128 Team MLB Tournament - Round One, Region Four Series 1-2

Series 7-8, Region 3

24 teams have advanced into the next round.

2 Orioles

Tigers

8 Yankees

3 Cardinals

Reds

A's

Indians

Dodgers

2 Giants

Nationals

Phillies

Astros

Cubs

8 more will fill the Region 4 slots - we'll see Cardinals, 2 A's, 2 Giants, Astros, Orioles, Red Sox, Dodgers, Tigers, and of course, 4 Yankees.  

We start here - with the top remaining overall seed in the tournament.

4. 1942 St Louis Cardinals v. 125. 1909 Philadelphia A's

We've seen one of Connie Mack's teams move on, the '29 A's - this Athletic team finished second in the AL.  3 Cardinal teams have advanced including 1943 and 1944 -- can one more WWII era Cardinal squad move into the second round?

Athletics-Connie Mack

LF Hartsell (35)   121   2.1

2B Collins (22)    170    9.9

3B Baker (23)      146    5.3

RF Murphy (32)   132   3.5

1B Davis (35)       122    3.3

C Livingston (29)  99    2.4

CF Oldring (25)    92     1.1

SS Barry (22)        77     1.6

P Krause (20)        174   4.8

Bench:

LF Heitmuller (26)  135  1.7

SP2 Bender (25)      147   5.5

SP3 Plank (33)         138   5.3

SP3 Morgan (30)     147   3.7

Straight platoon in left for Mack; third starter is a lefty/righty choice dependent upon first two games of the series.

Cardinals-Billy Southworth

CF Moore (30)    114   2.8

LF Musial (21)    151   5.2

RF Slaughter (26) 156  6.5

C Cooper (27)      115   3

1B Sanders (25)    107  .7

SS Marion (25)     103   4.9

3B Kurowski (24)  103  2.1

2B Brown (32)      80     1.7

P Cooper (29)       192   7.7

Bench:

1B Hopp (25)      103   .6

CF Walker (23)   113  1

SP2: Beazley (24)  160 4.5

SP3: White (25) 136     1.2

Southworth's going to run whomever the hot bat is at first; Walker/Moore is a platoon.  Cards are a heavy seed favorite in a tournament that has seen each of its top seeds bounced, they have the WAR advantage at C-SS-LF-CF-RF and in the game 1 pitching matchup.

1st: 29 year old right hander Mort Cooper takes the mound at Sportsmans Park, 22-7 with a 1.78 ERA.  Topsy Hartsel opens with a walk, he moves to second on a groundout - and then scores on a Home Run Baker single. Are we going to see our 4th top seed eliminated in round 1?  A's 1 Cards 0

1st: 20 year old lefty Harry Krause gets the ball for the Athletics, 18-8 with a 1.38 ERA; 1-2-3

2nd: Harry Davis opens with a single, thats it.

2nd: Ray Sanders singles with an out, that's all.

3rd: 1-2-3

3rd: 1-2-3

4th: Eddie Collins walks, steals second, takes third on a groundout and scores on a sac fly - Connie Mack's crew small balling its way to a 2-0 lead

4th: Stan Musial triples and then scores on a groundout.  Athletics 2 Cardinals 1

5th: 1-2-3

5th: 1-2-3

6th: Eddie Collins singles with one out - and he's going to come all the way around to score on a Baker double - the A's add to the lead, Athletics 3 Cardinals 1

6th: Musial singles with two out - that's it.  Krause's only given up 3 hits and the A's have a two run lead with three innings left.

7th: 1-2-3

7th: 1-2-3 -- Cooper's also been good, just given up 4 hits, but trails by two as we head to the 8th.

8th: 1-2-3 

8th: 1-2-3 - strong pitchers duel, but Krause has the better of it with just an inning to go.

9th: 1-2-3 -- Cooper's done all he can here.

9th: Terry Moore singles to center and now here comes Musial - he's got two hits already and now he is the tying run.  Krause strikes him and and then gets the next two and its done.

Athletics 3

Cardinals 1

WP Krause

LP Cooper

Only 8 combined hits in this one; just four baserunners for the Cards against Krause. For the A's Collins and Baker each reached twice.  For the Cards Musial had two hits, one was that triple.

So - we're going to Philadelphia, the Cards need a win to stay alive.

Cardinals-Billy Southworth

RF Slaughter (26) 156  6.5

LF Musial (21)    151   5.2

CF Walker (23)   113  1

C Cooper (27)      115   3

3B Kurowski (24)  103  2.1

1B Hopp (25)      103   .6

SS Marion (25)     103   4.9

2B Brown (32)      80     1.7

P Beazley (24)  160 4.5

Athletics-Connie Mack

LF Hartsell (35)   121   2.1

2B Collins (22)    170    9.9

3B Baker (23)      146    5.3

RF Murphy (32)   132   3.5

1B Davis (35)       122    3.3

C Livingston (29)  99    2.4

CF Oldring (25)    92     1.1

SS Barry (22)        77     1.6

P Bender (25)      147   5.5

1st: 25 year old right hander Chief Bender is 27 outs away from moving his team forward; he was 18-8 with a 1.66 ERA; Slaughter opens with a walk, Musial reaches on an error, Harry Walker is in the Cardinal lineup today, he singles - we're three batters in and the Cards have a run. Walker Cooper's going to ground into a double play that scores the second run.  Whitey Kurowski walks, but the inning ends Cardinals 2 Athletics 0

1st: 24 year old Johnny Beazley's been staked to a lead, 21-6 with a 2.13 ERA; Topsy Hartsel singles to open, an out later, Baker reaches on an error and the A's have men on the corners, Danny Murphy grounds out - it scores a run, the inning ends Cards 2 A's 1

2nd: Marty Marion opens with a double -  after an out, Jack Berry makes his second error of the day, Beazley reached and Marion scores.  Slaughter singles - and then Bender hits Musial.  The Cards have the bases loaded with just one out and a two run lead, Harry Walker hits a big blow - a bases clearing triple, now it's Cards 6 A's 1

2nd: Paddy Livingston leads with a single, but that's all.  

3rd: Bender opens by hitting Hopp - that's the second Cardinal he's hit, and then Marion singles, but that's all.

3rd: Hartsel walks with one out, but nothing else.

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

4th: Baker singles to open - that's it.  

5th: 1-2-3

5th: Barry singles with one away, Hartsel reached on an error and then Barry scores on a Collins sac fly. We're 5 innings in - Cards 6 A's 2

6th: With one out, Slaughter triples with one out - Musial walks, a Walker groundout makes it 7-2

6th: Danny Murphy hits the first pitch over the wall, Davis singles and Beazley hits Livingston - two Cards have been hit, and now there is some jawing at Beazley from the A's bench - Beazley buckles down and gets through it.  Cards 7 A's 3

7th: 24 year old right hander Jimmy Dygert enters, 1-2-3

7th: Hartsel and Collins single back to back to open the 7th - if the A's are going to make a comeback today, maybe this is their shot. Home Run Baker doubles both of them home - and now it's 7-5, there's nobody out and the A's are closing in. Beazley walks Murphy and Davis back to back - folks, the tying run is in scoring position and there is nobody out.  25 year old right hander Murry Dickson now comes on for the Cards - -- and he gets out of it.  Cards 7 A's 5

8th: Slaughter singles with two out, that's it.

8th: Collins doubles with two out - but that's all and we're an inning away from heading to St Louis for the showdown.

9th: Dygert hits Kurowski with 2 out - that's 3 Cardinals hit today.  Kurowski very, very slowly makes his way down to first base, not saying a word. The inning ends.  

9th: Davis walks -- but there's nothing else.  We're going to St Louis.

Cardinals 7 

Athletics 5

WP Beazley

LP Bender

For the Cards, Musial's now reached 4 times, Slaughter reached 4 times just today, Harry Walker had 3 hits and 5RBI today, Marty Marion reached twice.

For the A's, Collins has now reached 5 times, Baker 4, Hartsel and Davis three today, and Murphy homered today.

Let's go back to St Louis for the showdown game.

Athletics-Connie Mack

LF Heitmuller (26)  135  1.7

2B Collins (22)    170    9.9

RF Murphy (32)   132   3.5

3B Baker (23)      146    5.3

1B Davis (35)       122    3.3

C Livingston (29)  99    2.4

CF Oldring (25)    92     1.1

SS Barry (22)        77     1.6

SP Plank (33)         138   5.3

Cardinals-Billy Southworth

CF Moore (30)    114   2.8

LF Musial (21)    151   5.2

RF Slaughter (26) 156  6.5

C Cooper (27)      115   3

SS Marion (25)     103   4.9

3B Kurowski (24)  103  2.1

1B Hopp (25)      103   .6

2B Brown (32)      80     1.7

SP: White (25) 136     1.2

1st: 25 year old right hander Ernie White is on the mound at Sportsman's Park; he's attempting to pitch the top remaining overall seed in the tournament into the next round.  He was 7-5 with a 2.52 ERA, 1-2-3

1st: The A's call on Eddie Plank, 33 year old lefty, 19-10 with a 1.76 ERA - can he advance his A's forward? He gives up a leadoff single to Terry Moore, but that's all.

2nd: With one out, Harry Davis reaches on an error, Paddy Livingston singles - and then Rube Oldring and Jack Barry hit consecutive doubles - that scores 3 runs, White then hits his opposite number Plank - there have been some hit batsmen in the series, Plank gets hit hard here with a fastball to the ribs and slowly makes his way to first base.  That ends the inning A's 3 Cards 0

2nd: Plank shakes off the HBP and goes 1-2-3

3rd: Danny Murphy leads off with a single but is erased on a double play; Harry Davis then singles but White limits the threat.

3rd: Plank hits Brown right in the forearm with the first pitch - sure looks to be payback - the St Louis crowd is heating up - Plank stares hard at the Cardinal dugout - either the clubs will view themselves as even or we have a real combustible situation in this winner take all showdown.  An out later, Moore gets his second hit -- that brings up Musial - he hits a run scoring single to put the Cards on the board; that's as far as it goes.  3 innings in the books -- Athletics 3 Cardinals 1

4th: Plank singles with two out, he's reached twice, Heinie Heitmuller, getting his first start, singles, but White holds the A's down.

4th: 1-2-3

5th: Baker walks to lead off, that's it.

5th: With one out, Harry Walker hits for White - Southworth bringing his best bench bat into the game now - but Plank gets him.  We're through 5 - the A's are four innings away from knocking off another top seed.

6th: Murry Dickson, a right hander, enters, he gives up a one out walk to Barry - after a second out, Heitmuller rips a triple --- Barry will score -- it is starting to get late in St Louis for the top remaining seed in this tournament. A's 4 Cards 1

6th: Musial singles -- but thats all.

7th: Baker singles - that's it.  

7th: These Cardinal fans looking for any sign of hope against Plank - Kurowski singles with one out, but that's all.  Plank is six outs away.

8th: 32 year old right hander Harry Gumbert enters, 1-2-3

8th: 1-2-3 - Musial lining out to end the inning; the champagne is on ice in the visitors clubhouse.

9th: 26 year old right hander Howie Krist enters; he gives up a one out single to Heitmuller, Collins singles to put me on the corners - and then Heitmuller scores on a wild pitch; there's the insurance; the A's take a 4 run lead. Athletics 5 Cardinals 1

9th: 1-2-3

Athletics 5

Cardinals 1

WP Plank

LP White

Plank throws a 5 hitter and the 4th number one seed has been bounced in the first round.

Heitmuller had 3 hits today, in his only start. Baker and Barry each reached twice today, that gives Baker six times on base for the series. Pitching rules the day for the A's, complete game wins in games 1 and 3 make Krause and Plank the series co MVPs.

The 1909 A's advance - they'll meet the winners of this matchup:

61. 1921 New York Giants v. 68. 1931 New York Yankees

Two John McGraw Giants teams have advanced; we've seen 8 Yankees squads move on, including the '37 club.  The Giants won the whole thing beating the Yankees in the series- the Yankees finished second in the AL. 

Yankees-Joe McCarthy

CF Combs (32)    125  3.5

3B Sewell (32)     109   3

RF Ruth (36)        218  9.9

1B Gehrig (28)     194   8

C Dickey (24)       119   4.3

LF Chapman (22)  135 5.3

SS Lary (25)         113   5.2

2B Lazzeri (27)    107   2.7

P Gomez (22)       150    4.9

Bench:

SP2 Ruffing (26)   91   2.8

SP3 Pennock (37) 93   2.3

SP3 Johnson (25)  85   .8

Pitching after Gomez is a real issue for this Yankee team; we'll see if the bats can carry them through, they'll send this 8 out in each game.  

Giants-John McGraw

CF Burns (31)  106  2.7

SS Bancroft (30) 118  6.6

1B Kelly (25)      130   3.4

3B Frisch (23)     128   6.6

C Snyder (27)      119  2.9

LF Meusel (28)    116  .9

RF Youngs (24)   128  3.3

2B Rawlings (28) 65   .6

P Barnes (28)       120  2.5

Bench:

C Smith (24)    147   2.6

CF Walker (24)  107 .7

SP2: Nehf (28)   102  2.2

SP3: Toney (32) 103  2

Giants pitching in games 2 and 3 is also likely to struggle; platoons here at catcher and center for McGraw.

1st: 28 year old right hander Jesse Barnes stands on the mound at the Polo Grounds, about to face Ruth and Gehrig.  He was 15-9 with a 3.10 ERA. He immediately loads the bases - Combs and Sewell single back to back and then Barnes throws 4 straight balls to Ruth.  Gehrig comes to the plate with the bases loaded.  He grounds out - but a run scores, and then a second run scores on a Snyder passed ball. That's all for the Yankees. Yankees 2 Giants 0

1st: There's really just one top level arm in the series; 22 year old Lefty Gomez, 21-9 with a 2.67 ERA; he gives up a leadoff single to George Burns, after two out he walks Frankie Frisch and gives up a Frank Snyder single.  Bases loaded for the Giants - but Gomez keeps them off the board.

2nd: Lyn Lary singles to lead off followed by a Tony Lazzeri single - Barnes gets one then walks Combs and the Yankees have the bases loaded again.  Sewell flies out - but Ruth singles and scores two, and then Gehrig doubles two home.  That ends the day for Barnes, who is the best pitcher on this Giants staff, 23 year old right hander Rosy Ryan enters and ends the inning.  The Giants might struggle keeping this Yankee team in check.  Yankees 6 Giants 0

2nd: Ryan walks with two away, Burns follows with a walk - and Bancroft gets the Giants on the board with a base hit -- that brings up High Pockets Kelly -- and he lines a shot to left that just curls inside of the foul pole - and this is sort of what we expected this series, Frisch adds a base hit and we head to the third Yankees 6 Giants 4

3rd: Lazzeri walks with two out, but no further damage.

3rd: 1-2-3

4th: Combs singles to open the 4th, after two out, McGraw calls for Gehrig to be walked - but Dickey comes through with a run scoring single. Yankees 7 Giants 4

4th: Burns singles with one away, Kelly follows his homer with a ground ruled double - but Gomez stops it there.

5th: Lazzeri hits a one out double, Gomez drops a perfect bunt - there's not a play, Combs singles to make it 8-4, Sewell singles to make it 9-4.  After a second out the Giants are going to their rotation and grabbing Fred Toney, who was scheduled to pitch in game 3. He gives up a run scoring single to Gehrig - the Yankees lead 10-4

5th: Snyder hits the first Gomez pitch over the wall, the Giants second homer, Meusel has an 0-2 count but leans into a breaking ball, takes it off the forearm, and then Ross Youngs singles.  That's all Gomez allows.  Yankees 10 Giants 5

6th: Lacy singles with an out, Lazzeri follows with a single and Gomez walks.  The Yankees have the bases loaded and are back up at the top of the order.  Combs hits a sac fly - now it's 11-5, Meusel misplays a Sewell fly ball and now it's 12-5 -- Ruth singles and then Gehrig singles -- this inning will end Yankees 14 Giants 5

6th: Kelly singles with one out, but that's all.

7th: 1-2-3

7th: Meusel and Youngs walk with one out, then Rawlings reached on an error - bases loaded, only one away, Curt Walker is the pinch hitter - there's a two run scoring single to make it 14-7 and (Gomez is still in the game) Burns singles to load the bases and Bancroft walks to make it 14-8. The Yankees go to the pen for a right hander, Ivy Andrews - and he ends it. It's the highest scoring game thusfar, Yankees 14 Giants 8

8th: 22 year old right hander Red Shea is the next Giants pitcher, 1-2-3

8th: Frisch doubles to open the inning, after an out, Meusel singles, a Youngs groundout cuts the lead to 14-9 and the Yankees go back to the pen for George Pipgras, and he ends it.  Yankees 14 Giants 9

9th: Rube Benton is the next Giants pitcher, he gives up a single to Ruth, but that's all.  

9th: Eddie Brown, in the pitchers spot, walks, so does Burns - Pipgras gets the next two - then walks Frisch to load the bases -- but that will end it.

Yankees 14

Giants 9

WP Gomez

LP Barnes

23 runs and 32 hits combined for the two clubs in game one.  For the Yankees: Combs reached 4 times, Sewell twice, Ruth reached 4 times with 3 RBI, Gehrig reached 4 times with 5 RBI, Lazzeri reached 4 times, Lazzeri twice

For the Giants, Burns reached 5 times, Bancroft twice, Kelly had 3 hits with a homer and double, Frisch reached 4 times, Snyder twice with a homer, Meusel and Youngs twice.

We head to Yankee Stadium and expect another slugfest as the bats for these teams really outpace the arms.  

Giants-John McGraw

SS Bancroft (30) 118  6.6

3B Frisch (23)     128   6.6

RF Youngs (24)   128  3.3

C Smith (24)    147   2.6

1B Kelly (25)      130   3.4

LF Meusel (28)    116  .9

CF Walker (24)  107 .7

2B Rawlings (28) 65   .6

SP: Nehf (28)   102  2.2

Yankees-Joe McCarthy

LF Chapman (22)  135 5.3

SS Lary (25)         113   5.2

RF Ruth (36)        218  9.9

1B Gehrig (28)     194   8

C Dickey (24)       119   4.3

CF Combs (32)    125  3.5

2B Lazzeri (27)    107   2.7

3B Sewell (32)     109   3

P Ruffing (26)   91   2.8

Yanks throwing a RH, so you get the expected changes in the Giants lineup; Giants throwing a LH, so you get shuffling of that lineup.

1st: 26 year old Red Ruffing is on the Yankee Stadium mound, 16-14 with a 4.41 ERA, and if you're thinking that solidly below the levels of number 2 starters we've seen in the tournament - yup.  Dave Bancroft opens with a walk, two outs later Ross Youngs singles - but that's all.

1st: 28 year old Art Nehf faces the daunting task of this Yankee team that pounded out 14 runs in game one; 20-10 with a 3.63 ERA. Lyn Lary reaches on a one out error, but Nehf gets Ruth and Gehrig and we head to the second.

2nd: Curt Walker's in the Giant lineup today against the right hander Ruffing, he doubles with two out, but that's it.

2nd: Dickey opens with a single - thats all.

3rd: Nehf opens with a walk and then Dave Bancroft lines a ball just clearing the right field wall to make it 2-0. Earl Smith walks two outs later but that's all, Giants 2 Yankees 0

3rd: Lary singles with two out and then Ruth is aboard on an error, but Nehf gets Gehrig again and we're headed to the 4th.

4th: 1-2-3

4th: 1-2-3

5th: 1-2-3

5th: 1-2-3 -- through 5, not the game we anticipated.

6th: 1-2-3 - Ruffing's retired 10 straight

6th: 1-2-3 -- Ruth and Gehrig are both hitless, Nehf's retired 10 straight and we're headed to the 7th, still Giants 2 Yankees 0

7th: Irish Meusel opens with a double, but that's all.

7th: Combs reaches on a one out error but thats it - Art Nehf has held the Yankees to two hits today.

8th: Frish reaches on a one out error, Ross Youngs walks -- then Earl Smith, catching today against the right handed Ruffing, bangs a 3 run homer -- and now you've got to think we are headed back to the Polo Grounds for the showdown game.  Ivy Andrews enters for the Yankees; gives up a double to High Pockets Kelly and after the second out of the inning, allows a double to Walker (Walker and Smith, both McGraw's moves coming up aces) that scores the 6th Giants run.  They're starting to think about the exits here at Yankee Stadium, Giants 6 Yankees 0

8th: 1-2-3

9th: 24 year old right hander Roy Sherid takes the mound, Bancroft singles with one out, that's it.

9th: Nehf's day is done, 23 year old right hander Rosy Ryan enters to lock this one up - he gets Ruth, but gives up a single to Gehrig - it doesn't matter.  

Giants 6

Yankees 0

WP Nehf

LP Ruffing

Art Nehf comes up huge, 8 innings, just two hits.  Bancroft has now reached 5 times in the series, including a homer, Youngs has reached 4 times, Earl Smith hit that big 3 run homer today and reached twice, Walker reached twice today.

Back we head to the Polo Grounds.  Winner take all.  

Yankees-Joe McCarthy

CF Combs (32)    125  3.5

RF Ruth (36)        218  9.9

1B Gehrig (28)     194   8

C Dickey (24)       119   4.3

LF Chapman (22)  135 5.3

3B Sewell (32)     109   3

SS Lary (25)         113   5.2

2B Lazzeri (27)    107   2.7

SP Pennock (37) 93   2.3

Giants-John McGraw

CF Burns (31)  106  2.7

SS Bancroft (30) 118  6.6

1B Kelly (25)      130   3.4

3B Frisch (23)     128   6.6

RF Youngs (24)   128  3.3

C Snyder (27)      119  2.9

LF Meusel (28)    116  .9

2B Rawlings (28) 65   .6

P Douglas (31)     88

Like Game 1, the Giants go with a right hander - they used their third starter, Toney, in relief back in game 1, their last option is the right handed Douglas. And like game 1, the Yankees go with a left hander, Pennock. The Yankees bump up Ruth/Gehrig looking for extra at bats.  Game 3 = winner take all.

1st: 31 year old right hander Phil Douglas was not expected to pitch in the series, but McGraw used his third starter out of the bullpen and that puts Douglas in the position of pitching this showdown game against the Yankees.  15-10, 4.21 ERA. He gives up a leadoff double to Combs, but that's all.

1st: 37 year old lefty Herb Pennock takes the ball for the Yankees - 11-6 with a 4.28 ERA.  He gives up a leadoff single to Burns, but that's all.

2nd: With one out, Joe Sewell doubles, after a second out, McGraw decides to walk Lazzeri to get to the pitcher's spot -- but Pennock beats them with a run scoring single. Combs follows with a single and it's 2-0; Ruth follows with a single and it's 3-0, and then Gehrig hits a titanic shot off the top of the left field foul pole, a 3 run bomb - the Yankees have six and Douglas is out of the game.  Rosy Ryan enters, he gets out of it, Yankees 6 Giants 0

2nd: 1-2-3

3rd: Sewell doubles with one out, that's all.

3rd: 1-2-3

4th: 1-2-3

4th: Bancroft and Kelly single to open the inning, a Frisch groundout scores a run, Youngs then doubles another run home, there's a walk to Snyder and a Meusel base hit has cut the Yankee lead in half. McCarthy goes to the pen for Roy Sherid and he ends the inning.  We've got a game, Yankees 6 Giants 3

5th: Gehrig singles but is erased on a Dickey double play.  Ryan then gives up a Chapman triple and a Sewell walk - but that's it.  

5th: With one out, Bancroft and Kelly again single back to back, Frisch then grounds a base hit through the box -- and now it's 6-4.  After an out, Snyder singles -- and this Polo Grounds crowd now believes this is happening - they are in a frenzy it is 6-5 Yankees.  That's how it ends.  Yankees 6 Giants 5

6th: Lazzeri and a pinch hitter, Samuel Byrd, single to open the inning, Ryan gets a Combs double play - but it scores the 7th run.  McGraw goes to a lefty, Rube Benton, he gives up a Ruth single but that's all.  Yankees 7 Giants 5

6th: George Pipgras is next for the Yankees - he gives up a Rawlings single, but that's all.  We head to the 7th.

7th: 1-2-3; really a strong bullpen effort from the Giants.

7th: Kelly walks and with an out, Youngs does as well. Frank Snyder then doubles both of them home -- man, oh man it is all tied up at 7 and the Polo Grounds are on fire.  31 year old lefty Ed Wells sees his first action of the series. He walks Meusel and Rawlings to load the bases.  Are the Giants about to bust this open? Curt Walker hits for the pitcher - he grounds out - but it scores the go ahead run and we're going to head to the 8th Yankees 7 Giants 8

8th: 36 year old lefty Slim Sallee enters for the Giants - 6 outs from advancing. He gives up a one out single to Lazzeri, then Arndt Jorgens pinch singles.  The tying run is in scoring position and the Yankees are back at the top of the order.  Combs hits into a fielders choice -- so now there are two on, two out -- the Yanks are down a run.  And Babe Ruth is coming to the plate.

Fun, right?

He lines a bullet - right at Bancroft.  

8th: 27 year old right hander Jim Weaver is the next Yankee pitcher, after an out, he gives up a Kelly single and walks Frisch, Ross Youngs then singles - and now it's 9-7. An out later Ivy Andrews comes on - he gives up a walk to Meusel - gets on 0-2 count on Johnny Rawlings -- who then his a bases clearing double --- that scores 3 huge runs and would you believe it, the Giants are about to win this series. Yankees 7 Giants 12

9th: 1-2-3

Yankees 7

Giants 12

WP Benton

LP Pipgras

The Giants were seed favorites but it never felt like that, the Yankees just bombing away in game one and then, after Nehf handcuffed them in game 2, hanging a 2nd inning six spot today.  But its the Giants who advance.  

Bancroft reaches 7 times in the series, Youngs, 6. Kelly/Snyder/Meusel/Rawlings all reached 3 times today, that gives Kelly 7 times to reach in the series.  There's not really a ton of space among all the hitting stars for the Giants in the series - so Art Nehf will be the MVP.

128 Team MLB Tournament - Round One, Region Three Series 7-8

Series 5-6 are here.

19. 1953 New York Yankees v. 110. 1998 Houston Astros

The '52 Yankees advanced, the '56 Yankees did not.  Casey's got another squad here, the World Champion 1953 team, heavily favored by seeding over a Houston team that lost in the NLDS.

Astros-Larry Dierker

2B Biggio (32)    139   5

LF Alou (31)      157   6

1B Bagwell (30) 158   6.4

3B Berry (32)     136   2.4

RF Bell (29)       125    4.1

CF Hidalgo (23)  118   1.7

C Ausmus (29)   91      2.6

SS Gutierrez (28)  79   .5

P Hampton (25)  123   3.7

Bench:

CF Everett (27)  121   3.6

Gm2 Reynolds (30) 117  5.4

Gm3 Lima (25)   111   4.2

Everett will play against RH and maybe a game 2 LH; Randy Johnson isn't eligible to start for the Astros.  Hampton is the only lefty New York will see.

Yankees-Casey Stengel 

SS Rizzuto (35)   103   3.4

RF Bauer (30)     130   3.9

CF Mantle (21)   144   4.8

C Berra (28)        141   5.6

LF Woodling (30)  146  3.8

3B McDougald (25)  113  3.7

1B Collins (30)     120   1.3

2B Martin (25)   94       1.5

P Lopat (35)       152     3.9

Bench: 

Gm2 Ford (24)   123     3.4

Gm3 Raschi (34) 111    2.6

No changes coming to this Yankee lineup other than batting order; Raschi is the only right hander they'll send to the mound.  Yankees have the seed advantage and the WAR advantage at C-SS-3B-CF-RF and the pitching advantage in game 1.

1st: 35 year old left hander Ed Lopat takes the mound at Yankee Stadium; 16-4 with a 2.42 ERA, he gives up a leadoff single to Biggio - two outs later, with Biggio now at second, he's driven home by a Sean Berry base hit.  Derek Bell then singles -- and Richard Hidalgo, making a somewhat surprising start in center - hits a three run homer.  A huge first inning for the Astros 4 Yankees 0

1st: 25 year old lefty Mike Hampton is on the bump for the Astros; 11-7, 3.36 ERA -- 1-2-3

2nd: Biggio singles again with one out, after a second out, Bagwell walks - but Lopat keeps them off the board.

2nd: Yogi gets the Yankees going with a homer and then Hampton walks Gene Woodling, following two outs (Woodling wiped off the basepaths) Joe Collins singles and Martin walks - two on, two out - and Lopat helps himself with a base hit.  The inning ends Astros 4 Yankees 2

3rd: Brad Ausmus singles with two out, but that's all.

3rd: Mantle and Yogi single back to back after an out - and then a Woodling sac fly makes it 4-3. 

4th: Moises Alou singles with two out followed by a Bagwell base hit - but Lopat stops it there.

4th: Collins walks to open it up, but that's all.

5th: Derek Bell opens with a walk, an out later, Lopat loses Ausmus - but nothing else.

5th: Yogi gets his third hit with 2 out, Woodling and McDougald single back to back to load the bases; big spot here, bases loaded - 2 away - Astros clinging to a 1 run lead - Collins singles to left -- that's going to score two runs and the Yankees have come all the way back to take a 5-4 lead - Billy singles and this inning ends Astros 4 Yankees 6

6th: Bagwell singles with two out, that's it.

6th: Houston's got a strong pen; 34 year old right hander Doug Henry comes on; he walks Rizzuto but nothing else.  We head to the 7th.

7th: The Yankees then turn to their pen with 28 year old right hander Tom Gorman, he walks Derek Bell, but that's all.

7th: Yogi opens the inning with his 4th hit, but that's all.

8th: 1-2-3

8th: 33 year old lefty Mike Magnante is probably the least effective member of the Astros pen, but he gets the ball here and sets the Yankees down in order.  We head to the 9th.

9th: Alou doubles to open the inning - an out later Sean Berry singles, and now it's 6-5 with the tying run on base - the potential winning run coming to the plate.  Derek Bell singles.  Now there are two - still just one out - the tying run in scoring position; 36 year old right hander Allie Reynolds comes on to try to close this out.  He gets Hidalgo to ground out - the lead runner advances to third.  Men on the corners - the tying run is at third base -- and Reynolds gets Ausmus to ground out and it's over.

Astros 5

Yankees 6

WP Lopat

LP Hampton

Nice comeback here in game one for the Yankees - 4 hits for Yogi including a homer; Collins reached 3 times, Woodling and Martin twice.  

Derek Bell reached 4 times for Houston, Ausmus and Bagwell 3, Biggio, Alou and Berry 2 -- and Hidalgo hit that big homer that sure looked like it got Houston off on the right foot for the series.

We move to the Astrodome for Game 2 - Houston will go with Shane Reynolds; and the Yankees turn to Whitey Ford.

Yankees-Casey Stengel 

LF Woodling (30)  146  3.8

C Berra (28)        141   5.6

CF Mantle (21)   144   4.8

1B Collins (30)     120   1.3

RF Bauer (30)     130   3.9

3B McDougald (25)  113  3.7

SS Rizzuto (35)   103   3.4

2B Martin (25)   94       1.5

P Ford (24)   123     3.4

Astros-Larry Dierker

2B Biggio (32)    139   5

LF Alou (31)      157   6

1B Bagwell (30) 158   6.4

3B Berry (32)     136   2.4

RF Bell (29)       125    4.1

CF Everett (27)  121   3.6

C Ausmus (29)   91      2.6

SS Gutierrez (28)  79   .5

P Reynolds (30) 117  5.4

1st: 30 year old right hander Shane Reynolds is on the hill, looking to keep his Astros alive; 19-8, 3.51 ERA.  He's off strong.  1-2-3.

1st: 24 year old lefty Whitey Ford hits the Astrodome mound; 18-6 with a 3.00 ERA, can he clinch this series for New York?  1-2-3

2nd: Reynolds walks Collins/Bauer back to back to open the 2nd; he gets McDougald 5-4-3 and with two out, Rizzuto gets the Yankees first hit.  Reynolds gets up 0-2 on Martin - but he battles the count full and then slaps a run scoring single to left.  Yankees 1 Astros 0

2nd: Ford walks Berry/Bell back to back to open his half of the inning - after an out, he walks Ausmus.  So - tricky here for Ford, even though Houston's at the bottom of the order. He slips it though and we're onto the third.

3rd: Woodling opens with a single, but that's it.

3rd: Biggio opens with a walk, after an out, Ford hits Bagwell - Houston doesn't have a hit but has put 5 men on; Berry walks and the bases are loaded for the second straight inning - and again, Ford works out of it.  Houston's stranded 6 in three innings of play.

4th: 1-2-3

4th: The first Astros hit - Shane Reynolds, a two out single.  Woodling then drops a fly ball - and Houston again has multiple men on base - and again, they stay there.  8 stranded through 4.

5th: Ford matches Reynolds with a one out single of his own, that's it.  

5th: 1-2-3

6th: Reynolds walks Mantle and Collins - Bauer then singles - the bases are loaded; there's nobody out - and maybe this is the spot the Yankees end this series.  McDougald singles.  Rizzuto singles. That scores all 3 - Martin reached on an error and the bases are loaded again.  Yankees up 4-0 -- After an out, a Woodling sac fly gives us the inning ending score of Yankees 5 Astros 0

6th: 1-2-3 -- and if you're an Astro fan, your resignation grows.

7th: 31 year old Bob Scanlan gets the call for Houston; he gives up a one out Collins single, that's it.

7th: Casey goes to the pen - Tom Gorman enters, he gives up a two out double to Alou, nothing else.

8th: 1-2-3

8th: 1-2-3

9th: 26 year old lefty John Halama gets the call for Houston; gives up a two out walk to Yogi, that's all.

9th: Richard Hidalgo hits in the pitchers spot and singles with 2 out, then Biggio walks.  Allie Reynolds comes on to close the door - but he gives up a base hit to Alou, and now it's 5-1. That's it, everyone goes home.

Yankees 5

Astros 1

WP Ford

LP Reynolds.

The Astros scored four in the first inning of the series and then got shut down; Collins reached 6 times in the series, Yogi was the hitting star in game one but hitless today...Collins is your MVP.  

The '53 Yankees advance - they'll face the winner of our final Region 3 Series:

46. 1971 Baltimore Orioles v. 83. 1940 Cincinnati Reds

Baltimore is the seed favorite; they won the AL pennant - this Reds team won the whole thing. We've seen one Earl Weaver team advance; this is the first Reds team of the era we've seen.

Reds-Bill McKechnie

2B Frey (29)     101    5.7

LF Ripple (30) 151    .9

C Lombardi (32) 138  3.6

1B F. McCormick (29) 132  5.3

RF Goodman (31)  98    1.6

3B Werber (32)  113       5.1

CF M.McCormick (23)  87  .8

SS Myers (29)    65         1.4

P Walters (31)   154        5.6

Bench:

LF Rizzo (27)     121     .8

SP2 Turner (36) 132     3.2

SP3 Derringer (33) 124 4.2

Strict left field platoon for the Reds; all their starting pitchers will be right handed.

Orioles-Earl Weaver

LF Buford (34)  153   5

1B Powell (29)   138   3.3

RF Robinson (35)  153  3.5

CF Rettenmund (28) 149  5.5

2B Johnson (28)   125    4.2

C Hendricks (30)  105    1.9

3B Robinson (34)  114    5.6

SS Belanger (27)  97       4.6

P Palmer (25)     126        4.3

Bench:

SP2 McNally (28)  117   2.8

SP3 Dobson (29) 116      3.8

SP3 Cuellar (34) 109      2.2

The Orioles role out the same 8 every game for this series, meaning Paul Blair stays on the bench, Dobson/Cuellar is a game 3 decision dependent upon Reds batting success in games 1-2.  Favored Orioles have the WAR advantage at SS-3B-LF-CF-RF; Reds have pitching advantage in at least two games.

1st: 25 year old right hander Jim Palmer stands on the Memorial Stadium mound, 20-9, 2.68 ERA, he sets the Reds down in order.

1st: 31 year old right hander Bucky Walters gets the ball for the Reds; after an out, he gives up a Boog Powell double, but thats it.

2nd: 1-2-3

2nd: Brooks Robinson draws a two out walk, that's all.

3rd: 1-2-3

3rd: 1-2-3

4th: Lonny Frey leans into a Palmer breaking ball, it grazes his arm - and he's the first Reds baserunner. That's it.  

4th: 1-2-3

5th: Ival Goodman hits the first pitch into center for a single, that's it.  

5th: Brooks Robinson walks again, this time with one out, that's it.  Through 5, each team has just one hit.

6th: Jimmy Ripple steps into the starting lineup after largely being a bench bat and he singles with two out - but that's all.

6th: With two out - Frank Robinson hits an absolute rocket - deep into the Baltimore night to break the scoreless tie.  Reds 0 Orioles 1

7th: Ernie Lombardi opens with a single - but that's all.  Great pitchers duel here in Baltimore.

7th: Davey Johnson opens with a double, he moves to second on an out - Brooks Robinson singles to left - Johnson's waved around, Ripple is going to throw home - Lombardi blocks the plate - there's a collision.  And Johnson is out.  We will head to the 8th Reds 0 Orioles 1

8th: 1-2-3

8th: Don Buford singles with one out, after the second out, he's at second - and then he scores when Frank Robinson singles to center.  We will go to the 9th, Reds 0 Orioles 2

9th: 1-2-3

Reds 0

Orioles 2

WP Palmer

LP Walters

Complete game 3 hit shutout for Palmer, strikes out 4, doesn't walk anyone. Bucky Walters was great, threw a 6 hitter, but outdueled by Palmer.  2 hits by Frank Robinson, including the HR and both RBI; Brooks Robinson reached 3 times. 

Off to Cincinnati - the Orioles throw a lefty, Dave McNally, Cincinnati calls on right handed Jim Turner to stay in the tournament.

Orioles-Earl Weaver

LF Buford (34)  153   5

1B Powell (29)   138   3.3

RF Robinson (35)  153  3.5

CF Rettenmund (28) 149  5.5

2B Johnson (28)   125    4.2

C Hendricks (30)  105    1.9

3B Robinson (34)  114    5.6

SS Belanger (27)  97       4.6

P McNally (28)  117   2.8

Reds-Bill McKechnie

LF Rizzo (27)     121     .8

C Lombardi (32) 138  3.6

1B F. McCormick (29) 132  5.3

3B Werber (32)  113       5.1

2B Frey (29)     101    5.7

RF Goodman (31)  98    1.6

CF M.McCormick (23)  87  .8

SS Myers (29)    65         1.4

P Turner (36) 132     3.2

1st: 36 year old right hander Jim Turner stands on the mound at Crosley Field; his Reds need a win to stay alive.  He was 14-7 with a 2.89 ERA; Don Buford gets the Orioles going with a leadoff single - and out later, longtime Red Frank Robinson, who came up big in game 1 - now comes up again with a base hit, after a second out, Davey Johnson doubles both men home, Baltimore is off and running Orioles 2 Reds 0

1st: 28 year old lefty Dave McNally takes the ball for the Orioles- Baltimore had 4 20 game winners; McNally was 21-5 with a 2.89 ERA; he walks Johnny Rizzo to open it up, two outs later he's standing at second - from which he scores on Billy Werber's single.  The Reds won't get shutout today, Orioles 2 Reds 1

2nd: 1-2-3

2nd: Mike McCormick doubles with one out, followed by a Billy Myers walk, an out later - Johnny Rizzo comes to the plate; so - he and Ripple are backups for this Red team - but McKechnie chose to move their platoon into the starting lineup for this series -- Johnny Rizzo hits a three run rocket -- today isnt game one, it's already Orioles 2 Reds 4

3rd: Boog Powell opens the the third with a homer - an out later, Marv Rettenmund homers, Davey Johnson then hits his second double of the day, and this inning will end Orioles 4 Reds 4. 

3rd: 1-2-3

4th: With two out - Don Buford hits Baltimore's third homer of the day, in game 1 it was the pitching - in game 2, Baltimore's bats really shining through.  Orioles 5 Reds 4

4th: Goodman leads off with a walk - and Mike McCormick singles - Reds in business, Billy Myers walks - that loads the bases with no one out; what happens here.  McNally gets one - then Rizzo hits a hot grounder that looks to be headed for left - Brooks Robinson makes a helluva diving stop - but doesn't have a play and now it's tied.  Lombardi then hits a two run single - the inning will end Orioles 5 Reds 7

5th: Frank Robinson opens with a walk, followed by a Rettenmund single - Davey Johnson's third hit of the day cuts the lead to 7-6 and brings a pitching change.  24 year old right hander Johnny Hutchings comes on; he gets an Elrod Hendricks groundout to score the tying run Orioles 7 Reds 7

5th: Werber doubles - after an out Goodman doubles - now it's 8-7 and that ends McNally's day. 28 year old lefty Grant Jackson enters and gets through it.  Plenty of bats today.  Orioles 7 Reds 8

6th: Buford walks with two out - the Reds go again to the pen, 29 year old right hander Joe Beggs, with a dozen wins and an ERA of 2.00 - he gives up a double to Powell that ties the score -- and then it's Frank Robinson again - saying hello to the town where he began his career with a mammoth 2 run shot -- what a game we have at Crosley today, 10-8 Baltimore.  The Reds go to 34 year old lefty Milt Shoffner, ineffective during the season, Rettenmund singles but that's it.  Orioles 10 Reds 8

6th: Rizzo draws a one out walk - but theres no threat.  We head to the 7th.

7th: Brooks Robinson doubles with one out, 25 year old right hander Elmer Riddle comes on to close the inning out.

7th: 31 year old lefty Pete Richert is the third Oriole pitcher, 1-2-3

8th: Don Buford leads off with a triple - scores on a Powell groundout.  11-8; Frank Robinson singles - that brings on 25 year old lefty Johnny Vander Meer.  Rettenmund singles - and Davey Johnson probably ends the game with his third double - it scores both men and now it's 13-8 and it's time to put Region 3 to bed for round 1.  After an out, Brooks Robinson and Mark Belanger draw back to back walks to load the bases - but thats all.  Orioles 13 Reds 8

8th: 1-2-3

9th: The Reds tab a starter, Gene Thompson, to pitch; he wasn't scheduled for game 3, even were somehow a game 3 to happen - he walks Buford but that's all.

9th: Baltimore's best relief arm is 30 year old right hander Eddie Watt and he comes on - Lombardi gets a one out single but thats it.

Orioles 13

Reds 8

WP Jackson

LP Beggs

Don Buford reached 5 times today - including a homer and triple.

Boog Powell homered and doubled with 3 RBI

Marv Rettenmund had 4 hits, including a homer.

Davey Johnson had 4 hits - with 3 doubles and 5 RBI

And of course, Jim Palmer was masterful in game 1.

But the MVP is Frank Robinson - 2 homers in the series; reached base 6 times and had 4 RBI.

That ends Region 3, Round One.  Here's the matchups when we see them again:

2011 Phillies v. 1999 Yankees

1904 Giants v. 2017 Astros

1909 Cubs v. 1978 Yankees

1953 Yankees v. 1971 Orioles

3 Regions down.  We head to Region 4 to finish off the top half of the bracket.  Each of the number one seeds have been knocked off - that makes the top seed in Region 4 the current top overall seed in this tournament - the 1942 Cardinals.

128 Team MLB Tournament - Round One, Region Three Series 5-6

Series 3-4 are here.

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