OOTP Developments Forums - View Single Post - Goodbye to the Goat

Dougiestyle · 08-17-2004, 06:00 PM

May 4th - 6th

@

Cubs Like Night & Day

The strange Jeckyll and Hyde personality of the Chicago Cubs ballclub struck again in this last series with the Arizona Diamondbacks. In one game, the Cubs were thoroughly thumped, but in the next game, they returned the favor. The last game of the series went 13 innings. Would the Cubs be the victor?

GAME ONE

R. Johnson (2-2) @ C. Zambrano (1-4)

Carlos Zambrano's early game problems struck again in this game as Zambrano gave up a 2-run homer to Richie Sexson right after walking Luis Gonzalez with 2 outs. In the bottom of the 1st, Arizona ace Randy Johnson struck out Corey Patterson, Mark Grudzielanek, and Sammy Sosa to ring up the side, and Cubs fans again began to groan. The Cubs have been underachievers in the 1st inning all season. Zambrano's trouble stuck around as he allowed back to back singles from Alex Cintron and Tim Salmon. After a sac bunt by Randy Johnson moved the runners, Robbie Alomar slapped a 2-run single, putting the Diamondbacks up 4-0. Bacl to back walks to Steve Finley and Luis Gonzalez loaded the bases, which Sexson partially cleared with a 2-run single, and the Dbacks took a 6 run lead. Derrek Lee would hit a solo bomb to put the Cubs on the board, but they still sat back 6-1. In the top of the 3rd, Tim Salmon singled home Machado, pushing the score to 7-1. In the top of the 5th, Robbie Alomar and Steve Finley bashed back to back doubles off Kent Mercker to further extend the lead to 9-1. In the bottom of the 6th, the Cubs would get things going. Sammy Sosa nailed a solo shot off Johnson, which was followed by singles from Moises Alou and Derrek Lee. Aramis Ramirez then doubled both runners home, and the Cubs bring the score to 9-3. Ramirez would score on a pinch hit single by Todd Walker, so at the end of the 6th, the Cubs trailed 9-4. In the top of the 7th, the Diamondbacks would kill the rally with a 2-run inning. The Cubs would strike for two more, but it would not be enough as the Diamondbacks win bigtime.
FINAL: Arizona 12, Chicago 7

R. Alomar - 4-6, 4 RBI, 4 R

GAME TWO

C. Fossum (2-1) @ M. Prior (0-0)

Mark Prior and the Cubs were able to break their 1st inning jinx, creating a 1-2-3 1st inning in the longest time. In fact, the Cubs would even score first as Aramis Ramirez sent a solo shot over the left field wall to give the Cubs the early advantage. Prior would help his cause, singling in the 3rd inning. Corey Patterson followed with a double to put men at 2nd and 3rd. Mark Grudzielanek blasted another double, scoring both. Slammin' Sammy would then belt a 2-run homer to give the Cubs an early 5-0 lead. Moises Alou would add another run to the board in the 5th as he singled home Grudzielanek. In the top of the 7th and 8th innings, the Diamondbacks would string together some singles to score a run each inning, bringing the score to 6-2. However, the Cubs would put the game away in the bottom of the 8th, scoring 6 runs. Alou hit a homerun, and RBI singles were hit by Michael Barrett, Todd Hollandsworth, Corey Patterson, and Mark Grudzielanek, putting the Cubs up 12-2. The Cubs would hold on to give Mark Prior his first win of the season. Prior pitched a good game, allowing 3 hits and 1 ER in 7 innings, but walking 5.
FINAL: Chicago 12, Arizona 2

M. Grudzielanek - 3-5, 2 2B, 3 RBI, 2 R

GAME THREE

[B]S. Reynolds (0-1) @ G. Maddux (4-0)

In the final game of the series, the drama was off the scale. Greg Maddux got the Cubs safely out of the 1st inning for the 2nd straight game, and the Cubs looked like the team they were supposed to be during the bottom half. Corey Patterson led the half inning off with a single, stole second, and scored on a single by Todd Walker. After 2 outs, Derrek Lee blasted a 2-run shot, followed by a solo dinger from Aramis Ramirez, putting the Cubs up early 4-0. Arizona RF Tim Salmon singled home Shea Hillenbrand, putting the DBacks on the board. After a triple by Matt Kata, Richie Sexson belted a 432 foot shot to bring Arizona closer at 4-3. Greg Maddux would not return for the 4th inning, with the team citing an undisclosed injury. Gary Glover would pitch 3 scoreless innings in wonderful relief to hold onto the lead for the Cubs. However, in the top of the 7th, he would grow tired and give up 2 runs on the 3 hits, putting the Diamondbacks up 5-4. The Cubs would respond in the bottom half of the inning with a Todd Walker RBI single to drive in Alex Gonzalez. Chicago RP Todd Wellemeyer would give up 2 runs, though, giving Arizona a slim 7-5 lead. Again, the Cubs would respond, putting 2 on the board with RBI singles from Ramirez and Grudzielanek. The 9th inning would be quiet, and the crowd grew louder as the game went into extras. It didn't take Arizona long to quiet them, because in the top of the 10th, Steve Finley's sacrifice fly put the DBacks up by one. To lead off the bottom of the 10th, Aramis Ramirez walked, Michael Barrett struck out, Ramirez stole second, the Gonzalez struck out. Pinch hitter Ramon Martinez stepped to the plate with the crowd cheering, and he slapped a clutch single to right, scoring Ramirez as the Friendly Confines exploded. The 11th and 12th innings were dominated by pitching, and each team had 2 pitchers left. Kyle Farnsworth had pitched well the last inning, so Dusty Baker had no qualms about leaving him in, but it backfired as Richie Sexson nailed a lead-off homer to put the DBacks up by one. LaTroy Hawkins came in, but gave up an RBI single to rookie Tim Olson. The DBacks led 10-8, and the Cubs could not respond, losing a heartbreaker in 13 innings.
FINAL: Arizona 10, Chicago 8, 13 innings

L. Gonzalez - 2-7, 2B, HR, 3 RBI, 3 R

Next Cubs' Opponents:
3 vs. Colorado (15-12)
3 @ Los Angeles (9-18)
3 @ San Diego (17-12)

(ed. note: I had the most fun writing this report, so I hope you all enjoy reading it)

08-17-2004, 06:00 PM	#20
Dougiestyle All Star Reserve Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Flagstaff, AZ Posts: 922	May 4th - 6th @ Cubs Like Night & Day The strange Jeckyll and Hyde personality of the Chicago Cubs ballclub struck again in this last series with the Arizona Diamondbacks. In one game, the Cubs were thoroughly thumped, but in the next game, they returned the favor. The last game of the series went 13 innings. Would the Cubs be the victor? GAME ONE R. Johnson (2-2) @ C. Zambrano (1-4) Carlos Zambrano's early game problems struck again in this game as Zambrano gave up a 2-run homer to Richie Sexson right after walking Luis Gonzalez with 2 outs. In the bottom of the 1st, Arizona ace Randy Johnson struck out Corey Patterson, Mark Grudzielanek, and Sammy Sosa to ring up the side, and Cubs fans again began to groan. The Cubs have been underachievers in the 1st inning all season. Zambrano's trouble stuck around as he allowed back to back singles from Alex Cintron and Tim Salmon. After a sac bunt by Randy Johnson moved the runners, Robbie Alomar slapped a 2-run single, putting the Diamondbacks up 4-0. Bacl to back walks to Steve Finley and Luis Gonzalez loaded the bases, which Sexson partially cleared with a 2-run single, and the Dbacks took a 6 run lead. Derrek Lee would hit a solo bomb to put the Cubs on the board, but they still sat back 6-1. In the top of the 3rd, Tim Salmon singled home Machado, pushing the score to 7-1. In the top of the 5th, Robbie Alomar and Steve Finley bashed back to back doubles off Kent Mercker to further extend the lead to 9-1. In the bottom of the 6th, the Cubs would get things going. Sammy Sosa nailed a solo shot off Johnson, which was followed by singles from Moises Alou and Derrek Lee. Aramis Ramirez then doubled both runners home, and the Cubs bring the score to 9-3. Ramirez would score on a pinch hit single by Todd Walker, so at the end of the 6th, the Cubs trailed 9-4. In the top of the 7th, the Diamondbacks would kill the rally with a 2-run inning. The Cubs would strike for two more, but it would not be enough as the Diamondbacks win bigtime. FINAL: Arizona 12, Chicago 7 R. Alomar - 4-6, 4 RBI, 4 R GAME TWO C. Fossum (2-1) @ M. Prior (0-0) Mark Prior and the Cubs were able to break their 1st inning jinx, creating a 1-2-3 1st inning in the longest time. In fact, the Cubs would even score first as Aramis Ramirez sent a solo shot over the left field wall to give the Cubs the early advantage. Prior would help his cause, singling in the 3rd inning. Corey Patterson followed with a double to put men at 2nd and 3rd. Mark Grudzielanek blasted another double, scoring both. Slammin' Sammy would then belt a 2-run homer to give the Cubs an early 5-0 lead. Moises Alou would add another run to the board in the 5th as he singled home Grudzielanek. In the top of the 7th and 8th innings, the Diamondbacks would string together some singles to score a run each inning, bringing the score to 6-2. However, the Cubs would put the game away in the bottom of the 8th, scoring 6 runs. Alou hit a homerun, and RBI singles were hit by Michael Barrett, Todd Hollandsworth, Corey Patterson, and Mark Grudzielanek, putting the Cubs up 12-2. The Cubs would hold on to give Mark Prior his first win of the season. Prior pitched a good game, allowing 3 hits and 1 ER in 7 innings, but walking 5. FINAL: Chicago 12, Arizona 2 M. Grudzielanek - 3-5, 2 2B, 3 RBI, 2 R GAME THREE [B]S. Reynolds (0-1) @ G. Maddux (4-0) In the final game of the series, the drama was off the scale. Greg Maddux got the Cubs safely out of the 1st inning for the 2nd straight game, and the Cubs looked like the team they were supposed to be during the bottom half. Corey Patterson led the half inning off with a single, stole second, and scored on a single by Todd Walker. After 2 outs, Derrek Lee blasted a 2-run shot, followed by a solo dinger from Aramis Ramirez, putting the Cubs up early 4-0. Arizona RF Tim Salmon singled home Shea Hillenbrand, putting the DBacks on the board. After a triple by Matt Kata, Richie Sexson belted a 432 foot shot to bring Arizona closer at 4-3. Greg Maddux would not return for the 4th inning, with the team citing an undisclosed injury. Gary Glover would pitch 3 scoreless innings in wonderful relief to hold onto the lead for the Cubs. However, in the top of the 7th, he would grow tired and give up 2 runs on the 3 hits, putting the Diamondbacks up 5-4. The Cubs would respond in the bottom half of the inning with a Todd Walker RBI single to drive in Alex Gonzalez. Chicago RP Todd Wellemeyer would give up 2 runs, though, giving Arizona a slim 7-5 lead. Again, the Cubs would respond, putting 2 on the board with RBI singles from Ramirez and Grudzielanek. The 9th inning would be quiet, and the crowd grew louder as the game went into extras. It didn't take Arizona long to quiet them, because in the top of the 10th, Steve Finley's sacrifice fly put the DBacks up by one. To lead off the bottom of the 10th, Aramis Ramirez walked, Michael Barrett struck out, Ramirez stole second, the Gonzalez struck out. Pinch hitter Ramon Martinez stepped to the plate with the crowd cheering, and he slapped a clutch single to right, scoring Ramirez as the Friendly Confines exploded. The 11th and 12th innings were dominated by pitching, and each team had 2 pitchers left. Kyle Farnsworth had pitched well the last inning, so Dusty Baker had no qualms about leaving him in, but it backfired as Richie Sexson nailed a lead-off homer to put the DBacks up by one. LaTroy Hawkins came in, but gave up an RBI single to rookie Tim Olson. The DBacks led 10-8, and the Cubs could not respond, losing a heartbreaker in 13 innings. FINAL: Arizona 10, Chicago 8, 13 innings L. Gonzalez - 2-7, 2B, HR, 3 RBI, 3 R Next Cubs' Opponents: 3 vs. Colorado (15-12) 3 @ Los Angeles (9-18) 3 @ San Diego (17-12) (ed. note: I had the most fun writing this report, so I hope you all enjoy reading it)