Phightin's end Dodgers 8-0 run, but drop final 2 to LA

GAME 1 - Dodgers Stadium

Greene vs Singer

Phillies 2, Dodgers 0

"No Hit" Tommy Greene was in actuality "5 hit" Tommy Greene today, as Philly's young star dominated the Dodgers and bested their ace Bill "the Throwing Machine" Singer.  The Phightin's staked Greene to a 2-0 lead in the top of the first and that was all that was needed.  Back to back doubles by "Inky" and "Dutch" accounted for all of the offense for both teams.

GAME 2

Schilling vs Osteen

Dodgers 15, Philies 1

After seeing their 8 game winning streak come to an end the boys from Chavez Ravine came back hard with a vengeance scoring 15 runs on 17 hits off of 5 Phillie pitchers.  To be fair the Philly pen was stretched thin and called to duty way too early thanks to Curt Schilling rubbing up a blister and having to leave after 2 pedestrian innings of work.  While "Ketchup man" wasn't having a stellar day (3 runs in 2 innings) he still would have been able to eat up at least 3-4 more frames before the pen had to be used.  Dodger centerfielder Willie Davis had a monster day at the plate going 4-5 with 6 RBI's and 3 runs scored.  For good measure "3-Dog" also had 2 homers and 2 stole bags, which completely overshadowed Claude Osten's (3-0, 1.33) 4 hit/1 run complete game performance.

GAME 3 - The Vet

Sutton vs D.Jackson

Dodgers 6, Phillies 4

For the second day in a row the Phightin's lost their starting pitcher early on due to injury.  Today it was lefty Danny Jackson who after getting knocked around in the first (4 runs) managed to get two outs in the 2nd before coming down with a sore arm.  LA scored all of their opening stanza runs off of 5 singles, 3 of which had RBI's attached to them.  After Kosco and Parker knocked in runs, Ted Sizemore plated both of them with a 2 run knock.  A two run shot by Bill Sudakis in the top of the 5th gave LA a 6-0 lead and catapulted "Suds" into the league lead for HR's with 6, which completely shocks this humble scribe and probably the batsman himself.  In any case LA looked to be home free, but Philly answered back with 2 runs of their own on a single by Mickey Morandini.  The status quo remained in place until the bottom of the 9th.  After barely escaping a jam in the 8th Dodger hurler Don Sutton was lifted in favor of closer Jim Brewer, who decided to add some drama to the show.  Brewer proceeded to allow the first 4 batters that he faced (Dutch/Inky/Eisenreich/Duncan) to reach base in a variety of ways (HBP/Hit/Walk).  In a matter of minutes LA's safe 6-2 lead was now 6-3 with nobody out with pinch hitter Wes Chamberlain stepping to the plate.  Chamberlain didn't put up much of a fight fanning on 3 pitches for the first out of the inning.  Next up was Nails, who got himself a fastball on a 2-2 count which he ripped right back to Brewer, who gloved it to save not only the game, but his life.  Duncan, who got caught in "no man's land" was easily doubled up off of first to end the game.  By taking 2 of 3 in the series the Dodgers upped their record to 10-1, while the Phils fell below the .500 mark at 5-6.

"Stars see Hutch" manage both teams...

Fred Hutchinson was happy and upset at the same time, with his teams finishing 3-3 in a series between the 1957 St. Louis Cardinals and 1961 Cincinnati Reds. “Hutch” managed both teams in real life of course, and each team had a couple of common infielders. Second baseman Don Blasingame was no doubt worn out after the series, having played all three games for both clubs. Eddie Kasko also saw considerable action in both lineups.

In fact, Kasko had quite a series, going 8 for 22 (.364), doing most of the heavy lifting as a Cardinal (6 for 13).  The series started in Crosley Field, with veteran right-hander Murry Dickson making his first start, opposed by left-hander Jim O’Toole.  Stan Musial got the Cardinals off and running in the top of the first inning, following an Al Dark double with his first home run of the year. Both pitchers dominated from there, and that 2-0 lead ended up being the final score.  The two starters struck out four and walked none, with Dickson scattering 5 hits over 8 innings, and O’Toole 7 hits over 8 2/3. Cardinal Kasko went 3 for 4 in this one.

Game two was more of the same, with Joey Jay going 8 shutout innings, and Jim Brosnan covering the ninth for a 1-0 Cincinnati victory. Larry Jackson started for St. Louis, giving up the lone run in 8 innings of work, although he was often in trouble during the contest.  He kept getting key outs, and the game was scoreless going into the bottom of the 8^th..  With one out,  Gordy Coleman doubled and Gene Freese followed with a single to score Coleman. That was all the scoring as the Reds evened the series with the 1-0 win. The Cincy ball club left 11 on base in this one, and the Cards 6.

Game three matched Bob Purkey and Lindy McDaniel on the hill, as the series shifted to Busch Stadium (aka Sportsman’s Park).  The change in venue did wonders for the hitters, as this one featured 27 combined hits and 13 runners crossing home plate. The Cardinals put 10 of those runners home, coasting to a 10-3 victory.  Wally Moon lauched a 3-run homer, while Blasingame, Dark, Musial and McDaniel chipped in with 2 hits apiece. Our man Eddie Kasko had three tallies for St. Louis, while going 1 for 5 as a Red.

Purkey dropped to 0-2, walking 4 in only 2 1/3 innings. McDaniel improved to 2-1 on the season.  Neither team looks like post season contenders in the early going. The Cardinals are 5-6 after three weeks, while the Reds are struggling along at 3-8. The Cards ability to keep stars Vada Pinson and Frank Robinson in check was a key to their series win.

Bike Mike

84 METS TAKE OUT THE BROOM AND SWEEP THE 82 PADRES

Mets 2 Padres 1  at Jack Murphy Stadium

Rookie sensation Dwight Gooden pitched a complete game victory, allowing only 1 run and 5 hits, while striking out 8 and walking only one. The 19 year old righthander is now 2-1 on the season. The Mets got all the runs they needed in the third inning when Mookie Wilson hit a 2 run HR off San Diego starter and loser Chris Welsh (0-1). It was Wilson's 3rd HR of the season. Welsh pitched 8 2/3 solid innings and was the hard luck loser in this old fashioned pitchers duel.

Mets 8 Padres 0 at Jack Murphy Stadium

For the second day in a row, the Mets got terrific starting pitching.

This time it was Ron Darling who went 8 shutout innings, allowing only 6 hits while walking 2 and striking out 2. Darling is now 3-0 on the year with an incredible 0.78 ERA! Craig Swan pitched the 9th and completed the shutout.

The outcome in this one was barely in doubt as the Mets battered San Diego starter and loser John Curtis (0-2) for 8 runs in 5 innings. Darryl Strawberry got things started with a 2 run HR (3) in the second inning. Darling helped his own cause with a bases loaded squeeze bunt to make it 3-0. In the next inning, the Mets sent 7 men to the plate and scored 2 more, with the help of 2 walks, as Mike Fitzgerald singled both runs in. The onslaught continued in the very next frame (the 4th) as the Mets again sent 7 men to the plate and scored three times. Mookie Wilson scored on a wild pitch, George Foster singled in a run and Hubie Brooks drove in a run with a sacrifice fly. The eight runs were more than enough for Darling as the Mets took a 2-0 series lead.

Mets 12 Padres 7 at Shea Stadium

The teams travel to Shea Stadium for the series finale and it all Mets once again. The Mets jump out to a 10-0 lead after four and lead 12-1 before the Padres scored six late game runs to make the score look more respectable.

The long ball got the Mets started once again as George Foster belted his 2d HR of the season to make it 1-0 in the second. Strawberry singled in Wilson in the third to make it 2-0. Then the Amazin's
exploded in the 4th, sending 12 men to the plate, scoring 8 runs on 7 hits and one costly San Diego error (by 3B Luis Salazar). Catcher Mike Fitzgerald continued his hot hitting with a 2 RBI double. Wally Backman singled in a run as did Keith Hernandez. Hubie Brooks hit a 3 run HR to make it 9-0
Rafael Santana singled to make it 10-0 before the Padres finally got out of the inning.

Foster added another solo HR in the 6th as he went 3-4 with a triple to go with the 2 HRs, 4 runs scored and 2 RBIs. Mookie Wilson was 3-5 and had THREE stolen bases. For San Diego, Terry Kennedy was 3-5 with a HR. Gene Richards also homered.

Bruce Berenyi made it three great starts in a row for Mets pitchers as he allowed only one earned run (plus 3 unearned) in 6 2/3 innings, to gain his first win of the year (1-0). Reliever Tom Gorman gave up 3 additional runs. For San Diego, Andy Hawkins (0-1) was clobbered, yielding 10 runs in 4 innings. EIGHT of those runs were UNEARNED as San Diego made four errors in the game, two by 3B Salazar to go with miscues by catcher Kennedy and 2B Juan Bonilla.

In addition to the three steals by Mookie, Strawberry stole a base as the Mets were 4-4 in the stolen base department.

The Mets are now 7-4 as they contend with the 97 Marlins for first place in the NL East. San Diego drops to 4-7 in the NL West.  Next: The Mets play 2017 Arizona (last in the NL West) while  San Diego plays the 57 Cardinals (last in the NL East).