Bleacher Bums see Cubbies take 2 of 3 from Bucs

The Chicago Cubs looking to take advantage of a 9 game home stand, saw the Pittsburgh Pirates come to town for a 3 game set. The weather was forecast to be excellent for all 3 games. Ernie Banks roamed the filed talking baseball to whoever would listen. Ron Santo was in the radio booth being interviewed and the faithful were hanging on every word. The bleachers were filling up and the rooftops on Waveland and Sheffield were jammed with Cubs fans. It's time for baseball in Chicago.

Game 1  Wrigley Field  84°  Time 3:28
It only took one inning for the Cubs to finish off the Pirates. Four runs in the 1st were all the Cubs needed to take game one. Mike Krukow, for Chicago, faced off against Doug Drabek. A leadoff walk to Johnny Ray started the game for the Pirates, but then Krukow sat down the next 3 hitters. Drabek struck out Ivan DeJesus, but gave up a double, as Ted Sizemore smacked one off the ivy in left center. Bill Buckner moved him to 3rd with a basehit to right. Drabek got Dave Kingman to pop out to  Bonds in left. Drabek then gave up back to back gopher balls to Bobby Murcer and Barry Foote and that was all the Cubs would need, in fact that was all the Cubs would get.Pittsburgh would add  runs in their half of the 5th and 7th, but they never really threatened as Drabek took the loss and Mike Krukow goes to 1-0. Bruce Sutter came in and faced the last 5 Pirate batters and notched his first save of the year.

Game 2  Wrigley Field  86° Time 3:08
Dennis Lamp took the mound for the Cubbies in game 2. While getting out of a 1st inning jam, he couldn't do the same in the top of the 2nd. Sid Bream and Johnny Ray singled and, while Lamp retired the next two batters, he then walked John Cangelosi and Andy Van Slyke cleared the bases with a double shot in right center that barely missed the basket, and the Pirates had a 3-0 lead. Chicago scored 1 in the bottom of the 3rd to cut it to 3-1. Bobby Murcer hit his 3rd HR of the year to cap a 3 run Cub 5th to give them the lead 4-3. In the top of the 7th, with Lamp in the showers, Donnie Moore was brought in relief and promptly allowed the Pirates to score 2. After retiring the first batter, he then walked Cangelosi. Next, Andy Van Slyke slapped one to Sheffield Avenue and Pittsburgh was back on top, 5-4. In the 8th, Dave Kingman lead off with a double and Murcer singled him to 3rd. A ground ball double play plated Kingman and it was tied. In the 9th Ortiz pinch hit for Pittsburgh and Sutter got him to ground  out to third. Sutter then plunked Cangelosi in the ribs, who promptly stole 2nd base. The Cubs intentionally walked the hot hitting Van Slyke to set up the double play. Sutter got what he wanted as Bonilla hit into a Sizemore-DeJesus-Buckner double play. With the game tied, Ontiveros lead off the inning with a single Sutter was up next, he was allowed to bat for himself, as Chicago had nothing left in the bullpen. Sutter worked the count and walked to first. A ground ball back to the pitcher looked to be a perfect double play ball but Pittsburgh was not able to turn it. An intentional walk to S izemore and the bases were loaded. With Smiley on the mound for Pittsburgh, Dave Kingman stepped in and promptly drew the walk off walk. The Cubs had pulled off an improbable win, 6-5.

Game 3  Wrigley Field  76°  Time 3:28
Chicago's, Rick Reuschel took the mound against Pittsburgh's, Rick Reuschel and only in KOD can you see such a match up. The Cubs were looking to sweep their second straight series, but it did not start off very well, as Chicago Reuschel got knocked for a run in the top of the first. John Cangelosi lead off with a single to right. He moved up a base on a ground ball to second and went to third on a wild pitch. With Barry Bonds up, Tom Davis (filling in for Jesse) called for an improbable squeeze play and worked it to perfection as Cangelosi scored on the Bonds bunt. Chicago Reuschel gave up 9 hits and 5 earned runs in his 5 innings, as Pittsburgh scored 1 in the top of the 3rd, 3 in the 5th and another in the 6th and it was 6-0 going into the bottom of the 6th. Chicago cut the lead in half in their part of the 6th. After getting the first two batters, Murcer singled, Foote singled and Jerry Martin popped one into the basket in left and it was 6-3.In the Cub half of the 7th, after the first two batters were put out again, Ted Sizemore doubled, Bill Buckner singled home Sizemore and Dave Kingman followed with one to Waveland, and all of a sudden it was 7-6. It looked like another Wrigley field comeback, as the bums in the bleachers, filled with Budweiser and getting raucous were screaming wildly, it looked like the comeback was assured.  Needing 1 run to tie, Barry Foote started the 8th with long poke to dead center that Andy Van Slyke hauled in with his back against the ivy. Oh, so close. Jerry Martin singled into left. Ontiveros K'ed and a wild pitch to pinch hitter, Larry Bittner, moved Martin to 2nd. Bittner eventually drew a walk and then another wild pitch and Martin was at 3rd. Ivan DeJesus was up and looking to tie it up, but it was not to be as Ivan popped one to Sid Bream at 1st and the threat was over. Jeff Robinson got the Cubs to go down 1-2-3 in the 9th and Pittsburgh held on and salvaged a win, 7-6.

--submitted by Jim Walden--