Cubs keep adding to Wrigley woes
If nothing else, Ryne Sandberg reminded Cubs fans of better days at Wrigley Field.
You know, like when the Cubs used to win regularly at their home ballpark.
Sandberg, the Cubs Hall of Famer, got the biggest cheers on the day from the relatively small crowd of 27,763 Friday as he marched the lineup card out as manager of the Philadelphia Phillies.
He also walked away the winner as the Cubs gave up a 5-0 lead and fell 6-5. It was a particularly bitter loss for the Cubs, who fell to 25-42 at Wrigley Field and are on pace to lose a club-record 51 games on the North Side. The previous record for futility stands at 49 losses, “accomplished” three different times.
“Obviously, twice in one week,” said Cubs manager Dale Sveum, whose team frittered away a 6-0 first-inning lead at San Diego on the previous road trip and lost 8-6. “To see this kind of game, and this one at home with your big horse on the mound cruising along, and all of a sudden, he starts misfiring and gets the ball up.
“So yeah, once again, it’s home again and seal the deal. We can’t get a big hit to walk them off or get the chance.”
The “big horse” to whom Sveum was referring was starting pitcher Jeff Samardzija, who cruised through the first 5 innings on a 91-degree day, giving up only 2 hits. Sandberg, who managed Samardzija in the Cubs’ minor-league system, noticed it, too.
“Samardzija was in quite a groove there for a while,” Sandberg said. “It looked like he was going to be tough to get to. “But we were able to get some guys on base and put some hits together for the 4 runs.”
The Phillies got 4 in the sixth and then tied it in the seventh against Samardzija on a homer by Kevin Frandsen. Cubs closer Kevin Gregg gave up the game-winner in the ninth.
“It got away from me a little bit, just a couple hits,” said Samardzija, who was coming off 9-inning and 8-inning performances. “It’s unfortunate.”
The come-from-behind victory for the Phillies wound up making the day belong entirely to Sandberg. He was greeted by a throng of Chicago media before the game. The crowd welcomed him warmly as he took out the lineup card, and the Cubs were kind enough to announce Sandberg as a Cubs Hall of Famer.
“It’s been living the dream all over again,” Sandberg said. “From working my way up through the minor leagues to getting to the major leagues as a coach and having a chance to manage, its full circle in a lot of ways. And it’s living the dream. I’m happy where I’m at.”
Sandberg helped the Cubs win two division titles as a player. While in retirement, he got the baseball bug and started managing in the Cubs’ minor-league system.
Although Sandberg was passed over by former Cubs general manager Jim Hendry and current team president Theo Epstein to become manager of the big club, Sandberg said he has no hard feelings.
“No, the Cubs gave me a chance to start in Peoria and gave me an opportunity to manage in the minor leagues,” he said. “I did it for four years. That’s gone a long way. Other than that, I understand how baseball works.”
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