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