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CUBS OPEN 2018 WITH A CUB-A-THON WALK OVER DIAMONDBACKS 16-8
Rookie Hurler Michael Iacouacci gets the W in MSBL Debut!
VANGOSS, WEATHERS, DANIELS = 7 HITS
The 2018 version of the Detroit MSBL +18 CUBS wasted no time in chalking up their 1st Cub-a-thon ( 8 or more men to the plate in one inning ) and walked their way to a win over the Diamondbacks at Capitol Park on Friday Night. With rain threatening to dampen opening day spirits the visiting Cubbies sent 10 men to the plate to start the game. Diamondback pitchers struggled to find the plate all night and graciously awarded 11 base on balls - slowing the pace of the game at times. Cubs starting pitcher Michael Iacouacci had no such control troubles and K'd 3 while with one 1 BB and 1 H surrendered in 3 innings. In a 5 inning game, trimmed by weather, walks and a big Cub lead a generous scorekeeper awarded the W to Iacouacci.
Matt Vangoss got the season started with a basehit and Chris Godley followed with a walk. Both runners moved up on stolen bases and then the next 4 batters walked. With bases loaded and no one out Kevin Johnstone singled 2 runs home and Cub-a-thon was "on". In the 2nd inning Josh Allen walked and stole 2nd and 3rd then scored with 2 out on Vangoss's 2 base hit to left center. Godley reached on an E-5 and then he scored when Terry Weathers doubled. In the 3rd, Ryland Tracey walked ( he would have 3 BB's on the night) and scored after Joel Daniel's single and Michael Iacouacci FC for his 1st rbi! The Cubs got 2 more in the top of the 4th when Allen walked with 1 out. MSBL Rookie Tim Brown ( son of Doug Brown) singled next and Devin Bailey walked to load the bases. Doug Brown then pushed home a run with a fielder's choice and Tim Brown scored on Vangoss's 3rd hit of the night. The Cubs were NOT done by any stretch of the imagination. They put together a 2nd CUB-A-THON to make opening night special in the top of the 5th. Weathers lead off with a base hit, Will Boyd patiently walked again, and Ryland Tracey did too. Joel Daniels walked for the rbi and Johnstone forced home a run with an FC. That set the table for who else? Michael Iacouacci - who got his first base hit and 2 more rbi. Jim Cuthrell, new the Cubs but not new to the MSBL then doubled home another run pushing the score to 16 Cubbie runs.
On a night when pitching had a lot of question marks the Krusty was able to pull a rabbit out of the hat tonight with surprise starter Michael Iacouacci There are many new faces on the squad for 2018 and many familiar faces too. General Manager J Porter says that the roster is not set just yet, "stay tuned" he commented after the game in the parking lot. Meanwhile, Krusty was hugging his veteran players and saying things like "here we go again". Krusty enters his 21st season as manager of the Cubs in 2018. Let's all hope he brings wisdom and not nostalgia to the win-loss record and the line-up. "We took care of business tonight, like we had to... no one likes a game with so many walks", Krusty barked during post-game interviews, The always fiesty manager growled when asked why HE put himself for the mop up role in the bottom of the 5th... after 3 walks a hit batter and 5 runs the door was finally kicked shut. "Hey, we won and we didn't hurt any arms, final score ? 16-8 Cubs win. "
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