'74-LAD takes 2 of 3 from '53-BRO

Ebbets Field
GAME 1
Rau vs Meyer
74-LAD 12, 53-BRO 7

Doug Rau did the impossible:  He gave up just 2 earned runs (5 total) over 8 innings vs the potent righthanded Boys of Summer lineup.  Rau's offense presented him with 12 runs on 20 hits.  The "Toy Canon", Jimmy Wynn knocked in 6 thanks to a pair of long balls, the second being a grand slam.  Rau's left arm wasn't his only asset on the day.  At the plate he was a perfect 3 for 3 with 2 runs scored.  Billy Bucks (.380) continued his hot hitting with a 4-6 day.  Campy and Skoooonj both knocked in 3 for the the Brooks, who suffered with Meyer (10 ER / 5.1 IP) who struggled mightily on the hill.

 

GAME 2

Downing vs Loes
74-LAD 9, 53-BRO 6

For the 2nd day in a row LA went the unconventional route and sent a lefty out to face the righthanded power hitting lineup of Brooklyn.  Veteran Al Downing weaved in and out of trouble before leaving the game in the 6th with a 5-1 lead.  Normally reliable Mike Marshall, who seems to pitch every day, blew a 4 run lead as the Brooks scored 3 in the 7th and 2 in the 8th.  Up 5-4 the Brooks gave the ball to Hughes to close it out.  LA jumped all over him to the tune of 4 unanswered runs thanks to a series of walks and a clutch 2 RBI single by Marshall, who tired in the bottom of the inning and had to be replaced by former Dodger closer Jim Brewer.  For the second day in a row, every batter in LA's lineup posted at least 1 hit.

Dodger Stadium
GAME 3
Erskine vs Messersmith
53-BRO 15, 74-LAD 7

With ace right Andy Messersmith on the hill LA poised themselves for the series sweep.  The righty vs righty lineup matchup was the perfect scenario for LA, but conventional wisdom need not apply to this series as Brooklyn scored two touchdowns, a PAT and a 2 point conversion off of Messersmith and company.  Jimmy Wynn had 6 RBI's again, but this time it was purely window dressing as the Boys of Summer got their swag back.  Glove man Billy Cox (4-5) knocked in 3 and scored 3.  The Duke of Flatbush took his show to Hollywood and knocked in 4.  Campy knocked in 3 as the team from the borough of churches wore out Messersmith and the Chavez Ravine basepaths to salvage the series finale.