Monday, May 11, 2020

Redbird Wings Shut Down Met Bats

Game #1 September 11 at Shea Stadium -- The Cardinals put 2 runs each on the board in the 1st and 2nd innings, including a 2-run home run by Bill White and went on to a 5-2 win over the Metropolitans. Curt Simmons (2-1) tossed 6 IP for the W. Don Dennis (2) added the save. Dennis Ribrant (2-4) started and lost for New York. Joe Christopher led all batters with 3 hits.







Game #2 September 12 at Shea Stadium -- Steve Carlton (3-0) fired 7 innings of shut out ball, scattering 6 hits while striking out 8 and walking just 1. Dick Washburn tacked on two more scoreless innings as the Redbirds won easily 7-0. Stan Musial's 2-run single in the 3rd was one of the offensive highlights. White and Curt Flood also chipped in 2 hits apiece. The Mets Frank Thomas led all batters with 3 hits.






Game #3 September 13 at Busch Stadium -- Galen Cisco (2-2) was the hero in this one as pitching continued to be the dominant story in this series. Cisco's 8 strong IP led to a 3-1 NY win. He surrendered just 4 hits. Tug McGraw (3) secured the final 3 outs for the save after allowing the potential tying runs to reach.








Game #4 September 14 at Busch Stadium -- Bob Gibson (3-3) vs. Tom Seaver (3-3) was always one of the "Don't Miss" pitching matchups of the 1960s. The stadium was packed with plenty of red on display, however, a pitching duel was not what happened. Instead, it was one-sided dominance by Gibby. The intense, fireballer from Omaha fanned 10 Mets and yielded 7 hits through 9 complete in a 6-0 whitewashing. The Cards went up 1-0 in the first when Seaver inexplicably walked 3 straight after a Dick Groat double. In the 3rd, Flood's lead-off homer highlighted a 2-run inning. Mike "Moonman" Shannon put on the finishing touches in the 8th when he launched a 3-run PH bomb.

Sunday, April 12, 2020

Redbirds Split Hard-Fought Series with Jints

Game #1 August 24 at Candlestick Park  - Tim McCarver's (1) 3-run blast in the 4th proved to be the game-winner in a 7-5 Cardinals win. The homer sent Sam Jones (0-1) to the showers.  Ray Washburn (1-0) started and won for the Redbirds. He tossed 5 IP and gave up all the Giants runs, including HRs to Tom Haller (1), Willie McCovey (3) and Orlando Cepeda (2). Three St. Louis relievers, including closer Ron Willis (1) kept zeros on the board for the home team over the last 4 innings.





Game #2 August 25 at Candlestick Park - Harvey Kuenn smacked a PH, 3-run double in a 4-run bottom of the 8th leading to a 6-2 Giants win. Jim Davenport added 2 hits and 2 runs. Juan Marichal (1-1) scattered 2 runs and 11 hits over 8 IP and earned the win over Bob Gibson, now a surprising 0-2.






Game #3 August 26 at Busch Memorial Stadium - San Francisco belted 3 more home runs on their way to a 6-3 win. Ed Bailey (1), Jim Ray Hart (4) and Willie McCovey (4) all cleared the wall. Gaylord Perry (1-1) slobbered his way through 6.1 innings and did enough for the win. Billy Pierce and Bob Shaw (1) pitched a shut out the rest of the way.

Game #4 August 27 at Busch Memorial Stadium - Bill White (3 hits), Dal Maxvill, and Julian Javier hit back-to-back-to-back singles off Jack Sanford (0-3) in the B13 leading to a 6-5 St. Louis walk-off winner. Willie Mays (3 for 5) helped stake the Giants to a 5-4 lead heading into the B9, but Charlie James (1) took Frank Linzy deep to tie it. Dick Hughes (2-0) pitched an inning in relief and notched the W.

Thursday, April 9, 2020








Cubs take 3 of 4 from the Pirates



Game 1

Cubs@Pirates

Ellsworth v. Gibbon

Cubs scored 4 runs in the first inning with 2 coming on an Altman triple.  Ellsworth tosses 8 shutout innings and the Cubs cruise to a 5 to 0 victory. Altman was the hitting star going 2 for 4 with a double, triple, and 2 rbi.  Hoak and Alley each had 2 hits for the Bucs.




Game 2

Jenkins v. Friend

The Cubs score 2 runs in the first, second, and 5th innings and Jenkins tosses a a 6 hit shutout while striking out 9 on 141 pitches.  Billy Williams continued his hot hitting going 2 for 4 with 3 rbi and a HR while Jenkins helped himself going 2 for 4 with a double and 2 rbi. Willie Stargell went 1 for 3 with a double for the Pirates.


Game 3

Law v. Jackson

Cubs jump out to an early 2 to 0 lead on a run scoring single by Altman and Santo's firat HR of the Season. The Pirates send 7 batters to the plate in the 4th and tie the game at 2 on run scoring sigles by Stargell and Virdon. The Cubs strike back with 2 runs in the 5th on a Santo sac file and a Williams rbi double.  The games was 4 to 2 heading to the 8th when the Pirates (aided by a Becket error) plated 2 runs on ground outs to tie the game.  In the 9th the Pirates score a run on 3 hits with Clemente getting the rbi single. The Cubs threaten in the bottom of the 9th, but Steve Blass was able to shut the door as Mazeroski makes a fine play up the middle to end the game. Face gets the W for the Bucs while McDainel  suffers the loss for the Cubs.  The Pirates hold the Cubs to just 4 hits. Hoak, Clemente, and Stargell all had 2 hits and Virdon added two rbi for the Pirates.


Game 4

Hands v. Veale

Cubs again score in the first inning plating a run on a single by Altman.  The Cubs add 2 more in the second to end the scoring for the game.  Hands tosses a 5 hit shutout for his second win of the season. The Cubs pitching shut the Pirates out 3 times in the series and move into first by 1 game of the Pirates.    Burgess had 2 hits in the loss for the Pirates.




Wednesday, April 8, 2020

LA takes 3 of 4 from Redlegs

Dodger Stadium
GAME 1
Tsitouris vs Osteen
LAD 6, CIN 5



Both teams errupted for a combined 7 runs in the opening inning.  LA scored 2 more in the home half of the 3rd to take a 5-4 lead.  Both teams exchanged runs in the 4th and then all of a sudden the offense went on hiatus.  Despite giving up 4 in the first LA's Claude Osteen hung on to get the complete game victory.  LA's tablesetters:  Maury Wills (3-5) and Willie Davis (2-4) scored 2 runs each with Norm Larker (2-3) knocking in 2.

GAME 2
Maloney vs Koufax
LAD 9, CIN 5



For the second day in a row both teams combined for 7 runs in the first inning.  Dominant starters like Maloney and Koufax got battered around like pinatas.  Koufax was able to hang on by a thread to get his first win of the season.  He fanned 7 in 8 innings and gave up 5 runs.  His season ERA is 3.91, close to 2 runs more than his historical numbers.  Maloney was even more of a victim giving up 9 runs in 5 innings to balloon his ERA to 6.62.  Wally Moon (2-4) knocked in 4 and scored twice.  Both he and Jim Lefebvre (2-3) homered as LA took both home games in this series.

Crosley Field
GAME 3
Drysdale vs Nuxhall
LAD 5, CIN 4




Once again there were fireworks in the 1st inning.  LA jumped out to a 4-1 lead.  Cincy chipped away at it, but wound up coming up 1 run short.  Don Drysdale (3-0, 1.88) staked his claim as one of the early favorites for the NL Cy Young Award.  Ed Roebuck came on board to get the final 4 outs and his 2nd save of the season.  Wes Parker (2-4, 2RBI) doubled twice.  Charlie Neal, Jim Gilliam and Tommy Davis also had 2 hit games as LA took their 3rd game in a row.

GAME 4
Podres vs Purkey
CIN 5, LAD 3

Needing to salvage at least one game to avoid the sweep the Redlegs got a great performance from starter Bob Purkey (8IP/2ER).  Combine that with Tommy Helms' (4-4) perfect day at the plate and Johnny Bench's (2-4) clutch hitting performance (2R/2RBI) and you have a winner for the Queen City.  Maury Wills (3-4) was on base all day, but the strong right arm of wunderkind Johnny Bench froze Wills right in his tracks on 1st.

Twins and O's split

GAME 1
Merritt vs Barber
BAL 5, MIN 2

MIN 2nd: Scored 1 run on a hit & walk
 MIN Bob Allison scored on a PB by Triandos to take the lead.  MIN 1 BAL 0.
 BAL 3rd:   BAL Jackie Brandt singled scoring Bowens to tie the score.  MIN 1 BAL 1.
 MIN 5th: Failed to score on 3 walks
 MIN 7th: Harmon Killebrew hit a fly ball scoring 1 to take the lead.  MIN 2 BAL 1.
 BAL 7th:  Bob Johnson hit a fly ball scoring 1 to tie the score.  MIN 2 BAL 2.
 BAL Luis Aparicio singled scoring 2 to take the lead.  MIN 2 BAL 4.
 BAL Jackie Brandt hit a grounder scoring 1.  MIN 2 BAL 5.
MIN   Earl Battey: 1 for 4, 2 errors.
BAL  Steve Barber pitched a solid 7 innings for the win: 2 earned runs, 5 hits, 6 BB, 0 K. He's 1-0 on the year.
BAL  Dick Hall pitched a shutout the final 2 innings earning his 1st save.
MIN  Jim Merritt pitched 6.1 innings and took the loss: 7 hits, 1 BB, 3 K. He gave up 0 Earned Runs.  He drops to 0-2 on the year.

GAME 2
Kaat vs Bunker
MIN 4, BAL 3
BAL 4th:
 MIN 5th:
 MIN Jim Kaat singled scoring Reese to take the lead.  MIN 1 BAL 0.
 MIN Zoilo Versalles singled scoring 2.  MIN 3 BAL 0.
 MIN Lenny Green hit a fly ball scoring 1.  MIN 4 BAL 0.
 BAL 5th:
 BAL Gus Triandos doubled scoring 2.  MIN 4 BAL 2.
 BAL 6th:
 BAL Mark Belanger singled scoring Johnson.  MIN 4 BAL 3.
BAL  Mark Belanger: 3 for 5.
BAL  Gus Triandos: 3 for 3, 2 doubles, 2 RBI.
MIN  Jim Kaat pitched 5.2 innings to earn the win: 3 earned runs, 9 hits, 2 BB, 6 K. He's 2-1 on the year.
MIN  Bill Dailey pitched a shutout 9th to earn his 3rd save of the year.
BAL  Wally Bunker pitched 5 innings and took the loss: 4 earned runs, 5 hits, 0 BB, 0 K. He drops to 0-1 on the year.

Game 3
McNally vs Stigman
BAL 7, MIN 5

MIN 2nd:
 MIN 3rd:
 MIN Harmon Killebrew hit a 2 run HR(1) to take the lead.  BAL 0 MIN 2.
 BAL 4th:
 BAL Gus Triandos doubled scoring Brandt.  BAL 1 MIN 2.
 BAL Paul Blair singled scoring Triandos to tie the score.  BAL 2 MIN 2.
 MIN 5th:
 MIN Harmon Killebrew hit a 2 run HR(2) to take the lead.  BAL 2 MIN 4.
 BAL 6th:
 BAL Boog Powell hit a solo HR(1).  BAL 3 MIN 4.
 BAL Paul Blair hit a solo HR(1) to tie the score.  BAL 4 MIN 4.
 BAL 7th:
 BAL Jackie Brandt hit a solo HR(1) to take the lead.  BAL 5 MIN 4.
 BAL Dave McNally injured, out today.
 BAL 9th:
 BAL Sam Bowens hit a 2 run HR(1).  BAL 7 MIN 4.
 MIN 9th:
 MIN Bob Allison singled scoring Green.  BAL 7 MIN 5.

 BAL  Paul Blair: 2 for 4, HR, 2 RBI.
 BAL  Sam Bowens: 1 for 1, HR, 2 RBI.
 BAL  Jackie Brandt: 1 for 4, HR, 2 runs.
 MIN  Harmon Killebrew: 2 for 3, 2 HRs, 4 RBI, 2 runs, 2 W.

 BAL  Dave McNally pitched 6.1 innings to earn the win: 4 earned runs, 7 hits, 4 BB, 5 K. He's 2-1 on the year.
 BAL  Stu Miller pitched the 9th to earn his 2nd save.
 MIN  Dick Stigman pitched 8 innings and took the loss: 5 earned runs, 6 hits, 2 BB, 3 K. He's now 1-1 on the season.

GAME 4
Pappas vs Pascual
MIN 3, BAL 2
 MIN 1st: Scored 1 run on a hit
 MIN Tony Oliva hit a solo HR(3) to take the lead.  BAL 0 MIN 1.
 MIN 2nd: Scored 1 run on 2 hits
 MIN Rich Rollins doubled scoring Green.  BAL 0 MIN 2.
 MIN 4th: Sent 7 batters to the plate, but scored just 1 run
 MIN Zoilo Versalles walked scoring Green.  BAL 0 MIN 3.
 BAL 5th: Sent 8 batters to the plate scoring 2 runs on 4 hits and 1 walk
 BAL Dick Brown singled scoring Adair.  BAL 1 MIN 3.
 BAL Brooks Robinson singled scoring Brown.  BAL 2 MIN 3.

 BAL  Jim Gentile: 0 for 2, 3 W.
 MIN  Tony Oliva: 2 for 4, double, HR.

 MIN  Camilo Pascual pitched 7.2 innings to earn the win: 2 earned runs, 10 hits, 3 BB, 4 K. He's 2-0 on the year.
 MIN  Al Worthington held Baltimore hitless the final 1.1 innings to record his 2nd save of the season.
 BAL  Milt Pappas pitched 7 solid innings but took the loss: 3 earned runs, 6 hits, 3 BB, 4 K. He drops to 2-1 on the year.

Tuesday, April 7, 2020

METS TAKE THREE OF FOUR FROM THE ASTROS


Game 1 at Shea Stadium
NY 6 HOU 4

Mets come from behind with 4 in the 8th to win it. Trailing 4-2, Cleon Jones hits a huge 2 run HR off Larry Dierker to tie the game. The Mets get 2 more in the inning scoring on a grounder by Swoboda and a bases loaded walk to Jerry Grote, before Elio Chacon hit into an inning ending DP.

Houston led 4-0 before the Mets rallied with 2 in the 6th, before scoring 4 in the 8th. Houston starter Larry Dierker helped his own cause with a first inning RBI single to make it 1-0. Houston scored three in the top of the 6th with the big hits being an RBI double by Chuck Harrison (2-3) and a single by the pesky Sonny Jackson.

Galen Cisco pitched 8 innings in his first start of the year to get the win. Dierker (1-1) took the loss. Tug McGraw picked up the save with a shutout 9th

Game 2  at Shea Stadium
NY  3 HOU 2

Mets do it again in the 8th inning as Joe Christopher comes through with an RBI single scoring Cleon Jones to break a 2-2 tie. The hit extended Christopher's hitting streak to 10 games.

Houston took a 1-0 lead on a second inning HR by John Bateman off Tom Seaver. Cleon Jones singled in a run in the third to tie it. Then in the 4th Johnny Lewis doubled in a run to make it 2-1 Mets. In the 7th a Bud Harrelson error led to an unearned run – setting the stage for Christopher's game winning hit.

Ron Taylor won it in relief with 2 scoreless innings. Bob Bruce started for Houston and took the loss.

Game 3  at the Astrodome
HOU 3  NY 2

The Mets rallied once again tying the game with 2 in the top of the 9th, while using every single position player on the roster! But in the bottom of the 9th, Ron Hunt's throwing error allowed leadoff batter Al Spangler to get to second. He took third on a wild pitch by Tug McGraw and then came on to score on a game winning single by Sonny Jackson.

The Mets trailed 2-0 going to the top of the 9th when manager Raylesberg pulled out all the stops with pinch hitter after pinch hitter. Ed Kranepool pinch hit a double to make it 2-1 and then Charley Smith, who was pinch hitting for a pinch hitter, greeted Woodeshick with a single to tie the game.

Jackson was 3-4 with 2 RBIs. Chuck Harrison was 3-4 with a single, double and triple. Hal Woodeschick won it in relief. McGraw, who came on in the 9th for starter Jerry Koosman took  the loss.

Game 4 at the Astrodome
Mets 4, Astros 0

Dennis Ribant (1-2) pitched a 5 hit complete game shutout, walking only one and striking out 7 as the Mets take the series 3-1.  Cleon Jones singled in a run in the 3rd and the Mets added another, off starter and loser Don Wilson, in the 5th to take a 2-0 lead. In the top of the 9th, Johnny Lewis hit a mammoth 2 run HR to give the Mets two big insurance runs.


The Mets are now 6-6. Houston is 5-7. Next week: Mets play the Dodgers while the Astros take on the Cardinals
--submitted by Alan Raylesberg--

Monday, April 6, 2020

Week #2 - Highlights


Recent Games



New York (A) Beats Detroit 3-1
Detroit Beats New York (A) 8-4
New York (A) Beats Detroit 5-3, Richardson 3 Hits
Detroit Upends New York (A) 7-4
Pittsburgh Beats San Francisco 5-3, Clemente 4 Hits, 4 RBI
Philadelphia Edges Cincinnati 7-6, Allen 3 Hits
Philadelphia Pounds Cincinnati 10-2
Cincinnati Upends Philadelphia 8-1, May 2 HRs
Cincinnati Beats Philadelphia 3-1 in 10
Pittsburgh Over San Francisco 4-1, Clemente 3 Hits
Pittsburgh Tops San Francisco 5-1, Stargell 3 Hits
Friend Shuts Out San Francisco 8-0
Minnesota Over Oakland 6-2, Allison 3 Hits
Oakland Beats Minnesota 6-4
Minnesota Beats Oakland 4-2
Minnesota Upends Oakland 4-2
Hands Blanks New York (N) 8-0
Chicago (N) Pounds New York (N) 10-1, Hundley 6 RBI's
Chicago (N) Pounds New York (N) 11-1
Seaver 3 hits Chicago (N) 9-0
Atlanta Beats Houston 6-3, Torre 3 Hits
Atlanta Upends Houston 8-4, Crandall 3 Hits
Houston Beats Atlanta 5-2
Houston Edges Atlanta 2-1
Boston Edges Washington 6-5
Washington Edges Boston 6-5 in 11, Hinton 4 Hits
Boston Edges Washington 5-4 in 11, Nixon 3 Hits
Boston Nips Washington 3-2, Petrocelli 3 Hits
Siebert Blanks Baltimore 2-0
Cleveland Slips Past Baltimore 3-2 in 12
Baltimore Beats Cleveland 6-4, Gentile 3 Hits
Cleveland Beats Baltimore 4-2
California Edges Chicago (A) 5-4
California Upends Chicago (A) 3-1, Bilko 2 HRs
Chicago (A) Edges California 7-6
California Defeats Chicago (A) 4-1
Los Angeles Rallies To Beat St. Louis 6-5
St. Louis Over Los Angeles 7-2, Javier 3 Hits
Los Angeles Defeats St. Louis 3-1, Wills 3 Hits
St. Louis Slips Past Los Angeles 5-4 in 16
Late Houston Rally Beats Chicago (N) 5-3
Chicago (N) Pounds Houston 14-4, Williams 4 Hits, 4 RBI's
Chicago (N) Nips Houston 4-3 in 10, Phillips 3 Hits
Houston Beats Chicago (N) 10-5
Washington Upends Minnesota 6-1, Hinton 3 Hits
Minnesota Beats Washington 5-3, Versalles 3 Hits
Washington Edges Minnesota 5-4
Washington Beats Minnesota 4-2, Lock 2 HRs
Cincinnati Beats Atlanta 13-10, Perez 2 HRs, 4 RBI's
Atlanta Slips Past Cincinnati 8-7, Crandall 3 Hits
Nuxhall Shuts Out Atlanta 9-0
Cincinnati Beats Atlanta 11-5, Rose 3 Hits
Philadelphia Tops New York (N) 11-4
Philadelphia Pounds New York (N) 12-2
New York (N) Edges Philadelphia 4-3
Seaver Blanks Philadelphia 5-0
New York (A) Upends Chicago (A) 7-1
New York (A) Over Chicago (A) 12-8, Mantle 3 HRs, 5 RBI's
Chicago (A) Edges New York (A) 3-2
Chicago (A) Beats New York (A) 8-1, Landis 3 Hits
San Francisco Beats Los Angeles 10-5 in 13
San Francisco Tops Los Angeles 9-1, Bonds 5 RBI's
Los Angeles Edges San Francisco 3-2
San Francisco Edges Los Angeles 5-4 in 10

Tigers-Yanks split

GM 1  Det 7 NY 4 
Mclain vs Stottlemyre

Tigers got 4 in 3rd to open up scoring on a 2-run scoring double by Al Kaline and 2-run homer by 
Willie Horton. Tigers made it 5-0 on a run scoring single by who else but Al kaline... Yanks got 3 in 6th to make it 5-3 but Denny went the distance for win, Stottlemyre loss giving up 6 walks and 5 earned runs.

GM 2  NY 5 DET 3 
Lolich vs Terry

Det had a 3-1 lead going into 7th when it fell apart as the Yanks sent 7 batter to plate scoring 2 on run scoring singles by mantle and groundout rbi by Howard to tie game. In 8th with Fred Gladding on mound for Det Bobby Richardson singles home leading run. Padro Ramos the win pitching 2 scoreless.  Steve Hamilton the save.

GM 3 GM 1 OF DH   
Lary vs Stottlemyre
 
(This was a screwup as mel started gm 1 of series) As we had problems. Mel was at 100% however, so he wasn't tired...just horrible).  Tigers get a 3 run Mickey Stanley homer in 2nd and a 2 run scoring double by Bill Freehan in 4th and hang on to beat Yanks 8-4. Jim Northrup had a double, homer, and 2 runs scored. Tresh 3 hits and 3 runs for Bombers. Stottlemyre another loss. Lary the CG win scattering 8 hits 0 walks.

GM 4  
Aguirre Vs Ford

3 solo homers by Yanks is all they need when Whitey is on., Tresh, Mantle and Howard hit solo homers and Ford breezed 8.2 6 hits ,0 walks 8 k's. Tigers made trouble in the 9th but Luis Arroyo came in with 2 out and got the  struggling and the tying  run in  Norm Cash to fly out  deep to end game..  3-1 Yanks
 
--submitted by Dan Holm--

Saturday, April 4, 2020

Twins take 3 of 4 from A's

Metropolitan Stadium
GAME 1
Odom vs Kaat
MIN 4, OAK 2

Minnesota jumped out to a 3 run lead after sending 7 batters to the plate in the home half of the first.  Zoilo Versalles, who led off with a walk and subsequently stole second, scored on a Killebrew ground out to start it off.  Rod Carew scored on a Jimmy Hall sac fly and run number 3 (Tony Oliva) scored on a Bob Allison two bagger.  Twin starter Jim Kaat cruised for 8 innings, allowing just 2 runs while fanning 7.  Rolland and Dailey (Save) combined to slam the door shut.  Rick Monday was 3 for 4 in a losing cause.  The A's actually out hit the Twins 8 to 6.

GAME 2
Hunter vs Stigman
MIN 4, OAK 2

Different day, same result, except this time the A's staked Catfish Hunter to a 2-0 lead, which held up until the bottom of the 6.  Cesar Tovar and Lenny Green combined for RBI singles to tie the contest.  A 2 run shot by Zoilo Versalles in the 7th put the Twins ahead for good.  Dick Stigman (7IP/2ER) got the well deserved win and Al Worthington, who pitched 2 perfect innings of relief got the save.

Oakland Coliseum
GAME 3
J.Perry vs Nash
OAK 6, MIN 4

Those "Swingin' A's" returned home for the first game of a twin bill and had their bats going.  Twin starter Jim Perry was chased after 4 innings (5R/3ER).  The Twins scored some late runs to make the game look close, but it was all A's. with Jerry Lumpe (2-4) and Norm Siebern (2-5) leading the offensive charge.  Jim Nash posted the win with Jack Aker ringing up the save.

GAME 4
Boswell vs Dobson
MIN 6, OAK 2

The 2nd game of this twin-bill saw the Twins bats (6R on 12H) come alive.  Both Versalles and Alison had 3 hit games.  Both Allison and Reese knocked in 2 as did starting pitcher Dave Boswell.  Both of Bob Allison's RBI's came with 2 outs.  Bill Dailey finished off the game in relief to get the final 5 outs in a non-save situation.

Wednesday, April 1, 2020


Mets @ Cubs

Game 1: Seaver v. Ellsworth

This game was a pitchers duel...for the first 3 innings then the Mets hammered Ellsworth scoring in every inning for a total of 9. Hunt, Smith and Christopher all went deep for the Mets.  Tom was "Terriffic" tossing his 2nd complete game shutout and held the 3 Cubs HOFer's (Banks, Santo, and Williams) to a combined 0 for 8.  Mets cruse to a 9 to 0 victory














Mets @ Cubs

Game 2: Koosman v. Jenkins

Cubs bats explode as they score runs in each of the first 7 innings. The Cubs got big games from Williams, Phillips, and Rodgers.  Jenkins goes the distance giving up just 1 unearned run. Cubs 11 Mets 1.


Cubs@Mets

Game 3: Jackson v. Selma

Cubs put up 10 runs; Hundley hits 2, 3 run home runs and Jackson goes the distance.

Cubs 10 Mets 1















Cubs@Mets

Game 3: Hands v. Ribant

Cubs were up 1 to 0 heading to the 7th when they put a 5 spot.  Williams goes 3 for 4 with a HR and 4 Rbi.  Hands gives the Cubs their 3 straight CG as he shutout the Mets. Cubs 8 Mets 0




LA and STL split classic series

Busch Mem Stdm
GAME 1
Koufax vs Gibson
STL 5, LAD 4 (16 inn)



Early on both HOF pitchers looked to be in good form in this most anticipated pitching matchup of the week.  LA played small ball to eek out a run in the first with the full intent on making that stand up.  A Julian Javier solo blast in the 5th tied it up.  A Dick Groat ground out in the 6th gave Gibby and the Cards a 2-1 lead that looked like a sure bet when Smokey Alston came to the mound to remove Koufax with 2 outs in the 7th.  Rest assured this was not a move that ole' Walt wanted to make.  His star lefty had 7k's without a walk and was pretty much in control, but soreness in that arthritic left elbow made the grizzled manager err on the side of caution.  Gibby's chances of victory exponentially escalated until the top of the 8th when LA put runners on 1st and second with one out for Willie Davis who got just enough of a Gibson fastball to clear the fence to put the Dodgers up 4-2.  Celebration time wasn't long lasting as the Redbirds struck back for 2 in the home half of the inning.  After a failed drag bunt attempt by Bobby Tolan, Stan the Man walked, and Kenny Boyer tripled him home.  Banjo hitting Dal Maxvill, who replace Groat at short slashed a seeing eye single just out of reach of Jim Lefbvre and Norm Larker to score Boyer and tie the game.  By the end of the 8th both future HOF starters were long gone.  After regulation the game was still undecided, so it headed to extra innings.  Fast forward to the bottom of the 16th with Howie Reed on the mound for the Dodgers and of all people Dal Maxvill at the plate.  Reed served up a 3-bagger to Dal and then gave up the game winner to Javier, who had the honor of starting the Cardinals scoring and ending it for the day.  Both teams exhausted their pens as St. Louie drew first blood in this battle of mid 1960's titans.

GAME 2
Drysdale vs Broglio
LAD 3, STL 1



Game 1 was laced with drama and extra innings.  Game 2 of this series was all about "Big D".  From start to finish LA's tall righty, Don Drysdale, dominated.  The intimidating one easily went the distance, while fanning 8 and allowing just 1 unearned run on 4 hits.  Speedster Maury Wills (3-5, 2R, 1RBI) paced LA's offense.  Jim Gilliam and Tommy Davis each had RBI's as well.

Dodger Stadium
GAME 3
Carlton vs Singer
STL 7, LAD 2



The first game of a twilight twin bill saw the Cards rough up Bill "The Throwing Machine" Singer to the tune of 7 runs in 7 innings.  For the second straight outing Singer (0-2, 10.29) didn't have it.  Newly activated Larry Sherry mopped up the final 2 scoreless innings.  Lefty Steve Carlton was two outs short of completing the circuit.  STL's hit parade reached 14.  Kenny Boyer (3-5, RBI) and Julian Javier (3-4, 2R, RBI) were the leaders of the pack.  Bill White and Curt Flood had 2 hits each as the Cards took game one with relative ease.

GAME 4
Simmons vs Sutton
LAD 6, STL 5


Simply put, the second game of the double header was going to make or break LA's young season.  After dropping 3 of 4 to the hated Jints, the Dodgers were in jeopardy of doing the same thing against the Redbirds.  Starting the season 2-6 would be a hole the would be virtually impossible to climb out of.  When the Cards exploded for 4 runs in the 6th to break a scoreless tie it looked like the season was on life support.  The Dodgers were able to claw their way back to a 4-2 deficit by scratching out 2 runs in the bottom of the 6th.  Both teams exchanged solo runs in the 7th, so the Cards had what seemed to be a nice 5-3 lead heading toward the final 3 outs.  Tommy Davis, who was 0-3 on the day, led off with a slow grounder up the first base line that Bill White fielded and flipped to Ron Willis who stumbled to the bag and dropped the ball just as the hard charging Davis touched it.  Up stepped Jim Lefebvre, who was hitting just .114 on the season.  Not a lot of confidence coming from the 3rd base dugout until Jim jumped on a 0-1 fastball from Willis that kept tracking for the LF fence.  Lou Brock, who could outrun a locomotive, gave it a chase and when he jumped at the base of the wall he had a chance to grab it.  The ball eluded Brock and hit off the wall.  Flood, who was backing up the play, tracked down the ball and tossed it in to hold Lefebvre to a stand up double as Davis easily scored.  Willis now had a 1 run lead with nobody out.  He jammed "Sweet" Lou Johnson with a 1-2 fastball that LA's rightfielder fought off and parachuted into right to score Lefebvre to tie the game.  By this point Wills was flummoxed, which facilitated lefty Joe Hoerner's arrival from the Cardinal pen.  The lefty/lefty matchup between Hoerner and Willie Davis favored St. Louis on paper, and as it turned out on the ball field as well.  Hoerner fanned Davis on some high heat that infuriated 3-Dog to the point where he was chest to chest with the home plate ump.  Thankfully cooler heads prevailed and both parties decided to keep it civil.  Hoerner looked to be in control of things, but when Wes Parker blooped one into right to tie the game Cardinal fans listening at home to Jack Buck on KMOX had that queesy feeling in their collective bellies.  John Roseboro was in the hole 0-2 when he got a hanging curve that he hit far enough to exit most ballparks, but not the cavern in Chavez Ravine.  Both runners moved up 90 feet with the game tied 5-5 and 2 outs.  Alston sent Wally Moon up to pinch hit for Howie Reed.  "The Unibrow" is that rare lefty who hits lefties well, which is exactly what he did to Hoerner lining a 1-0 offering into center to score Johnson and get the Dodgers a much needed split and new life for a season that looked to be on the edge.

Wednesday, March 25, 2020

Jints take 3 of 4 from LA

GAME 1
Candlestick Park
Koufax vs Marichal
SFG 5, LAD 4 (10 inn)



Koufax faltered and blew a 2 run lead as the Jints rallied to beat the Dodgers in extra innings.  The Say Hey Kid (3-4) and Chuck Hiller (3-5) were responsible for 2/3 of the Jints hits.  Frank Linzy picked up the win with 2 scoreless innings of relief.  Both HOF starters got roughed up a bit to open the season.

GAME 2
Drysdale vs Perry
LAD 3, SFG 2



For the second day in a row fans were treated to a pitching matchup between HOF'er.  This time both were up for the task with Big D outpacing the man who "loads em up".  Drysdale went 7 1/3 and gave up 2, while fanning 7.  Norm Larker, getting a surprise start went 3 for 4 with 2 RBI's courtesy of a double and a homer.

GAME 3
Dodger Stadium
O'Dell vs Singer
SFG 9, LAD 1



The throwing machine (Bill Singer) was lit up early and often by the Bay Area Bombers.  Bobby Bonds (2-5) knocked in 5 runs.  San Fran banged out 9 runs on 12 hits with Willie Mays being the only one in the lineup not getting one.  Billy O'Dell gave up just one run while going the distance.

GAME 4
McCormick vs Osteen
SFG 10, LAD 5 (13 inn)



Don't let the 5 run bulge in the score fool you, this was a see saw battle that took 13 innings to decide.  Lost in the shuffle was Ron Perranoski's 4 1/3 innings of scoreless relief.  This is because his replacement Howie Reed got lit up for 5 runs in the 13th to hand the game to San Fran.  Jim Ray Hart (3-5) knocked in 4.  Stretch McCovey's 3 run shot put the game out of reach.  Cepeda's PH HR in the 8th tied the score and sent the game to OT.