‘80 Cubs split with ‘98 Spos

The 98 Expos and manager Marc Weiss hosted the 80 Chicago Cubs managed by Jim Walden for a 2 game set in Stade Olympique.

Game 1 – Cubs 4, Expos 1
Are we talking Cy Young so early in the season? We could be. Rick Reuschel took to the hill for the Cubs and promptly tossed a 4 hitter at the Expos, as he won his 2nd game in a row. " Big Daddy" pitched another complete game win as the Cubs took game 1 by a 4-1 score. Bill Buckner led the way for Chicago, going 3 for 5, with a solo shot in the 7th off of Expo starter Dustin Hermanson. Reuschel was never threatened except in the 5th when he hit a batter and gave up a double to start the inning, but then pitched his way out of the jam, only allowing 1 run to score.

Game 2 – Expos 5, Cubs 2
Carlos Perez got the game 2 win for Montreal,as he starts the season 2-0. Rondel White started the scoring against Chicago and Lynn McGlothen, as he deposited a dinger in the right filed seats. Chicago tied it in the top of the 3rd as Ivan Dejesus went opposite field with his first homer of the year. The lead was short lived as Montreal scored in the bottom half of the inning to regain the lead at 2-1. The Expos added another run in the 4th and Chicago added on in the  top of the 6th. Montreal salted the game away with 2 more runs in the bottom of the 7th. Expos pitching shut down the Cubs the rest of the way with Perez giving away to Ugueth Urbina in the 9th as Urbina closed out the Cubs for the save and a 5-2 Montreal win.

The series moved back to Chicago for games 3 and 4.
Game 3 – Expos 4, Cubs 2
Montreal used 5 pitchers to nail down the win in game 3 with starter Mike Thurman wining his first game of the year. A 3 run Expo 2nd,as they scored 3 runs against Cubs starter Dennis Lamp, would be all the Expos would need in the 4-2 win. Vladimir Guerrero's 3rd home run off the year sparked Montreal's outburst in the inning. Urbina would notch his 4th save of the year for Montreal.

Game 4 – Cubs 6, Expos 2
Mike Krukow would get his 2nd win of the year as a big 4 run Chicago 3rd would be all the Cubs would need to split the series. Bill Buckner continued to hit big for Chicago, going 3 for 3, to raise his average to .448 and Mike Vail's lone poke in the Cub 4th would lead the way to Chicago's big inning, while Dave Kingman would add his 3rd home run of the year to the inning. Krukow would only walk one and scatter 4 hits in his 7 innings of work. Carl Pavano would take it on the chin for his second loss for Montreal.

--submitted by Jim Walden--