The Bats squandered an early 4-0 lead, but held on to defeat the Cubs, 5-4, for their third win of the season.  The victory moved the Bats (3-8-1) a game ahead of the Cubs (2-9) in the standings.

 

Despite committing 4 errors it was the Bats defense that ultimately made the difference in the game.  The Bats turned 3 double plays including a game-ending twin killing to preserve the victory in the bottom of the seventh inning.

 

The Bats jumped out to a quick 2-0 lead in the first inning when Earl Blankenship led off with a single and Kevin Molbeck reached on an error.  Those two eventually came around to score on a ground out by John Moulchin and a single by Ron Skrabacz.

 

Moulchin pitched the first 3 innings for the Bats and surrendered only 1 run while pitching around 6 hits and 2 walks.  He was aided by double plays in the first and second innings to prevent any serious damage.  The first inning also saw center fielder Earl Blankenship prevent a double on a hit to the right-centerfield gap by cutting the ball off and throwing to the cutoff man who threw to second to get the out on a close play.

 

In the top of the third the Bats scored 2 more runs as Mike Steffy was plunked in the elbow and Denny Prosperi singled to right to lead off the frame.  Both would eventually score on a 2-out throwing error by the Cubs third baseman to up the lead to 4-0.

 

The Cubs rallied with two outs in the bottom half of the third with 3 straight singles to load the bases.  Moulchin  then walked in a run, but got the next batter on a ground out to shortstop to end the threat.

 

Rich Skibski relieved Moulchin in the fourth and worked around a couple of errors, a hit and 2 walks as the Cubs picked up 2 unearned runs to pull within 1 run.  In the fifth inning the Cubs threatened again as they worked the bases full with one out.  Skibski struck out the next batter but hit the following batter to force in the tying run before a groundout to shortstop ended the rally.

 

Mike Hareng, a late arrival to the game, came in to pitch the sixth inning, and after walking the first two batters induced two groundouts and a strikeout to keep the score knotted at 4-4.

 

In the top of the seventh Kevin Molbeck singled and stole second to lead off the inning.  Two outs later Skrabacz beat out an infield single to put runners at the corners for Bill Quoss.  Quoss came through with an RBI single past the Cubs shortstop for a 5-4 Bats advantage.

 

In the bottom of the seventh the Cubs first two hitters reached on a single and fielding error leaving the tying and winning runs on second and third.  With the tying run only 90 feet away, Hareng struck out the next batter to set up what proved to be the final play of the game.  The Cubs Gary Gushulak lofted a shallow pop fly down the right field line which was caught by right fielder John Reincke.  Reincke's throw was cut off by first baseman Quoss who threw home to prevent the runner from advancing.  The throw skooted past catcher Don Gragnani to the backstop and the runner on third broke for home.  Gragnani hustled after the ball and fired to Hareng covering the plate who applied the tag for the final out of the game.

 

This was the second time these two teams have met with the Cubs winning the previous game, 13-5, on June 30. The Bats and Cubs will play the rubber match of their season series on August 27. 

 

 

 The Bats next game will be on Sunday, August 13 at 1 p.m. against the Marauders at Emricson Park in Woodstock, Ill. 

 

 

BATS DROPPINGS

John Moulchin has been one of the Bats hottest pitchers of late.  In his last three outings he has thrown 7 innings and allowed only 1 run. ...... The Bats had 15 fielding assists in the game including 2 outfield assists. ...... The last time the Bats turned 3 double plays in a game was July 20, 2014 at Cambridge Lakes also against the Cubs (known then as the Braves).  The Bats won that game, 9-3. ...... The Bats have not won more than 3 games in a season since 2010 when they finished with a record of 7-11.  They won 3 games in 2011 (3-15), 2013 (3-13-1) and 2015 (3-13). ...... The Bats will once again be trying to win consecutive games for the first time since 2011 when they take on the first-place Marauders on Sunday.