Last year, Mark Grace reached career highs with a .325 batting average, 39 doubles, 14 homers and 98 RBIs. After Saturday’s win, Grace was batting .277 and with 14 doubles, three homers and 34 RBIs. Yet he feels he has hit the ball just about as well this year as last.
The difference? That old law of averages, Grace says. “I had a heck of a year last year, and I also had a lot of good breaks. I hit a lot of what Hawk (Sox broadcaster Ken Harrelson) calls `duck snorts’ that fell for hits. I honestly feel I’ve hit the ball as well this year, but a lot of them go right at somebody. Maybe things are evening up for last year.”
Before his 11th-inning homer beat the Astros Friday, Grace had only one single to show for five hard-hit balls. Craig Biggio robbed him of a hit with a diving stop. “Last year, that ball would have gone through,” said Grace. “I’m hitting in lousy luck this year.”
Saturday, hitting against the wind, Grace chased Steve Finley to the 400-foot marker.
Injury report: Rick Wilkins has a stiff neck and was held out Saturday. Mark Parent did the catching and had three hits. Jose Hernandez played third base in place of Steve Buechele, who has an injured right heel and will miss Sunday night’s game on ESPN. Hernandez singled, tripled and scored twice.
Social note: Bullpen catcher Dan Simonds and Amy Zimmerman were married Saturday evening.
Farm report: Six of seven Cubs farm teams lost Friday. Only winner was Williamsport of the Class A New York-Penn League, which beat Watertown 6-3. Center-fielder Marty Gazarek went 4 for 5, climbing to .398, in the victory.