News
Baker's blast in ninth propels Cubs to win
Club staves off elimination in the National League Central
By Carrie Muskat / MLB.com
09/25/09 2:13 AM ET
SAN FRANCISCO -- The St. Louis Cardinals will have to win the National League Central on their own.Jeff Baker smacked a two-run homer with two outs in the ninth Thursday night to lift the Cubs to a 3-2 victory over the San Francisco Giants.
The Cardinals began the day with a magic number of one and were idle Thursday. A Cubs' loss would've helped them clinch the division. Instead, Baker delivered the game-winner off a 2-2 pitch from Brian Wilson (5-6).
"The worst thing is to see somebody celebrating on your field, especially a rival," Baker said. "We can keep pushing this thing off, and you never know what will happen."
The loss hurt the Giants, who missed an opportunity to move within three games of Colorado in the NL Wild Card race. The Rockies lost to San Diego on Thursday.
"The fans were excited about the Colorado loss," Lou Piniella said. "It got awfully quiet when Baker hit that home run."
The Cubs' chances of catching the Cardinals are slim. Piniella tried to find a silver lining to the season. At least they didn't have to watch the Cardinals party.
"They didn't get a chance to celebrate in front of us," Piniella said. "We got that opportunity the year before. They've had a great season. I congratulate them. From the first of August, they've been as good a team as any in baseball, and they'll represent this division well in the postseason."
The Cubs clinched the 2008 division title with a win over the Cardinals at Wrigley Field. Now, they have other goals.
Ryan Dempster, for example, wants to reach 200 innings this season. He did not get a decision Thursday, serving up two runs over seven innings. He's at 186 innings, and will make two more starts, opening the final homestand next Tuesday against Pittsburgh and closing the season on Oct. 4 against Arizona.
"That's a goal of mine every year," Dempster said of reaching 200. "I just want to win ballgames. I sign up to make as many starts as I can. If it happens, it happens. Today was a great win for us. If I can help us win a couple more ballgames, it'll be awesome."
He dueled Giants starter Brad Penny, who also did not get a decision, giving up one run over eight innings.
Micah Hoffpauir doubled to lead off the Chicago fourth, moved up on Mike Fontenot's single and scored when Baker grounded into a double play. But the Giants tied the game with two outs in their half when Juan Uribe was safe on an infield single that Dempster knocked down, and then scored on John Bowker's double. Hoffpauir relayed the ball in to second baseman Fontenot, but should've thrown to the first cutoff man, shortstop Andres Blanco.
"I told Hoffpauir if he hit the first cut-off guy, which is Blanco, he had a chance," Piniella said. "I don't think Fontenot had a chance. We had to hit the first cutoff guy and we didn't."
Bowker, who was 0-for-8 coming into the game and batting .178 overall, led off the seventh with his first homer of the season and second in his career off Dempster.
But it was Baker who delivered the knockout punch with his home run, his fourth of the season.
"Two outs, two strikes, he hits it in the seats off a good relief pitcher," Piniella said. "It's clutch -- what can I say? Well-played game. Well-pitched on both sides. ... Baker has done well here since we've gotten him. He's a tough kid, he plays hard, he enjoys playing, he's versatile and we can move him around a little bit."
"I was just trying to put the ball in play," Baker said.
The Cubs may be a little shorthanded Friday if Derrek Lee can't go. The first baseman aggravated his neck when he slid into second base in the ninth.
"Every time he slides, I cringe," Piniella said. "What happened probably is when he came in, someone tapped him on the head scoring the run in the ninth, and I don't think that helped the situation either."
The Cubs can enjoy the win. The Cardinals open a series in Colorado on Friday and will have to take care of business on their own.
"You'd be lying if you say you aren't thinking about it," Dempster said of the division. "You want to go out there and you want to win, you want to have it on your terms, not their terms."
Carrie Muskat is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
