On a gorgeous night at the C-Diamond in Schenectady, the Cubs and the 4-time defending champion Giants squared off in what is the first of 3 or 4 games they are likely to play during the 2018 regular season.
The Cubs got on the board first with 2 runs in the bottom of the 1st inning. Scott Ross led off with a walk and a stolen base. Paul Miles singled him to third, and after one out, Ron Lochner followed with a RBI single, moving Miles to third. Mike Girard got the second run home with a RBI ground out.
The Cubs were back at it in the second inning, scoring 2 more runs on consecutive one out hits by Ralph Caputo, Jim McQuade, and Kevin Jackson, with Jackson's hit driving home the 2 runs.
The third inning saw the Cubbies again swinging hot bats. Paul Miles, Dave Mitchell, and Mike Girard all had singles to get the rally started, loading the bases with one out. Rookie PJ Martone delivered two runs with a sharp single, and fellow rookie Marc Lochner drove home another run with a line drive single. A fielders choice and an error then set the stage for Kevin Jackson's second 2-RBI hit of the night, and suddenly the Cubs were up 9-0.
Meanwhile Cubs starter, Mike Girard, was keeping the potent Giant offense off the scoreboard through the first 3 innings, allowing just 1 base runner per inning, and allowing just one runner to reach second base (Bob Murphy on a booming double).
The Giants would finally get on the board in the top of the 4th. Mark Massaroni hit a long one out double to right, and one out later, Tony Nardacci delivered him with a RBI single. The Giants would load the bases with two outs, but were unable to get any closer, as Girard induced a ground out to end the inning.
The Cubs would get that one run back in the bottom half of the inning when Ron Lochner, Dave Mitchell, and Mike Girard all singled with two outs and nobody on, restoring the 9 run lead at 10-1.
The Giants threatened again in the 5th by loading the bases on an error and singles by Will Ferguson and Freddie Pigeon, but Girard again induced a grounder to escape any damage.
The defending champs plated single runs in the 6th and 7th innings on a RBI double by Pete Geanellis, and a RBI single by Fred Pigeon, to make the final score 10-3.
Girard earned his second complete game win of the season, scattering 11 hits and 3 walks, while striking out 4.
The Cubs move to 2-0 on the young season, and the Giants start at 0-1.
Next up for the Cubs is a meeting with the Cards at the sparkling new A-Diamond on Friday 5/18. The Giants get the Twins Monday night (05/14) at Legion Field.
