CHICAGO -- For the second time in three days, Jeromy
Burnitz had the answer in the ninth inning.
Burnitz singled home the winning run with two outs in the ninth
as the Chicago Cubs captured the rubber game of a three-game
series with a 4-3 victory over the San Francisco Giants.
The dramatic win capped an exciting series where every game was
decided in the final frame. On Monday, the Cubs rallied from a
2-1 deficit in the eighth on a single by Neifi Perez before
Burnitz delivered a sacrifice fly in the ninth for a 3-2 win.
The Giants rebounded with a 3-2 victory in 11 innings Tuesday,
spoiling a memorable night for future Hall of Famer Greg Maddux,
who became the 13th pitcher to reach 3,000 strikeouts.
On Wednesday, Chicago once again scored the tying run in the
eighth before rallying for a win.
"Our pitching has been keeping us in a position to come from
behind and win some of these games," Cubs manager Dusty Baker
said. "When your pitching keeps you in there, anytime you get a
hit late in the game it can mean something."
Pinch-hitter Jody Gerut drew a leadoff walk from Kevin Correia
(1-3). After Correia was lifted in favor of Jeff Fassero, Jose
Macias sacrificed and Todd Walker flied out before Derrek Lee
was intentionally walked.
Burnitz ripped a 3-2 pitch down the right field line to seal the
Cubs' second straight series win.
"Before I got the hit, I swung at ball four for sure," Burnitz
said. "I just couldn't lay off that pitch but then he threw me
a slider and it was pretty much right there to hit."
Righthander Ryan Dempster (5-3) worked a perfect top of the
ninth, striking out one.
After San Francisco scored twice in the top of the eighth to
take a 3-2 lead, Chicago avoided a potential inning-ending
double play when shortstop Omar Vizquel committed his first
error since May 10 - a span of 61 games - and fourth of the
season on a grounder by Aramis Ramirez.
"He hit the ball hard," Vizquel said. "I think the problem was
the ball hit the lip of the grass and took a weird hop to my
right. I just couldn't handle it."
Pinch-hitting rookie Matt Murton followed with a fly ball that
right fielder Michael Tucker lost in the sun, allowing Lee to
score the tying run.
"Right field at Wrigley is probably the toughest sun field at a
certain time of day in baseball," said Burnitz, who is playing
there in his first season with the Cubs. "It's maybe for only
30 minutes to an hour that the sun is directly in your eyes.
"(Tucker) positioned himself alright. It's playable but it's
definitely a tough sun field at that time of day."
Despite all the late excitement, the game was mainly dominated
by solid pitching.
Looking for his fourth straight win, Cubs starter Carlos
Zambrano overcame numerous baserunners to hold the Giants to one
run over the first seven innings.
In the eighth, Deivi Cruz had a one-out single and Yorvit
Torrealba followed with a double down the left field line to tie
the score at 2-2. Pinch hitter Ray Durham then singled through
the right side to plate the go-ahead run, ending the day for
Zambrano.
The righthander, who finished with three runs, 11 hits and four
walks allowed in 7 1/3 innings, remained upbeat about his outing
despite his struggles in the eighth.
"I'm happy when I can keep my team in the game and pitch deep
into it," Zambrano said. "Our offense has been getting the job
done. These were three exciting games against the Giants all
decided in the late innings by one run."