Cardinals @ Cubs 7/20/04 (The Pujols Game; 5-5, 3 HR)

[Music] is a presentation of WGN sports [Music] [Music] it's the regular season finale between the Cubs and Cardinals and let's hope there are no on-field fires to put out last night Claudia trauma plenty of excitement and plenty of anger between these two Central Division rivals as the Cubs and Redbirds beat up here on WGN sports before a packed house again and Wrigley Field hi again friend Steve stone chip Caray great to be back at the ballpark by the last Steve the Cubs now nine games behind the Cardinals st. Louis won 5-4 and last night really a microcosm of the way the season has gone for the cub offense the Cardinals executed in the Cubs didn't and so far let's take a look at the difference between last year and this year as far as the Cubs are concerned one-run games you can see that they were substantially better last year that's a huge difference virus on third with less than two outs another difference runners in scoring position that's one of the reasons why the Cubs are 9 out but just to back in the wild-card so let's look at last night that's one thing to talk about the numbers put cement glaring examples of what took place the Cubs missed a rundown opportunity two Cardinals hung up didn't get either one of them in the first inning then this has been a real problem stony runners at third with less than two outs driving in that critical Moises Alou takes to call third after Sammy fails to gift for a Paterson home and we're on to the 6th inning where Ramirez pulls up with a double and a great piece of hitting by Michael Barrett goes to waste Sanders makes a decent but not great throw and just back from a leg injury has cut down at the plate the Cubs come up empty in that inning and unfortunately it was too little too late the ball gets away this became a pretty big play than Renteria laid down a bunt and Scott Rolen hit a two-run homer now Moises came up with a home run but once again it translated into a 1-1 loss the Cubs eight of them and their two and six against the Cardinals in one-run games quickly as Glendon rush and Matt Morris get set do you expect any retribution from st. Louis in the season wrap up today I don't early and hopefully for the Cubs the top of the lineup can do it because both Walker and Patterson have good numbers against Morris right now the Cardinals know that they've done what they came here to do at least split that series at the very worst the best the Cubs can do is end this one eighth back the wild card is starting to look a little better they've got to play better than they did last night to get that done however and hopefully that'll be the case let's enjoy our national anthem before the family between the Cubs and Cardinals here at beautiful Wrigley Field oh say can you see by the dawn's early what so proudly we hail'd at the twilight's last gleaming whose broad stripes and bright stars thru the pair fight or the ramparts we watch'd were so gallantly streaming and the Rockets red glare the bombs bursting he threw through the night that our flag was still there oh say does that star-spangled [Music] [Music] [Applause] [Music] Chicago Cubs baseball brought to you by Bud Light fresh smooth real it's all here dodge you can take life as it comes or you can grab life by the horns Dodge 4000 CARQUEST Auto part stores all across North America the Illinois Lottery have a ball with the Illinois Lottery during their 30th anniversary celebration by Pepsi it's the cola and by their lives over 2,800 daily nonstops 260 destinations all across the country [Music] it's hot and steamy and in high-definition you'll see every bead of sweat from the performers on the field this afternoon our Cubs Cardinal finale brought to you in high definition by our friends and grants appliances electronics and more it's going to be Glendon rush for the Cubs Matt Morris for the st. Louis Cardinals and if last night was a must-win for the Cubs they didn't get it that makes today's game even more important for their games out of first Linden rush is trying to go six and one he came in when Mark Pryor left did a great job in five plus innings there you see the last time out against Milwaukee the Cubs won that one for Matt Morris er a wise he's not having that kind of a year but he's starting to close with a rush and against the Cubs over the last two seasons he's been pretty tough he's a guy that doesn't beat himself too often and he does have a real good overhand curveball to go with what's become a fastball and about the low 90s so the Cubs take the field at 49 and 43 record st. Louis just sizzling hut at 57 and 35 this year mayor sammy sosa the cub right fielder the Cardinal lineup against Glendon rush will shape up this way this is the key guy at the top Tony Womack you saw how devastating a leadoff walk late to him was last night it forced you to pitch to cleanup man Scott Rolen and he hit along 2-run home run Jim Edmonds had a big day as well he'll be in center field Reggie Sanders Mike Matheny so Taguchi gets the start in left field with the left handed Glendon rush on the mound and as Steve mentioned a moment ago longtime Cub nemesis Matt Morris pitches and hits Knight we'll take away the Cubs pepsi defense Pepsi it's the cola with a Lou Patterson and Sosa left-to-right Ramirez Gonzalez Walker and Lee in the infield Michael Barrett behind the plate Glendon rush on the hill and Glendon as you know has to change speeds he said very good control this year there's a few guys in this Cardinal lineup that have heard him they're usually the guys that have hurt just about everybody I'm talking about Rolen and Renteria they have real good numbers and surprisingly Mike Matheny with very good career numbers against rush this is a tough lineup to face because they alternate right and left-handed they have some thumpers and for the second straight day the wind is blowing out the Cubs will bid adieu to the Cardinals after the game today they won't miss them they've been very tough on him and the Cubs looking for there in this their 19th game against their longtime rivals they're the men in blue at a special bit of platitude for joe brinkman last night i thought he did a great job of defusing what could have been a very volatile situation behind the plate last night that chore falls to Tim Tschida today's home plate umpire in this series ramped up 85 degrees winds just seven miles per hour out of the south but it is really sticky and steamy here at Wrigley today and slapped foul by Womack a ball and two strikes we'll make dress tries to put the ball in play and then uses his great speed although the combination of Russian Bharath not easy to steal against Russia's quick to home play time to into the count rush four and six lifetime against the Cardinals in his career one on one this year if he missed it before the game mark pryor through a simulated game we've not gotten the official word but it was hoped that he'd be able to take the ball Sunday against the Phillies on the next road trip we'll see if that indeed comes to pass full count pitch coming out on this becomes a big pitch for rush you put wool back on to lead off the inning stuff to stop him from scoring he's having a good at-bat spoiling some rush pitches here slapped again foul and out of play three balls two strikes this is reminiscent idiot bet he had in the eighth inning last night against Carlos Zambrano where he spoiled good pitch after good pitch Zambrano missed tying away and he scored ahead of the rollin home run it seems like groundhog well it's not February 2nd unfortunately it's July 20th and Womack took two close pitches off the outside portion of the strike zone that one looked up to rush misses up and away and Renteria has a world of possibilities I don't think you're gonna straight steel against rush because he is so quick they use this combination in the first inning last night to use the hit and run renter he handles the bed real well he lays down a bunt it's a beauty barehanded play by Ramirez [Music] gorgeous sacrifice who hauls has the game's first RBI chance just a second sacrifice of the year they usually use a hit and run heads-up plays by both Michael Barrett and Alex Gonzalez because they realize with Ramirez making the play third base is vacated so the only place for the catcher to go here for all you young catchers go to third go to the unoccupied base and make sure Womack can't advance the Cubs did it well that time they had two guys covering the position Cubs held Albert Koo Olson check last night in fact in the eighth inning we thought we were out of trouble when he struck out for just the 26th time on the season I'll ask those Scott Rolen hit the home run that followed the soprano strikeout of Albert pools well you've got first base open lifetime pools is hitting 323 against Rush and as good as that is that's about what pools is hitting against everybody over the course of his career so it isn't anything extraordinary but he is an extraordinary young hitter two balls no strikes that's downstairs very careful is rush working here Rolen waits next he's on his way to a career RBI season for the Cardinals it's the major league leader in runs batted in at this moment balls had a strike when not that much of a factor we saw last night how lively this park is when it's warm and humid it'll be equal to that today [Applause] you have to go with a changeup blowing away and if you miss you miss this is a fastball catches the outside corner good pitch good call by Tim Tschida and now a tough pitch for rush whoa max getting a gigantic lead at second on his horse that's over his head off the island Lomax scores easily pool slides in a second the pitch he hit it 66 RBIs rush went to the change-up Barrett wanted it alone and rush mist on the inner portion and this guy is too good a hitter to miss something that floats on the inside portion watch it again look at Barrett he wants it low and away and look at the pitch the pitch was up and out over the plate from the Southwest Airlines plane via camera we'll take a look at a team that usually is unforgiving with mistakes that was a mistake it cost the Cubs the first run of the game there'll be many more today a strike at the belt to Scott Rolen we took a page out of Teddy Roosevelt's playbook speak softly and carry a big stick after all that took place between Zambrano and Edmonds Edmonds hit a long home run or I should say Rolen hit a long home run Edmonds did as well but it's the role in blast in the eighth that decided the game leadoff walks real tough to pitch around against the good hitting team this Cardinal team is a good hitting baseball team they're also a fine executing team and right now they're just as hot as they've been they've avoided major injury and it's a team that's showing you every aspect of a well-put-together ballclub the key ingredient they've avoided major injury [Applause] evil intent there the Cardinal fans are gonna hoot and holler that the board with one man out there's no way in the world you want to hit Scott Roland you see where Barret is he sets up inside this one flunked off the other [Applause] been close to it against it comes this year chip you're talking about how many home runs he's hit against the Cub team in 2004 22 in total 8 against the Cubs that's simply astounding well it's 8 in 18 games the Cubs have tried a whole lot of things what works his fastball is up and away out of the zone because he has an uppercut swing but he has a wide open stance and good plate coverage on just about everything else that catches the outside corner no balls and a strike to Edmonds who kills left-handed pitching by the way he's hitting over 300 against southpaws pitchers but he hasn't had a good run at it against rush rush has held him down by and large he goes sidearm and Edmonds is down two strikes oh and two you mentioned this Cardinal team and the thoughtfulness with which it was put together they can beat you defensively they can now pitch you in their bullpen they're starting pitching has been remarkably good better than a lot of people thought it would be they have excellent speed they have tremendous power and they have left-right balance from the batter's box well two of the four things you really need to show up every day and that speed and defense pitching and hitting come and go go to the bench Reggie Sanders O'Hare big by Rush and he's done what he's done career-wise against Edmunds he just nullifies them by getting ahead throwing that fastball out of the zone Edmonds down on strikes and Reggie Sanders has been a pretty good hitter most of this year a good but not great hitter against rush but he has hit a couple of home runs against them Sanders made the rainbow throw from right to nab Ramirez last night he also had a hit and four tries for the Cardinals he's played pretty well for this st. Louis team who gave him a multi-year deal for the first time in a real long time he had seven consecutive one-year contracts teams wanting Ritchie to prove that he could stay healthy because when he is healthy he's the destructive force still a very good baserunner at his advanced age and tremendous power play count evens a ball and a strike you know mean to describe him as the Ancient Mariner but he's been around a long time he's been with a lot of different teams and by and large performed well whatever he's gotten the opportunity and whenever he's been able to stay healthy and it is a half-full half-empty glass proposition either a lot of people don't want to or a lot of people do the Cardinals did and they'll have him the rest of this year and next as long as the checks keep coming in with your name on them somebody wants here one ball one strike two Sanders cops appeal don't get the call two balls and a strike [Applause] it's a good changeup it's down Reggie might have gotten a break there he just talked to Tim Tschida and said throw the baseball out because it hitting the dirt a good thing for hitters to do three and one with the catcher Mike Metheny waiting next this is the pitch that hitters dream about they love the two O pitch they particularly love the 3-1 pitch it's probably the most dangerous pitch in baseball and rush has to make it one-nothing st. Louis Womack a leadoff walk scored on a pulse double the pitch hit a mile high the left won't be deep enough Moises Alou will come in and he'll make the play along nice job I rush first-inning trouble and Morris to the mound with [Music] one of things st. Louis here's a look at the Cubs starting lineup brought to you by Pepsi Pepsi it's the cola Todd Walker Corey Patterson two left-handed bats start the attack with Sammy Sosa hitting third Moises Alou Derrek Lee and Aramis Ramirez in the middle of the order with Michael Barrett Alex Gonzalez back for his second game off the disabled list and Glendon rush hits ninth take a look at the Cardinal defense Taguchi Edmonds and Sanders left to right with Rolen Renteria both Gold Glove winners Womack pools in the infield Matheny another Gold Glove winner along with Edmonds behind the plate Matt Morris on the hill Morris equal-opportunity between white and left-handers left-handers hitting 258 right-handers 253 and the two guys at the top Walker and Patterson have hurt Morris over the course of his career [Applause] it's not the same Matt Morris as a couple of years ago but as you know when he gets that big curve ball over he can be real tough and Morris ten and six on the year as won his last three decisions well one two - Todd Walker there's a real good baseball man that came to town his name is Bill the joy works now for the Boston Red Sox a longtime general manager he talked about one thing when he talked to his pitchers they would always ask the contract negotiations you want to talk about er8 say know about hits per inning no strikeouts strikeouts know about few walks know what you want to talk about so the only thing I care about wins win games I don't care what your area is I don't care how many hits you give up I don't care how many people you walk we pay off in this game on wins when you win games you get paid when you don't you don't get paid it's a very simple concept Matt Morris this year even though the ER a is up higher than it's been still ten and six one ball two strikes Morris is going to get paid at the end of the season he's a free agent well he's always been a number one caliber starter and a pretty good one here's the stuff as good as it once was probably not but he certainly knows how to pitch there's not a lot of these guys around Vampire Walker he spoiled a couple of Morris deliveries he's doing just what wall mag did he's planning off some tough pitches as Morris tries to get inside on him and the more pitches you do that the better your chances of getting one that gets to much of the plate we're gonna see a curveball let's see if Morris throws it where he wants to win freshening up blowing straight out strikeout number one for Morris there is that breaking ball Walker is retired in front of Corey Patterson punching Morris when he establishes that he's going to get this one over early normally you have some problems good curveball has Walker well out Morris has given up the 24 home runs chip told you that occasionally that curveball will hang or he'll get a fastball up he's looking for win number 11 [Applause] [Music] Cheeta Edmunds their centerfielder Paterson our centerfielder whatever message needed to be said has been delivered and they'll be Noble [Applause] the Cubs and for Cory he doesn't get hit the message sent and received I do believe that that probably will be and the fact is he picked the one guy in this lineup that's roasted him over the last few years ever Carlos Zambrano I think about next season No we'll have to see what happens Tony might be in another place I Drive too right that's out of play you're right it's ready and LaRosa potential free agents two minutes it's a game that usually police's itself particularly well Tim Tschida didn't hesitate sometimes we'll see his umpires give a warning before the game this time Sheeta warned him quickly and what that does mean is that not only the pitcher but the manager is ejected if in the opinion of Tim Tschida and it doesn't have to be hit batsman it been the opinion of Tim sheet of the pitcher was throwing at the hitter either side picture the manager are ejected I'm not thinking it's going to happen to two-count [Applause] ballpark today about your former manager Earl Weaver yes the Cubs are nine games behind the Cardinals they still have postseason aspirations I would think the last team either manager once is a or invest the final game I know every manager has a different philosophy Earl Weaver a hall-of-famer and one of the greatest felt he never wanted to get in a bean ball war Sammy pulled his hands in closet to left so takuji takes over it's 3-up 3-down in the Cubs half of the first inning as the Cardinals lead the Cubs one-nothing heading to our second Mike Matheny leads off the Cardinals second inning and I was happy to see the inning end with Sanders last inning because Matheny has hit very well against rush nine career hits in 24 at-bats before this second inning began nice job of umpiring by Tim Tschida to go out to Glendon rush remember warnings were issued to both benches after Matt Morris threw behind Corey Patterson and there's Tim Tschida I think reminding him you can throw inside if I think you're throwing at him you're gone Cubs need innings out of rush today plate ball two two balls two strikes Cubs next off day will not come until August the second and that'll be a travel day as we head to Colorado and then to San Francisco Zambrano pitch deep into the game last night in fact he threw seven and two thirds so they didn't use and abuse the bullpen and a quick turnaround from the night game to add a game but certainly you get deep in that pin in a long stretch without off days and it's not gonna do you any good - to count to Matheny the Cardinals put bat on the ball again we'll stay alive I guess that the biggest question again to come out of last night is what constitutes showboating not just in our sport but really any sport anymore I think that showboating is in the eye of the beholder what you construe is showboating other team might not second strike out for rush one away for Taguchi and so in last night's game obviously Carlos Zambrano was upset because he thought that Edmonds was showing him up and on the other side of the coin they felt maybe Zambrano had moved too many gestures on the mound and again depends on what color you're wearing what team you're playing for has two showboating Carlos is very emotional we know that but I'm not sure if the Cardinals view that as a reason for all the history onyx and so you know again showboating is interpreted best by the guys who are in the dugout this is a tough game the game has a tendency to police itself Taguchi drives that down the right-field line and out of play and the count evens hit a ball and a strike I guess what makes it even more difficult to discern is because the nature of the sport being what it is and the role that television plays the highlight shows probably show that stuff perhaps more than they should well you see certainly with all the cameras and [Applause] WGN we have a whole all around the stadium and the replay machines and there's a whole lot of those you see just about every nuance of what's going on you get a real feel of what it's like to be at the ballpark my point is obviously with 30-second highlight clip it would probably be very easy for people around the country to get the wrong impression from seeing a player react one way or another Gucci's going to be retired for the second out we'd like to wish a happy belated birthday to Phil Cabarete yesterday is 88th birthday his grandson Matthew has a birthday today his 25th we're scum fans no Phil Cabarete in 1945 the last time the Cubs went to the World Series he was the National League MVP hitting 355 so Phil we wish you a happy day and hope all as well [Applause] so we're set to go michael barratt with a few words as Matt Morris dug in lots of conversations have been going on between the combatants between the white lines in this series we saw something odd last night Sammy Sosa and Chris Carpenter talked after Sammy grounded out we really have no idea what went on neither would elaborate that's okay usually what's between the white lines or certainly in the clubhouse if possible should stay there these guys on both sides are giving it everything they have on a daily basis you can't question that again you look at the standings you say well the Cubs must have been blown out by st. Louis that hasn't been the case cups are 8 and 10 against them and a lot of close ballgames the real difference is divisional play if you want to look for a difference the Cardinals in the central and with the unbalanced schedule those are the preponderance of your games our plus 8 8 over 500 the Cubs are a minus 2 there you look at one of the differences in the standings if you're going to win the division you're going to do it especially in a six team division the only one in baseball the National League Central you're going to do it by beating your division rivals the Cardinals have done it that Cubs having to to count Morris again good Rip's that'll ricochets off the coconut of a cardinalfish but both of these teams have one thing in common Cardinals only have one losing record in the division the Milwaukee Brewers and the Cubs as you know of that trouble with the Brewers so that's rising team and they're gonna face the Brewers in st. Louis tomorrow so after this game the Cubs will be the biggest Milwaukee fans they possibly can be he ever just a few because it comes go up there 4 4 2 2 count Morris good at-bat is going to groundout to second Walker has a perfect [Applause] I think he needs to count his own clothes leave my clothes so that's his opinion as it's a pity I don't tell him how to handle this club is it offensive to you to have another manager tell you Dusty Baker being asked about some of Tony LaRussa's comments in the paper about dusty needing to have more of control over his players and that's just part of the game within the game these are two very proud very driven very successful major-league managers who know the stakes at stake for their respective clubs whom very well could be meeting again in postseason play if the Cubs have a good second half well dusty pretty much said it all and that is what happens is you get to manage your team the other guy gets to manage his team don't think that there isn't a great rivalry not only among these two teams but these two managers and that rivalry transcends just the Cubs and Cardinals remember there was a big rivalry with dusty and the Giants and Tony and the Cardinals so there's a little carryover from that both these guys been around forever Moises Alou has been around a long time as well and he's hit Morris pretty well one ball no strikes to the cub left fielder who drove in three runs last night good to see his bat perking out the pity had been struggling in June in the first week or so of this month of July well this is when Morris gives up many of the home runs when he falls behind and gets little careless with a fastball out over the plane moisés as far back in the right-hand batter's box as you can possibly be just the front tip for that right shoe touching what's left of the chalk outline of the right hand box to a Southwest Airlines plane view camera they appeal to Jeff Nelson nothing do it another good hitters count [Applause] three and one count down three and two Red's will be here tomorrow they leave Milwaukee 4 to 2 in the bottom of the 8th inning at the Great American Ballpark right field line who hosts he'll give up the chase that bounces off the top of the concrete wall and into the seats [Applause] much better chance of rain tomorrow it looks like it will hold off through the day but the wind is freshening up and blowing straight out over the centerfield wall today when you're not going to be able to make too many mistakes in the strike zone three two [Applause] that's out of play foul [Applause] voices had a big night last night and with the bases loaded he fisted a base hit that drove in two runs that tied the game at the time [Applause] Dericks hit the Cardinals well this year 4:30 batting average he had a hit last night's game we want to congratulate former cub Terry Mulholland who's done something that only two other man at the ripe old age of 41 and with the Minnesota Twins Terry Mulholland beat the Tigers and now has beaten every major league team it's two men probably who were active because I'm sure that Al Leiter and Kevin Brown yeah that's guys that are active but there's been a few over the years a time right but what they're saying is that Mordecai Brown didn't beat the Tampa Bay Devil Rays that's true congratulations to Terry it's an amazing accomplishment when you consider the perseverance and we congratulate him a nice guy who seemingly worked everywhere but left a mark here in Chicago I did like his quote he said you know this wasn't exactly a driving force in my career but it is a testament to very strong and very durable pitcher and one of the keys is he's a left-handed yes well that's true that has something to do Tim Tschida goes out to break it up Matheny with a conference I'm at Morris has fallen behind the first two cup headers the krub comes down a run with a very promising start to the second inning good hitters pitch two balls no strikes [Applause] toldja Morris gives up home runs Steve told you they'd come Li falls behind [Applause] [Music] the bushes in center and the Cubs lead two to one [Applause] in 203 one pitches [Music] Amira's shoots that ball toward right Reggie Sanders can't get it off the face of the law second still the and some Thunder hearing become sick it has this Wrigley Field crowd [Applause] [Music] [Applause] Ramirez has a couple of doubles in as many days and this one to the opposite field no chance for Sanders Ramirez starting to hit [Music] [Applause] and you got to believe he's going to be moved Ramis hitting number six in the batting order this is a prolific run producer there's michael barratt how about the base hit he had in the aforementioned sixth inning taking away the completion of the play the job he did to put the bat on the ball against carpet it was simply remarkable did do was make sure he hit to the right side turned into a base hit but he wanted to at least advance Ramirez to with nobody out we had a similar situation because Glendon rush is a good hitter if Glendon rush couldn't hit he'd say the Barrett to swing away drive the ball if he can in this situation you want him to the very least move Ramirez the third textbook hitting textbook result [Applause] body is out and becomes leave [Applause] [Music] [Applause] here's Alex Gonzalez [Applause] hey as a mighty cut no balls and a strike [Music] Homer double Homer Morris has given up 26 of them this year [Applause] that breaking ball flattens out he'll give up a couple more before the day is done it is good to see Alex back in the lineup remember he was on the disabled list from May sixth until yesterday with a fractured bone in his hand he's down on strikes three of those for Morris Lee and Barrett of homered here in the second sometimes when you do the right thing it turns into gold this is a fastball on the outer portion Michael trying to hit it to right field and he does just that and how far did it fly for Southwest Airlines 370 happy feet shoots at baldi flash now the real control holes rushed along single while the Cubs are absolutely crushing man Morris here in this second rush was thinking about - it's a very high and Edmond plays the caroms he waits for it to come to him and even though the throw gets away rush I'm going to get adventuresome on the base paths [Music] bench getting a measure of revenge against his Cardinal team very happy bunch Morris getting tattooed here in the second so let's take a look at our on the road feature with hotels.com matt morris in the last four years look at the home run totals but again as Steve said this can still a big time quality right-handed pitcher Tom Walker's struck out to open the Cubs offense in the first inning and then packs him off the plate [Applause] the crowds buzzing so are the wasps there is a few more out here [Applause] your own self-defense kit huh just in case along with the batboy and Batgirl you stopped at Walgreens and get yourself some red wasp killer now do you try I can't remember you travel sprayers that just a home only I might add that I've got everything you don't need it much in Houston and Milwaukee next room or in Arizona for that but Philadelphia you never know new ballpark sure have to check on all of the insects Harry Kalas and get thee the scouting report exactly right three balls and a strike here at the top of the hour of four runs second as the Cubs in front by a 3-1 score [Music] Tosa it's going to get that bullpen going and let's look at our Walgreens celebrity bad kids 12 year-old Nicole Hellman from Oak Forest Illinois and Michael vaya eight years old from Bloomington Illinois the pharmacy of the Cubs and the official pharmacy of Steve stone Cal Eldred is starting to loosen in the pen Patterson have a play or a strike if you miss it earlier it was a pitch behind Patterson in the first inning that precipitated warnings to both benches both managers and quarries always had good numbers against Morris so when you can get a little measure of payback [Applause] first mist show unto the count - Corey Patterson - try to check his swing cops have gotten to their magic number number four they score four more runs this team's 33 games over 500 and except for last night it's worked out very well this year the promise 39 times this year they've been under for and haven't fared nearly as well the o2 pitch to Patterson [Applause] forgets the green line he's going to school [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] Paterson [Applause] - mistake Morris [Applause] a six-run sick in here Sousa no strikes [Applause] Eldred too long too long rather like this [Applause] and just as soon Morris stay around for a while because his stuff is a little short here today and with the conditions it's a bad day to have a bad day right there for Tim Tschida one ball two strikes look at Morris's shirt even though Matheny wanted it in this one caught the corner [Music] ha shallow right [Applause] tenth man coming up as Moises Alou let's pause quickly for station identification you're watching superstation WGN your home for your favorite sports [Music] Jim pants Tony from Wrigley Field in Chicago comes exacting some revenge over the Cardinals in game two today but a very lively Park in a long way to go 6 1 year score and Moises started all this with a leadoff walk [Applause] he had the patients on a 3-2 breaking ball down and then the barrage that's downstairs a ball in a strike in case you wonder what Morris's shortest career outing against the Cubs was he went four innings back in July of 2001 I can't remember if that was right after the elbow surgery though but he did pitch out of the bullpen for them for a while I'd be surprised if he's around four innings today the way the Cubs have tattooed in this afternoon [Music] two ball and a strike [Applause] no shot [Applause] now Morris just his second wild pitch [Applause] what happened it cut the front part of the flight and just skidded under Metheny who tried to backhand it Metheny with a 220 244 game errorless streak entering play today three and one full count coming to a loo now like Matheny getting went off the mask that'll wake you up move hurry to centerfield facing dog [Applause] capture finding all those in Morris's game too Rison [Applause] it will be shortest invar outings Morris against the Cubs the Cubs tattooin seven run six hits in the second inning [Applause] Cubs have seven so far in the second they're looking for more they chase Matt Horace and the season ramped up this afternoon Derrek Lee will face veteran Cardinal right-hander Cal Eldred who really has saved their pitching staff the last couple of years for them he's on for the 29th I'm the ER a just under five or the one a no record and Tony LaRussa needs some innings out of him today get a good look at that Cardinal uniform the Cubs certainly will this will be the last they will see them this year but they still could meet in the playoffs and the Cubs aren't conceding anything yet at the moment they're nine back another way to climb back is to start winning games consistently and the Cubs hope to start that procedure this afternoon one ball no strikes the count Tilly and Eldred gets the generous outside corner which has been called all day so far [Music] [Applause] all brawn cut and elder agad had passed him with a 92 mile an hour pitch [Applause] Lorenz will be wending their way to Chicago shortly they've just polished off Milwaukee six to two Cincinnati without ken griffey jr. does have Sean Casey back Adam Dunn's been hitting tape-measure home runs for them we'll emo pinyin has been erupting and three hits in all run yesterday [Applause] two balls two strikes the count to Derrek Lee Eldred retires the side that comes in 11 Derek Lee and [Applause] - peace [Applause] [Music] well Steve Glendon rush for the luxury not afforded many cup pictures of late he has a six-run lead after two innings of play the top of the cardinal order greets him in the third slap toward left collar is there [Applause] after rocky first Glendon rush navigated his way through that and giving up just one run there you look at a big seven spot chasing Matt Morris from a pitching standpoint you just go out like it's nothing nothing making sure you throw strikes and don't walk anybody here's Renteria he sacrificed Womack into scoring position in that first inning and takes a called strike Cardinals would like to try to resign at gur Renteria at season's end he is a prospective free agent as is Matt Morris I would think from a playing standpoint this would be their number one priority this is still a relatively young middle infielder who's always been a good clutch hitter this year not quite the run producer he's been in years past he drove in a hundred last year where he hit 3:30 that catches the corner Renteria this year's hit second in the order 32 times roughly a third of the time for the Cardinal team so not nearly as many RBI chances for them but he fills the bill wherever he plays exceptionally well we talked yesterday about Dusty Baker using just a plethora of folks in different spots in the banning order and all managers would love to use a set lineup the Cardinals have something resembling that the Cubs to this point have it so they've had to mix and match for example the cups have used several different leadoff man players to hit in the number two spot at least one time this year Macias is hit first and second and a number of places for the coast Cardinals have used six leadoff men and five men to hit second deadline Tim Tschida strike zone but it's getting [Applause] two hours seven up seven down for Glendon rush [Music] Glendon drops that breaking ball over the outside corner Roger iam I'm very happy with that one high flyball right-center field by four walls with a ball the answer no pulse two for two 25 homers 67 driven and it's a seven - game that's why this lead is not safe today we promised you a couple things when the game started one was a high-scoring game into a very lively ballpark so the Cubs are not going to sit on this lead they're gonna continue to pound away as are these Redbirds [Music] eleven straight games for the Cardinals hitting a home run they've counted 19 during that stretch strike called a Scott Rolen was hit on the arm by a breaking ball in the first inning turned out to be pretty sound strategy if you don't think you can get him out with runners award send him on his way to first oh and two who else if you make a mistake in the zone is not a very forgiving hitter what's so frightening about boo holes he just almost never strikes out well they also hits the ball all over strikeout of timer to and went up and out of the zone to chase that pitch for punch shots for rush he gives up a run he's up 72 [Music] whether you're on the road for business or pleasure don't miss a minute of the action take your favorite team on the road and watch live games from your computer sign up for mlb.tv at Cubs calm where baseball is always on don't want to sit on seven cops have a five-run lead with Ramirez Barrett and Gonzalez coming up now against Cal Eldred and with Ramirez back in the lineup the Cubs are going to score a whole lot these last 69 or so games two for two [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] found themselves basement for long for many years in his League 57 despite missing two and a half weeks but cops get the pulse run right back it's now at 8:00 to game here's baron tried to hit the ball to the right side last time and it turned to gold for him a 2-run Homer nothing into [Applause] trying to make that outside corner look a little less inviting well Michael Barrett's had a real sound year it's turning into a very impressive year and a feature in the USA Today newspaper yesterday on the young hot hitting catchers in baseball and inexplicably Michael Barrett's name wasn't listed I think he's had a sensational first season here in Chicago well if you consider how many games he's played how many places he's hit in the order and run production he'd have to be listed well how about handling a very difficult staff to catch well this is that just about every one of these guys throws hard [Music] checked his swing and fouled it off when you look at what michael barratt or any catcher goes through gives you some idea about the accomplishment of Pudge Rodriguez in the American League defected he has a chance to lead the league in hitting taking foul balls the heat a pennant race and all the other things catchers have to go through and still hit on a daily basis you don't have you don't get any time off at all and one of the things you have to realize is their first responsibility is handling the pitching staff and the defense you have to know every hitter on the other team you have to know which guys can run which guys can't you have to know the intricacies of your pitching staff that's just on the defensive side of the equation on top of that they ask you to be a good offensive player thank y'all drew touched that ball let's see how its scored officially parrot is retired here in the third inning Bob Rosenberg flipping the official coin you seen to the 163 I know you gave him one I was very kind of you this one back up the middle from that angle and of course when those sound effects we can't hear the coin hitting the scoring ruling quite yet I'll give you five guesses as to what denomination the corn was I know it was a penny there's no doubt in my mind exactly right I give it a 6 3 until I hear different just leave a little room in case Rosie wakes up from his nap and adds a1 to it here's Alex he struck out his first time up off the end of his bed [Applause] we'll watch it again and see if indeed Eldred got hit by that one and it looks like he did so it is one six three Rosi looking everywhere about the field missed the faculty tucked back towards the screen [Applause] two out [Applause] he's trying to figure out how you can make another shirt out of those drapes he used last time and a good play by Matheny who catches everything and let's watch Aramis Ramirez and how far did it fly for Southwest Airlines 360 happy feet Glendon rush hit a ball high off the vines in the left-center field his first time up where would the cups be without this guy blendin can hit also but as pitching is what's been special this year well struck ball toward second and Eldred restores some order and not before Rivera's unloads with his 16th home run cops have an 82 lead after three here at Wrigley Field sauna Chicago Cubs baseball on WGN your official summer baseball station is brought to you by fog light fresh smooth real it's all here Bud Lights it's eight to comes and Jim Edmonds to work for seedless Edmonds struck out in the first inning of play that's where you go up in the zone to get it blendin's had his number not many people have certainly not many Cubs this year but Glendon got him out a good breaking ball away the first time up and he's gonna go upstairs this time crossfire and out of play Evon stays alive IDO and to edmonds has had a heck of a road trip robbed the Reds of a home run at the Great American Ballpark before they got to town and then last night hit a towering two-run homer the seat five strikeouts for us for Tim Jo says hm I called day no sense and cryin now [Applause] right on the corner Edmonds didn't like it Tim Tschida probably saying look at my shirt pal it's hot out here and it's 8:00 to 2:00 have a seat a luxury the umpires don't get here's Sanders he flied to left strike one blended Russia's career-high in strikeouts as Tim he's halfway there and we're only in the fourth his cup hi is nine also against st. Louis London was one in twelve last year and nothing really went right for him with the Brewers this is going to turn out to be one of those great acquisitions by Jim Henry along with Jose Macias another one Todd Walker as this club was retooled over the winter and Glendon rush is just a spectacular job left-handed starting pitchers and of course the Cubs didn't know that he was going to do that for them I like gold in this league or any professionally and rush has rediscovered some of the magic he's never had a winning season in the major leagues the lab won this year with one out when we talked to Ned Yost we asked him were you surprised disappointed either neither and the fact that Glendon rush became a cub and said absolutely despite a 1 in 12 record he felt badly that it didn't work out better for Glendon rush with the pro crew this is where you'll take a lot of Gamble's maybe two and ten pay off this one is paying off handsomely for the Cubs look at the numbers last year and this year a complete reversal of fortune and he certainly has saved the Cubs in a number of ways now Mark Prior in his simulated game threw the ball real well today he had a smile on his face he met with the press and he said anybody can speculate whatever they want to nobody knows their body better than I do DoublePlay ball maybe [Applause] there's two second with two out whether it's mark pryor anybody else when a professional player who knows what it's like to go through that long major-league season tells you that he's not 100% you take him at his word and you go from there man happens to be a franchise player as Mark Pryor is you're a little extra careful he's a young man he said he wasn't a hundred percent that's what you go with when he is a hundred percent he will go out to the mound and he will tell you and every pitcher in this game pitches with some sort of pain it's the degree of pain with which you can pitch with and as you move along in the game you find out what you can do what you can't do but the one thing you never question is a guy's desire to go onto the field because they all want to be there that's how they got here hard hit ball [Applause] Lenard larceny from the uncut third baseman who's having himself a whale of the day a great effort over the corner retires to Gucci and the car that's our sharp electronics high-definition booth monitor you can find a full line of sharp HD products at Grant's appliances electronics [Applause] great play by Aramis Ramirez ending the Cardinal fourth now the top of the order up looking for more here it's an eight to two cup game sharp breaking ball by mark down the left-field line run to Gucci he can't get there it's off the base of the wall another come extra-base hit [Music] there was a breakdown of Cubs offense this year and something in the neighborhood of 43% all of their hits are for extra bases which is a whopping total this is a team when the offense gets going they can put some big numbers on the board Ramirez back in the lineup Alex Gonzales healthy and the lineup is starting to resemble what Jim Henry and Dusty Baker thought it would resemble when the season started there's a chance they have a pretty decent offense over the last 68 69 games we figured ten weeks left in the regular season in a perfect world the Cubs gained about a game a week that would be real nice it has been done before Stocki with mike shanin the Cardinal broadcaster about that 64 Cardinal team they were 11 out at the end of August won the National League have won the World Series that doesn't have an office but it is still possible that's what makes this game so important for the Cubs psychologically there's a huge difference between eight back and ten back to Dusty Baker can tell you firsthand what it's like to have a team that wins a hundred and three games with a huge lead over an adversary and come up short as the Braves won a hundred and four but we're presupposing that the Cardinals are going to run into a few physical problems this is a real solid baseball team and if they stay together it will be difficult to catch them and that's not wishing any ill will already in tourism vagaries of the game of baseball dictate that everybody goes through injuries and the Cardinals have been real healthy two balls two strikes that's why there's no luck over 162 the best team wins the division but get in the playoffs and any team can beat any other team thanks can I have a task from our lines if you have the cub pitching and if you do get in the playoffs short series you're tough to beat [Applause] to contend with that kind of team in a short series three and two and the trade deadline eleven days away don't underestimate Jim Hendry as he showed last year he will not be afraid to pull the trigger if it's a deal that makes sense three balls two strikes [Music] out of Paterson still though the Cubs have not been able to put together their 25 man roster for one inning of one game yet this season the loss of Todd Hollandsworth was a big loss because he gave them some left-handed thunder off the bench [Applause] three balls two strikes scatters the bullpen and gets raking up something that's not easy to do Rey has been very good out of the bullpen this year and he figures his philosophy come to the park every day expecting the pitch most of the days he's right goes Cory swingin there is out [Applause] in 1978 bill buckner bed at 323 for the cubs tomorrow first 20,000 fans get a scratch in win car 200 to amass Cooperstown authentic collection 1978 bill pensive nissan fans are encouraged to hold on to their cards for second-chance drawings throughout the game there's no purchase necessary and from complete rules visit Cubs comm a to Cubs have elite and Sammy pulls out swings and misses and his down a strike was an interesting-looking road jersey back in 1978 the pale blue the pinstripes and we're going to Philadelphia to see the home of Mitchell oh yeah we've got to check out there wears a warehouse of mr capa lino and company at petulant nests that has been a wildly popular promotion here at the ballpark here in Chicago we've had Ron Santos Jersey Mark Prior Ryan Sandberg Ernie Banks there'll be others to follow and hopefully you're not in Chicago it'll be coming courtesy of Mitchell and s to a ballpark near you it's such a wonderful way to bring the past alive before your very eyes for the young fence across the country of our great game next year it's going to be expanded throughout baseball you can take that to the bank back to the screen a ball and two strikes - Sammy Sosa samia's flied to left and popped a second today it's upstairs two and two big cuff and Bernard land watching us from Spring Hill Florida today mr. land grew up here in Chicago solution to the Land of Lincoln listen to the 1945 World Series on radio coming home from Okinawa and Guam - right that'll be caught tagging at second heading to third is Walker Sammy over three so mr. land watching us in Spring Hill Florida we salute you for your service things down in the Sunshine State here's how that's rather in the second inning story had a pretty good inning he started the rally with a Waukee score to run with a base hit he's got 55 he's sneaking up on Ramirez for the team lead to play one ball no strikes on half of a fourth inning but comes with a seven run six hits second [Applause] right centerfield manjae's over and the side is now on Zaheer the man left to the fifth we go leading by six a - after for Glendon rush has thrown exceptionally well again today 6 run lead doesn't help either and he'll have the pitcher Cal Eldred starting things off and he takes a ball low one ball no strikes Cubs are to back in the wild-card tied with the Reds who are already in the win column they beat the Brewers today by a 6-2 score and it's still quite possible that coming back from nine back could happen for the Cubs they've got to have a nice long winning streak and the Cardinals have to start to sputter a bit something they haven't done the last six weeks [Applause] one to the opposing pitcher with a six run League [Music] now three balls two strikes [Applause] any rallies to take care of Eldridge six strikeouts rush let's tell you what's coming up on WGN will and grace are perfect for each other well almost they're both looking for mr. right tune in for a full hour of Will & Grace weeknights at 6:30 Eastern on superstation WGN [Music] Tony Womack has walked in scored a run today he's also lied out to left that's inside to even up the count just two more games left on this long homestand then we're off to Philadelphia brief visit with the Phillies been to Milwaukee for four back home against Philadelphia at the end of the month that our first road trip of the month of August takes us out west three in Colorado and three with the Giants and that's blooped out of play foul for a full count and when seen Barry Bonds and the Giants in a while two and a half games out of first it's not a bad thing not to see very bugs toward third Ramirez stays down steps up the cross him out too [Applause] well the play that ended the fourth inning by Ramirez was a highlight reel play as he dove into foul territory and still had enough on the throat again out of the inning [Music] Renteria has sacrificed and struck out Giants by the way one six to one last night Barry Bonds didn't play at a root canal at Arizona the worst team in baseball dropped their 8th straight Louie Gonzales is going to finally succumb and have Tommy John surgery on the ailing elbow he told us when we saw him early that he was going to have it was just a matter of time and with the team doing what they're doing you know one they're gonna make some trades and two they want Louie healthy for next year he's going to be there for a while he's become one of the faces if not the face of the franchise along with Randy Johnson but my gut tells me Louie will be there longer one ball two strikes to Renteria where is Benson another performer that's rumored to be on the block pirates are gonna ask a king's ransom and if you have a starting pitcher you don't think you can sign and are out of it this is the year to get a king's ransom for them we'll see what the Pirates are able to do if anything with Benson two balls two strikes Lutz going to be told in the next week the hard part for the GM's is you have eight teams within five games of the wild-card about the next week you want to see teams that are become buyer's or seller's depending on the hot streak as we move to July 31st and right now there's a lot of general managers that don't know which one they're going to be hard hit ground ball toward Alex it's short he'll gobble it up and take care of his counterpart Edgar rentería eight two cubs beating the Cardinals [Applause] [Music] hot day at Wrigley Field and the Cubs batch equally as warm as the mercury it's a real good day to pitch if you're Glendon rush because you're getting a lot of runs and a good day to hit if you're the Cubs because you're driving home a lot of runs today and it's a rare lead for the boys but they're doing a whole lot of things right offensively they're hitting the ball out of the ballpark they're doubling them up and a knock Matt Morris out of the game is shortest nth lifetime against the Cubs so for Glendon rush who is pitching because Mark Prior couldn't go today this is a good day to pitch the eight runs up there something that Cubs haven't done a whole lot of recently not putting this one in the win column yet mentally for the Cubs this is a game they had to have after all that took place last night I would think well they realize regardless of what happens getting into the playoffs is the key and regardless of a Division title or a wild-card works out real well in a short series if you've got the best pitching Renteria with a big play at Short takes care of Derrek Lee and here's the man of the hour defensively Aramis Ramirez Steve I don't think anybody in Chicago realized just how badly they would miss Aramis Ramirez when he went down for two weeks boy he's been a big difference maker when they went down the Cubs average two and a half runs per game he's improved his defense he's got a very strong arm but it's in the runs driven in category Ramirez and we've seen since he's been back just what a difference he makes to this lineup and how about the play defensively he made a moment ago as you mentioned diving to his right scrambled to his feet and got a fast man in so Taguchi Ramirez an all-around terrific day on a day when the Cubs needed a lot of terrific efforts from a lot of different people and that's the way it's worked out two balls no strikes to Aramis doubled his homer t-score I was thinking about another homerun there two balls and a strike [Applause] that's the reason that I wear long sleeve shirts chippy boy that's in the dirt here's Ramirez in the dirt what an effort Taguchi goes down the line looks like it could be two bases Ramirez has other ideas and gets it they're just ahead of so Taguchi indeed when the Cardinals play the Mets you truly could have us so so magic indeed you could and probably will or have Jaso and so Taguchi [Music] Ramirez at first on the Eldred walk that'll bring up michael barratt michael it a two-run homer in that big Cubs second inning that's downstairs Sunday August 1st again the Cubs are back in town they'll celebrate the 1984 NL East championship season 1984 memorabilia including authentic Mitchell Nest jerseys from members of that team be given away throughout the game all-time saves leader Lee Smith will sing take me out to the ballgame [Applause] [Music] day four Barrett Ramirez stops at second Alex Gonzalez will hit the Cardinal pen starts to work that's where this entire bullpen out if we for the bird room as slowly as he can to the mound Eldred has gotten them from the second to this point [Music] and Duncan and Tony LaRussa would just as soon not make any changes for as long as they can Tim sheet is going to come out and break up the conference in the mound but he will have accomplished what he wants to do allowing Steve flying to get loose enough now he'll depart and we'll tell you about our upcoming Cubs White Sox High Definition baseball schedule the Reds are here Wednesday and Thursday Thursday's game here on WGN the Tigers face the Sox Saturday at 6:00 Sunday August 1st the Phillies incomes WGN remind you HD TV available for Cubs and Sox baseball for our Chicagoland viewing audience only Alex Gonzalez takes a ball one ball no strikes I invest the corner well hope former cub pitcher Randy Myers is watching the game today chatted with Sharon Panozzo earlier Randy had some sad news his friend Russ to husky watching in the great state of Washington Lawson his family his son Russ passed away on Saturday and they won't extend condolences to the whole ski family was good to see Jody Davis here today and this certainly reminds him of home in Georgia this is exactly what the weather feels like on a daily basis most of the summer two balls and a strike it's now two and two Jody will be by for our seventh-inning stretch today keeping with our 1984 reunion of that Cubs 96 win team we had Ron say earlier in the homestand Jody back - - and that takes care of Alex - ounce runners first and second Glendon rush here in our fifth inning there are the remembrances of 84 and that will be it for Eldred as Tony LaRussa will bring Steve Klein into the game so three innings for Cal Eldred he gives up one run to least at this point three hits walk strike outs so Steve Klein is on for the Cardinals he'll face Glendon rush when we come right back Steve Kline is on to pitch here in the fifth inning I'll bet his brother Rick's watching as somewhere in the good old us a big Cub fan his brother that's so much for Steve he comes into this one and faces blender rush so I lefty lefty matchup yes we're at the top of the hour in Chicago client rap sat in for a strike this Cardinal bullpen has been very good since late June Kline and King from the left side give Tony LaRussa a whole lot of options for the left hand portion of the opponent's lineup off the thumbs of rosh that's a fair ball rollin will step on the pillow at third and that'll retire the side does his job comes fail to score and we head to the six leading a tutu [Music] let's take a look at our Budweiser gametime fancam the Cubs in Cardinals painting for the final time in the regular season [Music] to change [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] quite honest now take it amiss this guy's that much well this guy for sure the Cubs aren't going to miss especially today his pulse has a homerun in a double in to advance we still have a ways to go in this ball game big boppers coming up wind picking up at Wrigley in a 1-1 count pools the outside edge [Applause] ripped into the seats over the Cardinal and Albert gets another swing here who host made the all-star team for the third time this year at his third different position he'll be their first baseman for a long time now and Tony LaRussa has said it won't be long before he joins his mates in the Gold Glove caliber portion defensively pulse is three for three that's what scary [Applause] he wants to induce throw from Patterson it doesn't come and now roll him with one swing of the bat could make things a lot more interesting for the Cardinal fans who else triple shy at a cycle park to triple and this game still with a lot left in it and the Cardinals still lineup that scares you rollin with 86 runs batted in he should fly by his career-high total of 110 before it's all said and done I would have to say if the voting were to be tabulated today man holding the baseball bat will be the MVP of our league please didn't have my vote he certainly would be right there unfriendly at the top although you could make a case almost on a yearly basis to give it to Barry Bonds but they haven't pitched him all that much his bonds is once again established the fact that he's probably the best hitter in the game of baseball that straight bag and there was a lot of folks to think that Barry Bonds might be the best hitter ever in the game of baseball you're gonna get an argument from a whole lot of folks but for a long time the combination of great speed great power and as he's gotten older actually a better batting average bonds is establishing symptoms itself as just one of the great rarities in the game hit for average and power consistently in to the point where he walked so many times that it's taken away from his numbers when you pitch to him this can't get him out and doesn't matter if it's right or left handed - and - to roll events off the plate bonds leads our league in hitting he is tied for third in home runs with 24 you won't see him in the top 10 in RBIs he's third and runs he won't see him in the top ten and hits [Applause] who was on his way to third he will be stopped biochem fools nearly ran through the stop sign well Kendall yelled Adam because who else is going to score and probably could have but with nobody out Hosea kendo not only stood there but he yelled at him stay here there's nobody out [Applause] good piece of base running by pools he did have a shot to score but why run yourself into a tougher play than perhaps necessary he's taking a look at it and watch a kendo right there right in his face saying stop [Music] fools be fighter-jet it would have dropped the tailhook body stopped in plenty of time and here's Edmunds old for two with two strikeouts and he grounds that ball scores rolling stops at second it's a three game the bullpen up and going and Francis can't get loosened up in a big enough hurry michael barratt probably an instructions from Dusty Baker has gone out to the mound he wants to kill a little time for Beltran to get loosened up don't they when the inning started a long way to go this game started to take on shades of that June 23rd game in st. Louis Cubs led that one 9 to 5 and couldn't hang on that's a game that really has turned the fortunes of these two clubs around at that point comes trailed the Redbirds by a game they won that one 10 9 and since then Cardinals are sixteen and six the Cubs are nine and thirteen and I don't think dusty wants to fiddle around anymore here he wants this sixth inning to come to a close very slow long walk out to the mound to go get Glendon rush well this walk to the mound gets Francis Beltran probably another 10 pitches and Dusty's telling Linden Russia really appreciates the effort but Sanders says crush the ball twice I don't think he wants to let him face blended Russian at the 105 [Applause] this goes five innings plus the two men on his responsibility in line for his sixth win in seven decisions but the cub pen has to work overtime against the Cardinals here at home nice day to work on the tan hot muggy late July day in Chicago and Cardinals with three straight sixth inning hits are right back in this game it's an 8 3 score and Reggie Sanders is up against Francis Beltran who Steve as falling into a real real bad habit of allowing that first baserunner to reach when he comes into the game Francis has also given up eight home runs in 35 innings of work on for the 34th time he'd love a ground ball that's been I think since the line drive I mean I know he's not a percent healthy that's not the issue but since Tim salmon hit him in Anaheim it seems that the first man faced for Francis has yielded a walk for a late-inning reliever that normally is a death knell and 20 walks for him and 35 innings of work somewhat problematic one ball no strikes and a hammer job found in two one ball one strike two Reggie Sanders you can throw it by Reggie on the inner portion above the belt is bet although a powerful one well he's not gonna Lao him to get around on that good 96 mile-an-hour heat assuming that it is inside and up Reggie loves the ball down and like most hitters he likes it out over the plate ball two low two balls and a strike now sway this afternoon Toronto and Oakland are scoreless in the third Toronto gets bad news Roy Holladay with the tired shoulder will miss four to six weeks he's the reigning Siam winner in the American League Tampa Bay's fallen behind the Yankees three to bottom six at Tropicana Field and it's 8 3 Baltimore over the Royals at Kauffman Stadium after 5 all three 3 and 1/2 Sanders well now Reggie Sanders is squeezing the sawdust out of the bat at a conversation with Tim Tschida [Applause] Wendy couldn't believe it it would be two and two I don't think three balls one strike Sanders with the bat waggle now ready the pitch it's full three and two it's the best pitch of the sequence so far he kept it right on the corner a little too close for the Cubs comfort one in two on nobody out it's only inning number six Sanders is only grounded into two double plays this entire season he still has great speed but he does have a propensity to strike out [Applause] they're loaded first batter walked from Beltran and Matheny hits with the bags full of Cardinals we'll pent up and going in it's up and going in a hurry it's like Kent Mercker throwing in the pen as the Cardinals have loaded them up their bullpen also starts to work okay how big a lead you have in this or any park against the Cardinals this is still a very potent and you just can't feel [Applause] keek keek Calero one of the great names in the game getting ready breaking pitch to Mike Metheny this is one of the real good men for two he's grounded into seven of them because it would gladly trade the run for a double play ground ball Metheny was one of the hottest of all the Cardinals coming into this series and it says something about what Tony LaRussa feels when he starts Matheny in a day game after a night game to round out the season series between these two teams Feeny is his number one but he's a veteran catcher who's been around you don't see catchers in their 30s start day games after night too often [Applause] two balls at a strike Rolen Edmonds Sanders are aboard and pair it out for a chat another area where I think the Cardinals have been an underappreciated team has been that they don't often beat themselves they may spot you four or five sometimes more runs but then they have enough confidence in their own ability that they can sit back and see if the opponent will beat themselves and then when you put yourself in a position where that can happen that's when the fangs come out and they strike and that is setting itself up as a possibility here in this sixth inning three hits in a walk I'll run in nobody out in a hitter's count to Matheny [Applause] three balls and a strike around the zone you won't get the close pitches no and then looked like a pretty good one it was a split finger fastball that came over a strike just dipped a little low Matheny had the patience to hold up and he also got the call three one run is in on a bases-loaded walk [Applause] folks break out the score books from June 23rd this is a very similar scenario eight for game and the tying run comes to the plate behind number 30 Larry Rothschild rushing out there and what this will do for Tony LaRussa we don't know if he's going to make a change but if Rothschild heads back which you expect he would do it allows Tony LaRussa if he wants to to pinch-hit for Taguchi and Frances would have to stay in the game so we don't know if he'd start to unload the left-hander's quite yet he's got Cedeno he's got Anderson he has Langford he has Mabry it's a bench filled with left-handers but he keeps Taguchi in the game so the cops have put themselves into not very pleasant situation here 8:4 Taguchi has bounced to third twice Aramis Ramirez off the line at third nobody out it's filed at the plate for a strike Taguchi helped him out because emmalin was low and out of the zone odds are so he's not gonna walk he's walked just five times in a hundred at-bats and for this to be the six that think you'd almost have to throw it out of the park let's hope he doesn't hit it out 1 1 the count back to the [Applause] I've been to Beltran is able to catch it it would have been if it went through and the worst-case scenario Beltran to flex it now it's a three-run lead the bases still loaded nobody out pinch-hitter [Applause] it's ray lankford and you'd have to feel now that dusty has got to come out we'll watch it again off the glove worst-case scenario here comes dusty here comes Mercker here come the Cardinals there goes Beltran two oxen in field close the book on rush fibre and runs his five innings of work and it's an eight-five game in the sixth inning Carlos Beltran couldn't get the ball over the plate here Kent Mercker is on it's eight five cups now [Applause] Frances Beltran didn't need a cool drink he needed a few more strikes now the Cubs have big problems it's Lankford against Mercker bags full and nobody out and the bullpens still up and going Farnsworth Lankford thinking about a home run most of the hits he's had of late have been singles there's a look at Kyle it'll be loosened up and ready for the Renteria pool holes and Roland's section of the lineup which is going to roll around after Womack [Laughter] [Music] that'll score Sanders Matheny 2/3 it's an 8 6 game he just missed unfortunately chip take a look at the flags early in the bowl game that's a Grand Slam right now with the flags limp atop the pole that ball stayed in the park timing is everything in most things certainly for Kent Mercker and the Cubs it was a good time to hit a long fly ball and make sure that the Cubs still have the lead Patterson back to the track guard knows with some good baserunning take the extra base [Applause] Lankford gets a sacrifice fly and nothing else and runners at the corners a double-play away from getting out of the inning but he'd figure Womack a tough man to double up with his speed nothing and one the count former Kerr you figure this would be the last guy he faces with Renteria pools and company waiting next now second to to Womack [Music] but he's hit Mercker well to the tune of 429 3 4 3 this year odds in Merkers favor struck him out on three pitches well friends Worth is ready you figured they'd go to a Mercker throws that inside fastball right by him Renteria is hitting 600 against Mercker dusty getting the okay that Farnsworth is ready will come out and a couple of big outs from Kent Mercker the Cubs have kept the lead [Applause] so job well done for mercury gave up the flyball to Langford that cost that comes one run he then strikes out Womack on three pitches let's see he's going to stick with Mercker here that's somewhat surprising we'll see if this strategy pays off [Music] [Applause] so interesting move from dusty here marker normally better against right-handed batters then he has the lefties maybe that had something to do with this move all in one year county that's what he's done against Kent Mercker lifetime but Womack had pretty good numbers against him and he just left one two three with him eight six game back to first Taguchi well the biggest out of the ball game because of the man who's in the on-deck circle you just don't want to face poo holes again in this inning flyball right-center Patterson on the run slowing now at the track he's got it and a great job by Mercker bases loaded nobody on he gives up only one the Cubs don't surrender the lead [Applause] Cardinals middle of the six [Applause] nice job by Kent Mercker to put out the fire for st. Louis in the top of the sixth they played for and make a two run game of it and now Kiko Calero is on to face the top of the cup batting order just over three and this is 24th appearance and it is a tester of a day here now at Wrigley Field the Cubs lead by 2 they've got the two left-handers at the top Walker and Patterson they both had pretty decent days and it comes in looking for some runs I didn't rush still can win it Matt Morris still on the hook for the loss but Cubs better played a couple more if they want to keep that in line in a critical cub game a wind gets them to within eight of the division one ball no strikes to Todd Walker who is 1 for 2 with a walk and a run scored [Music] all to to a No [Applause] two big innings come scored seven in the second the Cardinals with four in the sixth ball off the films have tied down the left field line good hustle by Taguchi hey buddy can't make play two balls and a strike now how did the order due up for the Cardinals next inning this a big offensive inning for the Cubs because you got to go pools Rolen Edmonds anybody gets on Sanders next in it 2-1 count back up the middle and Calero finds the baseball one man down when you let the ball go if you can become the fifth infielder you're gonna save yourself a lot of problems this is a hard hit ball right at Claro he's able to get the glove down and make the play farnsworth now getting ready in the pen you'd have to figure he would come in face the real tough right-handed part of the order and what a job by Kent Mercker he's had a very good year for the Cubs and he had a very good inning last inning a two-run double for Cory today and he shows bunt looks at a ball that skimmed off the plate one ball no strikes when today gives the Cubs 50 victories on the season [Applause] we would join the Reds Cardinals Dodgers Giants Padres with 50 wins and just barely missed two balls and a strike Tim Tschida will give you a little on the outside corner he's not going to give you anything inside and it's been a long hot day behind the plate for him [Applause] fires ought to look into that and while you're at it send a couple up here [Music] play by Paterson it's still 2 & 2 [Applause] pitching matchup tomorrow it's Paul Wilson for Cincinnati Matt Clemente for the Cubs couple of hard lock pitchers Wilson has nine wins this year but five times he's left with the lead and the red pen has let him down you know of the offensive woes that have faced Matt Clemens Cubs have scored 20 runs for him in his last 13 outings in total that's it some hey looks for better times tomorrow now starting to shift off the lake feel that cooling breeze oh yeah gucchi back to the wall Haley pop and that bonus it's gone caught by Taguchi what a grab shades of Orlando Palmero last September and left for the Cardinals [Applause] the reasons why to Gucci in the game its defense like this he goes back to the vines look like it had a chance to go in the basket to Gucci up as high as he can go and he makes just a great catch we saw three plays by Geoff Jenkins similar to this this one as good as any of those at the peak of his jump he puts it away that's probably three bases for Corey Patterson great grab by Taguchi here's so suck fastball high and away to here ball no strikes earlier today that ball might have left the park winds shifting off the lake blowing in now from the right-field over the cup dugout [Applause] well if you have the lead late you love to see the wind shift and make it a little more difficult to hit the ball out of the ballpark the ballpark was absolutely dead still when Langford came up and almost hit a grand slam [Applause] two balls and a strike [Applause] [Applause] [Music] see if the wind please with this ball Taguchi calls off his infielder easier play for him [Applause] very good 6th inning three left against st. Louis comes by a pair [Music] [Applause] on August 1st the Cubs will celebrate the 1984 National League East championship season 1984 memorabilia including authentic Mitchell nest jerseys for members of the team will be given away throughout the game all-time saves leader Lee Smith will sing the seventh-inning stretch as the Cubs and Phillies meet at 120 now Farnsworth comes on for the 49th I'm is er a just over 3 the record even at 3 they'll have to look at three real tough hitters who holds Rolen Edmonds look at some pretty impressive numbers from the Farnes fifty-three strikeouts in forty four innings and a two-run lead to protect blue holes three for three with two runs batted in one pitch in a one-run game four four four is pools they misses the play-doh hit for the cycle alas he touched it young man is as impressive a hitter as there the longevity or numbers of Barry Bonds but given some time in a blink of an eye the first class ball goes against the back screen [Music] [Applause] it's a second or under the day here's rolling hard hit ball towards second Walker from the outfield grass gets his man for out number one can we go back to June 23rd in st. Louis if ever there was one single game that you could say changed the momentum of these two teams that was that day comes let it 9/5 lost it 10-9 st. Louis is poised over the final two innings to make it real tough on the Cubs here on their home field Edmonds has had a whole lot of luck with Kyle Farnsworth five four ten lifetime this game has tightened up much more than the Cubs would have liked Edmonds couldn't stop himself strike one [Applause] Linder knowin who else's fault was a homerun by plenty it's eight to seven in the seventh [Applause] what worries you too is since pools reached and scored you have to face it one more time today [Applause] well unless Tony LaRussa would say you know you've had a real good day we'd like to take you down and give you a little rest probably not though I wouldn't think that's going to happen that crustacean has been noticeably absent from the ballpark and our luck has not been as good on it oh into the count that much like a different member of the family would be not but not only is the suit red the person inside of it - on a 90 degree day the first one died [Applause] gave his life for a Sousa too hot for me one two count moves the back foot and it's a 2 2 pitch coming from Kyle now he'd like to get him out out of the strike zone and the best place to do it is hi in a way Reggie Sanders in the on-deck-circle Sanders his head almost no luck with Farnsworth [Applause] he went to out Edmonds down on strikes for the third time in the game good slider it was out of the zone and Edmunds could not check his swing in time [Applause] take a look at the hands of Edmonds and he strikes out for the 90 second time this year in between the breeze he's been pretty effective Angie Sanders a singled walked and scored there's a good breaking ball strike one [Applause] [Music] Jody Davis standing by with take me out to the ballgame they were the numbers against Farnsworth and you could read woopsy Reggie Sanders asking for timeout he wasn't quite set no balls and a strike no balls two strikes head to the home half of the seventh Shiori Davis gets us going to take me out to the ball Mira's scheduled ahead one and two year count two Sanders face high fastball would look for real the three sliders [Applause] he can catch up to a hanging in 97 and as well all two strikes [Applause] right idea but that a little too high for Sanders to swing at a good time to throw it to the screen at 1 & 2 [Applause] that was really fast [Applause] that was too high death two balls two strikes [Applause] this is turned into another Cardinal extravaganza times these two teams have played a game one difference - - Tata time to see made seven in the seventh time to have a bond with her in Illinois a momentary celebrating its 30th anniversary [Music] [Applause] and that voice you hear Jody Davis and I couldn't agree more my friend good to see you it's good to be back typical Cub Cardinal game wind blowing out of Wrigley huh you've never got enough from the wind boy really don't ever have enough to go up there guys boys Asolo leads things off in this seventh-inning are Lully Ramirez Cubs leading eight seven in the seventh [Applause] ever had any hot days in 1984 as hers straight out did you I came back out here to throw out the first pitch and said a second good positioning by Womack that looked like a base hit up the middle but Womack was playing him right there your favorite memories from the 84 season obviously just winning you know a bunch of guys just came together and game in the series and a lot of good so they won 96 games that was just a remarkable season and I think it was just two guys the guys came together everybody pulled for each other we police ourselves execution you know it was a straight time and you were an all-star that year you were an all-star twice that had to be a couple of the highlights of your career I'm sure oh yeah without a doubt all-star games is great I want to go glove that was great but uh you can't beat winning ball games and winning the division that's off the plate two balls and a strike what's new down in Gainesville Georgia these days this looks like a nice nice fall afternoon and a soon-to-be national champions of course well we got to go down to Gainesville at least and then get that straightened down Gators eat their young don't worry about them two balls and a strike back to the screen foul and out of play it's it's 2 & 2 what did you think the first time you heard either via a tape or someone told you about it Harry's seeing the Jody Jody Davis tune that in his inimitable style only he could do only he could do is right and you know it's the it made me Harry loved me and he started singing then and the fans started liking me to it singing a log and Harry meant a lot hit a lot to me I tell you what he didn't lost did he pass along the royalties for that particular tune though that's the big question I think you and skip who's got the Royals not me not me two balls two strikes to Derek Lee he goes down on strikes well you were just with the coach Lance and Oh on the radio side I know he's cool come and in control of his emotions would you say that would describe him on a day like today well I think Ronnie might need to get a hat he's gonna pull what little he has left and you know you gotta love him Ronnie's just as competitive as he was twenty thirty years ago and it really kills him he lives and dies with these guys they see he's tormenting that plumb to do you mean what he optimistically says is here yeah that's why I said look what little he has left he is [Applause] pull it out [Applause] one ball one strike to Aramis Ramirez a fine day for him today eight seven though the score on a play for a strike it's 1 & 2 now well chip we got to touch down in the extra point a second but I think we're gonna probably need another field might need a save a safety or a field goal we might need a couple more the wind's blowing these guys are the Cardinals a plague with so much confidence you know I guess it's easier to do with a nine-game lead but they just look like things you know they didn't care we had a six run reading and here we are pop right side that reach the seats how important is that Swagger's of player as a team flankers were Jody in the 80s when he come to played so well I think it's really important you know I think we won 27:28 ball games that year and our last event and you know they just never played like they you know like it was over and that's the way we played too you know especially in this ballpark you know and that walks are so magnified here where the winds blowing in are the way the winds blowing out you just you can't give them the freebies and it goes all the way back to high school Italy one ball two strikes to Ramirez well off the plate it's now two and two it's especially difficult with leadoff walks because this is a ballpark you know is going to yield as home runs Fergie made the Hall of Fame thrown a lot of home runs but they were mostly solo home runs and he limited two walks yeah I thought Mercker did a tremendous job coming in that situation I was what the Cubs hang on that would be your MVP for the game i mean the offense for the cubs welcomed have done a real good job offensively today but Mercker came in in a situation where the game could have gotten out of hand and kept the lead in a terrible Jam yes dr. right to ball real well we're right at guys strike three call that's over the outside corner and Calero has two perfect games Johnny great to see you it's good to be back you guys have appreciated Jody Davis hopefully just an inning and a half a baseball left Cubs leading eight seven before the Cardinals come up lad step aside and tell you what's coming up on WGN Tim the Toolman Taylor is improving television each weeknight catch home improvement part of the gray comedy lineup at 6:00 and 7:30 Eastern right here on superstation WGN [Applause] Marlon Anderson will bat for Mike Matheny here in the Cardinal eighth Mike Remlinger throwing in the pen Anderson comes off the bench 9 for 25 with a couple of Homer's and 7 driven in as a pinch-hitter very versatile very valuable player for them they can play just about any place [Music] Kiyo delivers a strike Anderson has some surprising power but right now the wind has shifted somewhat and it's blowing against the power of the left-hand hitter unless he hits it to left-center Anderson hit a game-winning eight thinning home run for the Cardinals on the road trip in Cincinnati Tony LaRussa looking for a little lightning in a bottle twice away from st. Louis as Anderson Taguchi and then another pinch-hit assignment coming up good ray King loosening in the pen actually right now he's got ray King talking into pen eventually he'll be loosening maybe it's loose talk for a king one ball two strikes to Anderson Raynaud's it doesn't take a whole lot of tosses to get loosened up today he also knows he's probably gonna have about 80 appearances before it's over I like what quote you attributed to him early in the season don't judge me on how I look in a bathing suit judge me on how I do when I'm between the white lines and he's been outstanding for one ball two strikes lilian factor is what any good reliever has to do is come to the park every day and believe you're going to get in the game he gets in about half of them so you're right 50% of the time and left-handers can get the ball over the plate out of the pen consistently can stay around forever looked out of play Anderson keeps the Advanta live here at two balls two strikes well my uncle Chris Kerry's feeling well today down in st. Louis watching us on WGN sports he's a huge baseball fan watches every pitch of every game so Chris hope you're feeling well the 2-2 count how to play the hooded Pat continues for Anderson [Applause] Cardinals have Mabry from the left side Cedeno switch hits [Applause] they figure those the loose options if Farnsworth stays in the game [Applause] on the right side Anderson down on strikes three punch outs for Farnsworth one away in the cardinally you gotta watch the bunt from Taguchi in the righty righty matchup good slider lowing in Anderson after a tough battle goes down on strikes [Music] so far Ramirez in even with the bag at third Taguchi an infield hit off Francis Belt Ron's glove in the sixth inning and played at a Cardinal run and he looks at a ball may braise the man granting a band now Paige would hit for Calero taguchi's got pretty good speed walking and you've got some problems he's four for four in stolen bases popped up right side will it stay in play for Derrek Lee unfortunately No [Applause] Cobb's draws 79,000 fans for this two-game series with the Cardinals 39 371 of them today oddly enough that's exactly what the Cubs are averaging here at home and hence overcapacity two balls and a strike two Taguchi [Music] bring them out a little and it was a good call by Jeff Nelson watch his hands on the high inside fastball there's a good job of pivoting along with [Applause] the attempted check swing and he get the benefit of the call so a dangerous pitch from Farnsworth coming now three balls one strike [Applause] now Morris can lose rush can't win it six run deficit and erased it and the three one the best pitch in the game [Music] [Applause] the Cardinals have come all the way back from a 7-1 deficit they have stored for in the sixth one in the seventh one so far here in the eighth way yet to go here's John Mabry that one hit a mile into but it's playable for Sosa Sammy circuitous route makes the two-handed catch to out well the wind was driving that wall back toward the infield Sammy stayed with it and what that homerun did besides the obvious is make sure you get a little deeper into a lineup that turns over right you get Womack here you've got Renteria who Olson rolling for the ninth and if anybody gets on Edmonds to Gucci with two key runs batted in a wonderful play in left field and become bullpen today more problems line drive right field wall Mack is on don't think for a moment they won't hesitate to put him in motion well now although you might not want to do it you might want to think about bringing in Remlinger because Farnsworth is real slow to the plate I mean they're gonna send Barrett out to kill as much time as they want Latroy Hawkins is going to sprint to get loosened up he hasn't thrown a pitch yet [Applause] and now it's Latroy Hawkins is going to get up and Rothschild just now getting to the mound so lots of strategy about which to discuss let's quickly pause for station identification here in the top of the eighth you're watching superstation WGN your home for your favorite sports [Applause] Steve how quickly will wool wank be running it's tough to run on the first pitch because it's easy to throw a pitch out but I'm sure Larry Rothschild said give me a semblance of a slide step it goes wool Mac 14 out of 16 in stolen base attempts [Music] it would have been very easy for this Cardinal team down seven one did you say well we'll settle for a split and get out of town leading by eight with a lively ballpark they have come all the way back to tie it they've out hit the Cubs ten nine [Applause] because Womack was leaning and he just missed getting him at first good effort good quick tag but the hand in before the tag you have to make sure Farnsworth who was one to to the plate pretty quick on the first pitch he has enough on it to retire Renteria just trying to take a little spring out of the legs of Womack here and it also gives Hawkins some extra tosses in the cup pen now Renteria has never had much luck with Farnsworth the question is when do you gamble to maybe use a pitchout and one a no it's a big gamble leaning not going breaking strike one ball one strike now the count Cardinal pen has rape King and Julian Tavarez up our pen Latroy Hawkins in the bottom of this eighth inning Barrett Gonzales and then Farnsworth spot one ball one strike roller foul one and to wonder if Renteria was distracted there Womack broke from first and put on the brakes and Renteria swung at a ball that looked off the plate [Applause] Farnsworth one strike away from the tiring a guy his entire career blam shaded around too in centerfield if Kyle goes to that slider you just hope he doesn't hang it Renteria gets it left centerfield is a very attractive piece of real estate right now one ball two strikes eight eight the I'd have to send Womack here see what Tony LaRussa has in mind the thinking being obviously if he makes it with two-ounce you have an RBI chance if he doesn't delete off with Renteria in the night also you're guessing that Farnsworth is in a white mount with a slider which is a tough pitch to throw let's see what we have in store for us one two count runner leads another lead he's going pitch out the throw to second Samus dives across the bag and with a sweep tag retires whoa man the throw was so bad it was good but a so Taguchi home run in the eighth ties the game eight is your score what a game in [Applause] [Music] eight eight bottom eight great call from the bench they decide that it is a good pitch to run they call the pitch out the throw in the plenty of time and Alex coming across and they nail Womack just the third time this year he got a false start and perhaps that's what slowed him down enough the Cubs get out of the inning with a tie and it's up the michael barratt to lead it off against ray king who comes out of the pen for the 49th time new battery mate Yadier Molina will catch the king pitches John Mabry and left and it's Barrett Gonzalez and then we'll see for the Cubs what a ball game [Applause] slow roller toward rollin rates for a convenient watt out Cubs have just two hits after the third inning by the way today well unfortunately this is the complexion that oh just a bucket full of games between these two teams it's taken out eight times they've played one-run games two and six in those eight today [Applause] the Cardinals have come roaring back and now the Troy Hawkins continues to throw in the pen Alex Gonzalez Oh for three with a couple of swinging strikeouts Jose Macias is in the on-deck circle he's had good luck against ray King at two for five and he'll face him from the right side up and away one ball one strike Reds are here tomorrow Wilson and Clements Thursday coral island Greg Maddux here on WGN also a one o'clock Central Time start [Music] now ball towards second this Cardinal bullpen since late June has been almost impossible to score against Cubs have one run against them today that came in the third inning when Cal Eldred gave up a home run to Ramirez [Applause] [Music] two innings three hits two runs for Kyle to own runs [Applause] [Music] that'll mean it's going to be Latroy Hawkins to face Renteria pools and roland if anybody gets on Jim Edmonds a tough night ray King buzzes that ball inside Macias has had a real solid year hitting 288 six 424 as a pinch-hitter can't stop hitting against this Cardinal offense Macias is a better average hitter from the left side but he has a little more power from the right side Juan Juan count is pulled out of play [Applause] both Matt Morris and Glendon rush will get a no-decision today Morris the shortest ever performance against the Cubs in his career 7 runs in an inning in two-thirds but Eldred Klein Calero and now King have limited the damage to one cub run over the last six innings the cub been allowed three runs in the last three - to count em Macias bloops that into right-center field no Reggie Sanders a fine running catch three up three down Renteria pools and Roland coming up for the Cardinals against the Troy Hawkins [Music] hot muggy day at the ballpark and to the ninth we go it's eight eight and the Troy Atkins is on with a real tough part of this Cardinal attack coming up against it Renteria fools and Scott Rolen high hopper Alex charges in between hop [Applause] they said Alex had only one shot to smother it on a short hop he couldn't do it and Renteria the potential winning run is aboard [Applause] Bob Rosenberg concurs says it was a base hit and an ominous way to begin the ninth if you don't mm up somewhere along the line he do face Edmunds you have to pitch to this guy pool soon all he's done today is go four for four with three RBIs and two solo home runs he's found time to score three times also [Applause] I have time won 4-2 against Latroy Hawkins [Applause] he's grounded into 11 double plays the problem is getting the width of all on the ground that's been problematic in this series not a bad day not a bad week for most renteria 10 out of 14 in stolen bases this Cardinal team runs pretty well the Cubs with a great pitch out to end the eighth in and cut down Womack who hosts looking for his second five hit game this year is ready to go Hawkins comes to the belt not moving at first and a ball low one ball no strikes right now you're looking at a team wearing the gray road uniform that has complete total supreme confidence that no matter what they face they are going to win and it's easy to do when you're 22 over 500 and have a nine-game divisional lead runner goes pitch cut on driven right-field pretty deep Sammy back Sammy leaps it is in the best co-hosts of five hit three over again unbelievable one man today [Applause] there's three outs ago [Applause] [Music] [Applause] it's just far enough the basket out of the park the Cubs trailed by two first gens now starting at four things to the warning track which is ridiculous first five RBI game of the year for fools his second five hit game mile to right centerfield we told you this was going to be a real test no matter who was pitching the Cardinals have come all the way back from a seven one deficit to lead by two [Applause] speak softly carry a big stick and the series lead to this point as not been enough five runs surrendered by the cub bullpen Jason Isringhausen starting to throw in the pen and that at the knees for rollin no balls and a strike Cardinals with the best record in baseball are showing us why they are a fearsome team with which to contend in the second half that is some ballplayer in your TV screen 1-1 count the count to Roland thanks to our fine WGN producer Pete Toma skip Ellison our director Mark Brady our associate producer Bob four-walled our executive producer two balls and a strike with AD Eric Welch production assistant and Driscoll and Steve Novak back at our WGN studios our studio coordinator we've seen enough 3:1 pitches the last for a long time today and now but when Hawkins has to make another one [Applause] pulse ended the day with 24 homers and 65 driven in he's gonna end today with 27 home runs and 74 [Applause] - Mannie here's Evans Hawkins very familiar with Edmunds from his days with Minnesota when Edmunds is with the Angels [Music] Edmunds one for for today that hit a run producing single that one shot toward left-center field a loo good jump and a hip high catch one out that Paul handcuffed him and left well that ball was slicing and he just was able to corral it but couldn't get a good enough grip to make a throw Rolen got close to second base he thought this one was going to fall Moises comes across and winds up making the catch just barely but hang on he does there's Reggie Sanders sitting yo on deck would it for a king I just got something in his eye bothered him somewhat last time up you'd think that rolling with an e that isn't a hundred percent would not be a candidate to steal anything at this point when a player that guy is leading the major leagues and runs batted in but today belongs to Albert pools and so far to the Cardinals first pitch to Sanders he's humping away one ball no strikes Phillies will be in Atlanta later on tonight Houston hosting the Dodgers Houston's woes nearly as bad as ours the Astros are 13 out and 2 under 500 pirates host Montreal Florida visits New York Red's already in the win column and on their way to Chicago as we speak one oh count runner goes pitch count on surprisingly rollin moving here apparently that knee a little bit better than we thought it was as rollin was moving trying to stay out of the DoublePlay situation he's three of four in stolen bases Renteria was running when pools hit the home run that is the ultimate hit and run [Music] 10:8 well the day that that man will remember for a long time 24 years old figures to be around for a while and they have him signed up long-term which looks like a pretty good thing to do driven foul by Sanders ten eleven times this year now the Cardinals have scored ten or more runs two balls two strikes a little infield hit by Renteria changed the complexion of this night as did the booming vat of pools they've got him picked off two outs good solid throw by Derrek Lee [Music] and LX tags him out [Applause] because it's done a good job with the Cardinal baserunner it's not quite as good with the hitters Redbirds have it four out of the ballpark today three of them over the last three innings and one bite Taguchi the most surprising and painful for that's the one that allowed the Cardinals to tie it up so full count to Reggie Sanders bases empty two outs Cubs will have the top of the order up in the ninth but Jason Isringhausen the man they'll have to beat and he doesn't let many get away [Music] [Applause] of Michael Barrett's glove I told you earlier this come Cardinal rivalry the best in baseball thumbs we're hoping today to pull to within nine and ten for the season series and pulled it within eight of the lead and three outs and three runs to get if they're to do that today three two slime ball hammered centerfield pretty deep Patterson as far as he can go and that one's going to go home run day for st. Louis [Applause] Louis now is in a hundred and twenty-two [Applause] that comes ahead three their own today maybe a hundred and twenty one two powerful teams flexing their muscles [Music] more than their share in the basket today [Music] Roger Cedeno it's for King now barring Cedeno taking one out Isringhausen will have the easiest of all saves a three-run lead [Applause] [Applause] emilina in the on-deck-circle there is a look at Isringhausen we picked up saved number 23 last evening while you look at the last four innings of this game up on that scoreboard that's all you need to know long run although he can't get there that's it Cedeno has a pinch-hit extra-base hit Yadier Molina will here [Music] here comes Larry Rothschild to talk with Latroy Walken zametov st. Louis's 14 hits for extra bases five of them for homeruns what looked so exciting and promising comes leading 8 2 after 3 as evaporating [Applause] Yadier Molina and Crocodile Dundee got the ball melina the third of the three Molina's behind the plate in the big leagues the other two with Anaheim [Music] they're gonna escort mr. Dundee out of the game get climbing the foliage the no foliage rule we've had enough things flying in there for one day to be honest with you swing it a minute so into [Applause] if the Cubs can come back in the ninth it would be a huge emotional lift the question is what do you do if you lose this one to st. Louis will you come out tomorrow anyway get Cincinnati that's your only option one thing you know is that your fate head-to-head with st. Louis no longer rests in your hands Cubs still are going to have divisional hopes but honesty compels you to say they are faint right now you got to think about the wild card as well position the Cubs find themselves two games behind at the start of play today [Applause] any key to the playoffs it really doesn't matter because we've seen time and time again and as recently as last year you can have the disadvantage of not playing that deciding game in your park and still win it's getting into playoffs and if the only ticket is a wild card we've seen a few recent champions that way the Angels and all too painfully the Marla exactly right one ball two strikes to Molina Cedeno at second base he throws the bat at the ball and lines it out of play at the moment the wild card shapes up this way against Cincinnati already in the win column today if the Cubs fall here the Cubs would fall to third well the question is what kind of deals these teams gonna make that includes the Cubs and we've got 11 days to go to find out 1 & 2 to Molina again he throws the bat at the ball and strikes out choy has a tough time of it in the ninth-inning he looks homeward at Tim Tschida ask him where the strike zone was and Sheeta says it's been that way it's been a long hot and the cops are on the short end of a three run score [Applause] [Music] michael barratt wants to keep him away we don't need good Mohawk and suspension [Music] well as you saw us going to break Oh Troy Hawkins was thrown out of this ballgame it may not matter too much the Cubs are down three well the trains going to be suspended it took five Cub personnel to get him into the dugout now he wants to come back out we'll watch some of this and you'll wonder how this entire team is starting to lose its composure the Cubs down one closer might be down another one because Latroy question where the strike zone was and this went on for a while with Latroy trying to get at Tim Tschida the best way for Bob Watson to give you a vacation and this continued with Gary Matthews and Dusty Baker having to wrestle an irate Latroy Hawkins a very strong Latroy Hawkins who kept on trying to get back at Tim Tschida and it kept on going on and it'll still go on after that because he is sane enough already get in the dugout we can't afford to lose you Hawkins doesn't seem to understand that and I think you hit it on the head Steve composure lost last night by Carlos Zambrano what Troy loses it here in the ninth inning now they're losing the game by three with his rehousing on to face Todd Walker spin a cup team all year that's had a lot of expectations placed upon it and justifiably so many instances for reasons in their control in some aspects some out of their control they haven't lived up to either their own the media's or the fans well the last thing that Dusty Baker needed on a very difficult day was to have a wrestling match before the game ended I fly off the bat of Todd walk near the pen is not gonna have a play one ball two strikes to Walker so I think the big picture is going to have to be reboot in focus for the guys in that locker room at the end of this game if you fall here you're ten out you still have a chance to get in the playoffs but I think those guys will be the first to tell you they've got to pitch better catch it better overall play better against better teams if they want that to happen that's all you can do the fans here trying to get the Cubs to come back in rally against Israel we did pick up the save last night it's a quick turnaround for him he's looking for save number 24 [Applause] forty-third time say this about these fans thicker thin mail of you may support you that's going to be needed over the final two and a half months as well full count to Walker three balls two strikes Todd Walker showed a little patience and he was just about ready to walk off damn pitch touch outside [Applause] full of foul past gene clines at first ray King stands to win it be on the short end Isringhausen looking for a three-run save here [Applause] pull toward first Albert Pujols gargles got four into six single runs into seventh and eighth a big street three spot in the ninth and that was enough to erase the Cubs touchdown in the second inning they put seven on the board and chip you said it earlier would have been very easy for this team knowing they came into this town looking for at the worse to split they had that coming into today they kept on banging away and now they've got a three-run lead with two outs to go Corey Patterson in the box Corey today a 2-run double again that comes with seven runs six hits in the second inning no runs three hits since give the Cardinal bullpen a ton of credit for a team win even though ray Kings good to be the man officially credited with it they kept the Cubs off the scoreboard and gave their bats a chance to come back and come back they did with five home runs today but it looked like the game was gonna get out of hand three innings gave up a run kept was blind Calero King and now Isringhausen and the day offensively belongs Albert Pujols [Applause] two outs to go [Music] [Applause] order to face Israel [Applause] of all no strikes Yankees beat Tampa Bay Florida to today Baltimore pounds Kansas City 12 to 3 there was the finals in the AL Red's over the Brewers earlier the other action gets underway and about my pop show center actually behind the second base bag it's been a rough series for so soon they'd hit a single two outs from [Applause] boys this is one for three today walk a run and an RBI single all that production coming in to second inning events [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] all at a strength to the come leftfielder Paul Wilson Matt Clemente tomorrow at one o'clock here on I should say on Fox Sports Net Chicago we're here on WGN Thursday for the ramped up with the Reds then we head to Philadelphia for the weekend 1-1 count dusty and the rest of his staff Gary Matthews Wendell Kim just about everybody [Applause] making sure that latoya hawkins could not get at Tim Tschida [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] like this one to be remembered one to count to Moises Alou [Applause] the counts are gonna have to dig down real deep do a lotta self-examination [Applause] get something positive going but he's gonna do it for him a lot of talent hard-working coaching staff these players want to get the job done would be a good place to start the 2-2 pitch [Applause] [Music] [Applause] but two - hello quietly here in the ninth-inning well the measure of a man and a team is close to the same thing it's how they handle adversity if the Cubs do indeed lose this one their one out away from doing that this will be a crushing defeat for them the rest of the tale is yet to be told we'll see how they come [Applause] [Music] and that will tell you a whole lot of these guys as individuals to to a good sign perhaps a nisit back from Allah they're really easy to take three quick ones and go home he's fighting and battling and keeping it alive open to he knows if he does keep it alive the tying run comes to the plate [Music] and there would be the time that Moises can keep it a lot two balls two strikes little upper right channel the time run is coming up here's Derrek Lee he homered already today Moises Alou that's an example we've you don't see it very often though shortening your stroke and staying alive it's a slider moisés knew there was nothing he could do at this wall except make contact and try to serve it in the right field [Applause] however this one works out it's a great illustration of just staying alive Alou did it perfectly and now you do have a chance to bring the tying run to the plate and a guy that does have a two-run homer back in the big seventh run seven-run second please done a lot of damage five homers 16 knocked in against st. Louis the Cubs have a 2 out 9 a miracle against his ring houses let's see please first lifetime hit against his there's only faced on four times when favors a right-hand hitter - we'll take a walk as well Ramirez has some funk when he waits next and Ramirez has had success with Israel nowhere near [Applause] and up and going for Tony LaRussa and the car goes it's Julian Taveras the bags are full with two outs and one swing could win it everybody coming in and talking with Israel [Applause] [Music] [Applause] Ramires of the homerun [Applause] we've seen just about everything you can see at the ballpark today [Applause] [Music] first pitch to Aramis ball on [Music] but he hasn't been closed and perhaps he is feeling some effects real quick turn around remember last night he stumbled on the mouth walked a man nearly walked Todd Walker before getting out of it last night I was making him for a strike [Applause] to Aramis Ramirez michael barratt in the on-deck-circle I don't feel as deep as they can get hi pops Channel Center evidence broke back coming in still coming he's got it and the Cardinals suite becomes 11/8 is the final score dusty Baker's troops give him credit for at least this they put together a rally with two outs in the ninth but now double digits back in the central division these Red Hots st. Louis Cardinals Isringhausen found that control when he needed it [Applause] and all the offensive they could use and they came roaring back 11:14 big numbers for the Cardinals that's your final score 11 8 back to talk about it at Wrigley right after this this one was an extravaganza and alas for the Cubs the Cardinals wintered a two-game swing cumson out 10 games back in the central 11 14 and over for the Cardinals they left six on base for the Cubs runs 10 hits no errors they left seven comes Len at 82 after three and couldn't hold on the Cardinal bullpen out pitched that of the Cubs ray King wins it Hawkins the loser and Jason Isringhausen not without some dramatics in the ninth inning picks up a very shaky but effective 24th save and in the end of the day Steve just too much thunder in that Cardinal lineup especially off the cuff as carpools here's the Budweiser game of the day play of the day run by pools five hits five runs batted in it was all Albert Pujols and the Cardinals in the two-game sweep so becomes 10 games back at the moment 2 and a half back in the wild-card the Reds are in tomorrow on Fox we're back here on WGN Thursday afternoon Cory Lidle and Greg Maddux will hook up in the series at homestand wrap-up beginning at 1 o'clock Central time the Cardinals are red-hot they're most deserving of their double-digit lead in the central hopefully somebody can cool them off where we've concluded hostilities with the Cardinals this year they won 11 of 19 in the head-to-head matchup for Steve stone chip Caray and our entire crew inviting you to stay tuned we'll have a brief 10th inning show it's coming up right after this Chicago Cubs baseball brought to you by anheuser-busch who salutes America's designated drivers Comcast Digital Cable more Chicago sports now in hi-def the Illinois Lottery have a ball with the Illinois Lottery during their 30th anniversary celebration five Pepsi it's the cola and by Southwest Airlines over 2,800 daily nonstop to 60 destinations all across the country hi I'm Fred from dirt-cheap yes it's a lot of fun at dirt cheap and we want you to have fun shopping for our moderate price wines of the world [Music] yes they're cheap but our wines are also romantic exciting and perfect for every occasion the more she drinks our wine the better you'll look we are the last refuse to the persecuted smoker and we really are grateful for your business [Music]

Channel: Cardinals Baseball Classics

Views: 9,702

Keywords: mlb, baseball, mlb baseball, st. louis cardinals, chicago cubs, 2004 st. louis cardinals, albert pujols, albert pujols 3 hr, albert pujols cardinals, albert pujols home run, wgn, steve stone, tony la russa, dusty baker, so taguchi

Id: emH-oxwFyHU

Length: 182min 18sec (10938 seconds)

Published: Thu Jul 12 2018