1988 Bucs take 3 of 4 from 1957 Redbirds

The 1988 Pittsburgh Pirates got to .500 with good pitching and timely hitting to take three straight games after the Cardinals won the opener of a four-game home-and-home series.

The series highlight for St. Louis came in the bottom of the first inning of the first game when they put together four hits to plate three runs off Pirate starter Bob Walk. Don Blasingame and Joe Cunningham started the game with singles, followed by Stan Musial double plating Blazer. Wally Moon flew out to deep left, getting Cunningham home. After a strike out of Del Ennis, Ken Boyer singled home Musial.

‘Toothpick’ Sam Jones pitched 8 shutout innings before being touched for a run in the ninth, completing the game for his second win of the season. Big Sam struck out 8 and walked none in a dominating performance.

Doug Drabek and Jeff Robinson combined on a two-hitter in game two, as the Pirates evened the series with a 4-1 win. The Bucs returned the favor on the Cardinals in this one, scoring three of their own in the first. Cardinal starter Lindy McDaniel was forced to exit the game after facing only two batters, both of whom had reached as Mike Lavalliere doubled to lead off the game, and Andy Van Slyke drew a walk.  The Pirates probably thought Lindy was still pitching, as Von McDaniel took over for his ailing big brother. Von looked to stabilize the situation by striking out Sid Bream, but Bobby Bonilla tripled in the two runners, and Barry Bonds followed with a run-scoring ground out. 

Each club added a run, but with Drabek in control and Robinson strong out of the ‘pen the first inning

outburst was all the Pirates needed, just like the Cardinals in the first game, in a 4-1 win.

John Smiley over-powered the Cardinals in game three, and the Pirates chipped away for four runs off Cardinal starter ‘Vinegar Bend’ Mizell (these Cardinal hurlers have some colorful nicknames) as R.J. Reynolds and Sid Bream homered, to capture game three at home 4-2.  Wally Moon’s two-run “moon” shot in the ninth was all the scoring for St. Louis.

Game four was a case of one team coming through in the clutch, and the other missing opportunities. It looked to be the Cardinals getting the breaks early, scoring a single run in the top of the first after two-out-none-on, when Pirate starter Dave LaPoint walked Musial and Boyer, and Ennis singled in Stan the Man. The Pirates then loaded the bases in the bottom half with one out, but Herm Wehmeier got Barry Bonds on an inning-ending double play.

The Cardinals added single tallies in the second and third to take a 3-0 lead, and Wehmeier clamped down on the Pirates holding them scoreless through six. Meanwhile LaPoint and Brian Fisher kept the Cardinals from adding to their lead. Bobby  Bonilla started the Pirate 7^th inning with a single, and Barry Bonds followed with a walk. Jose Lind singled loading the bases, and Glenn Wilson then doubled home two, with Lind stopping at third. Billy Muffet replaced Wehmeier, and promptly struck out Rafael Belliard and Ken Oberkfell.  It looked like the Cardinals might retain their now slim lead, but Lavaliere drove a two-out single to center to plate Lind and Wilson, putting the Pirates up 4-3.

The score held going in to the top of the ninth. With Jeff Robinson on the mound for Pittsburgh, Blasingame and Al Dark started the ninth with singles, with Blazer going to third on Dark’s single. The Cards had the tying run at third, no out, and Stan Musial at the dish. Pirate Skipper Bill Schneider brought the infield in, and Stan obliged by hitting a sharp one hopper directly to shortstop, for the first out. Ken Boyer, already with 9 RBIs on the young season, then struck out while Del Ennis hit a drive to deep right an out too late, to end the game.

--submitted by Bike Mike--

Phils and Phish Split

Game 1. 97 Florida 11 – 93 Phillies 10

The 93 Phillies and 97 Marlins squared off in a four-game series. The first 2 in Joe Robbie Stadium. Game 1 was a classic slug fest going down to the last out. The Phillies jumped out to a quick 5 run lead in the top of the first by sending 10 to the plate. Florida came back in the bottom of the first with 2 runs on a Counsell single to center, Moises Alou triple and a Gary Sheffield single. Florida scored another 2 runs in the 2^nd.  A lead off walk to Charles Johnson and moved to second on a ground out, Renteria single scoring Johnson. Renteria stole second to move in to scoring position Counsell grounds a ball between 1^st & 2^nd to score Renteria. The Phillies score again in the 5^th going up 6-4. In the bottom of the 5^th the Marlins tie the game at 6 on 2 hits and a walk. The big blow a Charles Johnson 2 run double. With the score tied in the 6^th Marino Duncan hit a 2-run home run (first of the season) to take the lead 8-6. In the bottom of the 7 Bobby Bonilla hit a 381 ft. solo home run to make the score 8-7. In the top of the 9^th hoping to add some insurance runs the Phillies scored 2 runs on a Duncan triple and scoring Dykstra. Going in to the bottom of the 9^th and score 10-7 Phillies. Mitch “Wild Thing “Williams on the mound and I am sure you can guess what happens from there. Opening the inning walking the first 2 hitters, Bonilla rips a single between third and short loading the bases. Devon White hit a grounder scoring 1.  Jim Eisenreich walked scoring Sheffield. Livan Hernandez walked scoring White to tie the score.  PHI  10 FLA 10. Edgar Renteria hit a grounder scoring 1 to win the game.  PHI  10 FLA 11. Mitch Williams takes the loss and the blown save. Tony Saunders with his first win. Bobby Bonilla goes 4-5 with a home run.

Game 2 – Phillies 12 – Marlins 3

Phillies again jump out to a quick lead by scoring 2 runs in the First and third inning. With the score 4 – 0 Phillies, the Phillies keep the pressure on by scoring 6 runs in the 4^th. The Phillies send 10 batters to the plate and the inning is capped off with a grad slam by Dave Hollins and Milt Thompson adding a solo home run. Milt Thompson goes 2-5 with two homeruns and 3 RBI’s and Darren Dalton 3-5 and RBI’s. Curt Schilling goes 8 innings picking up his first win of the season as the Phillies cruse to a 12-3 win.

Game 3 – Florida 5 – 4 over the Phillies in 10

The series moved to Philadelphia and both teams started the scoring in the first by each team scoring 1 run. The Marlins again keep the pressure on by scoring in the 4th on a solo home run by Jeff Conine and in the 5^th inning the Marlins scored a run on 2 hits due to an error. In the 7^th the Phillies sent 8 men to the plate scoring 2 runs on 3 hits and 2 walks to go ahead. The top of the 8^th the Marlins tied the game on a Charles Johnson solo home, his first of the year. The score remained tied and extra innings was needed. The marlins wasted no time scoring in the top of the 10^th. With Roger Mason on the mound for the Phillies, Bobby Bonilla opened the inning with a triple and Charles Johnson ripped a fly ball to left to score Bonilla on a sacrifice fly. Roger Mason took the loss for the Phillies and Nein picked up his first win for the Fish.

Game 4 – Phillies 3 – 0 Shut Out Marlines.

Al Leiter took the mound for the Marlins and Terry Mulholland for the Phillies. In the bottom of the first Marino Duncan opened up the scoring with a 376 foot home run to left center his second of the season. The score remained 1-0 in a classic pitchers duel between Leiter and Mulholland. In the bottom of the 6^th the Phillies scored 2. After a Pete Incaviglia strike out and a Wes Chamberlain walk, Todd Pratt playing for the resting Darren Dalton hit an 0-2 pitch to 376 feet to left center to give the Phillies a 3-0 lead. Mulholland goes 7 2/3 on 8k’s of shout out ball. David West came and pitched 1 1/3 to preserve the shout out. 

--submitted by David Morrison--

"Soap Suds" - Dodger slugger cleans up vs DBacks

GAME 1 - Chase Field
Singer vs Greinke
Dodgers 3, DBacks 2 (14 inn)

Bill Sudakis' 2 run blast of Zack Greinke with 1 out in the top of the 7th broke a scoreless tie.  Greinke and Bill "the Throwing Machine" Singer were both in the process of embarrassing hitters.  J.D. Martinez' double with nobody out in the bottom of the inning scored Owings all the way from first to cut the lead in half.  Arizona loaded the bases in the bottom of the 8th and looked to take the lead, but Singer worked his way out of the jam by allowing just 1 run.  That set the stage for what would become a 14 inning extravaganza.  With both teams' respective pens looking depleted Arizona's Godley served up a solo shot to Sudakis with 1 out on a 1-2 count to break the deadlock.  Pete Mikkelsen, who pitched 3 scoreless innings in relief notched himself the W.

GAME 2
Osteen vs Ray
Dodgers 4, DBacks 3

LA jumped took a 4-0 lead into the bottom of the 6th and almost gave it all right back to the DBacks.  Claude Osteen bent, but he never broke while going the distance and posting his 2nd win of the season.  Sudakis, who thinks his name is Ruth, hit his 5th homer in 8 games.  LA only posted 4 hits, but they made them count.

GAME 3 - Dodger Stadium

Walker vs Sutton
Dodgers 4, DBacks 2

Willie Davis' RBI single in the bottom of the 5th broke a 2-2 tie.  LA added an insurance run in the 8th when Willie Crawford crossed the plate on a 4-6-3 DP.  Jim Brewer made it interesting by giving up 2 hits before bolting down his 2nd save of the season.

GAME 4
Corbin vs Foster
Dodgers 8, DBacks 7 (10 inn)

Since the series opener went extras there was no reason why the finale wouldn't as well.  This game had a boat load of excitement including 5 lead changes.  The DBacks scored 2 in the 8th to take a 1 run lead in the contest with hopes of at least salvaging 1 game.  With closer Fernando Rodney on the mound Arizona placed all their faith on the man with the twisted cap, who proceeded to walk the first two batters he faced.  After a sac bunt moved the runners to 2nd and third Maury Wills was given an intentional pass to load the bases.  Manny Mota then walked to score Andy Kosco (the tying run).  Wes Parker came to the plate with a chance to win it, but he grounded into a DP as the game went to extras.  Arizona managed just a walk off reliever Al McBean in the 10th.  Rodney returned to the hill for a second inning of work and once again walked the lead off man (Sizemore).  Tom Haller singled to put runners on the corners.  Up stepped Bill Sudakis, who once again chipped in with the big hit lining a ball to deep right to easily score Sizemore, which secured the series sweep.  Make no mistake about it, all 4 games were very close and ARI could have easily swept LA, who is now 8-0 with the best start in KOD franchise history.

Amazin's take 3 of 4 from Cubbies

84 METS TAKE THREE OF FOUR FROM 84 CUBS

Game 1  at Shea Stadium

Mets 3 Cubs 2

George Foster hit a solo walk off HR in the bottom of the 9th to win it for the Mets. It was the leftfielder's first HR of the season. Rookie phenom Dwight Gooden (1-1) got his first MLB win, pitching a complete game 4 hitter with 8 strikeouts.

The Cubs took a 1-0 lead in the 3rd on a Mel Hall RBI single. New York tied it on a solo HR by Mookie Wilson, his second dinger of the year. Jody Davis doubled in a run in the 4th to put the Cubs ahead again, 2-1 before Mike Fitzgerald tied it with a 7th inning single scoring Raphael Santana. Steve Trout pitched 7 solid innings for the Cubs. Rich Bordi relieved him in the 8th and took the loss on the Foster HR.

Game 2 at Shea Stadium

Mets 1 Cubs 0

The pitchers continued to dominate as Ron Darling (2-0) and Doug Sisk (Save 1) combined to shut out the Cubs on 5 hits. Darling went 7 2/3 allowing only 4 hits and 2 walks while striking out 4. Dennis Eckersley (1-1) matched him for the most part as he went 7 innings, allowing only 4 runs. The difference in the game was an RBI single by Mookie Wilson in the third - the game's only run as the Mets sweep at Shea.

Notes: Eckersley picked off Wilson in the third inning. Mookie made a potentially game saving defensive play in the 9th when Leon Durham led off with a single and Wilson nailed him as he tried to stretch it into a double. The Cubs left 6 men on base, the Mets 3.

Game 3 at Wrigley Field

Cubs 5 Mets 3

Leon Durham hit a Grand Slam HR (1) off  Sid Fernandez in the third inning and Ron Cey followed with another HR (1) as the Cubs put up 5 in the frame and gained their first win of the series. Rick Sutcliffe pitched 7 strong innings to get the win and go 2-0 on the season. The bearded right hander allowed only 3 runs on 7 hits and struck out 8. Lee Smith pitched two hitless innings to gain his third save of the season.

Fernandez continued to struggle with his control,  as he walked four in five innings, including two in the third to load the bases preceding Durham's grand salami. El Sid has now walked 11 batters in 9 innings so far this season!

The Mets had taken a 2-0 lead, off Sutcliffe, in the first on a 2 run HR by 3B Hubie Brooks (1). Brooks drove in another run on a ground out in the 5th but that was as close as the Mets got.

Notes:  Mookie Wilson and Darryl Strawberry pulled of a double steal of  3rd and 2d in the third inning. The Mets left 7 on base, the Cubs 6. Jody Davis had a passed ball.

Game 4 at Wrigley Field

Mets 4 Cubs 3

Walt Terrell made his first start of the season a winning one (1-0) as the burly righthander went 6 /23 allowing 2 runs, only one of which was earned. Terrell outpitched Scott Sanderson (1-1) who gave up 4 runs and 9 hits over 7 innings.

The Mets jumped on Sanderson in the second inning, sending 7 men to the plate. George Foster singled in a run to make it 1-0 and later in the frame after an intentional walk to Santana brought Terrell to the plate, the Mets pitcher helped his own cause with an RBI single. The Mets extended their lead to 4-0 in the 3rd on an RBI double by Keith Hernandez and an RBI single by George Foster.

The Cubs came back with 2 in the 5th against Terrell on a double by Gary Matthews. In the 7th, Ryne Sandberg hit a solo HR with 2 outs to make it 4-3. That was it for Terrell, who was replaced by Doug Sisk who ended the inning and pitched a scoreless 8th. Jesse Orosco came on in the 9th and pitched a 1-2-3 inning for his second save.

The Mets and Cubs now have identical 4-4 records as they battle it out in the NL East.

South-Siders Hit Elephants between the Eyes

Game #1
PHILADELPHIA -- Bing Miller plated Bill Lamar with a bases loaded squeeze bunt in the bottom of the 10th to lift the 25 Athletics to 5-4 victory in the opener of the KOD27 season for both clubs. The call by manager Jim Clouser caught and the ChiSox completely flat-footed. Philly took a 4-0 lead through 3 innings with backstop Mickey Cochrane knocking in a pair. The Sox put one across in the 6th, but saved the dramatics for a 3-run 9th to tie it. Eric Soderholm knocked in a pair with a single.  Stan Baumgartner (1-0) earned the win in relief for the A's. Bruce Dal Canton (0-1) took the loss for the Sox.

Game #2
PHILADELPHIA -- The South-Side Hitmen came out hitting and scoring early and often in this one, racking up 12 runs in the first 3 innings on their way to a 13-6 win. Jorge Orta banged out 3 doubles among his 4 hits. Jim Essian added 3 knocks. Chet Lemon (1) and Oscar Gamble (1) hit 2-run bombs off knuckleballer Eddie Rommel (0-1), who was pummeled for 12 runs in 2.1 IP.  Steve Stone (1-0) was the beneficiary of the offensive largess.


Game #3
CHICAGO -- Alan Bannister lined a 2-run single in the B8 scoring Jim Spencer and Brian Downing and giving the White Sox a 7-6 come-back victory.  The Athletics broke a 2-2 tie in the 5th when Al Simmons (3 hits) singled in Lamar. The ChiSox came back with 3 in the bottom of the frame with RBIs from Ralph Garr, Orta and Gamble. Philadelphia regained a 6-5 the lead in the 7th with a 3-spot, highlighted by a 2-run triple from Sammy Hale. The A's had 2-on and 2-out in the 9th when Lerrin Lagrow (1) was called on and got Hale to ground out to short. Jack Kucek (1-0) was credited with the win. Lefty Grove (0-1) took the L in relief.


Game #4
CHICAGO -- Eric Soderholm banged out 4 hits for 4 RBI to lead a 17-hit Pale Hose attack and a 10-5 victory. Richie Zisk and Lamar Johnson chipped in 3 apiece. The South-Side Hit Men collected double digits in hits in all four contests (a .353 team BA). The A's nearly duplicated the feat, falling just short with 8 in this one. Dave Frost (1-0) started and won for the Sox. Baumgartner started and lost for the Athletics.