2024 NFL Predictions

 AFC East

1. Miami 11-6

2. New York Jets 10-7 WC

3.Buffalo 10-7 

4. New England  5-12

AFC North

1. Baltimore 11-6

2. Cincinnati  10-7 WC

3. Cleveland 10-7  WC

4. Pittsburgh 8-9

AFC South

1. Houston 9-8

2. Jacksonville 8-9

3. Indianapolis 8-9

4. Tennessee 6-11

AFC West

1. Kansas City 11-6

2. LA Chargers 8-9

3. Las Vegas 7-10

4. Denver 5-12

NFC East

1. Philadelphia 11-6

2. Dallas 10-7 WC

3. Washington 6-11

4. New York Giants 6-11

NFC North

1. Detroit 11-6

2. Green Bay 10-7 WC

3. Chicago 8-9

4. Minnesota 7-10

NFC South

1. Atlanta 10-7

2. New Orleans 8-9

3. Tampa 8-9

4. Carolina 6-11

NFC West

1. San Francisco 11-6

2. LA Rams 9-8 WC

3. Seattle 8-9

4. Arizona 6-11

Super Bowl: San Francisco v. Baltimore

MLB All Star Tournament, Rnd 1, NL1 v AL2, Gm 7

 

As they say, it all comes down to this.

Game 7 - Road teams have won the first six.  

Winners go to the winners bracket to face AL Team 1, losers to the losers bracket for a 7 game elimination series against NL Team 2.  Game 2 winner Jim Palmer goes up against Game 3 winner Steve Carlton.  

AL Lineup

2B Rod Carew (31-L)

3B Miguel Cabrera (27)

LF Mookie Betts (25)

RF Reggie Jackson (23-L)

CF Mike Trout (20)

SS Alan Trammell (29)

2B Charlie Gehringer (31-L)

C Carlton Fisk (24)

RHP Jim Palmer (29)

NL Lineup

2B Rogers Hornsby (24)

SS Honus Wagner (34)

CF Willie Mays (34)

1B Albert Pujols (29)

LF Barry Bonds (36-L)

3B Mike Schmidt (30)

RF Bryce Harper (22-L)

C Johnny Bench (24)

LHP Steve Carlton (27)

Top 1

Lefty Carlton went 8 2/3 in game 3, giving up 5 earned runs and striking out 11 - he dominated most of the way and he is on the mound here in game 7.

Rod Carew is 7-17 with a walk - and he gets on base again here, driving a base hit to right on the game's first pitch.

Miguel Cabrera is 7-19 and has a homer, he grounds wide of first - Pujols makes a nice scoop and throws to second to nip Carew.  Cabrera is safe at first.

Mookie Betts is 5-14 with a walk and a home run, he hits a slow roller to second, Hornsby flips to short to get the lead runner - no play at first.  

Reggie Jackson is 4-17 and has a couple of homers - Carlton strikes him out.

Bottom 1

Jim Palmer won game 8 for the AL, he went 8 and 2/3, giving up 4 earned.  

Rogers Hornsby is 8-19 with a walk and 3 homers.  Palmer strikes him out.

Honus Wagner is 9-20 with a homer.  He walks.

Willie Mays is 7-19 with a walk and three homers.  He goes 3-6-3 and it ends the inning.

Top 2

Mike Trout is back in the lineup today, he's 2-10 and flies to deep left.

Alan Trammell is 7-14, he flies to center, nice play by Mays.

Charlie Gehringer is 4-11, routine grounder to second.

Bottom 2

Albert Pujols is having a monster series, 8-16, 4 walks and 2 homers.  He doubles over Trout's head.

Barry Bonds is 3-16 with 3 walks and a homer.  He walks here on four straight balls, Palmer not going near him.

Mike Schmidt is 5-17 with a couple of walks.  He flies to left.

Bryce Harper gets the start today over Aaron and Musial and Frank Robinson here in game 7, Harper's 1-8.  He rips a drive into the right field corner - Pujols will score, Bonds will score all the way from first base.  2-0. Bryce Harper pays off McGraw's bet and the NL takes the lead.

Johnny Bench is 3-10 with 3 walks and a homer, he grounds to short.

Carlton fouls out to first - but the NL plates two on the Harper double.

Top 3

Carlton Fisk is 1-10 with 3 walks.  He strikes out.

Carlton then strikes out Palmer.

Carew singled back in the first - he grounds to second here and it's 1-2-3.

Bottom 3

Hornsby is 0-1, Palmer gets him again, fly ball to left.

Wagner walked back in the first, he grounds to short.

Mays hit into a double play back in the first and he strikes out here.

Top 4

Cabrera's 0-1, Carlton strikes him out.

Betts is 0-1, he grounds to third.

Reggie's 0-1, he flies to left.  NL still up 2-0.

Bottom 4

Pujols doubled back in the second, scoring the game's first run, he grounds to second.

Bonds walked back in the second, scoring the game's second run - Palmer strikes him out.

Schmidt's 0-1, he grounds to second.  Palmer has retired every batter since giving up those 2 runs.

Top 5

Mike Trout's 0-1, he drops a bunt --- and he beats it out for a base hit.  Trout trying to get something going here.

Trammell's 0-1, Carlton strikes him out.

Gehringer's 0-1, he bloops a single to left center - Trout going to third, and the AL has men on the corners with only one out.

Fisk is 0-1 - he smokes a base hit to center - Trout will score - and the AL is on the board 2-1.

Palmer hits for himself (sorry) he successfully moves the runners over - there are two men in scoring position, 2 outs - top of the order for the AL, biggest spot of the series.

Carlton gets Carew to ground to first -- Pujols flips to Lefty covering and the inning ends.

We go to the bottom of the 5th here in game 7.  NL 2 AL 1

Bottom 5

NL has just 2 hits, but they're both doubles and they hold this lead.  

Bryce Harper drove in both runs in his first at bat - Palmer strikes him out.

Bench pops to short.

Carlton grounds to third.  11 straight for Jim Palmer.  

Top 6

Cabrera works a leadoff walk.  The potential tying run again on base.

Betts is 0-2, he rips a base hit to left - first and second now.  

Carlton strikes out Reggie.  

Trout grounds hard to short - diving stop by Wagner - Wagner throws to first and.....Just Nips Trout.

Two away - both baserunners move up - two men now in scoring position. 

Trammell hits a shot to right -- DIVING CATCH BY HARPER!  Bryce Harper with the diving catch and Carlton escapes the inning!

Bottom 6

Still only 2 hits for the National League. 

Hornsby singles.  Leadoff man aboard for the NL.

Wagner follows with a single.  Hornsby to second - two on and nobody out.

Mays grounds to short, flip to second for 1 - Mays beats it out at first.  Men are on the corners with 1 away.

Pujols Bombs one -- all the way to the center field wall - it's Pujols's second double of the game - Hornsby scores, Mays comes all the way around to score -- the NL doubles its total and its now 4-1.

Bonds walks.  

Schmidt rips a ball to right!  Schmidt rips a ball to right!  It rattles in the corner--- Pujols scores -- Bonds scores -- Schmidt slides in for a triple!  6-1.  The NL now has a bulging lead here in game 7.

Harper drives a ball to right center -- Schmidt will score -- it's a double for Harper, 7-1.  

Palmer strikes out Bench and Carlton and the inning ends - but the NL takes a big, big lead as we go to the 7th.

Top 7

Carlton now just 9 innings from advancing.

Gehringer grounds to second.

Fisk grounds to second.

Palmer, hitting for himself, strikes out.

Bottom 7

Hornsby leads off with  A LINE DRIVE HOMER TO RIGHT! That's Hornsby's 4th home run of the series - it is 8-1 and about time to put this series to bed.  8-1

Zach Greinke comes on for the AL, replacing Palmer.

Wagner doubles.

Mays strikes out.

Pujols hits one deep to right - Wagner advances on the out.

Bonds drives a double to the right field wall, Wagner will score, 9-1, the NL is moving on to the winners bracket.

Schmidt bloops a single to left center -- Bonds will come around to score, 10-1.

Harper flies out, the NL now up 10-1, just 6 outs from wrapping this up.

Top 8

Carlton throwing a five hitter, 6 outs away from wrapping up the series.

Carew grounds to second.

Cabrera walks.

Betts flies to left.

Reggie grounds to first.

Bottom 8

Bench walks.

Carlton hits for himself, swings away, flies to right.

Hornsby grounds to short, they get the lead runner.

Wagner grounds to short.

Top 9

Here we go - Steve Carlton needs 3 outs.

Trout grounds to second.

Trammell singles to left.

Gehringer singles to right center.

Fisk flies to center.

Bagwell comes on to hit.

Ground ball to Morgan - he throws onto first -- and that's it - the National League A Team wins game 7 and advances to the winners bracket.

NL A 10 AL B 1

NL A wins Series 4 Games to 3.

Carlton throws a complete game, Pujols hits 2 doubles, the NL will move on.

Series Totals - Series MVP Albert Pujols

Wagner: 11-24, BB, HR, 3B, 32B, 3RBI, 4RS

Mays: 7-23, BB, 3HR, 2B, 8RBI, 6RS

Aaron: 3-12, BB HBP, 2B

Robinson: 1-8, HBP, BB, 2B, 2RS

Morgan: 4-11, 2BB, HR, 22B, 2RBI, 3RS

Bonds: 4-18, 5 walks, HR, 3RBI 6RS

Musial: 2-11, walk, HBP RBI

Harper: 3-12, 22B, 3RBI

Snider: 1-6, 2 BB

Mathews: 1-7, BB, RS

Bench: 3-13, 4BB, HR, 3RBI  2RS

Vaughan: 0-6, BB, HBP

Hornsby: 10-24, BB, 4HR, 8RBI, 8RS

Pujols: 10-20, 4BB, 2HR, 42B, 8RBI, 6RS

Schmidt: 7-21, 2BB, 3B 2B, 4RBI, 4RS

Piazza: 4-12, BB, HR, 2RBI, 2RS

Gooden: 0-1 8 IP 5ER, 12H, 1BB/7K

Mathewson: 0-2, 15.1IP 6 ER, 18H, 8K/6BB

Carlton 2-0, 17.2 IP 6ER, 16 hits, 18K/5BB 

Koufax 1-0, 7IP, 5ER, 8H, 8K/2BB

Gibson: 1-0, 9 IP, 0ER, 5H 11K/1 BB

Johnson: 4 IP, ER, 3H 5K/BB

Maddux .1 IP 

Kimbrel Sv  IP, BB/K

Speaker 3-13, BB, RBI, 3RS, 2SB

Carew: 8-21  walk, 2RS

Jackson: 4-21, 2HR, 5RBI, 3RS

Griffey, 4-14, BB, HR, 2RBI, 2RS

Boggs: 1-8, 

Gehringer: 6-15, 2BB, RBI

Jeter: 3-11, BB

Berra: 2-10, RS

Betts: 6-18, BB, HR 3RBI, 3RS, 2SB

Bagwell: 2-11, HR, 3RBI, 2RS

Judge: 2-10, HBP, 4BB, 2B, RS

Cabrera 7-21, 2BB HR 2RBI, 2RS

Trout: 3-11, BB, RBI, RS

Biggio: 2-10, BB, HBP, HR, SB

Trammell: 8-18, 2B, 3RBI

Fisk: 2-14, 3BB, RS, RBI

Palmer 1-1, 14.2 IP, 12ER, 12 H, 10 K/8BB

Blyleven: 1-0 14 IP 4ER 10 H, 7 K/6BB

Guidry: 0-1, 6.1 IP 8ER, 14 H, 3K/0BB

Grove 0-1, 7.1 IP, 6ER, 12 H, 5BB/3K

Scott: 0-1, 8.2 IP, 9ER, 13H, 8K/5BB

Greinke: 1-0 6 IP, 6ER, 6H, 7K/3BB

Verlander 2.2 IP H  K

Eckersley SV 1.1 IP BB

MLB All Star Tournament, Rnd 1, NL1 v AL2, Gm 6

 

Game 6: AL B at NL A - NL leads 3 games to 2

The road teams have won the first 5 games - the series shifts back to LA for a rematch of the game 1 starters, Bert Blyleven for the AL and Christy Mathewson for the NL - NL looking to close this out and move into the winners bracket where they would face AL 1

AL B Lineup

1B 1977 Rod Carew

3B 2013 Miguel Cabrera

LF 2018 Mookie Betts

RF 1969 Reggie Jackson

CF 1912 Tris Speaker

SS 1987 Alan Trammell

2B 1934 Charlie Gehringer

C 1972 Carlton Fisk

RHP 1973 Bert Blyleven

NL A Lineup

2B 1975 Joe Morgan

CF 1965 Willie Mays

LF 2001 Barry Bonds

1B 2009 Albert Pujols

SS 1908 Honus Wagner

RF 1959 Hank Aaron

3B 1980 Mike Schmidt

C 1997 Mike Piazza

RHP 1908 Christy Mathewson

Top 1

Christy Mathewson lost game 1 but pitched well, 7 IP, 1 ER.  

Rod Carew leads off for the AL, he's 5-12 with a walk.  He grounds to first - Pujols takes it to the bag.

Miguel Cabrera's 5-14 and has homered, he lines a base hit to left.

Mookie Betts is 3-10, he's homered, he grounds up the middle - Morgan dives - flips to short for 1 - onto first -- Double Play!  Excellent play by Joe Morgan and the NL goes back to the dugout.

Bottom 1

Bert Blyleven won the first game of the series, complete game 6 hit shutout.  

Joe Morgan leads off - Hornsby has been smashing the ball, but Morgan also has played well; he's 3-7 with a walk and a homer.  He grounds out to first.

Willie Mays is 5-15 with a walk and 2 home runs.  He hits a foul pop to third -- Cabrera leaning into the AL dugout the make the play.

Barry Bonds is 3-12 with 3 walks and a homer that still might be in the air.  He grounds to second.

Top 2

Reggie Jackson's 3-12 and has hit two homers.  He grounds to second.

Tris Speaker is 2-9, he grounds to first.

Alan Trammell's 3-9, he hits a long fly to left, Bonds has to run a long way but snags the third out.

Bottom 2

Albert Pujols is 6-12, 4 walks, 2 homers, just really a machine so far.  He rips a liner that Trammell is able to hold onto.

Honus Wagner is 6-16, HE HITS A DRIVE -- DEEP CENTER FIELD -- IT IS........GONE!  Honus Wagner homers to dead center field - and the NL takes the early 1-0 lead.  10 years before, a 24 year old Wagner hit .299, thats the only year of his career he hit less than .320 until he was 39 years old.  

Hank Aaron's 2-8, with walk and an HBP, Blyleven strikes him out.

Mike Schmidt's 5-13, 2 walks.  He grounds to second and the inning is over.

Top 3

Charlie Gehringer's 3-7 with a walk, he works a walk again and the leadoff man is aboard.

Carlton Fisk is hitless - Mathewson strikes him out.

Blyleven pops up a bunt attempt, Schmidt with a nifty play.

Carew's 0-1 and hits a routine fly ball to right.  

Bottom 3

Mike Piazza's 4-9 with a homer. He takes a walk.

Mathewson bunts him to second.

Joe Morgan's 0-1, he works a walk, the NL has two on, 1 out and Mays/Bonds next.

WILLIE MAYS HITS A LONG DRIVE -- LEFT FIELD -- LONG, LONG GONE -- A 3 run home run by Willie Mays gives the NL a 4-0 lead!  Mays hits his third home run of the series.

Blyleven gets Bonds to fly to center and Pujols to ground to third, we go to the 4th inning.

Top 4

Cabrera singled in the first, he grounds to second here.

Betts is 0-1, he singles to center and then steals second.

Reggie's 0-1, he rips a base hit to left center, Betts comes around to score and the AL is on the board. 4-1. 

Speaker flies to right.  

Trammell singles to left - that brings up the tying run.  2 on, 2 out.

Gehringer flies to right center and the innings is over.

Bottom 4

Wagner homered in his last at bat, he bounces a base hit to center.

Aaron grounds to third, Wagner was running on the pitch, no play there - Cabrera gets Aaron.

Matthewson strikes out Schmidt.

Piazza grounds to second and the inning is over.

Top 5

Fisk gets his first hit of the series, blooping one into right center.

Blyleven again fails to move the runner over, popping up a bunt to first, nice play by Pujols.

Carew grounds to second, Morgan throws him out, the runner goes to second.

Long at bat - full count, Cabrera hits a texas leaguer to center - Fisk running with the pitch - Mays is up and throwing - we've got a play at the plate - its a Catcher Collision - Fisk slamming into Piazza and jarring the ball loose -- Fisk is safe - 4-2, the AL has halved the lead.

Cabrera moves up to second on the throw - runner in scoring position.

Betts grounds to second and the inning ends.

Bottom 5

Mathewson flies to center.

Morgan flies to right.

Mays hit a rocket 3 run home run in his last at bat and lines a single to left.

Blyleven strikes out Bonds and we go to the 6th.

Top 6

Reggie flies to right.

Speaker singles to right and then steals second -- the AL keeps chipping away - and with one out there's a man in scoring position in this 4-2 game.

Trammell bounces a single just under a diving Pujols -- Speaker will score -- and look what we have here. 4-3.

Gehringer grounds to first - Trammell now in scoring position with 2 away - McGraw calls for the intentional walk to Fisk with the pitchers spot coming to the plate. 

And Stengel lifts Blyleven.  Jeff Bagwell will come to the plate.

Bagwell's 2-10 with a home run.  Well, here we go - 2 on, 2 out, NL holding onto the 4-3 lead.  Mathewson pitching to Bagwell.

Bagwell harmlessly hits a foul pop to third, Schmidt snatches it and the threat ends.

Bottom 6

2011 Justin Verlander is 28 years old, he has pitched 2/3 of an inning so far in the series, he's RH and he is coming on now.

Pujols singles to right center.  

Wagner slow roller to short - Trammell goes the short way, verrrrrrry close, but they get the lead runner.

Wagner looks to take second -- But Fisk Guns him Down - Fisk rifles a shot that takes out Wagner and there's 2 out.

Aaron doubles to left center - NL with a man in scoring position and 2 away.

Verlander comes up big - striking out Schmidt and we go to the 7th, 4-3 NL.

Top 7

Carew leads off with a single - tying run is aboard.

Cabrera hits a rocket down the line - but Schmidt makes a near miraculous stab for the putout - he then fires to first looking to double up Carew, he just is able to get back.

Betts works a walk, Mathewson is leaking oil now, his manager McGraw might be showing too much deference now.

Reggie grounds slowly to second - Morgan flips to short, that's all - that leaves men on the corners, two away.

SPEAKER HITS A LONG DRIVE -- DEEP RIGHT CENTER FIELD -- MAYS TO THE WALL --- CAUGHT!  CAUGHT!  WILLIE MAYS PULLS A SPEAKER HOME RUN BACK FROM OVER THE WALL.  Willie Mays has saved the day for the NL and we are onto the bottom of the 7th.

Bottom 7

Piazza grounds to third.

Mathewson stays in the game, grounds to third.

Joe Morgan bangs a double hard off the right field wall.

Mays grounds to first - and we go to the 8th,  NL 4 AL 3

Top 8

Trammell chops one into the hole at short- Wagner can't make the play. Base hit.

How much does Mathewson have left.  

Mathewson digs deep.

He strikes out Gehringer.

He strikes out Fisk.

Stengel goes to the bench -- it's Aaron Judge.  2 out, one on - Judge comes in to face Mathewson.

And he walks.  

2 on, 2 out - just like the 7th.  Carew to the plate.

Base Hit!  Carew hard single to right field -- Aaron comes up and fires a Strike to Home Plate -- Trammell holds at third.  

Bases loaded.  2 out.  4-3.  

Miguel Cabrera.  

Cabrera flies to center.  Mathewson is out of it again.  Let's go to the 9th.

Bottom 8

Zach Greinke is the third AL pitcher, he's pitched 4 innings, given up 4 runs.

Bonds flies to right.

Pujols singles to left.

Wagner singles to right, Pujols goes to third, men on the corners.

Aaron shallow fly out to left- Pujols can't advance, two away.

Wagner steals second - two men in scoring position, the force play taken away.

Schmidt grounds to short -- and we go to the bottom of the 9th.

Top 9

Mathewson comes back out.  3 outs away from sending the NL A Team into the winners bracket where they would face the AL A Team.

Betts singles to left center.  The AL really getting on base.

Reggie grounds to first - Pujols throws to second to knock off the lead runner.  Reggie safe.

Speaker walks.  2 on.  1 out.  

Trammell singles to left - Reggie running - Bonds is throwing -- Reggie is....

SAFE!  SAFE!  SAFE!  Reggie scores, the AL has tied the score - Speaker is now at third, Trammell at second, the AL has 2 on and still one out.  4-4

That ends Mathewson's game - Randy Johnson enters, 4 IP, 1 ER.  

Gehringer rips a single to center!  Speaker scores - Trammell held up -- The AL has come All The Way Back to Take the Lead.  5-4.

Fisk lines to third.

Derek Jeter comes on to hit, runners on the corners, 2 out, Jeter's 3-10 with a walk.

Jeter grounds to third.

Bottom 9

The NL had a 4-0 lead, but the AL scores 2 in the top of the 9th and now leads 5-4, 3 outs from forcing a decisive game 7.

It's Eck.  He's only pitched a third of an inning so far in the tournament.

Piazza flies to left.

Hornsby comes off the bench to hit - what a series, 7 for 18 with a walk and 3 homers.

Hornsby singles to center.  

Top of the order now - Morgan, Mays and if anyone gets on base - Bonds.  

Morgan routine grounder to second - flip to short for 1 - to first....DOUBLE PLAY!  DOUBLE PLAY!  

Dennis Eckersley has come on and ended this game - the American League B Team forces Game 7.

AL B 5 NL A 4

The Detroit Tigers come through, run scoring singles by Trammell and Gehringer in the 9th giving the AL the comeback win.  Big 4 hit day for Alan Trammell.  Hey, we get a Game 7.

Series Totals

Wagner: 9-20, HR, 3B, 22B, 3RBI, 3RS

Mays: 7-19, BB, 3HR, 2B, 8RBI, 5RS

Aaron: 3-12, BB HBP, 2B

Robinson: 1-8, HBP, BB, 2B, 2RS

Morgan: 4-11, 2BB, HR, 22B, 2RBI, 3RS

Bonds: 3-16, 3 walks, HR, 2RBI 3RS

Musial: 2-11, walk, HBP RBI

Harper: 1-8

Snider: 1-6, 2 BB

Mathews: 1-7, BB, RS

Bench: 3-10, 3BB, HR, 3RBI  2RS

Vaughan: 0-6, BB, HBP

Hornsby: 8-19, BB, 3HR, 7RBI, 6RS

Pujols: 8-16, 4BB, 2HR, 2B, 6RBI, 4RS

Schmidt: 5-17, 2BB, 2B, RBI, 3RS

Piazza: 4-12, BB, HR, 2RBI, 2RS

Gooden: 0-1 8 IP 5ER, 12H, 1BB/7K

Mathewson: 0-2, 15.1IP 6 ER, 18H, 8K/6BB

Carlton 1-0, 8.2 IP 5 ER, 9 hits, 11K/3BB 

Koufax 1-0, 7IP, 5ER, 8H, 8K/2BB

Gibson: 1-0, 9 IP, 0ER, 5H 11K/1 BB

Johnson: 4 IP, ER, 3H 5K/BB

Maddux .1 IP 

Kimbrel Sv  IP, BB/K

Speaker 3-13, BB, RBI, 3RS, 2SB

Carew: 7-17  walk, 2RS

Jackson: 4-17, 2HR, 5RBI, 3RS

Griffey, 4-14, BB, HR, 2RBI, 2RS

Boggs: 1-8, 

Gehringer: 4-11, 2BB, RBI

Jeter: 3-11, BB

Berra: 2-10, RS

Betts: 5-14, BB, HR 3RBI, 3RS, 2SB

Bagwell: 2-11, HR, 3RBI, 2RS

Judge: 2-10, HBP, 4BB, 2B, RS

Cabrera 7-19, HR 2RBI, 2RS

Trout: 2-10, RBI, RS

Biggio: 2-10, BB, HBP, HR, SB

Trammell: 7-14, 2B, 3RBI

Fisk: 1-10, 3BB, RS

Palmer 1-0, 8.2 IP, 4ER, 4 H, 4 K/5BB

Blyleven: 1-0 14 IP 4ER 10 H, 7 K/6BB

Guidry: 0-1, 6.1 IP 8ER, 14 H, 3K/0BB

Grove 0-1, 7.1 IP, 6ER, 12 H, 5BB/3K

Scott: 0-1, 8.2 IP, 9ER, 13H, 8K/5BB

Greinke: 1-0 4 IP, 4ER, 6H, 6K/2BB

Verlander 2.2 IP H  K

Eckersley SV 1.1 IP BB

MLB All Star Tournament, Rnd 1, NL1 v AL2, Gm 5

 

Game 5: NL I at AL 2

The AL had a 5-1 lead, but homers by Mays and Hornsby brought the NL back from the brink and this series is all tied at 2.  One more at Fenway - the AL goes with a right hander, 1986 Mike Scott, the NL with a RH of their own, 1968 Bob Gibson.  

NL Team A Lineup:

2B 1924 Rogers Hornsby

SS 1908 Honus Wagner

CF 1965 Willie Mays

LF 2001 Barry Bonds

1B 2009 Albert Pujols

RF 1946 Stan Musial

3B 1980 Mike Schmidt

C 1972 Johnny Bench

RHP 1968 Bob Gibson

AL Team B Lineup:

CF 1996 Ken Griffey, Jr.

1B 1977 Rod Carew

LF 2002 Aaron Judge

RF 1969 Reggie Jackson

3B 2013 Miguel Cabrera

2B 1997 Craig Biggio

SS 1999 Derek Jeter

C 1950 Yogi Berra

RHP 1986 Mike Scott

Top 1

Mike Scott spent his entire career in the National League, but the Astros are an AL team in 2024, so the 1986 NL Cy Young winner is the starter for the AL today.  31 years old 18-10.  2.22 ERA. Threw a no hitter against my team to win the NL West on my birthday.  

Rogers Horsnby leads off, both he and Joe Morgan have had strong series, but Hornsby gets the nod here.  6-13, 3 home runs, 7 RBI, 5 runs scored.  

Scott strikes him out.

Honus Wagner beats out his fellow Pirate Arky Vaughan and is likely the starter the rest of the series.  5-11, double, triple, 2 RBI and a run scored.

He flies to left.

Willie Mays will be starting at center the rest of the way; he's 3-10 with a walk, 2 homers, a double, 3RBI and 2 runs scored.

Scott strikes him out- 3 up, 3 down to start this off.

Bottom 1

Here's 1968 Bob Gibson glowering from the mound.  32 years old. MVP, Cy Young.  22-9, 1.12 ERA. 258 ERA+.

Ken Griffey leads off from center field, getting the nod over Trout. 4-11, HR, 2RBI, 2 runs scored.  

He lines hard to third.

Rod Carew starts at second over Jeff Bagwell in a platoon move, 3-8, walk, 2 runs scored.  

Carew laces a base hit to right center.

Aaron Judge is in left, Speaker, despite the platoon advantage, on the bench.  2-6, 3 walks, a hit by pitch, a double and a run scored.  

Judge flies to center.

Reggie Jackson is in right - controversial in Boston as Mookie Betts sits, Reggie's 2-8, 2 homers, 4RBI, 2 runs scored.  

Gibson strikes him out.

Top 2

Barry Bonds is still hitless, 0-8, 2 walks and a run scored.

Bonds walks on 4 straight balls.

Albert Pujols is hitting, 4-8, 3 walks 2 homers, 4 RBI and 3 runs scored.  Pujols doubles off the monster and Bonds is running, Bonds off with the crack of the bat and Bonds will slide in safely, 1-0. Pujols won 3 MVPs in 5 years, 2009 was the last one he'd win.  

Stan Musial is 2-7 with a walk - the NL was going to go with Mays, but the corner OF spots were both up for grabs.  

Scott strikes him out.

Mike Schmidt has likely earned the third base job the rest of the series, 5-9, walk, double, RBI, run scored.  

Schmidt hits a shallow fly ball to left.

Johnny Bench gets the start - Piazza has hit much better over the course of the series, Bench is here for defense.  1-6, 2 walks, run scored.

With an open base and Gibson on deck, Stengel orders the free pass.

Gibson harmlessly flies to left.

Bottom 2

Miguel Cabrera is 4-10, he's got a homer, RBI, 2 runs scored.  

Cabrera punches a base hit to right.  

Craig Biggio's 2-6, walk, hit by pitch, homer.  He grounds to third - but Schmidt kicks it - the AL has two on, no one out.

Derek Jeter is 3-6 with a walk.

Gibson strikes him out.

Yogi's 1-7 with a run scored.  

He flies to the track in left.  Cabrera takes third, men on the corners with 2 away.  

Biggio steals second during Scott's at bat - second and third now.

But Scott grounds to second and that ends the threat.

Top 3

Back to the top of the order - Hornsby's 0-1, he bounces a ball right over the second base bag for a single.  

Wagner's 0-1, he grounds to second - Hornsby moves up.

Mays is 0-1 - he singles to right center - Hornsby will score and it's 2-0 NL.  You know when the highest OBP of Mays's career was?  When he was 40. .425 in 1971.  

Bonds is still hit -- THERE IT GOES -- THAT IS A MOOOOOOON SHOT TO RIGHT FIELD, 4-0, McGraw went with a hitless Bonds here in game 5, but that 2 run mammoth has made it 4-0.  Bonds has 3 MVPs banked when he came into 2001 and then this was the first of four consecutive more. 

Pujols doubled in his first at bat, Scott strikes him out.

Musial's 0-1, he gets hit in the arm.

Schmidt's 0-1, he grounds to third and the inning is over - 3 more for the NL.

Bottom 3

Griffey's 0-1, he flies to right.

Carew singled back in the first -- and he does it again here, grounds a ball between short and third.

Judge is 0-1, he flies to left center.

Reggie's 0-1, he grounds to first - Gibson is cruising.

Top 4

Bench was intentionally walked in his first appearance, he grounds to short.

Gibson ropes a shot - Bob Gibson splits the outfield -- Gibson's got a surprising double.

Hornsby's 1-2, he walks.

Wagner's 0-2, he pops to third.

Mays is 1-2, Scott Strikes him out.

Bottom 4

Cabrera singled in his first at bat, he grounds to short here.

Biggio reached on an error, Gibson strikes him out.

Jeter's 0-1, he flies to right - Gibson in a groove with a 4 run lead.

Top 5

Bonds hit a bomb in his last at bat - he reaches for the third time today, singling hard to right.

Pujols is 1-2, Scott strikes him out.

Musial was hit by a pitch in his last appearance - routine fly to center.

Schmidt's 0-2, Scott strikes him out.

Bottom 5

Yogi's 0-1, he laces a single to right center.

Gibson balks - and Yogi's at second.

Scott sacrifices Yogi over.

Griffey's 0-2, Gibson strikes him out.  

Carew's 2-2 - easy fly ball to right ends the inning.  We head to the 6th.

Top 6

Bench is 0-1 with a walk - he grounds to short.

Gibson doubled in his last at bat, he flies to center.

Hornsby has reached base twice, continuing his great play in the series - but Scott gets him here, a shallow fly ball to right, 3 up, 3 down.

Bottom 6

Judge is 0-2, Gibson strikes him out.

Reggie's 0-2, he gets a knock, into right center.  5th hit of the day for the AL.

Cabrera's 1-2, shallow fly ball to center.

Biggio's 0-2 and now 0-3 when Gibson strikes him out.

6 Ks for Gibson, he's got a 4-0 lead, the AL no threat so far here in game 5.

Top 7

Wagner's 0-3, Scott strikes him out.

Mays is 1-3, he grounds to short.

Bonds has reached all 3 times today, and does so again, singling to center - it's Bonds's breakout game in the series.

Pujols then walks - two on for the NL, this could be the knockout.

But Musial grounds to second and we go to the stretch.  NL leading 4-0 here in game 5.

Bottom 7

Gibson strikes out Jeter, 7 Ks for Gibson.

Yogi grounds to short.

Scott, for some reason hitting for himself, strikes out.  3 up, 3 down.  NL rolling.

Top 8

Schmidt flies to right center.

Bench singles - he's reached twice today.

Gibson's sacrifice attempt is not successful, Yogi fields the bunt and knocks Bench off.

Hornsby grounds to third.

Bottom 8

Griffey walks, AL needing baserunners.

Carew grounds to first, Pujols flips to Gibson, Griffey now at second.

Gibson strikes out Judge and Jackson back to back -- 10 Bob Gibson strikeouts in a dominating performance through 9.

Top 9

Wagner leads off with a double off the Monster.

And Mays gets an insurance run with a single to right, Wagner scores, it is 5-0 NL.

Scott gets Bonds for the first time today, he grounds to first.  Mays advances.

And Pujols drives him home with a base hit to center.  6-0.

Musial flies to right.

Scott walks Schmidt, two on, two out.

AND JOHNNY BENCH HITS A 3 RUN HOME RUN THAT CLEARS THE MONSTER, THIS GAME IS DONE, DONE, DONE, DONE DONE, WE WILL HEAD BACK TO DODGER STADIUM, NL UP 3 GAMES TO 2.  9-0.

Gibson hits his second double of the day - that's enough for Scott, far too late, Zach Greinke comes on.

He pops Hornsby up.

Bottom 9

Cabrera pops to short.

Gibson strikes out Biggio.

Jeter grounds to short.

A complete game shutout for Bob Gibson and the NL takes a 3-2 lead in the series.

NL A 9 AL B 0

Bob Gibson throws a complete game 5 hitter, even adds two doubles, the road team has won all five games in the series.

Series Totals

Wagner: 6-16, 3B, 22B, 2RBI, 2RS

Mays: 5-15, BB, 2HR, 2B, 5RBI, 4RS

Aaron: 2-8, BB HBP, 

Robinson: 1-8, HBP, BB, 2B, 2RS

Morgan: 3-7, walk, HR, 2B, 2RBI, 2RS

Bonds: 3-12, 3 walks, HR, 2RBI 3RS

Musial: 2-11, walk, HBP RBI

Harper: 1-8

Snider: 1-6, 2 BB

Mathews: 1-7, BB, RS

Bench: 3-10, 3BB, HR, 3RBI  2RS

Vaughan: 0-6, BB, HBP

Hornsby: 7-18, BB, 3HR, 7RBI, 6RS

Pujols: 6-12, 4BB, 2HR, 2B, 6RBI, 4RS

Schmidt: 5-13, 2BB, 2B, RBI, 3RS

Piazza: 4-9, HR, 2RBI, RS

Gooden: 0-1 8 IP 5ER, 12H, 1BB/7K

Mathewson: 0-1, 7IP 1 ER, 5 hits, 5K/1BB

Carlton 1-0, 8.2 IP 5 ER, 9 hits, 11K/3BB 

Koufax 1-0, 7IP, 5ER, 8H, 8K/2BB

Gibson: 1-0, 9 IP, 0ER, 5H 11K/1 BB

Johnson: 4 IP, ER, 3H 5K/BB

Maddux .1 IP 

Kimbrel Sv  IP, BB/K

Speaker 2-9, RBI, RS, SB

Carew: 5-12 walk, 2RS

Jackson: 3-12, 2HR, 4RBI, 2RS

Griffey, 4-14, BB, HR, 2RBI, 2RS

Boggs: 1-8, 

Gehringer: 3-7, walk

Jeter: 3-10, walk, 

Berra: 2-10, RS

Betts: 3-10, HR 3RBI, 2RS, SB

Bagwell: 2-10, HR, 3RBI, 2RS

Judge: 2-10, HBP, 3BB, 2B, RS

Cabrera 5-14, HR RBI, 2RS

Trout: 2-10, RBI, RS

Biggio: 2-10, BB, HBP, HR, SB

Trammell: 3-9, 2B, RBI

Fisk: 0-6, 2BB

Palmer 1-0, 8.2 IP, 4ER, 4 H, 4 K/5BB

Blyleven: 1-0 9 IP 0ER 6 hits, 4 K/4BB

Guidry: 0-1, 6.1 IP 8ER, 14 H, 3K/0BB

Grove 0-1, 7.1 IP, 6ER, 12 H, 5BB/3K

Scott: 0-1, 8.2 IP, 9ER, 13H, 8K/5BB

Greinke: 4 IP, 4ER, 6H, 6K/2BB

Verlander .2 IP H

Eckersley .1 IP BB

MLB All Star Tournament, Rnd 1, NL1 v AL2, Gm 4

 

Game 4 (AL2 leads 2-1) NL1 at AL2

All road victories so far - the AL takes the first two games in LA, the NL blasted out 20 hits in a game 3 rout at Fenway.  Once again, lefty starters for both teams, meaning the RH hitting lineups - after this game, every position player will have had the needed two starts.  

NL Team 1 Lineup

2B Hornsby

SS Wagner

CF Mays

RF Aaron

LF Robinson

1B Pujols

3B Schmidt

C Piazza

LHP 1963 Sandy Koufax

AL Team 2 Lineup

RF Betts

1B Bagwell

LF Judge

3B Cabrera

SS Trammell

CF Trout

2B Biggio

C Fisk

LHP 1931 Lefty Grove

Top 1

Lefty Grove is 31, he's still 3 years away from pitching his home games here at Fenway.  31-4, 5 saves, 2.06 ERA,  he won the MVP.

Rogers Hornsby leads off, he's 3-8 in the series with a homer.  He lines hard to short.

Honus Wagner is 2-6 with a triple.  Routine fly to right.

Willie Mays is 3-6 with a homer. He walks.

Hank Aaron is 1-4, he drives a base hit to right - Mays to third and the NL has runners on the corners.

Frank Robinson is 1-4 with a double - he pops out to second.

 Bottom 1

Sandy Koufax is 27, he also won the MVP this year along with his first Cy Young.  25-5, 1.88.  

Mookie Betts is 1-5, he hits a sinking liner that Pujols snares.

Jeff Bagwell's 1-5 with a homer - Koufax strikes him out.

Aaron Judge is 2-3 with a double - Koufax strikes him out.  Carlton struck out 11 in game 3, lets see if Koufax chases that mark.

Top 2

Albert Pujols is 2-4, he grounds to second.

Mike Schmidt is 3-5 with a double, Grove strikes him out.

Mike Piazza's 3-4 with a homer, he singles to center.

Koufax drops a bunt - Fisk pounces - throws to short -- and Trammell can't hold on - everyone is safe - it's an error on Trammell and the NL has 2 on.

Back to the top of the order - Hornsby singles hard to left -- Piazza's held up, not challenging Judge's arm and the NL has loaded the bases with 2 away.

Grove strikes out Wagner. 

Bottom 2

Miguel Cabrera is 2-5 -- AND HE HITS A LONG DRIVE - LEFT FIELD - OVER THE MONSTER, 1-0, this was the second of Miguel Cabrera's back to back MVP seasons, the year after his Triple Crown.  

Alan Trammell is 1-4 with a double, he flies to center.

Mike Trout is 0-5 and Koufax strikes him out.

Craig Biggio is 1-3 - he flies deep to right field, Aaron is there and the inning ends.

Top 3

Mays walked in the first - he grounds to short.

Aaron singled in the first - he grounds to short.

Robinson is 0-1 and now he's 0-2 when he grounds to first.

Bottom 3

Fisk is 0-3 and he grounds to second to go 0-4.

Grove pops up to short.

Betts is 0-1, he grounds to second.  AL still up 1-0 and we go to the 4th.

Top 4

Pujols is 0-1, he works a walk.

Schmidt is 0-1, he walks - back to back walks to open the 4th for the NL.

Grove gets Piazza to go 6-4-3, Pujols is at third with 2 away.

Koufax fouls out to third and the inning ends.

Bottom 4

Koufax struck out Bagwell in his first at bat - and does it again.

Koufax struck out Judge in his first at bat - and does it again.

Miguel Cabrera plated the game's only run with a solo homer in the second and he singles here, punching a ball to left.

Trammell's 0-1, he bloops a ball to left, the AL has two on, two out.

And then Mike Trout gets his first hit of the series, a hard shot to right center - Cabrera scores, 2-0. Trout is a 20 year old rookie, won the Rookie of the Year and finished second in the MVP. 

Koufax then hits Biggio to load the bases for Fisk.

But Koufax gets him to ground to third - we go to the fifth, AL extends its lead.

Top5

Top of the order for the NL, ROGERS HORNSBY HITS A LINE DRIVE - JUST INSIDE OF THE RIGHT FIELD FOUL POLE!  2-1. Between 1917-29 Hornsby led the NL in OPS+ all but two seasons.

Wagner follows by ripping a base hit to center.  On the next pitch - he attempts to steal second but is Gunned Down by Fisk.  

Mays hits a deep fly ball but it is tracked down by Judge in left.

Aaron walks.

Grove strikes out Robinson to end the inning.

Bottom 5

Koufax strikes out Grove.

Betts is 0-2 - AND HE HITS A TOWERING SHOT - DEAD CENTER FIELD - MOOKIE BETTS HOMERS AT FENWAY AND THIS BUILDING IS ON FIRE!  3-1. Betts won one MVP in Boston, it was this season, his .640 SLG remains his highest total through 2024. 

Bagwell punches a single to right and Judge walks to put two on, one out.

Koufax strikes out Cabrera.

Trammell then punches a single to left center, Bagwell scores - the AL now up 4-1, and looking to go up 3-1 in the series.  1987 was Trammell's highest ever MVP finish, second place.  His 155 OPS+ was his career high.  

Trammell then swipes second - the AL daring Piazza to take a shot at him with Judge on third.

Trout grounds to third - but there's real damage here, AL up 4-1.

Top 6

Pujols singles to left center.

Schmidt then singles to left.

Piazza flies to left.

Koufax lays down a bunt - Fisk grabs it - throws to second for 1 - onto first DOUBLE PLAY.

Bottom 6

CRAIG BIGGIO LEADS OFF WITH A HOMER THAT SCRAPES THE MONSTER, 5-1 AL.  Biggio's 4th place MVP finish this year would be the highest of his career.

Fisk walks.  A Grove bunt is not successful, Fisk is knocked off, Grove safe at first.  Really good play by Pujols here.

Betts ground ball to third, Schmidt knocks off the lead runner.  Betts then swipes second.

Bagwell flies to left, lets go to the 7th.

Top 7

Hornsby grounds to short.

Wagner bloops a single to center.

WILLIE MAYS HITS A MONSTER HOME RUN - AN ABSOLUTE BOMB, WAY, WAY, WAY OVER THE GREEN MONSTER.  5-3.  Mays homers in back to back games and the AL lead is cut in half.  Mays hit 52 homers in '65, the high mark of his career.  

Grove resets - Gets Aaron to fly to left and then Robinson to ground to second.

Bottom 7

Koufax gets Judge to fly to right.

Koufax strikes out Cabrera.

Trammell grounds to third - quick 7th - can the NL keep closing this score?

Top 8

Long Pujols at bat - AND THEN HE HITS A DRIVE - CENTER FIELD ------GONE!  GONE!  Albert Pujols hits his second homer of the series, 5-4, Pujols hit 47 homers in 2009, the top mark of his career.

Schmidt singles to left.

Piazza flies to right - its the pitchers spot, so McGraw goes to the bench.

It's Bonds - Bonds is still hitless in the series.

Bonds walks.  

That moves the tying run into scoring position.  Top of the order, Rogers Hornsby, like Mays and Pujols, also has two homers in the series - AND HE HITS ONE HIGH -- DEEP -- GONE!  GONE!  GONE!  ROGERS HORNSBY'S SECOND HOMER OF THE GAME, A RIGHT CENTER 3 RUN HOME RUN HAS GIVEN THE NATIONAL LEAGUE ITS FIRST LEAD OF THE GAME!  7-5.

Hornsby led the NL in 11 categories in 1924 and gives the NL the lead here - Stengel pulls Grove from the game and Justin Verlander comes on.  It's his first appearance of the series, Verlander is RH, it's 2011 Justin Verlander, he's 28.  24-5, 2.40, he won his first Cy Young this year.

Wagner singles to right.

Mays flies to right.

Aaron grounds back to the mount and the inning is over -- the NL trailed 5-1, but they've scored 6 straight runs and now hold a 7-5 lead.

Bottom 8

Randy Johnson appeared in both games 1 and 2 and he comes on for McGraw here.  He has yet to give up a hit.

Trout singles to center.  

Biggio loops a ball - that Pujols snares.  Really nice play by Pujols.

Johnson strikes out Fisk.

Stengel goes to the bench - it's Griffey; Griffey's 3-10 with a home run in the series, he is the potential tying run.

Griffey singles, Trout is going to go to third and now it's Betts, Betts has already homered, two on, two out, down by two runs.

And Betts singles to right center!  Trout will score - Griffey will go to third - 7-6, Betts comes through again and now the lead is one run.

Johnson gets Bagwell to bounce back to the mound and the inning is over.

We go to the 9th - we got a good one here in game 4.

Top 9

The AL goes to Zach Greinke, he got knocked around in his previous appearance, 4 earned in 2 and 2/3 innings.

Robinson walks.

Greinke strikes out Pujols.

Greinke strikes out Schmidt.

Greinke strikes out Piazza!  Zach Greinke comes on and wipes the NL out - we head to the bottom of the 9th.

Bottom 9

Here's Craig Kimbrel making his first appearance in the series.  Kimbrel is RH, it's 2012, he's 24 and was Rookie of the Year the prior season.  3-1, 42 saves, 1.01 ERA.  Can he protect the 7-6 lead.

Judge walks.

Cabrera grounds to third - Schmidt has no play at second and gets Cabrera.  1 away, tying run in scoring position.

Kimbrel strikes out Trammell.

Trout grounds to second -- Hornsby throws to first and the National League has evened this series with a 7-6 come from behind win.

NL II 7 AL I 6

2 Rogers Hornsby home runs lead the NL in a big comeback win - this series is all tied at 2-2.

Series Totals

Wagner: 5-11, 3B, 2B, 2RBI, RS

Mays: 3-10, BB, 2HR, 2B, 3RBI, 2RS

Aaron: 2-8, BB HBP, 

Robinson: 1-8, HBP, BB, 2B, 2RS

Morgan: 3-7, walk, HR, 2B, 2RBI, 2RS

Bonds: 0-8, 2 walks, RS

Musial: 2-7, walk, RBI

Harper: 1-8

Snider: 1-6, 2 BB

Mathews: 1-7, BB, RS

Bench: 1-6, 2BB, RS

Vaughan: 0-6, BB, HBP

Hornsby: 6-13, 3HR, 7RBI, 5RS

Pujols: 4-8, 3BB, 2HR, 4RBI, 3RS

Schmidt: 5-9, BB, 2B, RBI, 2RS

Piazza: 4-9, HR, 2RBI, RS

Gooden: 0-1 8 IP 5ER, 12H, 1BB/7K

Mathewson: 0-1, 7IP 1 ER, 5 hits, 5K/1BB

Carlton 1-0, 8.2 IP 5 ER, 9 hits, 11K/3BB 

Koufax 1-0, 7IP, 5ER, 8H, 8K/2BB

Johnson: 4 IP, ER, 3H 5K/BB

Maddux .1 IP 

Kimbrel Sv  IP, BB/K

Speaker 2-9, RBI, RS, SB

Carew: 3-8, walk, 2RS

Jackson: 2-8, 2HR, 4RBI, 2RS

Griffey, 4-11, HR, 2RBI, 2RS

Boggs: 1-8, 

Gehringer: 3-7, walk

Jeter: 3-6, walk, 

Berra: 1-7, RS

Betts: 3-10, HR 3RBI, 2RS, SB

Bagwell: 2-10, HR, 3RBI, 2RS

Judge: 2-6, HBP, 3BB, 2B, RS

Cabrera 4-10, HR RBI, 2RS

Trout: 2-10, RBI, RS

Biggio: 2-6, BB, HBP, HR

Trammell: 3-9, 2B, RBI

Fisk: 0-6, 2BB

Palmer 1-0, 8.2 IP, 4ER, 4 H, 4 K/5BB

Blyleven: 1-0 9 IP 0ER 6 hits, 4 K/4BB

Guidry: 0-1, 6.1 IP 8ER, 14 H, 3K/0BB

Grove 0-1, 7.1 IP, 6ER, 12 H, 5BB/3K

Greinke: 3.2 IP, 4ER, 6H, 6K/2BB

Verlander .2 IP H

Eckersley .1 IP BB