The Kansas City Star from Kansas City, Missouri • 34

TUT ATT re THE KANSAS CITY STAR Wednesday October 8 2008 NLCS REPORT NLCS Game 1 Florida Chicago National League Championship Series (Best of seven) Tuesday: Florida 9 Chicago 8 Today: at Chicago 7J8 (FoxFX) Friday: at Florida 7J8 (Fox) Saturday: at Florida 7 (Fox) Sunday at Florida' 3:35 (Fox) Oct 14: at Chicago' 738 (Fox) Oct 15: at Chicago' 738 (Fox) if necessary: all times pm Marlins 9 Cubs 8 Florida leads series 1-0 NO PRIOR EXPERIENCE Pudge proves still got it Marlins catcher playing as well as ever By BOB DUTTON DtlHflP IWMIWr The Kansas City Star rUUIJC WWCl In one game Tuesday Florida Martins catcher Ivan Rodriguez exceeded his power totals for three postseasons with the Texas Rangers Cubs right hander Mark Prior never got to face the Marlins this year because the teams played while he was on the disabled list So he plans to prepare for his start in tonight's game by studying how Florida fared against teammate Kerry Wood go back and watch Woody's Prior said think we have the tape of (Giants pitcher) Jason game last week I'll watch what he did against them" Like Prior Schmidt and Wood are hard throwing right-handers "And just watch Prior said see how they're reacting to certain things really the only way for me to gauge how they might react to what I throw SPIKING THE GUN Marlins manager Jack McKeon said he never sought to boost the effectiveness of Brad Penny who starts tonight against Prior by getting the radar gun turned off at Pro Player Stadium But tfiat mean McKeon doesn't think young pitchers susceptible to getting caught up in speed readings 'They all have a tendency to look at the he said see how hard going and see if diey can top it "What we try to do is impress on our pitchers that we want them to get command of their stuff and get guys out I think sometimes (the radar gun) is a detriment really But what are you going to do?" McKeon said the problem go away as long as teams use radar readings as a scouting tool scout by the he said don't by how a guy can get a hitter out or how a ball moves how hard you NOT FEELING SLIGHTED Penny isn't bothered at being in the shadow created by the growing spotlight on the tandem of Prior and Wood don't think it's tough" Penny said you go out there you have to play against guys like that and Ire on top of your game or you're not going to Penny 14-10 closed the season by winning his final three decisions He got a no-decision in his playoff start against the Giants got a great staff he said think going to be a good se CHICAGO Even now as he rides the crest of renewed appreciation as the linchpin in amazing entry into the National League Championship Series catcher Ivan Rodriguez can easily recall his winter of discontent was tough last he said was surprised a player like me had a tough time getting a deal But over" Not forgotten though Not by a long shot Rodriguez forever because of the 218 pounds on his squat 5-foot-9 frame was once judged to be among the best perhaps even the best catcher in the history Power Average Durability Cannonlike ami Heck he once even swiped 25 bases in a season I lis streak of nine consecutive starts in All-Star Games is matched only by Johnny Bench But last winter though just 31 Rodriguez drew scant interest on the free agent market Various injuries over the previous 2xh years led teams to conclude he was on the downside of a marvelous career Frustrated Rodriguez eventually signed a one year deal with the Marlins for $10 million Even that seemed an outrageous gamble for a cash-strapped franchise but the Marlins believed his veteran presence could aid the development of their young staff came in Marlins manager Jack McKeon said "trying to prove something that he is still the All-Star that he Rodriguez arrived with a bang declaring immediately that the Marlins had sufficient pitching talent to reach the playoffs Few listened The Associated Press Ivan Rodriguez has been the difference in the playoffs for the Marlins In game one he hit a three-run homer in the first inning said that this team is going to have a great he recalled "because we have great pitching and a good defensive and offensive team And look at where we The Marlins buoyed by a talented young rotation grabbed the wild-card berth by roaring down the stretch and then ousted heavily favored San Francisco in four games in reaching their NLCS date against the Cubs And they won the first game in Chicago with Rodriguez driving in five runs Yes Rodriguez has been in the middle of it all He re-established his durability by playing 144 games and batting 297 with 16 homers and 85 RBIs More important he aided the development of the young staff "Just working with Jiim lias helped right hander Josh Beckett said "He got a feel for us during spring training but it took Jiim through the first part of the year to get used to each one of us individually why you see us shake him off anymore because on the same Rodriguez reached the playoffs tJiree times in his 12 seasons in Texas but never made it beyond the first round This year he almost single-handedly lifted the Marlins past the Giants He drove in all four runs in last 4-3 victory including a two-run single that produced the tying and winning runs best catcher in the cento-fielder Juan Pierre said "If the throw gets there in time he's going to make the In a few weeks Rodriguez will again be a free agent His agent Scott Boras already is preparing a 40-page report that highlights his such as the ability to block pitches in the dirt The market this time is likely to be far more accommodating But that can wait is what wanted for a long Rodriguez said "To be where we are in the National League Championship Series a step away from the World in the 11th inning On Saturday Rodriguez scored the winning run in a 7-6 victory by knocking the ball loose from Giants catcher Yorvit Torrealba in the eighth inning He then recorded the game's final out by holding on to the ball after getting run over by JT Snow "1 reliever Chad Fox said 18-wheeler could have knocked that ball out of his Rodriguez said "(Jeff) Conine threw the ball perfectly I was able to secure it in my glove I have to make that Some plays decide a game Others define a career the reason why the NLCS: Series opener takes many twists and turns Marlins 9 Cubs 8 Continued from D-l innings NOT A MESSIAH Cubs manager Dusty Baker once chafed under the notion that his success was due more to his motivational powers instead of being credited for possessing managerial skill No more ''I'm to the point where I really don't care about what people say about me anymore" he said "After I left San Prancisco (after last season) it matter to me anymore" At die Cubfest promotion in January Baker told fans that his name was Dusty that he a messiah "I'm always asked that question about (being a) he said pay attention to pitch counts and I pay attention to numbers I'm no different than any other Besides Baker said say too much to be a messiah" ETC The Cubs and Marlins were the National league's two hottest teams in September The Cubs were 19-8 while the Marlins were 18 8 The Cubs and Marlins had played 100 times before series opener The Cubs held a SI -49 edge The 21-game improvement in 2003 matched the Royals for the best among all 30 teams Bob DuttonThe Star PAUL SANCYAThe Associated Praas Cubs outfielder Sammy Sosa slammed a game-tying two-run homer In the bottom of the ninth sending the game into extra innings IM 4 ISAMklJk nomef rMnOics The Cubs and Marlins set a postseason record by hitting a combined seven homers Tuesday The previous record of six had been accomplished six times Here are the players who two outs in the ninth by hitting a game-tying two-run homer against Urbina Sosa has 539 homers in his career but this was his first in postseason Ihat came after Ivan Rodriguez gave the Marlins an 8-6 lead by punching a two run single through the right side of the infield in the ninth inning against Cubs closer loe Borowski Rodriguez also had a three-run homer that helped the Marlins erase an early 4-0 deficit by scoring five times in the third inning "It's always nice to start with a Rodriguez said "But it's not comfortable We need to come out (tonight) and do the same The Cubs scored four times in the first inning The Marlins answered with five in the third hitting three home runs in the process The Mar lins extended their lead to 6-4 in the sixth before the Cubs pulled even on a two-run homer by Alex Gonzalez thought it was going to be a low scoring Martins man ager Jack McKeon said "It turned out to be a slugfest The Marlins grabbed their 8-6 lead on a disputed play in the ninth when umpire Fieldin Culbreth ruled that Cubs second baseman Mark Grudzielanek hobbled the ball after tagging Juan Jfierre The ruling meant the Marlins had the bases loaded and one out for Rodriguez instead of mnners at first and third and two outs It also meant two runs scored on Rodriguez's single instead of one Martins starter Josh Beckett survived a four-run first but couldn't protect a 6-4 lead after 5Vz innings He allowed six runs and eight hits in 6H inrungs Cubs starter Carlos Zambrano handed a 4-0 lead allowed six runs and nine hits in six innings Zambrano pitched around Luis one-out in the double in the first before the Cubs sent all of shuck out for Ftmswwtfi tt Btti Sdoublwl for CFor in to 9th homtrw) tor Urtwu tf llth kGonzxlkZ (1) (I) LOR Florida Chicago 5 2 LCksMto (11 Modandwwmh (U loth 0 Simon 0) ASGon zta (1) Waxier (I) Pierre (a Conine (1) GrotbieUnek (1) WUmrre (I) HR: Lonrell (1) off Guthrte: SSom (a off Urtwrx ASGonalej (1) ofl Beckett Xncimecfon (a of Zxmbrmo Ctbmi (a off Zimbrxno illoiguei (13 off Zxmtwno kkxi (1) off Beckett tins IRodriguet 5 (S) Cxbreri (1) If nexmeemn (1) Conine (1) lowefl (1) OrorOelkne a SSom 2 (ft Aloe 2 (2) ASGotnalez 3 3) lCstilto 1 (2) CS: Pierre (1) Lofton Jf: Conine Otoe Mou Runner led In rcorfctg potftkm: Ftontfl (Delee 1 Cibren AGonzefez Beckett) Ctncigo 3 (SSost BUro Goodwin) DP: Florida 1 lAGonzaiez ICasUHo and DHee) homer ed Player Motses Alou Ivan Rodriguez Miguel Cabrera Juan Encamacion Alex Gonzalez Sammy Sosa MiAe Lowell 1945 In short it all seemed too good to be true for the Cubs' long suffering fans And it was In fact the fun was just starting a point the Marlins drove home by counterpunching for five runs in the third inning Pierre one-out triple and a walk to Castillo preceded Rodriguez's three-run blast Zambrano struck out Derrek Lee but Miguel Cabrera and Juan Encamacion followed with homers That quickly Florida had a 5-4 lead and boos began echoing around Wrigley The Martovs added another run in the sixth when abrera and Encamacion led off with soft ground-ball singles then moved to second and third on a passed ball by Paul Bako Jeff Conine's sacrifice fly made it 6-4 Meanwhile Beckett settled into a groove and allowed just one hit from the second through two outs in the sixth Thai Randall Simon doubled and Gonzalez tied the game with a two-run homer tatwritad nan tn nnd CFot 14 Farnsworth 4 Mown me Urtwia (1) HR- ofl Monseca dflodnonez) then slipped to the ground in his haste to reverse his field The ball flew over his head Beckett retired Sosa on a pop to third but Morses Alou followed vith a long home run to left field for a 3-0 lead Ararrus Ramirez then lined a triple to center and scored on Alex Gonzalez's two out double to left If the lead held up it meant the Marlins needed two wins against the tandem of Prior and Wood to keep the Cubbies from reaching the World Series for the first time since Home terry Crawford rest Chuck Merrwethet Second Fiettn Culbreth: Third Mike Eeerttt left Larr Pencino Hgbt Mike WO Tbww IM irwiwrid J9S67 Wngkyvdle into a rapturous spasm by raking Beckett for four runs on a walk and four extra-base hits Lofton led off with a walk and scored when Grudzielanek fly ball to center turned into an RBI triple Pierre took a step in on the ball Marlins manager lack McKeon (left) was beside himself as umpire Chuck Meriwether told him that Kenny Lofton's hit was a fair ball in the ninth inning TOUTS STARTERS: TALE OF THE TAPf MRw Lowell (Martins) One for one Hit game-winning solo shot in nth Chicago's Mark Prior 19-6 237 No record 3-0 154 89 Florida's Brad Penny 14-10 296 0-L 000 1-0 426 99 THREE STARS The standout players and st at leaders in Tuesday's game one: Alex Gonzalez (Cubs) Three for five three RBIs HR a two-run homer in sixth Ivan Rodriguez (Martins) Two for five five RBIs Hit three-run homer in third Record ERA vs Opp Last three AHWV FrtOay Redman SM 9) vs Wood 04 B) Saturday Wifcs 04 6) vs Clement 04 12) average hits phis walks per start.