Thursday, August 8, 1985 - At Busch Stadium II (John Tudor - Starting Pitcher) - Opponent: Chicago Cubs (Scott Sanderson - Starting Pitcher) - Attendance: 39,203
John Tudor pitched the finest game of his major league career - a one-hit shutout of the Chicago Cubs - and got more than enough offensive support, as the Cardinals cruised to an easy 8-0 win. Tudor (14-8) allowed just two base runners all night - a two-out fourth-inning walk to Gary Matthews, and a one-out fifth-inning single off the bat of Leon Durham - while striking out six.
In essence, the game was decided just two batters into the game - when Vince Coleman doubled off Cubs starter Scott Sanderson (5-5) - advanced to third when right fielder Keith Moreland misplayed the ball - then scored when Willie McGee singled.
But the Cardinals were far from finished plating first-inning runs. Tommy Herr then scored McGee with a double to give the Redbirds a 2-0 lead. After Jack Clark flew out to left field, Andy Van Slyke hit one out to right - the two-run shot gave St Louis a 4-0 lead. Terry Pendleton then made it 5-0 with another home run - a rare back-to-back power display from a team known for its base stealing prowess - not the long ball.
The Cardinals knocked Sanderson out of the game in the fifth-inning - when Tudor led-off with a triple, then scored on Coleman's single. The relentless Vincent Van Go immediately stole second, then scored on McGee's single. That was it for Sanderson - as reliever Warren Brustar came in to pitch to Herr - who singled McGee over to third. Clark then hit a sacrifice fly to right field to make it an 8-0 game. At that point, the Cardinal offense took the rest of the night off - joining the Cubs in that capacity - at least for their final three at bats.
The Cardinal win enabled them to remain just a half-game behind the first-place New York Mets - who had already clobbered Montreal by a 14-7 score. The NL East would be a two-team race for the remainder of the season, as the Cards and Mets jockeyed for the top spot in the division, almost on a daily basis. In the end, St Louis would prevail, thanks in large part to the exceptional work from their left-handed ace - John Tudor - who had a few more sensational outings in his bag of tricks - although none would quite measure up to the performance he came up with on August 8.
Showing posts with label Jack Clark. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Jack Clark. Show all posts
Thursday, August 7, 2014
Saturday, July 5, 2014
July 5, 1987 - Ozzie Paces Cardinals to Win Over Braves
Sunday, July 5, 1987 - At Fulton County Stadium (Greg Mathews - Starting Pitcher) - Opponent: Atlanta Braves (Doyle Alexander - Starting Pitcher) - Attendance: 29,359
On a personal note, I was with my wife at Desert Samaritan Hospital while this game was being played - awaiting the arrival of our first-born son, Justin Ryan Underwood.
Rookie Greg Mathews pitched one of the best games of his brief major league career, holding the Braves to one run on three hits over 8.2 innings pitched. His chance at getting the complete game win unraveled in the bottom of the ninth - after issuing a two-out walk to Dale Murphy - Mathews booted a ground ball off the bat of Ted Simmons which should have ended it. Instead, with runners now on first and second, manager Whitey Herzog took no chances, bringing in Todd Worrell to close out a 4-1 Cardinal win.
Mathews also helped himself out with the bat - getting a key accidental bunt single to help facilitate a two-run seventh-inning rally - the two runs driven in by the Wizard - Ozzie Smith, who was having the best all-round season of his career.
Prior to the seventh-inning, Ozzie was right in the middle of the Cardinals' first scoring opportunity - in the fourth-inning. After Vince Coleman led-off the inning with a walk, Ozzie grounded a single into right field, which easily advanced Vincent Van Go to third. Then Tommy Herr - who had a tough day at the plate today, going 0 for 4 - grounded into the first of two double plays he would generate - but Coleman at least scored on the play, for a quick 1-0 Redbird lead.
Meanwhile, at Desert Samaritan, Justin Ryan was moving around inside his mother, but not quite ready to face the public yet.
Mathews finally lost his shutout with two outs in the bottom of the sixth, when Gary Roenicke hit a solo home run - tying the game at one run apiece.
In the Cardinals' seventh-inning, Curt Ford started a one-out rally with a single to right field - then Tony Pena, who had an absolutely miserable season in '87, drew a base on balls - putting runners on first and second, with Mathews now batting in an obvious sacrifice bunt situation. He laid down a perfect bunt which Doyle Alexander couldn't quite reach. The infield hit now loaded the bases for Vince Coleman - but his ground ball to the second baseman didn't get the job done, as Ford was forced out at home.
With two outs in a tie ballgame on the road, the odds for a visiting team to win diminishes after the seventh-inning. Ozzie got the memo - lining a two-run single to center field, to give the Redbirds a 3-1 lead.
Meanwhile, Justin Ryan has managed to squirm around so much, the umbilical cord has been crimped, cutting off his oxygen. Time for a C-Section.
After the Braves fail to score in their half of the seventh, Willie McGee's eighth-inning lead-off line-drive single to right field eludes Dale Murphy, allowing Willie to scamper all the way to third on the error. Terry Pendleton's sacrifice fly to center field concludes the scoring - but not the excitement.
Justin Ryan is skillfully removed from his mother's womb - a little blue in skin-tone, but none the worse for the wear - weighing in at 8 lbs - 3 ozzies. My original name suggestion of Jack Clark Underwood was rejected by the mother - and it had nothing to do with Jack the Ripper's bad day at the plate today.
Meanwhile, in the bottom of the ninth-inning in Atlanta, Todd Worrell induced pinch hitter Ken Griffey to line one directly at third baseman Terry Pendleton for the final out of the game - a 4-1 winner.
This was the third win in a row for the hot Redbirds - the beginning of a winning streak that would reach nine straight, as St Louis started to take control of the NL East.
However in a couple of months, trouble would be imminent - a badly sprained ankle - sidelining Jack Clark for the rest of the season, and virtually all of the postseason, as well.
On a personal note, I was with my wife at Desert Samaritan Hospital while this game was being played - awaiting the arrival of our first-born son, Justin Ryan Underwood.
Rookie Greg Mathews pitched one of the best games of his brief major league career, holding the Braves to one run on three hits over 8.2 innings pitched. His chance at getting the complete game win unraveled in the bottom of the ninth - after issuing a two-out walk to Dale Murphy - Mathews booted a ground ball off the bat of Ted Simmons which should have ended it. Instead, with runners now on first and second, manager Whitey Herzog took no chances, bringing in Todd Worrell to close out a 4-1 Cardinal win.
Mathews also helped himself out with the bat - getting a key accidental bunt single to help facilitate a two-run seventh-inning rally - the two runs driven in by the Wizard - Ozzie Smith, who was having the best all-round season of his career.
Prior to the seventh-inning, Ozzie was right in the middle of the Cardinals' first scoring opportunity - in the fourth-inning. After Vince Coleman led-off the inning with a walk, Ozzie grounded a single into right field, which easily advanced Vincent Van Go to third. Then Tommy Herr - who had a tough day at the plate today, going 0 for 4 - grounded into the first of two double plays he would generate - but Coleman at least scored on the play, for a quick 1-0 Redbird lead.
Meanwhile, at Desert Samaritan, Justin Ryan was moving around inside his mother, but not quite ready to face the public yet.
Mathews finally lost his shutout with two outs in the bottom of the sixth, when Gary Roenicke hit a solo home run - tying the game at one run apiece.
In the Cardinals' seventh-inning, Curt Ford started a one-out rally with a single to right field - then Tony Pena, who had an absolutely miserable season in '87, drew a base on balls - putting runners on first and second, with Mathews now batting in an obvious sacrifice bunt situation. He laid down a perfect bunt which Doyle Alexander couldn't quite reach. The infield hit now loaded the bases for Vince Coleman - but his ground ball to the second baseman didn't get the job done, as Ford was forced out at home.
With two outs in a tie ballgame on the road, the odds for a visiting team to win diminishes after the seventh-inning. Ozzie got the memo - lining a two-run single to center field, to give the Redbirds a 3-1 lead.
Meanwhile, Justin Ryan has managed to squirm around so much, the umbilical cord has been crimped, cutting off his oxygen. Time for a C-Section.
After the Braves fail to score in their half of the seventh, Willie McGee's eighth-inning lead-off line-drive single to right field eludes Dale Murphy, allowing Willie to scamper all the way to third on the error. Terry Pendleton's sacrifice fly to center field concludes the scoring - but not the excitement.
Justin Ryan is skillfully removed from his mother's womb - a little blue in skin-tone, but none the worse for the wear - weighing in at 8 lbs - 3 ozzies. My original name suggestion of Jack Clark Underwood was rejected by the mother - and it had nothing to do with Jack the Ripper's bad day at the plate today.
Meanwhile, in the bottom of the ninth-inning in Atlanta, Todd Worrell induced pinch hitter Ken Griffey to line one directly at third baseman Terry Pendleton for the final out of the game - a 4-1 winner.
This was the third win in a row for the hot Redbirds - the beginning of a winning streak that would reach nine straight, as St Louis started to take control of the NL East.
However in a couple of months, trouble would be imminent - a badly sprained ankle - sidelining Jack Clark for the rest of the season, and virtually all of the postseason, as well.
Monday, June 30, 2014
June 30, 1985 - 11-Inning Walk-Off Winner Completes 3-Game Sweep of Mets
Sunday, June 30, 1985 - At Busch Stadium II (Danny Cox - Starting Pitcher) - Opponent: New York Mets (Dwight Gooden - Starting Pitcher) - Attendance: 47,425
It took eleven innings, but the Cardinals completed a three-game sweep of the New York Mets, with a 2-1 walk-off win - a game that was filled with missed scoring opportunities on both sides.
Both starting pitchers - Cox and Gooden - certainly pitched well enough to win. Cox scattered nine hits in nine innings of work - allowing just one unearned eighth-inning run. Gooden's only mistake was pitching to Jack Clark - with two out and no runners on - in the seventh-inning - a pitch that Jack the Ripper slashed over the left field wall for a temporary 1-0 St Louis lead.
The Mets scored their lone run in the eighth-inning, when Wally Backman singled - then advanced all the way to third when Terry Pendleton kicked the ball halfway to Kirkwood. Danny Heep's sacrifice fly scored the unearned run which tied the game at one run apiece - a game that was destined for overtime.
Prior to all that excitement, both teams blew scoring opportunities in the very first inning.
The first two batters Cox faced - Wally Backman and Danny Heep - both singled. Keith Hernandez then grounded one to first baseman Jack Clark, whose only play was a force out at second - leaving runners on the corners with one out. Gary Carter then bounced one right back to Cox as Backman immediately broke for home. Cox decided to get the sure out at the plate, rather than risk trying for the double play. That decision was rewarded when he struck out Darryl Strawberry to end the threat.
In the bottom of the first, Vince Coleman singled - then with Willie McGee batting, stole second. He then took third on Willie's sacrifice bunt - but Tommy Herr failed to get him in after his foul popup was an easy play for third baseman Howard Johnson. Then, with Clark batting, Coleman tried to score on a pitch that squirted away from Carter - but not far enough, as an alert Johnson trailed Coleman down the line while Carter retrieved the ball - then took the throw at the plate to nail Vincent Van Go - who didn't go fast enough this time.
More questionable base running plagued the Redbirds in the fifth-inning. With one out, Andy Van Slyke doubled but was an easy out trying to advance to third on a Pendleton grounder to the shortstop. With Pendleton now on first base, Ozzie Smith singled him over to third - but was promptly picked off by an alert Carter - to end another non-scoring Cardinal inning.
The Mets returned the "wasted opportunity favor" when George Foster led-off the seventh-inning with a single, then moved up to second on a Tom Nieto passed ball. However, the next three batters couldn't move him off second.
The eleventh-inning was a Met disaster. With Ricky Horton pitching for St Louis, Carter and Strawberry both singled, putting runners on first and second. Exit Horton. Enter Jeff Lahti, whose first order of business was to deal with Foster - who grounded one to Ozzie deep in the hole - whose only play was a force out of Carter at third. The next batter - Johnson - failed to advance the runners, as he flew out to McGee in center.
When the venerable Rusty Staub was announced as a pinch hitter, manager Whitey Herzog took no chances - bringing in lefty reliever Ken Dayley to close out the inning. He did, by striking out Staub - and in the process, put himself in line to get the win.
With Jesse Orosco now pitching for New York, pinch-hitter Ivan de Jesus - now batting for Ken Dayley - lined a one-out double down the left field line. As luck would have it, Vince Coleman delivered the game winning hit - a single to center field, scoring the fleet-footed de Jesus with the winning run. Dayley (2-0) retired the only batter he faced to get the win. Danny Cox, who retired 27 - got the no decision. But it was a job well done. And the Cardinals were now on a roll.
It took eleven innings, but the Cardinals completed a three-game sweep of the New York Mets, with a 2-1 walk-off win - a game that was filled with missed scoring opportunities on both sides.
Both starting pitchers - Cox and Gooden - certainly pitched well enough to win. Cox scattered nine hits in nine innings of work - allowing just one unearned eighth-inning run. Gooden's only mistake was pitching to Jack Clark - with two out and no runners on - in the seventh-inning - a pitch that Jack the Ripper slashed over the left field wall for a temporary 1-0 St Louis lead.
The Mets scored their lone run in the eighth-inning, when Wally Backman singled - then advanced all the way to third when Terry Pendleton kicked the ball halfway to Kirkwood. Danny Heep's sacrifice fly scored the unearned run which tied the game at one run apiece - a game that was destined for overtime.
Prior to all that excitement, both teams blew scoring opportunities in the very first inning.
The first two batters Cox faced - Wally Backman and Danny Heep - both singled. Keith Hernandez then grounded one to first baseman Jack Clark, whose only play was a force out at second - leaving runners on the corners with one out. Gary Carter then bounced one right back to Cox as Backman immediately broke for home. Cox decided to get the sure out at the plate, rather than risk trying for the double play. That decision was rewarded when he struck out Darryl Strawberry to end the threat.
In the bottom of the first, Vince Coleman singled - then with Willie McGee batting, stole second. He then took third on Willie's sacrifice bunt - but Tommy Herr failed to get him in after his foul popup was an easy play for third baseman Howard Johnson. Then, with Clark batting, Coleman tried to score on a pitch that squirted away from Carter - but not far enough, as an alert Johnson trailed Coleman down the line while Carter retrieved the ball - then took the throw at the plate to nail Vincent Van Go - who didn't go fast enough this time.
More questionable base running plagued the Redbirds in the fifth-inning. With one out, Andy Van Slyke doubled but was an easy out trying to advance to third on a Pendleton grounder to the shortstop. With Pendleton now on first base, Ozzie Smith singled him over to third - but was promptly picked off by an alert Carter - to end another non-scoring Cardinal inning.
The Mets returned the "wasted opportunity favor" when George Foster led-off the seventh-inning with a single, then moved up to second on a Tom Nieto passed ball. However, the next three batters couldn't move him off second.
The eleventh-inning was a Met disaster. With Ricky Horton pitching for St Louis, Carter and Strawberry both singled, putting runners on first and second. Exit Horton. Enter Jeff Lahti, whose first order of business was to deal with Foster - who grounded one to Ozzie deep in the hole - whose only play was a force out of Carter at third. The next batter - Johnson - failed to advance the runners, as he flew out to McGee in center.
When the venerable Rusty Staub was announced as a pinch hitter, manager Whitey Herzog took no chances - bringing in lefty reliever Ken Dayley to close out the inning. He did, by striking out Staub - and in the process, put himself in line to get the win.
With Jesse Orosco now pitching for New York, pinch-hitter Ivan de Jesus - now batting for Ken Dayley - lined a one-out double down the left field line. As luck would have it, Vince Coleman delivered the game winning hit - a single to center field, scoring the fleet-footed de Jesus with the winning run. Dayley (2-0) retired the only batter he faced to get the win. Danny Cox, who retired 27 - got the no decision. But it was a job well done. And the Cardinals were now on a roll.
Friday, June 27, 2014
June 27, 1985 - McGee Sparks Another Cardinal Win
Thursday, June 27, 1985 - At Veterans' Stadium (Kurt Kepshire - Starting Pitcher) - Opponent: Philadelphia Phillies (Shane Rawley - Starting Pitcher) - Attendance: 22,691
After losing the first two games of a three-game series to a mediocre Philadelphia team, the Cardinals were trying to salvage the final game before heading home - for a pivotal three-game series with the formidable and widely despised New York Mets.
First things first, however. The Cardinals would manage to escape with a 4-3 win tonight, thanks to a couple of costly Philadelphia mistakes - one in the field and one on the bases - along with a perfect night from the National League's leading hitter - and a rare home run from a defensive Wiz.
It also helped that Kurt Kepshire manged to work around his control problems - issuing four walks in 6.2 innings pitched - but none of the free passes came around to score. The two runs he allowed came via the long ball - a fifth-inning solo home run by Ozzie Virgil - and another by Von Hayes two innings later.
That second Phillies' home run prompted manager Whitey Herzog to make a pitching change - a move that nearly came back to haunt him - until the second pitching change saved the day.
But it was Willie McGee who sparked the Cardinals' offense, reaching base in all four plate appearances - scoring three of the four Redbird runs - the first one coming after his one-out triple in the first-inning set up Tommy Herr for an easy RBI, with a ground out to short.
Willie scored the second run in the fourth-inning, after a lead-off single, a wild pitch and an error by shortstop Derrel Thomas on Herr's ground ball allowed McGee to plate an unearned run.
After Virgil's fifth-inning home run cut the Philadelphia deficit to a single run, McGee was at it again in the sixth-inning - reaching base this time on a lead-off walk. After Herr advanced him to second on a ground out to the second baseman, Jack Clark delivered an RBI double to make it a 3-1 St Louis advantage.
The Phillies threatened in their half of the sixth, when a tiring and very wild Kepshire issued three straight two-out walks to load the bases for Virgil - who had already homered in his previous trip to the plate. This time, however, he was retired on a foul popup which catcher Tom Nieto grabbed to preserve the two-run lead.
Leading off the seventh-inning for St Louis, Ozzie Smith connected for his third home run of the season - a new single-season career high for the Wizard - and it would prove to be the winning margin in this nerve-wracking game.
After Hayes' two-out pinch hit home run off Kepshire in the bottom half of the seventh, reliever Bill Campbell was brought in to get that third out - which he did - keeping the score 4-2, in favor of the Cardinals. But trouble lurked ahead as Campbell remained in the game to pitch the eighth-inning - at least part of the eighth-inning - the bad part.
Campbell's peril began with a lead-off walk to Greg Gross, followed by a Mike Schmidt single, which was subsequently followed by a Glen Wilson double into center field. Gross, of course, scored easily; however, Mike Schmidt - with nobody out - inexplicably tried to score, as well. He didn't make it, as McGee's relay to Ozzie, whose throw to Nieto was a strike - nailing the flabbergasted Schmidt at home - as a cascade of boos reigned down on him like rain from the appreciative Philly fans.
So, instead of one run in - and runners on second and third with (still) nobody out - the Phillies had one run in with one out now - with just one runner on second.
Campbell was given the rest of the night off for his efforts, as Herzog summoned Jeff Lahti in from the bullpen to restore order - and he did - not only getting through the eighth with no further damage - Lahti also worked a perfect ninth-inning to get a well-deserved sixth save of the season. The beneficiary was of course, Kepshire (5-5).
The Cardinals had dodged a bullet - maybe more like a cannonball. The win kept them just a half game behind Montreal in the tight NL East race. The Cardinals' next opponents - the Mets - were only two games behind St Louis, heading into a very crucial weekend series at Busch.
No doubt relieved to get out of Philly with a win, the Cardinals enjoyed their flight back home -but it would take another 27 years before Happy Flight was officially used to describe such air travel for the franchise.
After losing the first two games of a three-game series to a mediocre Philadelphia team, the Cardinals were trying to salvage the final game before heading home - for a pivotal three-game series with the formidable and widely despised New York Mets.
First things first, however. The Cardinals would manage to escape with a 4-3 win tonight, thanks to a couple of costly Philadelphia mistakes - one in the field and one on the bases - along with a perfect night from the National League's leading hitter - and a rare home run from a defensive Wiz.
It also helped that Kurt Kepshire manged to work around his control problems - issuing four walks in 6.2 innings pitched - but none of the free passes came around to score. The two runs he allowed came via the long ball - a fifth-inning solo home run by Ozzie Virgil - and another by Von Hayes two innings later.
That second Phillies' home run prompted manager Whitey Herzog to make a pitching change - a move that nearly came back to haunt him - until the second pitching change saved the day.
But it was Willie McGee who sparked the Cardinals' offense, reaching base in all four plate appearances - scoring three of the four Redbird runs - the first one coming after his one-out triple in the first-inning set up Tommy Herr for an easy RBI, with a ground out to short.
Willie scored the second run in the fourth-inning, after a lead-off single, a wild pitch and an error by shortstop Derrel Thomas on Herr's ground ball allowed McGee to plate an unearned run.
After Virgil's fifth-inning home run cut the Philadelphia deficit to a single run, McGee was at it again in the sixth-inning - reaching base this time on a lead-off walk. After Herr advanced him to second on a ground out to the second baseman, Jack Clark delivered an RBI double to make it a 3-1 St Louis advantage.
The Phillies threatened in their half of the sixth, when a tiring and very wild Kepshire issued three straight two-out walks to load the bases for Virgil - who had already homered in his previous trip to the plate. This time, however, he was retired on a foul popup which catcher Tom Nieto grabbed to preserve the two-run lead.
Leading off the seventh-inning for St Louis, Ozzie Smith connected for his third home run of the season - a new single-season career high for the Wizard - and it would prove to be the winning margin in this nerve-wracking game.
After Hayes' two-out pinch hit home run off Kepshire in the bottom half of the seventh, reliever Bill Campbell was brought in to get that third out - which he did - keeping the score 4-2, in favor of the Cardinals. But trouble lurked ahead as Campbell remained in the game to pitch the eighth-inning - at least part of the eighth-inning - the bad part.
Campbell's peril began with a lead-off walk to Greg Gross, followed by a Mike Schmidt single, which was subsequently followed by a Glen Wilson double into center field. Gross, of course, scored easily; however, Mike Schmidt - with nobody out - inexplicably tried to score, as well. He didn't make it, as McGee's relay to Ozzie, whose throw to Nieto was a strike - nailing the flabbergasted Schmidt at home - as a cascade of boos reigned down on him like rain from the appreciative Philly fans.
So, instead of one run in - and runners on second and third with (still) nobody out - the Phillies had one run in with one out now - with just one runner on second.
Campbell was given the rest of the night off for his efforts, as Herzog summoned Jeff Lahti in from the bullpen to restore order - and he did - not only getting through the eighth with no further damage - Lahti also worked a perfect ninth-inning to get a well-deserved sixth save of the season. The beneficiary was of course, Kepshire (5-5).
The Cardinals had dodged a bullet - maybe more like a cannonball. The win kept them just a half game behind Montreal in the tight NL East race. The Cardinals' next opponents - the Mets - were only two games behind St Louis, heading into a very crucial weekend series at Busch.
No doubt relieved to get out of Philly with a win, the Cardinals enjoyed their flight back home -but it would take another 27 years before Happy Flight was officially used to describe such air travel for the franchise.
Saturday, June 14, 2014
June 14, 1985 - Wild Win at Wrigley
The Cardinals didn't have much luck against the Chicago Cubs in '84. In fact they were, as sportswriter Rick Hummel put it, "mauled" by Chicago that season - losing 13 of 18 - featuring the excruciating, nationally televised Ryne Sandberg Game - a loss so devastating, it seemed to psychologically end the Cardinals season - and it was only June.
Payback time came just a year later. In '85, it was the Cardinals doing the mauling - winning 14 of 18 - featuring the wildest win of the season - by far.
Friday, June 14, 1985 - In a game that featured 26 hits, six errors, 12 walks and three wild pitches between the two teams, the Cardinals eventually came away with a wild 11-10 win at Wrigley Field. For the 36,745 bi-partisan fans watching this contest unfold, it was an E-ticket ride - definitely worth the price of admission.
The Cardinals sent Joaquin Andujar to the mound - a wild Joaquin on this day - escaping a first-inning jam that included three walks and three stolen bases - but no hits or runs allowed. It was going to be that kind of day. Weird and unpredictable.
Dick Ruthven got the start for Chicago - and through the first four innings, held the Cardinals scoreless.
In the meantime, the Cubs scored an unearned run in the second-inning, following right fielder Andy Van Slyke's error - then scored two more in the third, on a Jody Davis two-run double - to take a 3-0 lead.
The Redbirds finally got something started in the fifth-inning, thanks in large part to first baseman Leon Durham's error which kept the inning alive for Andujar to help his own cause with a two-run double. Inspired, the irrepressible Willie McGee later tripled Joaquin home with the tying run - at least for now.
The Cubs answered back in the bottom of the fifth - scoring a run on a pair of hits and a wild pitch, to take a 4-3 lead - at least for now.
The Cardinals took the lead for good in the sixth-inning on a two-run Tom Lawless double, who later scored on another error by Chicago.
The 6-4 Redbird lead grew to a seemingly comfortable 10-4 lead in the seventh-inning - on a Jack Clark RBI single, and later with two runners on, Andy Van Slyke's three-run home run.
The Cubs weren't cooperating. Against relievers Bill Campbell and Jeff Lahti, they used two hits, two walks and a wild pitch to score three runs - then tacked on another run in the eighth with three successive two-out singles. It was now 10-8, and starting to get more than a little tense in the Redbird dugout.
In the Cardinals' ninth-inning, what would prove to be the winning run scored on yet another bizarre play. With two out, Clark drew a base on balls off reliever George Frazier. With Van Slyke batting, Clark moved to second on a wild pitch. Van Slyke was then intentionally walked, whereupon he was picked off first - but the throw from Frazier sailed out of Durham's reach - scooting far down the right field line, into foul territory - allowing Clark to lumber all the way around from second to score the 11th run of the game - a run that would be necessary to win this hell ride.
The normally reliable Jeff Lahti quickly retired the first two batters in the ninth, but couldn't quite close it out. Pinch hitter Richie Hebner's base hit preceded Dave Lopes' two-run home run. After Ryne Sandberg predictably kept the inning alive with a double - suddenly, the tying run was in scoring position, with Keith Moreland now batting.
Herzog had seen enough. Bob Forsch replaced Lahti, and induced Moreland to pop one up down the right field line - in foul territory. With the wind blowing the ball further into foul territory, it seemed destined to sail out of play, into the first couple of rows of seats along the line. Somehow, Van Slyke, avoiding all sorts of obstacles, running full speed, snatched the ball out of thin air - and kept running with the ball still in his glove, into the relieved Cardinals' dugout.
Andujar managed to escape with his 12th win of the season, against one loss. Ruthven (3-5) took the loss.
The Redbirds came into town 4.5 games behind the first-place Cubbies. No doubt infused with a little extra energy after this bizarre marathon, they went on to sweep Chicago out of first place. Montreal grabbed temporary possession of the top-spot in the NL East - but the Redbirds were fast approaching.
Friday, June 13, 2014
June 13, 1985 - Clark & Tudor Doing What They Do Best
Thursday, June 13, 1985 - At Three Rivers Stadium: In a game played before an intimate gathering of 4,833 innocent bystanders, the Cardinals used a little power from their main source and another nice pitching performance from the lefty acquired in a trade with these Pittsburgh Pirates - to post a 2-1 win.
Jack Clark's second-inning solo home run off Pirates starter Larry McWilliams (3-5) gave John Tudor (4-7) just about all the run support he'd need today - at least through the first six innings. In the seventh, Tito Landrum gave Tudor an insurance run with a run scoring double - bringing Tommy Herr in from second, to make it a 2-0 ballgame.
Those were the only two hits McWilliams would allow in his seven innings of work, but he also issued four walks - and one of those - to Herr - proved costly.
In the bottom of the seventh, Jason Thompson connected for a solo home run of his own, to cut the deficit to a single run - giving manager Whitey Herzog a reason to get activity going down in the Cardinals' bullpen.
Tudor, who would complete 14 of his 34 starts in '85, got the first two out in the ninth-inning - but when the dangerous George Hendrick came up to bat, Herzog went to the bullpen.
Hendrick had been a mainstay in the Cardinals lineup during their '82 World Championship season - but the Cardinals needed another reliable starter and the Pirates needed another reliable bat - so the trade was made: Hendrick for Tudor.
Herzog knew Silent George was particularly dangerous against left-hand pitching, so didn't hesitate to yank the disappointed Tudor out of this one, nursing just a one-run lead. Jeff Lahti took care of his former teammate - blowing a third strike past him - for his fourth save of the season.
With the departure of closer Bruce Sutter to Atlanta via free agency, Herzog employed the Closer By Committee formula for most of the '85 season - and it worked beautifully. Remarkably, the Cardinals never lost a game all season long when they held a ninth-inning lead. Never. Until the postseason. Game 6 - World Series...
Jack Clark's second-inning solo home run off Pirates starter Larry McWilliams (3-5) gave John Tudor (4-7) just about all the run support he'd need today - at least through the first six innings. In the seventh, Tito Landrum gave Tudor an insurance run with a run scoring double - bringing Tommy Herr in from second, to make it a 2-0 ballgame.
Those were the only two hits McWilliams would allow in his seven innings of work, but he also issued four walks - and one of those - to Herr - proved costly.
In the bottom of the seventh, Jason Thompson connected for a solo home run of his own, to cut the deficit to a single run - giving manager Whitey Herzog a reason to get activity going down in the Cardinals' bullpen.
Tudor, who would complete 14 of his 34 starts in '85, got the first two out in the ninth-inning - but when the dangerous George Hendrick came up to bat, Herzog went to the bullpen.
Hendrick had been a mainstay in the Cardinals lineup during their '82 World Championship season - but the Cardinals needed another reliable starter and the Pirates needed another reliable bat - so the trade was made: Hendrick for Tudor.
Herzog knew Silent George was particularly dangerous against left-hand pitching, so didn't hesitate to yank the disappointed Tudor out of this one, nursing just a one-run lead. Jeff Lahti took care of his former teammate - blowing a third strike past him - for his fourth save of the season.
With the departure of closer Bruce Sutter to Atlanta via free agency, Herzog employed the Closer By Committee formula for most of the '85 season - and it worked beautifully. Remarkably, the Cardinals never lost a game all season long when they held a ninth-inning lead. Never. Until the postseason. Game 6 - World Series...
Tuesday, June 3, 2014
June 3, 1985 - Runnin' Redbirds Run Ryan Ragged
Monday, June 3, 1985 - John Tudor felt confident going into this game with the Houston Astros, although his last start, in Atlanta, hadn't gone so well. For that matter, the entire season hadn't gone so well for the taciturn Tudor. In his latest six innings of futility, he had been hit hard - five runs on eight hits - losing to the Braves, 5-3. With just one win against seven losses, Tudor had hit rock bottom.
A buddy of his, who happened to be watching the game on Braves' Super Station WTBS, also happened to discover a subtle flaw in Tudor's delivery. One phone call later, Tudor had been enlightened. Now, he could hardly wait for his next start.
Nolan Ryan was Tudor's mound opponent for this game at Busch Stadium II, as a crowd of just 18,891 filed through the turnstiles - an indication that the Cardinal fan base hadn't bought into how good this team really was. They were about to find out, right off the bat.
After Tudor retired the Astros in order in the first-inning, the Cardinals went to work in the bottom half. Vince Coleman coaxed a walk out of Ryan, then wasted no time in stealing second with Willie McGee at the plate. Willie then beat out an infield hit, as Coleman moved to third. With Tommy Herr batting, McGee took off for second, but was nailed for the first out of the inning. Ryan - a bit wild tonight - walked the patient Herr. With cleanup hitter Jack Clark batting, Coleman decided to surprise the whole world by stealing home. Not to be outdone, Herr then stole second and advanced to third as the throw from the catcher skipped into center field. Clark, probably a bit distracted by all the activity on the bases, struck out; but Andy Van Slyke picked up the two-out RBI with a double down the right field line. The next hitter, Terry Pendleton popped up to the first baseman as Van Slyke became the first Cardinal base runner in the inning to not attempt a stolen base.
The Cardinals tacked on two more runs in the third, when McGee singled with one out, then scored on Herr's double. With Clark batting, Ryan uncorked a wild pitch, moving Herr to third. After Clark popped out to the first baseman in foul territory, Van Slyke once again delivered a two-out run-scoring hit - a single to center. Pendleton flew out to left to end the inning, but Tudor now had a comfortable 4-0 lead to work with.
After Houston failed to score in the fifth-inning, St Louis broke the game wide open in the bottom half. Coleman led off with a single, but this time was nailed trying to steal second. McGee, who had already been thrown out stealing in the first-inning, decided to give it another try, after lining a single to center. He made it this time, then came around to score on Herr's base hit to right. Before Herr had a chance to do anything funny, Clark deposited a Ryan fastball into the left field bleachers. Van Slyke then got his third straight hit, advanced to second on a two-out walk to Ozzie Smith - which ended Ryan's nightmarish outing - then scored the fourth and final run of the inning when Tom Nieto greeted new pitcher Bill Dawley with a base hit to center.
Tudor may have lost his concentration with that eight-nothing lead as he faced the Astros in the sixth-inning. A walk and two singles had a run in for Houston, with runners at the corners with nobody out. At that point, Tudor was replaced by Ken Dayley, who had some issues of his own in the inning, as the Astros scored four runs - two of which were unearned. He went on to pitch the final four innings, securing an eventual 9-5 win with his fifth save of the season.
Things got a little sloppy at the end of this game, but Tudor was now on track, really for the first time all season. In his next start against the Mets at Shea Stadium, there would be no momentary lapses in concentration. He'd win a 1-0 thriller over Dwight Gooden - the first of a league-leading ten shutouts he'd bag in '85. After that dreadful 1-7 start, and some helpful advice from an old friend, Tudor would become the best left-handed pitcher in baseball, winning 20 out his next 21 decisions.
As for this game, it was pretty obvious the Cardinals were a running team. They stole four bases, got caught stealing three times. Even Tudor tried to steal a bag - unsuccessfully. The '85 Cardinals were a team built for speed. They would run whenever they had a chance to run, which was just about anytime they got on base. They would wreck havoc on the bases, causing the opposition to get out of sync - make bad throws, mishandle otherwise routine plays.
The strategy worked to perfection tonight. It undoubtedly affected Nolan Ryan's game - his concentration. In short, these runnin' Redbirds ran Ryan ragged tonight. They were just getting started. After this game, the Cardinals (25-23) were still a fourth-place team in the National League East - still 5 games behind the New York Mets. After tonight, however, St Louis would post the best record in baseball - 76-38 - a .667 winning percentage - good enough for a division title.
Not bad for a team universally picked to finish last by all the baseball experts.
A buddy of his, who happened to be watching the game on Braves' Super Station WTBS, also happened to discover a subtle flaw in Tudor's delivery. One phone call later, Tudor had been enlightened. Now, he could hardly wait for his next start.
Nolan Ryan was Tudor's mound opponent for this game at Busch Stadium II, as a crowd of just 18,891 filed through the turnstiles - an indication that the Cardinal fan base hadn't bought into how good this team really was. They were about to find out, right off the bat.
After Tudor retired the Astros in order in the first-inning, the Cardinals went to work in the bottom half. Vince Coleman coaxed a walk out of Ryan, then wasted no time in stealing second with Willie McGee at the plate. Willie then beat out an infield hit, as Coleman moved to third. With Tommy Herr batting, McGee took off for second, but was nailed for the first out of the inning. Ryan - a bit wild tonight - walked the patient Herr. With cleanup hitter Jack Clark batting, Coleman decided to surprise the whole world by stealing home. Not to be outdone, Herr then stole second and advanced to third as the throw from the catcher skipped into center field. Clark, probably a bit distracted by all the activity on the bases, struck out; but Andy Van Slyke picked up the two-out RBI with a double down the right field line. The next hitter, Terry Pendleton popped up to the first baseman as Van Slyke became the first Cardinal base runner in the inning to not attempt a stolen base.
The Cardinals tacked on two more runs in the third, when McGee singled with one out, then scored on Herr's double. With Clark batting, Ryan uncorked a wild pitch, moving Herr to third. After Clark popped out to the first baseman in foul territory, Van Slyke once again delivered a two-out run-scoring hit - a single to center. Pendleton flew out to left to end the inning, but Tudor now had a comfortable 4-0 lead to work with.
After Houston failed to score in the fifth-inning, St Louis broke the game wide open in the bottom half. Coleman led off with a single, but this time was nailed trying to steal second. McGee, who had already been thrown out stealing in the first-inning, decided to give it another try, after lining a single to center. He made it this time, then came around to score on Herr's base hit to right. Before Herr had a chance to do anything funny, Clark deposited a Ryan fastball into the left field bleachers. Van Slyke then got his third straight hit, advanced to second on a two-out walk to Ozzie Smith - which ended Ryan's nightmarish outing - then scored the fourth and final run of the inning when Tom Nieto greeted new pitcher Bill Dawley with a base hit to center.
Tudor may have lost his concentration with that eight-nothing lead as he faced the Astros in the sixth-inning. A walk and two singles had a run in for Houston, with runners at the corners with nobody out. At that point, Tudor was replaced by Ken Dayley, who had some issues of his own in the inning, as the Astros scored four runs - two of which were unearned. He went on to pitch the final four innings, securing an eventual 9-5 win with his fifth save of the season.
Things got a little sloppy at the end of this game, but Tudor was now on track, really for the first time all season. In his next start against the Mets at Shea Stadium, there would be no momentary lapses in concentration. He'd win a 1-0 thriller over Dwight Gooden - the first of a league-leading ten shutouts he'd bag in '85. After that dreadful 1-7 start, and some helpful advice from an old friend, Tudor would become the best left-handed pitcher in baseball, winning 20 out his next 21 decisions.
As for this game, it was pretty obvious the Cardinals were a running team. They stole four bases, got caught stealing three times. Even Tudor tried to steal a bag - unsuccessfully. The '85 Cardinals were a team built for speed. They would run whenever they had a chance to run, which was just about anytime they got on base. They would wreck havoc on the bases, causing the opposition to get out of sync - make bad throws, mishandle otherwise routine plays.
The strategy worked to perfection tonight. It undoubtedly affected Nolan Ryan's game - his concentration. In short, these runnin' Redbirds ran Ryan ragged tonight. They were just getting started. After this game, the Cardinals (25-23) were still a fourth-place team in the National League East - still 5 games behind the New York Mets. After tonight, however, St Louis would post the best record in baseball - 76-38 - a .667 winning percentage - good enough for a division title.
Not bad for a team universally picked to finish last by all the baseball experts.
Sunday, April 28, 2013
April 28, 1982: This Date in St Louis Cardinals Championship History
April 28, 1982: In a game that epitomized "Whitey Ball", the Cardinals (14-6) were somehow able to scratch out a win over the Houston Astros (8-13) at Busch Stadium, by a score of 5-4. Bob Forsch (4-0) pitched seven innings, allowed eight hits and six walks - but only four of those baserunners came around to score.
While the Astros were frustrated by their missed opportunities to break the game open, the Cardinals were able to turn a two run deficit into a two run lead in the sixth-inning, by scoring four runs on four walks, three hits and a wild pitch - a typical Redbird rally of the early '80s. David Green delivered a key two-run single in the inning and for good measure, threw Tony Scott out at second base trying to stretch a single into a double earlier in the game.
Bruce Sutter relieved Forsch with a runner on second base and nobody out in the eighth-inning, with the Cardinals clinging to the same two-run lead they manufactured two innings prior. Although the Astros were able to bring that run home, Sutter was able to prevent further damage, recording his seventh save of the young season en route to a NL leading 36 saves - the fourth consecutive year he topped the Senior Circuit in that category.
Forsch would go on to win 15 games for the Redbirds in '82, helping them win their first division title and reach the postseason for the first time since 1968. He also pitched brilliantly in Game One of the NLCS vs the Atlanta Braves, as the Cards swept that series to meet the Milwaukee Brewers in a classic 1982 Fall Classic.
This late April victory was pivitol for the Redbirds, who came into this game on a three-game losing streak. As it turned out, they would lose the next three games after this one, so their ability to steal a win from Houston essentially prevented a seven-game losing sreak.
A few days after David Green's game-winning hit, he went on the DL with a severe hamstring injury. This paved the way for rookie Willie McGee to be called up from the minors. It didn't take long for McGee to take over the regular duties in centerfield for the Redbirds, relegating Green - who never quite lived-up to the expectations the Cardinals had for him - to part-time status. Eventually, he would be packaged with a few other marginal players in exchange for Giants slugger Jack Clark prior to the '85 season. Clark would prove to be the perfect fit for St Louis during his three seasons as a Cardinal, helping the Redbirds win National League championships in '85 and '87.
Unfortunately for the Cardinals, Jack Clark became a free agent after the '87 season. His departure to the New York Yankees signaled the end of the Whitey Herzog Era. By 1990, the team was in a state of disaray; Herog resigned prior to the All-Star break and St Louis finished last in the standings for the first time since 1918.
While the Astros were frustrated by their missed opportunities to break the game open, the Cardinals were able to turn a two run deficit into a two run lead in the sixth-inning, by scoring four runs on four walks, three hits and a wild pitch - a typical Redbird rally of the early '80s. David Green delivered a key two-run single in the inning and for good measure, threw Tony Scott out at second base trying to stretch a single into a double earlier in the game.
Bruce Sutter relieved Forsch with a runner on second base and nobody out in the eighth-inning, with the Cardinals clinging to the same two-run lead they manufactured two innings prior. Although the Astros were able to bring that run home, Sutter was able to prevent further damage, recording his seventh save of the young season en route to a NL leading 36 saves - the fourth consecutive year he topped the Senior Circuit in that category.
Forsch would go on to win 15 games for the Redbirds in '82, helping them win their first division title and reach the postseason for the first time since 1968. He also pitched brilliantly in Game One of the NLCS vs the Atlanta Braves, as the Cards swept that series to meet the Milwaukee Brewers in a classic 1982 Fall Classic.
This late April victory was pivitol for the Redbirds, who came into this game on a three-game losing streak. As it turned out, they would lose the next three games after this one, so their ability to steal a win from Houston essentially prevented a seven-game losing sreak.
A few days after David Green's game-winning hit, he went on the DL with a severe hamstring injury. This paved the way for rookie Willie McGee to be called up from the minors. It didn't take long for McGee to take over the regular duties in centerfield for the Redbirds, relegating Green - who never quite lived-up to the expectations the Cardinals had for him - to part-time status. Eventually, he would be packaged with a few other marginal players in exchange for Giants slugger Jack Clark prior to the '85 season. Clark would prove to be the perfect fit for St Louis during his three seasons as a Cardinal, helping the Redbirds win National League championships in '85 and '87.
Unfortunately for the Cardinals, Jack Clark became a free agent after the '87 season. His departure to the New York Yankees signaled the end of the Whitey Herzog Era. By 1990, the team was in a state of disaray; Herog resigned prior to the All-Star break and St Louis finished last in the standings for the first time since 1918.
Tuesday, January 3, 2012
Dawson's '87 NL MVP Award a Travesty - Here's Proof
In 1987, Chicago Cubs right fielder Andre Dawson led the National League with 49 home runs and 137 RBIs. He was the toast of Chi-Town. Everybody loved him. His loyal fans in the bleachers paid non-stop tribute to The Hawk with arms raised high, bowing at the waist in that classic "Wayne's World" We-Are-Not-Worthy Salute. Remember that?
Meanwhile, despite the heroic efforts of the Mighty Dawson, the Cubs lost the vast majority of their games, finishing dead last in the NL East, far behind the division champion St Louis Cardinals. That didn't matter to the sports writers voting for the most "worthy" candidate to receive the NL Most Valuable Player Award - it went to Dawson.
At the time, I was a little irked that Cardinals slugger Jack Clark - who had his best season ever despite having it shortened by a severe ankle injury in early September - didn't win it. Clark's acrobatic teammate, Ozzie Smith, actually finished second in the voting that year, putting together his best season ever - both offensively (75 RBIs) and defensively - he was never better.
Back in '87, measuring player performance was done the old-fashioned - and sometimes misleading way - things like "batting average", "home runs" and "runs batted in" were the crucial barometers of performance. Today, we realize "on base percentage" paints a better picture. Therefore, batters who are adept at drawing "base on balls" are generally more helpful to their team than free-swingers who rarely walk. It's so obvious, but rarely got much attention until guys like Billy Beane (Money Ball) started analyzing offensive production more effectively, about a decade ago.
So, let's take a closer look at the true numbers Dawson (AD) and Clark (JC) put up back in '87. A category in bold type indicates a #1 NL ranking. The conclusion: Clark should have been named Most Valuable Player that year - just as I suspected!
R HR RBI BB BA OBP SLG OPS OPS+ WAR
JC 93 35 106 136 .286 .459 .597 1.055 176 6.5
AD 90 49 137 32 .287 .328 .568 .896 130 2.7
There are several fascinating observations here. Clark walked 104 more times than the free-swinging Dawson, accounting for the NL leading OBP - SLG - OPS - OPS+ - All true measurements of offensive production. Dawson's OBP is extremely low for someone considered to be a league MVP!
Sure, it would have been one thing if Dawson was on the pennant winning team. Instead, Clark played for the winner, and based on his true production, it's not surprising!
I rest my case. Sorry Andre, we have to give the MVP Award to Jack the Ripper now. Only because he deserved it all along.
I knew it!
Meanwhile, despite the heroic efforts of the Mighty Dawson, the Cubs lost the vast majority of their games, finishing dead last in the NL East, far behind the division champion St Louis Cardinals. That didn't matter to the sports writers voting for the most "worthy" candidate to receive the NL Most Valuable Player Award - it went to Dawson.
At the time, I was a little irked that Cardinals slugger Jack Clark - who had his best season ever despite having it shortened by a severe ankle injury in early September - didn't win it. Clark's acrobatic teammate, Ozzie Smith, actually finished second in the voting that year, putting together his best season ever - both offensively (75 RBIs) and defensively - he was never better.
Back in '87, measuring player performance was done the old-fashioned - and sometimes misleading way - things like "batting average", "home runs" and "runs batted in" were the crucial barometers of performance. Today, we realize "on base percentage" paints a better picture. Therefore, batters who are adept at drawing "base on balls" are generally more helpful to their team than free-swingers who rarely walk. It's so obvious, but rarely got much attention until guys like Billy Beane (Money Ball) started analyzing offensive production more effectively, about a decade ago.
So, let's take a closer look at the true numbers Dawson (AD) and Clark (JC) put up back in '87. A category in bold type indicates a #1 NL ranking. The conclusion: Clark should have been named Most Valuable Player that year - just as I suspected!
R HR RBI BB BA OBP SLG OPS OPS+ WAR
JC 93 35 106 136 .286 .459 .597 1.055 176 6.5
AD 90 49 137 32 .287 .328 .568 .896 130 2.7
There are several fascinating observations here. Clark walked 104 more times than the free-swinging Dawson, accounting for the NL leading OBP - SLG - OPS - OPS+ - All true measurements of offensive production. Dawson's OBP is extremely low for someone considered to be a league MVP!
Sure, it would have been one thing if Dawson was on the pennant winning team. Instead, Clark played for the winner, and based on his true production, it's not surprising!
I rest my case. Sorry Andre, we have to give the MVP Award to Jack the Ripper now. Only because he deserved it all along.
I knew it!
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