After an off day yesterday, it was time to resume our last series of the year on the last day of January. Time for a couple quickies before Mgr. Lucas needed to go to church. Jake Peavy bested his old team in the opener of the final three games. Jake went the distance, allowing only two runs, while the Hitmen scored four off of A.J. Burnett, who also pitched a complete game, his 2nd of the series. B.J. Upton nailed one out for Chicago. Jake Peavy singled home two runs after Miguel Cabrera was intentionally passed to fill the bases with two out in the 5th, it tied the game at two. Carlos Delgago got a two-run double with no outs in the top of the 9th, for the game winner. 4-2 Bad Guys!
The Champs obliged Chuck by rolling over, they got nahting. The combined shutout was tossed by John Smoltz, Matt Lindstrom, & Joakim Soria. Greg Maddux could sue for no support, as the greybeard went 8 innings, only giving up three runs, Brian McCann lined a two-run gags drunk single with two outs in the 4th & Cabrera ripped a two-out RBI double to pad the lead. 3-0 Bad Guys!
Chuck must’ve prayed for Tedd to start rolling, cuz the numbers changed upon his return. Mark Buehrle faced off against a limited Cole Hamels in the season finale with the nine game set tied at four, as the Hitmen reeled off a four game winning streak. Jeff Weaver relieved Hamels after Cole had tossed 2′ scoreless innings. Chicago took advantage of the sidearming righthander, scoring three in the 3rd (2-run bomb by Nick Swisher & a solo clout by Victor Martinez), two more in the 4th (RBI double by Buehrle & an RBI by Upton on a base knock & 2 SBs), and two more in the 6th off Weaver as he left the game with two runners on & two outs. Lindstrom walked Upton to load the bases, then Buckeye Nick lined a three run, two out single. JRoll ripped one over the wall in the 7th off Jon Rauch, for the Champs 9th run of the ballgame. RBIs for the Northside were a 1st inning RBI single by Ryan Doumit, Jose Valentin doubled home a run in the 4th, and then Weaver helped himself plating Jose with a single. 9-3 Good Guys!