Round 2–‘20 Brownies sweep ‘33 Tigers

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GAME ONE – St. Louis scored the first 5 runs of the game. Detroit answered with one in each of the final three frames, but it wasn’t enough as the Brownies take the lid lifter, 5-3. Infield outs in the 2nd and 3rd innings led to Brownie tallies. They put a crooked number on the board in the 6th on two more IF outs and Earl Smith singling home George Sisler. The Bengals were also hurt by 3 errors in the game. Dixie Davis tossed 8 strong innings for the win.

GAME TWO – Wally Gerber’s solo shot in the 3rd and Sisler’s 2-run jack in the 6th proved to be all the Browns would need in a 3-2 win at Briggs Stadium. Urban Shocker went the distance for the visitor’s, while Vic Sorrell turned in a CG loss. Detroit scored in the 2nd when Gee Walker tripled and scored on a Pete Fox sac fly. In the 5th Ray Hayworth trotted home from the 3rd on a Joe Gedeon error.

GAME THREE – Sisler’s 2nd hit of the game plated Jack Tobin in the B8 to lift St. Loo to a 2-1 win and a sweep of the series. Detroit lit the scoreboard first in the 4th inning on a Hayworth RBI single. Gedeon evened things out in the 6th with a single scoring “Baby Doll” Jacobson. Bill Burwell earned the win with two scoreless innings in relief of Allen Sothoron. Firpo Marberry went the distance in a tough-luck loss for the Tigers.

--Submitted by Bruce Thomas (ghostwriter)--

Round 2–‘92 Friars burn ‘93 M’s

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GAME ONE – Andy Benes fired 8 innings of 3-hit shutout ball as the Padres captured the opener 3-1. Gary Sheffield drove in the series first run in the 1st inning with a single after Darrin Jackson had doubled. Catcher Dan Walters swatted a solo homer in the 5th and DH Benito Santiago homered in the 7th to give the Friars a 3-0 lead. An unearned run in the 9th off Randy Myers was the lone tally for the Mariners.

GAME TWO – Bruce Hurst and Larry Andersen combined to shutout the Navs on just 4 hits as San Diego took a commanding two game advantage with a 4-0 win. The Pads went up 3-0 in the 2nd on a Kurt Stillwell RBI double, a Tony Gwynn RBI single and a Jack Clark sac fly. Gwynn added a solo shot in the 4th and Hurst (7 inn.) and Andersen took it the rest of the way. One run in two games for the Mariners at the Kingdome . . . Go figure.

GAME THREE – However, in sunny San Diego Ken Griffey, Jr. and Tino Martinez warmed up their long ball swings. Martinez 2-run blast equaled the Griffey’s 2-run knock in the first and Seattle had a 4-0 lead for the “Big Unit” Randy Johnson. Johnson would yield just 1 run on 2 hits in 7 innings to earn the 6-4 win.

 

GAME FOUR – Seattle proved beyond a doubt that southern California is to its liking with a lopsided 18-0 victory to even the series. It was also a great day to be a Martinez. Both Tino and Edgar hit grand slams and drove in 5 runs each. Omar Vizquel collected 4 of the 17 Mariners hits and also scored 4 runs. Rich Amaral delivered 3 hits and tallied 4 runs. In the 6th inning alone, the Mariners sent 15 men to the plate and plated 10 runs. Dave Fleming (7 IP) and Dennis Powell (2 IP) were the beneficiaries of this offensive largesse.

GAME FIVE – Back to the Northwest for the finale and wouldn’t you know it, Seattle again cannot find home plate. This time Jose Melendez (7 IP) and Andersen (2 IP) do the whitewashing. “DJ” Darrin Jackson handles the offense with a solo shot in the 1st and a 2-run double in the 8th. Vizquel and Amaral have 3 hits apiece at the top of the Navs lineup, but the big guns were quiet.

The visiting teams win each of these games and Seattle outscores San Diego 25-14, but the Friars move on.

--Played by AJ, submitted by his ghostwriter Bruce Thomas--

Round 2–‘85 Bosox sweep ‘68 Bucs

Game #1
Steve Blass took the hill for the Pirates while Roger Clemens started for the BoSox.  Boston opened the scoring in the bottom of the first as Boggs walked, was sacrificed to 2nd by Barrett and scored on Buckner's double.  Clemens helped himself in the bottom of the 2nd by hitting a sac fly that brought Steve Lyons in with the Red Sox 2nd run.  Boston put two more on the board in the 5th, first on a wild pitch by Blass and then on an RBI double by Jim Rice.  Matty  Alou led of the Pirates 6th with a double and was brought home on a Willie Stargell single, but that was all that Pittsburgh could muster against The Rocket.  Lyons led of the bottom of the 6th with a single, stole second and scored on Glenn Hoffman's RBI double to finish the scoring in the one.  The Rocket, Roger Clemens gave way to Mark Clear after 8 solid innings and Boston took Game #1 by the score of 5-1.  WP - Clemens (1-0)  LP - Blass (0-2)

Game #2
After his strong performance in Game 2 vs. the '51 Braves, Oil Can Boyd got the start for Boston in Game 2.  He was opposed by Bob Veale for Pittsburgh.  The teams traded zeros until Dwight Evans led off the bottom of the 3rd with his 2nd homerun of the tourney, a laser shot into the net in left.  In the bottom of the 4th, Barrett lined a one out double and Glenn Hoffman continued his killer tourney with a shot of his own into the net.  Bill Mazeroski led of the 5th with a single, went to third on a Gene Alley single and scored when Jerry May grounded into a 6-4-3 DP.  That was all the scoring in this one as The Can picked up his 2nd win with help from Rob Woodward and Bob Stanley.  Final Score 3-1.  WP - Boyd (2-0)  LP - Veale (1-1)  Sv - Stanley (2)

Game #3
The teams moved on to Forbes Field for Game #3, with Dock Ellis opposing Bruce Hurst.  Boston plated all of the runs that they would need in the 2nd inning, scoring three on two ground outs and a single by Wade Boggs.  Evans led off the 4th with a double and was driven home by Hoffman to account for the last Boston run.  Bruce Hurst was superb for the 2nd time this tourney, as he has not allowed a run in 15 innings.  Final Score 4-0.  WP - Hurst (2-0)  LP - Ellis (0-1)
Glenn Hoffman remains on a tear (.444 / .522 / .889 / 1.411, 5 2B's, 1 HR, 9 RBI) while the Boston pitching staff has posted a 1.17 ERA in 6 games.

--submitted by Tom Landers--
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Round 2 - '81 Royals vs '88 Expos and the broom comes out

Game 1 had runs scored in every inning but the sixth. Montreal tied the game 7-7 in the bottom of the 8th. KC was able to score a single tally in the top of the 9th and hold on for the win 8-7.  Andres Galarraga led the charge of the Expos going 3 for 4 with 2 home runs and 3 rbi and he scored 3 times. Nixon went 2 for 5 as did Brooks.  The Royals got a home run from Willie Mays Aikens. Amos Otis went 3 for 5, George Brett, Hal McRae, John Wathan and Frank White all picked up two hits.  Both Larry Gura and Dennis Martinez, the starters, were roughed up and got no decisions.

Game 2 saw the Royals score twice in the top of the 1st and that was all that was needed.  Mike Jones and Dan Quisenberry combined on a 5 hit shutout.  Webster went 2 for 3 for Montreal in the loss. Hal McRae 3 for 4 and Willie Wilson 4 for 5 led the Royals attack in the 4-0 win. Both McRae and Aikens hit home runs.

Game 3 saw both starters get chased before the end of the 5th inning.  Rich Gale came on for the Royals in the top of the 5th to stop the attack of the Expos as the Royals got the win 6-3.   Montreal saw Galarraga get his 4th triple of the tournament. The Expos had only Tracy Jones with 2 hits in his 3 trips to the plate.  For the Royals George Brett homered, went 4 for 5 with 3 rbi. Hal McRae had 3 hits in 4 at bats and Willie Wilson went 2 for 5.  Gale picked up the win in relief of Paul Splittorff. Bryn Smith, who was lifted after 3 innings,  took the loss for Montreal. 6-3.  A tall/promising lefty named Randy Johnson threw 5 1/3 innings of relief and was spotless until he tired and gave up 2 runs late in his outing.  Rumor has it his stuff was electric.  He fanned 6 and didn’t walk a batter.

--submitted by Orion Bell--
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Round 2: ’64 Dodgers outlast gritty ’12 DBacks in 5 games

OVERVIEW:  In a series that had to battle both a northeast snowstorm and a southeast power outage, the 1964 Los Angeles Dodgers punched their ticket to the Sweet 16, but not without a fight.  It took 5 hard fought games, some clutch bottom of the order hitting, a lot of quirky plays and a classic game 5 performance by a Hall of Famer to secure the victory.  But, the Dodgers roll on and now await the winner of an interesting series between the ’77 Houston Astros and the ’04 Chicago Cubs.  How long will they be able to ride the arms of Koufax and Drysdale?

GAME 1 : ’12 ARIZONA wins 2-0 (WP – Wade Miley, LP – Sandy Koufax)

In what can only be described as the game of his life, Wade Miley matched his boyhood idol Sandy Koufax pitch for pitch in an instant classic.  Ok, Miley was born in 1986 long after Koufax left the game, but rumor has it he did a killer project on the Dodger lefty while at Loranger High School.  While Koufax racked up a gaudy 13 strikeouts over his 7 innings of work, Miley had a much more efficient outing.  He scattered 4 hits over his 7 shutout innings.  The offense for Arizona came in the first after a bunt single by Gerardo Parra.  Parra stole second and then scored on a Justin Upton single.  Upton came around a couple batters later on a double by Paul Goldschmidt.  That was all the scoring in a great game.  Maury Wills had 2 hits for the Dodgers but was thrown out attempting to steal both times by DBack catcher Miguel Montero.  Brad Zeigler and JJ Putz closed out the Miley gem by shutting the Dodgers out in the 8th and 9th.

GAME 2 : ’64 LOS ANGELES  wins 5-0 (WP- Don Drysdale, LP – Trevor Cahill)

Not to be outdone by Wade Miley in Game 1, Don Drysdale threw a 1 hit shut out to even the series.  Drysdale struck out 11 Arizona batters and did not give up a hit until a Ryan Roberts single in the 6th inning.  The Dodgers got 4 hits from Willie Davis and 3 more from catcher Johnny Roseboro.  But really the story of the game was the dominance of Drysdale.

GAME 3 : ’64 LOS ANGELES wins 4-2 in 11 innings (WP – Bob Miller, LP – Josh Collmenter)

Another instant classic saw a 9th inning game tying homer by Jason Kubel off of Dodger closer Jim Perranoski.  Both teams had their chances in extras before the Dodgers pushed 2 across in the top of the 11th to pull out the victory.  The winning run was driven in by backup catcher Jeff Torborg.  Torborg drove in Wes Parker with a bases loaded single to break the tie.   The offensive star of the game was Dodger 2nd baseman Nate Oliver who had 4 hits on the day.

GAME 4 : ’12 ARIZONA wins 5-3 (WP – Josh Collmenter, LP – Jim Brewer)

The Diamondbacks lived to fight another day by outslugging the usually offensively challenged Dodgers in a game highlighted by 6 home runs.  The big blows by the DBacks came in the 7th inning of Dodger reliever Jim Brewer.  Miguel Montero hit the go ahead blast down the right field line with 1 out and AJ Pollock followed that up 2 batters later with a pinch hit bomb that gave the DBacks pen some extra breathing room.  Craig Breslow and JJ Putz shut down the Dodgers in the 8th and 9th to preserve the win and force a game 5.  Frank Howard and Jason Kubel each hammered a pair of homers earlier in the game.

GAME 5 : ’64 LOS ANGELES win 2-0 (WP – Sandy Koufax, LP – Wade Miley)

Wade Miley came up just short in his bid to outduel Koufax twice in a week.  Miley followed up his game 1 gem by scattering 6 hits and a run over 7 innings.  Unfortunately for Miley and his DBack teammates, Sandy Koufax and his freakish left arm refused to give Miley a story to tell his grandkids about.  Koufax struck out 12 men and came 1 out away from a 5 hit shutout.  Rarely in trouble in the contest, Koufax was brilliant for the 3rd time in 3 outings in the tournament.  He now has thrown 23.2 innings, allowing only 12 hits and 3 runs while striking out 36 overmatched batters.  Tommy Davis gave Koufax all he needed with a single in the 3rd inning to drive in Nate Oliver. 

--submitted by Peter Daly--
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Round 2 - Baltimore (1998) Wins A Close Series From Detroit (2010) In Five

Game 1:  Baltimore 2 Detroit 1
Detroit Starter:  Verlander
Baltimore Starter:  Mussina

The first game of the series was a contest between the team’s respective aces.  It was a low scoring affair, as would be expected.  Detroit scored early, opening up a 1 run lead in the top of the first against Baltimore starter Mike Mussina on consecutive singles by Will Rhymes and Miguel Cabrera, a walk to Brennan Boesch and a sacrifice line drive to left field by Carlos Guillen.  Through the next seven innings, Mussina would hold the Tigers to just three more singles.  Verlander was up to the challenge holding the Orioles to just five hits over 6 1/3 innings.  Baltimore scored both of their runs for the contest in the bottom of the third as Brady Anderson lead off the inning with a double, Mike Bordick was walked and Eric Davis drove in both runners with a double down the left field line.    Once the starters tired the bullpens took over and pitched scoreless ball the rest of the way.

Game 2:  Baltimore 11 Detroit 8
Detroit Starter:  Scherzer
Baltimore Starter:  Erickson

The bats came alive in game two as once again the Tigers jumped to an early 1-0 lead in the first inning on doubles by Austin Jackson and Miguel Cabrera.  The O’s countered with three in the bottom of the first, the big blow came on a Rafael Palmeiro two run homer down the right field line.   Detroit fought back in the second against Erickson on a solo shot by Brennan Boesch down the right field line.  In the bottom of the third Chris Hoiles provided Baltimore with some breathing room with a grand slam to left field following an intentional walk to Baltimore DH Harold Baines.  Baltimore added two more in the fourth on another Palmeiro two run home run to right center field. Detroit reached Erickson for two more runs on two singles, a double by Will Rhymes, a walk, and an error on Mike Bordick in the fifth.  In the bottom of the inning, Brady Anderson answered with a two run shot of his own to close out the Baltimore scoring for the day.  Detroit gallantly fought back over the next four innings, scoring three against Arthur Rhodes and one against Jimmy Key.  Miguel Cabrera went 4 for 5 in the game with two singles and two doubles for Detroit.  The game came to a close with the tying run at the plate against Jimmy Key.  Key struck out Detroit DH Brennan Boesch to send the series to game three in Detroit.

Game 3:  Detroit 7 Baltimore 2
Baltimore Starter:  Guzman
Detroit  Starter:  Galarraga

Baltimore starter Juan Guzman ran into trouble in the Motor City in the bottom of the third walking Laird, balking him to second and giving up a double to Austin Jackson.  Johnny Damon then followed with a fielders choice, scoring Laird and Miguel Cabrera singled home Jackson with another Tiger run.   As Armando Galarraga cruised along against the Baltimore hitters, he seemed to be untouchable on this day.  Baltimore did finally breakthrough in the top of the 5th on a Roberto Alomar single, a fielders choice and an RBI single by Harold Baines.  Detroit quickly answered back with three runs of their own, chasing Guzman as Baltimore decided to load the bases with two out by issuing an intentional pass to Cabrera.  As is so often the case, the move backfired…….Jhonny Peralta doubled off the wall in left center driving in all three runners and putting the game out of reach for Baltimore.  Galarraga was dominant over 8 innings and Jose Valverde closed out the game in the ninth.

Game 4:  Detroit 8 Baltimore 1
Baltimore Starter:  Ponson
Detroit  Starter:  Porcello

Another dominating performance by the back end of the Detroit staff stymied the Baltimore offense for a second straight game.  This one was over from the start as “Sir” Sidney Ponson  gave up 6 Detroit runs in the bottom of the first on 4 singles, a double, a walk and a 3 run Jhonny Peralta home run to right center field.  After 2/3 of an inning pitched, Baltimore summoned veteran Jimmy Key from the bullpen to stop the bleeding, which he did for the next 6 2/3 innings, giving up only a single run during his stint.  Rick Porcello improved his record to 2-0 yielding only 6 Baltimore hits over 7 innings.  Joel Zumaya and Phil Coke each pitched an inning to mercifully close out this game and send the series back to Charm City for a classic game 5.

Game 5: Baltimore 2 Detroit 1
Detroit Starter: Verlander
Baltimore Starter: Mussina

As the teams gathered for their game 5 showdown it was 83 degrees, clear and raining (?) in Baltimore.  Despite the odd weather, the Commissioner determined it was suitable to play, and the game got underway.  This one was a rematch between the staff aces and it would not disappoint.  Baltimore got off to the early 1 run lead on a BJ Surhoff single, a Palmeiro single that moved Surhoff to third and a Cal Ripken RBI single in the bottom of the first.  As expected, this game then settled into a classic pitcher’s duel with neither pitcher willing to concede.  In the bottom of the fourth Harold Baines connected on a solo home run down the right field line against Verlander putting Baltimore up by two.  In the meantime, Mike Mussina escaped trouble in the fifth as Laird singled and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt.  An Austin Jackson single put runners on first and third with only one out.  A fielder’s choice scored Laird, but Jackson was stranded when Mussina got Cabrera to fly out to very deep center field.   In the 8th Baltimore went with reliever Alan Mills who immediately got into trouble by walking Cabrera and giving up a single to Peralta.  Mills retired the next three Detroit hitters to end the threat.  In the ninth Mills started by walking Laird before Baltimore went to closer Armando Benitez.    Will Rhymes proceeded to sacrifice Laird to second and Austin Jackson moved the runner to third on a fielder’s choice.  The game, and the series, came to an end as Johnny Damon flied out to shallow center field.

This was a very exciting series, two classic duels by Verlander and Mussina.  Tom coached a great series that went Baltimore’s way as a result of some timely breaks that could have easily gone the other way.
--submitted by Mark Nixon--
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Round 2–‘82 Bombers defeat ‘87 Bash Bros. in 4

—submitted by Jim Waldron--  
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GAME 1- The battle lines were drawn, both teams coming off convincing victories in round 1. Oakland sent Dave Stewart to the hill against the Gator, Ron Guidry. The Yankees jumped out to a early lead with a 3-run homer by John Mayberry. Oakland brought the score within one but in the 7th Jerry Mumphrey picked up a single followed by a double by Dave Winfield and singles by Graig Nettles and Butch Wynegar which opened up the lead to 6-2. After a few more runs each way the game ended with a 8-3 score and the Yankees leading the series 1-0.

Game 2- Well with one in the books the Yankees looked to go back home with a lead but knew that it would very tough. Like game 1 the Yanks jumped out by 2 in the 1st on a double by Ken Griffey. After that Curt Young began to strangle the Yankee offense in route to a solid 7 inning performance. While Young was taking care of the hitters from New York, Oakland’s bats began to wake up. In the 4th the Athletics jumped all over Yankee starter Dave Righetti. After Mark McGwire Struck out, up came Jose Canseco who started off the rally with a single, followed by a single by Mike Davis. Terry Steinbach struck out and then Tony Bernazard stepped to the plate and knocked in Canseco. Reggie Jackson followed with a double which gave Oakland its first lead of the series. Alfredo Griffin added single to send the score to 4-2. The Yankees got it within one, twice but was shut down by closer Dennis Eckersley.

Game 3- On the trip back to New York, Manager Jim Waldron was looking over the lineup knowing the series could not go back to Oakland cause that would lead to trouble. On the mound was the veteran starter Tommy John and for Oakland it was Steve Ontiveros. The game started out like the other two with New York taking the lead on singles and walks in the second inning, Butch Wynegar and Ken Griffey scoring RBI’s. From that point on it was the pitching that took center stage. Tommy John, Roger Erickson, Mike Morgan and closer Rich Gossage were the pitchers responsible for shutting out the big Oakland boppers for the next 7 innings.

Game 4- This was a must win for Oakland and Manager Keith MacDonald, who sent Storm Davis to the bump to get him back to Oakland. This time the game started out with the Yankees getting one in the 4th but in the Top of the 5th Oakland was able to get two off Yankee starter Shane Rawley. Carney Lansford walked, while Mark McGwire double him in. Jose Canseco walked and was followed by Yankee killer Mike Davis who was able to plate McGwire with single. Manager Jim Waldron felt the series was in the balance in the 6th made some gutsy decisions. After Lee Mazzilli flied deep to right for the first out, seldom used Dave Collins was at the plate in which he singled. Willie Randolph was given the sign to hit and run in which produced a ground out to third but moved Dave Collins into scoring position. Graig Nettles followed with a walk. So with first and second and two outs, Waldron gave Jerry Mumphrey the hit and run sign. So with the play on Collins and Nettles were off, Mumphrey missed and both runners were safe. So with 2nd and 3rd with two outs Mumphrey grounded a screamer between second and third which allowed Collins and Nettles to score and give the lead to the Yankees. The Yankees would get an insurance run in the 7th. Even though the Yankees had the lead the big bats of Oakland are always a threat to score runs and in a fast and furious manner. In the 9th Rich Gossage had a lineup that would scare almost any pitcher. 4-2 top of the ninth Carney Lansford grounded out, Mark McGwire walked, and Jose Canseco walked. So with one out and two on and Mike Davis who has not had a bad at bat in the series, he took his swing and grounded to first which lead to a 3-6-3 double play.

So with that the Yankees move on with a 3-1 win. I would like to say that this Oakland A’s team was a very tough opponent, Keith MacDonald is a class act as a manager and hopefully he can lead his 01 Red Sox teams to the Finals.