[Editor’s note: This summary by chapter member Gary McIntosh details the first game of the Great American Fantasy League Season 3 World Series.]
Extra Inning Affairs Continue in Makeup Game #1
By Gary McIntosh
LOS ANGELES–Oct 28. The redo of game #1 of the GAFL Season Three World Series looked much like many of the playoff games that have been played to get the two teams to this point. It went 14 innings, with LA tying the game in the bottom of the eighth and finally winning it six innings later.
The Kansas City Royals had gotten a first inning single from Hal McRae, and then LA pitcher Sandy Koufax walked Billy Butler, before uncorking a wild pitch moving both runners up. So two in scoring position for the Royals and one out. But Koufax struck out Danny Tartabull, and Mike Sweeney bounced out to short to end the threat.
The strikeout was ominous, and telling, for this game. Kevin Appier, the KC starter pitched 8.1 innings, striking out 10. He was followed by 3 relievers, but no Dodgers struck out after Appier left the game.
Meanwhile, the Dodgers threw seven pitchers into the contest, and all struck out at least one, as the Bums staff struck out 17 Royals hitters. Koufax fanned 7 in five innings and Kenley Jansen nailed down 4 in his 3 innings.
So several potential rallies went by the wayside, controlled by the pitchers.
In the first four innings, after the top of the first, there were no threats. Koufax retired 12 in a row after the Butler walk. The Royals hit a couple of drives deep to left but the FD7s were hauled in by Dodgers left fielder Zach Wheat. Meanwile, Appier gave up a one out walk in the first and a one out single to Koufax himself in the bottom of the third. He retired 12 of the first 14 he faced.
In the top of the fifth, after Joe Randa struck out, Frank White got the first solid connection that wasn’t caught. His blast of a 2-1 fastball from Koufax landed in the left field seats, and KC had a 1-0 lead. Freddie Patek laid down a bunt single, but Koufax struck out Appier and Wilson to end any thoughts of adding to the lead.
Reggie Smith led off the bottom of the fifth with a single, the first of his three hits on the night, but Appier managed to sail through the rest of that inning.
The Dodgers started going to the bullpen from then on. After lifting Koufax for a pinch hitter in the bottom of the fifth, Alston called on Eric Gagne. Despite terrible stuff, he retired the Royals in order in the sixth on two fly balls to left and a strikeout.
LA got an infield single from Pete Reiser in the bottom of the frame, but Jackie Robinson lined into a double play on a hit and run attempt.
In the seventh, Jonathan Broxton relieved Gagne, and was greeted by a Mike Sweeney double to right. George Brett hit for Randa, but struck out, and so did White. Alcides Escobar hit for Patek, and laid down a perfect bunt. Runners at the corners with two outs. Dick Howser decided to leave Appier in the game, and Broxton struck him out, stranding the runners.
In the bottom of the seventh, Babe Herman singled to left. Two pitches later, he stole second. Mike Piazza popped to short, and Appier fanned Smith and Wheat to end any threat.
Jeff Pfeffer came on for LA, and retired the Royals in order in the eighth. And Appier kept sailing along, getting Rafael Furcal on a lazy fly to right and Augie Galan on a grounder to short. Two down and no one on base
Reiser was up for LA. He hit a drive to left center field. Hal McRae was on his horse, but he couldn’t make the defensive play. The ball bounced just away from his outstretched glove and Reiser had a double (Z 46/65, CD2)
Jackie Robinson was up next. He singled sharply into left field and the Dodgers third base coach sent Reiser. Everyone thought he’d be out (46 chance) but the Bums had tied the game as Reiser slid around the tag of Salvador Perez. It was 1-1.
Ron Perranoski was pitching for LA and he retired KC in order in the ninth. Junior Gilliam had come in on a double switch in the top of the inning and was now hitting, leading off the bottom of the ninth. Gilliam laced a double off the wall in left. Appier struck out Piazza again for out number one.
Smith was up and his second hit of the game was a single to right. Runners at the corners for the west coasters and Appier’s night was done. Greg Holland came on for KC. Holland threw a pitch down low, and it broke into the dirt. But Perez blocked it, and the runners had to hold. On a full count breaking ball, Wheat lined a shot to left. Wilson got himself lined up, making the catch. Gilliam tagged and steamed towards the plate with the winning run.
Wilson’s throw was on the money. Gilliam slid in and Perez blocked the plate! Nestor Chylak called Gilliam out! Junior was slow to get up, and limped off the field. We were on to extra innings, and the Dodgers had to make some defensive moves, as Gil Hodges came in at first with Augie Galan moving to third and Robinson back to second base, with Gilliam holding ice to his ankle.
The scoresheet was getting cumbersome.
The boys from KC got a one out single by Escobar, but he was thrown out trying to steal in the tenth. Perranoski faced the minimum through his two innings of work. Kenley Jansen replaced him in the eleventh and gave up a lead off bunt single and a stolen base to Wilson. Buit he retired nine in a row, including four whiffs, through the 13th inning.
Dan Quisenberry meanwhile did the same for KC. He threw the 10th through the 12th, giving up a couple of singles and a walk, but getting two double plays to erase threats. The DP in the 12th was critical as Smith had singled, and stolen second when Wheat couldn’t get the bat on the ball on a hit and run. Wheat walked and there were two on. But Furcal’s bouncer back to Quiz was turned into the double play. Joakin Soria retired the Dodgers in order in the 13th.
So it was on to the 14th. Jansen was replaced by Jay Howell. After striking out Johnny Damon, who had replaced McRae, the Dodgers ace gave up a single to Butler. Another twin killing wiped that out though when Lorenzo Cain grounded to Galan, and the ball went around the horn.
So bottom of the 14th. Soria still pitching for KC. Duke Snider walked to lead off the innng. Soria held him close, and he couldn’t get a jump. Gil Hodges lad down a great sacrifice bunt, moving Snider into scoring position. Roy Campanella was up. Soria’s splitter stayed up and Campy drove the ball into left center. Snider was around third and the throw was just up the line. Snider scored, and the Dodgers had won game one, a prolonged game that essentially started the night before, and was washed out.
Game Two will pit Bret Saberhagen against a still to be decided Dodgers pitcher. Junior Gilliam, hurt on the play at the plate in the bottom of the ninth, will be ok and available for the Dodgers according to the training staff. What drama awaits as GAFL’s World Series rolls on?
KC 000 010 000 000 00 — 1 8 0
LA 000 000 010 000 01 — 2 11 0
WP Howell (2-0)
LP Soria
Sv none
MVP Campanella 1 for 2, game winning RBI
Jansen, 3 innings, 1 hit, no runs, 4 strike outs
Appier 8.1 innings, 1 run, 1 walk, 10 Ks
GG Furcal +1 Z play in first; McRae -2 failed to make Z play on CD2 that fell for double, and was the game tying run; Wilson +2 threw out winning run at the plate in the bottom of the ninth; White, bottom of 11th L4 converted into a double play
E – none
2b – Sweeney, Reiser, Gilliam
HR – White (1st)
DP – Robinson (L1-3), Hodges (L4-3), Furcal (1-6-3), Cain (5-4-3)
SB – Lopes, Wilson, Smith
CS – Escobar
SH – Hodges
Innings:
Appier 8.1
Holland 0.2 (great stuff)
Quisenberry 3.0
Soria 1.1
Koufax 5.0
Gagne 1.0 (terrrible stuff)
Broxton 1.0
Pfeffer 1.0
Perranoski 2.0
Jansen 3.0
Howell 1.0
Rest Rules for game #2 on 10/29, off day is now 11/1
Dodgers
Kershaw 1 day rest, eligible 10/30
Koufax 3 days rest, eligible 11/1
Jansen 1 day rest, eligible 10/30
Gagne, 3 inning limit
Broxton, 3 inning limit
Pfeffer, 3 inning limit
Perranoski 2 inning limit
Howell 3 inning limit
Royals:
Appier 3 days rest, eligible 11/1
Quisenberry 1 day rest, eligible 10/30
Holland 3.1 inning limit
Soria 2.2 inning limit