Did the impetus of Shawon Dunston’s dramatic home run on Saturday produce Sunday’s 8-0 rout of the Phillies? And, if so, what can be the residual effect of winning five of the last six at Wrigley Field?
These questions tugged on the minds of Cubs players as they flew to Cooperstown, N.Y., for Monday’s Hall of Fame exhibition game against the Detroit Tigers.
The answer that came to several players could offer encouragement in their drive to capture the wild-card spot and earn a berth in the playoffs.
Jim Bullinger was the star Sunday when the Cubs swept their first series of the year in Wrigley Field. “Bully” had total command of all four of his pitches as he earned his first professional shutout on a three-hit, eight-strikeout, complete-game masterpiece.
And yet, taking nothing away from Bullinger, some of his teammates felt that Dunston jump-started Sunday’s victory when he won Saturday’s thriller with a dramatic two-out, three-run, last-of-the-ninth-inning home run off Phillies’ All-Star stopper Heathcliff Slocumb.
“Bully was awesome, but Shawon’s hit yesterday carried us right into today,” said Mark Grace, whose two hits drove home three of the six runs the Cubs scored in the first two innings. “The Phillies still felt the effect of Shawon’s hit. They were flat all day.”
Said third baseman Todd Zeile, whose two-run homer capped the three-run first : “We caught Philly down today. That’s because of the way we snatched away a game they thought they’d won. Shawon beat their closer after he got the first two outs.”
Zeile was mired in a 7-for-45 slump before he came out of it with two homers over the weekend.
“We’ve struggled at home, but this stand can help,” said Zeile. “I’ve struggled, but I feel more comfortable now. It may carry over on the road.”
Sunday’s victory improved the Cubs’ record to 43-44 overall and 19-24 in Wrigley. Can the 5-1 homestand help the team on the road or at home in its drive for the wild card?
“I think so,” said Zeile. “That’s definitely our goal. First, it’s to go over .500. Then look to the wild card. Our chances are as good as anyone’s.”
“We have the ability to win here,” said Grace. He has maintained all along that the Cubs can contend if they shake their losing habit at Wrigley. “This homestand should prove something.”
Manager Jim Riggleman bought the first half of the theory that Dunston’s homer had a carryover effect. He isn’t sure what direct help, if any, the 5-1 homestand will provide.
“We took advantage of Shawon’s hit when we got three runs in the first and second innings,” said Riggleman. “I don’t know about the `bigger picture.’ It’s a cliche, but we still have to play every game. Pitching controls games.”
Two of the Cubs’ three weekend victories over the Phils were shutouts. Frank Castillo was the winner Friday in the seventh shutout a Cubs starter has shared with relievers. Bullinger pitched the first complete-game shutout.
Bullinger’s eight strikeouts marked his career high. Eight other outs came on infield grounders. One was an infield popup. Ten others hit routine outfield flies.
“I threw all four of my pitches well,” said Bullinger. “I try to keep the ball on the grass and get ground-ball outs. On a lot of the flies, I think, batters were out in front on their swings.”
The Cubs made all seven of the game’s extra-base hits: homers by Jose Hernandez, Sammy Sosa and Zeile and doubles by Brian McRae, Dunston, Grace and Bullinger.
McRae made the unsung hero play of the game when be broke up a double play, enabling Grace to stroke a two-RBI double.
