‘95 Braves take 3 of 4 from ‘65 Dodgers

9/6-9/7 - Dodger Stadium
GAME 1 - '95-Braves 4, '65-Dodgers 0
Kent Mercker blanked the Dodgers for 5 2/3 innings before a cavalcade of relievers came on to batten down the shutout.  LA's .221 team batting average is indicative of the fact that this team flat out can not hit.  Starter Don Drysdale (.313) had the best average of anyone in the starting lineup.  Jim Lefebvre is the only regular hitting over .250.  Drysdale went the distance and gave up 4 runs on 10 hits, which on most days is 4 runs more than he can afford to allow.  Happy news for the Braves came in the form of Chipper Jones hitting his first homer of the season and Fred McGriff his 3rd.

GAME 2 - Braves 1, Dodgers 0
If you like pitching duels this game would have sent shivers up your spine.  Future HOF'er Greg Maddux (3-2, 2.20) vs HOF'er Sandy Koufax (2-2, 2.38) lived up to the hype and then some.  Koufax went the distance, allowed just 2 hits and fanned 11, while allowing a solo run in the 6th.  On most days and with any other team's offense this would have been an easy win for the flame throwing lefty, but alas his opposite number was just a hair better.  Maddux, who obviously doesn't throw as hard as Koufax baffled the inept Dodger offense for a complete game five hit shutout.  Maddux's impeccable control featured 4 k's and no walks.  Atlanta scored the lone run of the game when Marquis Grissom doubled to right center with 1 out in the 6th.  After Belliard grounded out weakly for the second out Chipper Jones tripled to dead center to plate Grissom for the only run scored on the afternoon.

9/8- Fulton County Stadium
GAME 3 - Dodgers 6, Braves 4
Six runs in 1 game for this Dodger team is like a deluge.  I imagine after yesterday Koufax was probably thinking, "6 runs...just give me 2 and I'd be happy".  Future HOF'er Tommy Glavine had the Dodgers shutout after 4 innings, before a huge 4 run outburst in the 5th gave LA a 4-1 lead.  A 2 run double by Maury Wills was followed by a two run singled by veteran Junior Gilliam.  Of course in Dodgerland nothing comes easy as evidenced by the fact that Atlanta scored 2 runs in the bottom of the inning on consecutive RBI singles by Jones and McGriff.  In the 6th the Braves tied it up when Grissom singled home Mark Lemke.  Even ardent Dodger fans figured that after scoring 4 runs in the 5th their team had "shot their load" and it was only going to be a matter of time before Atlanta regained the lead.  Ah, ye of little faith...The Dodgers scratched out solo runs in the 7th and 9th to overcome Claude Osteen's sub par pitching performance to gain a much needed win.  Both runs were scored in similar fashion.  In the 7th Jason Schmidt gave up back to back doubles to Gilliam and Ron Fairly.  In the 9th Pedro Borbon Jr. did the same to Wills and Gilliam.  Howie Reed pitched a scoreless 8th for the Dodgers and Jim Brewer notched his 3rd save with a perfect 9th.  Jim Gilliam's 4 for 5, three RBI day paced the anemic Dodger offense, which had double digit hits (11) for the first time all season.

GAME 4 – Braves 9, Dodgers 1

The nightcap was all Atlanta as John Smoltz threw 6 innings of 3 hit shutout ball before giving way to the pen.  Johnny Podres was hanging with Smoltz until the 7th when he gave up 3 runs, which made it 5-0 Braves.  Mike Kekich gave up 4 unearned runs in the 8th to make the game a blowout.  LA scored a solo run in the 9th to avoid the shutout.  Marquis Grissom hit his 3rd homer for Atlanta and Chipper Jones, who is now red hot went 2 for 4 with 5 RBI and 2 runs scored along with hitting his 2nd and 3rd homers of the season.  Chipper is now hitting .333 to lead the team in hitting.

‘55 Boys of Summer split with ‘08 Phightin’s

9/6-9/7 - Citizens Bank Ballpark
GAME 1 - '08-Phllies 5, '55-Dodgers 2
When both these teams look at each other they see almost a mirror image.  Both were built around HOF caliber offense tailor made for their cozy ballparks.  Brooklyn drew first blood by scoring a solo run off of “King” Cole Hamels (3-2, 2.52) in the top of the first.  With the bases loaded Gil Hodges singled home Junior Gilliam.  It looked to be a big breakout inning if not for the intestinal fortitude of the much maligned Hamels who enticed Carl Furillo into a line out DP.  Philly didn't waste any time evening it up on a Jayson Werth ground out that scored J-Roll.  Ryan Howard lined a clean single to right and the "Flyin' Hawaiian tried to score from second off the arm of on Carl "the Reading Rifle" Furillo.  Chalk up another outfield assist for Furillo, who easily gunned down Victorino.  The game remained tied until the bottom of the 3rd when the Phightin's exploded for 3 runs off of Dodger surprise starter Karl Spooner.  Hamels led the inning off with a single and went to second when Duke Snider mishandled the ball.  After J-Roll struck out looking Victorino doubled off the right field wall to score Hamels and break the 1-1 deadlock.  After Utley flew out to left Jayson Werth his a 2 out / 2 run shot to make it 4-1.  Both teams would add solo runs later in the game.  The Dodgers had the bases loaded in the 8th when Ryan Madson uncorked a wild pitch to make it 5-2.  Madson settled down to fan Jackie Robinson and get Sandy Amoros to ground out to end the threat and virtually seal the deal, which Brad Lidge did in the 9th for his 4th save of the season.

GAME 2 - Phillies 5, Dodgers 3
"Old Man River" Jamie Moyer confounded the Boys of Summer for 6 shutout innings before they finally solved him in the top of the 7th.  Brooklyn scored 3 big runs to take a short-lived 3-2 lead thanks to a 2 run homer by Carl Furillo and an RBI single by Pee Wee Reese.  Ryan Howard, who had struck out in his previous 2 AB's hit a bomb to right center to lead off the bottom of the 7th.  Lefty Johnny Podres threw Howard one too many changeups and the big man made him pay dearly.  Podres lost his composure and served up a single to Iguchi, who stole second and went to third on a throwing error by Campy.  A Pedro Feliz single gave the Phils a 4-3 lead, which would eventually become a 5-3 final when J-Roll scored on a wild pitch by Dodger reliever Hughes.  Brad Lidge came on in the 9th to throw a perfect inning of relief en route to his 5th save of the season.

9/8- Ebbets Field (Doubleheader)
GAME 3 - Dodgers 3, Phillies 2
Rookie J.A. Happ gave his team an All-Star performance, but didn't factor into the decision.  When a left handed rookie can throw 6 innings of 1 run ball vs the Boys of Summer in Ebbets field, you can't ask for anything more.  Happ was nursing a 1 run lead into the 6th when the "Quiet Man" Gil Hodges lined a homer down the left field line to tie the game.  Brooklyn was riding the resurgent right arm of Don Newcombe.  Big Newk (3-2, 3.29) has been hot of late after a very slow start.  In the top of the 7th the Phills took a 2-1 lead when Dobbs singled home J-Roll, who had just tripled off the chain link fence in right center.  Newk was able to refocus and fan Utley and get Burrell to pop out to shallow center.  In the bottom of the inning Newk was able to help his cause with a one out double.  Reese singled to left and went Tagachi bobbled the ball the tall hurler from Newark New Jersey came around to score easily to tie the game at 2 all.  In the bottom of the 8th Jackie Robinson singled with 2 out and moved to second on a wild pitch by Clay Condrey, who came on to replace the injured Madson.  With 2 outs and Newk on deck Condrey chose to pitch to "Popeye" Don Zimmer, who broke out of a huge slump by lining an RBI single to center.  Taking a 3-2 lead into the 9th Newk gave up a lead off hit to Taguchi, who went to second on a J-Roll ground out to second.  Greg Dobbs flew to right for the second out, which enabled the Dodgers to give Utley an intentional pass.  With the pitcher due up next Matt Stairs came on to pinch hit.  Lefty Karl Spooner who started the series opener was brought on with the sole purpose of getting the lefty Stairs out.  Instead he would have to face Bruntlett, who bats from the right side of the plate.  Spooner, who was mediocre at best in the opener, was back in his comfort zone coming out of the pen in this game.  Bruntlett did not stand a chance as Spooner fanned him on 3 pitches to get the save.

GAME 4 - Dodgers 5, Phillies 1
Philly scored first with a solo run in the top of the 2nd off Dodger starter Billy Loes (2-2, 3.95).  Chris Coste lined an RBI single to right to score Pat "the bat" Burrell.  Kyle Kendrick was holding on to his 1 run lead until Brooklyn exploded for 3 quick runs in the bottom of the 4th.  After Duke Snider got on board thanks to a Chase Utley error and stole second, Gil Hodges once again came through with a long blast to left to make it 2-1.  Kendrick, who looked to have lost his composure served up his second gopher ball in a row, this time to Jackie Roosevelt Robinson to make it 3-1.  Brooklyn made it 4-1 when Pee Wee Reese hit a solo shot to lead off the home half of the 5th, then made it 5-1 when Roy Campanella scored on a sac fly by reliever Clem Labine who entered the game to start the 8th.  Labine threw two scoreless innings to record his 3rd save of the season in this series where the home team won each game.  Hodges, who hit his 5th homer of the season, went 4-4 and is now hitting .443, which is good for second place in hitting in the NL.

‘73 A’s take 3 of 4 from ‘05 Southsiders

9/6-9/7 - Oakland Coliseum
GAME 1 - '73-A's 5, '05-White Sox 3
Catfish Hunter (3-2, 1.84) did what he does best, which is keep hitters off stride and minimize damage.  Once the A's handed him a 5-2 lead in the 5th he clamped down on the Chisox and gave up only 3 runs in a complete game victory.  On the other hand Jose Contreras (0-3, 5.61) could not keep the "crooked numbers" off the board and wound up losing.  With the Chisox up 2-1 the A's scored 2 in the bottom of the 4th to take a 3-2 lead.  With 2 out Campy Campaneris singled home Billy Conigliaro and Dick Green.  In the fifth Contreras gave up a 2 run shot to Sal Bando.  Paul Kanerko singled home Uribe to make it a 2 run game in the 8th, but Hunter again got stingy and had a perfect 9th to win it.

GAME 2 - A's 4, White Sox 3
Oakland jumped all over Freddy Garcia by posting a 3 spot in the bottom of the first. Joe Rudi singled home Campaneris, who stole 2nd after leading off with a single.  After a wild pitch that allowed Rudi to move to second, Reggie Jackson doubled him home with a shot that went off the wall in the right/center gap.  Sal Bando grounded out for the second out of the inning, but Gene Tenace picked him up with a clutch RBI single to make it 3-0.  Both teams exchanged solo runs in the 6th with the Chisox finally getting to Ken Holtzman, who had a 1 hitter going to that point.  Holtzman regained his poise until the 9th when he gave up a solo shot with 1 out to "the Big Hurt" Frank Thomas.  That would be the final batter that Holtzman would face as Rollie Fingers would be called on to save the game.  Fingers immediately served up a solo shot to pinch hitter Carl Everett before fanning Aaron Rowand and getting A.J. Pierzynski to ground out to short.  Fingers notched his 4th save of the season, but saw his ERA balloon to 3.86.

9/8 - US Cellular (Doubleheader)
GAME 3 - White Sox 3, A's 2
With the wind blowing in at 15mph both teams expected a low scoring contest.  For the first 5 innings Vida Blue (2-4, 5.89) and John Garland (2-1, 1.77) were posting goose eggs.  Oakland would break the ice with a solo run in the top of the 6th when Reggie Jackson singled home Bill North with 2 outs.  Oakland worked hard to manufacture that run when North bunted his way on with 1 out and stole second to get into scoring position.  Chicago took a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the inning when Paul Kanerko hit a monster shot that would have been a tape measure job on any normal day.  With the wind blowing in Konerko's shot managed to just clear the fence as the wind fought hard to limit his power, but lost.  The Southsiders would add an insurance run in the bottom of the 8th when Jermaine Dye walked with 2 outs and Aaron Rowand doubled him home.  In the top of the 9th Garland fanned Rudi to lead off the inning, but gave up back to back singles to Jackson and Bando.  Gene Tennace hit a high floater to the warning track in left, which allowed Jackson to score easily.  On the play Bando tried to sneak into second, but Podsednik's throw to the plate was cut off by Uribe, who turned quickly to nail Bando by a hair to end the rally and the game.

GAME 4 - A's 4, White Sox 3
John "Blue Moon" Odom was pitching the game of his life until the bottom of the 7th when the Chisox exploded for 3 runs to break Odom's shutout, which cut the deficit to 1.  Oakland took a 2 run lead in the 4th off of Chisox starter Brian McCarthy when Sal Bando doubled home Joe Rudi and Reggie Jackson.  Oakland scored 2 more in the top of the 7th when Billy North singled home Derron Johnson and Ray Fosse.  A.J. Pierzynski chased Odom in the bottom of the 7th when Chicago's backstop hit a 2 out 3 run shot to make it a 1 run game.  Rollie Fingers came on to get the final out of the inning and the next 6 outs for his 5th save of the season.  Carl Everett went 3 for 4 and boosted his average to .325 in Chicago's losing effort.

‘84 Tigers sweep ‘02 Halos enroute to a 15-2 start.

Tuesday Spetember 2, at Edison International Field

The game was scoreless until the Tigers erupted for 4 in the 4th, highlighted by Rupert Jones 3 run homer (4).  Alan Trammell would add a two run homer (4) in the 9th to complete the Tiger scoring.  Meanwhile Dan Petry allowed only two hits in his stint which was shortened by two rain delays.  Petry left in the 6th.  The Tigers ended up using 4 more pitchers as Aurelio Lopez went down with an injury.  The four got the job done though as the Angels were unable to come up with a run.  Petry won (2-1, 3.00).  Kevin Appier took the loss (1-1, 2.66)  Tigers 6 Angels 0

Wednesday September 3 at Tiger Stadium 

After retiring the first 8 Tigers he faces, Ramon Ortiz gave up a homer to Kirk Gibson (4).  Jones followed in the next inning with a grand slam (5) to give the Tigers a 5-0 lead.  The Angels managed to put a run across in the 7th and 2 more in the 8th but Willie Hernandez slammed the door in claiming his 4th save of the season.  Milt Wilcox got the win (1-1, 3.63).  Ortiz took the loss (2-1, 2.40)  Tigers 5  Angels 3

Thursday September 4 at Tiger Stadium

The Tigers continued to rely on the homerun ball in this game.  Darrell Evans struck first, with a two run blast (5) in the 6th and Lou Whitaker hit a solo lead off homer in the 9th (2).  Juan Berenguer took care of the rest of the game, scattering 6 hits on the way to a complete game shutout.  (3-0. 1.19)  Aaron Sele took the loss (0-2 3.65).  Tigers 3  Angels 0

--submitted by Tom “Crash” Davis--

‘05-Pale Hose take 2 of 3 from ‘93 Jays

9/2 - U.S. Cellar Field
GAME 1 - '05-Whitesox 6, '93-Blue Jays 5 (14 inn)
Down 5-4 and going into the 9th the Blue Jays tied the game up when Rob Butler reached first on an error by the pitcher and the ever so clutch Tony Fernandez tripled him home.  Even though he blew the save, Dustin Hermanson has to be considered somewhat clutch by striking out Devon White and getting Joe Carter to fly out to end the inning and not let the Jays take the lead.  For the next 4 innings neither team could score.  Fast forward to the bottom of the 14th inning when Chris Widger walked with 2 outs.  Pinch runner Willie Harris promptly pilfered second and Timo Perez sliced one into left to score the fleet footed Harris for a walk off hit.

9/3-9/4- Skydome
GAME 2 - White Sox 9, Blue Jays 4
Veteran Dave Stewart was lit up like the Rockerfeller Center Christmas tree by Pale Hose.  Chicago posted a 4 spot in the top of the first and never looked back.  Scott Podsednik led off with a single and Tad Iguchi walked.  After Konerko popped out to short Jermaine Dye loaded the bases on error by "Fedicini" Alfredo Griffin at 3rd.  That set the stage for A.J. Pierzynski's monster grand slam.  Chicago would score 5 more in the 5th to blow the doors off the contest and chase Stewart.  The big hit in the 5th was a bases clearing double by shortstop Juan Uribe.  Toronto answered with 3 run in the bottom of the inning, but the game was for all intents and purposes out of reach.  John Garland (1-1, 1.67) put in a professional quality start by going the distance and giving up only 2 earned runs (4 total).  Every White Sox starter had at least 1 hit.  Timo Perez was the only South Sider not to score a run.

GAME 3 - Blue Jays 6, White Sox 5 (11 inn)
Respective aces:  Mark Buehrle (7IP/3ER) and Pat Hentgen (7IP/4ER) were just ok.  Neither figured into the decision as this contest went into extra frames.  Chicago looked to have this game won when they took a 5-3 lead in the top of the 9th when Aaron Rowand was hit by an errant Mark Eichorn pitch, then stole second and was singled home by Scott Podsednik.  That 2 run lead would quickly evaporate in the Toronto's last chance at bat in the 9th.  Once again Dustin Hermanson would be the culprit in the blown save department as he allowed the bases to be loaded with no  out.  Ed Sprague would score on a ground out by Rickey Henderson and Randy Knorr would tag up and score on a Joe Carter fly to left.  Neither team would score in the 10th and Chicago had a man on 2nd in the top of the 11th (Uribe), but couldn't not plate him.  Hermanson was still on the bump in the 11, which lasted one pitch as Randy Knorr hit a walk off homer to give the Skydome fans something to celebrate.

‘03 Fish take 2 of 3 from ‘65 Dodgers

9/2 - Dodger Stadium
GAME 1 - '65-Dodgers 4, '03-Marlins 3
The great Sandy Koufax went the distance and outlasted Dontrelle Willis.  Koufax was not his usual dominant self as evidenced by the 3 run on 8 hits that he allowed in this complete game effort, but it was enough for victory.  Koufax broke down in the 9th and allowed 2 runs to the Marlins, which tied the game.  Derrek Lee hit a 2 run shot that barely cleared the fence in the cavernous parkin Chavez Ravine.  LA's gritty offense rallied in the bottom of the 9th when John Roseboro and Willie Davis led off with singles against Wilson Alvarez.  Pinch hitter Junior Gilliam was strangely given a free pass, which advanced the runners 90 feet to load the bases.  Koufax hit for himself and struck out.  Maury Wills popped to short and it looked like the Fish were going to escape.  ”Sweet” Lou Johnson waited out reliever Rick Helling and walked on a 3-1 count to force in the game winner.  A rare walk off walk ended it in favor of the Dodgers.  Koufax (2-1, 2.76) got the victory.

9/3-9/4- Pro Player Stadium
GAME 2 - Marlins 5, Dodgers 3
Claude Osteen looked like a sure bet protecting a 3-1 lead in the bottom of the 7th. Florida unloaded on the Dodger's lefty for 4 runs in the 7th to take a 5-3 lead that they would never relinquish.  Osteen completely lost his control as evidenced by the 3 walks and one hit batsmen.  Juan Pierre was right in the middle of the inning with his 2nd of 3 consecutive singles on the day.  Braden Looper (8th) and Ugeth Urbina (9th) held down the fort for the final 2 innings as the Marlins won by 2.

GAME 3 - Marlins 3, Dodgers 0
Johnny Podres had one blow up inning where he Fish scored 3 runs.  He would be perfect in the other 6 innings of this rain shortened 7 inning contest.  Juan Encarnacion led off with a single.  With 1 out Andy Fox singled as well to score Encarnacion, who stole second when Mike Redmond struck out.  Mike Lowell, who was hitting 8th, slammed his first homer of the season...a 2 run shot, to round out the scoring.  Marlin starter Michael Tejera went 6+ scoreless innings to get the win.  Both teams waited around two and a half hours before the game was officially called.

‘46 Redbirds take 2 of 3 from ‘69 Amazins’

9/2 - Shea Stadium
GAME 1 - '69-Mets 6, '46-Cards 5
A 2 hour rain delay in the 4th zapped Cardinal hurler Howie Pollet's effectiveness.  In fact it helped zap his lead.  Pollet had a 5-0 lead before the delay, which ultimately chased Met starter Gary Gentry (4.1 IP/5ER).  New York scored 4 in the 4th to close the gap to 1 run.  This big inning featured 2 walks and 3 errors by the Cards.  The Amazin's eventually tied it up in the 6th when two unlikely offensive candidates produced the game tying run.  Bobby Pfeil led the inning off with a single and pinch hitter Amos Otis singled him home with 2 outs.  New York would win the game in the 9th when pinch hitter Wayne Garrett led off with a double off of reliever Wilks.  Cleon Jones bunted him over to second and Tommie Agee was given an intentional pass.  Ron Swoboda hit one that was just deep enough for Garrett to tag up and score the winning run.  Ron Taylor (3-0, 0.00) got the win by tossing 3 scoreless innings in relief.

9/3-9/4- Sportsman Park
GAME 2 - Cards 5, Mets 3
The Amazin's jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first when Tommie Agee hit a 2 run homer.  St. Louis was able to scratch out solo runs in the 2nd and 3rd off of Jerry Koosman (0-4, 2.61) to tie the game.  The Mets were able to go ahead in the 5th when Duffy Dyer doubled home Jones.  This would spell the end for Cardinal starter Max Lanier, who was replaced by Murry Dickson.  The Met defense would betray Kossman to the tune of 3 runs in the bottom  of the 6th.  With 2 out Terry Moore would double home Stan Musial, who would go 2 for 4 on the day.  Koosman would then walk the bases loaded and Bobby Pfeil would boot a room service hop to second hit by Marty Marion.  That would allow 2 unearned runs to score and provide the difference in the game.

GAME 3 - Cards 9, Mets 0 (rain shortened 7 inn)
Rain was threatening all game.  What threatened Met starter Jim McAndrew more than the rain was the Cardinal offense.  HOF'ers Stan Musial and Red Schoendienst both accounted for 3 of the Cardinals 17 hits.  Musial had 4 RBI's.  McAndrew was gone after 4 innings of 5 run ball.  Hal Brecheen had a shutout going into the 7th when the heavens opened up.  After about 30 minutes of downpour the umps called the game and saved the Mets the embarrasment of having to play 2 more innings.