard when the lead off batter walked. Girard came on and stranded the runner by retiring the next 3 Venezuelan hitters in order, getting the final out on a strike out.
This set the stage for a dramatic Cubs comeback in the ninth inning.
Girard started the rally with a single, and moved to second on an error. After a fly out to center, Ron Lochner singled to load the bases, with one out. Ron Massaroni reached on an error and Girard scored the tying run and Jim McQuade (pinch runner) scored the go ahead run. Mike Ferraro drove home an insurance run with a single.
The Cubs took a 7-5 lead entering the bottom of the ninth.
The inning started innocently enough with a single and a fly out to center. A four pitch walk put runners on first and second with one out. A line drive single loaded the bases. The clean up hitter for Venezuela lifted a long fly ball to center that was tracked down by Ron Massaroni. All of the runners moved up one base. That made it a one run game (7-6) with two out and runners on second and third. The number five hitter was then hit on the fists with an inside fastball, but the ball carried over the head of Cubs second baseman, Tim Brown, and the Venezuelans walked off with a 8-7 victory.
Dave Mitchell was 3 for 4 with a triple, two singles, two runs and a RBI.
Ralph Caputo was 2 for 4 with a double, single, and two RBIs.
Mike Ferraro was 2 for 4, with a RBI.