[jg2977]

PHIL RIZZUTO-STYLE GAME RECAP
(“HOLY COW!” BASEBALL POETRY FROM THE BOOTH)
Well, holy cow, folks, what a day in the desert! If you like noise, excitement, and a little bit of chaos, this one at Chase Field had it all. The defending champion Diamondbacks—boy, they don’t look like they’re ready to give that crown up anytime soon—took Game 1 from the Cubbies, 8–5, and let me tell ya… it was a dilly!
“AND RIGHT FROM THE START—BAM!”
Top of the first, the Cubs didn’t score, but the D-Backs came right back with a triple by Flores—triple, triple, triple!—and they scratch one across. Always good to get that early run in a playoff game. Takes the pressure right off your shoulders.
But the third inning? Yikes! The Cubs come stormin’ in—three runs just like that. Rivera smacks a double, Armendariz knocks in two… I said, “Holy cow, this might be one of those wild afternoons.”
MONTES! THIS GUY CAN HIT!
But then here come the Diamondbacks in the fifth. It’s 5–1 Cubs and the fans are gettin’ a little antsy, maybe even thinkin’ about beating the traffic. But no sir!
Montes—Austin Montes, from Statesville, North Carolina, nice part of the country—BOOMS a double into the gap! Clears the bases! And then Salvoldelli puts one into the seats! Goodbye, Mr. Spalding!
Suddenly it’s 5–5, and the roof is shakin’. I had to hold onto my scorecard!
JASON GONZALEZ — A REAL PEPPER POT!
Bottom of the seventh, here we go. Crowd’s standin’, clappin’, stompin’… you can’t even hear yourself think. One out, bases loaded, tense as a subway platform at rush hour.
Gonzalez steps in—Jason Gonzalez, the guy with the OPS numbers that make accountants jealous.
Whack! He rips a double down the line! THREE runs in! The place goes bananas! The Diamondbacks go up 8–5 and you could almost hear the Cubs say, “Oh boy…”
That was the big blow, the killer, the clincher, the old “pack-your-bags” inning.
THE PITCHING — HOLD ONTO YOUR HAT
Bojorquez—nice job, kid. Seven innings, kept it together, fielded his position, threw strikes. That’s what you want in a playoff game. And Felipe? Two innings, no hits, no walks—nothing! That’s how you slam the door.
The Cubs pitchers? Ehh… they tried. But too many balls left over the plate. Balliett gave up five, L. Gonzalez gave up three, and when the Diamondbacks smell blood, forget it.
FINAL: DIAMONDBACKS 8, CUBS 5
Time of game—2:26. Nice little afternoon tilt. Weather was perfect, crowd over 43,000, and they sure got their money’s worth.
The player of the game? Austin Montes!
Two hits, two RBI, scored twice, and started the comeback. He even laid down a bunt! Gotta love a kid who can slug AND play smart baseball.
RIZZUTO’S PARTING THOUGHTS
The Diamondbacks take Game 1, and if I were the Cubs, I’d be saying some prayers on the way back to the hotel. One more loss and you're finished.
But hey—this is baseball. You never know. That’s why they play the games.
Alright, I gotta get outta here—traffic on the 10 is brutal.
Holy cow! What a ballgame!