Back when he was playing shortstop at LSU, Ryan Theriot used to drive coach Skip Bertman crazy with his penchant for making flashy plays.
“I almost killed him, he said,” said Theriot, who in 2000 led LSU to the College World Series championship. “He said, ‘Kid, I have some faults. I smoke a cigar. I may have a drink every now and then. But Theriot, if you don’t kill me in the next three or four years, it’ll be a miracle.'”
Seven years later Theriot has found a home in the Cubs’ infield, and he’s making it difficult for manager Lou Piniella to leave him out of his starting lineup.
Theriot contributed a pair of run-scoring singles Tuesday night against Pittsburgh at Wrigley Field, but Ryan Dempster’s blown save in the ninth inning sent the game into extra innings. The game was tied 3-3 through 13.
After Sunday’s come-from-behind victory over Washington, the Cubs were 1-6 in one-run games. Piniella said before the game he was encouraged the team finally was winning some close games.
“Winning with the close scores, one and two-run ballgames, they give your team confidence,” he said. “I think that’s the best thing that has happened to us.
“Now I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again — let’s not get giggly with this little run we’re having. We have to continue to improve and play better baseball because the rest of the teams we’re going to be playing are going to be better themselves.”
Alfonso Soriano’s seventh inning, RBI single off Ian Snell snapped a 2-2 tie, giving Ted Lilly a chance at his third victory in five decisions after allowing two runs on seven hits over seven innings.
But before the Cubs could get “giggly,” Dempster issued a one-out walk to Nate McLouth in the ninth and ultimately paid the price. Ryan Doumit followed with a pinch single and Jack Wilson’s sacrifice fly to right-fielder Matt Murton brought home the tying run, deflating the crowd of 39,708.
It was Dempster’s first blown save in ’07, and the fourth in 11 chances for the Cubs bullpen.
After Rocky Cherry bailed Michael Wuertz out of a jam in the top of the 10th, Theriot led off the bottom of the inning with an infield hit and stole second. After Derrek Lee popped out, Aramis Ramirez drew an intentional walk. Murton lined to left, and Theriot was doubled off second.
Despite the base-running gaffe, Theriot has justified Piniella’s faith, evolving into one of the team’s best clutch hitters. He came into the day ranked fifth among National League hitters with a .444 average with runners in scoring position, and singled in runs in the third and the fifth innings, tying the game on both occasions.
After the ninth, Theriot was hitting .500 (22-for-44) with runners in scoring position over his last two seasons.
After Soriano’s RBI single in the seventh gave the Cubs a 3-2 lead, Bob Howry relieved Lilly and watched Freddy Sanchez go from first to third on a groundout and a foul pop to first.
Piniella ordered an intentional walk to left-handed hitting Adam LaRoche and kept Howry in to face Ronny Paulino.
Howry then induced Paulino to fly out to preserve the lead,
The Cubs threatened in the eighth when they loaded the bases with one out against Damaso Marte. But Jacque Jones grounded to LaRoche at first, and LaRoche’s bullet to the plate nailed Lee for an inning-ending double play.
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psullivan@tribune.com
