How exciting was that game?
The best 9th I've seen in awhile - what drama.
Ray starting pitcher Kazmir is a leftie, Lou puts in an all-rightie lineup.
I'm not surprised by that or thinking anything about this as the game goes on.
Then, the 9th.
Cubs down 3-1.
I am aware that Fukudome, Hoffpaiur, and Edmonds are on the bench, I just forgot that they're all lefties.
Were you guys getting all this before it happened?
So in comes righty Ray closer Troy Percival.
Soto leads off with a total smash and the Ray left fielder - I don't know his name - makes a SPECTACULAR running crashing catch full steam into the padding.
You can't make that catch at Wrigley and live to talk about it.
One out.
DeRosa then with the solid single.
Now comes the Lou's brain part...
Right about here either Len or Bob pointed out that Lou's been saving these lefty bats for just this moment.
Man, I was EXCITED.
You can already see lefty Hoffpauir on deck, and Fukudome hits for Murton,
He smacks a Fuku-double - that wonderful late swing that shoots the ball down the left field line.
The neighbors, they're used to my yelling so nobody calls the cops.
Hoffpaiur up, 2-1 count, and Percival throws a wild pitch over the catcher's head.
DeRo scores, Fukudome to third.
More screaming, Percival is rattled, still no cops.
Hoffpauir is a little too anxious, and strikes out.
But now it's the match-up of the game.
They have nice close-ups of both Percival and Jimmy Edmonds.
Percival is 38, but the sun wrinkles on his neck make him look like a cartoon vulture from a Disney movie.
He looks 90.
Edmonds ain't a spring chicken either - this is a match-up of seasoned vets.
Another wild pitch goes all the way to the backstop, and bounces straight back to the catcher.
Fukudome stays at third, but damn guys - that wild pitch there should have tied the game.
The Rays luck out.
Edmonds, like a true stud vet, works the count and gets a walk.
Reed Johnson up, he needs to make up for making the 3rd out at 3rd earlier.
He sees Ray 3rd baseman Evan Longoria is playing back like normal.
He bunts on the first pitch, surprising everyone.
But an impossible barehanded pickup and wild one hopper to first that is impossibly scooped up for the last out.
What. A. Game.
So I'm gonna remember this one come post season.
If it comes to it, you know Percival can be shaken.
The Rays look like that kind of young Florida team that plays good and loose because they're too young to know any better.
I'd be scared of them should they still be there at the end of the season.
Too many words today, but once again...yep the Cubs lost 3-2, but I totally expected them to win.
That switch turned somewhere earlier this year, and I now expect the Cubs to win.
That, my friend, is a weird way to think about...the Cubs.
