The battle of NY: ‘54 Jints split with ‘55 Bums

8/21-8/22 - Polo Grounds
GAME 1 - '54 Giants 2, '55 Dodgers 0
On a gloomy day on the island of Manhattan the clouds opened up and caused a huge one hour rain delay in the second.  Inclement weather affects individuals differently.  Brooklyn's Carl Erskine, who has had shoulder issues for years was pulled from the lineup after only 1 inning of work, while New York's Johnny Antonelli got stronger and went 7 scoreless innings.  Prior to the rain the 'Jints got to "Oisk" for a solo run in the bottom of the first.  Don "Mandrake" Mueller singled with 1 out and Alvin Dark doubled him home with a shot that rolled to the horseshoe in centerfield.  Without the services of Oisk, Brooklyn was forced to dig deep into their arsenal of talent and tap 19 year old Bonus Baby Sanford Koufax.  Only 6 months earlier the young Brooklynite was playing College Basketball at Cincinnati.  Without much pitching experience the young flame thrower was thrown to the wolves and he did not disappoint.  In 6 innings of work he was a bit wild, but only gave up 1 run.  In an inning where the Giants could have broken things open Koufax found a way to survive.  After getting Antonelli to ground out to short he walked Monte Irvin and  allowed a double by Mueller.  Alvin Dark grounded to third for the second out, but on the play Irvin scored run number 2.  Mays was then given an intentional pass to create a force on every base and create the desired lefty/lefty matchup with Hank Thompson who weakly grounded out to second.  Marv Grissom came in from the pen for the final 2 innings and continued to shut the Dodgers down for the combined shutout with Antonelli.

GAME 2 - Dodgers 14, Giants 6
A 5 run fourth inning by the 'Brooks chased Ruben Gomez from the hill.  Don Newcombe threw 6 innings of shutout ball, but with a 10-0 lead he lost interest and began serving up balloons.  One of those balloons turned into a 9th inning grand slam by the Say Hey Kid, Willie Mays.  The outcome was never in doubt.  Brooklyn hit 5 homers on the day, which includes a 2 run shot by Newcombe himself.  Newk went 2 for 3 on the day.  Carl Furillo was 3 for 5 with 3 RBI.  Don Zimmer also had 3 RBI in this breakout offensive effort by Brooklyn.

8/23-8/24 - Ebbets Field
GAME 3 - Dodgers 12, Giants 3
Clean Cut Johnny Podres was the beneficiary the close shave the Dodger offense gave "the Barber, Sal Maglie.  The Dodger offense picked up right where it left off the previous night by scoring 6 runs in the first 2 innings.  Maglie barely limped through 6 innings.  A 4 run 6th inning hastened his departure.  Young Podres, on leave from the US Navy, baffled the Giant hitters and found numerous ways to get out of jams.  A huge hand from the capacity crowd at Ebbets Field greeted him as he left with 1 out in the 7th.  Podres' gave up only 1 run and fanned 5 for his second win of the season.  Brooklyn's hitting star was Gil Hodges.  The "quiet man" went 3 for 4 with a homer and 4 RBI.  One interesting note occurred in the top of the second.  Podres plunked Maglie with a fastball on the thigh as a response to Maglie brushing back Zimmer after Hodges 3 run homer in the 1st.  Young Podres looks to be a gamer, who will protect his hitters and not be intimidated by the likes of Maglie.

GAME 4 - Giants 8, Dodgers 4
After throwing only 29 pitches 3 days ago Carl Erskine was tapped to start the final game of the series.  Oisk entered the game to cheers from Dodger fans, but when he exited 5 innings laters he was treated to cat calls implying that he was "a bum" or a "loooos-ah".  The Giant offense finally arrived and decided to beat up on Erskine to the tune of 7 runs in 5 innings.  Brooklyn began to chip away at Jim Hearn's 7 run lead, so Hoyt Wilhelm was called upon for 2 innings to stem the tide.  Wilhelm's knuckler baffled the free  swinging Boys of Summer and Marv Grissom finished it out.  New York banged out 8 runs on 11 hits, but could not get a hit from All-Star Centerfielder Willie Mays.  After taking an 0-5 collar, Mays' average dropped to .233.  New York will need him to get hot if they hope to contend for the pennant. The Giants had 3 homers on the day, including a 2 run shot by starter Hearn that broke a scoreless tie in the 3rd.