MIAMI Let's roll some of these names around on our tongues,shall we? Try to get the proper perspective for what might bedeveloping as the Cubs left Florida with an 8-7 victory over theMarlins and the organization's first winning record (2-1) since Sept.14, 1996.
The Comeback Cubs. The Cardiac Cubs. The (Ed) Lynch Mob. The(Jim) Riggleman Revival. The Big Mac (Andy MacPhail) Attacks.This team is a slogan waiting to happen after they dugthemselves out of a 6-0, first-inning hole while showing a heart thatwas missing in action last season."It's the sign of a good team the way we won today after gettingdown so quickly," shortstop Jeff Blauser said of the way the Cubserased a six-run deficit in a winning cause for the first time sinceAugust, 1993. "For it to happen for us the third game of the season,that's nice."Blauser singled home Mark Grace with the winning run in theninth. Grace was hit by a pitch with two outs by Jay Powell, andpinch hitter Jose Hernandez kept the inning alive with a single.When Rod Beck began the Marlins' ninth by allowing a single andwalking Gary Sheffield, visions of Mel Rojas flashed through manyminds."I don't walk many guys, but I wasn't going to let Sheffieldbeat me," said Beck of a Marlins star who was 5-for-8 in this serieswith two homers, six RBI and five walks.After a sacrifice bunt put runners at second and third, Beckstruck out Charles Johnson and Craig Counsell."Counsell tripled off me last night on a 1-0 fastball, so Istruck him out on a slider this time," Beck said. "Luckily I didn'thave to show him my hand last night."Grace said this season would be fun. It is becoming clear hewas talking about the enjoyment you have when, just as you are aboutto spill boiling coffee in your lap, you steady the cup.This is a team that's probably going to live on the edge."We've got some good hitters," said catcher Tyler Houston, whohad four RBI and a three-run homer. "We can overcome some things."The Cubs so far have fielded the kind of offense and playersthat come supplied with erasers. Together, they wiped clean JeremiGonzalez's dirty slate.Gonzalez, the Cubs starter, couldn't retire a single Marlinsbatter. He gave up six first-inning runs on four walks and threehits, including Sheffield's three-run homer."Maybe too much adrenaline," Houston said."He didn't warm up well," pitching coach Phil Regan said. "Hewas getting the ball up and he couldn't adjust. But it's good tohave a guy to close out games like Beck with all his experience. Hebelieves that he will get people out. I wish all my pitchers thoughtthat."Manny Alexander homered for the first time as a pinch-hitter inthe sixth inning after Houston led off with a single. Alexanderusually isn't expectedto homer, but this club might be veryunpredictable."Those pinch-hit at-bats by Jose and Manny were critical,"Houston said.Amaury Telemaco gave the Cubs a comeback chance. Afterrelieving Gonzalez, he went five innings and allowed one run on twohits and three walks. A Cubs reliever hadn't gone five innings sinceTurk Wendell in July, 1995."It's encouraging to me that we won without big days from Graceand (Sammy) Sosa," Riggleman said.The Cubs no longer are trying to pull a team with two horses.They have some stubborn mules out there now who are refusing to quitunder any circumstances."Quiet professionalism," Blauser said. "No panic."
No comments:
Post a Comment