First, 20 years ago today. The Cubs were at home, playing the Astros. Houston scored early and often, leading 9 to 0 after five innings. Don Zimmer took Andre Dawson out of the game to give his knees a rest.
But then, in the top of the sixth, Dwight Smith threw out an Astros’ base runner at the plate and, in the words of The Boys of Zimmer, "the Astros would score no more." But the Cubs would.
The Cubs started with two runs in the sixth. After the Cubs got three more in the seventh, on a two-run homer run by Lloyd McClendon and a single by Dwight Smith scoring Mark Grace, it was 9 to 5. The Cubs were back in it.
In the eighth Joe Girardi scored on an error, McClendon drove in Jerome Walton, Grace drove in Sandberg, and Smith hit a sac fly to score McClendon. It was 9 to 9; the score was tied!
And then in the tenth, Walton led off with a walk. Ryno sacrificed him to second. (Note to today's superstars and not-so-superstars: Learn how to bunt.) Walton went to third on a single by McClendon. After Mark was intentionally walked, Dwight singled to right and Walton scored – and the Cubs won, 10 to 9! They had won after being down 9 to 0! One of the TV stations in Chicago that night said this was proof the Cubs were going to win the East – and they did.
I don’t remember much about the game 40 years ago today, except that, while I was listening to the beginning of the game, waiting for the rehearsal to start, Billy Williams hit into a triple play in the first inning. But it was okay. The Cubs won anyway.
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