Cubs 1989 Season-Game 132
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Cubs 10, Astros 9
WP: Paul Assenmacher (2-3) LP: Dave Smith (3-4)
August 29th, 1989
Wrigley Field
The Cubs rallied back from a 9-0 deficit to win what was one of the biggest comebacks in franchise history. Coming as it did in a season wherein the Cubs would eventually win the National League East, this game came to symbolize the team's resolve.
The Setup
The Cubs entered the game in first place in a very competitive NL East, 2 1/2 games in front of St. Louis, 3 games in front of Montreal and 3 1/2 ahead of New York. They had taken sole possession of first place on August 7th after beating Montreal, but were unable to pull away from the three teams behind them.
The Early Innings
The Cubs stranded two runners on base in the first inning against Houston starter Mark Portugal. After a 1-2-3 first inning, Cub starter Mike Bielecki, in the midst of his finest season as a big league pitcher, surrendered two runs in the second inning without serving up a hit. Bielecki walked the bases loaded and a fielding error by shortstop Shawon Dunston plated the first two Houston runs. Aside from the walks and error, Bielecki struck out the side in the first.
After throwing scoreless innings in the second and third, things worsened for Bielecki in the fourth. Three consecutive hits, the first three of the game for Houston, scored two more runs. Meanwhile, Portugal had scattered five hits through four innings and had kept the Cubs off the board.
Fifth Inning: Houston Putting The Game Away?
Having already put his team in a 4-0 hole after four innings, Bielecki walked the first two Houston hitters in the fifth inning. The walks, the fourth and fifth issued by Bielecki, marked the end of his day. Manager Don Zimmer yanked Bielecki and brought in Dean Wilkins to pitch. Wilkins didn't fare much better than Bielecki, loading the bases by walking the first batter he faced--Glenn Davis. With one out, Houston's fifth run of the day then scored on a passed ball by Cubs catcher Joe Girardi. Wilkins got Ken Caminiti to pop out before loading the bases again by walking Houston catcher Craig Biggio. With two outs and the bases loaded, veteran shortstop Rafael Ramirez stepped to the plate and proceeded to hit a grand slam off of Wilkins.
Houson led 9-0 at the halfway point of the game and the day looked to be over for the Cubs. This notion was further emphasized when the Cubs followed up the 5-run 5th inning by Houston by going 1-2-3 in the bottom half of the inning.
Cubs Finally Get On The Board
The Cubs showed some pride by erasing their goose egg in the bottom of the 6th inning. Three consecutive singles plated two runs. However, with the score 9-2 after 6 innings, one could be forgiven for looking forward to the next day.
The Cubs, though, continued to battle in the 7th inning. A two-run homer by Lloyd McClendon followed by an RBI single by rookie Dwight Smith made the score 9-5. Still, with only 6 outs remaining, it appeared as though the Cubs had only managed to save a little face.
The 8th inning
Because Cub relievers Calvin Schiraldi and Scott Sanderson stabilized the team by throwing three shutout innings, the Cubs at least had a fighting chance as they entered the bottom of the 8th inning down 9-5. Joe Girardi led off with a single and moved to second base on a passed ball by Biggio. After Vance Law flied out, rookie Jerome Walton reached base on a fielding error by Houston third baseman Caminiti. Ryne Sandberg then singled home Girardi to make the score 9-6 and bring the tying run to the plate in the person of McClendon.
McClendon singled to left field, scoring Walton and making the score 9-7. Suddenly, the 25,829 in attendance Wrigley Field who had been lulled into a sleep when the team was down 9-0, had sprung back to life. They went even wilder when Biggio gave up another passed ball while Mark Grace was batting, putting runners at second and third. Grace then proceeded to poke a single through the hole between shortstop and third base, scoring Sandberg, making the score 9-8. Dwight Smith then tied the game by delivering a sacrifice fly, scoring McClendon. Miraculously, the Cubs had come all the way back from a 9-0 deficit to tie the game. At the end of 8 innings, it was a whole new ballgame--9-9.
The Finish
There was still work to do. The Cubs had only managed to tie the game. In the top of the 9th, Les Lancaster relieved Sanderson and pitched around a two-out single to keep the score knotted at 9.
Dunston led off the 9th inning with a single and was sacrificed to second base by Domingo Ramos. After Houston intentionally walked Girardi, and with the winning run on second base, Cub pinch-hitter Darrin Jackson lined out to Houston shortstop Ramirez. Ramirez caught Dunston--eager to cross home with the game-ending, victorious run-- off of second base and doubled him off, ending the inning and sending the game into extra frames.
To start the 10th inning, Lancaster was relieved by Paul Assenmacher. Assenmacher had been acquired five days earlier and was pitching in only his third game as a Cub. He proceeded to retire Houston 1-2-3 and the game stayed tied at 9.
In the bottom of the tenth, Walton led off with a walk. Sandberg sacrificed bunted Walton over to second base. After McClendon singled and Grace was intentionally walked, Dwight Smith stepped to the plate. Facing future Cub failed closer Dave Smith, Dwight Smith laced a single to right field. Walton crossed home with the winning run, and the Cubs celebrated their most unlikely win in a special season, 10-9.
Postscript
St. Louis kept pace later in the day by knocking of Cincinnati, 4-2. The Mets leapfrogged the Expos for third place as the season-long game of "musical chairs" continued in the NL East. While the Cubs never lost their grip on first place, they twice saw their lead whittled down to 1/2 game. On September 25th in Montreal the Cubs would win their second National League East title in 6 seasons.
Trivia
The Houston catcher that day was Craig Biggio. Shortly after the '89 season, Biggio would be moved out of the position and become the premier second baseman in the National League in the 1990's. Biggio would be moved again, in 2003, to centerfield, before moving back to second base to finish his career.
The game would be also mark the final game for Schiraldi and Darrin Jackson as members of the Cubs. The following day they were packaged together in a trade to San Diego. In exchange, the Cubs received Marvell Wynne and Luis Salazar. While Wynne's contributions down the stretch were neglible, Salazar provided a much-needed boost, batting .325 with a .357 OBP while wresting the third baseman job from Vance Law. Salazar's biggest contribution was when he delivered the game tying and game-winning hits in a crucial late-season victory over St. Louis, when the Cards were threatening to take over first place. Salazar also started all 5 games during that season's NLCS vs. the Giants, batting .368 with a homerun.
External Links
Game information courtesy of Retrosheet
Player information courtesy of Baseball-Reference
