Cubbies take 3 of 4 from 'Spos in Opening Series

KOD16 – Opening Series – Mon/Wash v Chicago Cubs
 

Game 1
Montreal 0 – Chicago 5
John Lannan vs. Kerry Wood

Kerry Wood was outstanding on Opening Day in KOD16. Wood went 7 innings allowing only 5 hits while striking out 10. Lannan pitched well until the 5th when control issues became a problem. Lannan walked 6 in 5 innings including walking in a couple of runs in the 5th. Kerry Wood was MVP.
 

Game 2
Montreal 3 – Chicago 12
Carl Morton vs. Rich Nye
 

This game was tied at 3 all going into the bottom of the 6th. Then the big lumber for the Cubbies went to work. Gene Baker hit a 2 run homer in the 6th off of Morton. Ryne Sandberg added a solo shot in the 3 run 7th. Then ‘Let’s Play Two’ Ernie Banks hit a 2 run shot off reliever Chad (pitching more like Will) Cordero. Nye went the distance giving 3 runs on 6 hits. Gene Baker was the MVP as he went 3-5 with 6 RBIs. As Manager Weiss said in his postgame news conference, at least we scored today.
 

Game 3
Chicago 4 – Montreal 9
Dennis Lamp vs. Dan Warthen
 

Just when it looked like the Cubbies were unbeatable they came crashing back to earth. The Expos jumped on Lamp for 5 runs in the first 2 innings. Future HOF’er Fergie Jenkins was roughed up for 2 more in 3 innings of work as Montreal raced out to a 7-0 lead. Brad Fullmer led the way with 2 homeruns and 4 RBIs. Warthen was solid until a mini rally by the Cubs in the 6th cut the lead to 7-4. But Fullmer went deep in the bottom of the 7th and David Palmer shut down the Cubs with 3 no run innings of relieve. Brad Fullmer was MVP.
 

Game 4
Chicago 6 – Montreal 1
Burt Hooton vs. Dustin Hermanson
 

Burt Hooton was dominating as he pitched a complete game giving up 1 run on three hits. It was a close game going into the 6th inning when Randy Hundley unloaded a three run shot against reliever Tim Burke. That gave the Cubs a 5 run lead that the masterful Hooton easily protected. Hermanson pitched well giving up 3 runs in 5 innings while striking out 9. But his pitch count was up 110 after those 5 innings and Manager Weiss had no recourse but to pull him. Burt Hooton was MVP.
The Cubs hit .305 for the opening series vs. .231 for the Expos. Cubs had 3.34 ERA vs. 6.35 for the Nationals. But as Cubbie fans the world over know, this is a marathon not a sprint, so expectations need to be tempered.

--sumbitted by Ron Burnette--