Cards take 2 of 3 from Bucs

The ’61 Cardinals kept their good season going by winning the first two games of a three game set against the 1969 Pirates, before Dock Ellis and company shut them out in game three.

Game two looked to go to the win column for Pittsburgh, with a one run lead and

two outs in the ninth. But that magic man came to the rescue again, as Gene Oliver drove a fastball over the pavilion roof in right center for his second walk-off home run of the season.

Fire balling youngster Bob Gibson went the distance in the opener, throwing a 2 hitter and collecting 2 hits of his own in a 6-1 victory.

Bike Mike

Phightin's are on cruise control !!!

The league-leading ’52 Phillies continue to play over their heads as they sweep the ’66 Braves in three games allowing Atlanta only two runs in the entire series.  Karl Drews shutout the Braves for 8 2/3 innings in game one and Roberts and Simmons picked up the victories in the final two games allowing just one run each in their outings. Roberts went the distance picking up a complete game and lowering his ERA to 1.98

Happy New Year to all !!!

Jim Clouser

Sahx and Tigres split a 4 game set

Teams split 4 game series.  

GM 1: 88 Boston wins 10-3

WP: Mike Smithson (2-0)

LP: Dan Petry (2-2)

SV: Lee Smith (10)

HR: Greenwell (4), Benzinger (4), Rice (4), LeFlore (2), Thompson (5), Parrish (5)

MVP: Todd Benzinger (4-6, 2 RBI, 4 RBI, 2B, HR)

Detroit got off to a fast start with a lead-off inside the park HR in the bottom of the 1st and led 3-0 going into the 5th.  But then the Sox bats started to figure out Tiger starter, Petry.  The big blow being a grand slam by Mike Greenwell that gave the Sox the lead that they would not relinquish.  It would get tight when the Tigers got to Bob Stanley for 2 runs to pull to 7-6 before a Jum RIce 2 run homer and a Benzinger RBI single in the bottom of the 8th gave Boston a cushion.  Which they would need as Tom Bolton pitched himself into trouble in the 9th before Lee Smith shut the door to pick up his 10th save of the year.

GM 2: 79 Detroit wins 2-0

WP: Pat Underwood (2-0)

LP: Wes Gardner (2-2)

SV: Aurelio Lopez (4)

HR: NONE

MVP: Pat Underwood (7.1 IP, 7 H, 0 R, 1 K)

Pat Underwood and Wes Gardner (7 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 10 K) matched zeroes until the Tigers finally broke through in the bottom of the 6th.  The scoring came after a lead off walk to Steve Kemp followed by an RBI double by Jason Thomspon.  An insurance run would cross the plate a couple batters later when Rusty Staub drove home Thompson with a sacrifice fly.  Underwood kept blanking the Sox until he ran out of gas in the 8th and handed the ball over to Aurelio Lopez who recorded the final 5 outs for his 4th save of the season.

GM 3: 88 Boston wins 2-0 (13 innings)

WP: Dennis Lamp (2-0)

LP: Bruce Taylor (0-1)

SV: NONE

HR: Mike Greenwell (5)

MVP: Roger Clemens (8 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 8 K, ND)

The Red Sox bats were silenced for 21 straight innings by Detroit pitching until Mike Greenwell 2-5, R, 2 RBI, HR) ended the drought and the game with a 2 run blast off Bruce Taylor down the RF line that landed 10 rows up into the bleachers.   Wade Boggs (2-6, R) had singled earlier in the inning and came around later on the 2 out game ender off the Boston left fielder's bat.  Dennis Lamp picked up the victory as the last of 4 Boston relievers that kept the Tigers off the board over the last 5 innings.

GM 4: 79 Detroit wins 9-2

WP: Jack Morris (5-3)

LP: Bruce Hurst (4-2)

SV: NONE

HR: Trammell (2), Parrish (6)

MVP: Lance Parrish (2-4, 2 R, 4 RBI, HR)

It was all Detroit from the start in the series finale.  The Tigers but 4 up in the 1st and 4 more in the 3rd thanks to long balls from Alan Trammell and Parrish.  Ron Leflore was also a big part of the offense on the day with 3 hits in his 5 trips to the plate.  The outburst of early runs was more than enough for Tiger ace Jack Morris as the righty kept the Sox bats in check with 2 runs on 7 hits over 7 innings to pick up his 5th win on the season.  Steve Baker finished out the last 2 innings for Detroit to earn the split for Detroit.  

Pete

BOS

O-live-r and well...

The 1961 Cardinals looked to be falling out of the race for the National League East title, and/or a playoff berth, having lost three straight to San Diego and getting blown out in game one of a three game set with Montreal.

Cardinal pitching was atrocious in game one, surrendering 12 walks and 14 hits. This lead to 16 Expos tallies on the way to a 16-3 romp. Six Cardinal hurlers shared in the futility, as Marquis Grissom and Larry Walker had 3 hits apiece, and Gary Carter 5 RBI.

Game two matched a couple of future Hall of Famers on the hill. The Cardinals hoped Bob Gibson could help end the 4 game skid, while Montreal countered with Pedro Martinez. Neither pitcher disappointed with the score knotted at one heading into the seventh.  Gibson set the Expos down 1-2-3 in the top half, and was due to hit with runners on second and third and one out in the bottom half. Manager Bike Mike reluctantly pulled him to try to get a lead, which pinch-hitter Red Schoendienst provided by singling in both runners.  Lindy McDaniel came on to close down the win and snap the skid.

McDaniel had been a force early in the season, but has struggled of late. He looked to be back on track breezing though a 1-2-3 eighth, and after a scoreless home half, should have duplicated the feat in the 9^th. A lead off error by Bill White allowing Tim Wallach to reach, was followed by a strikeout of Walker and a ground out by Spike Owen. With one out to go and  two run lead, Johnny Vander Wal doubled home Wallach, Archie Cianfrocco singled in Vander Wal to tie it, then a wild pitch and double by Darrin Fletcher put the Expos up 4-3. Bret Barberie then singled in an insurance run before Delino DeShields flew out to end the inning.

The Cardinals looked to be headed to their fifth straight loss, with closer-extraordinaire John Wetteland strolling in for Montreal. Wetteland got Carl Sawatski to fly out to start the ninth, but then walked pinch-hitter Moose Moryn. It was Moryn’s first at-bat of the season. Curt Flood then forced Moryn, barely reaching first safe to avoid the game ending double play. Wetteland’s control again got shaky, as he walked Julian Javier. McDaniel was due up, and manager Bike Mike elected to go with another September call-up, young Gene Oliver. Oliver drove Wetteland’s 2-2 fast ball deep in the right-center field bleachers, giving the Redbirds a dramatic 6-5 win. Cardinal players ran out of the dugout to mob the youngster at home plate, while Harry Caray continually shouted “CARDINALS WIN!, CARDINALS WIN!” into the KMOX microphone.

The Cardinals rode the momentum from that one, and Curt Simmons’ rebuilt left arm, to a 4-2 win in the series finale to stay in the thick of the race. Simmons scattered 6 hits in going the distance, while Oliver, given the start at catcher, homered again. Flood tallied three hits and Bill White 2 RBI. The Expos used five pitchers with starter Chris Nabholz taking the loss to drop to 0-4. Simmons went to 3-2 and lowered his ERA to an impressive 1.71.

Bike Mike

Reds/Spos split series

GAME 1 - Riverfront
Expos 3, Reds 0
D.Martinez vs Mahler

El Presidente (Dennis Martinez) came within 1 out of notching a complete game shutout.  Jeff Fassero came on to get pinch hitter Barry Larkin to ground out weakly to short to end it.  Brett Barberie knocked in all 3 runs with a 2 for 4 day at the plate.

GAME 2
Reds 3, Expos 2
Nabholz vs Browning

The Expos scored solo runs in the 6th and 7th inning to tie the game at 2-2.  Neither team could push across a run until the bottom of the 12th when Herm Winningham led off with a single and Barry Larkin doubled him home off a Valdez fastball that was right down the pipe.

GAME 3 - Olympic Stad.
Reds 3, Expos 1
D.Jackson vs Gardner

Paul O'Neil's RBI single in the 6th scored pitcher Danny Jackson to break a scoreless tie.  Ken Griffey Sr. followed suit in the 7th to make it 2-0.  After the 'Spos made it 2-1, Joe Oliver's pinch hit single in the 8th provided a much needed insurance run as the bullpen of Charlton/Dibble/Franco saved the day for starter Jackson.

GAME 4
Expos 3, Reds 2
Leary vs K.Hill

Another low scoring contest saw Ken Hill and Mel Rojas hold off the Reds as the 'Spos rallied to split the series.  Tied 2-2 after 4 1/2 innings of play the 'Spos got a one out triple from Marquis Grissom and a sack fly from Moises Alou to go up 3-2, which is how it remained.

Brooks and Braves split 4 game set

In a battle of cellar dwellers the Dodgers and Braves exchanged pleasantries, in an entertaining series that left neither team any closer to contention in their respective divisions.

GAME 1 - Ebbets
K.Johnson vs Barney
ATL, 6, BRO 4

Atlanta looked to be in the "catbird seat" with 3 runs in the 6th, but the Brooks answered back 2 innings later with a 3 run blast off of Pee Wee Reese's bat to tie it up.  Rookie Carl Erskine started the 9th in relief of Willie Ramsdell and never got an out.  After Joe Torre led off with a walk, Hammerin' Hank Aaron hit a 421 foot blast to put the Braves up for good.

 

GAME 2
Lemaster vs Branca
ATL 6, BRO 4 (11 inn)

It took 2 extra frames, but in the end the result was exactly the same as yesterday.  In the top of the 11th Dennis Menke hit a 2 runs shot off of reliever Hank Behrman, who up to that point had pitched 2 scoreless innings.

GAME 3 - Fulton Cty Stad.

Roe vs Schwall
BRO 13, ATL 6

The Braves welcomed the Brooks to Atlanta with 3 runs in the home half of the 1st.  Dodger fans watching at home on WOR-TV thought they were about to drop their 3rd straight until their hometown heroes erupted for 8 runs in the top of the 2nd.  Atlanta trotted out 6 pitchers in all as the Brooks scored 13 runs on 14 hits.  Roe would get the win, even though his pitching line (6IP/5ER) wasn't all that much to write home about.  Erv Palica was given the gift save for 3 innings of relief.  Second year 1st sacker Gil Hodges had himself a 4 hit day and Jackie had himself a 4 RBI day (on 3 hits).

GAME 4
Erskine vs Umbach
BRO 17, ATL 1

It took 5 pitches for the Braves starter Umbach to hurt his shoulder and leave the game.  That bit of bad luck would be a harbinger of things to come as the Brooks steamrolled across the Braves to easily win the second game of this twin bill to split the 4 game set.  Rookie Carl Erskine, who was the loser in relief in game 1, answered the call with a complete game win that came within 1 out of being a shutout.  Lots of hitting stars as Brooklyn racked up 20 safeties.  Leadoff man Jackie Robinson (5-7) and #2 guy Reese (3-6-1w) were on base all day.  Campy blasted a homer and knocked in 5 as everyone got a hit except for Oisk, who got the win.

No Moose-takes today !!! - Bucs Moose No-hits Reds

GAME 1 - Forbes Field

Pirates 2, Reds 0

Browning vs Moose

It took 130 pitches, but back in 1969 pitch counts were as relevant as crew cuts, for Bob Moose to toss a no hitter vs the Reds.  With light rain falling Moose had to battle both the elements and the 14-4 Cincy bats.  He conquered both.  Barry Larking led off the game with a walk and Jeff Reed worked one out with 2 gone in the 5th to reach base.  Larkin also got to first on a Jose Pagan error in the 5th, which coincidentally was the inning where Roberto Clemente hit a 2 run shot to score both himself and Carl Taylor.  #21's blast was all the help Moose would need until the 9th inning when he needed two great catches by Matty Alou against the ivy covered walls to rob extra base hits from Larkin and Paul O'Neill.  With Hartenstein and Gibbon warmed in the pen Moose got Eric Davis to ground out to Hebner at third to end the game and seal the deal.

GAME 2

Pirates 4, Reds 1

R.Robinson vs L.Walker

Following up on Bob Moose's no-no Luke Walker threw 145 pitches and gave up just 3 hits in a complete game victory.  Cincy, who entered the series 14-4, dropped their second in a row.  Hot hitting Todd Benzinger knocked in the Reds only run.  The Bucs got a long ball from banjo hitting Gene Alley and RBI's from Maz, Pops and Mateo at Forbes Field as mother nature offered up a light drizzle all night.

GAME 3 - Riverfront Stad.

Reds 4, Pirates 2

Ellis vs Rijo

After both teams exchanged two spots in the 1st both pitchers settled in nicely.  Then in the home half of the 4th Eric Davis hit a 2 run bomb to give the Reds their first lead in this 3 game set.  Rijo began to tire and didn't get out of the 6th inning, but swingman Scott Scudder fanned Patek with the bases loaded to get out of the jam.  Dibbs and Franco combined to get the final 6 outs as the home team won all 3 games in this series.