1972 World Series
I have no idea what happened in game 1. We scored two runs in each of the first 3 innings off of Jim Maloney and were cruising with a 6-1 lead behind Fergie Jenkins going into the bottom of the 6th when......they put together 7 straight hits off Fergie, the capper being a 3 run homer from Ossie Blanco to complete a frigging 8 run 6th inning to take a 9-6 lead. We would rally in the ninth but come up short as they took game 1 9-7. I've never seen him get knocked around like that. Bumbry and Brinkman each had 2 RBI for us.
Game two was every bit as mystifying. Klages matched up with lefty Jim O'Toole and he just shut us down completely, tossing a complete game shutout to win it 1-0. The only run came on a first inning RBI single from Graig Nettles. We're down 2-0 heading back to Philly and we better get our heads out of our asses.
Game three would see Tommy John on the hill trying to right the ship vs Randy Jones, and right the ship he did. John tossed a complete game 5 hitter en route to a 5-0 Phillies win highlited by a 3rd inning Dick Simpson grand slam. Now to keep it rolling. Rod Carew returns tomorrow.
Game four was one for the ages as Mike Caldwell battled Jim Maloney. We jumped out in the first inning when Willie McCovey hit a 2 run homer. That lead would hold till the 6th when Mike Adams would a deliver a 2 run, game tying single. It would stay that way until the 14th inning despite both teams having good chances, including us having 1st and 3rd and no out in the 10th and not scoring, and them loading the bases in the 12th and coming away empty. It would finally end with 2 outs in the bottom of the 14th and the bases empty. Al Bumbry would park one into the left field seats for the walk off homer. We win 3-2 and the series is now tied. We also get Tim McCarver back tomorrow. Don Durham was fantastic in relief, tossing 5 shutout innings.
To Be Continued......
Game five was a wild affair between Jenkins & O'Toole. The Twins got to our ace again, this time with an Ossie Blanco two run homer in the 1st inning. We cut it to 2-1 in the 6th when RBI's by Tony Oliva and Mike Adams put the Twins up 4-1 and fans in Minny were probably pooping their pants at the thought of coming home up 3-2. RBI hits by Javier, McCovey & Simpson tied the game just like that. In the bottom of the eighth, Brinkman & Bumbry would knock in runs off of O'Toole & Bill Campbell and we carried a 6-4 lead into the 9th inning. Our pen almost gave it up, but with 2 outs, 1 run in, and the bases loaded, Bill Zepp got Tony Oliva to fly out harmlessly to left as we held on to win it 6-5 and head back to Minnesota with a 3 games to 2 lead.
As game 6 slowly wore away, so did the hopes of Twins fans. We scored twice in the 2nd inning, thanks in large part to two Errors. Then twice more in the 3rd with a little small ball. We lead 4-1 at that point and Klages would carry us into the ninth before leaving with 1 out. Pazik and Zepp would each record an out and we win game six 4-1 and clinch the World Series. The home crowd gave their team a standing ovation after we left the field, how sweet.