5/3/75 CC @ STL

Yet another low-scoring game.  Bill Bonham went the distance for the Cubs, scattering 6 hits and 5 walks while striking out 8, leading Chicago to a 2-1 win.  Both Cubs runs came in the top of the 3rd.  Jose Cardenal singled off John Denny and proceeded to steal 2nd.  He scored on Rick Monday’s single.  Bill Madlock drove Monday home with a double, but was stranded there.

The Cardinals threatened big time in the 8th.  Lou Brock led off with a single.  Bake McBride walked, followed by a Reggie Smith single.  Only a strong throw by Jerry Morales kept Brock at third.  With the bases loaded and nobody out, Ted Simmons popped out.  Ron Fairly then drew a walk, forcing in a run.

This is when things got interesting.  Despite the fact that he’s hitting over .340, Red Schoendienst (that’s SHANE-deenst for the German-impared), the St. Louis manager, asks Ken Reitz to try to squeeze home a run.  The pitch is fouled off.  The next pitch Reitz squared to bunt, but pulled back when McBride never broke for the plate.  The pitch was high for ball one.  Reitz then squares again, McBride breaks for home, but Kenny missed the pitch, and McBride was nailed at the plate easily for the 2nd out, though the runners did move up.  Reitz then proceeded to take a called third strike, ending the rally.

Denny, despite one of his better outings took the loss, dropping him to 1-2.  He gave up only 6 hits and one walk in 7 innings, striking out 8.  Ted Sizemore went 2-3 with 2 doubles and a walk, but it just wasn’t enough.