First of all, let me start this post out by saying that the Indians are the real deal! They will be THE favorite to win it all this year, if Mr. Shook is unable to return to form for the Dodgers after his shoulder surgery. They have 3 top-notch pitchers, a stud catcher, solid defense, and bats up and down the line up. Anyone who has played them this year would certainly agree with me on that!
But, on any given day, when all of the key components show up, this "veteran" Cubs team can go toe-to-toe with any team. This was one of those nights. The Cubs grabbed a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning as Shawn Maney led off with a walk, Bobby Lane followed with a double. Mike Girard followed with a sac fly to center, and one out later, Dave Mitchell singled home Lane.
The Indians plated a single run in the top of the 3rd, with the assistance of 2 Cubs' errors, and a BJ Roberts double. They would add 2 more runs in the top of the 4th, and take a 3-2 lead on singles by Will Horan and Tony Paonessa, and another Cubs error.
The Cubs wouldn't let the Indians enjoy the lead too long on this night, as they rallied for 5 runs in the bottom of the 4th, to take a 7-3 lead. Ron Lochner and Dave Mitchell had singles and Jon Martin and John Corrigan had doubles during the rally. After the Reds scored a single run in the top of the 5th, the Cubs would pad the lead to 8-4 in the bottom half on singles by Lane and Lochner, sandwiched around a Reds error.
The game got way too exciting in the top of the seventh when the Reds scored 3 runs. After a lead off walk, BJ Roberts homered to make it 8-6 with no outs. A couple of ground outs and a single and an error later the score was 8-7, with a runner on second and two outs, but reliever Ron Massaroni got the last out on a bouncer to third, and the cooler session began.
It wasn't the prettiest game ever played, but these old guys had a lot of fun playing on the same field with the very talented much younger Indians, and can't wait to face that challenge again later in the season.
-- Edited by mgirard11 on Thursday 12th of June 2014 09:04:45 AM
