Cubbies sweep Redbirds

In the post series news conference, Cubs Manager, Jim Walden," I think our magic number is 37," said Walden with a grin. "I was pleasantly surprised to sweep Mike and his Cardinals. I was hoping to take maybe two outta three, but a sweep...wow....it's early,but we're getting good pitching, Bob Rush had a good outing filling in for Kenny (Holtzman)  in game 3...Kenny's arm is still sore...but he's scheduled to throw tomorrow....and our guys are hitting the long ball....6 more in this series gives us 17 so far on the year, but like I said there's lots of baseball top play."

Game 1
The Cubs traveled down I-55 to Busch Stadium to take on their old time rivals. The Cubs lit up Cards starter,Larry Jackson in the 1st, highlighter by home runs by Ernie Banks and Billy Williams. It would be 4-0 after one.Chicago would add 2 more runs in the 6th as Billy Williams hit his second of the game. The two run shot put Chicago up, 6-0. Cubs starter,Greg Maddux, would completely fall apart in the bottom of the 7th. St.Louis would send 10 men to the plate and collect 6 hits, one being a long shot by Bill White, and they would score 7 runs and knock Maddux out of the game. Chicago would answer in the top of the 8th as Rick Monday planted his second HR of the year in the right field bleachers. Lee Smith would shut the door on the Cardinals in the 8th and 9th to get the win.

Game 2
Bill Hands, for Chicago, would face off against Bob Forsch for St.Louis in game 2. St.Louis would strike first in the 3rd as Forsch would stroke a single to center and then be doubled home by Curt Flood. The lead didn't hold up long as Chicago would put up a 4 spot on Forsch in the 4th. I guess having to run the bases the previous inning proved to much for him. Rick Monday's 3rd HR of the year would cap the Cub 4th. Hands would go the distance for Chicago and grab his second win of the year as the Cubs took over first in the East with the 4-1 win.

Game 3
Bob Rush would scatter 6 hits over 7 innings of work to collect a game 3 win for the Cubs. Cardinals starter would Joaquin Andujar would surrender a lead off single to Ryne Sandberg. The first pitch to Ernie Banks would go to the backstop as Ted Simmons let it go under his mitt. Sandberg would take second. Hank Sauer would wallop a double to left center, scoring Sandberg and Chicago would never trail. Sauer would later hit his 3rd dinger of the year and Randy Hundley would hit his first for Chicago. Rush would give way to Scott Sanderson and Sanderson would turn the ball over to Bruce Sutter for the last inning and a third to collect his first save of the year. Chicago would have a 5-1 win and a series sweep.
--submitted by Jim Walden--