21 Hits Are Barely Enough for the Dodgers : They Overcome Cubs, 13-11, With Four Runs in the Ninth

Chicago Cub players let their wives win a brief softball exhibition game against them, then their relief pitchers handed the Dodgers the baseball game that followed, 13-11, in a see-saw, mistake-filled contest Sunday at Wrigley Field.

“I’ve never played in a game wilder than that,” said Mike Scioscia, whose two-run single in the ninth was the game-winning hit in the 34-hit game that went three hours and 44 minutes--longest of the season for the Cubs--and saw 40 players get into action.

“The pitchers got beat up. Sometimes that happens. They’re not perfect,” said Cub third baseman Manny Trillo, who had a pair of singles.

The two teams scored 11 runs in the last two innings. Trailing, 8-5, the Dodgers had rallied for a 9-8 lead in the eighth. The Cubs scored three times for a 11-9 lead in the bottom of the eighth.

The Dodgers had 21 hits in the game and the Cubs had 13.

“I’m proud of the team. They never gave up,” said Dodger Manager Tommy Lasorda. “They saw Lee Smith pitching with a three-run lead in the eight and they battled back.”

“We blew too many leads and we made too many mistakes,” said Chicago Manager Gene Michael.

Steve Sax and Reggie Williams doubled leading off the ninth against Frank DiPino (1-4). Sax scored on Jeff Hamilton’s infield single. After an intentional walk loaded the bases, Scioscia singled, giving the Dodgers a 12-11 lead.

The 13th run scored as Greg Brock grounded out.

The Dodgers rallied against reliever Lee Smith in the eighth. Len Matuszek hit a three-run homer and Mariano Duncan hit a tie-breaking single.

Pinch-hitter Thad Bosley and Bob Dernier hit RBI singles in the bottom of the eighth, giving Chicago the lead, then Ryne Sandberg added a sacrifice fly.

Ken Howell (4-6) allowed all three runs in the Cubs’ eighth but got the victory.

The Dodgers took a 1-0 lead in the opening inning against Chicago starter Ed Lynch when Bill Madlock singled home Sax.

Chicago scored four times in the bottom of the first against Alejandro Pena as Gary Matthews and Jody Davis each had RBI doubles, Trillo added an RBI single and Keith Moreland hit a sacrifice fly.

The Dodgers cut the lead to 4-3 in the second inning with RBI singles by Sax and Williams.

Chicago made it 6-3 in the bottom of the second when Leon Durham and Moreland singled in runs.

Brock’s RBI single in the fourth made the score 6-4.

In the sixth inning, Hamilton’s RBI single sliced the Chicago advantage to 6-5, but Durham hit a two-run homer in the seventh, his 11th home run of the season.