Groundhog’s Day scenario at Wrigley…

9/1 - 9/2 - Dodgers Stadium
9/3 - Wrigley Field
GAME 1 - Cubs 5, Dodgers 3 (12 inn)
Down 2-1 in the 8th the Cubs tied the game off of Dodger reliever Howie Reed when Bill Bucker grounded out to second and scored Ivan DeJesus.  It remained tied until the top of the 12th.  The Cubs exploded for 3 runs off of Dodger ace reliever Ron Perranoski.  With two out and a man on 1st Ted Sizemore walked.  Billy Bucker again found a way to plate a big run, this time with a single.  Dave Kingman followed with a 2 run single of his own to put the Cubbies up by 3.  Ray Burris, who had pitched 3 scoreless innings in relief wasn't up to the task of closing out the Dodgers.  Derrell Griffith led of with a single and stole second.  John Roseboro grounded  out for the 1st out of the inning.  Tommy Davis lined a single to left to score Griffith to cut the lead to 2, but was forced easily at 2nd by Dick Tracewski's slow roller.  Frank Howard singled as a pinch hitter and then Ron Fairly walked to load the bases.  The Cubs went to Dave Geisel, who got the final 2 outs including a strike out of Wally Moon to take the series opener.

GAME 2 - Cubs 2, Dodgers 1 (10 inn)
The fans were treated to a second consecutive extra inning affair.  Sadly for the home town throng the result was the same, their Dodgers lost another close one and Ron Perranoski blew another.  Both teams scored solo runs in the 4th and neither could do squat until the top of the 10th when Perranoski handed over the keys to the  city once more.  A two out single by none other than Billy Buckner scored Ivan DeJesus as if it was some cruel twist from the movie "Groundhog's Day".  How fitting that a Bill Murray movie would play a part in the plot of 2 consecutive victories by his favorite team the Cubs.

GAME 3 - Dodgers 3, Cubs 0
Joe Moeller (6.2 IP) and Bob Miller (2.1 IP) combined to shutout the Cubbies.  Kenny Holtzman (1-1, 2.91) gave up only 2 runs in 7 innings of work, but just did not get teh offensive support.  The Cubs actually outhit the Dodgers 7 to 4, but runs count on the scoreboard not hits.  The Dodgers nursed a 1-0 lead until the 7th when the scored solo runs in consecutive innings to build a nice cushion.  The Cubs lost a big chuck of their firepower when Dave Kingman left the game after striking out in the bottom of the 2nd.  Kong is used to striking out, so one has to think the injury occurred the inning before when he charged Willie Davis' single to left.