On a gorgeous night at Watervliet High School, The Cubs and Damn Yankees got together for what would be a very tight game.

The game started as a pitcher's duel between John Weber and Mike Girard, with both pitchers holding the opponents scoreless
through the first 3 innings. The Cubs broke through in the 4th inning, when Dave Mitchell led off with a booming double to left.
Scott Ross then attempted a sacrifice bunt, and made it safely to first on a throwing error. Ross then stole second to set up men on
2nd and 3rd with no outs. Paul Miles lifted a sacrifice fly and Mike Girard followed with a RBI ground out to make it 2-0.

The Cubs bats would really get going in the top of the 5th with 3 runs on 6 hits. PJ Martone and Marc Lochner led off the inning with singles
and Jerry Rosen (in his first game with the 55 Cubs) drove in a run with a RBI double. Kevin Jackson followed with a RBI single, for the
second run of the inning. After a fielders choice and a Jim McQuade single re-loaded the bases, Dave Mitchell followed with a RBI single.

With the score 5-0, and Cubs starter sailing along through 4 scoreless innings, it would have been easy for the Yanks to throw in the towel.
Didn't happen! The Yanks got on the scoreboard in the bottom of the fifth on two walks and a Cubbie error, to make it 5-1.

The Cubs picked up an all important insurance run in the top of the 6th, on a single and stolen base by Mike Girard.
An error, that allowed a grounder to the left side to make it into short left field, plated Girard to move the score to 6-1.
That is when the Yankees bats came alive. In the bottom of the 6th, the Yanks plated 4 runs. Steve Van Gelder and Tim Brown led off with singles.
A ground out to first moved both runners into scoring position, with just one out. A catcher's interference loaded the bases, and Tom Bradley lifted a sac fly to left,
making the score 6-2. Craig Miller then crushed a double down the left field line, scoring the 2nd run of the inning, and bringing the tying run to the plate.
Number 10 hitter, Gilbert Travis, then came through in the clutch with a 2-run single to left center, bringing the Yanks to within one run.
The Cubs would escape further damage, when Girard induced a grounder to short to get out of the inning.

With the score now 6-5 entering the 7th, things got a bit more exciting. The Cubs were unable to score in the top of the 7th, after loading the bases with two outs.
That meant it was up to a tiring Mike Girard to close the door. He got the lead off hitter on a called third strike, for out number one.
Then came the play of the game. Jack Griffin lined a 2 strike pitch into right center, and it looked like he would make it easily into second base,
but Jerry Rosen (playing right field) got to the ball quickly and threw a bullet one hopper to second to nail Griffin for the second out. HUGE PLAY!
Buoyed by that great play, Girard sawed off Steve Van Gelder's bat, getting a weak grounder to short for the final out.
Cubs win a nail biter 6-5!

It was a great finish to a very good game. Good luck to the Yanks the rest of the way. They have a tough line-up from 1 through 10 and will not be an easy opponent for any team.

Hope everyone has a happy and safe Memorial Day weekend!

-- Edited by mgirard11 on Friday 25th of May 2018 08:50:18 AM