Wednesday, October 20, 1982 - World Series - Game 7 at Busch Stadium II vs Milwaukee Brewers - Starting Pitchers: Joaquin Andujar vs Pete Vuckovich - Attendance: 53,723
For the first time since 1968, the Cardinals were playing host to a seventh and deciding game of the World Series - but this time, the home team won - coming from behind for a 6-3 World Series winner - the ninth in franchise history.
It was a rematch of Game Three starters - Joaquin Andujar and Pete Vuckovich - and once again, Andujar came away with a victory - allowing three runs (two earned runs) in seven innings of work. Bruce Sutter pitched two perfect innings of relief for his third postseason save - striking out Gorman Thomas on a full-count ten-pitch at bat to finally end it.
After a scoreless first three innings of play, Game Three hero Willie McGee started a fourth-inning rally with a base hit to center off Brewers ace Pete Vuckovich, who was probably relieved Willie didn't hit another home run this time around. Tommy Herr followed with a single to right, as McGee easily advanced to third.
Vuckovich then retired Ozzie Smith on a pop fly to second baseman Ganter, as the runners remained on the corners. However, Lonnie Smith drove in McGee with an infield single to shortstop Yount, as Herr took second.
Vuckovich managed to avoid further damage by retiring Ken Oberkfell on an infield grounder and getting a frustrated Keith Hernandez to chase strike three - stranding Herr at third base.
It didn't take the Brewers long to answer back, as Ben Oglivie hit a fifth-inning lead-off home run to tie the game at one run apiece. Andujar was able to regroup after that blast to retire the next three batters in order.
However, he ran into serious trouble in the sixth, which was only exasperated by his own fielding miscue which led to an unearned run crossing the plate. Jim Gantner started the inning with a lead-off double in the right center field gap. Next up - Paul Molitor - may have caught Andujar off guard with a bunt down the third base line, designed to move the runner up to third. However, after fielding it, Andujar threw wildly past first base, allowing Gantner to score as Molitor took second.
Robin Yount followed that up with an infield hit which second baseman Herr had no play on. Runners were now on first and third - still nobody out. This appeared on the verge of getting out of hand. However, Andujar escaped total disaster, although Yount did score the second run of the inning on a sacrifice fly off the bat of Cecil Cooper. Next up - Ted Simmons - who smacked a line drive off Andujar's knee in Game Three, grounded one to Hernandez, resulting in a force out at second this time around. Likewise, Oglivie, who homered in his last at bat, grounded into a force out to end the threat - and keep it a 3-1 Milwaukee lead.
With one out in the bottom of the sixth, Ozzie Smith singled - then Lonnie Smith doubled him over to third base. With that, Brewers manager Harvey Kuenn went to the bullpen - bringing in lefty reliever Bob McClure to pitch to Oberkfell with two runners in scoring position. Whitey Herzog then countered with pinch hitter Gene Tenace - a World Series hero a decade earlier with Oakland. With first base open, McClure didn't give Tenace anything good to hit - and Tenace patiently drew a base on balls - bringing Keith Hernandez to the plate, with redemption on his mind.
With pinch runner Mike Ramsey replacing Tenace at first base, the stage was set for a classic Fall Classic bit of drama. Two San Francisco Bay Area high school rivals - McClure and Hernandez - were meeting once again in the Main Event - with the world championship on the line - and for the first time in World Series history, two "Smiths" scored on the same base hit - a single to center, as this game was now tied, 3-3.
With pinch runner Mike Ramsey perched on third, George Hendrick brought him in with a base hit in the hole between first and second - to give the Cardinals a 4-3 lead.
An inspired Andujar protected that lead with a scoreless seventh-inning, with Bruce Sutter waiting in the wings to finish this one up. After Milwaukee failed to score in the eighth, St Louis tacked on a couple of insurance runs in the bottom half, to put this one on ice.
Facing reliever Moose Haas, Lonnie Smith led-off the eighth-inning with a ground rule double down the right field line - but Mike Ramsey's sacrifice bunt attempt failed - fouling off strike three. After Hernandez was intentionally walked, Hendrick was retired on a fly ball to center.
Lefty Mike Caldwell - who dominated the Cardinals in Game One's 10-0 blowout - was then brought in to face Darrell Porter - but the strategy backfired - as Porter got the RBI single to right field, which in all likelihood was the deciding factor in the World Series MVP voting. Steve Braun followed that up with a base hit to center - scoring Hernandez with the sixth and final run of the game.
With Sutter looking to close this one out quickly, Ted Simmons obliged with a ground ball right back to the mound - for out number one. Next up - Oglivie - grounded out to second for out number two.
Out number three wouldn't be so easy. Gorman Thomas worked the count full - fouling off pitch after pitch after pitch after pitch - but finally, on the tenth pitch of the at bat, Thomas took a home run cut on non-split-fingered fastball - and came up empty.
That was a World Series winner - ironically, the only one the Cardinals managed to come away with during Herzog's tenure as manager.
The next time St Louis made it to the World Series - in 1985 - a couple of former teammates - Lonnie Smith and Dane Iorg - would be playing for the eventual world champion Kansas City Royals. Twenty-nine years later, KC has returned - but a second I-70 Fall Classic will have to wait awhile.
Showing posts with label george hendrick. Show all posts
Showing posts with label george hendrick. Show all posts
Monday, October 20, 2014
Thursday, October 9, 2014
October 9, 1982 - Game 2 NLCS 4-3 Walk-Off Winner Over Braves
Saturday, October 9, 1982 - Game 2 NLCS - At Busch Stadium II (John Stuper - Starting Pitcher) - Opponent: Atlanta Braves (Phil Niekro - Starting Pitcher) - Attendance: 53,408
After scoring an eighth-inning run to tie the game, the Cardinals got the walk-off win in the ninth - by the slimmest of margins - to steal Game Two of the National League Championship Series vs the Atlanta Braves - by a score of 4-3. St Louis also won Game One, so now have a commanding two games to none lead in this best-of-five championship showdown.
As we all know, baseball is a game of inches. For Braves' manager Joe Torre, his defensive maneuvers late in this game sacrificed some precious inches - and probably cost his team a chance to avoid the ninth-inning calamity which turned a line drive off the bat of Ken Oberkfell into the walk-off game-winning hit.
Before all that unfolded, pitching from both sides did a nice job of keeping the opposing lineups from doing much damage. Sloppy defense cost the Cardinals an early run, while Niekro's erratic knuckle ball cost his team an early run, as well.
After Cards starter John Stuper made it through the first-inning unscathed, Niekro wasn't quite as lucky. With two out and Lonnie Smith on second and Oberkfell on third - Niekro uncorked a wild pitch with Darrell Porter at the plate - allowing Oberkfell to race home with the game's first run - and that was the extent of the scoring for the Cardinals until the sixth-inning.
By that time, the Braves had scored three runs - with one very costly unearned run added to the mix. Bruce Benedict started a third-inning rally by drawing a lead-off walk. After Niekro advanced him to second with a sacrifice bunt, it appeared Stuper might be able to navigate through a scoreless inning when he struck out Claudell Washington. But disaster struck when Rafael Ramirez singled to center. Willie McGee, in his haste to prevent Benedict from scoring from second, charged the ball aggressively, but missed it completely - allowing Ramirez to zip all the way around the bases to give the Braves a shocking 2-1 lead.
Atlanta tacked on another run in the fifth when Niekro batted with runners on second and third and nobody out. He helped his own cause with a sacrifice fly - scoring Glenn Hubbard from third - but the runner on second - Benedict - would eventually be stranded. Atlanta would also squander another scoring opportunity later in the game, which further killed their chances of pulling this one out of the fire.
The Redbirds finally got another run home in the sixth, but probably should have scored more. Keith Hernandez started the rally with a base hit to right - then scored on Porter's double down the right field line. Porter himself would be thrown out at the plate, trying to score on an Ozzie Smith single to right. An unusual 9-6-5 assist nailed Porter - so despite collecting four hits in the inning, the Cards had just one run to show for it.
After Atlanta had runners on first and second and nobody out in the eighth, manager Whitey Herzog brought in Bruce Sutter from the bullpen to work his magic. Stuper had pitched well enough, but was on the hook for the loss already - and the situation looked grim with the two runners on base being his responsibility, as well (Chris Chambliss on first and Dale Murphy on second).
Sutter struck out the first batter - Bob Horner - then with Jerry Royster batting - Murphy tried to steal third - but was nailed on a great throw from Porter to Oberkfell. Royster then bounced out to end the threat and shift the momentum in favor of the home team.
The Cardinals immediately cashed in on the opportunity, off reliever Gene Garber. With one out in the eighth, Porter walked. George Hendrick - quiet in the game to this point - let his bat do the talking with a singe to right - advancing Porter to third. McGee then hit a slow roller to the shortstop who got the force out at second - unassisted - but McGee easily beat the relay to first, as Porter scored the tying run.
By that time, in a series of lineup changes and manuevers, center fielder Dale Murphy moved over to left field, as Brett Butler became the new center fielder. As it would play out, that move cost the Braves the game, although probably nobody thought much about it at the time. Thirty-two years later, it seems obvious.
The fateful ninth-inning rally began with a single off the bat of David Green, who was immediately pushed to second on Herr's sacrifice bunt. Next up - Ken Oberkfell - hit a line drive to center field which 5' 10" Brett Butler couldn't quite reach. Cardinal play-by-play broadcaster Jack Buck's description of the play: "Butler came within an eyelash - within an eyelash - of catching that ball!"
Meanwhile, out in left field, 6' 4" Dale Murphy - who probably would have caught that ball had he remained in center field - could only helplessly watch the ball land safely, as a jubilant Green dashed home with the winning run.
Heading back to Atlanta down two games to none was too much to overcome. Putting Butler in center field - simply because he was speedy - was a routine practice throughout his seventeen-year major league career. Defensive metrics tell a different story, however. He was a far better left fielder, so really, he had no business playing center field. Murphy, on the other hand, was a far better center fielder who had no business playing left field.
Especially in the most important game of his career, when a game of inches - six to be exact - proved to be the difference between a game-winning hit or a routine putout.
The opportunistic Cardinals, were of course, very glad to put this one in the postseason win column. They'd find a way to win five more games in October - good for another World Series trophy.
After scoring an eighth-inning run to tie the game, the Cardinals got the walk-off win in the ninth - by the slimmest of margins - to steal Game Two of the National League Championship Series vs the Atlanta Braves - by a score of 4-3. St Louis also won Game One, so now have a commanding two games to none lead in this best-of-five championship showdown.
As we all know, baseball is a game of inches. For Braves' manager Joe Torre, his defensive maneuvers late in this game sacrificed some precious inches - and probably cost his team a chance to avoid the ninth-inning calamity which turned a line drive off the bat of Ken Oberkfell into the walk-off game-winning hit.
Before all that unfolded, pitching from both sides did a nice job of keeping the opposing lineups from doing much damage. Sloppy defense cost the Cardinals an early run, while Niekro's erratic knuckle ball cost his team an early run, as well.
After Cards starter John Stuper made it through the first-inning unscathed, Niekro wasn't quite as lucky. With two out and Lonnie Smith on second and Oberkfell on third - Niekro uncorked a wild pitch with Darrell Porter at the plate - allowing Oberkfell to race home with the game's first run - and that was the extent of the scoring for the Cardinals until the sixth-inning.
By that time, the Braves had scored three runs - with one very costly unearned run added to the mix. Bruce Benedict started a third-inning rally by drawing a lead-off walk. After Niekro advanced him to second with a sacrifice bunt, it appeared Stuper might be able to navigate through a scoreless inning when he struck out Claudell Washington. But disaster struck when Rafael Ramirez singled to center. Willie McGee, in his haste to prevent Benedict from scoring from second, charged the ball aggressively, but missed it completely - allowing Ramirez to zip all the way around the bases to give the Braves a shocking 2-1 lead.
Atlanta tacked on another run in the fifth when Niekro batted with runners on second and third and nobody out. He helped his own cause with a sacrifice fly - scoring Glenn Hubbard from third - but the runner on second - Benedict - would eventually be stranded. Atlanta would also squander another scoring opportunity later in the game, which further killed their chances of pulling this one out of the fire.
The Redbirds finally got another run home in the sixth, but probably should have scored more. Keith Hernandez started the rally with a base hit to right - then scored on Porter's double down the right field line. Porter himself would be thrown out at the plate, trying to score on an Ozzie Smith single to right. An unusual 9-6-5 assist nailed Porter - so despite collecting four hits in the inning, the Cards had just one run to show for it.
After Atlanta had runners on first and second and nobody out in the eighth, manager Whitey Herzog brought in Bruce Sutter from the bullpen to work his magic. Stuper had pitched well enough, but was on the hook for the loss already - and the situation looked grim with the two runners on base being his responsibility, as well (Chris Chambliss on first and Dale Murphy on second).
Sutter struck out the first batter - Bob Horner - then with Jerry Royster batting - Murphy tried to steal third - but was nailed on a great throw from Porter to Oberkfell. Royster then bounced out to end the threat and shift the momentum in favor of the home team.
The Cardinals immediately cashed in on the opportunity, off reliever Gene Garber. With one out in the eighth, Porter walked. George Hendrick - quiet in the game to this point - let his bat do the talking with a singe to right - advancing Porter to third. McGee then hit a slow roller to the shortstop who got the force out at second - unassisted - but McGee easily beat the relay to first, as Porter scored the tying run.
By that time, in a series of lineup changes and manuevers, center fielder Dale Murphy moved over to left field, as Brett Butler became the new center fielder. As it would play out, that move cost the Braves the game, although probably nobody thought much about it at the time. Thirty-two years later, it seems obvious.
The fateful ninth-inning rally began with a single off the bat of David Green, who was immediately pushed to second on Herr's sacrifice bunt. Next up - Ken Oberkfell - hit a line drive to center field which 5' 10" Brett Butler couldn't quite reach. Cardinal play-by-play broadcaster Jack Buck's description of the play: "Butler came within an eyelash - within an eyelash - of catching that ball!"
Meanwhile, out in left field, 6' 4" Dale Murphy - who probably would have caught that ball had he remained in center field - could only helplessly watch the ball land safely, as a jubilant Green dashed home with the winning run.
Heading back to Atlanta down two games to none was too much to overcome. Putting Butler in center field - simply because he was speedy - was a routine practice throughout his seventeen-year major league career. Defensive metrics tell a different story, however. He was a far better left fielder, so really, he had no business playing center field. Murphy, on the other hand, was a far better center fielder who had no business playing left field.
Especially in the most important game of his career, when a game of inches - six to be exact - proved to be the difference between a game-winning hit or a routine putout.
The opportunistic Cardinals, were of course, very glad to put this one in the postseason win column. They'd find a way to win five more games in October - good for another World Series trophy.
Wednesday, August 27, 2014
August 27, 1981 - Hendrick's 13th-Inning Home Run a Game Winner Over Padres
Thursday, August 27, 1981 - At Jack Murphy Stadium (Bob Forsch - Starting Pitcher) - Opponent: San Diego Padres (Rick Wise - Starting Pitcher) - Attendance: 7,056
George Hendrick drove in all three runs for the Cardinals - including a thirteenth-inning solo home run - to lift St Louis to a 3-2 win over the Padres. Jim Kaat (6-2) - the fifth pitcher used by manager Whitey Herzog - pitched 2.1 innings of scoreless relief to record the win.
Bob Forsch worked the first 7.2 innings - allowing just one run on five hits - but a blown save by Bruce Sutter gave the San Diego fans some bonus baseball in this strike-shortened debacle of a season.
Prior to receiving four innings of free baseball, the San Diego fans were blessed with the tearful reunion of former-Padres outfielder George Hendrick - who greeted the faithful gathering with a two-out third-inning double - scoring Tommy Herr and Ken Oberkfell with the first two runs of the game.
Padres starting pitcher - Rick Wise - the guy the Cardinals acquired before the '72 season in exchange for Steve Carlton - allowed just those two runs in his six innings of work. The San Diego bullpen - Boone, Lucas and Littlefield - took care of the next six innings of scoreless relief - until another former Cardinal hurler - John Curtis - entered the game in the thirteenth.
Before all that excitement, the eighth and ninth inning offensive outburst by the Padres lineup made it all possible.
Forsch was still working on a shutout with two out and a runner on third in the bottom of the eighth - when pinch hitter Randy Bass got San Diego on the board with a single to center - scoring Luis Salazar.
At that point, Herzog decided to bring in his well-rested closer - Bruce Sutter (all the players in major league baseball were well-rested - thanks to their two-month strike-inflicted summer vacation). Sutter struck out future teammate Ozzie Smith to end the inning - but trouble lurked ahead.
With one out in the bottom of the ninth, Gene Richards singled to left. Sutter then struck out Rupert Jones for the second out - but another former Cardinal - Terry Kennedy - singled to center - advancing Richards to third. Broderick Perkins then tied the game with another single to send the crowd into a post-strike frenzy. Free baseball! The fans were certainly getting their money's worth tonight.
Proving that the ninth inning was just a fluke, Sutter came back and pitched a scoreless tenth, before a new St Louis reliever - Bob Shirley - created more excitement in the eleventh.
Bob was a bit wild - walking the first two batters - Richards and Jones - before retiring a pinch hitter by the name of Gwosdz on a ground ball to third - advancing the runners to second and third.
Herzog then brought in Mark Littel - whose first order of business was an intentional walk to Perkins. With the bases loaded, there was no place to put Luis Salazar - so Littel struck him out.
Herzog made his final pitching change - as Jim Kaat was summoned to face Jim Lefebvre - and he got him on a force out at second base - to extend the free baseball for the unappreciative fans (by this time, they wanted to go home - savoring a Padres' victory).
After both teams failed to score in the twelfth-inning, St Louis seemed unlikely to score in the thirteenth - as Oberkfell grounded out and Keith Hernandez looked at a called third strike. But George Hendrick stepped up to the plate and whacked one into the nearly vacated left field bleachers - to give the Cardinals a 3-2 lead.
By the time one of the spectators meandered over to locate the home run ball from their former hero - Kaat retired the side in order - to preserve what seemed to be a very important win for the Cardinals (40-25) - who were in first place - 2.5 games ahead of Philadelphia.
The Redbirds would finish the season with a 59-43 record - the best overall record in the NL East - but not good enough to qualify for the postseason - because under the new rules for the strike-shortened debacle of a season - they finished "second" in each "half" (pre-strike and post-strike).
The Cardinals had company. The Cincinnati Reds had the best overall record in the National League - but they too failed to win either "half". That would be their last hurrah. Cincinnati was an aging team - in transition - spending the decade of the eighties in futility.
For the Cardinals, however, there would be redemption the following season - a world championship - followed by two more trips to the World Series in '85 and '87.
Strangely enough, the year they hit rock bottom - 1990 - was the year the Reds won it all - proving that success or failure in major league baseball can happen at a rapid pace. Just ask fans of the Boston Red Sox about that.
George Hendrick drove in all three runs for the Cardinals - including a thirteenth-inning solo home run - to lift St Louis to a 3-2 win over the Padres. Jim Kaat (6-2) - the fifth pitcher used by manager Whitey Herzog - pitched 2.1 innings of scoreless relief to record the win.
Bob Forsch worked the first 7.2 innings - allowing just one run on five hits - but a blown save by Bruce Sutter gave the San Diego fans some bonus baseball in this strike-shortened debacle of a season.
Prior to receiving four innings of free baseball, the San Diego fans were blessed with the tearful reunion of former-Padres outfielder George Hendrick - who greeted the faithful gathering with a two-out third-inning double - scoring Tommy Herr and Ken Oberkfell with the first two runs of the game.
Padres starting pitcher - Rick Wise - the guy the Cardinals acquired before the '72 season in exchange for Steve Carlton - allowed just those two runs in his six innings of work. The San Diego bullpen - Boone, Lucas and Littlefield - took care of the next six innings of scoreless relief - until another former Cardinal hurler - John Curtis - entered the game in the thirteenth.
Before all that excitement, the eighth and ninth inning offensive outburst by the Padres lineup made it all possible.
Forsch was still working on a shutout with two out and a runner on third in the bottom of the eighth - when pinch hitter Randy Bass got San Diego on the board with a single to center - scoring Luis Salazar.
At that point, Herzog decided to bring in his well-rested closer - Bruce Sutter (all the players in major league baseball were well-rested - thanks to their two-month strike-inflicted summer vacation). Sutter struck out future teammate Ozzie Smith to end the inning - but trouble lurked ahead.
With one out in the bottom of the ninth, Gene Richards singled to left. Sutter then struck out Rupert Jones for the second out - but another former Cardinal - Terry Kennedy - singled to center - advancing Richards to third. Broderick Perkins then tied the game with another single to send the crowd into a post-strike frenzy. Free baseball! The fans were certainly getting their money's worth tonight.
Proving that the ninth inning was just a fluke, Sutter came back and pitched a scoreless tenth, before a new St Louis reliever - Bob Shirley - created more excitement in the eleventh.
Bob was a bit wild - walking the first two batters - Richards and Jones - before retiring a pinch hitter by the name of Gwosdz on a ground ball to third - advancing the runners to second and third.
Herzog then brought in Mark Littel - whose first order of business was an intentional walk to Perkins. With the bases loaded, there was no place to put Luis Salazar - so Littel struck him out.
Herzog made his final pitching change - as Jim Kaat was summoned to face Jim Lefebvre - and he got him on a force out at second base - to extend the free baseball for the unappreciative fans (by this time, they wanted to go home - savoring a Padres' victory).
After both teams failed to score in the twelfth-inning, St Louis seemed unlikely to score in the thirteenth - as Oberkfell grounded out and Keith Hernandez looked at a called third strike. But George Hendrick stepped up to the plate and whacked one into the nearly vacated left field bleachers - to give the Cardinals a 3-2 lead.
By the time one of the spectators meandered over to locate the home run ball from their former hero - Kaat retired the side in order - to preserve what seemed to be a very important win for the Cardinals (40-25) - who were in first place - 2.5 games ahead of Philadelphia.
The Redbirds would finish the season with a 59-43 record - the best overall record in the NL East - but not good enough to qualify for the postseason - because under the new rules for the strike-shortened debacle of a season - they finished "second" in each "half" (pre-strike and post-strike).
The Cardinals had company. The Cincinnati Reds had the best overall record in the National League - but they too failed to win either "half". That would be their last hurrah. Cincinnati was an aging team - in transition - spending the decade of the eighties in futility.
For the Cardinals, however, there would be redemption the following season - a world championship - followed by two more trips to the World Series in '85 and '87.
Strangely enough, the year they hit rock bottom - 1990 - was the year the Reds won it all - proving that success or failure in major league baseball can happen at a rapid pace. Just ask fans of the Boston Red Sox about that.
Wednesday, July 9, 2014
July 9, 1982 - A Big Win: Cards Hand Nolan Ryan a Tough Loss
Friday, July 9, 1982 - At The Astrodome (Dave LaPoint - Starting Pitcher) - Opponent: Houston Astros (Nolan Ryan - Starting Pitcher) - Attendance: 21,178
The Cardinals were sitting atop the standings in the tight NL East race, prior to the start of a three-game series with the Houston Astros - but the Philadelphia Phillies were lurking, just two games back.
Houston Astros pitcher Nolan Ryan struck out ten Cardinal batters in nine innings of work; but it wasn't enough, as St Louis held on for a 3-2 win at the Astrodome.
And it's a good thing the Redbirds won the first game of this series, because they would drop the next two by identical 4-2 scores - leaving them in a first-place tie with Philadelphia at the All Star break. So yeah - this was a big game to win.
George Hendrick's second-inning home run gave the Cardinals an early 1-0 lead; then, after Houston tied the game on a two-out RBI single off the bat of Art Howe in the fourth-inning - Willie McGee got the big hit in the sixth-inning to propel the Redbirds to victory.
The inning started with a lead-off single to center by Tommy Herr. McGee then plugged the gap in right-center field to chase Herr home, as Willie cruised into third with a triple. Keith Hernandez then lined a single into right field to score McGee with the Cardinals' third run - but that was all they could muster against the ageless Ryan.
However, three runs was good enough tonight. Dave LaPoint allowed just two runs in 7.1 innings pitched - the second run coming across in the sixth-inning when Phil Garner's sacrifice fly scored Ray Knight from third.
After Tony Scott's one-out eighth-inning single ended LaPoint's night, Jeff Lahti provided quality relief - retiring the two batters he faced in the inning to preserve the one-run lead.
Lahti also retired the first two batters in the ninth, and should have gotten the third - but Terry Puhl reached base when Hernandez couldn't handle his ground ball - a rare error for the perennial Gold Glover.
When pinch hitter Danny Heep was announced, Whitey Herzog decided to bring in the veteran lefty - Jim Kaat - to nail this one down - and that's just what he did - striking out Heep to end the game - to earn his first (of two) save of the year.
The next several weeks would be trying times for the Cardinals - slipping into second-place and sliding back into first - a see-saw battle for the division title that wouldn't be decided any time soon.
In retrospect, winning this game against a very dominant Nolan Ryan was huge.
The Cardinals were sitting atop the standings in the tight NL East race, prior to the start of a three-game series with the Houston Astros - but the Philadelphia Phillies were lurking, just two games back.
Houston Astros pitcher Nolan Ryan struck out ten Cardinal batters in nine innings of work; but it wasn't enough, as St Louis held on for a 3-2 win at the Astrodome.
And it's a good thing the Redbirds won the first game of this series, because they would drop the next two by identical 4-2 scores - leaving them in a first-place tie with Philadelphia at the All Star break. So yeah - this was a big game to win.
George Hendrick's second-inning home run gave the Cardinals an early 1-0 lead; then, after Houston tied the game on a two-out RBI single off the bat of Art Howe in the fourth-inning - Willie McGee got the big hit in the sixth-inning to propel the Redbirds to victory.
The inning started with a lead-off single to center by Tommy Herr. McGee then plugged the gap in right-center field to chase Herr home, as Willie cruised into third with a triple. Keith Hernandez then lined a single into right field to score McGee with the Cardinals' third run - but that was all they could muster against the ageless Ryan.
However, three runs was good enough tonight. Dave LaPoint allowed just two runs in 7.1 innings pitched - the second run coming across in the sixth-inning when Phil Garner's sacrifice fly scored Ray Knight from third.
After Tony Scott's one-out eighth-inning single ended LaPoint's night, Jeff Lahti provided quality relief - retiring the two batters he faced in the inning to preserve the one-run lead.
Lahti also retired the first two batters in the ninth, and should have gotten the third - but Terry Puhl reached base when Hernandez couldn't handle his ground ball - a rare error for the perennial Gold Glover.
When pinch hitter Danny Heep was announced, Whitey Herzog decided to bring in the veteran lefty - Jim Kaat - to nail this one down - and that's just what he did - striking out Heep to end the game - to earn his first (of two) save of the year.
The next several weeks would be trying times for the Cardinals - slipping into second-place and sliding back into first - a see-saw battle for the division title that wouldn't be decided any time soon.
In retrospect, winning this game against a very dominant Nolan Ryan was huge.
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...
Friday, May 30, 2014
May 30, 1982 - A Wild Come From Behind (Twice) Extra-Inning Winner
Sunday, May 30, 1982 - This was the rubber game of a three-game series with the San Diego Padres at Busch Stadium II. The Cardinals worked some magic in the first game on Friday night - a 5-2 win - scoring those five runs on just five hits. The Padres got some measure of revenge on Saturday, when they broke a 2-2 tie with two runs in the ninth - good for a 4-2 win. The way some of the Padres sauntered off the field after Saturday's win rankled more than a few of the Cardinals, who vowed to turn the tables on Sunday. What would happen at the end of this game was almost beyond belief. For those among the crowd of 32,410 who stuck around until the end; it was a game they'd never forget.
Dave LaPoint got the start for St Louis, and pitched well through eight innings; holding San Diego to just two runs on six hits. Unfortunately, the Cardinal offense could do nothing with Padres starter Tim Lollar, who blanked the Redbirds on just two hits through the first six innings. Then, in the seventh-innng, after retiring both George Hendrick and Lonnie Smith on routine ground outs, light-hitting Mike Ramsey doubled down the left field line - only the third hit Lollar had allowed up to this point in the game.
Apparently, Padres manager Dick Williams had seen enough. He brought in Gary Lucas to pitch to Julio Gonzalez, who struck out to end the threat. Lucas would then be asked to pitch the eighth and ninth innings for San Diego; normally, a routine assignment.
After St Louis failed to score in the seventh, the Padres put runners on second and third with nobody out in the top of the eighth-inning. Herzog elected to keep LaPoint in the game, and his starter rewarded him by retiring the next three batters - stranding the runners. It seemed inconsequential at the time; especially after Lucas retired the Cardinals on just one hit and no runs in the bottom-half of the eighth.
It really seemed inconsequential when the Padres came right back to tack on an insurance run in the ninth inning, off reliever Doug Bair. With two out and nobody on, Luis Salazar singled, stole second, then came around to score on Jerry Manuel's triple. Ironically, after an intentional walk put runners on first and third, Gary Lucas was allowed to hit for himself - striking out to end the inning; but the Padres now led 3-0, as Lucas headed back to the mound, anxious to close this one out.
The Cardinals had other ideas. Keith Hernandez began the ninth-inning rally with a single. George Hendrick also singled, as Hernandez stopped at second. The next hitter, Lonnie Smith ripped a double down the left field line, scoring Hernandez, as Hendrick stopped at third. One run in, still nobody out. Lucas finally retired a batter - Mike Ramsey - on a ground out to third, as the runners remained at second and third. The next batter, Julio Gonzalez hit another ground ball to third, but this time, Luis Salazar made an errant throw to first, allowing Hendrick to score, as Smith held up at third; but Gonzalez hustled all the way to second on the error. After David Green was intentionally walked to load the bases, Tommy Herr pinch hit for Bair - and got the third and final run of the inning home with a sacrifice fly to left. Ozzie Smith, who had a tough day at the plate, going 0 for 5, grounded out to end the inning.
The Cardinals had tied it, 3-3. On to one of the wildest tenth innings in Cardinal history.
The Cardinals' relief ace, Bruce Sutter was now pitching. The first two batters he faced -Wiggins and Richards - both singled - putting runners on first and third. The next batter, Lefebvre, doubled - scoring Wiggins, as Richards stopped at third. After Jones was intentionally walked to load the bases (still nobody out), Lezcano hit a ground ball to Ozzie who made a strong throw home to force Richards. One out. Salazar hit another ground ball to Ozzie. His only play was a force out at second. Two out, but another run in as Lefebvre scored. Salazar stole second, but the inning ended when Manuel grounded one to Ozzie, who threw to first for the third out. The Padres were back on top, 5-3, with Gary Lucas heading back to the mound once again, trying to close it out.
Lucas retired the first two hitters - Sanchez on a ground out to second and Hernandez on a line out to center - but trouble lurked ahead. George Hendrick poked a single to left field and scored when Lonnie Smith smoked a double down the left field line. Mike Ramsey then delivered the game-tying hit - a single to left as Lonnie crossed home, sending 32,410 - minus a few who left early - into pandemonium. Lucas, obviously rattled, hit the next batter, Gonzalez, with a pitch - and that signaled the end of his day. He was still responsible for the base runners - the important one being Ramsey at second, representing the winning run.
Floyd Chiffer was the third and final pitcher for the Padres. He would face only one batter - Dane Iorg - who wasted no time in lining a single to center field, scoring Ramsey with the improbable game winner.
The winning pitcher - Bruce Sutter (3-1) - was smiling a sheepish grin in the Cardinal clubhouse, as his teammates were needling him about his performance. His pitching line: 1 IP - 3 H - 2 R - 1 BB - 0 SO
Gary Lucas (0-4) wasn't so happy in the visitor's clubhouse. He worked three innings, but probably came into the game too early - and he probably stayed in the game too long. The Cardinals roughed him up for seven hits and six runs, including one very costly unearned run.
In the end, it was by far, the craziest game of the season for the Cardinals - and a very nice one to win.
Dave LaPoint got the start for St Louis, and pitched well through eight innings; holding San Diego to just two runs on six hits. Unfortunately, the Cardinal offense could do nothing with Padres starter Tim Lollar, who blanked the Redbirds on just two hits through the first six innings. Then, in the seventh-innng, after retiring both George Hendrick and Lonnie Smith on routine ground outs, light-hitting Mike Ramsey doubled down the left field line - only the third hit Lollar had allowed up to this point in the game.
Apparently, Padres manager Dick Williams had seen enough. He brought in Gary Lucas to pitch to Julio Gonzalez, who struck out to end the threat. Lucas would then be asked to pitch the eighth and ninth innings for San Diego; normally, a routine assignment.
After St Louis failed to score in the seventh, the Padres put runners on second and third with nobody out in the top of the eighth-inning. Herzog elected to keep LaPoint in the game, and his starter rewarded him by retiring the next three batters - stranding the runners. It seemed inconsequential at the time; especially after Lucas retired the Cardinals on just one hit and no runs in the bottom-half of the eighth.
It really seemed inconsequential when the Padres came right back to tack on an insurance run in the ninth inning, off reliever Doug Bair. With two out and nobody on, Luis Salazar singled, stole second, then came around to score on Jerry Manuel's triple. Ironically, after an intentional walk put runners on first and third, Gary Lucas was allowed to hit for himself - striking out to end the inning; but the Padres now led 3-0, as Lucas headed back to the mound, anxious to close this one out.
The Cardinals had other ideas. Keith Hernandez began the ninth-inning rally with a single. George Hendrick also singled, as Hernandez stopped at second. The next hitter, Lonnie Smith ripped a double down the left field line, scoring Hernandez, as Hendrick stopped at third. One run in, still nobody out. Lucas finally retired a batter - Mike Ramsey - on a ground out to third, as the runners remained at second and third. The next batter, Julio Gonzalez hit another ground ball to third, but this time, Luis Salazar made an errant throw to first, allowing Hendrick to score, as Smith held up at third; but Gonzalez hustled all the way to second on the error. After David Green was intentionally walked to load the bases, Tommy Herr pinch hit for Bair - and got the third and final run of the inning home with a sacrifice fly to left. Ozzie Smith, who had a tough day at the plate, going 0 for 5, grounded out to end the inning.
The Cardinals had tied it, 3-3. On to one of the wildest tenth innings in Cardinal history.
The Cardinals' relief ace, Bruce Sutter was now pitching. The first two batters he faced -Wiggins and Richards - both singled - putting runners on first and third. The next batter, Lefebvre, doubled - scoring Wiggins, as Richards stopped at third. After Jones was intentionally walked to load the bases (still nobody out), Lezcano hit a ground ball to Ozzie who made a strong throw home to force Richards. One out. Salazar hit another ground ball to Ozzie. His only play was a force out at second. Two out, but another run in as Lefebvre scored. Salazar stole second, but the inning ended when Manuel grounded one to Ozzie, who threw to first for the third out. The Padres were back on top, 5-3, with Gary Lucas heading back to the mound once again, trying to close it out.
Lucas retired the first two hitters - Sanchez on a ground out to second and Hernandez on a line out to center - but trouble lurked ahead. George Hendrick poked a single to left field and scored when Lonnie Smith smoked a double down the left field line. Mike Ramsey then delivered the game-tying hit - a single to left as Lonnie crossed home, sending 32,410 - minus a few who left early - into pandemonium. Lucas, obviously rattled, hit the next batter, Gonzalez, with a pitch - and that signaled the end of his day. He was still responsible for the base runners - the important one being Ramsey at second, representing the winning run.
Floyd Chiffer was the third and final pitcher for the Padres. He would face only one batter - Dane Iorg - who wasted no time in lining a single to center field, scoring Ramsey with the improbable game winner.
The winning pitcher - Bruce Sutter (3-1) - was smiling a sheepish grin in the Cardinal clubhouse, as his teammates were needling him about his performance. His pitching line: 1 IP - 3 H - 2 R - 1 BB - 0 SO
Gary Lucas (0-4) wasn't so happy in the visitor's clubhouse. He worked three innings, but probably came into the game too early - and he probably stayed in the game too long. The Cardinals roughed him up for seven hits and six runs, including one very costly unearned run.
In the end, it was by far, the craziest game of the season for the Cardinals - and a very nice one to win.
Tuesday, May 6, 2014
April 27, 1992 - April 28, 1993 - April 29, 1978 - April 30, 1977 - 3 Come-From-Behind Winners & Boyer's Successful Managerial Debut
April 27, 1992 - With 42,902 on hand at Dodger Stadium on a beautiful night for baseball, the Cardinals fell behind early but rallied to grab the lead, and then held on, as four relievers kept the Dodgers scoreless over the final four innings to secure a 5-4 win; and send most of those fans home unhappy by the seventh-inning (traffic is always so bad in La La Land).
Donovan Osborne started this game for St Louis, and struggled through five innings of work, allowing the only four runs LA would score in the game (one of which was unearned) on five hits and three walks, while getting a pair of strikeouts.
But it was the bat in Osborne's hands that helped his team the most, and which ultimately bailed himself out of a probable loss. With the Redbirds trailing 4-1, Osborne ignited a two-out, two-run fifth-inning rally with a seeing-eye single to left field. That opened the floodgates. Successive singles by Ray Lankford, Ozzie Smith and Milt Thompson scored two runs, reducing the deficit to a single tally.
St Louis then took the lead for good in a two-run sixth-inning, with four straight singles (Guerrero, Gilkey, Hudler and Pagnozzi) and a Craig Wilson sacrifice fly. All told, the Cardinals had 13 hits in the game - all singles - to go along with a pair of walks. Milt Thompson had three hits in five trips to the plate - good for two RBI; Ozzie, Pagnozzi, and Wilson had one RBI apiece.
Defensively, the Cardinals committed three errors - one by the left fielder, Thompson, and believe it or not, two by the defensive Wiz himself - Ozzie Smith - which led to an unearned run for the Dodgers. Strangely enough, Smith only had 10 errors all season long, so 20% of them happened in this somewhat unusual game.
Four Cardinal relievers - Perez, McClure, Carpenter (Cris not Chris), and Lee Smith (who got his fifth save of the season) shut the Dodgers out over the final four innings of the game. More from Donovan Osborne coming up next...
April 28, 1993 - With a brand-spanking new franchise to adore, 49,765 rabid Colorado Rockies' fans were on hand to witness a wild, see-saw battle between the visiting St Louis Cardinals and the Rockies in their new, hitter friendly ballpark known as Coors Field.
In this high-altitude environment, where routine fly balls routinely fly over walls, this particular evening featured just one - a two-run shot in the fifth-inning by the Cards' Mark "Hard Hittin'" Whiten. Other than that, the Redbird offense consisted of eight hits and a mind-numbing eleven walks. Even so, it took a ninth-inning rally for St Louis to pull this one out of the fire, and the game-winning hit was delivered by a utility player who played in just 172 games over a brief, four-year career; which ended after the '93 season.
The festivities began with old pal Donovan Osborne lasting just four innings, allowing five hits, four runs (three earned runs), four walks and two strikeouts. Donovan may not have pitched well in this hostile environment, but he liked hitting there, going 1 for 2 with a key RBI. Four Cardinals relievers managed to navigate through the final five innings with just two runs scored - Lancaster, Perez, Murphy, and Lee Smith.
As the Redbirds came up to bat in the ninth-inning, trailing Colorado 6-5, three successive one-out walks (Lankford, Pena, Pagnozzi) loaded the bases. Luis Alicea's slow roller to short forced Pena at third, but Lankford scored the tying run. With two out, pinch hitter Rod Brewer (remember him?) delivered a run-scoring single to right field (Pagnozzi scored), which proved to be the game winner. Lee Smith pitched a nerve-wracking bottom of the ninth (one hit, one walk and two strikeouts) for his ninth save of the year, giving bullpen mate Rob Murphy a rare win in relief.
For the 27-year old Brewer, this was a rare chance to be the hero; his career would be ending at the conclusion of this season, despite hitting .286 in limited action.
On the other side of the field, Dale Murphy would soon be calling it a career as well, which ended after 26 games of futility in Colorado - hitting just .143. On this particular night, however, Murphy looked like the Murphy of old, going 1 for 3 with an RBI. It's hard to imagine that just ten years earlier, he was one of the best players in the game, winning back-to-back NL MVP Awards ('82 - '83). In the span of one decade, Murph went from the top of the mountain to Rockies bottom. Holy cow, I still think he belongs in the Hall of Fame.
April 29, 1978 - In one of the most dismal seasons in franchise history - just ten years removed from a classic World Series appearance - the Cardinals were a team in total disarray. When manager Vern Rapp forced a mandatory "clean cut" grooming code down the throats of these Redbirds, there was a lot of squawking - and losing - going on, from the onset. When Rapp's band of malcontents posted a 6-11 record right out of the gate (featuring a seven-game losing streak), Rapp was dismissed before interim manager Jack Kroll (1-1) turned the reigns over to fan-favorite, Kenny Boyer to guide the team - further into oblivion. But who knew?
The 20th game of the '78 season would be Boyer's first as manager (drawing an above average crowd of 20,596), as the defending National League champion LA Dodgers came to town, with their crafty veteran knuckle-curve ball specialist, Burt Hooton on the mound facing 26-year old Eric Rasmussen for the Redbirds. Both pitchers were brilliant; in fact, Hooton had allowed just one hit through six scoreless innings - a double to Ted Simmons. But trouble was lurking ahead.
Leading off the seventh-inning, Keith Hernandez got the second - and last hit of the night for St Louis - with a line drive single to center. Perhaps rattled by the prospect of Ted Simmons now batting, Hooton unleashed a wild pitch, sending Hernandez to second. Simmons then pulled a ground ball to second base, allowing Hernandez to move up to third on the out. An intentional walk to Jerry Morales set up a potential inning-ending double play with Ken Reitz due up - the Cardinals' third baseman, and quite possibly the slowest runner in the world. Reitz foiled that strategy by lifting a sacrifice fly to center field, scoring Hernandez, and breaking up Hooton's shutout bid. That ended the scoring for St Louis.
But one run was enough as Rasmussen quickly finished off the Dodgers with a complete game four-hit shutout. Game time: One hour and thirty-three minutes!
Strangely enough, in a season in which the Cardinals would post a miserable 69-93 record, they were able to win seven of twelve encounters with the Dodgers - a team heading to a second straight World Series engagement with the New York Yankees (and a second straight World Series defeat).
This would be the last game Rasmussen would win as a member of the Cardinals. After three straight losses, Rasmussen was traded to San Diego for controversial right fielder "Silent" George Hendrick, in an effort to help spark an anemic offense. Although Hendrick hit well, the Cardinals still floundered for the most part until the strike-shortened '81 season; and it would be Hendrick leading the '82 Cardinals with 104 RBI, and then delivering the game-winning single against the Milwaukee Brewers in Game Seven of the World Series. That turned out to be a pretty good trade for St Louis.
April 30, 1977 - With 16,883 on hand at Busch Stadium II, the Cardinals played host to the bumbling Atlanta Braves, who nearly won this game despite committing five errors which led to two unearned runs. Not to be outdone, the Cardinals only made one error - by shortstop Garry Templeton - but it was a whopper, also allowing two unearned runs to score.
Cards starter Pete Falcone pitched well enough to win (5.1 IP - 6 H - 4 R - 2 ER - 0 BB - 4 SO - 1 HR), but was fortunate to escape defeat, leaving the game on the wrong end of a 4-1 score. In the sixth-inning, after a Ted Simmons lead-off home run, Keith Hernandez walked, then Ken Reitz lined a single to center field which was booted, allowing Hernandez to score the second, and final run of the inning.
In the seventh-inning, the Cards tied it on a Templeton single, a Bake McBride sacrifice bunt and a Hector Cruz run-scoring single. They grabbed the lead in the eighth, thanks again to the Braves' sloppy defense. Hernandez sliced a double down the left field line, and eventually advanced to third with two out. Jerry Mumphrey then reached base on a botched ground ball by the shortstop, as Hernandez scored the go-ahead run.
John Urrea pitched three scoreless innings of relief for the win. Final: 5-4, St Louis over Atlanta. If we were only counting "earned runs", the Cardinals still won, 3-2.
This sloppy win on the last day of April gives the Cardinals (in select games from 1964 to 2013) a perfect 30-0 won-loss record. I wonder what May will have in store for this team?
Donovan Osborne started this game for St Louis, and struggled through five innings of work, allowing the only four runs LA would score in the game (one of which was unearned) on five hits and three walks, while getting a pair of strikeouts.
But it was the bat in Osborne's hands that helped his team the most, and which ultimately bailed himself out of a probable loss. With the Redbirds trailing 4-1, Osborne ignited a two-out, two-run fifth-inning rally with a seeing-eye single to left field. That opened the floodgates. Successive singles by Ray Lankford, Ozzie Smith and Milt Thompson scored two runs, reducing the deficit to a single tally.
St Louis then took the lead for good in a two-run sixth-inning, with four straight singles (Guerrero, Gilkey, Hudler and Pagnozzi) and a Craig Wilson sacrifice fly. All told, the Cardinals had 13 hits in the game - all singles - to go along with a pair of walks. Milt Thompson had three hits in five trips to the plate - good for two RBI; Ozzie, Pagnozzi, and Wilson had one RBI apiece.
Defensively, the Cardinals committed three errors - one by the left fielder, Thompson, and believe it or not, two by the defensive Wiz himself - Ozzie Smith - which led to an unearned run for the Dodgers. Strangely enough, Smith only had 10 errors all season long, so 20% of them happened in this somewhat unusual game.
Four Cardinal relievers - Perez, McClure, Carpenter (Cris not Chris), and Lee Smith (who got his fifth save of the season) shut the Dodgers out over the final four innings of the game. More from Donovan Osborne coming up next...
April 28, 1993 - With a brand-spanking new franchise to adore, 49,765 rabid Colorado Rockies' fans were on hand to witness a wild, see-saw battle between the visiting St Louis Cardinals and the Rockies in their new, hitter friendly ballpark known as Coors Field.
In this high-altitude environment, where routine fly balls routinely fly over walls, this particular evening featured just one - a two-run shot in the fifth-inning by the Cards' Mark "Hard Hittin'" Whiten. Other than that, the Redbird offense consisted of eight hits and a mind-numbing eleven walks. Even so, it took a ninth-inning rally for St Louis to pull this one out of the fire, and the game-winning hit was delivered by a utility player who played in just 172 games over a brief, four-year career; which ended after the '93 season.
The festivities began with old pal Donovan Osborne lasting just four innings, allowing five hits, four runs (three earned runs), four walks and two strikeouts. Donovan may not have pitched well in this hostile environment, but he liked hitting there, going 1 for 2 with a key RBI. Four Cardinals relievers managed to navigate through the final five innings with just two runs scored - Lancaster, Perez, Murphy, and Lee Smith.
As the Redbirds came up to bat in the ninth-inning, trailing Colorado 6-5, three successive one-out walks (Lankford, Pena, Pagnozzi) loaded the bases. Luis Alicea's slow roller to short forced Pena at third, but Lankford scored the tying run. With two out, pinch hitter Rod Brewer (remember him?) delivered a run-scoring single to right field (Pagnozzi scored), which proved to be the game winner. Lee Smith pitched a nerve-wracking bottom of the ninth (one hit, one walk and two strikeouts) for his ninth save of the year, giving bullpen mate Rob Murphy a rare win in relief.
For the 27-year old Brewer, this was a rare chance to be the hero; his career would be ending at the conclusion of this season, despite hitting .286 in limited action.
On the other side of the field, Dale Murphy would soon be calling it a career as well, which ended after 26 games of futility in Colorado - hitting just .143. On this particular night, however, Murphy looked like the Murphy of old, going 1 for 3 with an RBI. It's hard to imagine that just ten years earlier, he was one of the best players in the game, winning back-to-back NL MVP Awards ('82 - '83). In the span of one decade, Murph went from the top of the mountain to Rockies bottom. Holy cow, I still think he belongs in the Hall of Fame.
April 29, 1978 - In one of the most dismal seasons in franchise history - just ten years removed from a classic World Series appearance - the Cardinals were a team in total disarray. When manager Vern Rapp forced a mandatory "clean cut" grooming code down the throats of these Redbirds, there was a lot of squawking - and losing - going on, from the onset. When Rapp's band of malcontents posted a 6-11 record right out of the gate (featuring a seven-game losing streak), Rapp was dismissed before interim manager Jack Kroll (1-1) turned the reigns over to fan-favorite, Kenny Boyer to guide the team - further into oblivion. But who knew?
The 20th game of the '78 season would be Boyer's first as manager (drawing an above average crowd of 20,596), as the defending National League champion LA Dodgers came to town, with their crafty veteran knuckle-curve ball specialist, Burt Hooton on the mound facing 26-year old Eric Rasmussen for the Redbirds. Both pitchers were brilliant; in fact, Hooton had allowed just one hit through six scoreless innings - a double to Ted Simmons. But trouble was lurking ahead.
Leading off the seventh-inning, Keith Hernandez got the second - and last hit of the night for St Louis - with a line drive single to center. Perhaps rattled by the prospect of Ted Simmons now batting, Hooton unleashed a wild pitch, sending Hernandez to second. Simmons then pulled a ground ball to second base, allowing Hernandez to move up to third on the out. An intentional walk to Jerry Morales set up a potential inning-ending double play with Ken Reitz due up - the Cardinals' third baseman, and quite possibly the slowest runner in the world. Reitz foiled that strategy by lifting a sacrifice fly to center field, scoring Hernandez, and breaking up Hooton's shutout bid. That ended the scoring for St Louis.
But one run was enough as Rasmussen quickly finished off the Dodgers with a complete game four-hit shutout. Game time: One hour and thirty-three minutes!
Strangely enough, in a season in which the Cardinals would post a miserable 69-93 record, they were able to win seven of twelve encounters with the Dodgers - a team heading to a second straight World Series engagement with the New York Yankees (and a second straight World Series defeat).
This would be the last game Rasmussen would win as a member of the Cardinals. After three straight losses, Rasmussen was traded to San Diego for controversial right fielder "Silent" George Hendrick, in an effort to help spark an anemic offense. Although Hendrick hit well, the Cardinals still floundered for the most part until the strike-shortened '81 season; and it would be Hendrick leading the '82 Cardinals with 104 RBI, and then delivering the game-winning single against the Milwaukee Brewers in Game Seven of the World Series. That turned out to be a pretty good trade for St Louis.
April 30, 1977 - With 16,883 on hand at Busch Stadium II, the Cardinals played host to the bumbling Atlanta Braves, who nearly won this game despite committing five errors which led to two unearned runs. Not to be outdone, the Cardinals only made one error - by shortstop Garry Templeton - but it was a whopper, also allowing two unearned runs to score.
Cards starter Pete Falcone pitched well enough to win (5.1 IP - 6 H - 4 R - 2 ER - 0 BB - 4 SO - 1 HR), but was fortunate to escape defeat, leaving the game on the wrong end of a 4-1 score. In the sixth-inning, after a Ted Simmons lead-off home run, Keith Hernandez walked, then Ken Reitz lined a single to center field which was booted, allowing Hernandez to score the second, and final run of the inning.
In the seventh-inning, the Cards tied it on a Templeton single, a Bake McBride sacrifice bunt and a Hector Cruz run-scoring single. They grabbed the lead in the eighth, thanks again to the Braves' sloppy defense. Hernandez sliced a double down the left field line, and eventually advanced to third with two out. Jerry Mumphrey then reached base on a botched ground ball by the shortstop, as Hernandez scored the go-ahead run.
John Urrea pitched three scoreless innings of relief for the win. Final: 5-4, St Louis over Atlanta. If we were only counting "earned runs", the Cardinals still won, 3-2.
This sloppy win on the last day of April gives the Cardinals (in select games from 1964 to 2013) a perfect 30-0 won-loss record. I wonder what May will have in store for this team?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)