It's funny when a team loses because of a bad decision I made... on to the recap!
The Reds got on the board first in the bottom of the first when a Dave Parker sacrifice fly plated Gary Redus for the first run. It's Parker's seventh sacrifice on the year, which leads the National League. The Cubs tied the game in the top of the fourth when Jody Davis hit a solo homer off Jeff Russell.
In the bottom of the fifth Steve Trout, the Chicago starter, imploded. Redus walked and stole second base, Ron Oester reached on a Larry Bowa error, Cesar Cedeno singled, Parker singled, Nick Esasky singled, Dave Concepcion popped out, but then Eddie Milner doubled and Trout hit the showers. I'm pretty sure that was the longest sentence in the history of this blog. Cincy scored four runs that inning to take a 5-1 lead.
Russell had been cruising going into the top of the sixth, but the wheels fell off right after his offense gave him that nice lead. Davis doubled, Ron Cey was hit by Russell, Keith Moreland walked, Henry Cotto walked, and Russell joined Trout in the showers. Wait, that didn't come out right... Anyhoo, Ted Power took over and gave up a single to Larry Bowa and back to back sacrifices by Tim Stoddard and Bob Dernier and all of a sudden the game was tied up again!
The score was still knotted at 5-5 when Dernier squeezed home Larry Bowa off reliever John Franco. The run was unearned because Bowa reached third on a Gary Redus fielding miscue. In the bottom of the eighth Lee Smith was handed the ball and got out of the inning unscathed. Three outs later, I had a choice to make. Do I keep Lee Smith in for a second inning of work, knowing he has a 2-6 Statis Pro rating, or do I bring in Warren Brusstar, who has a more favorable 2-7 rating? I personally really like Lee Smith, so I wanted to see him get the win. He got Parker to ground out for the first out, but gave up three straight singles to load the bases with one out in the bottom of the ninth. I finally yanked Smith, and pinch hitter Wayne Krenchicki stepped into the batter's box. Brusstar walked him, to tie the game. Then catcher Brad Gulden dug in and hit a walk-off single to win the game! And it was all my fault!!! *slaps forehead*
Winning Pitcher - John Franco
Losing Pitcher - Lee Smith
Player of the Game - Gulden, walk-off RBI single
Hall of Famers in the Game - Ryne Sandberg
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