Game 103: Cubs 4 – Cardinals 2

box
Cubs keep running, 42-61
Cardinals stop to argue the call, 58-45

POTG: SP Greg Maddux (6+ IP, 1 R, 5 H, 6 K, QS, W 9/327)
Runner Ups: CF Juan Pierre (2 H, 3B, R), C Michael Barrett (2B, 2H, R, RBI), 3B A RAM (3 BB, 2B), 1B John Mabry (SF, R, 2 BB, RBI), SS Ronny Cedeno (2 H, RBI)

(notes added)

So, ninth inning, Dempster’s being Dempster yet again (though it was more hits than walks for once), and all I’m thinking is “if they lose this one after being up 3 in the 9th AGAIN, I’m banning myself from the ballpark for a year.” I just could not handle it happening, so it’s a good thing it didn’t.

Our seats were the in last row off the lower, behind home plate. Last row all the way in the back, which was great on this day. We were high enough to catch some sort of breeze, and very shielded from the sun. We couldn’t actually see the scoreboard from our seats, but all the wacky action was plenty visible. Good seats.

Rolen stopped to argue the call in the 2nd, which is why Mabry scored. I can not imagine why he would do such a thing unless he completely lost track of the play, because John Mabry was dead to rights and that’s a run and out which could’ve helped tremendously later. I haven’t read about it, but I’m almost thinking the Pagan steal of home might have been an intended play; Angel (and me and half the crowd) was clearly wait for the Cardinals to start chasing Cedeno the wrong way so he could bolt, and some how the Cardinals didn’t figure it out.

Extra bizarre note: I’ve gone to maybe 20 some games in the last 5 years, but that includes the last two games the Cubs have stolen home (with the same person, even.)

After the So Taguchi play, I was pretty sure somehow we were playing the Royals instead of the Cardinals. This is not the smart Tony Larussa team they usually threaten us with!

Dempster is Dempster is Dempster. Trade him now while someone else might not know!