Great game even though Cubs lost

June 18th, 2008 at 09:25am Wally Haas

I didn’t see much of the game last night, but I was able to tune in for one of the most exciting ninth innings I’ve seen in a while.

Troy Percival is one of the best closers ever, so it looked grim when the Cubs came to bat. After all, they only had four hits in the first eight innings.

Geovany Soto led off with a shot that could have been a double if not for an excellent running catch by the left fielder, who banged up against the padded wall and held on to the ball.

Mark DeRosa followed with a single and Kosuke Fukudome hit a pinch hit double. With runners on second and third, Percival uncorked a high pitch that got by the catcher and allowed DeRosa to score and Fukudome to go to third.

Unfortunately Micah Hoffpauir struck out. Jim Edmonds then walked to put runners on first and third with two outs. Reed Johnson tried to surprise the Rays with a bunt but was thrown out on an excellent play by both the third baseman and first baseman.

The Cubs continue to show they can come back. They just couldn’t come back far enough last night. The Rays made the plays when they needed them most.

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