Cubs 3- Pirates 2

Backwards series. It makes me think, what the hell happened the past two days? Two back to back 9th inning comebacks? Today in the 9th, Burnitz walks to lead off the inning. He promptly gets thrown out trying to steal second; I refuse to beleive that "hit and run" line. Then Barrett hits a high pop up that somehow carries all the way to the wall for a double. Somehow, Valparaiso U alum Lloyd McClendon thinks it's a good idea to walk Corey Patterson, who was still looking to swing at the pitches, even though the catcher was signaling for an intentional walk. Dusty makes the right decision and brings in Hollandsworth who swings at two really bad pitches and manages to get it to a full count. He hits a liner off of the first basemen and into right field plating a run and tieing the game. The nuttiness doesn't end there. Jose Macias is up next and hits a sacrifice fly to the outfield to put the Cubs in the lead.

The bottom of the ninth is even more crazy. The first batter up is Tike Redman who doubles down the right field line. I immediately think that this game is going to be tied. Rob Mackowiak is up next and walks on 4 pitches which was actually a blessing in disguise. Lloyd pulls Bobby Hill and brings in Freddie Sanchez to bunt. It was obvious that was what he was doing, since he had Bobby Hill in the on-deck circle to pinch hit and then brought him down. Sanchez, the bunting specialist, bunts right back to the pitcher Dempster who throws to 3rd to get the lead runner. Macias tries to be the hero and tries to the throw the ball into the seats down the right field line but Hairston leaps and gets the ball. He jumped so high, I thought Lee had saved that ball. Next guy up is Lawton who dribbles a ball to second. The runner comes in between Hairston and the ball and Hairston bobbles it. Hairston complains of interference, but it was obvious from replays that he booted it. The next guy is Jack Wilson who grounds into a double play to end the game. If he beats out the throw to first, the game is tied.

The Cubs tried to give the game away 3 times in the 9th (Macias, Hairston, and Dempster's walk) and still won. How many times has that happened this year? None. Next up is that other team in Chicago, a team who I don't hate but who really hates me.