Back to Chicago: Phillies at Cubs

I had an early morning flight back from Oakland Airport to Chicago so I could attend the Chicago Cubs game Tuesday night as they arrived back in town. Their last home game was the one I attended on July 30.

Obtaining Ticket
Rather than worry about finding a ticket for less than $15 (the standing room only [SRO] box office price), I relaxed in our house and bought a SRO ticket for $15 a few minutes before the first pitch. As usual, there were plenty of SRO seats available.

The Game
Rich Harden retired the first 16 batters of the game before walking Carlos Ruiz. Of course, two batters later, Harden followed up that walk by giving up a two-out, two-run home run to Jimmy Rollins which tied the game at two runs apiece.

In the top of the 9th, Ruiz hit a ball that third base umpire Dale Scott called a home run. However, Dale Scott used replay to review the play and made the correct call that the ball was foul. It was the first time instant replay has been used at Wrigley Field and the first game I have attended in which instant replay was used.

In the bottom of the 9th, the Cubs were able to score a run off of Brad Lidge who blew his 7th save of the season after a perfect save campaign in 2008.

For the fourth time this season, I attended a game that went into the 12th inning – the other three games ended in the 13th inning. Ben Francisco led off the 12th inning with a home run off of Cubs closer Kevin Gregg and the Phillies went on to win the game 4-3.