It began with a sudden wind shift, continued with a major temperature drop and ended with the old pie-in-the-face routine.
Just another average day at a place called Wrigley Field.
The Cubs were forced to downshift into a lower gear Tuesday when the wind changed directions moments after Florida took an early one-run lead.
But Brant Brown’s homer into a 24 m.p.h. wind and Jason Hardtke’s ninth-inning heroics gave the Cubs a 2-1 victory over Florida, extending their winning streak to five games.
Hardtke’s bases-loaded pinch single to left-center over a pulled-in outfield brought Mickey Morandini home with the winning run with one out in the ninth, earning the rookie a shaving cream pie from Jeremi Gonzalez during a postgame TV interview.
“I had it up my nose and in my ears,” he said. “I couldn’t see, but I got through it.”
The Cubs had only five hits off Marlins rookie Brian Meadows (4-6) and two relievers, including infield hits by Morandini and Sammy Sosa that set up Hardtke’s game-winner.
The day began with an 18 m.p.h. wind blowing out to left. But it started blowing in after Cliff Floyd’s single in the fourth put the Marlins up 1-0. Brown tied it in the sixth with his fifth homer, a completely illogical blow considering the conditions.
“The temperature dropped 10 degrees and the wind was blowing straight in,” manager Jim Riggleman said. “The only way you were going to hit one out of there in right field was to cut it real low, like he did. Any ball that was lofted didn’t have a chance.”
“The wind shifted so fast,” Brown said. “I guess I just kept it below radar.”
Strange things are happening at Wrigley Field.
