Wednesday, March 29, 2017

Pitching and Clutch Fielding Lead 69 Cubs to Two Wins Over Division Leading 77 Phillies

Game 1
Wrigley Field
Phillies 5 Cubs 1
Lonborg vs Jenkins

Philadelphia breaks from the gate quickly against Cub ace Ferguson Jenkins on a Garry Maddox solo home run in the top of the first.  Cubs tie the game up against Lonborg on a Randy Hundley sac fly driving in Don Young.  Phils answer right back with another solo shot, this time by the Bull, Greg Luzinzki.  The middle innings see both hurlers settled down and escape multiple scoring threats   IN the 7th, Jenkins is touched for 2 on 2 singles a double a balk and a Cubbie error to go up 4-1.  Tim McCarver leads of the top of the 8th with the third solo home run of the day , this time against reliever Ted Abernathy.  This one ends with a final of 5-1 and the Cubs fans head home disappointed by the recent lack of offense from the beloved home team.

Game 2
Wrigley Field
Cubs 3 Phillies 2
Christenson vs Hands

Bill Hands of the Cubs gives his best performance of the KOD scattering 4 Phillies hits (3 singles and a double) in a complete game win.  Cubs break through in the 3rd innin on a Billy Williams 2 run home run.  In the fourth a Greg Luzinski RBI TRIPLE (yes you read that correctly) gets the Phils within 1 against Hands and in the following inning the Phillies tie the score at 2 on a fielders choice by Ted Sizemore to drive in Bob Boone who walked to lead off the inning. In the bottom of the 5th, Mr. Cub, who has been on a bit of an RBI drought this KOD, drove Paul Popovich in from second base with an RBI double for what would prove to be the difference in this one.  Both Christenson and Hands were solid on the day,

Game 3
Wrigley Field
Cubs 5 Phillies 4
Carlton vs Holtzman

Big Lefty Steve Carlton took the mound for the rubber match against Cub lefty Ken Holtzman.  Though Carlton entered the game 4-0 the Cubs wasted no time jumping on him with two doubles and a Jim Hickman two run home run to drive in 3 runs in the bottom of the first.  A Mike Schmidt error allowed Ken Holtzman to reach first base leading off the bottom of the 2nd, a balk and a Glenn Beckert RBI double posted the Cubs to a 4-0 lead after 2 innings.  The Phillies would rally against Holtzman in the top of the 4th on two doubles and two singles to post 3 runs of their own to bring the score to 4-3 Cubs.  Cubs answer back in the bottom of the inning with a single run on an Al Spangler RBI single to make the score 5-3 Cubs.  Once again the Phils came back, this time on an RBI fields choice to pull within one at 5-4......but this is how it would stay as Holtzman pitched out of scoring threats in the 6th and 7th before yielding to Phil Reagan for he two inning save.  Big Lefty certainly pitched well enough for a win if the Cubs had not come out of the gate fast with 3 in the first.  After the game KDSN (KOD Sports Network) interviewed Carlton who defended his performance, stating, "Sometimes it doesn't matter what you have, you just get Koched." :-)


Thanks to Pete for getting this in early to accommodate my schedule.
  

'74 Dodgers take 2 of 3 from '69 Amazin's

Dodger Stadium
GAME 1
Seaver vs John
74-LAD 5, 69-NYM 0

Tommy John and Tom Seaver locked up in a classic pitcher's duel that got ugly late thanks to some uncharacteristic fielding gaffes by the Amazin's.  LA's only run off "the Franchise" came in the bottom of the 2nd when Willie Crawford led off with a triple and scored on a Ron Cey Sac Fly.  The score remained 1-0 until the bottom of the 8th when Ron Taylor walked the house and Boswell and McGraw booted balls.  Mike Marshall pitched the final 2 innings in relief of John to get his second save.



GAME 2

Koosman vs Sutton
74-LAD 3, 69-NYM 2 (10 inn)

After giving up a lead off homer to Tommie Agee, Don Sutton protected a 2-1 lead for 8 innings until the Amazin's tied it up in the top of the 8th on a Rod Gaspar 2 out single that scored Jerry Grote.  In the bottom of the 10th Bill Buckner reached base on a throwing error by third baseman Ed Charles.  After Steve Garvey flew out to shallow right the "Toy Canon" worked out a walk to put runners on 1st and 2nd.  That set the stage for the burly Joe Ferguson who ripped a walk off single past Jones in left field to win the game for LA.

GAME 3
McAndrew vs Rau
69-NYM 4, 74-LAD 2

Needing some sort of spark the Amazin's hoped that 4th starter Jim McAndrew could hold LA at bay.  The dormant NY offense came alive with 3 big runs in the top of the 3rd and never looked back.  Art Shamsky's sac fly scored Cleon Jones to make it 1-0 and Jerry Grote's two out single plated Bobby Pfeil and Rocky Swoboda.  Both teams exchanged solo runs in the 5th and the Dodgers tallied one in the 7th to make the score 4-2.  Doctor Ron Taylor came aboard in the 8th to pitch 2 scoreless innings to record the save, which helped NY escape from La-La Land without getting swept.

Tuesday, March 28, 2017

'48 Tribe sweeps '61 Yanks

wins game 1 w/3 run HR in extras
The 1948 Indians used clutch pitching and some timely offense to take 3 straight from the 1961 Yankees. It was a brutal series for New York, as not only did the Tribe beat them in the Stadium, but they did it without using their top two starters while the Yankees went with their top three. Neither Bob Lemon nor Bob Feller started for Cleveland, while Ford, Terry, and Stafford, who should be the Yankees big 3, tried to get a win. And for the most part the Yankee starters did their job. It was the poor performance from the Yankee bullpen, and the tough Cleveland pitching that held the vaunted Yankee offense in check that made the difference. Both teams played solid defense in the series.

In a somewhat ironic twist, two of the games went extra innings, but Cleveland on those by 5-2 and 6-2 scores. The middle game went nine, and was a 5-4 Tribe victory.

Roger Maris and Mickey Mantle were held in check and then some by the Indian hurlers, going a combined 4 for 25 with no RBI while leaving 16 on base. Not once did either guy come through when it could have turned a game around.

Cleveland has taken a solid grip on first place in the Classic AL Continental division with a  10-5 record. The Yankees drop to a game below .500 at 7-8. After starting 6-2, New York has lost 6 of their last 7.

--submitted by Bike Mike--

Monday, March 27, 2017

05 ChiSox Help Bury 98 Bombers in Basement (for now)

Aaron Rowand
Game #1, August 28
NEW YORK -- Aaron Rowand had a day to remember putting up a 5-3-5-2 line with 2 doubles. His second two-bagger led to the winning run in the 9th when Pablo Ozuna singled him home for a 9-8 White Sox winner. it was a wild day in the Bronx zoo as each team put up 15 hits and exchanged the lead 6 times. Tadahito Iguchi added 4 hits for the Sox. Tino Martinez and Jorge Posada banged out 3 apiece for the Yankees. Luis Vizcaino (1-0) was the eventual winning pitcher with Cliff Politte getting the save. Ramiro Mendoza (0-2) took the loss.

Game #2, August 29
NEW YORK -- David Cone took a perfect game into the 6th inning until a Chuck Knoblauch error ruined it. He took the no-hitter bid into the 9th when Ozuna led off with a bunt single. Cone's W was then lost when Ozuna stole second and Rowand singled him home to tie the game at 1-1. Graeme Lloyd (1-0) would snatch the W for NY when Joe Girardi banged a double in the B9 to plate Martinez with the 2-1 walk-off. ChiSox starter Jon Garland gave up a 2nd inning RBI single to Martinez (3 hits) in the 2nd, but was otherwise magnificent. Damaso Marte (0-1) had the L hung on him.


Paul Konerko
Game #3, August 30
CHICAGO -- Paul Konerko (3,4) homered twice to power the Pale Hose to a 5-1 win in the rubber game. A favorable wind was blowing for the hitters as almost all runs were accounted for via the long ball. Iguchi (2) and Frank Thomas (2) also went yard for the home club. Jose Contreras (1-2) surrendered just 2 hits until he tired in the 7th. Knoblauch (3) went deep off Politte for the Bombers only run. "Boomer" David Wells (0-3) started and lost.

Sunday, March 26, 2017

'53 Dodgers take 2 of 3 from '62 Giants

The 1953 Dodgers make an early statement in the Classic League Continental Division by taking the first two of a three game series against the 1962 San Francisco Giants. The third game was a wild one, with the Giants eventually prevailing 10-9, to keep from falling three games back of Brooklyn. The Dodgers hold a one game lead in the division.

Game three featured a home run derby, which was won individually by Gil Hodges who connected for 3 long balls, including a lead-changing 3 run shot in the eighth that put the Dodgers up by two, 9-7.

The Giants saw Willie Mays and Felipe Alou both go deep twice. Trailing by the 9-7 score going in to the bottom of the eighth, the Giants, in what was probably a must-win situation although the season is still relatively young, climbed off the deck for three runs to take a 10-9 lead, which Jim Duffalo preserved with a 1-2-3 ninth.

The game featured six lead changes, with each team having a 2-run lead that did not hold up. The Giants squandered two 2-run leads in fact.

Bike Mike

'90 A's Top '05 Pale Hose

Juan Uribe
Game #1, August 24
CHICAGO -- Juan Uribe (2) swatted a 2-run homer in the 2nd inning to give the White Sox lead they wouldn't relinquish. It was 3-2 at the time and they eventually extended to a 5-2 final. Jermaine Dye added 3 hits, including a double and triple to the total. Jon Garland (1-2) got the win, tossing 7.1 IP and giving up just 2 runs on 7 hits. Scott Sanderson (0-2) took the loss for Oakland.




Game #2, August 25

CHICAGO -- Jose Canseco (1) was extra pumped up for this one, amassing a 4-2-4-3 line with triple and home run in an 8-5 Athletics win. Bob Welch (1-1) went 8 innings, yielding just 2 runs on 5 hits. The ChiSox made a spirited comeback attempt with 3 in the B9th against Todd Burns, but it died out after A.J. Pierzynski's (2) 2-run homer made it 8-5. Jose Contreras (0-2) started and lost for the Sox.








Game #3, August 26
CHICAGO -- Terry Steinbach doubled in Willie McGee and Willie Randolph in the 10th to lift Oakland to a 7-5 win in the rubber game. Rickey Henderson (2) led off the game, as he so often did, with a home run. It was one of his 3 safeties. Walt Weiss and Dave Henderson also chipped in 3 hits apiece. Eric Nelson (1-1) notched the win in relief with Dennis Eckersley (2) striking out the side in the B10 for the save. Dustin Hermanson (1-1) took the loss for the Pale Hose.

'74 Dodgers take 2 of 3 from '62 Jints

Candlestick Park
GAME 1
Sutton vs Sanford
74-LAD 3, 62-SFG 0

Don Sutton threw a tidy 3 hit shutout to boost his record to 2-1 with an off the charts 0.75 ERA (How did he lose 1?).  LA plated solo runs in the 2nd, 3rd and 7th innings, while Sutton kept the slugging Jints at bay.  Davey Lopes (3-4 w/walk) stole 2 bags and scored a run to pace the Dodger offense.

 

GAME 2

Rau vs Marichal
62-SFG 11, 74-LAD 2

The "Say Hey Kid" smashed 2 homers and knoced in 6 as the Dominican Dandy upped his record to 3-0 (0.72 ERA).  Dodger starter Dog Rau (1-1, 4.35) was chased after giving up 10 (5 earned) in 4 innings of shoddy work.  When the game got out of reach Marichal gave way to Gaylord Perry, who pitched 2 scoreless innings to close it out.

Dodger Stadium
GAME 3
McCormick vs Messersmith
74-LAD 19, 62-SFG 2

The series shifted venues, but for the second straight day the winning team blew out the loser.  LA scored a run in each of the first 6 innings, which includes back to back 6 spots in the 2nd and 3rd.  Lopes (4-6) and Buckner (4-5) were on base all day.  Lopes scored 4 runs and knocked in 2.  Buckner scored 2 runs and knocked in 3.  The Penguin (2-2) knocked in 3 as well, but the true offensive star was catcher Steve Yeager (3-5), who knocked in 5 and hit one of LA's 4 homers.  Andy Messersmith (7IP/2ER) cruised to victory.