Saturday, January 3, 2015

ROUND 2 - '73 Dodgers comeback from 2-1 deficit to beat '49 Sahx



Game 1 - Dodger Stadium
Kinder vs Sutton
Dodgers 8, Red Sox 4

It always looks darkest before the dawn, and things looked really dark for LA as the Sahx jumped out to a 4-0 lead after 4 1/2 innings of play.  Future HOF'er Don Sutton looked like a mere mortal giving up a solos shot to Vern Stephens in the 4th and a 2 run blast to Dom DiMaggio in the 5th.  Dodger manager M.Weiss had enough of Sutton and lifted him for a pinch hitter in the bottom of the frame.  With one out and a runner on 1st PH Ken McMullen singled to put runners on 1st and 2nd.  Willie "3 Dog" Davis singled home Von Joshua (from 2nd) to put the Dodgers on the board.  Davey Lopes came up looking to do further damage, but Bosox starter Ellis Kinder got him to hit a comebacker, which turned into a 1-4-3 inning ending DP.  Boston manager Mike Sorchen told network announcers between innings that that could be the big play of the game.  Then in the bottom of the 6th the wheels fell off of the Red Sox caravan as the Dodgers steamrolled Kinder for 5 unanswered runs.  With 3 runs already in Willie Davis lined a single to score 2 more.  A two run pinch hit homer by Steve Garvey capped off the scoring as the Dodgers won handily.  Al Downing, who pitched just 1 inning of relief (6th) grabbed teh win.  Hough, Richert and Brewer combined to get the final 9 outs.  LA's twin Willies (Davis and Crawford) each had 3 hit days, with the former also knocking in 3.

Dodgers Lead Series 1-0


Game 2
Dobson vs Messersmith
Red Sox 10, Dodgers 9


Not exactly the pitcher's contest that fans were expecting.  Both starters made quick exits after 3 innings.  Messersmith was bad (5 runs on 6 hits), but Dobson was putrid (8 runs on 8 hits).  LA scored 8 runs in the bottom of the 3rd to erase a 4-0 deficit, but Boston's feared lineup had their hitting shoes on and took the lead back with 4 runs in the 4th.  Bobby Doerr's 2 run blast got it going.  A walk to DiMaggio with the bases loaded tied it and a single by Billy Goodman put them up by 1.  The relievers settled in and the scoring didn't budge until the Dodgers tied it up with a 2 out RBI double by Billy Buckner.  The euphoria was short lived as reliever George Culver served up a leadoff homer to Dom DiMaggio.  Dorish trotted in from the pen to finish off the Dodgers in the 9th, but not without a scare having given up a 2 out double to shortstop Bill Russell.  Next batter up Von Joshua grounded to Goodman at first, who flipped to Dorish for the final out of the contest.

Series tied 1-1


Game 3 - Fenway Park
T.John vs Parnell
Red Sox 2, Dodgers 0

A light rain and a 15mph gust could not derail the left arm of Mel Parnell.  Boston's ace lived up to his billing scattering 8 hits while going the distance.  LA couldn't solve Parnell, who just didn't let anyone get solid wood on any of his offerings.  Boston batters gave him little margin to work with, but that didn't seem to matter.  Boston got on the board with a one out RBI double by light hitting platoon outfielder Tommy O'Brien.  Billy Goodman had a 2 out RBI single in the 6th for an insurance run that was not needed.

Red Sox Lead Series 2-1


Game 4
Osteen vs Stobbs
Dodgers 8, Red Sox 4


In a must win see-saw game, where the lead changed hands 4 times the Dodgers were able to double up the Sahx and extend the series to a decisive game.  A 4 run 6th inning chased Chuck Stobbs from the hill and gave LA the lead for good.  Claude Osteen, who would give up 4 runs over 8 innings, was good enough to get the win.  Jim Brewer pitched the 9th inning in a non-save situation to make sure the game did not get close.  Joe Ferguson (2-5) knocked in 3 to pace an LA offense that scored 8 runs on 12 hits.  Garvey and Mota each had 2 hits.  Boston's first 2 runs were a result of 2 Bobby Doerr homers. (3-4, 3RBI).  Ted Williams finally got a pair of hits to boost his tournament average to a shockingly low .258.

Series tied 2-2


Game 5 - Dodger Stadium
Kinder vs Sutton
Dodgers 9, Red Sox 1

In a rematch of game 1 starters Don Sutton delivered the goods with a HOF caliber outing.  Sutton went the distance and yielded just 1 run in the 5th, striking out 6 and allowing just 6 hits.  his opposing number, Ellis Kinder, went 7, but gave up 6 (5 earned).  Kinder's understudy Mickey McDermott was victimized for an additional 3 in the bottom of the 8th to make Boston's cause hopeless.  Catcher Joe Ferguson (2-3, 3RBI's) had another big day at the plate.  Fergy slammed a monster shot to dead center in the bottom of the first to put LA up 2-0.  Ron Cey and Willie Davis each had 2 RBI's as the Dodgers came back from a 2-1 series deficit to advance to the sweet 16.

Dodgers win series 3-2

No comments:

Post a Comment