[Nick Soulis]

Game #2

Chicago Cubs at San Francisco Giants



Durham Powers Cubs Past Giants in 11-7 Slugfest
Chicago stays perfect behind first baseman’s five-RBI night



By Paul Sullivan
Chicago Tribune Staff Writer

SAN FRANCISCO — The wind was blowing out at Candlestick Park, and so were the Chicago Cubs' bats.

Led by a thunderous performance from Leon Durham, who drove in five runs and fell a triple shy of the cycle, the Cubs surged past the San Francisco Giants, 11-7, on Thursday night to move to 2-0 on the young season.

Durham went 4-for-5 with a two-run homer, a double, and a pair of singles, tormenting Giants pitchers at every turn. His biggest blow came in the eighth inning, when he launched a two-run shot to center field off reliever Bill McLaughlin, part of a four-run Cubs rally that put the game out of reach.

“This is a confident group,” Durham said in the clubhouse afterward, smiling through eye black and sweat. “We’ve got guys up and down the lineup who can hurt you. Tonight just happened to be my turn.”

The Cubs trailed 3-0 entering the top of the fifth before erupting for five runs. Mel Hall’s two-out, two-run single off San Francisco starter Mike Krukow gave Chicago its first lead at 4-3. Moments later, Durham added a clutch RBI single to cap the inning.

“Nice to put this one in the win column,” Hall said. “We were just looking for one good swing to get us going, and from there the dugout came alive.”

Chicago added two more in the sixth on doubles from Bob Dernier and Durham. After the Giants clawed back with two in the seventh and two more in the eighth—highlighted by a home run from Jack Clark—Durham’s blast and a bases-clearing double from Ryne Sandberg helped the Cubs pull away.

Starter Chuck Rainey earned the win despite a rocky beginning, giving up 10 hits and four earned runs over 6 1/3 innings. He settled in long enough to notch the victory, with relievers Dickie Noles and Rick Patterson combining to hold the Giants scoreless over the final 1 2/3 innings.

Krukow (0-1) took the loss for San Francisco, yielding five runs on eight hits in five innings.

Offensively, the Giants collected 16 hits but failed to capitalize on several opportunities, stranding nine runners. Clark finished with two hits and three RBI, while veteran Al Oliver and Jeffrey Leonard each tallied three hits.

“We hit the ball, sure,” said Giants manager Frank Robinson. “But you don’t win giving up 11 runs, no matter how many hits you get.”

The Cubs turned two crisp double plays on the night and were flawless in the field. Meanwhile, the Giants’ outfield recorded one assist, nailing Hall at third base in the fifth, but it was too little too late.

With the win, the Cubs are off to a strong start under manager Jim Frey, showing both offensive depth and resilience in the face of early deficits.

NOTES:

Durham was named Player of the Game.

Game time was 3 hours flat under clear skies and 54-degree temperatures.

Attendance was 23,063 at Candlestick Park.

Chicago heads to San Diego to start series on Friday before heading to Los Angeles to face the Dodgers.