[rpriske]

July 20th, 1986

Another afternoon at Wrigley.

Today the Cubs are pitching Vida Blue (5-7, 4.96).
The Giants are using Eric King (6-3, 4.03).

Blue is new to the NL so none of us have faced him.

I kicked off the game vs the vet by whiffing with a full count. Before the inning was up, Chili Davis scored on a Rob Deer sac fly.

Giants lead 1-0.

I got the 2nd out in the 1st, grabbing a pop fly by Ray Knight.

The Cubs took the lead in the 2nd when Jim Gantner smacked a two run homer.

Cubs lead 2-1.

I led off the 3rd by striking out again.

I got the 1st out in the bottom half by taking a Blue grounder.

I got the last out in the 4th by doing the same with a Cecil Cooper grounder.

I led off the 5th by flying out to Billy Hatcher in centre.

I got the first out in the bottom half, grabbing a Gantner pop.

The Cubs struck again in the 6th, as Dave Owen crossed on a Chris Hoiles double. Then Hoiles scored on a Cooper single. That was it for Eric as Nestor pulled him for Pat Perry. Tom O'Malley also replaced Denny Walling at 1st in a double switch.

Cubs lead 4-1.

I came up with one out in the 7th. I finally got something going, dropping a ball into left for a single. I not only stole base #75, but I got to 3rd when Hoiles threw the ball away. I scored on a Robby Thompson sac fly. After that Chili hit a solo homer.

Cubs lead 4-3.

The Cubs immediately widened the gap as Billy Hatcher scored on an Owen single. Frank Williams then came on in relief.

Cubs lead 5-3.

In the 8th Bob Brenly scored on an O'Malley fielder's choice. I came up with Tom on 1st and two out, now facing Aurelio Lopez. I flew out to Hatcher again.

Cubs lead 5-4.

Mark Davis took over pitching after that. He loaded up the bases with one out and then uncorked a wild pitch that scored Hoiles. I got a pinch hitter Rick Burleson grounder for the 2nd out, holding Cooper at 3rd.

Cubs lead 6-4.

And that is how it ended. Another loss.

Thankfully, both the Reds and Dodgers lost as well.

Little did we know that we were watching Eric King's last game as a Giants.

Over night we heard about a trade that sent King and a minor leaguer named Jim Corsi to the Padres for Eric Show.

As much as I liked King, getting Show is a pretty big deal for us!

Tomorrow we are in St.Louis to face the Cardinals.