14. 1909 Chicago Cubs v. 78. 1978 World Champion New York Yankees
The top remaining seed in Region 3 didn't even make the postseason; the 1909 Cubs. The '77 Yankees are already through to the next round, can The Bronx Zoo keep that rolling?
Cubs 104-49 Mgr. Frank Chance
d. #115 2004 Red Sox (MVP-Ed Reulbach)
Hall of Famers: Three Finger Brown, Frank Chance, Johnny Evers, Joe Tinker
Yankees 100-63 Mgr. Bob Lemon
1st in AL East
d. Royals in ALCS
d. Dodgers in WS
d. #51 1953 Dodgers (MVP-Reggie Jackson)
All-Stars: RP Goose Gossage (5th AL Cy Young) SP Ron Guidry (AL Cy Young, 2nd AL MVP) OF Reggie Jackson, C Thurman Munson, 3B Graig Nettles,
Hall of Famers: Goose Gossage, Catfish Hunter, Reggie Jackson,
Yankees
3B Nettles (33) 128 5.4
RF Jackson (32) 136 3.1
LF Piniella (34) 129 3
1B Chambliss (29) 100 2.3
2B Randolph (23) 112 5.5
C Munson (31) 101 3.2
CF Rivers (29) 98 2.9
SS Dent (26) 72 2.2
P Guidry (LH) (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
All RH starters for the Cubs, so this is likely to be the Yankee batting order every day, with the addition of White at DH when the series shifts to New York.
Cubs
CF Hofman (26) 115 4.1
1B Chance (32) 110 1.9
3B Steinfeldt (33) 105 3.2
2B Evers (27) 116 4.2
LF Sheckard (30) 109 2
RF Schulte (26) 100 .1
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
The only possible swap for the Cubs is at catcher, both are RH, Chance will play whomever hits. Guidry is a lefty, so there will be a shuffle when the Cubs face RH starters. Zimmerman DH's in NY
WAR Advantage
C-Yankees
1B-Yankees
2B-Yankees
SS-Cubs
3B-Yankees
LF-Yankees
CF-Cubs
RF-Yankees
DH-Yankees
SP1-Yankees
SP2-Cubs
SP3-Cubs
Bullpen-Yankees
Yankees 9 Cubs 4 -- Cubs not only have the seed advantage, they're the top remaining seed in the Region, but they are really, really outmatched by this Yankee team in WAR, and you have say its New York who is favored to advance.
GAME ONE
1st: Three Finger Brown opens this series up for the Cubs; 27-9, 1.31, Brown broke in with the Cards in '03, they dealt him to the Cubs after the season, he led the league with a 1.06 ERA in '06, this year he ledt the league in wins, saves (7) and innings pitched. The Cubs release him at the age of 35 after the 1912 season, he'll pitch until he's 39, winding up back with the Cubs. Graig Nettles hits the first pitch of the series over the right field wall and it's 1-0 instantly. Yankees 1 Cubs 0
1st: The only lefty starter we'll see in the series is 27 year old Ron Guidry; we've seen most of these Yankees already, from the 1977 team's advancing in Region 1. This is Guidry's big year, 25-3, 1.74. 1-2-3
2nd: 1-2-3
2nd: Johnny Evers singles. Evers was 20 when he broke in with the Cubs in '02, he became the Cubs second baseman the next year and remained there until 1913, his last season in Chicago, he's then dealt to the Braves for Bill Sweeney. In is first year in Boston - he won the NL MVP. He'll seemingly finish as a Phillie in 1917, but return twice to play one game in 1922 and 1929. Guidry strands him at second.
3rd: 1-2-3, 9 straight for Brown since the Nettles homer.
3rd: Solly Hofman singles with 2 out, Hofman was 20 when he broke in with the Pirates in '03, the Cubs bought him the next year, he's moved to the Pirates during the 1912 season in a pretty big deal with King Cole for Tommy Leach and Lefty Leifield; eventually, he'll play a half dozen games with the Yankees and come back to the Cubs to finish up in '16. That's all.
4th: 1-2-3. 12 straight for Brown.
4th: 1-2-3
5th: Willie Randolph singles; he was on last year's team; interestingly, either his best or second best season comes years from now, in 1991, when he's a 36 year old Brewer he'll hit .327. Mickey Rivers singles an out later putting men on the corners and Rivers then swipes second. Bucky Dent then clears the bases with a triple - the Yankees going up 3 runs. Ron Guidry did not swing the bat once in 1978 - but he helps himself here with a run scoring single. After the second out Reggie Jackson singles, it ends here, but the Yanks are in control, Yankees 4 Cubs 0
5th: 1-2-3, Guidry's given up just 2 baserunners.
6th: Thurman Munson singles with 2 outs; he was a Yankee last year. this is his last full season. That's all.
6th: 1-2-3, 10 straight for Guidry, he is cruising today.
7th: 1-2-3, Brown hasn't been bad, but he's on the short end today.
7th: Harry Steinfeldt walks; he came up back in 1898 with the Reds, they dealt him to the Cubs before the '06 season, he led the league in hits and RBI that year. He'll move to the Braves for the last 19 games of his career in 1911. That's all - Guidry has given up just 2 hits.
8th: Lou Piniella walks with one out, like everyone else discussed in this one, we've already seen him back in '77 (and the Mariners team he manages is still to come in this round). Chris Chambliss follows with a single and the Yanks have them on the corners - Munson then singles for the 5th Yankee run. Yankees 5 Cubs 0
8th: Just 6 outs left for Guidry to take game one; Joe Tinker singles - he's a year older than his double play partner Evers, they broke in together in '02 and will play right next to each other through 1912, when Tinker's 4th in the MVP race. He'll go to Cincinnati and wind up back with the Cubs to finish his career in 1916. Guidry gets the next 2 but then Hofman reaches by error. Frank Chance then clears the bases with a double and the Cubs have cut the lead to 5-2 and ended Guidry's day. Not on the '77 team was Goose Gossage and Bob Lemon brings him on now. Gossage is 26, 10 wins, 27 saves, 2.01 ERA. He was 20 when he broke in with the White Sox in '72, finished 6th in the Cy Young in '75, he had 1 season as a starter, 1976, and lost 17 games. That got him sent to Pittsburgh with Terry Forster for Richie Zisk and Silvio Martinez. He joined the Yankees this year as a free agent and was 5th in the Cy Young race. He'll sign with the Padres before the '84 season, finish 5th in the NL Cy Young that season, eventually come back to the Yankees for 11 games in 1989 and eventually finish his career in Seattle in '94. He ends the inning. Yankees 5 Cubs 2
9th: 1-2-3
9th: 3 outs to get. Evers is first, he lines a single to center.
Jimmy Sheckard is next -- flies to Rivers, one out.
Frank Schulte works a walk - two on now, just one out -
AND JOE TINKER HITS A 3 RUN HOMER OFF GOOSE GOSSAGE.
The enormous, just enormous roar goes up at the West Side Field - the Cubs were down to their final 2 outs - seemingly with no hope - and Joe Tinker hits a 3 run home run off Goose Gossage to tie the game.
27 year old lefty Don Gullett comes on - Gullett's already in the next round as both a Yankee and a Red. He ends the inning. Couldn't be more surprised to head to extras. Yankees 5 Cubs 5
10th: 27 year old RH Irv Higginbotham is the new Cub pitcher, he's got a 2.19 ERA, he hits Reggie with his first pitch (Reggie was probably leaning over the plate for that one) and then gives up a Piniella single with the second. 2 outs later Willie Randolph walks - that loads the bases, 2 out - Munson coming to the plate -- but he flies to left.
10th: Hofman singles and Frank Chance walks -- and man, oh man the winning run is in scoring position with nobody out. Gullett throws a wild pitch - both runners move up a base and now there isn't even a force in play. Gullet gets Steinfeldt to line hard to Chambliss - Evers then walks.
Loaded. Just one out. Winning run 90 feet away.
Sheckard tops one back to the mound - Gullet flips to Munson for the force. Two outs, bases still loaded. Can the Cubs complete the comeback?
Schulte hits a fly to right - and the inning is over.
11th: Higginbotham gets two, then walks Gary Thomasson, hitting for Gullett. 23 year old RH Rip Hagerman has a 1.82 ERA and he's next for the Cubs - and he ends it.
11th: 33 year old lefty Sparky Lyle closed for last year's team, he comes on now with a 3.47 ERA. He gives up a one out Pat Moran single -- but we are heading to the 12th inning. This is a helluva game.
12th: Rube Kroh is the Cubs 4th starter, 22 year old lefty with a 1.65 ERA -- and he takes over. Chris Chambliss singles with one out. But nothing results. Back and forth we go.
12th: 1-2-3...this is only game one.
13th: 1-2-3
13th: 1-2-3, really nice work for Lyle. We are in the 14th inning. It's Game One!
14th: Nettles reaches on an error - Kroh gets 2 and then Chambliss singles again. Two on. Two out. Willie Randolph singles -- Nettles comes around -- there's a play at the plate and a violent collision -- and Nettles is safe! The Yankees take a lead, Randolph moves up to 2nd - Nettles has scored the go ahead run in the 14th. Munson then walks to load the bases. And Mickey Rivers singles -- that scores 2 runs -- that might do it -- have to admire this Yankee resilence and they are up Yankees 8 Cubs 5
14th: Lyle stays on for his 4th inning. Is Lemon pressing his luck?
Lyle gets two, then gives up a base hit to pinch hitter Joe Stanley. 24 year old RH Ken Clay comes on....and he ends the game.
Yankees 8
Cubs 5
WP Lyle
LP Kroh
Everything you could have wanted - dominant Guidry - a 3 run homer in the bottom of the 9th - a home plate collision in the 14th inning to score the winning run. Great game one.
For the Yankees
Nettles homered, scored the winning run
Reggie reached twice
Piniella reached twice
Chambliss had 3 hits
Randolph reached 3 times
Munson reached 3 times
Rivers reached twice
Dent tripled
For the Cubs
Hofman reached twice
Chance reached twice
Evers reached three times.
Tinker reached twice and hit the monster home run
One more in Chicago. Can the Cubs get the split?
Yankees
3B Nettles (33) 128 5.4
RF Jackson (32) 136 3.1
LF Piniella (34) 129 3
1B Chambliss (29) 100 2.3
2B Randolph (23) 112 5.5
C Munson (31) 101 3.2
CF Rivers (29) 98 2.9
SS Dent (26) 72 2.2
SP2 Figueroa (29) 122 3.3
Cubs
2B Evers (27) 116 4.2
LF Sheckard (30) 109 2
CF Hofman (26) 115 4.1
1B Chance (32) 110 1.9
RF Schulte (26) 100 .1
3B Steinfeldt (33) 105 3.2
SS Tinker (28) 99 4.6
C Archer (26) 71 .7
SP2: Overall (28) 179 8.5
GAME TWO
1st: The Cubs don't just have one monster pitching season - they've got two, 28 year old Orval Overall is 20-11, 1.42. Started with the Reds in '05, moved to the Cubs in '06, led the league in shutouts in '07, led the league in strikeouts this year, he finishes his career with the Cubs in 1913. Reggie Jackson singles with one out, nothing else.
1st: His opponent is Ed Figueroa. 29 year old RH. 20-9, 2.99. Figueroa was on the '77 team, finished 7th in the Cy Young this year; he initially came over in a big trade, he and Mickey Rivers from Texas for Bobby Bonds prior to the '76 season. 3 years from now his career will be over in Oakland under Billy Martin. Hofman singles with 2 outs and then Chance singles - Schulte follows with a single and the Cubs have scored first. Yankees 0 Cubs 1
2nd: Willie Randolph walks and steals second. Two outs later he's standing at third and when Bucky Dent singles, he scores the tying run. Yankees 1 Cubs 1
2nd: 1-2-3
3rd: 1-2-3
3rd: Jimmy Sheckard walks with one out, that's all.
4th: 1-2-3
4th: Schulte singles with one out, nothing else.
5th: 1-2-3, 10 straight for Overall
5th: Overall's a switch hitter; hit 2 homers this year, with 2 out - he catches one, drives it over the wall in left field to give the Cubs the lead. Yankees 1 Cubs 2
6th: Piniella singles with 2 out, that's New York's third hit; that's it.
6th: Hofman singles with one out, that's all. Such a tight game - great series so far here in the bottom half of Region 3. One of these teams will be the 11th to advance to the Round of 32.
7th: Rivers singles with one out - can the Yanks get this tying run -- nope.
7th: Steinfeldt walks and Tinker singles and the Cubs have 2 on and nobody out with a chance to extend this lead. Figueroa won't give in though and holds the deficit to a run.
8th: Both starting pitchers just giving all they have today - and Overall has finished; Irv Higginbotham returns to the mound. That's also it for Figueroa as Gary Thomasson is up to hit -- and he singles. Two outs later Piniella walks - here's another chance for the Yankees...and this time Chambliss takes advantage with a base hit that scores the tying run. Randolph works a work and the bases are loaded and the Cubs go back to the pen for Rip Hagerman. He gets out of it. Yankees 2 Cubs 2
8th: The Yankees turn to Don Gullett. He gives up a two out single to Frank Chance and nothing else. Let's go to the 9th.
9th: 1-2-3
9th: Sparky Lyle was lights out in game one and he gets the call today - he gives up a 2 out single to Jimmy Archer - and that's all. Once again - we are headed to extra innings.
10th: The Cubs turn back to Three Finger Brown. Big, big roll of the dice for Chance - Brown went deep into game one; this for sure will knock him out of any possible start the rest of the series. His first pitch hits Nettles (his first pitch in game one was a Nettles homer) but that's all he allows.
10th: Evers singles and is moved over on a Sheckard bunt.
One out. Winning run in scoring position. Can Lyle escape?
Hofman lines sharply right at Dent - Evers dives back into second. Two outs.
Gutsy move here - intentional walk to Chance to pitch to Schulte. Two on. Two out. Winning run at second.
Schulte grounds softly to Dent - he throws on to first and Lyle, just as he did in game one, has really come up big.
11th: Chris Chambliss singles. Okay - let's see what the Yankees can do here. Randolph bunts him over and now the Yankees have the go ahead run in scoring position.
Munson's next -- harmless pop up to short. Two away.
Chance makes the same decision Lemon did - an intentional walk here to Rivers to get the force in order.
2 on. 2 out. Three Finger Brown on in relief. Bucky Dent at the plate.
Dent singles to left center - Dick Howser is coaching third and he waves Chambliss around -- Sheckard throws home....
Safe.
Chambliss scores the go ahead run, Dent goes to second on the play at the plate. Jim Spencer is brought on to hit for Lyle and he walks to load the bases. That's as far as it goes, but the Yankees have taken the lead. Yankees 3 Cubs 2
11th: Goose Gossage enters; you know what happened in game one - Lemon puts him right back on the horse in game two.
Steinfeldt slaps the first pitch to left for a base hit and the winning run comes to the plate. Nobody out.
Tinker comes to the plate - he hit that 3 run 9th inning homer in game one. He hits a sinking line drive to left -- and Piniella misplays it -- the ball rolls to the track -- Steinfeldt holds up at third, Tinker to second. The tying run at third, winning run at second, still nobody out - is this going to happen to Gossage again?
Archer pops to Chambliss. One away. Three Finger Brown hit .176 on the season - but there are not really good options left on the Cub bench and Chance will let him stay in the game - if you're going to burn Three Finger Brown's game 4 start right now - you maybe have to ride him to the end.
Brown hits a ball over Mickey Rivers head...Steinfeldt scores...Tinker scores...the Cubs have won the game.
Yankees 3
Cubs 4
WP Brown
LP Gossage
Ain't this the damndest series? Gossage has blown both games; the Yankees were able to pull out game one, but the Cubs fight back to get this split. Both games in extra innings just as dramatic as you could want. And the Cub pitchers won the game with their bats - Overall homered and Brown with the game winning double.
For the Cubs
Hofman has reached 4 times
Chance has reached 5 times
Schulte reached twice in game 2
Steinfeldt reached twice in game 2
Evers has reached 4 times.
Tinker has reached three times and hit the monster home run
For the Yankees
Nettles homered in game one
Reggie has reached three times
Piniella has reached four times
Chambliss has 5 hits
Randolph has reached 5 times
Munson reached 3 times
Rivers has reached four times
Dent has reached 3 times w/triple
Let's go to Yankee Stadium for Games 3 and 4.
Cubs
2B Evers (27) 116 4.2
LF Sheckard (30) 109 2
CF Hofman (26) 115 4.1
1B Chance (32) 110 1.9
RF Schulte (26) 100 .1
3B Steinfeldt (33) 105 3.2
SS Tinker (28) 99 4.6
DH Zimmerman (22) 93 .1
C Moran (33) 72 1.1
SP3: Reulbach (26) 143 5
Yankees
3B Nettles (33) 128 5.4
RF Jackson (32) 136 3.1
DH Piniella (34) 129 3
LF White (34) 112 .9
1B Chambliss (29) 100 2.3
2B Randolph (23) 112 5.5
C Munson (31) 101 3.2
CF Rivers (29) 98 2.9
SS Dent (26) 72 2.2
SP3 Hunter (32) 102 1
GAME THREE
1st: After 2 real doozies we head to Yankee Stadium for games 3 and 4. On the mound for New York is Catfish Hunter, 32 RH, 12-6, 3.58. Catfish was on the '77 team - broke in with the A's in '65, top 5 Cy Young finishes in '72 and '73, won it in '74 and then signed with New York, where he'd spend the rest of his career. 2nd in the Cy Young in '75 and then fell off the table when he turned 30, The guy the Cubs are seeing today is just a guy. 1-2-3
1st: Ed Reulbach is just the 3rd starter for this Cub team, but was the MVP of round 1. 26 year old RH, 19-10, 1.78. Broke in with the Cubs in '05, tremendous start to his career, of his first 5 seasons, only in one did he have an ERA above 2.00. He's sent to Brooklyn during the '13 season and finishes in '17. Reggie singles with one out; that's it.
2nd: 1-2-3
2nd: 1-2-3
3rd: This is a really big game for the Cubs; they burned Brown in game 2 and used their 4th starter from the pen in game 1 - meaning they will send their 5th starter to the mound in game 4 against Ron Guidry. Heinie Zimmerman walks - he's the DH today; just 22 years old in his third year in the bigs. Zimmerman will win the Triple Crown in 1912 and be sent to the Giants in 1916 for Larry Doyle. He's left at second.
3rd: Mickey Rivers singles - nothing results. We go to the 4th.
4th: With two outs Frank Schulte singles for the first Cub hit. That's it.
4th: Pineilla made that huge error in game two and he's DH'ing today - he triples - but Reulbach gets the next 3 and we head to the 5th and this is still scoreless. Big, big game 3.
5th: 1-2-3, just one hit allowed by Catfish.
5th: Munson singles - nothing results.
6th: Jimmy Sheckard hits a 2 out single. Sheckard was just 18 when he broke in back in 1897 with Brooklyn. Led tthe league with 77 stolen bases in 1899; in 1906 he was dealt to the Cubs and he'll finish up in Cincinnati in 1913. He's stranded.
6th: Piniella hits a one out double, big game already for Lou - but again the Yanks can't capitalize and now we go to the 7th inning - still scoreless. Such a tight, terrific series.
7th: Steinfeld walks with 2 out - but that's all Catfish allows, he's given up just 2 hits.
7th: 1-2-3 -- Reulbach and Hunter go stride for stride as we move to the 8th.
8th: Don Gullett comes on for the third straight game, huge effort for Catfish today, 1-2-3
8th: 1-2-3, 8 straight for Reulbach. Games 1 and 2 went into extras - game 3 is scoreless as we go to the 9th.
9th: 1-2-3, Gullet sets them down in order again. Let's go to the bottom.
9th: With one out, Roy White singles - White's in LF today and game 4. Chambliss then walks. Yankees have the winning run at second base. Just one out. Are they about to end this game?
They do. Willie Randolph slices a single to left -- green light for White -- Sheckard throws home and White just -- just slides in under the tag and its done. Pandamonium in the Bronx - the Yankees pile on top of White at home plate -- the Yankees take game 3 and have Guidry going in game 4.
Cubs 0
Yankees 1
WP Gullett
LP Reulbach
2 hitter for Hunter/Gullett.
For the Yankees
Nettles homered in game one
Reggie has reached four times
Piniella has reached 6 times w/triple
Chambliss has reached 6 times
Randolph has reached 6 times
Munson reached 4 times
Rivers has reached 5 times
Dent has reached 3 times w/triple
For the Cubs
Hofman has reached 4 times
Chance has reached 5 times
Schulte reached 3x in game 2-3
Steinfeldt reached 3x in game 2-3
Evers has reached 4 times.
Tinker has reached three times and hit the monster home run
Let's go to Game 4. Do the Yankees close this out?
Cubs
CF Hofman (26) 115 4.1
1B Chance (32) 110 1.9
3B Steinfeldt (33) 105 3.2
2B Evers (27) 116 4.2
LF Sheckard (30) 109 2
DH Zimmerman (22) 93 .1
RF Schulte (26) 100 .1
SS Tinker (28) 99 4.6
C Archer (26) 71 .7
P Pfiester (LH) (31) 105
Yankees
2B Randolph (23) 112 5.5
DH Piniella (34) 129 3
RF Jackson (32) 136 3.1
3B Nettles (33) 128 5.4
LF White (34) 112 .9
C Munson (31) 101 3.2
1B Chambliss (29) 100 2.3
CF Rivers (29) 98 2.9
SS Dent (26) 72 2.2
P Guidry (LH) (27) 208 9.6
GAME FOUR
1st: Ron Guidry was terrific in game one and he looks to end the series today. He gives up a one out double to Frank Chance and nothing else.
1st: 31 year old lefty Jack Pfiester is the Cubs 5th starter, pressed into emergency duty here. 17-6, 2.43. It's the first lefty the Yankees have seen and it shuffles the batting order. Randolph singles on the first pitch - and then Piniella walks -- Yanks have the first two men on and nobody out -- after the first out a Nettles single makes it Cubs 0 Yankees 1
2nd: Zimmerman singles with one out and Tinker singles after the second out, neither Cub catcher has hit the ball yet -- but Jimmy Archer doubles here, it clears the bases and the Cubs have grabbed the lead. Cubs 2 Yankees 1
2nd: Chambliss singles and 2 outs later Randolph walks. Piniella then walks and it loads the bases for Reggie who has had a quiet series -- he pops out.
3rd: Evers singles with 2 out - nothing else.
3rd: 1-2-3 - Cubs holding that lead.
4th: 1-2-3
4th: With one out, Rivers walks, Dent singles -- and then Randolph walks. The bases are loaded, just one out and Pfiester throws a wild pitch that scores the tying run. That's all - Cubs 2 Yankees 2
5th: Archer singles - have the Cubs found a hitting star today? That's all.
5th: 1-2-3
6th: Steinfeldt walks and steals second - an out later a Sheckard single scores him and the Cubs are up again. Cubs 3 Yankees 2
6th: Bucky Dent doubles with one out and after the second out, Piniella walks -- that brings Jackson to the plate again - he's failed twice today with the bases loaded, the Cubs go to the pen to get Irv Higginbotham -- and again, Reggie does not come through and the lead holds.
7th: Tinker singles, two outs later he's in scoring position and when Frank Chance singles the Cubs have one more run. Cubs 4 Yankees 2
7th: Roy White singles with one out, after the second out -- Chambliss triples him home and when Rivers singles - the Yankees have tied this one up at 4. Rip Hagerman enters and the inning ends. Cubs 4 Yankees 4
8th: Sheckard walks after an out and Zimmerman singles to right -- Sheckard looks to test Reggie's arm -- but Jackson shoots him down in a bang bang play at third. Schulte then singles -- but Guidry escapes. What a series.
8th: Reggie draws a 2 out walk but that's all. Like game 3 we are all tied up headed to the 9th.
9th: For the fourth straight game Lemon turns to Don Gullett. 1-2-3.
9th: Roy White walks. The winning run is on base and Chance grabs the game 3 starter Ed Ruelbach and sends him in to pitch. These Cubs starters running on fumes. He gets 2 then Mickey Rivers singles.
2 on. 2 out. Bucky Dent at the plate. He flies to center. Just like games 1 and 2 - we are going to extras.
10th: Still Gullett for New York, he gets one and then walks Evers - after the second out Zimmerman singles and now it's the Cubs with 2 on and 2 out.
Frank Schulte singles to score the tiebreaking run.
Sparky Lyle gets the call and ends the inning. Cubs 5 Yankees 4
10th: Does Reulbach have enough in his right arm for 3 more outs?
Randolph grounds to third. One away.
Piniella strikes out. Two away.
Here's Reggie. The Yankees go down to their last strike.
Reggie works a walk. Tying run on. Winning run comes to the plate.
Nettles.
He grounds to Evers, flip to Tinker - ballgame.
Cubs 5
Yankees 4
WP Reulbach
LP Gullett
Had to come down to game 5 - this series has been dead even, 3 extra innings games and the other game decided in the 9th.
For the Cubs
Hofman has reached 4 times
Chance has reached 8 times
Schulte reached 5x in game 2-4 with the game winner in game 4
Steinfeldt reached 4x in game 2-4
Evers has reached 6 times.
Tinker has reached 5 times and hit the monster home run
For the Yankees
Nettles homered in game one
Reggie has reached 6 times
Piniella has reached 9 times w/triple
Chambliss has reached 8 times
Randolph has reached 9 times
Munson reached 4 times
Rivers has reached 8 times
Dent has reached 5 times w/triple
Yankees
3B Nettles (33) 128 5.4
RF Jackson (32) 136 3.1
LF Piniella (34) 129 3
1B Chambliss (29) 100 2.3
2B Randolph (23) 112 5.5
C Munson (31) 101 3.2
CF Rivers (29) 98 2.9
SS Dent (26) 72 2.2
SP2 Figueroa (29) 122 3.3
Cubs
2B Evers (27) 116 4.2
LF Sheckard (30) 109 2
CF Hofman (26) 115 4.1
1B Chance (32) 110 1.9
RF Schulte (26) 100 .1
3B Steinfeldt (33) 105 3.2
SS Tinker (28) 99 4.6
C Archer (26) 71 .7
SP2: Overall (28) 179 8.5
GAME FIVE
1st: Orval Overall went for the Cubs in game 2 and he stands on the hometown mound today in the showdown game. Nettles greets him with a single to center. An out later Piniella walks and the Yankees are in business - Overall gets the next two.
1st: The Yankees tournament hopes rest on Ed Figueroa's right arm. 1-2-3
2nd: 1-2-3, already 3 Ks for Overall
2nd: Steinfeldt hits a 2 out double and the Cubs now have a chance to get that first run of the game - they do not.
3rd: 1-2-3, 4 Ks for Overall and 8 straight set down
3rd: After an out - Overall, who hit a game 2 homer -- does it again. Overall hits his second homer of the series and the Cubs have the lead. Figueroa then walks Evers, but thats it.
4th: 1-2-3, 5 Ks and 11 straight for Overall.
4th: Hofman doubles, but nothing results.
5th: 1-2-3, 14 straight for Overall - he and Figueroa dueled in game 2 and here we are again.
5th: 1-2-3
6th: The Yanks have just one hit. 1-2-3, 6 Ks and 17 straight retired by Overall.
6th: Evers singles, steals second, moves to third on a fly out. So - 90 feet away from a second run. Hofman hits his second double - and now it is 2-0 Cubs. And given Overall's performance that might be the end of this series. After the second out Schulte singles and that's Yankees 0 Cubs 3
7th: 1-2-3, 20 straight. Overall dominating.
7th: 1-2-3
8th: 1-2-3, 8 Ks, 23 straight -- Overall has ended this series.
8th: Overall stays in the game and singles. An out later Sheckard doubles and after a second out Chance walks. Two on. Two out. Can the Cubs pad this lead? They don't.
9th: Gary Thomasson is first - 3 outs to go for Overall -- he grounds to Evers. One away.
Nettles walks.
here's Reggie - the Yankees need baserunners. Overall strikes him out. 9 Ks
Piniella grounds to short and it is over.
Yankees 0
Cubs 3
WP Overall
LP Figueroa
Fun series; big moments, tight games - in the end the Cubs pitchers win it - Brown and Reulbach both starting and relieving and the MVP Overall, strong in game 2, including a homer - and a 1 hitter in game 5 with another homer.
11 spots claimed - here comes number 12.
