Cubs vs Giants

The magic of October baseball was in the air.

John Lester warms up.

Johny Cueto and Buster Posey.

Hopefully there is little charge left in this dangerous battery.

The ceremonial pagentry of post-season baseball.

Shawon Dunston draws a wave of applause.

Skipper Joe Maddon helped get the Cubs here, let's see what they can do today.

Wayne Messmer clears his throat and lets it rip.

My season ticket neighbor Tim takes in the playoff atmosphere.

Play Ball!!

Lester and Cueto would give the fans a memorable pitcher's duel supported by plenty of incredible defense.

A defensive shift to combat a potential sacrifice bunt places Rizzo even with the pitcher's mound and Javier Baez at first base.

Play was halted while Rizzo traded in his first baseman's mitt for a fielder's glove.

Just another day on the job under Joe Maddon's creative genius.

Ultimately it didn't matter what type of glove Rizzo was wearing because David Ross gunned down Gillaspie with a pickoff throw.

Despite several well hit balls, spectacular defensive fielding by both teams kept most off the basepaths.

I'm usually a Hunter Pence supporter but not tonight.

... so of course he was one of the few to get a hit off Lester.

I always wonder what these guys talk about out there.

Knowing Pence, he's probably talking coffee roasting techniques.

I wonder how much caffine plays a role in Pence's running game.

Kris Bryant for MVP!

Bryant slides into 2nd with a double, one of only 3 hits for the Cubs tonight.

Tim is an excellent multitasker.

Beloved Grandpa Rossy steps to the plate and drills one deep, deep, deep...

... into the glove of a flying Gorkys Hernandez who made an unbelieveable sliding catch.

Like most of us, my friend Nick could not believe that acrobatic catch.

Lester put in a good day's work: 8 innings surrendering just 5 hits, no walks and no runs allowed.

The Cubs started making hard contact off Cueto the last few innings but he remained a better option than the bullpen.

Working into the 8th, Cueto had struck out 10 and given up only 2 hits.

That third hit allowed however...

...was a home run by Javier Baez to put the Cubs up 1-0.

Wilson Contreras greets Aroldis Chapman in the top of the 9th.

Chapman works efficiently to preserve the 1-0 lead and close out the game.

103 MPH!!

They're singing
Go, Cubs, Go!
Go, Cubs Go!
Hey, Chicago, what do you say?
The Cubs are gonna win today.

Good game, and great start to the post-season!