Northside Hitmen bats remained relatively silent as the two teams entered into their 2nd third of this nine game series. There was a 4th inning four run outburst against Greg Maddux, which tied the game at four, the Hitmen runs came courtesy of two two-run blasts one by Hunter “Under Pants” Pence & the other monster shot was Manny being Manny. The Chicago Champions had jumped off to a four to zip lead via two solo shots by ARod, an RBI double by Justin Morneau, who remained red-hot, and Maddux helped himself with a sac-fly. Chicago played small-ball in the 6th, CLee got a leadoff double, went to third on a grounder by Morneau, doing his job, Vernon Wells was sent in to run for Lee, and scored on a ground out by Grady Sizemore. B.J. Upton led off with a double in the 7th & scored moments later on an RBI single off the bat of Nick Swisher. Cole Hamels was again trailing, this time by a pair. Dr. Morneau made a house call in the 8th off reliever Matt Lindstrom, with an 8th inning drive. Maddux got the win, Matt Capps worked a scoreless 9th for the save. 7-4 Good Guys!
Series moves across town to Crackerjack Park, Home of the Chicago Champions. The wind was blowing out as 5th starter Matt Cain took the bump versus Micah Owings. The Hitmen scored six runs of Cain before he was pulled in the 5th inning, highlights a 2-run Carlos Delgado bomb and a big fly by Owings. It became 8-5 when Edgar Renteria took Brett Myers deep for a 2-run homer in the 6th. Miguel Cabrera doubled home Brian McCann with another in the 7th to make it 9-5. Justin “Paul Bunyan” Morneau hit a solo shot, his 2nd homer of the game (in the 6th he hit a 2-runner), leading off the 8th, after G-Size K’d, Toni Abreu pinch-hit a double, was pinch run for by Josh Barfield, Joakim Soria was brought in to close it out, but the Champs wouldn’t quit, as Upton doubled home Barfield, and then Nick “Buckeye” Swisher went yard to knot the ballgame at niners. CLuke was visibly upset in the dugout, throwing his chew, saying, “That’s it!” After a moment to regroup Rodriguez walked, Vernon Wells singled, both runners moved up on a JRoll groundout, Miguel “Bombon” Olivo was intentionally passed to bring up the hottest hitter in the Champ lineup. You’re playing with fire, Scarecrow, but Soria induced the Doctor to bounce out, and the top of the 8th was finally history. With one out and one on in the bottom of the 8th Chase Utley smacked a screaming meanie just inside the rightfield foulpole off reliever Chad Cordero, making it 11-9. But Chicago wasn’t done, Josh Barfield lined a one out 9th inning double, moved to third on an Upton grounder, Swish walked, Rodriguez was hit by a pitch, bringing up V-Dub, when Wells bounced to short the ballgame was over. 11-9 Bad Guys!
The wind continued to blow out as Brad Penny was matched up against Josh Beckett. B.J. Upton hit the first pitch he saw out to knot the game at one, after one, Utley clobbered a solo blast in the top of the frame. JRoll gave Beckett a two run lead when the little man launched one with a runner on in the 4th. But then Josh spit out his lead in the 7th, when he was knocked around for two 2-runners, one by CD & the other by Under Pants, Hitmen up by one. The game was tied when CLee hit one right between the wickets, as Penny couldn’t get the glove down quick enough, plating ARod from 3rd base. Remarkably both pitchers were still around, Beckett lasting 9 innings, Penny going 10. In the 11th Cordero was in there to face pinch-hitter Kenny Lofton, who got a leadoff hustle double, he’s still got wheels, Jose “AK-47” Valerde relieved Chad Patrick, Edgar “Time to Pay the Rent” Renteria grounded him to 3rd, Under Pants hit a sac-fly, Pence reached base when Sizemore dropped the ball, trying to get an angle for his throw home, and then, that man again, Chase Utley sent one into the night, putting the game on ice. 8-5 Bad Guys!