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Message #: 16458
It's especially critical that the Cubs do well in series such as this one, because in the second half of 1944 the other top contenders play the Cubs exclusively at Wrigley Field, and those teams are almost literally unbeatable away from their home parks. After our first visit to St. Louis earlier this season went poorly, the Cubs were well aware of the importance of these 4 games, and were a little better prepared this time.... Game 1: Chicago's powerful offense has had no problem keeping up with -- and exceeding -- the Cards' equally powerful offense so far this season, but the **massively** underachieving CHN pitchers have rarely shown anything resembling their true abilities. For a couple of games to start this series, however, things were pleasantly quite abnormal in that respect. Mediocre Hank Wyse tossed a gem today, scattering 8 hits (all singles) in 8 IP and walking just one on the way to a 3-1 win. Establishing a pattern that would last for 3 games, the Cubs came out smoking in the first inning -- and then took the rest of the day off. Today, 4 of the first 5 Cubbie batters got hits and 3 runs were suddenly in. After that, we got not one damn thing more; the CHN offense managed just 4 more hits and 2 walks in the final 8 frames (1 hit and both walks came just 1 inning later, and we LOBbed the bases loaded). But none of that fazed Wyse one bit, as he permitted just 4 runners to get as far as second base, and only 1 got any further. Both teams got 8 hits, and both LOBbed 7 runners. ====================================================================== Game 2: Another fine pitching performance and an even more unlikely one, if the stats so far in 1944 can be believed. Tiny Bonham has been the unluckiest pitcher on the unluckiest staff in the majors, but today he shook off all that baggage temporarily and pitched a 6-hit (all singles) shutout. As in game 1, the Cubs exploded in the first inning and caused Ted Wilks to hit the showers before the inning was even over. Five hits and a walk results in 5 quick runs; final score: 7-0. Jim Russell homered to get the party started, and Bill Nicholson slugged his league-leading 16th in the CHN 5th. Like Wyse in the opener, Bonham allowed only 4 Cardinal runners to reach scoring position. ====================================================================== Game 3: Another 2-run first put the Cubs on the way to another win -- until St. Louis came to bat. An error by superior fielder Marty Marion (his first of 2 today) reflected the sort of sabotage defense HAL has inflicted upon the Cubs all season long, and opened the door for the contest to become instantly knotted at 2-2. Gophers by Whitey Kurowski (that perfect-fielding 4 at SS) and Ken O'Dea put the home team on top by several runs, and from that point forward the outcome was not in doubt as the Cubs conceded by the count of 8-4. CHN starter Bill Fleming was bludgeoned for lots of hits and lots of power. He walked nobody in his brief 4 inning outing, but might have been better off if he had missed the strike zone with some pitches now and then. Of the 18 players who started this game, 17 of them had at least one hit with CHN 2B Don Johnson being the lone exception. SLN starter Harry Brecheen was hardly unhittable (8 IP, 10 hits) but the Cubs couldn't match the St. Louis power today, and then there's always our infamous 'clutch' ability holding us back too whenever possible. ====================================================================== Game 4: Rebounding surprisingly from that debacle, the Cubs scored 0 in the first for a change but wound up on the happy end of a 9-2 final. The contest was not nearly as lopsided as the final score made it appear to be, as CHN starter Jesse Flores found himself down 2-0 after 2 innings as a trio of doubles did him in -- all 3 were on the exact same surgical dice roll on Flores' card and all 3 got the exact same (fortuitous of course) split card. Undeterred, Flores got the comeback underway himself with a double and he scored on Dom Dallessandro's single to cut the deficit to 2-1. Then Flores, not renowned for his batting ability, tied it up in the 5th with an RBI single, and Don Johnson's single in the 6th put us up 3-2. That's how it stayed, just that tight, until SLN reliever Chet Covington imploded in the 8th & 9th innings and was charged with 6 runs to make the nailbiter look like a laugher. Each side had 5 extra-base hits today but the Cubs had 10 singles to SLN's 4. Cy Young candidate Clyde Shoun took the loss for St. Louis although he kept his team in the game the entire way. Alan |
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