14. 1909 Chicago Cubs v. 115 2004 Boston Red Sox
The Cubs, despite finishing second in the NL are heavily favorites by seed over the World Champion Red Sox, but we've really seen the modern teams clean up over the pre-war teams and does that continue in this series?
The expectation is all right handed starting pitchers for both teams.
Red Sox-Terry Francona
CF Damon (30) 117 4.8
C Varitek (32) 121 4.4
1B Ortiz (28) 145 4.5
LF Ramirez (32) 152 3
RF Nixon (30) 123 1
SS Garciaparra (30) 118 .5
3B Mueller (33) 106 1.7
2B Bellhorn (29) 107 3.3
P Schilling (37) 148 7.7
Bench:
1B Millar (32) 117 2.6
SP2 Martinez (32) 124 5.4
SP3 Arroyo (27) 120 2.8
When we go to Boston for Game 2, Ortiz shifts to DH and Millar will play first. It does not appear likely that a lefty will throw for the Cubs - if we were to see one, Youkilis will play third and Mirabelli would likely catch. Unlikely there's a pitching switch, but it would be Wakefield were there to be.
Cubs-Frank Chance
2B Evers (27) 116 4.2
LF Sheckard (30) 109 2
CF Hofman (26) 115 4.1
RF Schulte (26) 100 .1
1B Chance (32) 110 1.9
3B Steinfeldt (33) 105 3.2
SS Tinker (28) 99 4.6
C Moran (33) 72 1.1
P Brown (32) 193 8.5
Bench:
DH Zimmerman (22) 93 .1
C Archer (26) 71 .7
SP2: Overall (28) 179 8.5
SP3: Reulbach (26) 143 5
Zimmerman will DH in game 2; Archer/Moran is a coin flip each game, Chance will ride the hot hand. The Cubs do have a lefty, Rube Kroh, and it's not outside of possibility he gets tabbed for game 3
Sox are dogs by seed, but WAR tells a different story when it comes to the lineup - Boston's got the advantage at C-1B-LF-CF-RF-DH --- but the Cubs have the pitching advantage in each game of the series - Red Sox hitting v. Cub pitching. Let's see how it goes.
1st: 32 year old right hander Three Finger Brown went 27-9 with a 1.31 ERA; he stands on the West Side Grounds mound for the hometown Cubs. 1-2-3.
1st: 37 year old right hander Curt Schilling was 21-6 with a 3.26 ERA; he gives up a leadoff single to Johnny Evers, Jimmy Sheckard follows by rocketing a double that scores Evers and the Cubs already have a lead. Sox 0 Cubs 1
2nd: Manny Ramirez opens with a base hit, Trot Nixon is then safe on an error and Boston's in business; Brown gets two out - then intentionally loads the bases to face Schilling, and he gets him.
2nd: Harry Steinfeldt opens with a single, but that's all.
3rd: 1-2-3
3rd: Jimmy Sheckard singles with two out, but that's all. We head to the 4th. Still Sox 0 Cubs 1
4th: 1-2-3
4th: 1-2-3
5th: 1-2-3 -- through 5 innings, Brown's given up only a single
5th: Joe Tinker leads off with a base hit and then steals second - Pat Moran follows with a single and the Cubs have added a run. After two out, Moran is standing at third - when Sheckard doubles, it's his third hit of the day, and the inning ends Sox 0 Cubs 3
6th: Damon leads off with Boston's second hit of the day -- but that's all.
6th: Frank Schulte singles, moves to second on an out - and the Cubs score their 4th on a Harry Steinfeldt double. Chicago's rolling now. Sox 0 Cubs 4
7th: Nixon walks after an out and then Bill Mueller singles -- can Boston string some hits together -- they can't, it ends there.
7th: Evers hits a one out double, but that's all. Let's head to the 8th.
8th: Kevin Youkilis hits for Schilling; he grounds out - but Damon doubles, however Brown shuts them down.
8th: 36 year old right hander Curt Leskanic only threw 27 innings for the Sox, but he's on now, he gives up a single to Schulte - who steals second - and then scores on a Frank Chance base hit -- the Cubs have 5 and this one is probably done. Steinfeldt walks, after an out - Moran singles for his second RBI of the day - and then Brown adds a run scoring single to the cause. 32 year old right hander Ramiro Mendoza gets the ball, he gives up a single to Evers, but that's all. Sox 0 Cubs 7
9th: Manny doubles to lead it off - Nixon then singles -- Brown gets a Mueller double play that scores a run, but that's where it ends. Sox 1 Cubs 7
Red Sox 1
Cubs 7
WP Brown
LP Schilling
Complete game 6 hitter for Brown; Evers had 3 hits with a double, Sheckard 3 hits, 2 doubles, 2 RBI, Schulte and Moran each had a couple of hits, Steinfeldt reached three times.
Damon and Ramirez each had two hits for Boston
Cubs-Frank Chance
2B Evers (27) 116 4.2
LF Sheckard (30) 109 2
CF Hofman (26) 115 4.1
RF Schulte (26) 100 .1
1B Chance (32) 110 1.9
3B Steinfeldt (33) 105 3.2
SS Tinker (28) 99 4.6
DH Zimmerman (22) 93 .1
C Moran (33) 72 1.1
P Overall (28) 179 8.5
Red Sox-Terry Francona
CF Damon (30) 117 4.8
C Varitek (32) 121 4.4
DH Ortiz (28) 145 4.5
LF Ramirez (32) 152 3
RF Nixon (30) 123 1
SS Garciaparra (30) 118 .5
1B Millar (32) 117 2.6
3B Mueller (33) 106 1.7
2B Bellhorn (29) 107 3.3
P Martinez (32) 124 5.4
We head to Fenway - the Sox turn to Pedro, needing a win to survive another day.
1st: Pedro Martinez is 32; 16-9 with a 3.40 ERA can he hold down this Cub squad? He gives up a 2 out single to Hofman, but that's all.
1st: Orval Overall's a 28 year old right hander, 20-11 with a 1.42 ERA; he gives up a single with 2 out to Ortiz; but that's all.
2nd: Steinfeldt singles with one out, but that's it.
2nd: Nomar Garciaparra doubles with an out, that's followed by a Kevin Millar base hit - and the Sox have their first lead of the series. Mark Bellhorn walks after the second out, but that's it. Cubs 0 Sox 1
3rd: Pat Moran works a one out walk, but that's all.
3rd: 1-2-3 - let's go to the 4th.
4th: After two out, Frank Chance singles, but that's it.
4th: Trot Nixon leads off with a walk, but Overall stops it there. Lets go to the 5th.
5th: 1-2-3 - Pedro's first perfect inning.
5th: Back to back walks to Mueller and Bellhorn open the inning; Damon then singles to right and the Sox have their second run. Overall walks Varitek and the Sox have the bases loaded - nobody out. A sac fly by Ortiz makes it 3-0; a Ramirez base hit makes it 4-0; a Nixon sac fly makes it 5-0; Boston is doing to the Cubs what the Cubs did to them in game 1 Cubs 0 Sox 5
6th: Evers walks, an out later Sheckard singles - but a caught stealing and a double play clean it up for Pedro.
6th: 1-2-3
7th: 1-2-3 - Pedro Martinez has certainly come up big in the needed spot.
7th: 1-2-3
8th: Moran walks with two out, Evers then doubles off the wall, the Cubs have two in scoring position with two out, Sheckard walks - bases loaded. Cubs have a chance, Hofman grounds to short - but Garciaparra's throw pulls Millar - that's the Cubs first run, bases still loaded and it ends Pedro's day. Curt Leskanic comes on - he gets Schulte and ends the threat. Cubs 1 Sox 5
8th: 1-2-3; Overall's retired the last ten.
9th: Chance opens with a single - Steinfeldt walks; 31 year old right hander Keith Foulke comes on to close; 32 saves and a 2.17 ERA -- he gets Tinker, but Zimmerman lines a single to left - it scores Chance and now it;s 5-2. 2 on, just one out -- tying run comes to the plate. Foulke gets Moran. Evers harmlessly grounds out -- all done.
Cubs 1
Red Sox 5
WP Martinez
LP Overall
Boston only gets 5 hits, they just haven't been able to overcome this Cub pitching in the series, but Pedro goes 7 2/3, five hits, one unearned run. Damon and Ramirez each have 3 hits on the series.
Chance had two hits for the Cubs; Evers/Sheckard/Steinfeldt have all reached base 5 times in the series.
And so - it comes down to a winner take all in Chicago.
Ed Reulbach going for the Cubs. Bronson Arroyo for the Sox. One more battle of right handers.
Red Sox-Terry Francona
CF Damon (30) 117 4.8
C Varitek (32) 121 4.4
1B Ortiz (28) 145 4.5
LF Ramirez (32) 152 3
SS Garciaparra (30) 118 .5
2B Bellhorn (29) 107 3.3
3B Youkilis (25) 99
RF Millar (32) 117 2.6
P Arroyo (27) 120 2.8
Cubs-Frank Chance
2B Evers (27) 116 4.2
LF Sheckard (30) 109 2
CF Hofman (26) 115 4.1
1B Chance (32) 110 1.9
3B Steinfeldt (33) 105 3.2
RF Schulte (26) 100 .1
SS Tinker (28) 99 4.6
C Archer (26) 71 .7
P: Reulbach (26) 143 5
Millar stays in the lineup for the Sox, moving to right - and Youkilis sees his first action of the series. For the Cubs, Archer gets a start behind the plate.
1st: 26 year old right hander Ed Reulbach was 19-10 with a 1.78 ERA; Chance goes with him over his young lefty Rube Kroh whose 1.65 ERA was even better. Damon leads off with a walk, after two groundball outs, Damon stands at third - Manny Ramirez grounds to Tinker, but he boots it - Damon scores and the inning ends Sox 1 Cubs 0
1st: 27 year old right hander Bronson Arroyo is the best Sox option for this winner take all matchup; 10-9 with a 4.03 ERA; he gives up a leadoff single to Evers, two groundball outs move him to third - and then Frank Chance drives him home to knot the score. Chance then steals second - and he'll score on a Steinfeldt double, the inning ends Sox 1 Cubs 2
2nd: 1-2-3
2nd: Reulbach singles with one out, that's it.
3rd: 1-2-3
3rd: Chance walks with two out - and the Cubs manager stays aggressive, steals second again - and Steinfeldt again comes through in the two out clutch spot with a run scoring base hit. We head to the 4th, Sox 1 Cubs 3
4th: 1-2-3 -- the Sox do not have a hit through 4.
4th: 1-2-3
5th: 1-2-3 -- 13 straight for Reulbach.
5th: Evers singles with one out, but Arroyo limits the Cubs to that -- we head to the 6th, the score remains Sox 1 Cubs 3 in this winner take all showdown.
6th: 1-2-3 -- that's 16 straight for Reulbach.
6th: 1-2-3 -- Arroyo nearly matches him. 3 innings to go. Sox still do not have a hit.
7th: Ortiz leads off with a walk - the Sox have their first baserunner since the first inning - but Ramirez strikes out and Nomar hits into a double play. Not only are the Cubs 6 outs away from advancing - the Sox do not have a hit.
7th: Archer singles with one out, but that's it. Let's head to the 8th.
8th: 1-2-3. Well, look what we have here.
8th: Leskanic has now pitched in each game of the series, he comes on for Boston - it's a mistake - Sheckard leads off with a double and scores on a Hofman base hit - it's now 4-1 Cubs and it sure looks like they will be the first team to move forward in the bottom half of Region 3. Two outs later Hofman's at second base -- and then he comes around to score on a Schulte double - it's now 5-1, they are jubilant in Chicago as thoughts turn toward Reulbach, sitting alone in the dugout. Sox 1 Cubs 5
9th: 3 to go. Trot Nixon enters as a pinch hitter. Reulbach strikes him out. One away. And Johnny Damon breaks it up with a clean single to right. The no hitter is broken up with just two outs to go - Reulbach steps off the mound, hears the applause from his hometown crowd - and ends the series.
Sox 1
Cubs 5
WP Reulbach
LP Arroyo
2 more hits for Evers and Steinfeldt, they each reached 7 times in the series - but it's Reulbach and Brown who will share the MVP Award, both of whom pitched complete game wins - Reulbach throwing that one hitter to close out the series.
So - the top seed in the region, the '06 Cubs, did not survive the first round, but the '09 Cubs move forward. They'll meet the winners of this matchup:
51. 1953 Brooklyn Dodgers v. 78. 1978 New York Yankees
Appealing matchup here for sure. It's our first Brooklyn squad in the field; the '77 Yankees have already advanced, can the '78 squad join them? The Dodgers won the pennant - lost to the Yankees - and these Yankees won the World Series - beating the Dodgers.
So - of course it has to be '53 Dodgers v '78 Yankees.
Yankees-Bob Lemon
2B Randolph (23) 112 5.5
LF Piniella (34) 129 3
RF Jackson (32) 136 3.1
3B Nettles (33) 128 5.4
1B Chambliss (29) 100 2.3
C Munson (31) 101 3.2
CF Rivers (29) 98 2.9
SS Dent (26) 72 2.2
P Guidry (27) 208 9.6
Bench:
DH White (34) 112 .9
CF Thomasson (26) 114 .8
SP2 Figueroa (29) 122 3.3
SP3 Hunter (32) 102 1
Roy White will DH in game 2; Thomasson has more bat than Rivers and Lemon might make that switch if needs dictate.
Dodgers-Chuck Dressen
LF Robinson (34) 137 6.1
1B Hodges (29) 139 5
C Campanella (31) 154 7.5
CF Snider (26) 165 7.9
RF Furillo (31) 146 4.5
3B Cox (33) 106 1.8
2B Gilliam (24) 105 4.2
SS Reese (34) 104 4.3
P Erskine (26) 121 4.4
Bench:
DH: Belardi (22) 101 .5
SP2: Podres (20) 102 .7
SP3: Roe (37) 99 .7
SP3: Loes (23) 95 .4
Belardi gets the nod at DH when the series moves to Yankee Stadium; all the other Dodger starters are up for grabs the rest of the way; Roe's (like Podres) is a lefty and Loes (like Erskine) is a righty, probably Yankee success in Games 1-2 would dictate that choice. Dodgers have the WAR advantage at C-1B-SS-LF-CF-RF; New York will have the pitching advantage in each game.
1st: 26 year old right hander Carl Erskine stands on the Ebbets Field mound; 20-6, 3.54 ERA, he gives up a two out base hit to Reggie Jackson, but that's all.
1st: 27 year old lefty Ron Guidry had an all time season for the Yanks, 25-3 with a 1.74 ERA - he walks Jackie Robinson to open the game, after an out, he walks Roy Campanella - Guidry averaged 2.1 walks a game in '78. He gets the second out - but then gives up a run scoring single to Carl Furillo. Billy Cox follows with a single - This Ebbets Field crowd despises - despises the New York Yankees and they are frenzied after they draw first blood Yankees 0 Dodgers 2
2nd: 1-2-3
2nd: With two out, Guidry hits Jackie on the leg - the boos are enormous; Gil Hodges singles, but that's all.
3rd: Bucky Dent opens with a walk, after two out, he was at second - and then scored on a Lou Piniella base hit. Yankees 1 Dodgers 2
3rd: Duke Snider walks, two outs later Jim Gilliam singles - Guidry's in trouble every inning - but he slips it. Onto the 4th.
4th: Graig Nettles walks, that's it.
4th: With two out, Gil Hodges doubles, that's it.
5th: Mickey Rivers hits the first pitch of the fifth down the rightfield line for a double, he's stranded at second.
5th: Furillo singles with one out, that's all. Through 5 its still Yankees 1 Dodgers 2
6th: With two out, Nettles singles, that's New York's 4th hit - and that's all they get.
6th: Dominant inning for Guidry. Through six innings - same score.
7th: Thurman Munson doubles on an 0-2 breaking ball. 2 outs later, he's at third and the pitcher's spot is up - that ends Guidry's day, Lemon sends up a lefty, Jim Spencer, the tying run is at third - it's a big spot - and Erskine strikes him out to end the threat.
7th: 27 year old lefty Don Gullett takes the ball; with one out he gives up a base hit to Roy Campanella, then Snider singles - and when Furillo has his 3rd hit of the day, it's 3-1. Billy Cox hits a sac fly, the inning will end Yankees 1 Dodgers 4
8th: With two out, Erskine hits Reggie -- recall, Jackie was hit earlier, and it could be with a 3 run lead, the Dodgers feel safe with a little retaliation - that's the calculation Jackson makes - as he is really talking to Erskine as he jogs to first. Then a long at bat leads to a Nettles walk - that brings the tying run to the plate in the person of Chris Chambliss -- there's another long at bat -- and again - Chambliss walks. That ends Erskine's day - the right hander Clem Labine will come on to face Munson with the bases loaded. 3-2 pitch to Munson --- Labine strikes him out.
8th: Gullett hits Pee Wee Reese with the first pitch - and the benches clear - Robinson sprints from the dugout to the mound; Chambliss leads the Yankee infield to protect Gullett - it is a real donnybrook; once the umpires regain control, the decision is made not to eject anyone. Two outs later Hodges singles and Campanella walks -- Brooklyn has the bases loaded and even one more run sure looks like the end of the game -- but Gullett escapes.
9th: Labine is three outs from a game one win - he gets the first two, then Gary Thomasson comes on to hit for Gullett - he singles, Labine gets a two strike count on Randolph, a strike away from a win -- but Randolph really battles back and ekes out a walk. Two on now, two out -- Yankees trail by 3 -- and Piniella singles - that scores a run. 4-2. 2 on. 2 out. Reggie Jackson comes to the plate - the Dodgers don't budge - Labine stays in the game.
And strikes him out.
Yankees 2
Dodgers 4
WP Erskine
LP Guidry
11 Yankees struck out in this one; that's a high so far in the tournament. 3 hits for Hodges, including a double. Campanella reached three times. Robinson and Snider reached twice. Furillo had 3 hits and 2 RBI.
For New York, Piniella had two hits, Reggie reached twice, Nettles three times with both Yankee RBI.
We go to Yankee Stadium for game 2 - tempers running high - Ed Figueroa gets the call for the Yankees, 20 year old lefty Johnny Podres will face the heat of that Bronx crowd looking to wrap this up for the Dodgers.
LF Robinson (34) 137 6.1
2B Gilliam (24) 105 4.2
CF Snider (26) 165 7.9
1B Hodges (29) 139 5
C Campanella (31) 154 7.5
RF Furillo (31) 146 4.5
3B Cox (33) 106 1.8
SS Reese (34) 104 4.3
DH: Belardi (22) 101 .5
P: Podres (20) 102 .7
2B Randolph (23) 112 5.5
LF Piniella (34) 129 3
RF Jackson (32) 136 3.1
3B Nettles (33) 128 5.4
C Munson (31) 101 3.2
1B Chambliss (29) 100 2.3
DH White (34) 112 .9
CF Rivers (29) 98 2.9
SS Dent (26) 72 2.2
P Figueroa (29) 122 3.3
1st: 29 year old right hander Ed Figueroa stands on the Yankee Stadium mound, he was 20-9 with a 2.99 ERA; he sends Brooklyn down in order.
1st: Brooklyn sends 20 year old lefty Johnny Podres into extremely hostile territory; he was 9-4 with a 4.23 ERA, you really see a big Yankee advantage in today's pitching matchup. He gives up a one out single to Piniella, but that's all.
2nd: After an out, Campanella and Furillo single back to back - but Figueroa stops it there.
2nd: Nettles works a leadoff walk, Munson and Chambliss single back to back - that plates Nettles and the Yankees have two on and no one out. Podres gets the next two - but Bucky Dent punches a single to right to score the second run. Randolph walks. Bases loaded for the Yankees - Piniella lines a single to center - two runs are going to score. Dressen has a quick hook - Podres is out, 26 year old right hander Bob Milliken enters and ends the frame. Dodgers 0 Yankees 4
3rd: 1-2-3
3rd: For the second consecutive inning, Nettles opens with a walk and Munson follows with a single. But Milliken stops it there.
4th: 1-2-3
4th: Dent opens with his second hit, but that's it. Nice work by Milliken.
5th: After an out, Figueroa hits Furillo. That sends both teams to the top step of the dugout after the brawl in game 1 - an out later Pee Wee Reese walks, but nothing else.
5th: Reggie singles - but is gunned down trying to stretch it into a double, the heat of the moment perhaps overcoming his better judgment. Nettles follows with a single, he's been on base 3 times today, but that's all. We head to the 6th.
6th: Snider reached on a 2 out error, but that's all. Figueroa has only allowed two hits.
6th: Chambliss opens with a double, Milliken has been in the game since the second inning - but he works out of this one. Dodgers 0 Yankees 4
7th: Billy Cox has a two out single, the 3rd Dodger hit. That's all.
7th: Clem Labine got the game 1 save and enters again now; he gives up a one out single to Piniella, Lou's third hit of the day -- and then Reggie hits a bomb - a majestic shot to right - a two run homer that probably means we are headed back to Brooklyn for Game 3. An out later Munson's got his third hit of the day and the inning will end Dodgers 0 Yankees 6
8th: 1-2-3 -- a big effort from Figueroa today.
8th: 1-2-3
9th: Figueroa finishes them off.
Dodgers 0
Yankees 6
WP Figueroa
LP Podres
Great outing for Figueroa - complete game, 3 hit shutout, 6 strikeouts and one walk. Piniella now has 5 hits in the series; Reggie's reached 4 times including the two run homer; Nettles has reached a half dozen times; Munson had 3 hits today and both Chambliss and Dent added two.
For Brooklyn, Furillo has now reached 5 times.
Showdown at Ebbets. The Dodgers are going with the young right hander, Billy Loes, the Yankees with a veteran right hander - Catfish Hunter.
Yankees-Bob Lemon
2B Randolph (23) 112 5.5
LF Piniella (34) 129 3
RF Jackson (32) 136 3.1
3B Nettles (33) 128 5.4
1B Chambliss (29) 100 2.3
C Munson (31) 101 3.2
CF Rivers (29) 98 2.9
SS Dent (26) 72 2.2
P Hunter (32) 102 1
LF Robinson (34) 137 6.1
2B Gilliam (24) 105 4.2
CF Snider (26) 165 7.9
1B Hodges (29) 139 5
C Campanella (31) 154 7.5
RF Furillo (31) 146 4.5
3B Cox (33) 106 1.8
SS Reese (34) 104 4.3
P: Loes (23) 95 .4
It all comes down to this - Yankees/Dodgers in Brooklyn. Winner take all.
1st: As evidenced by Podres' struggles, the Dodgers dont have a top level starter outside of Erskine, they turn here to 23 right hander Billy Loes, 14-8 with a 4.54 ERA; I'm leaning, incidentally, to the following when we move to 5 and then 7 game series: 5 games - SP1 SP2 SP3 SP1 SP2 and then for a 7 game series SP1 SP2 SP3 SP4 SP1 SP2 SP3 - I thought I might go 3 times for SP1 and I guess I still might when we get to the end - 5 game series will occur at the Rnd of 62 and 32, 7 games at 16, 8, 4, 1 - let's say when we get to final four, those are pennant games and we'll drop SP4 for a third SP1.
Anyway, back to the inning. After an out, Piniella doubles - that's 6 hits in the series; and he's immediately going to score on a Jackson triple; loud Yankee contact, Nettles then doubles Reggie home, Reggie's reached 5 times, Nettles 7, the Yankee bats end this inning Yankees 2 Dodgers 0
1st: New York's only other starter, beyond the two we've seen, who was over .500 is Catfish; 12-6 with a 3.58 ERA. He gets the first two - and then Duke Snider takes him deep to left center - Brooklyn hits their first homer of the series. Catfish walks Hodges, the inning ends Yankees 2 Dodgers 1
2nd: 1-2-3
2nd: 1-2-3
3rd: Willie Randolph opens the third by attempting to bunt for a base hit - Cox fields it cleanly but air mails the throw, it heads up the right field line and Randolph is at second. An out later Reggie does it again - he follows up the game 2 mammoth shot with one here as well - the Yankees have a 4-1 lead that lasts just a moment because Nettles hits the next pitch over the wall in right center -- Boom, Boom - the Bombers have taken control of Game 3. Yankees 5 Dodgers 1
3rd: Robinson works a one out walk, then Gillam and Snider single back to back - the bases are loaded with just one out, can the Dodgers dent this lead? They can't - Catfish works out of it.
4th: 1-2-3
4th: Cox singles with one out. thats it.
5th: Reggie singles with one out - he's a double from the cycle, that's all for New York.
5th: After two out, Snider singles, his third hit of the day, Hodges then doubles - but again, Catfish holds the Dodgers there.
6th: Munson singles with one out -- and then Mickey Rivers triples him home, Munson's chug, chug chugging all the way around for the score. A Bucky Dent sac fly then makes it 7-1. Bob Milliken pitched a lot of game 2; he comes on here to get Jim Spencer, hitting for Catfish. Yankees 7 Dodgers 1
6th: New York's still got 4 innings to survive; 24 year old right hander Ken Clay takes the ball, with two out, Pee Wee Reese singles, but that's all.
7th: Piniella draws a one out walk, that's it.
7th: Robinson opens up with a base hit - he comes around to score on Gilliam's triple, Brooklyn's first run since the first. Lemon brings in a lefty, Don Gullett, he gets an out - but the gives up a single to Hodges that cuts the lead to 7-3. Campanella and Furillo single back to back - and look what we have here. Bases loaded. Only one out. 7-3 Yankees. Gullett hits Cox. Clearly not intentional in this spot, despite the number of hit batsmen in the series. Now it's 7-4, still one out, bases still loaded. Lemon goes to get his other lefty, 33 year old Sparky Lyle, and he gives up a shot - I mean a shot - to deep left field by Reese -- but Piniella catches it on the track. Still, its a sac fly and now it's 7-5. Wayne Belardi hits in the pitchers spot -- and Lyle strikes him out. Yankees 7 Dodgers 5
8th: Labine enters for Brooklyn in the third straight game, he gives up a leadoff single to Chambliss, then after an out, Rivers reached on a Gilliam error - Labine gets the second out, Lemon goes to the bench, Thomasson hitting for Lyle, and he laces a two out single to make it 8-5 - and then a second Gilliam error of the inning makes it 9-5 and well, that might be the nail. Yankees 9 Dodgers 5
8th: Jim Beattie is New York's 4th starter but he gets the call here; he gives up a leadoff walk to Robinson, but that's all and it's looking dire for the Dodgers.
9th: Jackson gets his 4th hit of the day but that's all. We go to the bottom of the 9th.
9th: Beattie stays in the game - he walks Furillo with two out but it ends there.
Yankees 9
Dodgers 5
WP Hunter
LP Loes
Piniella reached 7 times this series - so did Reggie, and he followed up the game 2 homer by going homer/triple today. Nettles reached 8 times and went homer/double today. Munson followed the game 2 3 hit day with a 2 hit day today. Just a ton of offensive stars - Reggie was MVP for the '77 team's advancing and he gets a second one here.
So - we have our round 2 matchup - the 1909 Cubs v. the 1978 Yankees.
Two more series to go to wrap up Region 3
