By John Fay
The Cincinnati Enquirer

CHICAGO - It would be hard to pack more thrills, chills, twists and turns into two days of baseball than the Reds and Chicago Cubs did Friday and Saturday.

PHOTO GALLERY

8 Photos of Saturday's game

"It's been unbelievable," Reds closer Danny Graves said. "It takes a lot out of you. It almost feels like the postseason."

The weather has been crisp and fall-like. The crowds have been at capacity. And the baseball both days was thrilling - in very different ways.

Friday was a classic slugfest with Sammy Sosa and Moises Alou delivering the 1-2 home run knockout punch in the bottom of the ninth for an 11-10 Cubs victory.

Saturday was a pitchers' duel with the Reds winning 3-2 with two small-ball runs in the ninth inning.

Friday, with the wind blowing out, there were eight homers. Saturday, with the wind blowing in, there was one.

But both days, there was a packed, rocking Wrigley Field.

"The feeling out there, the electricity, has been unreal," Reds first baseman Sean Casey said. "The fans have been so into it. There's been so much emotion."

For the Reds to play well under that kind of pressure is a good sign. The Cubs are one of baseball's anointed teams this year. Many experts expect them to reach the World Series.

The Reds haven't been picked to win anything. But, so far this year, the Reds lead the series three wins to two.

The Reds needed a win Saturday. They blew a 4-0 lead in Philadelphia the day before blowing a 9-4 lead Friday.

"This is a big lift for us," outfielder Adam Dunn said.

Said catcher Jason LaRue: "It's a big win for us, especially against them. Everyone's picking them to be in the playoffs. To come back against (Cubs starter) Kerry Wood, that's big."

And the series is only half over. There are games today and Monday.