Top 5, Each Position - 2020 MLB

 Hey, the baseball season's over.  Here's what happened.  Cross-comparative WAR.

C 

1. Salvador Perez KC 2.1

2. Will Smith LAD 1.8

3. Austin Nola SD 1.4

4. Sean Murphy Oak 1.3

5. Yasmani Grandal CWS 1.2

1B 

1. Freddie Freeman Atl 3.4 - NL MVP1

2. Jose Abreu CWS 3.2 - AL MVP1

3. Brandon Belt SFG 2.2

4. Paul Goldschmidt StL 2.2

5. Jeimer Candelario Det 1.8

2B

1. DJ LeMahieu NYY 3.2 -

2. Brandon Lowe Tampa 2

3. Cesar Hernandez Cle 1.8

4. Cavan Biggio Toronto 1.7

5. Kolten Wong StL 1.7

SS 

1. Dansby Swanson Atl 2.6

2. Corey Seager LAD 2.4

3. Trea Turner Wash 2.3

4. Fernando Tatis SD 2.1

5. Trevor Story Col 2.1

3B 

1. Manny Machado SD 2.9

2. Jose Ramirez Cle 2

3. Gio Urshela NYY 1.9

4. Anthony Rendon LAA 1.8

5. Ke'Bryan Hayes Pit 1.7

5. Brian Anderson Mia 1.7

LF 

1. Juan Soto Wash 2.6

2. Kyle Tucker Hou 1.9

3. Chris Taylor LAD 1.8

4. Dominic Smith NYM 1.7

4. Dylan Moore Sea 1.7

CF

1. Trent Grisham SD 2.4

2. Mike Trout LAA 2.3

3. Ronald Acuna Atl 2

4. Luis Robert CWS 1.9

5. Byron Buxton Min 1.8

5. George Springer Hou 1.8

5. Brandon Nimmo NYM 1.8

RF 

1. Mookie Betts LAD 3.1  

2. Mike Yastrzemski SFG 2.7

3. Michael Conforto NYM 2.3

4. Bryce Harper Phi 2

5. Wil Myers SD 1.9

DH 

1. Marcell Ozuna Atl 2.3

2. Mark Canha Oak 1.7

2. Michael Brantley Hou 1.7

4. Nelson Cruz Min 1.6

5. Jesse Winker Cin 1.4

SP 

1. Shane Bieber Cleve 3.3 - AL Cy Young

2. Yu Darvish Chi 3 - NL Cy Young

3. Trevor Bauer Cin 2.9

4. Zack Wheeler Phi 2.8

5. HJ Ryu Toronto 2.6

6. Max Fried Atl 2.7

7. Jacob DeGrom NYM 2.5

8. Zac Gallen Ari 2.4

9. Antonio Senzatela Col 2.3

9. Aaron Nola Phi 2.3

RP

1. Liam Hendriks Oak 1.7

2. Brandon Kintzler Mia 1.5

3. Devin Williams Mil 1.5

4. Jeremy Jeffress Chi 1.4

5. Edwin Diaz NYM 1.4

2020 MLB Postseason Predictions

 NL:

1. Dodgers d. 8. Brewers

7. Reds d. 2. Braves

3. Cubs d. 6. Marlins

4. Padres d. 5. Cardinals

1. Dodgers d. 4. Padres

7. Reds d. 3. Cubs

1. Dodgers d. 7. Reds

-I'd take the Dodgers in any matchup; counterpoint - I take the Dodgers every year, they're the best team.  

AL:

1. Rays d. 8. Jays

7. White Sox d. 2. A's

6. Astros d. 3. Twins

5. Yankees d. 4. Indians

5. Yankees d. 1. Rays

7. White Sox d. 6. Astros

7. White Sox d. 5. Yankees

-Hell, I don't know.  White Sox can hit the ball, 2nd in the AL in OPS+, let's get weird.  

World Series: Dodgers d. White Sox.  One of the many ways 2020 is like 1959, no one will say.

2020 NBA Finals Prediction

 There's not a metric that would support taking the Heat.  So, I won't.  Lakers win the series.

128 Team MLB Tournament - Round Two, Region Eight: 1995 AL Champion Cleveland Indians v. 1955 World Champion Brooklyn Dodgers

 A's v. Yankees.

40. 1995 AL Champion Cleveland Indians v. 105. 1955 World Champion Brooklyn Dodgers

Just 3 spots remain.  The '48 Indians have gone through, this is the last chance for a Cleveland club to join them.  The '42 Dodgers and the 2017 Dodgers are in to the next round; they'll get one more shot after this.  

Indians 100-44  Mgr. Mike Hargrove (3rd AL Mgr of Year)

1st in AL Central

d. Red Sox ALDS

d. Mariners ALCS

lost to Braves WS

d. #89. 1923 Yankees (MVP-Kenny Lofton)

All-Stars: 2B Carlos Baerga, OF Albert Belle (2nd AL MVP) OF Kenny Lofton, SP Dennis Martinez, RP Jose Mesa (2nd AL Cy Young, 4th AL MVP) OF Manny Ramirez

Hall of Famers: Eddie Murray, Jim Thome, Dave Winfield

Dodgers 98-55 Mgr. Walter Alston 

Won NL Pennant

d. Yankees in WS

d. #25 1908 Cubs (MVP-Jackie Robinson/Don Newcombe)

All-Stars C Roy Campanella, 1B Gil Hodges, SP Don Newcombe OF Duke Snider

Hall of Famers: Roy Campanella (NL MVP) Sandy Koufax, Tommy Lasorda, Pee Wee Reese, Jackie Robinson, Duke Snider (2nd NL MVP) Walter Alston

Dodgers-Walter Alston

3B Robinson (36)  95    2.5

CF Snider (28)  (LH)    169  7.4

C Campanella (33)  152   5.6

RF Furillo (33)      130  4.1

1B Hodges (31)      127  4.4

LF Amoros (25)  (LH) 95      1.4

SS Reese (36)        103   3.7

DH Walker (29) (LH) 84

2B Gilliam (26) (SH)   83      2.2

P Newcombe (29)   128  6.2

Bench

DH Hoak (27)   87

2B Zimmer (24)  88

SP2 Loes (25)       114  1.7

SP3 Erskine (28)  108  1.8

Every starting pitcher in this series is RH, so we are unlikely to see a lot of substitutions. Dodgers would let Newcombe hit instead of a DH if I had the ability to do that.  

Indians-Mike Hargrove

CF Lofton (28) (LH)    110  3.4

3B Thome (24)  (LH)   157  5.6

LF Belle (28)        177  8.2

RF Ramirez (23)  147  3.7

DH Murray (39) (SH) 129  2.7

1B Sorrento (29) (LH) 116  1.1

2B Baerga (26)  (SH)   108  3.4

C Alomar (29)      107  1.7

SS Vizquel (28) (SH)   78     2.4

P Martinez (41)   152   4.3

Bench

C Pena (38) 75

OF Kirby (31) 45

1B Perry (25) 117

IF Espinoza (33) 51

DH Winfield (43) 49

SP2 Ogea (24)      154   2.3

SP3 Hershiser (36)  121  3.5

See Dodger comment; Murray might play first when the series shifts to Brooklyn, that's probably dependent on performance in games 1-2.  

WAR:

C-Dodgers

1B-Dodgers

2B-Indians

SS-Dodgers

3B-Indians

LF-Indians

CF-Dodgers

RF-Dodgers

DH-Indians

SP1-Dodgers

SP2-Indians

SP3-Indians

Bullpen-Indians

WAR: Indians 7 Dodgers 6, Indians have seed advantage and WAR advantage, they also have the best position player, Belle.  They're favored here.  

GAME ONE

1st: Jacobs Field, Cleveland - 41 year old Dennis Martinez takes the ball for the Indians.  12-5, 3.08. Dennis Martinez broke in way back in 1976 and spent the first 11 years of his career with the Orioles (he's been on three teams that lost in this round) He was 5th in the Cy Young in '81. In '86, Martinez goes to Montreal and spends the next 8 years with the Expos. He's 5th in the Cy Young in '91. In '94 - he comes to Cleveland, he was on the AL All star team this year. He spends 3 seasons in Cleveland and he finishes with the '98 Braves. He gives up a one out single to Duke Snider, that's it.

1st: 29 year old RH shared the MVP for Brooklyn's round one win, 20-5, 3.20. Newcombe was Rookie of the Year in '49, missed '52 and '53 for the military, he was 7th this year in the MVP. Next year - he will win it.  Newcombe's dealt to the Reds during the Dodgers first season in LA - he spends the last 20 games of his career with the Indians in 1960. He gets 2 - but then gives up a bomb to Albert Belle, a massive shot to dead center and the Indians are on the board.  Dodgers 0 Indians 1

2nd: Gil Hodges singles. Hodges was 19 when he broke in in '43, missed 2 years for WWII, he's 8th in the MVP in '50. 10th in '54. He's 31 this year and was on the All Star team. He's 7th in the MVP in '57, Hodges spends 4 seasons with the club in Los Angeles and then heads to the Mets in the expansion draft, spends the last two years of his career in New York and stops in '63. That's it.

2nd: Carlos Baerga walks with 2 out, he broke in in '90, 10th in the MVP in '93, he made his 3rd All Star team this year at the age of 26 and next season he's on the move, sent to the Mets for Jeff Kent (as a 19 year old prospect, he was sent from the Padres organization with Sandy Alomar for Joe Carter). Baerga will wind up back in San Diego - and the Padres will again send him to Cleveland, for 22 games in '99. Baerga's last year is '05 in DC.  That's it.

3rd: Jim Gilliam singles. Gilliam spends all 14 years of his career with the Dodgers, Rookie of the Year in '53, next year he will finish 5th in the MVP. Gilliam will lead the league in walks in Los Angeles in '59, finishes 6th in the MVP in '63 and stops in '66. That's all.

3rd: Omar Vizquel doubles. Vizquel broke in with the Mariners in '89 at 22, they shipped him to Cleveland last year for Felix Fermin and Reggie Jefferson. Viquel won his 3rd straight Gold Glove this year (he wins 11) He's an All Star in '98, '99, and '02 and he'll leave for San Francisco in '05. Vizquel finishes with the Jays in '12. Newcombe gets two -- but then there's Albert Belle again - he bombs a 2nd homer of the day - a 2 run bomb to left center.  Albert Belle has all the RBI today, Dodgers 0 Albert Belle 3

4th: Roy Campanella singles; Campy's 33, broke in back in '48, was MVP in '51 and '53 and then again this season.  His final season is Brooklyn's final season, '57. And then Carl Furillo follows with a 2 run shot to put the Dodgers right back in this one.  Carl Furillo 2 Albert Belle 3

4th: 1-2-3

5th: 1-2-3

5th: 1-2-3, 7 straight for Newcombe.

6th: Campanella singles again, this time with one out, that's all.

6th: Belle singles with one out -- and this time it's Manny Ramirez, crushing a 2 run homer to center.  Manny is just 23, he broke in 2 seasons ago, 2nd in Rookie of the Year last year, he made his first All Star team this year, 3 years from now he's 6th in the MVP, in '99 he's 3rd, in '00 he's 6th again and then he's gone, off to the Red Sox.  9th place finishes in '01 and '02, 6th in '03, 3rd in '04, 4th in '05 and '08 - that's his last year with the Sox, he'd moved to the Dodgers.  Manny finishes in Tampa in '11.  Dodgers 2 Indians 5

7th: Pee Wee Reese hits a one out single. 13 years prior, Reese was the shortstop for the '42 team that already advanced, so we've discused him. Reese is 36 this year, finished 9th in the MVP. Rube Walker follows with a walk - Jim Gilliam and Jackie Robinson hit back to back run scoring singles to the bring the Dodgers within a run.  Mike Hargrove has a deep pen, he goes to it now, 31 year old RH Eric Plunk has a 2.67 ERA - he walks Snider to load the bases, and then Campanella singles again -- it scores two runs - the Dodgers have gone out in front here in the big 7th inning.  Plunk gets the second out, then walks Hodges. The Dodgers send 10 men to the plate.  Dodgers 6 Indians 5

7th: Carlos Baerga hits Newcombe's first pitch over the wall in right center and it is all tied at 6.  Wild, wild game 1. 28 year old RH Clem Labine has 13 wins, 11 saves and he enters now for the skipper Alston. Dodgers 6 Indians 6

8th: 22 year old RH Julian Tavarez has 10 wins and a 2.44 ERA and he's next for Cleveland, Pee Wee Reese hits his first pitch for a double and Brooklyn's got the go ahead run in scoring position.  Tavarez gets the next 2 and then walks Robinson - and then Duke Snider hits a 3 run homer!  Duke Snider hits a 3 run bomb to right center and the Dodgers have taken a 3 run lead!  Hargrove is back out to the mound and it's the 29 year old lefty Jim Poole who gets the call with his 3.75 ERA. He's greeted with base hits from Campanella and Furillo - but that's it.  Dodgers 9 Indians 6

8th: Jim Thome singles. Thome's a 24 year old third baseman, he came up in '91, this is his first season as an everyday player. Two years from now he's 6th in the MVP, he leads the league in walks in '99, he'll have back to back 7th place MVP finishes in '01 and '02 and then he's gone, leaving for the Phillies when he's 32. He's got a 4th place MVP finish in '03 and he makes the AL All Star team with the White Sox in '06. Thome comes back to Cleveland for 22 games in '11 and finishes with the Orioles the following season. That's all though - the Dodgers are about to win game one.

9th: Sandy Amoros singles. The 25 year old Dodger LF broke in 3 seasons prior, except for the final 65 games of his career in Detroit in 1960, Amoros plays his entire career with the Dodgers. That's it.

9th: Labine is just 3 outs away from the Dodgers taking game one.

1-2-3

Dodgers 9

Indians 6

WP Labine

LP Tavarez

Brooklyn scores 7 in the 7th and 8th to take game 1.

For the Dodgers...

Robinson 2x

Snider 2x w/game winning 3 run HR

Campanella 4x

Furillo 2x w/HR

Hodges 2x

Reese 2x w/double

Labine throws 3 scoreless

For the Indians

Belle 3x/w 2HR

Ramirez HR

Baerga 2x w/HR

Vizquel double

One more in Cleveland - Indians need this one.

3B Robinson (36)  95    2.5

CF Snider (28)  (LH)    169  7.4

C Campanella (33)  152   5.6

RF Furillo (33)      130  4.1

1B Hodges (31)      127  4.4

LF Amoros (25)  (LH) 95      1.4

SS Reese (36)        103   3.7

2B Gilliam (26) (SH)   83      2.2

DH Hoak (27)   87

SP2 Loes (25)       114  1.7

CF Lofton (28) (LH)    110  3.4

3B Thome (24)  (LH)   157  5.6

LF Belle (28)        177  8.2

RF Ramirez (23)  147  3.7

DH Murray (39) (SH) 129  2.7

1B Sorrento (29) (LH) 116  1.1

2B Baerga (26)  (SH)   108  3.4

C Alomar (29)      107  1.7

SS Vizquel (28) (SH)   78     2.4

SP2 Ogea (24)      154   2.3

GAME TWO

1st: 24 year old RH Chad Ogea takes the mound at the Jake.  8-3, 3.05. This is the only season in his 6 year career where Ogea has an ERA under 4.50 - this is his second season, his last year is '99 with the Phillies. He gets one - but then Duke Snider hits his second homer of the series, his 3 run shot won game 1 and he puts the Dodgers in front here. Dodgers 1 Indians 0

1st: 25 year old RH Billy Loes has the early 1-0 lead. 10-4, 3.59. Loes came up in '50, lost a year with the military, this is his last full season with the Dodgers, next year he's sold to the Orioles, he finishes in San Francisco in '61. He gives up a one out double to Jim Thome, that's it.

2nd: 1-2-3

2nd: Eddie Murray singles.  Murray is now 39, he's been on two teams that lost in this round. Murray hit 9 homers in 9 career postseason series. Paul Sorrento walks, Loes gets the next two - but gives up an Omar Vizquel base hit that ties this one at 1. Dodgers 1 Indians 1

3rd: 1-2-3, Ogea sets down 8 straight

3rd: Albert Belle hit 2 game 1 homers and he singles with one out. Belle was 22 when he came up in '89, he's 7th in the MVP in '93, 3rd in '94, he was 2nd this year, finishes third next year and then he's gone. Belle signs with the White Sox in '97 and finishes 8th in the MVP and his last year in the league is '00 in Baltimore. Ramirez follows with a single and here's Eddie Murray - singling home a run.  Loes gets the second out - then gives up another run scoring single to Baerga. Dodgers 1 Indians 3

4th: Campanella singles with one out - he had four game 1 singles. That's it.

4th: Vizquel walks, Kenny Lofton singles. Lofton's 28, broke in with the Astros in '91, Cleveland stole him in an offseason deal and he's 2nd in Rookie of the Year in '92. Lofton leads the league in steals in '93 and was 4th in the MVP last season. This year, he led the league in steals and triples. He leads the league in steals again next year and then he's off to Atlanta for a season, he and Alan Embree are dealt for David Justice and Marquis Grissom.  Back he comes to Cleveland in '98 and adds two more All Star appearances. Lofton leaves for the White Sox in '02, he has a stint with the Dodgers in '06 and comes back to Cleveland one more time to finish up in '07. Thome grounds out and it scores a run. Belle walks - and here's Manny again, he doubles in 2 runs and the Indians are steamrolling Brooklyn today. Murray walks, That's it.  Dodgers 1 Indians 6

5th: Gilliam draws a two out walk, that's it.

5th: The Dodgers go to the pen - calling on 19 year old lefty Sandy Koufax for his very first apperance in the tournament.  Koufax had a 3.02 ERA in 41 innings. It's Koufax's rookie season, he starts being Sandy Koufax six years later in '61 when he leads the league in Ks. In '62, he will lead in ERA, he wins the Cy Young in '63, 3rd in '64, wins in both '64 and '65 and then retires.  1-2-3, Koufax strikes out 2.

6th: Robinson walks with one out, that's it.  Just 2 hits for Brooklyn off Ogea today.

6th: Belle doubles with one out and here's Manny again, doubling him home.  Dodgers 1 Indians 7

7th: Campanella doubles, an out later Hodges doubles him home. Amoros follows with a run scoring double and the Dodgers have a little something going. Eric Plunk enters, ends it.  Dodgers 3 Indians 7

7th: Sandy Alomar singles with one out, Alomar is 29, - up with the Padres in '88, dealt to the Indians in the Baerga deal previously discussed. Rookie of the Year in '90 with Cleveland, Alomar makes 6 All Star teams with the Indians. Alomar is 35 when he heads to the White Sox in '01, he finishes as a Met in '07. That's it.

8th: Duke Snider hits a 2 out triple, scores on a Campanella double, the Dodgers get a little closer. And when Carl Furillo reaches on an error - it scores Campanella and now it's 7-5 and this sold out Cleveland crowd is reeling. Julian Tavarez took the game 1 loss and he comes on to end it.  Dodgers 5 Indians 7

8th: Jim Thome has a long at bat against Koufax, on for his 4th inning in relief, and it ends with a homer to right - that probably nails this one down.  Clem Labine is on for the Dodgers, he gets one, then walks Ramirez/Murray - Sorrento is aboard on an error and then a Baerga single scores two more.  We'll be heading to Ebbets, all tied up.  Dodgers 5 Indians 10

9th: Amoros walks, that's it.

Dodgers 5

Indians 10

WP Ogea

LP Loes

Indians kept the power bats going in game two and it paid off as they even the series.

For the Indians

Belle 6x/w 2HR, double

Ramirez 5x w/HR, 2 doubles

Baerga 4x w/HR

Vizquel 3x w/double

Thome 2x in game 2 w/HR, double

Murray 4x in game 2

For the Dodgers...

Robinson 3x

Snider 4x w/ 2HR

Campanella 7x w/2 doubles

Furillo 2x w/HR

Hodges 3x w/double

Reese 2x w/double

Amoros game 2 double

We head to Ebbets where a future Dodger Hall of Famer looks to give Cleveland the series lead.

CF Lofton (28) (LH)    110  3.4

3B Thome (24)  (LH)   157  5.6

LF Belle (28)        177  8.2

RF Ramirez (23)  147  3.7

1B Murray (39) (SH) 129  2.7

2B Baerga (26)  (SH)   108  3.4

C Alomar (29)      107  1.7

SS Vizquel (28) (SH)   78     2.4

SP3 Hershiser (36)  121  3.5

3B Robinson (36)  95    2.5

CF Snider (28)  (LH)    169  7.4

C Campanella (33)  152   5.6

RF Furillo (33)      130  4.1

1B Hodges (31)      127  4.4

LF Amoros (25)  (LH) 95      1.4

SS Reese (36)        103   3.7

2B Gilliam (26) (SH)   83      2.2

SP3 Erskine (28)  108  1.8

GAME THREE

1st: The series shifts to Brooklyn and the Dodgers turn to Carl Erskine, 28 year old RH, 11-8, 3.79. Erskine broken in 7 years prior, was 9th in the MVP in '53, made his only All Star team in '54. Next season will be his last with double digit wins and he's done following the '59 LA season.  1-2-3

1st: Attempting to stifle the Dodgers today - Orel Hershiser.  36 year old RH, 16-6, 3.87. Hershiser spent the first dozen years of his career with the Dodgers, broke in in '83, 3rd in Rookie of the Year in '84. third in the Cy Young in '85, 4th in '87, he wins it in '88 and is 4th in '89. That's the end of his real run - he's with the Dodgers through '94 and this year he signed with the Indians.  He has a nice bounce back in Cleveland and heads to San Francisco in 1998. He comes back to LA to finish in '00.  Hershiser gives up a leadoff single to Jackie Robinson, that's it.

2nd: 1-2-3

2nd: 1-2-3

3rd: Omar Vizquel walks with one out, Lofton singles after the second out - that's all.

3rd: 1-2-3, 8 straight for Hershiser.

4th: Manny Ramirez singles with one out and Eddie Murray follows - Murray reached 4 times in game two and that earned him a start at first base in LA, that sends Manny to third - and he scores the game's firt run on a Baerga groundout.  Indians 1 Dodgers 0

4th: 1-2-3, 11 straight for Hershiser

5th: 1-2-3

5th: Carl Furillo ties the game with a home run.  It's his second homer of the series - Furillo's 33, he broke in in '46, 6th in the MVP in '49, 9th in '53, he'll go to LA with the club and stop in '60.  Gil Hodges follows with a base hit - and Sandy Amoros triples him home and the Dodgers take the lead.  Hershiser walks Reese -- and then gives up a 3 run jack to Jim Gilliam -- the Dodgers have broken through against Orel Hershiser here in the 5th.  29 year old RH Ken Hill comes on, he's got a 3.98 ERA - he gets 2, then gives up a Duke Snider double, that's all -- big inning for Brooklyn.  Indians 1 Dodgers 5

6th: With Newcombe set to come back against them tomorrow, Cleveland really needed this one today, it's not out of hand, but it's a long climb back.  1-2-3, 8 straight for Erskine.

6th: Furillo singles, an out later Amoros draws a walk - that's all.

7th: Only 3 Cleveland hits today; Baerga is the 4th, doubling with one out. After the second out Vizquel plates him with a single. Clem Labine comes on for Brooklyn - he ends it.  Indians 2 Dodgers 5

7th: Eric Plunk again for the Indians; Labine hit 3 homers this year -- and he hits a 4th right now, just clearing the left field wall - and that might be the insurance Brooklyn needs and Ebbets Field explodes in joy.  Indians 2 Dodgers 6

8th: 1-2-3

8th: Plunk gets 2 - but then Sandy Amoros homers to give the Dodgers anothe run. 38 year old lefty Bud Black makes an appearance now for Hargrove to end it.  Indians 2 Dodgers 7

9th: Murray walks with one out, Baerga singles - Alomar walks and the bases are loaded.

Vizquel singles.  Scores a run.

Herbert Perry is a 25 year old first baseman and he's the hitter now - He singles.  It scores a run - the Indians still have the bases loaded and now are down 3.  

23 year old RH Ed Roebuck comes on for the Dodgers, he's got a 4.71 ERA - he gets Lofton to line hard to center - it holds up for Snider -- and then Thome hits a ball to the track - but Furillo snags it and it's over.

Indians 4

Dodgers 7

WP Erskine

LP Hershiser

Some 9th inning fun here in Brooklyn - but the Dodgers hold on and now take a 2-1 series lead.

For the Dodgers...

Robinson 4x

Snider 5x w/ 2HR, double

Campanella 7x w/2 doubles

Furillo 4x w/2HR

Hodges 4x w/double

Reese 3x w/double

Amoros 4x in games 2-3 w/ HR, triple, double

Gilliam game 3 3 run HR

For the Indians

Belle 6x/w 2HR, double

Ramirez 6x w/HR, 2 doubles

Baerga 6x w/HR, double

Vizquel 6x w/double

Thome 2x in game 2 w/HR, double

Murray 6x in game 2-3

One more in Brooklyn - game 1 starters return, Dodgers looking to claim spot #30.

CF Lofton (28) (LH)    110  3.4

3B Thome (24)  (LH)   157  5.6

LF Belle (28)        177  8.2

RF Ramirez (23)  147  3.7

1B Sorrento (29) (LH) 116  1.1

2B Baerga (26)  (SH)   108  3.4

SS Vizquel (28) (SH)   78     2.4

C Pena (38) 75

P Martinez (41)   152   4.3

3B Robinson (36)  95    2.5

CF Snider (28)  (LH)    169  7.4

C Campanella (33)  152   5.6

RF Furillo (33)      130  4.1

1B Hodges (31)      127  4.4

LF Amoros (25)  (LH) 95      1.4

SS Reese (36)        103   3.7

2B Gilliam (26) (SH)   83      2.2

P Newcombe (29)   128  6.2

GAME FOUR 

1st: Don Newcombe takes the Ebbets Field mound, 9 innings from moving the Dodgers to the next round. Newcombe was not good in limited postseason action, 8.59 ERA in 22 IP. Kenny Lofton hits his first pitch over the wall in right center to put the Tribe on the board. Newcombe gets 2 - then hits Manny Ramirez; Hargrove went with Paul Sorrento at first today and it works - he triples home a second run.  Sorrento broke in with the Twins in '89 (as a prospect, he was traded for Bert Blyleven) and the Indians got him in '93 for Curt Leskanic. He'll be here until '98 when he moves to Tampa and finishes the following season. Indians 2 Dodgers 0

1st: Dennis Martinez is staked to a 2-0 lead. In 43 career postseason innings he had a 3.32 ERA, 1-2-3

2nd: 1-2-3

2nd: 1-2-3

3rd: Lofton walks - steals second - Jim Thome singles him home and it's 3-0. Newcombe gets the next two - but then it's Paul Sorrento again - he hits a two run blast and it's 5-0; there was a lot of talk headed into this one about the decision to go with Sorrento over Eddie Murray today - but it was a good one and the Tribe has the big lead.  Baerga singles - that's all. Indians 5 Dodgers 0

3rd: Pee Wee Reese doubles; he's on third after an out and then scores on a wild pitch. Robinson walks after the second out - that's all.  Indians 5 Dodgers 1

4th: Lofton singles with 2 out, that's it. 

4th: Campanella doubles. Nothing else.

5th: Ramirez singles with 2 out - and then there's Sorrento again, he doubles him home - Paul Sorrento is the easiest part away from a cycle today - Indians 6 Dodgers 1

5th: 1-2-3, just 2 hits allowed today by 41 year old Dennis Martinez.  

6th: Vizquel singles. That's it.

6th: 1-2-3, what a game from Martinez.

7th: 1-2-3

7th: 1-2-3, that's 11 straight from Dennis Martinez.  

8th: 24 year old RH Don Bessent has a 2.70 ERA and he comes on for Brooklyn; Vizquel singles with 2 out, that's all.  Sorrento does not hit for the cycle today.  

8th: 1-2-3, 14 straight for Martinez!

9th: Martinez is left in to hit for himself and he singles; an out later Thome walks, and the second out later Ramirez singles home one more for the Indians.  Indians 7 Dodgers 1

9th: Martinez gets his 15th - then Duke Snider homers to dead center.  Campanella follows with a single, it ends.  

Indians 7

Dodgers 2

WP Martinez

LP Newcombe

A 4 hitter for Martinez, strikes out 6, walks just one - Dennis Martinez had to win, he did, and now we head to Cleveland for Game 5.

For the Indians

Belle 6x/w 2HR, double

Ramirez 8x w/HR, 2 doubles

Baerga 7x w/HR, double

Vizquel 8x w/double

Thome 4x in game 2-4 w/HR, double

Murray 6x in game 2-3

Lofton 3x in game 4 w/HR

Sorrento 3x in game 4 w/HR, triple, double, 4 RBI

For the Dodgers...

Robinson 5x

Snider 6x w/ 3HR, double

Campanella 9x w/2 doubles

Furillo 4x w/2HR

Hodges 4x w/double

Reese 4x w/double

Amoros 4x in games 2-3 w/ HR, triple, double

Gilliam game 3 3 run HR

The 1951 Yankees await the winners of Game 5.

3B Robinson (36)  95    2.5

CF Snider (28)  (LH)    169  7.4

C Campanella (33)  152   5.6

RF Furillo (33)      130  4.1

1B Hodges (31)      127  4.4

LF Amoros (25)  (LH) 95      1.4

SS Reese (36)        103   3.7

2B Gilliam (26) (SH)   83      2.2

DH Zimmer (24)  88

SP2 Loes (25)       114  1.7

CF Lofton (28) (LH)    110  3.4

3B Thome (24)  (LH)   157  5.6

LF Belle (28)        177  8.2

RF Ramirez (23)  147  3.7

DH Murray (39) (SH) 129  2.7

1B Sorrento (29) (LH) 116  1.1

2B Baerga (26)  (SH)   108  3.4

C Alomar (29)      107  1.7

SS Vizquel (28) (SH)   78     2.4

SP2 Ogea (24)      154   2.3

GAME FIVE

1st: The 30th of 32 slots remaining in this tournament is about to be filled.  Chad Ogea's right arm carries the hopes of the Jacobs Field faithful.  In 38 career postseason IP Ogea had a 3.26 ERA. He opens by walking Robinson/Snider - but Ogea escapes.

1st: Billy Loes is his opponent - in 22 postseason IP he had a 4.91 ERA. Lofton singles, Thome singles him to third - Belle grounds into a double play, but that scores the game's first run. And then Manny hits a big home run to left -- the roar - the roar from this Cleveland crowd - the Indians go up 2-0.  Loes walks Murray, that's all. Dodgers 0 Indians 2

2nd: Reese walks with one out - a second out moves him to third and then he scores on a Don Zimmer base hit.  Zimmer's seeing his first action of the series as the DH, Zim's 24, in his second season, prior to the '60 season he be dealt to the Cubs for Ron Perranoski, he makes his only All Star team in '61, he winds up finishing with the Senators in '65. Dodgers 1 Indians 2

2nd: Vizquel singles with 2 out, that's all.  

3rd: Campanella singles with one out, Furillo follows with a single and Hodges then walks.  Bases loaded for Brooklyn - big spot in this series. Ogea gets the second out - then Reese singles, it scores 2 - and Gilliam then reaches on an error to score another.  Big inning for the Dodgers 4 Indians 2

3rd: Thome walks, Loes gets one -- but then Manny Ramirez does it again - Manny hits a two run rocket to left -- his second homer of the day, third of the series - and he has tied this one at 4. Murray singles - Loes gets the second then walks Baerga. That's all.  We got one today, folks.  Dodgers 4 Indians 4

4th: All tied up - game 5 - Duke Snider doubles with one out. That's it.

4th: Loes gets 2 - and then Jim Thome homers to dead center and now the Indians regain this lead.  Dodgers 4 Indians 5

5th: Cleveland goes to their pen right now.  Ken Hill enters - 1-2-3

5th: Loes gets 2 - then Sorrento doubles, Baerga doubles - thats one more Cleveland run.  Dodgers 4 Indians 6

6th: Gilliam walks.  Zimmer singles.  Okay - Dodgers in business.  Jackie grounds out - it scores a run.  Eric Plunk is on for the Indians; he walks Snider - but gets through it.  Dodgers 5 Indians 6

6th: Clem Labine for the Dodgers - Vizquel triples and Lofton singles him home and the Indians get that run back. Labine gets one - then walks Belle and Ramirez to load them up - a Murray sac fly gets Cleveland one more.  Dodgers 5 Indians 8

7th: 1-2-3, big inning here for Plunk and the Indians are 6 outs from the win.

7th: Alomar singles with one out - that's it.  

8th: The Dodgers need to get going.  Julian Tavarez is on for the Indians - 1-2-3.

8th: Ed Roebuck comes on - he gets two, then walks Ramirez and gives up a Murray base hit - tha'ts it.  One more inning.

9th: Jose Mesa makes his first appearance in the series.  Mesa is a 29 year old RH, 46 saves and a 1.13 ERA. Mesa was virtually unhittable in 1995. Mesa was 21 when he broke in with the Orioles in '87. Cleveland acquires him in '92,he was 4th in the MVP and 2nd in the Cy Young this year and makes the All Star team again in '96.  In '98 he's gone, he and Shawon Dunston sent to the Giants for Jacob Cruz and Steve Reed, Mesa finishes with the Phillies in '07. 

Duke Snider is first.  K.

Roy Campanella is next.  K.

Carl Furillo is next -- grounder to Thome -- onto Sorrento.  Ballgame.

Dodgers 5

Indians 8

WP Hill

LP Loes

Belle 7x/w 2HR, double

Ramirez 12x w/3HR, 2 doubles

Baerga 9x w/HR, 2 doubles

Vizquel 10x w/double

Thome 7x in game 2-5 w/2HR, double

Murray 9x in game 2-5

Lot of offensive stars for the Indians in this series - but Manny reached more times and hit more homers than anyone in the series, including 2 today.  He's the MVP.

128 Team MLB Tournament - Round Two, Region Eight: 1910 World Champion Philadelphia Athletics v. 1951 World Champion New York Yankees

 Region 7

8. 1910 World Champion Philadelphia Athletics v. 72. 1951 World Champion New York Yankees

We started with 128 teams.  Right now, 28 spots in the next round have been claimed.  4 left.

The 1909 A's and the 1972 A's have advanced.  This is the last A's team in the round.

9 Yankees teams have moved on: 1928, 1936, 1943, 1947, 1953, 1954, 1961, 1977, 1998 and there's still one more to come later in the Region.  

A's 102-48 Mgr. Connie Mack

Won AL Pennant

d. Cubs in WS

d. #121 2002 Giants (MVP-Jack Coombs/Chief Bender)

Hall of Famers: Home Run Baker, Chief Bender, Eddie Collins, Eddie Plank, Connie Mack

Yankees 98-56 Mgr Casey Stengel

Won AL Pennant

d. Giants in WS

d. #57 1931 Cardinals (Allie Reynolds)

All-Stars: C Yogi Berra, OF Joe DiMaggio, SP Eddie Lopat, SS Phil Rizzuto

AL RoY: 2B Gil McDougald

Hall of Famers: Yogi Berra (AL MVP) Joe DiMaggio, Mickey Mantle, Johnny Mize, Phil Rizzuto, Casey Stengel

Yankees-Casey Stengel

CF Woodling (28)  (LH)    129     3.1

C Berra (26)    (LH)            130    5.5

RF Collins (28)  (LH)         126     1.4

2B McDougald (23)    142    4.3

LF Jensen (24)            137    1.2  

3B Brown (26)   (LH)         108     1.3

1B Mize (38)     (LH)         102      1.1

SS Rizzuto (33)          92       3.1

P Lopat (33)   (LH)            132     5.1

Bench

RF Mantle (19)    (SH)      117     1.1
CF DiMaggio (36)      116     2.5

RF Bauer (28)             127    2.3 

2B Coleman (26) 74

SP2 Reynolds (34)     126      4

SP3 Raschi (32)         117      4.4

Mantle's young, DiMaggio's old - both are on the bench for game one; they'll definitely both get starts in Yankee Stadium, but in games 1 and 2 Casey looks to see which of his other bats gets hot.  All the A's starting pitchers are RH.  

Athletics-Connie Mack

CF Oldring (26)   141  4

RF Murphy (33)  142  4.6

2B Collins (23)  (LH)  150   9.9

LF Lord (26)       135   2.6

3B Baker (24)  (LH)   126    4.5

SS Barry (23)     111     3.3

C Thomas (29)   107    1.7

1B Davis (36)     101    1.8

P Coombs (27)    182     8.8

Bench

C Lapp (27)  (LH)     87       1.3

LF Hartsel (36) (LH) 97

C Livingston (30) 74

OF Heitmuller (27) 83

SP2 Bender (26)  150   5.3

SP3 Morgan (31)  153  2.7

Maybe a platoon at C and LF, Mack will play it by ear.  

WAR:

C-Yankees

1B-A's

2B-A's

SS-A's

3B-A's

LF-A's

CF-A's

RF-A's

SP1-A's

SP2-A's

SP3-Yankees

Bullpen-Yankees

WAR: A's 9 Yankees 3 -- A's have seed advantage and big WAR advantage, A's have best player (Collins) the A's are heavily favored to move forward.

GAME ONE

1st: Jack Coombs was co-MVP of the A's round one win and he gets the ball to kick off Region 8.  31-9, 1.30. Coombs is a 27 year old RH. Coombs was on that 1909 team that advanced, but I don't believe we discussed him. He broke in in '06, by all measure, this is his career season (you win 31 games with a 1.30 ERA, one would assume it's your best year) 6 years later he's in Brooklyn and Coombs finishes in '20 as a Tiger.  Gene Woodling singles, Yogi singles - Coombs gets one, but then walks Gil McDougald to load the bases and when he throws a wild pitch, the Yanks are on the board.  Bobby Brown then singles home 2, Coombs walks Mize - it ends there, but a big inning to kick this series off.  Yankees 3 A's 0

1st: 33 year old lefty Eddie Lopat is staked to that lead. 21-9, 2.91. Lopat's on the '53 and '54  teams that have advanced, this year was his only All Star appearance. Danny Murphy reaches on a one out error, after the second out Bris Lord singles, that's it.

2nd: 1-2-3

2nd: Ira Thomas singles with one out, Thomas broke in with the Yankees, moved to the A's last year and spends the rest of his career in Philadelphia. In '11, he will finish 8th in the MVP and he stops in '15. After the second out, Coombs singles and  Rube Oldring walks, that's all.

3rd: 1-2-3, 8 straight for Coombs

3rd: 1-2-3

4th: Bobby Brown singles. Brown's 26, he's on the bench for the '47 team that has advanced, that was his second season - he spends his full career as a Yankee and stops in '54 (that team has also advanced, he was also on the bench and didn't play in '53 for that team that advanced). That's all.

4th: Jack Barry singles. We saw Barry with last year's team; Thomas follows with a single, that's all.

5th: Joe Collins singles with 2 out - we saw Collins in both '53 and '54. The inning ends here.

5th: Rube Oldring singles. Oldring, like Thomas, broke in with New York - we've seen him with the '09 club. Two outs later Lord singles - but Lopat preserves the shutout.  

6th: Jackie Jensen singles - Jensen's 24, in his second season, he's sent to the Senators next year. Jensen spends most of his career with the Red Sox and wins the MVP in '58 and stops in '61. Brown follows with a single and the Big Cat Johnny Mize comes through with a run scoring base hit.  Yankees 4 A's 0

6th: 1-2-3

7th: 1-2-3

7th: Lopat gets two, then gives up singles to Danny Murphy and Eddie Collins, both of whom were on last year's club. Collins led the league in steals this year. Lopat maintains the shutout and it looks like the Yanks are about to take game one.

8th: Coombs walks McDougald and Jensen to open the inning; then gets two outs - but Phil Rizzuto drives home a run and Coombs throws a wild pitch to score another.  This one's done.  Yankees 6 A's 0

8th: Jack Barry singles with one out, but again, Lopat gets through it.

9th: Gene Woodling walks. Woodling moves to second on a passed ball, moved to third on an out - and scores on a Collins groundout.  McDougald then singles - the inning ends.  Yankees 7 A's 0

9th: 33 year old RH Johnny Sain is on to wrap this up.  19 year old Stuffy McInnis comes up to hit for Coombs, he singles.  Rube Oldring follows with a double and Danny Murphy singles to score a run.  A Collins groundout scores a second run. Sain gets another out - then gives up a base hit to Home Run Baker, and a run scoring single to Barry and now it's 7-3. Well, 2 on, 2 out -- Yanks going back to the pen - 28 year old lefty Bob Kuzava comes on for the Yanks -- and on the first pitch - Ira Thomas hits a 3 run bomb!   Wow!  The A's have scored 6 runs in the bottom of the 9th and cut this lead to 7-6!  Wow!  

Harry Davis comes to the plate -- single. That's the tying run.

McInnis is back up - he grounds to McDougald -- flip to Rizzuto and it's done.  

The A's score 6 runs in the bottom of the 9th -- but they needed 7.

Yankees 7

A's 6

WP Lopat

LP Coombs

The A's pound 17 hits - and lose.  

For New York...

Woodling 2x

McDougald 3x

Jensen 2x

Brown 3x

Mize 2x

For the A's

Oldring 3x w/double

Murphy 2x

Lord 2x

Barry 3x

Thomas 3x/wHR

One more in Philadelphia, can the A's make their way back from this one?

CF Woodling (28)  (LH)    129     3.1

C Berra (26)    (LH)            130    5.5

2B McDougald (23)    142    4.3

LF Jensen (24)            137    1.2  

RF Bauer (28)             127    2.3 

3B Brown (26)   (LH)         108     1.3

1B Mize (38)     (LH)         102      1.1

SS Rizzuto (33)          92       3.1

SP2 Reynolds (34)     126      4

2B Collins (23)  (LH)  150   9.9

3B Baker (24)  (LH)   126    4.5

RF Murphy (33)  142  4.6

CF Oldring (26)   141  4

LF Lord (26)       135   2.6

SS Barry (23)     111     3.3

C Thomas (29)   107    1.7

1B Davis (36)     101    1.8

SP2 Bender (26)  150   5.3

GAME TWO

1st: One more at Shibe Park - the A's had an all time great comeback in game 1 - 6 runs in the 9th inning, but still fell short. Chief Bender goes for the A's today. 26 years old, 23-5, 1.58. We saw him with last year's club, Bender led the league in winning percentage this year. He gives up a 2 out single to McDougald - and then Jackie Jensen, in the lineup again today ahead of both Mantle and DiMaggio - hits a 2 run homer. Hank Bauer gets an OF start today and he singles - that's all. Yankees 2 A's 0

1st: The Yanks go with Allie Reynolds, 34 years old, 17-8, 3.05. Reynolds has already advanced 3 times. 1-2-3.

2nd: Mize reaches on an error and Rizzuto singles. After an out, a Woodling sac fly scores a run. This Yankee team is doing it again.  Yankees 3 A's 0

2nd: Rube Oldring singles. That's all.

3rd: 1-2-3

3rd: Harry Davis singles, and when he's on second an out later, he's ready to score on an Eddie Collins base hit.  After the second out, Danny Murphy doubles to cut the deficit to a run. Rube Oldring doubles Murphy home to tie it.  Yankees 3 A's 3

4th: After an out, Allie Reynolds walked - that's all.

4th: Ira Thomas nearly hit an all time great home run in game one, a 3 run shot in the bottom of the 9th to almost bring the A's back. He doubles with one out. That's all.

5th: 1-2-3, Bender hasn't given up a hit since the 2nd.

5th: Eddie Collins singles again. Two outs later, Rube Oldring doubles him home, Oldring's third hit of the day - and the A's have their first lead of the series.  Yankees 3 A's 4

6th: 1-2-3, 8 straight for Bender.  

6th: Barry walks.  A double play later Davis singles. Bender singles -- and here comes Eddie Collins one more time -- he singles home another run. Yankees 3 A's 5

7th: McDougald singles with 2 out - but that's it, the A's are 6 outs away from evening this up.

7th: Bob Kuzava comes on. 1-2-3

8th: 1-2-3, Bender has this game in a vise grip. 

8th: Davis singles with 2 out but that's all and we go to the 9th.

9th: 25 year old RH Jimmy Dygert is on to close the door; Joe Collins is the pinch hitter for Stengel and he reaches by error.  Dygert gets an out - but then walks both Berra and McDougald and now the bases are loaded and it's the Yankees threatening a 9th inning comeback.

Jackie Jensen singles -- it scores Collins.  5-4. 

Hank Bauer is next.  Full count. Bases loaded.  Still just one out.  

And Dygert walks him to tie the score.  

22 year old lefty Tommy Atkins is the new pitcher - Bobby Brown grounds sharply to first - Davis throws home and they get the force at the plate.  2 outs.

Johnny Mize.  Bases loaded.  Dygert gets him.  Yankees 5 A's 5

9th: 34 year old lefty Joe Ostrowski comes on for New York - he gives up an Eddie Collins single. Big game for Collins.  Collins then moves to second on a groundout.  And then Danny Murphy singles him home.  

Big celebration at the plate -- a bottom of the 9th walkoff single evens this series and we will head to New York all tied at 1.

Yankees 5

A's 6

WP Dygert

LP Ostrowski

The A's have 31 hits so far in the series, the Yankees are fortunate to be even.  

For the A's

Oldring 6x w/3 doubles

Murphy 4x w/double, drove in game winner in game 2

Lord 2x

Barry 4x

Thomas 4x/wHR, double

Collins 4x in game 2

Davis 3x in game 2

For New York...

Woodling 2x

McDougald 6x

Jensen 4x w/HR

Brown 3x

Mize 2x

Bauer 2x

We've got 2 in Yankee Stadium, Casey has a couple of legends, one a little past his prime, one who hasn't entered his yet - and they're both coming off the bench to start game 3.

CF Oldring (26)   141  4

RF Murphy (33)  142  4.6

2B Collins (23)  (LH)  150   9.9

3B Baker (24)  (LH)   126    4.5

SS Barry (23)     111     3.3

LF Hartsel (36) (LH) 97

1B Davis (36)     101    1.8

C Lapp (27)  (LH)     87       1.3

SP3 Morgan (31)  153  2.7

C Berra (26)    (LH)            130    5.5

1B Collins (28)  (LH)         126     1.4

2B McDougald (23)    142    4.3

LF Jensen (24)            137    1.2  

RF Mantle (19)    (SH)      117     1.1
CF DiMaggio (36)      116     2.5

3B Brown (26)   (LH)         108     1.3

SS Rizzuto (33)          92       3.1

SP3 Raschi (32)         117      4.4

GAME THREE

1st:  Yankee Stadium. Game 3.  Series all tied at one.  Vic Raschi is a 32 year old RH, 21-10, 3.27. Raschi's advanced with 3 Yankee clubs, he broke in in '46, finished 7th in the MVP last year, 8th this year, he's onto the Cardinals in '54, and stops with the A's in '55. He gives up a first pitch Rube Oldring double; Oldring's 4th double of the series. Danny Murphy drives him home with a base hit.  He drove in the game winner in the bottom of the 9th in game 2. After an out, Eddie Collins walks - Collins was on base four times in game 2. Collins steals second, and after the second out he scores on a Jack Barry single. A's 2 Yankees 0

1st: 31 year old RH Cy Morgan takes the ball for Connie Mack; 18-12, 1.55. The A's got Morgan last year, in '13 he finishes in Cincinnati. Yogi opens with a base hit - Joe Collins is back in the lineup today and he triples him home.  2 outs later, Mickey Mantle, 19 year old rookie seeing his first action in the series, reaches via error and it scores the tying run. That's all. A's 2 Yankees 2

2nd: Fun series. Jack Lapp singles with one out - it's Lapp's first start in the series, he was on the bench for last year's team. Lapp broke in in '08, except for the final 40 games of his career with the White Sox in '16, he's a career Athletic. That's all.

2nd: 1-2-3

3rd: Eddie Collins walks again, that's all.  

3rd: With one out, Joe Collins singles and Gil McDougald walks.  After the second out - it's the teenage Mantle who comes through - a base hit to score the go ahead run.  A's 2 Yankees 3

4th: 1-2-3

4th: Bobby Brown singles, that's it.

5th: Lapp reached on an error and an out later Oldring singles - Rube Oldring just dominating the Yankees in this series - Murphy grounds out - but it scores the tying run.  A's 3 Yankees 3

5th: Joe Collins singles - that's 3 hits today, Casey's unlikely to take him out of the lineup again.  It ends here.

6th: 1-2-3

6th: 1-2-3, we head to the 7th.  All tied in a series that is all tied.  Some anxious folks in the Bronx.

7th: Cy Morgan hits for himself and doubles with 2 out - but that's all. 

7th: Gene Woodling was in the lineup for the first two games - he comes off the bench to hit here and he singles.  Yogi follows with a single and the Yanks are in business, men on the corners and nobody out.  Morgan gets one and then walks McDougald.  Bases loaded.  Jackie Jensen singles - it scores two.  Jimmy Dygert comes on for the A's and he gets out of the inning.  A's 3 Yankees 5

8th: Bob Kuzava gets the call for the Yanks - 6 outs from going up 2 games to 1. He gets one, then walks Eddie Collins - tying run to the plate, but Kuzava survives and the Yanks are now just 3 outs from the win.

8th: 36 year old Joe DiMaggio is seeing his first action of the series - he walks. Brown then walks. Rizzuto singles - it scores a run - that might be the insurance the Yankees need. Dygert gets two -- but then Joe Collins ends this one, he triples home two runs, this game is over.  A's 3 Yankees 8

9th: Kuzava stays on - he walks Topsy Hartsel, it's Hartsel's first start, then walks Harry Davis. Kuzava gets two - but then it's Oldring again, a run scoring single. Joe Ostrowski comes on and ends the game for Stengel.

A's 4

Yankees 8

WP Raschi

LP Morgan

New York takes game 3 and moves a game from clinching this series.

For New York...

Woodling 2x

McDougald 8x

Jensen 5x w/HR

Brown 5x

Mize 2x

Bauer 2x

Yogi 2x game 3

Collins 4x game 3 w/2 triples

For the A's

Oldring 9x w/4 doubles

Murphy 5x w/double, drove in game winner in game 2

Lord 2x

Barry 5x

Thomas 4x/wHR, double

Collins 7x in game 2-3

Davis 4x in game 2-3

One more at Yankee Stadium - the game one starting pitchers return.

CF Oldring (26)   141  4

RF Murphy (33)  142  4.6

2B Collins (23)  (LH)  150   9.9

LF Lord (26)       135   2.6

3B Baker (24)  (LH)   126    4.5

SS Barry (23)     111     3.3

C Thomas (29)   107    1.7

1B Davis (36)     101    1.8

P Coombs (27)    182     8.8

C Berra (26)    (LH)            130    5.5

1B Collins (28)  (LH)         126     1.4

2B McDougald (23)    142    4.3

LF Bauer (28)             127    2.3 

RF Mantle (19)    (SH)      117     1.1
CF DiMaggio (36)      116     2.5

3B Brown (26)   (LH)         108     1.3

SS Rizzuto (33)          92       3.1

P Lopat (33)   (LH)            132     5.1

GAME FOUR

1st Eddie Lopat won game 1 and is 9 innings away from pitching the 10th Yankee squad into the Round of 32. He gives up a base hit to Oldring - the A center fielder has reached 10 times. 2 outs later Bris Lord walks - Lopat escapes.

1st: Jack Coombs lost game 1, can he even the series up and send it back to Philadelphia? He walks Joe Collins with one out, Collins tripled twice in game 3 - McDougald singles, Coombs gets the second -- but it's the teenage Mantle, given another start by Stengel - who singles home the first run of the game.  A's 0 Yankees 1

2nd: Jack Barry triples - but Lopat leaves him stranded at third.

2nd: 1-2-3

3rd: Oldring singles again.  11 times on base.  Lopat gets 2 and then walks Lord -- Home Run Baker comes through which (I think) his first hit of the series, a base hit to score the tying run. Baker was with last year's team and spends the back half of his career with the Yanks. A's 1 Yankees 1

3rd: Collins reaches on  a one out error, he moves to second on a second out - and Hank Bauer drives him home with a base hit.  A's 1 Yankees 2

4th: Ira Thomas is catching today and he doubles; Harry Davis follows with a base hit to tie this one up.  A's 2 Yankees 2

4th: Bobby Brown walks with one out and that's all.  Another tight one.  

5th: 1-2-3

5th: Joe Collins singles with one out, he then steals second - and scores on a McDougald base hit.  The Yankees once again go back out in front.  Now 4 innings away from the series win.  A's 2 Yankees 3

6th: Thomas hits a two out single, Harry Davis doubles and the go ahead run is in scoring position.  Lopat then hits Coombs - loaded up, two outs-- big spot here - Lopat escapes.

6th: DiMaggio singles, that's all.

7th: The A's need a run.  1-2-3, that's a big effort from Lopat, he loaded the bases in the 6th but sets Philly down in order here and the Yankees are 6 outs away.

7th: McDougald draws a two out walk and then Hank Bauer triples.  That gives New York another run and will that do it? A's 2 Yankees 4

8th: Baker singles, Barry doubles - and here we are, 2 on and nobody out.  Lopat gets one - but then throws a wild pitch to score a run, Davis reaches on an error that scores the second run and the A's tie it up.  The A's teenager, Stuffy McInnis, comes off the bench to hit and the Yankees turn to Bob Kuzava. McInnis singles.  Runners on the corners.  Kuzava gets the second out -- but then Murphy singles home the go ahead run.  A's 5 Yankees 4

8th: It's Jimmy Dygert for the A's - 1-2-3

9th: 1-2-3

9th: Can the Yankees tie the game - or will the A's tie the series?

Gene Woodling comes off the bench to hit - he pops to short.

Yogi is next - he hits a shot, deep to center -- but Oldring tracks it down.

Dygert strikes Collins out and we are headed back to Philadelphia.

A's 5

Yankees 4

WP Coombs

LP Lopat

For the A's

Oldring 11x w/4 doubles

Murphy 6x w/double, drove in game winner in games 2 and 4

Lord 4x

Barry 7x w/double, triple

Thomas 6x/wHR, 2 doubles

Collins 7x in game 2-3

Davis 6x in game 2-4, w/double

Baker 2x in game 4

For New York...

Woodling 2x

McDougald 11x

Jensen 5x w/HR

Brown 5x

Mize 2x

Bauer 4x w/triple

Yogi 2x game 3

Collins 6x game 3-4 w/2 triples

How do you feel about a game 5 back at Shibe Park?  Winner take all.

CF Woodling (28)  (LH)    129     3.1

C Berra (26)    (LH)            130    5.5

2B McDougald (23)    142    4.3

1B Collins (28)  (LH)         126     1.4

LF Jensen (24)            137    1.2  

RF Bauer (28)             127    2.3 

3B Brown (26)   (LH)         108     1.3

SS Rizzuto (33)          92       3.1

SP2 Reynolds (34)     126      4

2B Collins (23)  (LH)  150   9.9

RF Murphy (33)  142  4.6

CF Oldring (26)   141  4

LF Lord (26)       135   2.6

3B Baker (24)  (LH)   126    4.5

SS Barry (23)     111     3.3

C Thomas (29)   107    1.7

1B Davis (36)     101    1.8

SP2 Bender (26)  150   5.3

GAME FIVE

1st: Who doesn't love a showdown game 5?  Chief Bender won game 2 for the A's and he looks to end the series. He walks Yogi with one out. That's it.

1st: The Yankees counter with Allie Reynolds - Reynolds was MVP of the Yanks round one win, Bender a co-MVP for the A's.  1-2-3

2nd: Hank Bauer singles with one out - both DiMaggio and Mantle on the bench for Stengel today (and Mize, three Hall of Famers on the bench) the Yanks going with an outfield of Jensen/Woodling/Bauer.  Bobby Brown singles and Bauer goes to third -- he then scores on a Rizzuto groundout.  Yankees 1 A's 0 

2nd: Lord singles and an out later Barry follows - but Reynolds holds it.

3rd: Yogi singles with one out, that's all.

3rd: Bender singles with one out, Collins then singles him over to third and Bender comes in to score on a Murphy groundout.  Yankees 1 A's 1

4th: 1-2-3

4th: 1-2-3

5th: Rizzuto singles, Reynolds bunts him over -- and Woodling singles him home and the Yankees regain the lead. Yogi reaches on an error and McDougald walks and the Yankees have loaded the bases, a run already in - with just one out.  Biggest spot of the series - and Joe Collins doubles everyone home.  That could be the end of this series right here -- a 3 run double by Collins and the Yankees have busted this game open in the 5th. Jensen singles home another run.  Yankees 6 A's 1

5th: Thomas singles - that's it.  Reynolds has a 5 run lead as we head to the 6th and these Philly fans are starting to feel the weight of this loss.  

6th: Rizzuto singles again after an out, that's all.

6th: Reynolds loads the bases - Murphy walks, Oldring and Lord single.  Big, big spot for the A's, loaded up - nobody out -- Reynolds gets 2 - but then Thomas singles home a run. That's all though and you have to consider that a big win for Reynolds.  Yankees 6 A's 2

7th: Yogi and McDougald open with singles, Collins then doubles home Yogi and then sure looks like that - Collins got the start at first today, he's driven home 4 big runs and the Yankees are rolling.  Bender gets an out - but Bauer clears the bases with a double and it's 9-2 and it is over.  Philly to the pen for 22 year old lefty Tommy Atkins, he gives up a run scoring single to Brown and a base hit to Rizzuto. That's it.  Yankees 10 A's 2

7th: Johnny Sain enters for New York - 9 outs from the end of this series. He gives up a one out single to Collins who then scores on a Murphy double. Even with the 7 run lead Casey goes back to the pen, 32 year old lefty Stubby Overmire is the choice. He gets an out - the gives up a run scoring single to Lord.  Yankees 10 A's 4

8th: Collins singles - Collins has taken the MVP Award here in game 5 - he then steals second and scores on a Jensen base hit. Joe Collins has won this series today.  Jimmy Dygert comes on, it's too late.  Yankees 11 A's 4

8th: 1-2-3

9th: 1-2-3

9th: Stuffy McInnis pinch singles, an out later Murphy triples home the 5th A's run. But the series ends here.  

Yankees 11

A's 5

WP Reynolds

LP Bender.

The A's got 17 hits and lost game 1 - they get 13 today and lose game 5.

McDougald reached 13x, which either ties a record for the tournament or is just one shy

Jensen 7x w/HR

Collins reached 10x w/2 triples, 2 doubles, had 4 RBI today.

Really is a terrific series for Gil McDougald, just kept steadily getting on base - but Joe Collins had some thunder, had a two triple game in game 3 and a 2 double game today. 

29 teams have advanced.  Including 10 Yankees squads.  3 spots left.  

128 Team MLB Tournament - Round Two, Region Seven: 1936 World Champion New York Yankees v. 1983 World Champion Baltimore Orioles

 Cubs v. Yankees

23. 1936 World Champion New York Yankees v. 87. 1983 World Champion Baltimore Orioles

We're wrapping up Region 7 with this one; team 28 will make the field and take on the '54 Yankees.  

The '69 and '70 Orioles have advanced, this is the last Baltimore team in the field.

8 Yankees teams have moved on: 1928, 1943, 1947, 1953, 1954, 1961, 1977, 1998 (I think said 9 have moved on after the '54 team won the last series, there are just 8 so far). 2 Yankees squads are still to come.  

Yankees 102-51 Mgr Joe McCarthy

Won AL Pennant

d. Giants in WS

d. #106 1995 Braves (MVP-Red Rolfe)

All-Stars SS Frankie Crosetti, C Bill Dickey (5th AL MVP) CF Joe DiMaggio, 1B Lou Gehrig (AL MVP) SP Lefty Gomez, SP Monte Pearson, OF George Selkirk

Hall of Famers: Bill Dickey, Joe DiMaggio, Lou Gehrig, Lefty Gomez, Tony Lazzeri, Red Ruffing, Joe McCarthy

Orioles 98-64 Mgr. Joe Altobelli (2nd AL MoY)

1st in AL East

d. White Sox in ALCS

d. Phillies in WS

d. #42 1935 Tigers (MVP-John Lowenstein)

All-Stars RP Tippy Martinez, 1B Eddie Murray (2nd AL MVP) SS Cal Ripken, (AL MVP)

Hall of Famers: Eddie Murray, Jim Palmer, Cal Ripken 

Orioles-Joe Altobelli

LF Lowenstein (36) (LH)  138   2.5

RF Dwyer (33)    (LH)       145   1.4

1B Murray (27)   (SH)      156    6.5

SS Ripken (22)           144   8.5

C  Nolan (32)    (LH)         113    .7

CF Bumbry (36)  (LH)      91     .6

2B Sakata (29)           98     .6

3B Hernandez (23) 83

P Boddicker (25)      143     4.4

Bench

DH Singleton (36)  (SH)  131     2.7

C Dempsey (33)       77       1.9

LF/RF Roenicke (28) 120

2B Dauer (30) 72

RF Ford (31)  112

CF Shelby (25) (SH) 83

3B Cruz (27)              55     -.3  

LF Ayala (32) 87

SP2 McGregor (29) (LH)  124   3.8

SP3 Flanagan (31)   (LH) 120     1.6

Orioles platooning at C and at one of the corner OF spots, 2B/3B is a hot hand issue.

New York Yankees-Joe McCarthy

RF Selkirk (28) (LH)   132   3.8

C Dickey (29)   (LH)   158   5.4

1B Gehrig (33) (LH)   190   8.4

3B Rolfe (27)  (LH)     120   4.5

CF DiMaggio (21)  128  4.7

2B Lazzeri (32)   109    2.4

SS Crosetti (25)  105    4.2

LF Johnson (33) (LH) 82

P Ruffing (31)     120    4.8

Bench

DH Hoag (28) 101

LF Powell (27)    97      1.1

OF Chapman (27) 91

C Glenn (27) 82

3B Saltzgaver (33) (LH) 53

SP2 Pearson (27) 125   3.9

SP3 Gomez (27) (LH) 106    1.4

Platoon in LF.

WAR:

C-Yankees

1B-Yankees

2B-Yankees

SS-Orioles

3B-Yankees

LF-Orioles

CF-Yankees

RF-Yankees

DH-Orioles

SP1-Yankees

SP2-Push

SP3-Orioles

Bullpen-Orioles

WAR: Yankees 7 Orioles 5 - Yankees have seed advantage, Yankees have WAR advantage, best position player is a push between Gehrig/Ripken.  Yankees are the favorites to move on, become the 10th Yankee team to advance, and play the 1954 Yankees in the next round.

GAME ONE

1st: We begin the end of Region 7 at Yankee Stadium.  31 year old RH Red Ruffing on the mound. 20-12, 3.85. Ruffing was just 19 when he broke in with the Red Sox back in '24. led the league in losses in both '28 and '29 and gets sold to the Yankees in '30 - Ruffing led the league in Ks in '32, made the All Star team in '34. This is his first 20 game winning season. 1-2-3

1st: 25 year old RH Mike Boddicker has the unenviable task of facing this potent Yankee offense. 16-8, 2.77. Boddicker was 22 when he broke in back in '80 - this is still his rookie season and he's 3rd in the Rookie of the Year.  Next year he'll finish 4th in the Cy Young. He goes to the Red Sox in '88 in a deal for Brady Anderson and a young Curt Schilling and finishes with the Brewers in '93. 1-2-3

2nd: Cal Ripken doubles. Ripken was 20 when he broke in back in '80; he was Rookie of the Year in '82 and won the MVP Award this season. Ripken made the All Star team this year - and will each year the rest of his career.  In '89, he'll finish 3rd in the MVP, in '91 he wins it again. He finishes in '01 at the age of 40. Joe Nolan follows with a base hit and it's the Orioles who draw first blood. Orioles 1 Yankees 0

2nd: Joe DiMaggio singles with one out. DiMaggio has advanced already, 11 years from now with the '47 team. He's a rookie this year at the age of 21, finishes 8th in the MVP. Tony Lazzeri walks. After the second out - Altobelli decides to roll the dice and load the bases, intentionally walking Roy Johnson to face Ruffing - it works.  

3rd: John Lowenstein walks with one out.  Round 2 began with the '79 Orioles falling to the '84 Tigers, so we've seen many of these Orioles before, including Lowenstein. This year he's 36, 2 years from the end.  Ruffing then walks Jim Dwyer/Eddie Murray and the bases are loaded.  Ripken comes through - doubling again, it scores two and it's 3-0. A Nolan sac fly adds another.  Orioles 4 Yankees 0

3rd: Bill Dickey singles with one out.  Dickey was on the bench for the '28 team that has advanced, it was his rookie season and we've discussed him with that '43 team that has moved on. Basically smack in the middle is this season - Dickey's 29, finished 5th in the MVP. That's it.

4th: 1-2-3

4th: DiMaggio bombs a homer to left center and the Yanks are on the board. Tony Lazzeri singles. Lazzeri's moved through with that '28 team. He's 32 this year, his last Yankee season is next year. Frankie Crosetti doubles and there are 2 in scoring position with nobody out. Boddicker escapes. Orioles 4 Yankees 1

5th: Jim Dwyer singles with one out.  Baltimore's got 4 guys fighting for corner outfield playing time; Dwyer had 1n 18 year career as a part time player (pinch hitter used to be an occupation in the US, like soap opera actor). He broke in with the Cardinals in '73 when he was 23, after 4 more stops he's an Oriole in '81. He's likely to play against the Yankee RH in this series. Dwyer finishes as a Twin in '90. That's all.

5th: With one out, Dickey and Gehrig single.  Gehrig was on the '28 team we've seen advance; he's 33 this year and won the MVP.  Boddicker again escapes.  

6th: 1-2-3

6th: 1-2-3

7th: 1-2-3, 8 straight for Ruffing, he's allowed just 4 hits.  

7th: Altobelli turns it over to the pen, 28 year old RH Sammy Stewart enters. He gives up a one out double to Ruffing and then walks George Selkirk. Selkirk's a career Yankee, up in '34, an All Star this year, done in '42. But the Yankees do not score and it's getting late here in game 1.  

8th: Dwyer doubles and he's driven home by an Eddie Murray single.  It's 5-1 and it looks like Baltimore's going to take game 1 in Yankee Stadium. Murray was on that '79 team, he's 27 this year, 2nd to Ripken for the AL MVP.  Ruffing's done, 33 year old RH Pat Malone comes on, he gets a double play, then walks Nolan and gives up an Al Bumbry single. That's all.  Orioles 5 Yankees 1

8th: 1-2-3 - Baltimore's going to take this game.

9th: Malone gets two - but then Lowenstein homers and thats going to wrap this one up.  Orioles 6 Yankees 1

9th: 1-2-3, Stewart sets down the last 8 and Baltimore wins.

Orioles 6

Yankees 1

WP Boddicker

LP Ruffing

The Yankees were solid favorites coming in -- but they get whipped in game 1 and now are facing a virtual must win in game 2.

For Baltimore

Lowenstein 2x/wHR

Dwyer 2x/w double

Murray 2x

Ripken 2x/w 2 doubles

Nolan 2x

For New York

Dickey 2x

DiMaggio 2x/wHR

Lazzeri 2x

One more in New York - can the Yankees even this up?

LF Lowenstein (36) (LH)  138   2.5

RF Dwyer (33)    (LH)       145   1.4

1B Murray (27)   (SH)      156    6.5

SS Ripken (22)           144   8.5

C  Nolan (32)    (LH)         113    .7

CF Bumbry (36)  (LH)      91     .6

2B Dauer (30) 72

3B Cruz (27)              55     -.3  

SP2 McGregor (29) (LH)  124   3.8

2B Lazzeri (32)   109    2.4

CF DiMaggio (21)  128  4.7

1B Gehrig (33) (LH)   190   8.4

C Dickey (29)   (LH)   158   5.4

RF Selkirk (28) (LH)   132   3.8

3B Rolfe (27)  (LH)     120   4.5

SS Crosetti (25)  105    4.2

LF Powell (27)    97      1.1

SP2 Pearson (27) 125   3.9

GAME TWO

1st Ton of pressure on a favored Yankee team today; can't go down 0-2 at home.  Monte Pearson is a 27 year old RH, 19-7, 3.71. Pearson broke in with the Indians in '32, came to the Yankees this year and made the All Star team. He's here until his final year, '41, where he's a Red. He opens with back to back walks of Lowenstein and Dwyer - and then Murray works a walk.  Pearson's walked the first three Oriole batters of game 2 - he gets 2 outs -- but then throws a wild pitch to score a run.  Bumbry then walks - 4 walks and a wild pitch, but no hits and the inning ends.  Orioles 1 Yankees 0

1st: Scotty McGregor gets the ball for Baltimore. 29 year old lefty, 18-7, 3.18. He was on the '79 team that lost in this round. He spends his entire 13 year career in Baltimore. Tony Lazzeri singles, but that's all.

2nd: 1-2-3

2nd: 1-2-3

3rd: Eddie Murray walks with one out, a second out later Joe Nolan walks - that's 6 walks for Pearson already today. But nothing else. 

3rd: Jake Powell is in today's lineup against a lefty and he singles with one out. Powell's 27, broke in with the Senators in '30, the Yanks got him at midseason this year for Ben Chapman. He'll be a Yankee through '40, eventually finish with the Phils in '45. Powell steals second - and then scores on a Pearson double. McGregor gets the second out - but then DiMaggio singles home Pearson and the Yanks are on top for the first time in the series. Gehrig then doubles home DiMaggio and this ferocious Yankee offense finally appears. Orioles 1 Yankees 3

4th: 1-2-3

4th: Red Rolfe walks with one out. Rolfe's a career Yankee, up in '31, led the league in triples this year, finishes up in '42. That's it.

5th: Eddie Murray walks, the 7th walk the Orioles have drawn - and then Cal Ripken gets Baltimore's first hit and he makes it count - a 2 run jack to left that ties the score.  Orioles 3 Yankees 3

5th: Tony Lazzeri singles after an out; Gehrig singles after the second out, and then Dickey singles home Lazzeri to break the tie - Selkirk reaches on a run scoring error and it's Orioles 3 Yankees 5

6th: Al Bumbry singles. Bumbry was on the '79 squad, he's 36 years old this year, next year is his last in Baltimore.  Rich Dauer's in the lineup today and he doubles. Pearson gets one and Altobelli goes to the bench to get Ken Singleton; Singleton's 36, he'll be DH'ing in Baltimore - but he comes off the bench here and clears the bases with a double that ties this game up. That's it for Pearson, Pat Malone enters, ends it.  Orioles 5 Yankees 5

6th: Sammy Stewart had a strong 3 inning game one outing and gets the ball again. He walks Crosetti - that's it.  We head to the 7th, all tied up.  

7th: Murray singles. He's reached 4 times today. Malone stops it here.

7th: Dickey singles with 2 out - Selkirk works a walk - Rolfe then doubles both men home and the Yankees once again take the lead.  Tim Stoddard 30 year old RH with an ERA over 6.00 enters - ends the inning.  Orioles 5 Yankees 7

8th: Malone gets 2 - Gary Roenicke comes on to hit and he doubles; Lowenstein then triples him home, booming contact here off of Malone to cut the deficit. 29 year old RH Jumbo Brown comes on - he gives up a Dwyer double - and that scores the tying run.  Back and forth these clubs go here in game 2.  Orioles 7 Yankees 7

8th: 26 year old RH Allan Ramirez is the new Oriole pitcher; he gives up a Powell base hit.  Ramirez gets one then walks Lazzeri. DiMaggio then singles home the tiebreaking run; Gehrig singles home another; and the Hall of Fame trio finishes up with a Dickey run scoring single, 28 year old lefty Don Morogiello ends the inning and it's Orioles 7 Yankees 10. 

9th: 37 year old lefty Ted Kleinhans looks to close this out, he gets one, then walks Nolan, he then gets the second and gives up a Dauer base hit -- 2 on, 2 out -- tying run comes to the plate -- Cruz pops harmlessly to Rolfe and it's done.

Orioles 7

Yankees 10

WP Brown

LP Ramirez

14 Yankee hits tie this series up.

For New York

Dickey 5x

DiMaggio 4x/wHR, 2 doubles

Lazzeri 5x

Gehrig 3x in game 2, double

Rolfe 2x in game 2, double

Powell 2x

For Baltimore

Lowenstein 4x/wHR, triple

Dwyer 4x/w 2doubles

Murray 6x

Ripken 3x/w HR, 2 doubles

Nolan 4x

Bumbry 2x in game 2

Dauer 2x w/double 

We split in New York and now head to Baltimore for two games.

2B Lazzeri (32)   109    2.4

CF DiMaggio (21)  128  4.7

1B Gehrig (33) (LH)   190   8.4

C Dickey (29)   (LH)   158   5.4

RF Selkirk (28) (LH)   132   3.8

3B Rolfe (27)  (LH)     120   4.5

SS Crosetti (25)  105    4.2

DH Hoag (28) 101

LF Powell (27)    97      1.1

SP3 Gomez (27) (LH) 106    1.4

SS Ripken (22)           144   8.5

1B Murray (27)   (SH)      156    6.5

DH Singleton (36)  (SH)  131     2.7

LF Roenicke (28) 120

RF Ford (31)  112

3B Hernandez (23) 83

CF Shelby (25) (SH) 83

C Dempsey (33)       77       1.9

2B Dauer (30) 72

SP3 Flanagan (31)   (LH) 120     1.6

GAME THREE

1st: Memorial Stadium in Baltimore - one spot left in Region 7, this series is all tied at a game each. Mike Flanagan is a 31 year old lefty, 12-4, 3.30. He was on the '79 team that lost in this round; he gives up a base hit to Tony Lazzeri, then DiMaggio ropes a triple that scores him - a Gehrig sac fly ads a second run.  Yankees 2 Orioles 0

1st: 27 year old Lefty Gomez gets the call for the Yanks; Gomez was 21 when he came up in '30, was 5th in the MVP in '32, 3rd in '34, he's on the All Star team this year for the 4th straight season. Next year - 9th in the MVP. He'll be a Yankee up until the final game of his career, which he pitches for the Senators in '43. 1-2-3

2nd: Red Rolfe doubles, 28 year old Myril Hoag gets the first shot at DH'ing in this series and he singles home Rolfe. That's all.  Yankees 3 Orioles 0

2nd: 1-2-3

3rd: DiMaggio doubles - the Yankees have been pounding extra base hits in the last two games; Flanagan is very, very careful with Gehrig and walks him - Dickey singles and it's 4-0, Selkirk grounds to the right side and it's 5-0. After the second out Crosetti walks and it's Yankees 5 Orioles 0

3rd: 1-2-3, 9 up, 9 down for Gomez.

4th: Powell walks, an out later DiMaggio reaches on an error and then Gehrig just blasts one - a real legitimate bomb to right center field.  Game 1 seems long ago and far away. Don Morogiello enters for the Orioles, that's it.  Yankees 8 Orioles 0

4th: Ripken singles, the first Oriole baserunner.  Nothing else.  Only a matter of time today.

5th: Crosetti singles with one out, Powell singles with 2 out, that's all.  

5th: Gary Roenicke's in today's Oriole lineup and he singles. Danny Ford is also in the lineup today, in the other corner OF spot - and he singles. Leo Hernandez is back at third today, Atobelli looking for any production from that spot - he singles and the bases are loaded with nobody out. John Shelby is in center today - Baltimore has an entirely new outfield against the lefty Gomez --- he singles home two runs.  Rick Dempsey is in the lineup behind the plate for the first time today - so many changes against a lefty - and he comes through with a 2 run double and the Orioles have cut this lead in half.  Johnny Murphy is on now for New York - he gets through it. Yankees 8 Orioles 4

6th: DiMaggio singles - there hasn't been a cycle in the tournament, he's a home run away. But that's it for the inning.  

6th: Ken Singleton walks, nothing else.

7th: 3rd straight Sammy Stewart game. 1-2-3

7th: 1-2-3, nice outing for Murphy after it looked like the Orioles had some life. 

8th: Powell singles with one out, Stewart gets the second out -- and then DiMaggio does it - a 2 run homer to left -- Joe DiMaggio has hit for the cycle! - the first cycle in the tournament, these Oriole fans cheer their appreciation at seeing 21 year old Joe DiMaggio - this Yankee rookie - hit for the cycle in game 3 of Round 2.  DiMaggio hits for the cycle! Yankees 10 Orioles 4

8th: Pat Malone comes on - and Ripken hits his first pitch over the wall.  Murray walks,  Singleton singles - Roenicke singles - it's 10-6 now, still nobody out.  Jumbo Brown comes on for New York - he gives up a walk to Ford, the bases are loaded now- the tying run comes to the plate and still nobody out.  Hernandez grounds out - scores a run.  10-7, Shelby walks - and again the bases are loaded.  The Yankees needed that DiMaggio homer after all.  Ted Kleinhans enters for New York - he gets through it.  Yankees 10 Orioles 7

9th: Selkirk singles with one out, that's all.

9th: Kleinhans gets one - then Murray singles and Singleton walks.  

Tying run to the plate.  

Joe McCarthy doesn't mess around here - he turns to the game 2 starter, Monte Pearson, to close the door - that means Pearson will not be available to start if there is a decisive game 5.

Pearson strikes out Roenicke.

Ford hits a sinking liner to center -- DiMaggio has to lay out -- and he snags it!  DiMaggio with a diving catch to end a game in which he also hit for the cycle.

Yankees 10

Orioles 7

WP Murphy

LP Flanagan

One of the great games in the tournament so far for DiMaggio, he hits for the cycle and makes a great defensive play to end the game.

For New York

Dickey 6x

DiMaggio 8x/w2HR, 3 doubles, triple

Lazzeri 6x

Gehrig 5x in game 2-3, HR, 2 doubles

Rolfe 3x in game 2-3, 2 double

Powell 5x

Crosetti 2x in game 3

For Baltimore

Lowenstein 4x/wHR, triple

Dwyer 4x/w 2doubles

Murray 8x

Ripken 5x/w 2HR, 2 doubles

Nolan 4x

Bumbry 2x in game 2

Dauer 2x w/double 

Singleton 4x

Ford 2x 

Shelby 2x

Game 1 starters return - Baltimore needs some of that game 1 magic to return if they want to extend this series.  

RF Selkirk (28) (LH)   132   3.8

C Dickey (29)   (LH)   158   5.4

1B Gehrig (33) (LH)   190   8.4

3B Rolfe (27)  (LH)     120   4.5

CF DiMaggio (21)  128  4.7

2B Lazzeri (32)   109    2.4

SS Crosetti (25)  105    4.2

LF Powell (27)    97      1.1

DH Chapman (27) 91

P Ruffing (31)     120    4.8

LF Lowenstein (36) (LH)  138   2.5

RF Dwyer (33)    (LH)       145   1.4

1B Murray (27)   (SH)      156    6.5

DH Singleton (36)  (SH)  131     2.7

SS Ripken (22)           144   8.5

C  Nolan (32)    (LH)         113    .7

CF Bumbry (36)  (LH)      91     .6

2B Sakata (29)           98     .6

3B Hernandez (23) 83

P Boddicker (25)      143     4.4

GAME FOUR

1st: Mike Boddicker won game 1 - if he can do it again today, we will head back to Yankee Stadium for a showdown Game 5.  Selkirk reaches by error - Boddicker gets the next two - but Rolfe bloops a single and the Yankees are on the board. DiMaggio follows up his cycle in game 3 with a base hit here, that's all.  Yankees 1 Orioles 0

1st: Red Ruffing takes the ball and has an early lead. 1-2-3

2nd: Even against the RH Boddicker, Jake Powell remains in the lineup, he walks, he steals second, he scores on a Ben Chapman base hit - Chapman and Powell weren't teammates in '36, they were traded for each other at midseason.  That's it.  Yankees 2 Orioles 0

2nd: Yanks have a lot of firepower, Orioles can't let them get too far ahead today. Singleton singles, that's it.  

3rd: Gehrig walks and an out later - DiMaggio stays hot with another single.  Boddicker throws a wild pitch - that scores one more and that clock is ticking in Baltimore.  Yankees 3 Orioles 0

3rd: Lenn Sakata is back in the lineup today and he doubles, an out later Lowenstein grounds to the right side to score him and then Jim Dwyer homers -- that's what the doctor ordered - Yankees 3 Orioles 2

4th: With one out, Chapman singles again, after the second out, Dickey singles -- and then Lou Gehrig hits a rocket to dead center field - hundreds and hundreds of feet deep into the night, a 3 run bomb.  Yankees 6 Orioles 2

4th: Ripken singles with one out, that's all.  

5th: With 2 out, Boddicker hits Crosetti, that's all.

5th: Lenn Sakata homers with one out - Baltimore needs a couple more of those.  Yankees 6 Orioles 3

6th: Sammy Stewart comes on for the 4th game in a row - he gives up a single to Chapman, walks Selkirk - and then Bill Dickey ends this series with a 3 run shot.  What do you do?  You've got these 3 Hall of Famers just hitting the crap out of the ball and what do you do?  Stewart stays on - walks Gehrig, walks Rolfe -- that ends his day, Don Welchel is a 26 year old RH and he comes on.  Welchel gets one, but then Lazzeri reaches on an error that scores a run, Welchel walks Crosetti - the Yankees send 10 to the plate and put this one out of reach.  Yankees 10 Orioles 3

6th: Dwyer singles, 2 outs later Ripken singles, but that's all.

7th: 1-2-3

7th: Bumbry and Sakata single - Hernandez singles to score a run.  Johnny Murphy is brought on by the skipper McCarthy - he gets through it.  Yankees 10 Orioles 4

8th: Rolfe singles and an out later Lazzeri walks. Welchel gets the second out but gives up a run scoring single to Powell, and now they are filing toward the exits.  Yankees 11 Orioles 4

8th: Singleton singles - an out later Nolan singles - that's all.  The 9th Yankee team is about to move forward and we will see the 1936 Yankees meet the 1954 Yankees in the next round. 

9th: Don Morogiello comes on, 1-2-3

9th: 1-2-3.  That's it.

Yankees 11

Orioles 4

WP Ruffing

LP Boddicker

28 teams are in.  9 are New York Yankees.  4 spots remain.

For New York

Dickey 8x w/HR

DiMaggio 10x/w2HR, 3 doubles, triple

Gehrig 9x/ 2HR, 2 doubles

Here are your Hall of Famers, they reached 27 times, hit 4 homers.  We'll say DiMaggio is your MVP.