As Teddy Ballgame already mentioned, two years ago today I started The Baseball Zealot with its introductory post as well as its very first Linescore of the Day, Zack Greinke. Thanks for the note, Teddy.
I was thinking the best way for TBZ to celebrate was for the Illini AND the Cubs to win. Boy, did they ever. Let’s start with the Cubs.
Aside from some control problems early, Rich Hill was simply nasty. He didn’t allow a run in seven innings. Probably just as important, the bullpen didn’t blow it. The Reds’ bats were cold and the Cubs shut them out 7-0.
But the Illini!! Wow! They didn’t win a game. They won two! They swept the Northwestern Wildcats today.
Mike Stankiewicz
In Game 1, Mike Stankiewicz threw a one-hit shutout, striking out seven. Mike Rohde’s rbi single in the 6th was all Stanky needed to get the win (and it was all the Illini got). What’s this? Rohde’s a threat on the basepaths? He stole 2 in the first game.
Ryan Snowden’s double in the very last inning of the game, not only kept his hitting streak alive but broke the University of Illinois record. Way to go, Snow!
Final Score: Illinois 1 Northwestern 0
Game 2 was a lot more closer but outcome was the same. First of all, Snowden didn’t wait till the end of the game to get a hit. He doubled in Illinois’ first at-bat of the game. Just to be sure, he single in the sixth, too.
Starter Aaron Martin wasn’t on his game today and lasted only two-thirds of an inning, giving up foru runs. Fortunately, the Illini bats were good to go. Kyle Hudson, Shawn Roof, Brandon Wikoff all got two hits in addition to Snowden. Mike Rohde went back to what he does best; driving in runs and added a two-run homer in the 3rd.
When the dust settled and reliever Jake Tooehy did his work in the last two innings, the final score was Illinois 8 Northwestern 7
Nice work, Illini!!!
Update: It was close but the Wildcats tied Game 4 of the Series in the bottom of the ninth and scored the go-ahead run in the bottom of the 10th. Final score: Northwestern 6 Illini 5.
Lars Davis is just like a Timex watch. He keeps on ticking. In the loss, he was 4 for 5. That raises his BA to .452.