The Twins and Cubs requested a move from the C-Diamond to the A-Diamond, due to a late afternoon rain storm, and Commissioner, John Reel, made it happen. About 1 hour before game time, the rain stopped and the clouds parted, and we got all 7 innings in.
The game meant nothing in the standings, as the top 4 seeds had already been decided, but it obviously meant a lot to the players on both sides. The game was hotly contested throughout, with no team holding a lead of more than 2 runs and featured 4 lead changes, with the final outcome not being decided until the final pitch.
The Twins got on the board in the bottom of the first, on a lead off error, followed by a Rick Saidenburg RBI triple. Cubs starter, Mike Girard, stranded Saidenburg at 3rd by getting a pop out to short, a strike out, and a ground out to second.
Wayne Nicholsen kept the Cubs off the scoreboard until the top of the 4th. Scott Ross started the rally by hustling to first and causing a hurried throw that turned into an error (Scott does that to a lot of people with his speed). Marc Lochner singled Ross to third, and Girard brought him home with a single to right. After a fielders choice for the first out, Girard stole 3rd, and Jerry Rosen brought him home with a RBI ground out to second.
The score stayed 2-1, in favor of the Cubs until the bottom of the 6th inning. The Twins got 3 unearned runs off of reliever Scott Ross on 2 hits, 2 walks, and an error.
With a 2 run lead and only 3 outs left, and Nicholsen throwing a gem, it looked bleak for the Cubs. Marc Lochner and Mike Girard led off the 7th inning with singles. Dave Mitchell followed with a 2-RBI double, and the game was suddenly tied. A ground out to the pitcher, moved Mitchell to third. PJ Martone was then hit by a pitch (for the second time in the game). He immediately stole second, to put runners on 2nd and 3rd with one out. Jim McQuade came through big time with a long fly out to left, that easily scored Mitchell with the go ahead run. Nicholsen got the next hitter to pop out to short, and the rally was over, with the Cubs now clinging to a 5-4 lead.
The Twins had last licks and were hoping for one last lead change and a walk off win. Scott Ross was having none of that! He struck out the first hitter in the inning and got a tapper back to the mound for the second out. A seeing eye infield single by Lee Madsen, gave the Twins a glimmer of hope, but Ross got the final out on a tapper to the mound.
The Cubs walked away with a one run victory (the second in two tries against the Twins), and pushed their final regular season record to 14-2. The Twins walked away with a hard to swallow loss, but held their heads high as they played a great game.
Next up is the playoffs for both teams. The Cubs await the winner of the 5 seed (still to be determined) vs. the Cardinals (4 seed). The Twins get to go up against the 4-time defending champion Giants, in a 2 vs. 3 match up.
This is what it is all about! I love playoff time!
-- Edited by mgirard11 on Thursday 9th of August 2018 08:02:14 AM
