2 spots left in Region One; lets fill the first with the winner of this series:
17. 1929 Philadelphia Athletics v. 112. 1997 Atlanta Braves
Game One
Braves (ages)
CF Lofton (30)
SS Blauser (31)
3B Jones (25)
C Lopez (26)
1B McGriff (33)
LF Klesko (26)
RF Jones (20)
2B Graffanino (25)
P Maddux (31)
Athletics
3B Dykes (32)
C Cochrane (26)
LF Simmons (27)
1B Foxx (21)
CF Haas (25)
RF Miller 34)
2B Bishop (29)
SS Boley (32)
P Grove (29)
Braves 1
A's 4
WP Grove
LP Maddux
We've seen the '31 A's lose already in this bracket; back up two years and they get another shot against the '97 Braves - Philadelphia takes game one at home
1st: 20 game winner Lefty Grove gets the ball in game 1; he gives up a one out bloop single to Jeff Blauser and after a second out, the Braves are in business with a single by Javy Lopez to put them on the corners - but Grove gets Fred McGriff to bounce a ground ball to first to end the inning.
1st: Greg Maddux went 19-4 in '97 and he gets the ball for the Bobby Cox's Braves - after an out, Mickey Cochrane doubled to right center, Al Simmons drove a ball on the left side, Chipper made a terrific diving stop to keep the ball in the infield, but the throw couldn't quite beat Simmons and the A's had men on the corners. Jimmie Foxx then hit one causing Chipper to fully extend in the other direction; the only play he has is the long throw to first - he gets Foxx but Cochrane scores and the A's are on the board.
2nd: With one out, Andruw Jones walks and Tony Graffanino punches a single to right to again give the Braves runners on the corners, but that's it.
2nd: Maddux got the first two, but Max Bishop and Joe Boley hit two soft singles that just managed to escape the infield - and then Grove helped himself with a fly ball to left that got over Klesko's head for a double, Bishop scored and it's 2-0 A's.
3rd: Blauser leads off with his second single - but that's all the Braves get from Grove.
3rd: Cochrane leads off with a single, his second of the game, and two outs later Mule Haas singles as well, but Maddux keeps the score at 2-0.
4th: With two out, Graffanino gets his second base hit of the day, but that's all.
4th: The A's are really making it tough on Maddux, just pecking away, with one out Boley gets his second hit of the day, again, a lot of soft contact for the A's, Grove moves him over with a bunt, and then Jimmy Dykes gets a two out base hit to right that scores Boley and the A's are now up 3-0.
5th: Jeff Blauser continues really good success against Lefty Grove with a 2 out single, but there remains no scoreboard damage.
5th: Simmons leads off with another softly hit single, an out later Haas grounds one that just gets under McGriff's extended glove to put them on the corners, Miller then grounds to short - they get the lead runner, but Miller's able to beat the attempt at the double play and Simmons scores the 4th A's run.
6th: McGriff singles with one out and after a second out Andruw Jones walks - but still, nothing for Atlanta.
6th: Joe Boley had a 71 OPS+ but gets his third hit of the day to open up the 6th, but that's all Maddux allows.
7th: Maddux is still hitting for himself despite the four run deficit - he leads off with a routine fly ball that Bing Miller just loses track of for a two base error and when Kenny Lofton follows with a single Atlanta has men on the corners and nobody out. Blauser's got 3 hits - but Grove gets him to ground to Foxx, he takes the easy play at first and Maddux scores the Braves first run, the only run they'd get in the inning.
7th: Hass singles with two out, but that's all.
8th: Klesko leads off with a single and Andruw Jones gets his third walk of the day. Grove erases him with a Graffanino fielders choice; that puts men on the corners - Keith Lockhart comes on to hit for Maddux - but Grove gets him 5-4-3 to end the threat.
8th: 37 year old Mike Bielecki takes over for Atlanta, he gives up the hardest hit ball of the day, a leadoff Max Bishop double, but nothing else
9th: Bill Shores comes on to wrap this up for Connie Mack; he gives up singles to both Blauser and Lopez to bring Fred McGriff to the plate as the tying run with 2 out, but a harmless ground ball ends the game.
Haas and Boley each get 3 hits for the A's, Simmons and Cochrane add two each and Lefty Grove did what he does, 8 innings of one run ball. Four hit day for Blauser, 3 for Lopez, 2 for Graffanino - Maddux wasn't bad, gave up very little contact, but the A's hit them where the Braves ain't and came away with the 4-1 game one win.
Over to Turner Field for Game 2; 24 game winner George Earnshaw looks to knock out the Braves and he'll be met by Tom Glavine's 2.96 ERA
Game 2
Athletics
2B Dykes (32)
RF Miller (34)
LF Simmons (27)
1B Foxx (21)
C Cochrane (26)
CF Haas (25)
SS Boley (32)
3B Hale (32)
P Earnshaw (29)
Braves (ages)
CF Lofton (30)
SS Blauser (31)
3B Jones (25)
C Lopez (26)
LF Klesko (26)
RF Tucker (26)
1B McGriff (33)
2B Lemke (31)
P Glavine (31)
Athletics 2
Braves 5
WP Glavine
LP Earnshaw
Home team won game 1 - home team wins game 2; complete game win by Glavine sends the series back for a winner take all at Shibe Park.
1st: 14 game winner Tom Glavine takes the ball for the Braves, needs to win to keep the '97 team alive. He gives up a two out single to Al Simmons, but that's it.
1st: George Earnshaw went 24-8 for the A's; he's trying to move them to the next round; after an out, Jeff Blauser, who had four hits in game one, keeps it going with a single to left; Chipper Jones then hits a slow roller to short, Joe Boley tried to get the force - but Blauser beat the tag and everyone's safe. Javy Lopez then singles to left, Blauser gets the good jump and he's around to score and the Braves are on the board.
2nd: The Braves get it right back - Mickey Cochrane and Mule Haas (who I may have called Moose at some point, that's a pitcher of another era) bang hard back to back doubles to start off the inning and tie the score.
2nd: Glavine walked 7 times all season, but with two out, that's what happens - but that's it.
3rd: 3 up, 3 down.
3rd: How do you get Jeff Blauser out? He leads off with a walk, Chipper gets his second infield hit of the afternoon, he drops a dead perfect bunt that rolls right up the third base line and everyone's safe. Earnshaw then walks Javy Lopez and Atlanta's got the bases loaded with no one out. The result was pretty good for the A's, Atlanta gets just one run after a Klesko ground out and a Michael Tucker double play. Still - 2-1 Braves.
4th: Jimmie Foxx leads off with a single, but Glavine keeps it contained.
4th: Fred McGriff opens the 4th with a double into the right field corner and then Mark Lemke follows with a walk. Glavine bunts them over - so the Braves have two in scoring position with just the one out -- but Earnshaw buckles down and gets through it.
5th: The A's tie it up; after Glavine gets the first two men he gives up back singles to Jimmy Dykes and Bing Miller. Al Simmons hits a routine grounder to Blauser - but he boots it and the bases are loaded with two out for Foxx - understandably, with just a one run lead, Glavine is super careful with a a guy who hit 33 homers on the season - and he walks him. Glavine gets Cochrane, but there's some damage done and it's 2-2.
5th: Javy Lopez singles off of Earnshaw with one out and when Klesko walks there are two on - but that's all. We go to the sixth all knotted at 2.
6th: Sammy Hale gets a one out single, but there's no threat.
6th: Glavine looks to help himself with a one out single, but that's all for the Braves. Still 2-2.
7th: Bing Miller reaches on a one out error - but Glavine stays strong.
7th: Atlanta takes the lead again. Chipper and Javy hit back to back singles to open the inning - after an out Michael Tucker singles to right to bring home Jones and give the Braves the 3-2 lead.
8th: 3 up. 3 down.
8th: Insurance for Atlanta - Mark Lemke gets a one out walk and Bobby Cox (nearly inexplicably) chooses to leave in Glavine to bunt him over. Kenny Lofton's speed then keeps the inning alive; he grounds wide of first, Lofton wins the race to the bag to beat the throw to put men on the corners. Then the big play of the game - Blauser hits a routine grounder to short that sure looked like it would end the inning - but it went right through Joe Boley's legs - Lemke scores and on the next pitch, Chipper singles home Lofton and its 5-2 Braves.
9th: Glavine sets the A's down in order; the A's didn't threaten after the fifth inning - and this series is tied.
4 hits for Chipper; 3 for Javy and the big complete game win for Glavine.
Back to Philadelphia. Winner take all. The Braves will go with John Smoltz,bypassing 20 game winner Denny Naegle (4th and 5th starters essentially don't exist in the tournament; even when we move to 5 games for the next round, I don't see any scenario where they're used ever) and the A's counter with 18 game winner Rube Walberg.
Game Three
Braves (ages)
CF Lofton (30)
SS Blauser (31)
3B Jones (25)
C Lopez (26)
1B McGriff (33)
LF Klesko (26)
RF Tucker (26)
2B Graffanino (25)
P Smoltz (30)
Athletics
3B Dykes (32)
C Cochrane (26)
LF Simmons (27)
1B Foxx (21)
CF Haas (25)
RF Miller 34)
2B Bishop (29)
SS Boley (32)
P Walberg (32)
Braves 7
Athletics 8
WP Rommel
LP Byrd
It took 11 innings - but the favored Athletics move on to claim the second to the last spot in Region 1.
1st: 18 game winning lefty Rube Walberg takes the ball for Connie Mack's A's, after two out, he gave up a 2 out double to Chipper Jones -- Jones had four hits in game two and keeps that going here. Connie Mack makes what is definitely a controversial decision, he decides to intentionally walk Javy Lopez in the first inning in order for Walberg to face the lefty Fred McGriff - and McGriff beats him for a single to left center. Chipper scores and it's 1-0 Braves.
1st: Bobby Cox had a real decision to make here; lefty Denny Neagle was 20-5 with an ERA under 3 - but Cox instead goes with John Smoltz; Smoltz was good, 15-12, ERA just a tick over 3, not as good as Neagle - but Smoltz not only has that track record, this is his 10th year as a Brave, but he's right handed, and even though the lefty Glavine just mowed through the A's - maybe you don't want a lefty against Foxx and Simmons with everything else being equal. Smoltz gives up a couple of first inning walks, but nothing beyond that.
2nd: Michael Tucker gets the start instead of Andruw Jones, despite the platoon advantage, Cox thinking he might need a little more bat in this one. Tucker walked to lead off the inning, but Walberg didn't allow a Braves hit.
2nd: 3 up, 3 down.
3rd: Only one Braves baserunner- it was Javy Lopez who took a Walberg fastball to the top of his shoulder, he stayed on the field for a good minute before going to first base. Lot of barking by the Braves dugout at Walberg after that one.
3rd: With one out, Smoltz hits Jimmy Dykes square in the thigh with a fastball and the dugouts empty - it's a baseball fight - a lot of pushing and shoving - no one is ejected and both dugouts are warned. On the next pitch Mickey Cochrane drove a ball over Tucker's head (would Jones have caught it?) for a double; Smoltz strikes out Simmons and with two out - Cox makes the same move that Mack made earlier, he walks Foxx intentionally; two on - two out - Smolts strikes Haas out and the score remains Braves 1 Athletics 0
4th Walberg gets the Braves in order.
4th: Smoltz gives up a one out walk to Bishop but nothing else.
5th: Again, the Braves go down in order.
5th: Smoltz gives up singles to Cochrane and Foxx - but that's it. Still 1-0.
6th: Walberg gives up a two out single to McGriff, but it's harmless
6th: Smoltz has a seven pitch inning. Still 1-0 Braves.
7th: Nothin'.
7th: Big choice made by Mack to start the 7 - he leaves Walberg in to hit for himself as the A's trail 1-0 - and he's rewarded with a leadoff walk. Smoltz then walks Dykes and Mickey Cochrane absolutely hits a bullet to right field to load the bases with nobody out. So, now what? One run lead, Smoltz has been great but now the bases are loaded with no one out. And Al Simmons and Jimmie Foxx are next. Cox stays with Smoltz - who strikes Simmons out. But he doesn't get Foxx - single to right which scores 2 and the A's have gone up 2-1. That's the end of Smoltz's day; 37 year old right hander Mike Bielecki comes on - he gets the second out - but Bing Miller singles to center - Cochrane scores and the inning ends Philadelphia 3 Atlanta 1
8th: The Braves only have 6 outs to play with - they open up the inning with a Lofton single; Blauser grounds to the right side, Lofton's at second with one out. Chipper hits one hard - but dead at Bishop and there's two out. Javy Lopez comes through - single to center; Lofton scores and now it's 3-2. That's it for Walberg; 25 year old right hander Bill Shores comes on and ends the inning.
8th: Joe Boley leads off with a single (probably double switches are beyond this simulation) and then Shores (staying in the game) bunts him over. Jimmy Dykes then singles to right - Boley scores, the A's have gotten the run back and now it's 4-2; Cochrane then ropes a single to left to put runners on the corners. That's it for Bielecki, Brad Clontz is next for the Braves - he gets a Simmons groundout but it scores the run and we are headed to the 9th with a 5-2 Athletics lead.
9th: After an out - Shores walks Tucker and Graffanino back to back; Keith Lockhart enters as a pinch hitter - and he's hit by a Shores fastball - tensions are high, but no one believes this was intentional, obviously - but now the bases are loaded with just one out. Shores strikes out Lofton. Two out - bases loaded, 5-2 A's -- and Shores walks Blauser, huge guts by Blauser to take a 3-2 pitch that just was a tick low. Now it's 5-3, Shores is done, Mack goes with the 26 year old lefty, Carroll Yerkes, who only pitched 37 innings during the season -- he walks Chipper and now it's 5-4 with the bases still loaded. In the 8th - Javy singled to cut the A's lead to 3-2 -- and now he singles again -- the tying run scores.....the go ahead run scores - Blauser just siding in under Cochrane's tag and the entire city of Philadelphia is in absolute shock - the Braves have come all the way back and scored 4 in the 9th inning to take a 6-5 lead.
9th: The Braves closer is 27 year old Mark Wohlers and he enters, three outs from sending the Braves to the next round. He strikes out Haas. He gets Miller to fly out. Two out. 6-5 Braves. Bottom of the 9th. Wohlers gets a two strike count on Bishop....but he works a walk to keep the A's alive. Boley then fists a single that just works its way into left field and now the tying run is in scoring position. Sammy Hale had an OPS+ of 62 during the season and now he's coming up as a pinch hitter with the A's season in the balance. Hale singles hard to right -- Bishop takes a wide turn but decides not to risk running on Michael Tucker's arm -- but now the bases are loaded. Jimmy Dykes has reached base 3 times tonight -- and he reaches again -- an 11 pitch at bat turns into a walk and the A's have tied the score at 6. 26 year old Mike Cather comes on and gets Cochrane to send the game into extras.
10th: 28 year old lefty Ossie Orwall enters for the A's; 30 innings pitched during the season but he's on now in the 10th. He gets the first two and then Mack lifts him for the right handed Eddie Rommel, 12-2 on the season. Rommel gives up a walk but that's all.
10th: 26 year old Chad Fox, who only threw in 26 innings all season comes on - he gets the A's in order and we head to the 11th.
11th: Rommel gives up a one out single to Blauser - an out later here comes Javy Lopez again -- he did it in the 8th, he did it in the 9th -- and he does it again. Lopez singles to center - Blauser goes to third and now there are runners on the corners with two out. Fred McGriff hammers a ball to left center, Blauser scores the lead run - Lopez is waved around - Miller hits the cut off man and Boley throws home, Cochrane tags Lopez out to end the inning...but now it's 7-6 Braves.
11th: Once again - Atlanta's 3 outs away - Fox gives up a leadoff single to Miller and that's his last batter, Paul Byrd, with his 5.26 ERA enters -- and he gives up back to back walks to Bishop and Boley and the A's have loaded the bases with nobody out. Homer Summa, with an OPS+ of 57 comes on as a pinch hitter - the Braves infield is in - Summa grounds to Blauser -- he throws home - and they get the lead runner. Bases still loaded. One out. Braves lead by one. Jimmy Dykes to the plate. And he singles to center. Bishop scores -- Boley coming around - Lofton throws to the plate - and Boley beats the tag. Amazing. Amazing. The Braves scored 4 in the 9th to take the lead -- the A's came back to tie it up. The Braves scored in the 11th -- and then the A's got two to beat them.
Just a hell of a game.
Mickey Cochrane had 7 hits in the series including 4 hits in this game - Jimmy Dykes reached base 5 times in this game and had 4 RBI in this one - they're going to get co MVPs.
One series to go; 1935 Tigers v 1943 Yankees; winners to face these A's in the next round. Both of these squads World Champions
48. 1935 Detroit Tigers v. 81. 1943 New York Yankees
Game 1
Yankees (age)
LF Keller (26)
C Dickey (36)
1B Etten (29)
2B Gordon (28)
RF Metheny (28)
CF Weatherly (28)
3B Johnson (24)
SS Stirnweiss (24)
P Chandler (35)
Tigers
2B Gehringer (32)
C Cochrane (32)
1B Greenberg (24)
RF Fox (26)
LF Goslin (34)
SS Rogell (30)
CF White (26)
3B Owen (29)
P Rowe (25)
Yankees 8
Tigers 1
WP Chandler
LP Rowe
The underdog Yanks go into Detroit and whip the Tigers in game 1, Spud Chandler throwing a complete game 5 hitter.
1st: 19 game winner Schoolboy Rowe gets the start for the Tigers; both pitchers right handed, both lineups lean left, Charlie Keller and Bill Dickey lead off with base hits to put runners on the corners, a Nick Etten groundout brings Keller home and the Yanks are on the board.
1st: Spud Chandler was 20-4 with a 1.64 ERA, just lights out all year and he sends the Tigers down in order.
2nd: Again, New York opens with back to back singles - by Ron Weatherly and Billy Johnson - and again the Yanks don't get another baserunner, but they do score the second run on a Stuffy Stirnweiss groundout.
2nd: Chandler gives up a one out double to Billy Rogell, but that's it.
3rd: The Yanks get two more baserunners, Dickey reaching on an error and an out later Joe Gordon singling to right - but they don't move forward.
3rd: The Tigers get some action going with a leadoff Mickey Owen walk and then a two out Mickey Cochrane single - but through 3 it remains 2-0 Yanks.
4th: Rowe sets the Yankees down in order.
4th: Chandler matches.
5th: Well, things look tough for the Tigers now - Keller leads off with a single and then Bill Dickey launches a 2 run shot to dead center and now it's 4-0 Yankees. Etten follows with a double but that't all.
5th: Detroit gets on the board - Jo Jo White leads off with a single an out later Chandler gives a free pass to Rowe and Charlie Gehringer singles home White to make it 4-1.
6th: Billy Johnson singles to lead off but that's all.
6th: Hank Greenberg just crushes a double off the left field wall to open the inning - but that's it.
7th: The Yankees were just too tough today all the way around; Dickey's now a triple from a cycle after a leadoff double; two outs later he's driven home by a Bud Metheny double -- Rowe walks Ron Weatherly and then Billy Johnson gets his third hit of the day - a 2 run scoring double - it's now 7-1 Yankees and that ends Rowe's day. 24 year old lefty Joe Sullivan comes on; Stuffy Stirnweiss ropes a double to left center and the Yankee lead sure looks insurmountable at 8-1.
7th: 3 up, 3 down - what are you gonna do about Spud Chandler?
8th: Sullivan gives up back to back walks to Dickey and Etten but New York doesn't add to the lead
8th: 3 up. 3 down.
9th: Billy Johnson singles for his 4th hit, but that's all.
9th: Spud Chandler retired the last 9 Tigers of the game for the easy 8-1 win.
So - for the Yankees you start with Dickey, 3 hits including a homer and double, Billy Johnson had four hits. Keller added two and Chandler threw a 5 hitter.
And now we head to Yankee Stadium where 15 game winner Tiny Bonham will try to close this one out for the Bombers. Detroit counters with 21 game winner Tommy Bridges. Again, a couple of right handers, the expectation would be pretty similar looking lineups for both teams.
Game 2
Tigers
2B Gehringer (32)
C Cochrane (32)
1B Greenberg (24)
RF Fox (26)
LF Goslin (34)
SS Rogell (30)
CF Walker (27)
3B Owen (29)
P Bridges (28)
Yankees (age)
LF Keller (26)
C Dickey (36)
1B Etten (29)
2B Gordon (28)
RF Metheny (28)
CF Weatherly (28)
3B Johnson (24)
SS Stirnweiss (24)
P Bonham (29)
Tigers 9
Yankees 8
WP Lawson
LP Byrne
The Tigers stay alive with a 12 inning victory.
1st: Tiny Bonham takes a 2.27 ERA into this one; a victory lands New York the final spot in Region One. The Tigers get singles by Charlie Gehringer, Hank Greenberg, Pete Fox - but a Mickey Cochrane double play takes the real threat away and Detroit is kept off the board.
1st: The Tigers leader in wins is Tommy Bridges and he gets the ball, needing to keep Detroit alive. With two out, Nick Etten singles to center and then Joe Gordon drives a double to left center that rolls to the wall and brings Etten all the way around to score and New York once again has an early lead,
2nd: Billy Rogell singles to lead off the second - Cochrane isn't just catching for these Tigers - he's the manager; he calls a hit and run; Gee Walker strikes out, but Rogell is safe on a steal of second - and when Mickey Owen singles to center, Rogell scores and Detroit's aggressiveness has tied the score
2nd: Bridges sets the Yanks down in order.
3rd: Bonham matches Bridges.
3rd: 3 up, 3 down
4th: Rogell gets his second hit, a one out single, but that's it.
4th: Another perfect inning for Bridges
5th: Gehringer gets a one out single but induces Cochrane's second double play of the game and its still tied.
5th: Roy Weatherly leads off with a base hit but that's all Bridges allows.
6th: Greenberg leads off with a single and then after an out Goose Goslin doubles off the wall in right and Greenberg just keeps running, all the way around from first to score the go ahead run for the Tigers. After the second out, Gee Walker, the only change Cochrane made to the lineup, doubles Goslin home and its 3-1 Detroit.
6th: The wheels fall off for Bridges. Keller walks, Dickey singles, Etten singles and the bases are loaded with nobody out in front of a rabid Yankee Stadium. Bridges gets Gordon to pop out. One away. Bud Metheny bloops a single right over Greenberg's head into right - Keller scores and it's 3-2 with the bases still loaded - Bridges then walks Weatherly that ties the score and Detroit goes to their pen. 31 year old lefty Chief Hogsett enters for Detroit, he gives up a walk to Billy Johnson and a sac fly to Stuffy Stirnweiss. New York has scored 4, taken a 5-3 lead and knocked Bridges from the game.
7th: The Yankees go right to their closer, Johnny Murphy (again, the one real weakness of the simulation for a short series format is I'm unable to use starters out of the pen; you wont ever see 4th and 5th starters at all in the tournament and won't see starters 1-3 come out of the pen). Murphy sets Detroit down in order and the Yankees lead remains 5-3.
7th: New York really looked like they ended the series here; 34 year old right hander Vic Sorrel came on for Detroit - he got back to back strikeouts to start the inning but then Etten singles for his third base hit of the day, Gordon follows with a base hit - Metheny hit a seeming inning ender to Greenberg, but his throw to the bag was low, Sorrel couldn't hang on, and now the Yankees had the bases loaded with two out for Roy Weatherly. So - Weatherly was the Yankees 4th OF during the season, but Joe McCarthy decided to go with his left handed bat instead of Johnny Lindell, despite Lindell's having made the All Star team. Weatherly rewards him in spades with a bases clearing double -- it's now 8-3 Yankees and we're headed to the 8th, New York just 6 outs away from advancing.
8th: New York gets 2 back. Greenberg leads off with a walk and Fox follows with a single. Murphy gets the next two but then makes a motion to his elbow - Murphy has to leave with injury and McCarthy makes the decision to go with his left hander, Marius Russo; remember how a second ago I said you won't see starters come out of the pen? This is an exception; Russo was like half a fifth starter during the year, the only lefty in the rotation - he comes on needing an out, he gets it...but he doesn't, Stuffy Stirnweiss boots a ground ball, Greenberg scores and it's 8-4 and then Mickey Owen with his 77 OPS+ gets his second hit of the game and it's 8-5.
8th: Detroit's 5th starter/swingman was lefty Joe Sullivan and he's pitching now - he gets the Yankees in order and we head to the 9th, New York up 8-5.
9th: With one out, Russo gives up a base hit to Cochrane and then walks Greenberg to bring the tying run to the plate. Pete Fox hit 15 homers during the regular season -- and with the Tigers season on the line --he hits a 3 run homer to center to tie the score. The Yankee crowd is stunned silence; 39 year old Jim Turner takes the mound - gives up a double to Goose Goslin, but that's it, we head to the bottom of the 9th all tied at 8.
9th: Dickey leads of with a single and the Yanks have the clinching run on first - Sullivan then walks Etten and look at this, the clinching run is in scoring position and there's nobody out. Sullivan strikes out Gordon and there's one away. Metheny pops up and there's two away -- and then Weatherly hits a routine grounder to third, Owen steps on the bag and we are heading to extras.
10th: Bill Zuber was also in the mix as the fifth starter for the Yankees, he comes on here and gives up a leadoff base hit to Owen but there's nothing beyond that.
10th: 26 year old lefty Clyde Hatter (with an ERA over 7.50) enters for the Tigers, he gives up a two out pinch double to Tuck Stainback - New York again has the clinching run in scoring position --- but Charlie Keller grounds out and we head to the 11th
11th: Tommy Byrne is a lefty with an ERA over 6 and a half - and he gets the call for New York - he gives up a one out single to Greenberg and after the second out walks Goslin. Rogell singles hard to left -- Greenberg rounds third - Charlie Keller fires home and there is an enormous collision at the plate...and Bill Dickey holds on to end the inning.
11th: Hatter is still on for the Tigers; he gets the first two - and then Cochrane brings in Roxie Lawson, who only threw 40 innings but with a 1.58 ERA might be the best arm in the Tiger pen, Lawson gets Gordon to ground to second and we're going to the 12th.
12th: With one out, Mickey Owen gets another hit - you know how a few innings ago I said you won't see starters coming out of the pen in the simulation because it doesn't know the circumstances - an exception is when you run out of pitchers. New York's third starter is Butch Wensloff, he would be scheduled to go in game 3 if New York can't pull this one out -- but McCarthy isn't waiting, he brings Wensloff on now, he gets the second out - but then gives up back to back walks to Gehringer and Cochrane. Bases loaded. 2 out. 8-8. Detroit needs a win to force Game 3 -- and Greenberg walks. 9-8 Tigers.
12th: Detroit's 3rd starter is Elden Auker, he would get the ball tomorrow if there is a tomorrow - except now he will not because he gets the ball for the 12th. He gives up a leadoff single to Metheny, after an out, Billy Rogell kicks a ground ball and now the Yankees have the tying run in scoring position - but Auker gets back to back ground balls and its done.
Whew. 14 pitchers later - Detroit has forced game 3.
Pete Fox had the big blow - the 3 run homer in the 9th to tie the score; he added two singles. Marv Owen singled 4 times, Rogell and Greenberg had 3 hits each. For New York - Weatherly had the three run double and added 4th RBI, Nick Etten reached base 4 times.
So -- back to Detroit. The Tigers will be throwing General Crowder, a 36 year old right hander with a 4.26 ERA. New York also sends a right hander, 27 year old Hank Borowy, a 14 game winner.
Game 3
Yankees (age)
LF Keller (26)
2B Gordon (28)
C Dickey (36)
1B Etten (29)
RF Metheny (28)
CF Weatherly (28)
3B Johnson (24)
SS Crosetti (32)
P Borowy (27)
Tigers
RF Fox (26)
2B Gehringer (32)
1B Greenberg (24)
C Cochrane (32)
LF Goslin (34)
SS Rogell (30)
3B Owen (29)
CF White (26)
P Crowder (36)
Change going forward - not going to give the results first. Starting with the next region, there will be some season long stats in the lineups.
So - first time we've done it this way, you don't know who won (me too; it takes a little doing, but I've been able to avoid the results also, we'll be working through this together going forward)
Winner take all - let's see how it went.
1st: 36 year old RH General Crowder gets the ball for the Tigers; clearly the Tigers 4th best starter but pressed into duty with the huge bullpen game in Game 2. He sets the Yanks down in order.
1st: 27 year old RH Hank Borowy is the Yanks 4th starter; with a 2.82 ERA he had a stronger year than Crowder. He sets the Tigers down in order.
2nd: Crowder hits Nick Etten in the knee to lead off the inning - Etten doesn't rub it, but he's moving gingerly as he takes a very short lead off of first. He's the only Yankee baserunner.
2nd: Goose Goslin and Billy Rogell get one out singles -- but Borowy gets Mickey Owen 6-4-3 to end the frame.
3rd: New York gets their first hit, a two out Charlie Keller single, but that's it.
3rd: Jo Jo White is back in the lineup for the Tigers; he leads off with a single, but that's all for the Tigers and we head to the 4th - still scoreless in the deciding game.
4th: Bill Dickey leads off with a single to right center - but that's all Crowder allows.
4th: Tremendous inning for Borowy; a dozen pitches and we're onto the 5th.
5th: Billy Johnson and Frankie Crosetti (getting his first start of the series) lead off with singles; Hank Borowy had one triple on the season -- and he gets another one in this spot; clearing the bases and giving the Yankees a 2-0 lead. Cochrane doesn't wait another second, he goes to get a lefty, Joe Sullivan, to pitch to Keller - he hits a sinking liner to center that White misplays into a two base error and it's 3-0 Yankees.
5th: Borowy follows up that enormous triple with a 1-2-3 inning. We go to the 6th, the Yankees are up 3-0.
6th: Easy inning for Sullivan.
6th: Sullivan stays in the game to hit for himself - which is kinda wild - but it works, he squibs a ball that just splits short and third into left field for a leadoff single, Detroit's first hit since the 3rd - but it doesn't go further than that. The Tigers have only placed one runner in scoring position through six innings - just a tremendous effort in this winner take all game from Borowy, who wouldn't have pitched at all in the series had Wensloff not been needed in game 2.
7th: Sullivan walks Borowy (Borowy!) Gordon and Dickey to load the bases with 2 out - Etten hasn't seemed right since taking that fastball off the knee and he weakly grounds out to end the inning.
7th: Cochrane walks - but that's it - Borowy continued his dominance and there are just 6 outs to go.
8th: 31 year old lefty Chief Hogsett is Detroit's new pitcher, he gives up an opening single to Metheny, a bunt moves him over - and then Billy Johnson singles to right - that sure looks like an insurance run, it's Yankees 4-0. Vic Sorrell comes on for the Tigers and gets out of the inning.
8th: Borowy gets the first two - Sorrell didn't have an at bat all season...but he hits for himself here and he somehow slaps a single to left. Maybe that rattles Borowy or maybe the fatigue has gotten to him as he hits Fox with the next pitch and now Detroit has two on with two out. But Charlie Gehringer flies harmlessly to left and we head to the 9th.
9th: Charlie Keller leads off with a walk and Joe Gordon, presumably, ends the game with a double off the wall that brings him home. 5-0 Yankees. Clyde Hatter, bad during the regular season comes on for Detroit - and he gets the Tigers out of it.
So - this is it - Yankees 5-0 as we go to the bottom of the 9th.
9th: 3 up. 3 down. 5 hit complete game shutout for Borowy and the Yankees move on.
Final:
Yankees 5
Tigers 0
WP Borowy
LP Crowder
There's just no question about the series MVP - Hank Borowy completely shut the Tigers down in Detroit in a winner take all game and had the big 2 run triple.
That wraps up round one for Region 1. When we come back around (which will be awhile) here's the Round 2 matchups. Best of 5 Series.
65. 1984 Detroit Tigers v. 128. 1979 Baltimore Orioles
33. 1943 St Louis Cardinals v. 97. 1977 New York Yankees
16. 1975 Cincinnati Reds v 49. 1941 New York Yankees
17. 1929 Philadelphia A's v. 81. 1943 New York Yankees
Next time - we head to Region 2, led by the second overall seed (top remaining seed) the 1927 New York Yankees.
