RAREST OF FEATS: NO-HIT WALK-OFF FOR WOOD, CUBS
Chicago Right-Hander Fans 14; Sosa Scores Game-Winner in 9th
CHICAGO, Aug. 16 (AP) - Kerry Wood became just the second major league pitcher
to throw a no-hitter as the Chicago Cubs eked past the Los Angeles Dodgers 1-0
in dramatic fashion at Wrigley Field. The game was scoreless entering the
ninth inning when Wood retired the Dodgers in order including his 13th and 14th
strikeouts of the game. The Cubs then broke the tie in the bottom half of
the frame. Wood's no-hitter was secured while the Chicago starter was
sitting in the dugout, uncertain as to whether he'd return to the mound for the
10th. As it turned out, he didn't need to do so.
The Dodgers' best scoring opportunity came in the very first inning. Dave
Roberts led off the game with a walk--one of four issued by Wood--and Paul Lo
Duca was hit by a 3-0 pitch, putting runners on first and second with no
outs. Sean Green struck out and Jeromy Burnitz popped to third, but Wood
uncorked a wild pitch to move the runners to second and third before escaping
the threat by retiring Adrian Beltre on a fly to left. That was the only
time in the game that the Dodgers advanced a runner past second base.
The Cubs narrowly missed a chance to take the lead in the bottom of the opening
frame. Alex Gonzalez singled with one out and, after Sammy Sosa struck
out, Moises Alou doubled past Robin Ventura at first, down the right field
line. Sosa tried to score but was cut down at the plate on a relay throw
from second baseman Alex Cora.
From that point on, Dodgers starter Odalis Perez bent, but wouldn't break.
Wood had a season high three hits of his own, but his teammates managed only two
other safeties between them after Alou's first inning double--until the ninth.
In the final inning, Sosa led off with a single through the box. That
spelled the end of Perez's day; he was replaced on the mound by Guillermo Mota,
who was set to face a string of right-handed batters. But Alou foiled the
strategy by slashing his third hit of the game, a single to center that advanced
Sosa to second. Lenny Harris pinch hit for Aramis Ramirez and laid down a
perfect sacrifice bunt, advancing the runners to second and third with one
out. Hee Seop Choi was then called upon to pinch hit for Eric Karros.
The infield came in and Choi chopped a grounder to Cora at second. The
second baseman fired home, but his throw was slightly to the first base side of
the plate and Sosa slid safely, ahead of the tag of Lo Duca, for the winning
run.
The Cubs dugout emptied and the players had a difficult time deciding who to
mob--Wood, Sosa or Choi. In the end it was Wood, who tossed 147 pitches en
route to the no-hit victory, striking out 14 while walking four and hitting
three batters. The only other major league pitcher to throw a complete
game no-hitter this season was Carl Pavano, who accomplished the feat against
the San Francisco Giants on May 6 at Pro Player Stadium in Miami.
8/16/2003, LA03-ChC03, Wrigley Field 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E LOB DP 2003 Dodgers 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 7 1 2003 Cubs 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 9 0 7 0 Dodgers AB R H BI AVG Cubs AB R H BI AVG Roberts,D cf 2 0 0 0 .187 Glanville cf 4 0 0 0 .228 Lo Duca c 3 0 0 0 .250 Gonzalez,AS ss 4 0 1 0 .249 Green rf 4 0 0 0 .278 Sosa,S rf 4 1 1 0 .250 Burnitz lf 3 0 0 0 .262 Alou lf 4 0 3 0 .256 Beltre 3b 3 0 0 0 .211 Ramirez,A 3b 3 0 0 0 .260 Ventura 1b 2 0 0 0 .286 Harris,L ph 0 0 0 0 .230 Cora 2b 4 0 0 0 .220 Karros 1b 3 0 0 0 .230 Izturis ss 3 0 0 0 .259 Choi ph 1 0 0 1 .209 Perez,Od p 3 0 0 0 .105 Martinez,R 2b 3 0 1 0 .293 Mota p 0 0 0 0 .000 Miller,D c 3 0 0 0 .234 27 0 0 0 Wood,K p 3 0 3 0 .170 32 1 9 1 Dodgers INN H R ER BB K PCH STR ERA Perez,Od L 7-13 8.0 8 1 1 0 2 92 68 3.67 Mota 0.1 1 0 0 0 0 8 6 1.46 8.1 9 1 1 0 2 100 74 Cubs INN H R ER BB K PCH STR ERA Wood,K W 11-11 9.0 0 0 0 4 14 147 87 3.84 9.0 0 0 0 4 14 147 87 ChC: Harris,L batted for Ramirez,A in the 9th Choi batted for Karros in the 9th 2B-Alou(24), Wood,K(1). RBI-Choi(24). SB-Roberts,D(23), Alou(1). K-Lo Duca, Green 3, Burnitz, Beltre 2, Ventura 2, Cora 2, Izturis, Perez,Od 2, Sosa,S, Miller,D. BB-Roberts,D 2, Beltre, Ventura. SH-Harris,L. HBP-Lo Duca, Burnitz, Ventura. HB-Wood,K 3. WP-Wood,K. GWRBI: Choi Temperature: 82, Sky: clear, Wind: in from left at 7 MPH. Attendance: 38,471 Game Time: 2:27