51s catch glimpse of Wrigley Field

As he put on his uniform in the cramped visitors' clubhouse Sunday at Chicago's historic Wrigley Field, 51s closer Bubbie Buzachero barely could contain his enthusiasm.

Raised a Cubs fan in his native Tennessee, Buzachero was preparing to pitch at Chicago's 94-year-old ballpark with much of his family in attendance.

"It's awesome. It's like a dream come true. ... It's the closest I've been to the majors," said Buzachero, 28, in his eighth season in the minor leagues. "A lot of the guys have played here before, but it's a big deal for me.

"You never know, this might be the closest I come to the big leagues, so I'm going to take full advantage of it."

Buzachero pitched a perfect eighth inning, with one strikeout, for the 51s in their 5-4 loss to the Iowa Cubs in front of a crowd of 16,280.

It was only the second minor league game ever at Wrigley Field, which was built in 1914. The first was played last summer between the Kane County Cougars and Peoria Chiefs -- Chicago's Single-A affiliate, which was managed by Cubs great Ryne Sandberg -- in front of about 26,000 fans.

The games are part of a plan by the Cubs to help promote their affiliates.

51s president Don Logan said Las Vegas' involvement was simply luck of the draw.

"It just worked out that we were playing on this date and the Cubs were out of town," he said. "I think it's great. This is one of the most storied venues in sports, not only baseball. Venues like this don't last."

While most of the 51s players stepped on the Wrigley Field diamond for the first time Sunday, the contest was a homecoming of sorts for 51s center fielder Buck Coats, who was drafted in the 18th round by the Cubs in 2000 and recorded his first major league hit at Wrigley in 2006.

"It's good to be back where it all started, where I first got called up," Coats said. "For the guys who've been (to the majors), it's good to get back, and for the guys who've never been, they get to play in a big league park in front of a big crowd.

"That's what it's all about. It's a special feeling and special time for everyone."

Including the coaches. Las Vegas manager Mike Basso had scouted players at the park in the past but never had played or coached at Wrigley Field before Sunday.

"It was a fun experience for everybody to get a chance to play here," he said. "It's a great ballpark with a great tradition, great fans and an outstanding city. It's just a lot of fun to be at Wrigley Field."

Las Vegas outfielder Travis Snider belted two solo home runs for the 51s (57-59), who squandered an early 2-0 lead and allowed two runs on a pair of throwing errors by third baseman Kevin Howard.

Iowa outfielder John-Ford Griffin, who played for Las Vegas last season, hit a two-run homer in the sixth inning to give the Cubs (58-57) a 3-2 edge, and they extended it to 5-2 before holding off the 51s.

Snider's second homer made it 5-3 in the eighth inning, and Las Vegas shortstop Angel Sanchez added a solo shot in the ninth for the final margin.

But this day was about the ballpark more than the game.

51s relief pitcher Zach Stewart, who tossed a scoreless two-thirds of an inning, said, "The main thing we all kept talking about was how much different it looks on TV. I expected it to be a lot bigger," he said.

Speaking for most of his teammates, Stewart said he hopes to return to Wrigley Field wearing a different uniform.

"The ultimate goal is to get to the big leagues," he said. "This gets you a little taste, and hopefully I can come back and play in a big league game at this park."