Heether Burns Cubs with Walk-Off Homer
The game got off to a slow start with the teams waiting out an 18-minute rain delay after the first inning. The Sounds started the scoring in the bottom of the second off Cubs' starter J.R. Mathes. With one out, Johnny Raburn tripled and Patrick Arlis walked to bring up Sounds' starter Chris Capuano. Capuano laid down a bunt the brought in Raburn and when Mathes' throw to first base skipped away from Matt Camp for an error, everyone was safe on the play. Norris Hopper followed with a single that plated Arlis before Mathes got out of the inning.
The Sounds added to the lead with a solo home run by Luis Cruz in the third inning and a two-out, RBI double by Cruz in the fifth. Three of the four runs were earned against Mathes who came out after the fifth.
Capuano allowed just one hit in four shutout innings before coming out of the game and being told he will get called up to Milwaukee tomorrow. Tim Dillard replaced Capuano in the fifth and the Cubs came back against him in the sixth inning. With one out Chad Tracy doubled, went to third on a wild pitch, and scored on a single by Jason Dubois. After another wild pitch and two walks, the bases were loaded for Chris Robinson who drove in a run with a sacrifice fly to center. The Cubs added a final unearned run when Erick Almonte misplayed a slow bouncing ball off Camp's bat for an error as Bryan LaHair scored.
The Cubs came back with two more runs off David Johnson to take the lead in the seventh inning. Sam Fuld walked, stole second, and scored on a wild pitch. Tracy scored the go-ahead run on a groundout by LaHair.
John Gaub followed Mathes to the mound for the Cubs and pitched two scoreless innings. before Schlitter (0-1) took over in the eighth. Schlitter retired the side in order in the eighth and struck out pinch-hitter Joe Koshansky and Norris Hopper to begin the ninth. Olmedo kept the game alive for Heether with a single to shallow left. Schlitter was charged with his second blown save of the season. Both have come at Greer Stadium. Chris Smith (1-1) pitched the top of the ninth inning and picked up the win.
The Cubs and Sounds continue this series tomorrow night at 6:35 at Greer Stadium. RH Thomas Diamond (3-1, 2.01) will start for the Cubs against LH Chris Waters (4-2, 3.74) for the Sounds. The game will be broadcast live on AM 940 with the Safeco On-Deck Circle Pre-Game Show starting at 6:10.