9/8 A little history …

The Cubs now have collected eight straight hits to start a game twice against the Pirates. Besides Tuesday’s game at PNC Park, the Cubs also did so on April 21, 1973, at Wrigley Field. Rick Monday homered to lead off the first against Nelson Briles. Glenn Beckert singled, Billy Williams singled, Joe Pepitone hit a RBI single, and Ron Santo hit a RBI double.

The Pirates then brought in Robert Johnson to replace Briles, and Jose Cardenal greeted him with a two-run double. Randy Hundley singled, Don Kessinger hit a RBI single and Fergie Jenkins struck out to end the streak. Rick Monday then picked it up again with a single and Beckert, in his second at-bat, grounded into a double play. The Cubs led 6-2 at that point, and the game was delayed 85 minutes because of rain.

The weather didn’t cooperate and the game was suspended at the end of the sixth with the Cubs leading, 10-8. It was completed July 26, 1973, with the Cubs winning, 10-9.

– Carrie Muskat