The
1974 World Series matched Old Mill and Long Beach, the 2 teams with the
best record in each league. Old Mill is in the World Series for the 2nd
year in a row and Long Beach is in the Series for the first time.
Game 1:
This figured to be a pitchers duel between Jim Kaat and Phil Niekro.
They didn't disappoint. The game was scoreless until the bottom of the
5th when Dwight Evans hit a 2 run homer. Niekro scattered 4 hits and
shut out Long Beach the rest of the way for a 2-0 win and a 1-0 lead in
the series.
Game 2:
This game looked like another potential pitchers duel between Ken
Holtzman and Jon Matlack and started off like game 1. Things started to
fall apart when Holtzman left the game in the 2nd with a sore wrist. Old
Mill torched Williams and the Long Beach
bullpen in the 3rd when Chalk
singled with 1 out, Darrell Evans followed with a single, Money's single
scoring Chalk, Winfield hit a SF, Hisle doubled in Money, Garvey singled
in Hisle. Giusti relieved Williams and Hendrick greeted him with a 2-run
homer to make the score 6-0. In the 5th Hendrick hit another 2-run homer
and added a 2-run triple in the 6th. Old Mill cruised to a 11-0 win
behind the 3 hit pitching of Matlack and Sutton to take a 2-0 series
lead.
Game 3:
The series shifts back to California with Long Beach still looking to
score their first run of the series. Niekro comes back on 2 days of rest
to face Ryan. Old Mill jumped all over Ryan in the first when Monday
walked, Hisle singled and McCovey crushed a 3 run homer. Long Beach felt
a little better when they finally scored in the bottom of the first when
Campaneris tripled and Madlock hit a sacrifice fly. Both pitchers
settled down and the score stayed 3-1 until the bottom of the 8th when
the Long Beach bats came alive. Bradford led off with a walk, Campaneris
doubled, Madlock singled in Bradford, Smith's double scored Campaneris
and put runners at 2nd and 3rd with no outs but Long Beach couldn't get
the go ahead run across when Blomberg hit into a fielders choice forcing
Madlock at home, Freehan popped up and Crawford grounded out. The score
stayed 3-3 heading to extra innings. In the top of the 10th, McCovey led
off with a homer. Old Mill added another run on a Sanguillen SF for a
5-3 win and a 3-0 series lead.
Game 4:
Long Beach is just trying to stay alive as they send Kaat out to face
Rooker. Again Old Mill jumps out to a quick lead with 2 runs in the
first on a Winfield triple and a Garvey single. They add another run in
the 2nd for a 3-0 lead when Chalk singled, was sacrificed to 2nd, was
wild pitched to 3rd and scored on a sacrifice fly. Long Beach gets a run
back in the 5th when Buckner scores on a Burleson double but they blow
an opportunity to score more when they can't capitalize on a 2nd and 3rd
with no outs situation. They have another great scoring chance in the
bottom of the 6th when they load the bases with no outs but again only
get 1 run. Long Beach finally breaks through and takes it's first lead
of the series in the 7th. Crawford singled with 1 out and Smith followed
with a homer. They added another unearned run and the bullpen held on
for a 5-3 victory. There is a ray of hope in Long Beach but Old Mill
still leads the series 3-1.
Game 5:
Holtzman returns from his injury to face Barr. Old Mill jumped on top
early again and took a 3-0 lead in the first behind singles from Money,
Winfield, Garvey, Hendrick and Sanguillen. They added another run in the
5th on an RBI double by Garvey for a 4-0 lead. Meanwhile, Barr was
cruising along with a 2 hitter until the 9th when Long Beach tried to
mount another comeback. With 2 outs, Johnson walked, Burleson and
Bradford walked to load the bases. Again the Titans couldn't capitalize
when Campaneris grounded out to short to end the game and the series.
Congratulations to Old Mill for winning the series 4-1.
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