Sunday Cubs Fact: Nine Run Comeback Win

A few weeks ago I wrote about this game in 1979, when the Cubs came back from a 12 run deficit to tie the game. But they ultimately lost the game in 10 innings.

The team's record for coming from behind to win a game is nine runs, done twice. The most recent time was on August 29, 1989 at Wrigley Field against the Houston Astros. I wasn't at this game (school had already started up, and I can't ditch when I am the teacher), but I did watch the game on TV as soon as I got home.



Starter Mike Bielecki lasted only 4 innings - Donruss 1989 #512

The Cubs starter, Mike Bielecki just didn't have it that day. He gave up two runs in the second and fourth innings and with reliever Dean Wilkins was tagged for five more in the fifth. The lowlight of the fifth was a grand slam given up by Wilkins to Astro shortstop Rafael Ramirez. After five, the Cubs were down 9-0. That is about the time I got home from work and turned on the game.

It still seemed pretty hopeless even after the Cubs scored twice in the sixth. They trailed by seven with only three innings to go. They tallied three more in the seventh and my thought was that at least the score would now look respectable in tomorrow's paper. A 9-5 loss looks alot better than 9-0.

But the Cubs had other ideas. The put together a four run rally in the 8th to tie the game. Most of the runs scored on singles with Ryne Sandberg, Lloyd McClendon, and Mark Grace leading the way. The tying run scored on a double play, with Dwight Smith hitting a sacrifice fly that scored McClendon, while Mark Grace was thrown out trying to advance to second.



Lloyd McClendon went three for five with three RBI's - Bowman 1989 #287

The Cubs bullpen did a nice job of holding the Astros scoreless for five innings. Calvin Schiraldi, Scott Sanderson, Les Lancaster, and Paul Assenmacher were up to the task.

After a scoreless ninth, the Cubs game up against Houston closer Dave Smith in the tenth. Jerome Walton coaxed a leadoff walk. He was sacrificed to second by Ryne Sandberg. Lloyd McClendon's third hit of the day got Walton to third but he was held there. The game ended when Dwight Smith lifted a sacrifice fly to left that scored Walton and Wrigley Field went nuts and a crowd of 25,829 went home happy. In only four innings, the Cubs turned a 9-0 deficit into a 10-9 victory.



Jerome Walton was 0-4 but scored three runs including the game winner - Upper Deck 1989 #765



Dwight Smith game into the game in the 7th inning and was 2 for 2 with 3 RBI's - Score 1989 #642