Game 31 - Cubs vs. Dodgers

Game 31
Thursday, August 1, 2013
Heather, Wigs & Julie

Kevin had a hockey game so just me, Wigs and Heather for the first game vs. LA. The game started out very promising with back to back jacks by Junior Lake and Anthony Rizzo. (I always hear Ron Santo’s voice when I think/type “back to back jack”.) JR’s was a monster that went onto Waveland Ave – his first home run at Wrigley! I wonder if someone from the Cubs went to the street to get the ball back. Rizzo’s was a line drive to right field – his 16th of the year.

Things going along ok until the 3rd when Hanley Ramirez doubled in 2 runs (the oh-so-famous Puig and A Gonzelez). Rusin was able to escape the inning after that. Bottom of the 3rd – JR does it again! Homer to left center. Can Rizzo do another one for 2 back to backs??? Um, no. Strikes out swinging. All tied at 2 after 3 innings. A few more scoreless and then into the 6th. Rusin gives up a single, and a walk, and that’s it for him on the night. In comes Bowden. A bunt advances the 2 runners, and then pinch hitter Jerry Hairston Jr (remember him??) singles to score the 2 runners. Puig doubles to move JHJR to 3rd and then Adrian Gonzelez drives JHJR in with another single. Puig is called out at the plate trying to score on the play on a great throw by DeJesus to Navarro. Good! I don’t know why but I’ve grown to hate him over the course of this weekend. Dodgers leading 5-3.

Bottom of the 8th, Rizzo homers again! That’s 2 for both him and JR. In the 9th, Puig (!) homers (his 11th of the year) to make it 6-4 Dodgers. And all 3 Cubs strike out in the bottom of the 9th to end the game. Boo. Dodgers scored 6 runs on 12 hits, with the Cubs scoring 4 runs on 5 hits. Dodgers 11th win in the last 13 games while the Cubs have lost 4 of their last 5. No wonder the Dodgers went from last to first and have been one of the hottest teams in the league. And 3 more games against them. Ugh.

Cubs have 72 home runs as Wrigley, which leads the National League. Hmm. The more things change, the more they stay the same. I always used to say that the Cubs were Home Run or Bust. I guess the tradition continues.

Oh and this tidbit from Cash Kruth from mlb.com
“Lake is only the third Cubs rookie since 1949 to record a two-homer game in his first 15 games as a Cub, joining Brant Brown (June 18, 1996) and Angel Pagan (July 2, 2006).”

Don’t those names bring back memories! And this tidbit too:
“Rizzo added his second homer in the bottom of the eighth, becoming the first Cub since Ron Santo to record two 15-homer seasons before the age of 24.”

Oh, and Lake also learned about the hard brick wall in left field tonight, slamming into it on a fly ball in the 9th. When asked if he knew the wall was made of brick, he said: "Now I know."

Welcome to Wrigley Junior Lake!!

Recap:

Cubs Lose 6-4

My season record: Visitors 20, Cubs 11
Parking update: still no update…