Amazin’s take 2 of 3 from Cubbies

GAME 1 - 9/8 - Wrigley Field
Tom Seaver vs Ferguson Jenkins
Mets 9, Cubs 8
Something's wrong in both Metland and Wrigleyville when HOF starters like Seaver and Jenkins pitch batting practice day in and day out.  Both were victimized for 8 runs in 6+ innings of work and both now have ERA's in the mid 5's.  After 6 the Cubbies had an 8-6 lead, but no lead is safe when the wind is blowing out in the "friendly confines".  Jenkins would start the 7th clinging ever so tightly to a tenuous 2 run lead. After getting 2 quick outs the hard throwing right hander from Canada looked to be in good shape.  Three consecutive singles by Backman, Mex and McReynolds + an error by Santo at third made it 8-7.  A walk to Straw re-loaded the bases and a single by HoJo tied it at 8-8.  Lee Smith was brought in to get Carter out and end the inning.  Bud Harrelson would lead off the 8th and work out a walk.  Pinch hitter Felix Millan grounded out to short as Harrelson moved up 90 feet.  Maz walked to put runners on 1st and 2nd and an error by Banks at short loaded the bases for Mex (Keith Hernandez), who lifted a sac fly to right to give the Mets their first lead since the top of the first.  Roger McDowell started the 9th and delivered his famed sinker ball to Ryno who hit a one hopper to second that Backman booted.  Hank Sauer, who has hit some big clutch homers this season, hit a bullet to Backman who stepped on second and flipped one over to first for a DP.  Andre Dawson would keep Chicago's faint hopes alive with a clean single to center, but Jesse Orosco would come in from the pen and fan Rick Monday to end the game.

GAME 2 - 9/9
Dwight Gooden vs Bill Hands
Mets 6, Cubs 1
Doc Gooden (5-2, 2.56) was flat out dealin'.  Doctor K struck out 11 and walked only one in 7 2/3 innings of work.  Ron Taylor would pitch the final inning and a third for his 3rd save.  Chicago actually carried a 1-0 lead into the 4th courtesy of a solo shot by "Mr. Cub" Ernie Banks in the bottom of the 1st.  Bill Hands looked to be up for the challenge of dueling with Gooden until he hit a speed bump in the 4th.  Maz lead the inning off with a walk and when Randy Hundley botched Backman's sac bunt attempt all hands were safe.  Mex singled to load the bases.  Kevin McReynolds followed that with an RBI single, but Backman got nailed at the plate by a great throw by Billy Williams for the first out.  Darryl Strawberry's double off the ivy plated to more to give New York a 3-1 lead.  HoJo's solo shot in the 7th made it a 3 run lead and solo shots by Straw and Carter in the 9th put it out of reach.

GAME 3 - 9/10
Jerry Koosman vs Rick Reuschel
Cubs 5, Mets 2
Chicago knocked Kooz out of the box with 3 big runs in the first.  El Sid came on and gave up 2 more runs over the next 3 to give Chicago a comfortable 5-1 lead that was never in jeopardy.  Chicago salvaged the final game of this disappointing home series vs the struggling Amazin's.  Andre Dawson hit his 11th homer and Ernie Banks hit his 15th.  Rick Monday was the only Cub regular not to notch a hit.  Bruce Sutter pitched a perfect 9th and recorded his 7th save of the season.  Hojo had 3 hits in a losing cause.