‘61 Bombers take 2 of 3 from ‘54 Tribe

Yankee Stadium
GAME 1
Garcia vs Sheldon
61-NYY 5, 56-CLE 4

Jim Coates almost blew Rollie Sheldon's 5-2 lead by giving up 2 in the 9th and needing Luis Arroyo to come on and get the final out by striking out Vic Wertz.  Roger Maris (3-4) had a break out day recording his first homer of the season and also notching 3 RBI's.

GAME 2
Wynn vs Ford
56-CLE 2, 61-NYY 1

Early Wynn (8.2IP/1ER) outdueled Whitey Ford (8IP/2ER) in a classic duel between HOF hurlers.  Rocky Colavito (2-4) struk out twice, but he did record the go ahead run with a solo blast.  Wynn got close to completing the circuit, less the final out which was recorded by Ray Narleski on a scary moment where Moose Skowron hit one to the track.

GAME 3
Lemon vs Stafford
61-NYY 9, 56-CLE 1

Bob Lemon and Bill Stafford dueled for 6 1/2 innings as the Bombers were trying to hold on to their 2-1 lead.  In the bottom of the 7th NY chased Lemon and got 2 insurance runs on a Tony Kubek single and an RBI ground out by the Mick.  New York scored 5 in the bottom of the 8th to make this look like a laugher, which it wasn't until that point.  The M&M Boys had 3 RBI's each.  The Mick broke out with his first homer of the season.  The Milkshake Twins (Richardson/Kubek) were a combined 5 for 10 with 4 runs scored and one RBI.

54 Yankees Put Moves on 70 O's to Take 2 of 3

Game 1

Memorial Stadium

Morgan vs Phoebus

Bal 4 NYY 3

Yankees, looking for their first win of the KOD season score early on a Yogi Berra sac fly in the top of the first, but that is the only run Tom Phoebus yields as he gets out of a bases loaded jam to keep the Yankees close.  In the bottom of the third, Boog Powell follows a Don Buford single and Merv Rettenmund single with his third home run of the young season down the right field line to stake Baltimore to the 3-1 lead.   Phoebus would give up another run on a wild pitch in the 6th before exiting for the day.  Johnny Said would come in to relieve Morgan after 7 1/3 and although the Yankees would be stung by some sloppy fielding (4 errors in the game), none would lead to any additional Baltimore runs.  Johnny Sain would lead off the top of the ninth with a single before Pete Richert could get the next two batters bringing up The Mick with two out.  Mantle tripled down the left field line to tie the game against Baltimore reliever Eddie Watt.  Watt got out of trouble after a walk to Moose Skowron by enticing Yogi Berra into a ground out.  Tie game heading into the bottom of the ninth.   Sain retired the first two batter with no problem, but then Frank Robinson blasted a 3-1 pitch down the left field line for the walk off game winner!

Game 2

Memorial Stadium

Ford vs Cuellar

NYY 8  Bal 7

Cuellar struggled early in this one giving up 5 in the top of the second.  The big hit for the Yankees was an Andy Carey grand slam to left field!  Trailing by 5, it appears this one would be a route for the Yanks.  but not if Boog Powell had anything to say about it.  In the bottom of the second he answered with his 4th homerun (solo) of the season to make it 5-1 Yanks.  the Yanks answered right back as Phil Rizzuto lined an RBI double to put get the Yankees ahead once again by 5.  In the bottom of the 5th Powell hit his second home run of the game off of Ford to tighten the score to  Yankees 6 Orioles 5. The Yankees once again answered with 2 in the top of the 6th on sac flys by Carey and Mickey Mantle.  And this is where it would stay although Baltimore threatened in the bottom of the ninth as Baltimore scored two, but fell one hit short of tying this one.  Strangely this one seemed like a back and forth affair, however Yankee pitching and bats were able to maintain the upper hand throughout.

Game 3

Memorial Stadium

Grim vs Palmer

NYY 4  Bal 1

Baltimore's Jim Palmer continued his early season struggles in this one giving up 1 run in the top of the first on a Moose Skowron RBI triple (Who knew the guy could run? 😀).  Baltimore answered back in the bottom of the inning with 1 of their own as Don Buford tied the game with a lead off home run.  With Palmer laboring in the top of the second Bob Grim hit a two run homer that would be the deciding runs in this one.  the rest of the game belonged to the staffs as the only other run would score as a result of Mickey Mantle's solo home run in the 5th.  Grim sut down the O's bats for 8 innings and the Yankees take this game 4-1 and the series 2 games to 1.

Fun, if a little strange, series.  Alot of back and forth that kept all the games interesting.

--contribution by Mark Nixon--

M's, Sox provide Golden Entertainment to Open KOD Silver Anniversary

Game #1, August 12

CHICAGO – Freddy “The Younger” Garcia (1-0), was dominant for Seattle in a season-opening 6-0 victory on the South Side of Chicago. Garcia had a no-hitter rolling until A. J. Pierzynski greeted him in the 6^th with a lead-off single. Meanwhile the Mariners offense had garnered him a 4-0 lead on a Mike Cameron RBI single in the 1^st, a 2-RBI double by Dan Wilson in the 6^th, and a RBI single by Ichiro Suzuki (3 hits), also in the 6^th. Garcia would leave mop-up duty to the bullpen after 7 1/3 IP. The Navigators tagged on two more runs with an IF out in the 8^th and a Stan Javier (1) belt in the 9^th. Mark Buehrle (0-1) stated and lost for the White Sox.

Game #2, August 13

CHICAGO – Mike Cameron’s (1) 8^th inning solo blast turned out to be the kind of insurance Seattle needed as they held on for a thrilling 7-6 winner. The Mariners pounded Sox starter Jon Garland (0-1) for 6 runs in the first 2 innings. Edgar Martinez doubled home Suzuki in the 1^st. In the 2^nd, Garland’s 3 free passes combined with 4 singles led to 9 batters coming to the plate and 5 runs being scored. Mark McLemore’s 2-run single being the biggest blow. Chicago’s Paul Konerko (1) got one back in the B2 with a solo shot off Navs starter Aaron Sele (1-0). Pierzynski (1) got 3 more back with a 3-run bomb in the 4^th. It remained 6-4 until Cameron’s clout made it 7-4, setting up a dramatic B9^th. PH Frank Thomas (1) greeted Arthur Rhodes with a long one to LF to start the inning. Joe Crede fanned and Pablo Ozuno was thrown out attempting to bunt his way on. Then Juan Uribe doubled and Scott Podsednik singled him home, 7-6. Kazuhiro Sasaki (1) was called upon, but he hit Aaron Rowand with a pitch after Podsednik had swiped 2^nd base. But there would be no joy at “The Cell,” mighty Jermaine Dye struck out.   

Game #3, August 14

CHICAGO –  Jermaine Dye was at the plate with 2 outs in the B9th with runners at first and second. Sound familiar? Slight differences - the score was tied 4-4 and Jose Paniagua was on the mound. BIG difference - Dye (1) didn’t miss a stitch of the baseball as he deposited it 437-feet away from home plate into the LCF stands for a 7-4 White Sox walk-off winner. Dustin Hermanson (1-0), at the end of a string of 7 ChiSox hurlers, was the winner. Ryan Franklin (0-1) took the loss. How did we get there? Starters Jamie Moyer and Jose Contreras locked in a pretty good pitcher’s duel through 6 innings with Chicago holding a 2-1 edge. Uribe (1) and Ozuna (1) had gone yard for the Sox. Crede (1) added another homer leading off the 7^th and Uribe added an RBI single to give the home club a 4-1 lead. John Olerud doubled in Martinez in the 8^th to tighten it up. Seattle led off the T9 with 3 straight singles from Al Martin, Suzuki and McLemore (3 hits) against two hapless Chicago relievers; Martin scoring on McLemore’s poke. Hermanson entered and got Bret Boone to fly out, but Martinez singled in Suzuki to tie the game. Olerud struck out and Cameron flied out to send it to the B9 tied at 4-4. Uribe (3 hits) hit a 1-out knock, followed by Podsednik’s single. Rowand flied out setting up Dye’s dramatics. 

D-Backs v. Cubs

Game 1:


Schilling v. Hendricks.


Cubs get a first inning  homer from Rizzo (then add 3 more runs), which proved to be all the Cubs needed as Hendricks, Edwards, Wood, and Cahill combine for a 2 hit shutout.  Cubs 4 D-Backs 0    


Game 2:


Johnson v. Lester.


This game a pitchers duel.  Both starters go 8 or more innings giving up no runs.  The Big Unit k's 13 over 8 1/3, while Lester gave up just 1 hit in 8 innings.  The game goes extra innings andin the bottom of the 10th Heyward singles off of Kim, then steals 2nd, advances to 3rd on a ground out by Szczur. The D-Backs bring the  infield in and  Flower hits a ground ball to short...the Cubs had the contact play on and Heyward beat Jay Bell's throw to the plate for the walk off win.   Cubs 1 D-Backs 0


Game 3: 


Arrieta v. Anderson


The Cubs jump on Anderson early and often scoring 7 runs in 5 innings.  D-Backs get a Grand Slam from Finley to cut the score to 7 to 5, but the Cub bats put up 4 more.  Kris Bryant was the star going 4 for 5 scoring with 2 hr's, 3 runs scored and 4 rbi's.


Cubs win 11 to 6.


Cubs starting pitchers dominated the series as they combined for 18.1 innings giving up just 7 hits with a 0.47 ERA.  

'82 Redbirds take 2 of 3 from '86 Amazin's

GAME 1 - Shea Stadium
Andujar vs Gooden
82-STL 4, 86-NYM 2

Darrell Porter's 2 run shot in the top of the 12th off of Randy Niemann broke a 2-2 deadlock.  The Mets didn't go easy as the loaded the bases with 2 outs in the bottom of the inning.  Cardinal reliever John Martin was able to get backup catcher Ed Hearn to flow out to shallow center to end it.

GAME 2
Forsch vs Ojeda
86-NYM 7, 82-STL 4

New York scored a run in every inning from the 3rd-8th. 

Bobby O went 6 2/3 giving up 1 run on 3 hits.  Jesse Orosco got the final 2 outs of the game for the save.  New York featured a balanced attack with 5 players getting 2 hits. Straw was given 3 unintentional passes.  Nails (2-3, 2 Runs) also walked twice.

GAME 3
Mura vs Darling
82-STL 2, 86-NYM 1

Steve Mura (7IP/0R) was a tad better than Ronnie Darling, who didn't pitch all that bad.  Mex knocked in a run, for STL, vs his future mates.  Mura knocked in the other run.  Bruce Sutter pitched a perfect 9th for the save.

98-ATL takes 2 of 3 from 88-NYM

The first two of this set were pitcher's duels, a split and went down to the wire. Well, game three went to the wire as well but with 29 hits and 18 runs scored. The Mets scored 4 runs in the top of the ninth to tie the game at 8 before PH Eddie Perez hit a one out 2 run homer to win it. Braves take the series 2-1.

I want to give a shout out to Fred Falzone, Mets manager, who waited 3 days to get our last game played as my work place fell apart with the sudden temporary loss of two key employees and I had to work 12-15 hour night shifts all weekend. Fred was exceedingly patient with me as a moving target throughout. This delay was all on me.

thanks

--eab 98 Braves--

Kansas City (80) takes 2 of 3 in Oakland (90)

​Game 1 matched Dennis Leonard and Dave Stewart. The A's punished Leonard for 9 hits and 7 runs in 7 innings, while Stewart game up 8 hits but only 2 runs in his 7 innings of pitching.  Terry Steinbach and Walt Weiss homered for Oakland. Felix Jose went 3-3 with 2 RBI. Willie Wilson had two singles and two stolen bases for the losers. Oakland 7-2

Scott Sanderson and Larry Gura squared off in game 2.  Gura pitched 7 innings allowing only 4 hits and 2 runs with Dan Quisenberry picking up the save with 2  no hit innings of relief. Dave Henderson scored both on Oakland's runs on Solo shots. Willie Wilson picked up a couple hits with 3 stolen bases and Willie Aikens hit a two run homer to lead the Royals to a 4-2 win.
​

The finale was pitched by Bob Welch for Oakland and Paul Splittorff for Kansas City.  Dave Henderson hit his 3rd home run of the series off Splittorff while picking up another hit along the way.  Clint Hurdle had the game winning hit for the Royals, a bases clearing double.  Welch pitched 6 1/3 innings allowing on 3 hits but walking 4 and giving up 4 runs. Splittorff pitched 8 innings allowing 5 hits and 2 runs before giving way to Quisenberry in the 9th (after yielding a lead off home run to Henderson). Quiz registered a 1-2-3 inning to pick up the save.

--​submitted by Orion Bell--​