We finally got back out on the field last night, at New Scotland and played 7 innings of a seesaw affair.
The Damn Yankees jumped out early with 2 runs in the 1st, and another 2 runs in the 3rd. The top of the Yankees order was responsible for all 4 of these runs. Paul Post, Mike Ferraro, and Jack Griffin all had singles in the 1st, with Griffins hit being a RBI single. Rich Royka hit a sacrifice fly to plate the second run.
In the 3rd, Post singled again, after Ferraro was hit with a pitch, and a fielder's choice by Griffin, Pat Alston delivered 2 runs with a 2-RBI single.
The Cubs bounced back to tie the game at 4, in the bottom of the 4th. Paul Miles got the rally going by reaching on an error, and stealing second. Girard was grazed by a pitch, and Ron Lochner followed with a RBI single. Dave Mitchell then delivered Girard with an RBI single, and Jerry Rosen followed with a 2-RBI single to tie the game at 4.
The Cubs were back at it in the bottom of the 5th. Kevin Jackson led of with a double off of the left center field wall. A Bob Coffey ground out moved Jackson to third. Scott Ross walked to put runners on 1st and 3rd with 1 out. A pop out to third brought the Yankees to within one out getting out of the inning with the 4-4 tie intact. Mike Girard then lifted a high fly ball to right field that found a soft spot to land, just a few feet from the line, and Jackson and the speedy Ross scored, to make the game 6-4 Cubs.
Jon Martin came on in the top of the 6th for the Cubs, and he had no more success with the top of the Yankees order, than the Cubs starter (Girard) did. Post and Ferraro singled in front of a Griffin RBI double. Martin bore down and got a huge strike out of the Yankees clean-up hitter, fir the 1st out. After an error delivered the tying run, and put runners on 2nd and 3rd with just one out, Martin again came through huge, getting a weak grounder to short and a pop up to short, to get out of the jam without any further damage and a 6-6 tie.
Martin again ran into trouble in the 7th inning with a lead off walk, and a long fly ball to center, that was misplayed by the Cubs center fielder, leaving yanks on 2nd and 3rd, with nobody out. The Great Houdini then induced a come-backer, and held the runners, for the 1st out. Next he induced a grounder just to the left of the mound, that was fielded by the Cubs SS, and again the runners stayed put, and now there were two outs. Martin would complete his escape again, with a pop out to short, and the game would remain tied at 6.
The Cubs were unable to score in their half of the 7th, and the game ended up tied at 6-6.
The Damn Yankees are a much improved ball club with the additions of Mike Ferraro and Rich Royka, and will be tough to handle the rest of the way. We look forward to more match ups with these Yankees, as the games are always close, and a ton of fun!
-- Edited by mgirard11 on Wednesday 22nd of May 2019 10:18:02 AM
Last nights game was both fun and frustrating. Both teams knowing that they had opportunities to capitalize on and did not do so. The Cubs are so strong up and down the line up. You have to play solid defense and pitch well agains them to have a chance. I look forward to future meetings.
