Pitching and Clutch Fielding Lead 69 Cubs to Two Wins Over Division Leading 77 Phillies

Game 1

Wrigley Field

Phillies 5 Cubs 1

Lonborg vs Jenkins

Philadelphia breaks from the gate quickly against Cub ace Ferguson Jenkins on a Garry Maddox solo home run in the top of the first.  Cubs tie the game up against Lonborg on a Randy Hundley sac fly driving in Don Young.  Phils answer right back with another solo shot, this time by the Bull, Greg Luzinzki.  The middle innings see both hurlers settled down and escape multiple scoring threats   IN the 7th, Jenkins is touched for 2 on 2 singles a double a balk and a Cubbie error to go up 4-1.  Tim McCarver leads of the top of the 8th with the third solo home run of the day , this time against reliever Ted Abernathy.  This one ends with a final of 5-1 and the Cubs fans head home disappointed by the recent lack of offense from the beloved home team.

Game 2

Wrigley Field

Cubs 3 Phillies 2

Christenson vs Hands

Bill Hands of the Cubs gives his best performance of the KOD scattering 4 Phillies hits (3 singles and a double) in a complete game win.  Cubs break through in the 3rd innin on a Billy Williams 2 run home run.  In the fourth a Greg Luzinski RBI TRIPLE (yes you read that correctly) gets the Phils within 1 against Hands and in the following inning the Phillies tie the score at 2 on a fielders choice by Ted Sizemore to drive in Bob Boone who walked to lead off the inning. In the bottom of the 5th, Mr. Cub, who has been on a bit of an RBI drought this KOD, drove Paul Popovich in from second base with an RBI double for what would prove to be the difference in this one.  Both Christenson and Hands were solid on the day,

Game 3

Wrigley Field

Cubs 5 Phillies 4

Carlton vs Holtzman

Big Lefty Steve Carlton took the mound for the rubber match against Cub lefty Ken Holtzman.  Though Carlton entered the game 4-0 the Cubs wasted no time jumping on him with two doubles and a Jim Hickman two run home run to drive in 3 runs in the bottom of the first.  A Mike Schmidt error allowed Ken Holtzman to reach first base leading off the bottom of the 2nd, a balk and a Glenn Beckert RBI double posted the Cubs to a 4-0 lead after 2 innings.  The Phillies would rally against Holtzman in the top of the 4th on two doubles and two singles to post 3 runs of their own to bring the score to 4-3 Cubs.  Cubs answer back in the bottom of the inning with a single run on an Al Spangler RBI single to make the score 5-3 Cubs.  Once again the Phils came back, this time on an RBI fields choice to pull within one at 5-4......but this is how it would stay as Holtzman pitched out of scoring threats in the 6th and 7th before yielding to Phil Reagan for he two inning save.  Big Lefty certainly pitched well enough for a win if the Cubs had not come out of the gate fast with 3 in the first.  After the game KDSN (KOD Sports Network) interviewed Carlton who defended his performance, stating, "Sometimes it doesn't matter what you have, you just get Koched." :-)

Thanks to Pete for getting this in early to accommodate my schedule.