+'88 Mets 13 @ '91 Twins 1

Minneapolis, Minn.—The Mets exploded from the gates in their first Silverhawk Open action on Thursday evening with a 13-1 victory over the Twins. New York racked up 17 hits and had a collective on base percentage of .555 for the game. Meanwhile ace David Cone muzzled the Minnesota offense, allowing the single run on just five hits.

“We’re here to prove that the 1988 playoffs were an aberration,” said first baseman Keith Hernandez, who hit a three-run homer in the sixth and went 3-4 Thursday. “I mean, the Dodgers—really, just one guy—should never have beaten us (in the NLCS, 4 games to 3). And we’re going to make damn sure everyone knows it in this tournament.”

New York certainly made a statement in this one, getting at least one runner on in every inning but the last. They hit three home runs, walked eight times, and stole four bases. Darryl Strawberry was 2-4 with 4 RBI, Howard Johnson was 3-4 with a home run and two runs scored, and Dave Magadan was 3-5 with two runs scored and an RBI. Twins ace Jack Morris lasted just five innings before he was mercifully pulled.

“That was tough sledding,” Morris said after the game. “They took my fork ball and cleaned my plate with it.”

Cone, for his part, settled down nicely after three of the first four Minnesota batters reached and he faced Shane Mack with bases loaded and one out. Mack’s sacrifice fly scored Chuck Knoblauch, but Kent Hrbek grounded weakly to first to end the inning. Cone would retire fourteen more in a row after that as the Mets poured it on. Kirby Puckett was the lone stand out for the Twins, going 2-4 with a double, the only extra-base hit of the day for the home team.

“Tough first outing, sure,” said rookie manager Ricky Klee. “But don’t sleep on the Twins. We’ll find that Minnesota Magic soon enough.”

W: D. Cone (1-0)

L: J. Morris (0-1)

Player of the Game: D. Strawberry (2-4, 2 BB, HR, 2B, 2 R, 4 RBI)

+‘31 Grays 7 @ ‘96 Braves 1

Atlanta, Ga.—Behind a dominant performance on the mound by Smokey Joe Williams, the 1931 Homestead Grays bested the 1996 Atlanta Braves 7-1. Williams pitched a complete game, allowing 1 run and striking out 5. The Braves lone run came on an RBI single in the fifth by second baseman Mark Lemke, plating DH Jermaine Dye.

The Grays opened things up early, taking a 4-0 lead after 2 innings, but then Greg Maddux settled in and held them scoreless through the sixth inning, after which he handed it over to the bullpen. Reliever Terrell Wade came in for the 8th and allowed the Grays’ to break it open with 3 more runs. The visitors were paced on offense by lead-off man and third baseman Jud Wilson. Wilson went 4-5 with a double, a run, 2 RBIs, and 3 SBs. Other offensive standouts for the Grays were first baseman Oscar Charleston, who went 2-5 with a run, and right fielder Victor Harris, who went 2-4 with a walk, a HR, and 2 RBIs.

W: Smokey Joe Williams (1-0)L: Greg Maddux (0-1)

+‘93 White Sox 2 @ ‘98 Cubs 0

Chicago, Ill.—Jack McDowell and the White Sox bested Kerry Wood and the Cubs 2-0 on Wednesday evening at Wrigley Field. Wood was masterful in the third through eighth, recording 8 Ks and surrendering just one hit, but Ozzie Guillen worked walks in the first and ninth and scored twice. McDowell held the potent Cubs offense to just 4 hits through his eight innings of work. Sammy Sosa and Glenallen Hill accounted for 6 of McDowell's seven Ks. Roberto Hernandez earned the save with a 1-2-3 bottom of the ninth.

WP: J. McDowell (1-0) (0R, 4H, 7Ks, 1BB)

LP: K. Wood (0-1) (2R, 3H, 8Ks, 7BB)

S: R. Hernandez (1)

+‘55 Dodgers 0 @ ‘15 Cubs 2

Chicago, Ill. - Jake Arrieta appeared to be in mid-season form on Thursday night, as he outlasted Don Newcombe with a 9-strikeout, complete game shutout of the 1955 World Champion Brooklyn Dodgers. Both starters turned in strong performances in the contest, which remained scoreless until a solo home run by Addison Russell in the 7th. The Cubs added some insurance in the 8th with back-to-back doubles by Anthony Rizzo and Kris Bryant that provided the game’s only multi-hit frame and finally chased the veteran Newcombe. Rookie Sandy Koufax appeared in relief and ended the Cubs’ 8th, but only after drilling Chris Coghlan with a high fastball that will send the Cubs’ RF to the injured list for the next 5 games. The Dodgers scattered hits throughout the game, including doubles by Sandy Amoros & Carl Furillo, but Arrieta didn’t allow a runner past 2nd base and earned his Player of the Game honors.

W: Jake Arrieta (1-0)

L: Don Newcombe (0-1)

Player of the Game: Jake Arrieta (9 IP, 6H, 0R, 9K, W)

Injuries: CHC Chris Coghlan is out for 5 games (HBP (Koufax) in the 8th)

+‘10 Cardinals 3 @ ‘19 Dodgers 8

Los Angeles, Calif.—Jay Miller's 2019 Dodgers relied on right-handed power pitching and left-handed power hitting in an authoritative victory against Josh Kaiser's scrappy 2010 Cardinals, winning their season opener by a score of 3-8.

The game was even through the first two innings, as the Cardinals responded to Max Muncy's two-run home run in the first by scoring two runs of their own in the second after an error by Justin Turner at third base. Yadier Molina had helped keep the score close by making an acrobatic tag on Joc Pederson at home plate to end the first inning, and he was the best Cardinals hitter of the day, going 2 for 4 with a double, home run, and two runs scored.

But the Dodgers took the lead for good in a four-run third inning, which Cody Bellinger led off with a shot into the right field bleachers. Matt Holiday and Molina almost pulled the Cardinals back into the game with flyballs to the warning track in left field during the fifth inning, but ultimately St. Louis could only muster two earned runs against Walker Buehler, who went the distance with a complete game. The right-hander had traffic on the bases all day, issuing five walks, but compensated for his shaky command by striking out twelve.

"I obviously felt good enough to go the full nine innings today," Buehler said after the game, "but you don't want to see that many walks. We'll work on that in my bullpen session, and hopefully I can improve in my next start. Otherwise, I felt good."

Adam Wainwright struck out seven for the Cardinals in six innings, but also gave up all seven of the Dodgers earned runs. "I felt like I had decent stuff today," Wainwright reflected, "but with the ball carrying like it was to right field, those home runs really hurt us."

One of Wainwright's strikeout victims, David Freese, had to leave the game after taking a awkward swing at a third strike in the second inning. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts told reporters that Freese had a sprained ankle, and would sit for two games as a precaution.

W: W. Buehler (1-0)

L: A. Wainwright (0-1)

Player of the Game: W. Buehler (9 IP, 12 K, 5 BB, 2 ER, CG)

Injuries: David Freese, 2 games (ankle)

+‘98 Cubs 3 @ Grays 5

Homestead, Pa. -- Terry Mulholland and Charles “Lefty” Williams pitched dueling complete games in a tight 5-3 win for the 1931 Homestead Grays over the 1998 Chicago Cubs.

Mulholland was victimized by 3 early unearned runs after an error by shortstop Manny Alexander on the would-be inning ending out. DH Buddy Burbage followed with an RBI single and third baseman Jud Wilson then hit a two-run triple.

The Cubs opened their scoring in the 3rd with an unearned run of their own after first baseman Mark Grace reached second base when Wilson sailed a throw over first baseman Oscar Charleston. Grace scored on a single by right fielder Sammy Sosa. The Cubs scored again in the 6th to make the game 3-2 after DH Glenallen Hill led off with a single and scored on a double by centerfielder Lance Johnson. But the Grays struck right back with a run in the bottom half of the 6th, with right fielder Ted Page plating a run on a bases loaded double play.

The Cubs had a golden opportunity late, when Hill led off the 8th with another single, but then left fielder Brant Brown grounded into a double play just before third baseman Gary Gaetti connected for a home run to pull the Cubs within 1. The Grays pulled back in front by 2 in the bottom of the 8th after a leadoff double by catcher Josh Gibson and a single by left fielder Victor Harris. Williams then retired the Cubs in order in the 9th, ending the game by getting Cubs second baseman Mickey Morandini to hit a soft line out to third.

Harris now has 3 RBIs during the Silverhawk Open, and Wilson now has 4, as well as 4 stolen bases after adding one more against the Cubs.

W: Charles “Lefty” Williams L: Terry Mulholland

+ Braves 9 @ Twins 1

Minneapolis, Minn. - Josh Reeves’ 1996 Braves faced off against Ricky Klee’s 1991 Twins tonight at storied HHH Metrodome. Outside, in the early stages of the season, snow fell in near-blizzard conditions but inside the weather was clear and comfortable as Kevin Tapani led the home team against Tom Glavine and the Braves.

The bats got going in the second inning for the visitors as the Braves strung together consecutive singles by Fred McGriff, Javy Lopez and Jeff Blauser, plating McGriff as Jeff Blauser sent his single into short right field.

Tom Glavine pitched a gem tonight, giving up just one run on three hits in an outing he said was “a great way to start the season.” Asked if the championship from a year ago left any rust to be worked off, Glavine was short and sweet in response: “No. I was ready to go.” Tonight’s performance bore that out for Glavine, with just one walk on seven strikeouts.

The offensive output continued the very next inning for Atlanta, as three more hits and a walk led to two more runs. Kevin Tapani struggled to stay ahead in counts tonight, and gave up all five of his earned runs with at least one out.

“I wasn’t doing my best work tonight,” Tapani said. “There’s no excuse, I’ve got to pitch better than that. I’ll go back and work on some things, and come out better for my next start.”

Did Tapani need time to get over this less-than-stellar start?

“No, I have a short memory, whether it’s good or bad.”

The 7th inning saw scoring for both teams, which started out when Mark Lemke reached on a fielder’s choice and Ryan Klesko wasted no time at all, turning on the first pitch and sending it into the seats in left field. The bottom of the inning brought the one and only run for the Twins, when Shane Mack tripled to the corner in left and two batters later Brian Harper scored him with a double to right.

A quiet 8th inning for both teams seemed to foreshadow a much louder 9th, and Braves fans would not be disappointed (Twins fans, not so much). In the top of the 9th inning the Braves led off with the top of their order, but after two fast outs by Marquis Grissom and Mark Lemke it seemed like the Braves would be defending a 5-1 score going in the bottom of the 9th. That would not be the case. The Braves rallied for four consecutive hits: a single, double, triple and home run by Ryan Klesko, Andruw Jones, Chipper Jones and Fred McGriff, respectively. A team cycle in consecutive at-bats, in ascending order of hits (1B, 2B, 3B, HR), in the top of the ninth inning with two outs. At this time it is still unclear whether this particular set of events has transpired in baseball history, but its safe to say that it is EXTREMELY rare. The man on the mound for this momentous offensive output: Mark Guthrie, in his third year out of LSU.

“Awful,” said Guthrie of his performance, “That’s not how you imagine it when you’re out there warming up in the pen.”

No, it stands to reason that no pitcher, whether starter, reliever, closer or otherwise imagines giving up a team cycle in a single inning with only one more out needed. And, after the Twins went quietly in the ninth to 36-year old Mike Bielecki, the final score read 9-1 in favor of the visiting team.

W- T. Glavine (1-0)

L- K. Tapani (0-1)

Player of the Game: R. Klesko (3-4, BB, HR, 2B, 1B, 2RBI, 3R, 4PO)

+‘55 Dodgers 3 @ White Sox 0 (10 Innings)

Chicago, Ill. – The '55 Dodgers swing through Chicago to start the season began with a whimper. After being shutout at Wrigley Field in their first game, the Dodgers went scoreless through the first nine at Comiskey Park against the White Sox. However, Dodger Starter Billy Loes and reliever Don Bessent gave the Dodgers time to find their swings with a combined 10 innings of shutout ball.

The game could have ended in regulation, except for two stellar defensive plays in the fourth. In the top of the inning, Duke Snider threw out a fleet-footed Tim Raines as he attempted to score on a Frank Thomas double with one out. Raines returned the favor in the bottom of the inning with a leaping grab at the fence to rob Gil Hodges of a go-ahead home run.

The Dodgers pitching was countered with exceptional outings by Alex Fernandez and Don Pall of the White Sox, keeping the score tied into the tenth. A walk to Jackie Robinson and Roy Campanella's fourth hit of the game set the stage for Carl Furillo. Coming to the plate after a Duke Snider strikeout, Furillo drove a fastball from Scott Radinsky into the Chicago night and relieved a tense Dodger dugout with his 3-run blast.

In the clubhouse, the Dodgers reveled in their first victory and lifted a Hamm's to a surprise visit from rookie Tommy Lasorda, rejoining the team where the game is played forever — the green fields of the mind.

W D. Bessent (1-0) L S. Radinsky (0-1)

Player of the Game: Carl Furillo (2-5, 2B, HR, 3 RBI)

+‘15 Cubs 4 @ Cardinals 2 (10 Innings)

ST LOUIS, MO - Cardinals’ starter Jaime Garcia threw 8 spectacular innings of shutout baseball, only to turn the ball over to a bullpen that produced an equally spectacular meltdown. The Cubs had 10 strikeouts and no answers for Garcia until catcher Miguel Montero came through with a one-out single in the 9th. With the Cubs down by 2 runs and needing a spark, Junior Lake was announced as a pinch-hitter, prompting manager Kaiser to call Kyle McClellan from the Cardinals bullpen. Lake promptly became the unlikely hero as he sent a fastball just over the left-field fence, tying the game. McClellan then retired Fowler and Baez, but the damage was done.

The Cardinals went quietly in the bottom of the 9th, sending reliever Ryan Franklin to the mound to begin extras. Franklin was erratic from the start, walking Kris Bryant and allowing him to advance to 2nd on a wild pitch. With 2 outs in the 10th, Jorge Soler and Matt Szczur hit back-to-back doubles that put the Cubs ahead 4-2 and sent the visitors’ dugout into a frenzy.

The Cardinals saw a glimmer of hope when John Jay led off the 10th with a double of his own, but Pedro Strop regained his focus and retired the next 3 batters, including strikeouts of Freese and Pujols.

Cubs starter Jon Lester didn’t have his best stuff, but he was able to limit the damage to 2 sacrifice flies by Albert Pujols. Pedro Strop allowed just 2 hits and notched 3 strikeouts in 2.2 solid innings of relief to earn the win. It was a game that the young Junior Lake won’t soon forget, and one that the Cardinals’ bullpen can’t forget about soon enough.

W: Pedro Strop (1-0)

L: Ryan Franklin (0-1)

Player of the Game: Junior Lake (game-tying pinch-hit 2-run HR)

+‘19 Dodgers 0 @ Mets 1

New York, N.Y. - Kevin McReynolds hit a solo home run in the sixth to ruin a magnificent two-hit complete game by Hyun-Jin Ryu as the Mets escaped with a 1-0 win in Queens Sunday afternoon.

Ryu was completely dominant throughout, giving up just the two hits, striking out seven, and walking none. His stuff was electric.

"Far as I could tell, he only made the one mistake the entire game," said McReynolds. "I was lucky enough to put a good swing on it and managed to get it out."

The real story was the Dodgers' inability to get a big hit when they needed it. They had a runner at second base in all but three frames and stranded a total of 11 baserunners. Max Muncy was the main culprit, leaving runners in the first, third, and fifth innings.

"Look, I don't care how immortal Doc (Gooden) is," Muncy lamented after the game. "I have to get something done in those situations. And I will. I'll get back to work and we'll get back on track."

Closer Randy Myers took over for Gooden in the eighth inning with a bevy of powerful lefthanders due up for the Dodgers. He had a dominant 1988 season, finishing with a 1.72 era. But he struggled to close the door. He gave up two hits and three walks, but still Manager Insley stuck with him. With runners on first and third in the ninth he struck out Corey Seager to finish it.

"All of Shea sighed at once," Insley said. "I'm surprised there wasn't some sort of plane crash at LaGuardia. Listen, we were lucky to get out of there with a W--that squad over there has to be right up there as a favorite to win this thing."

W: D. Gooden (1-0)

L: H. Ryu (0-1)

S: R. Myers (1)

Player of the Game: Ryu (8 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 7 K, 0 BB)

+Grays 4 @ ‘55 Dodgers 6

Brooklyn, N.Y. - The undefeated Homestead Grays rolled into Ebbetts Field with a young lanky Satchell Paige on the mound to face 22-year-old Dodger lefty, Johnny Podres. Homeruns by Josh Gibson and Ambrose Reid gave the Grays an early 3-0 lead. Through four innings, the Grays made Podres work, putting nine runners on base and sending him to the showers early.

Paige struggled early as well but limited the damage with double-play balls to end the first and second innings. The Dodgers finally capitalized on Paige's free passes in the fifth, when they sent ten men to the plate and scored five runs on four hits. The key hit came after Paige issued two-out walks to Sandy Amoros and Pee Wee Reese. Jim Gilliam sent a weak groundball that negotiated a path just beyond the reach of a diving Tubby Scales—plating Frank Kellert and Amoros. The hit proved to be the difference-maker as Dodger reliever Clem Labine kept the Grays in check for four innings—earning the win, player of the game honors, and a case of Schaefer Beer for his appearance on the Dodgers post-game show.

For the Grays, Victor Harris went 4 for 4 with a walk, while Oscar Charleston was 3 for 5 with two doubles and two runs scored. No Dodger had more than a single hit, but Pee Wee Reese reached base twice on walks and was 1 for 2 with an RBI on the night.

W: Clem Labine (1-0)

L: Satchell Paige (0-1)

S: Roger Craig (1)

Player of the Game: Clem Labine (4 IP, 3 H, 2 BB, 0 R, 3K, W)

+Twins 2 @ ‘98 Cubs 3

Chicago, Ill. - Cubs ace Kevin Tapani took a perfect game deep into the 9th inning against his former Twins behind a strong defensive performance before Mike Pagliarulo, hitting in the 9th spot, feathered a two-out single into left, wrecking the night at Wrigley. The Cubs prevailed, 3-2.

It was a warm summer night in Wrigley and the crowd seemed to come aware that a gem was forming as the goose-eggs started lining up in the 5th. After the stretch, the bleacher bums started chanting “Ta-pa-ni, Ta-pa-ni” through the bottom of the 7th, 8th, and 9th, but the hurler was laser-focused, working efficiently to draw the Twins into lazy flies and soft grounders inning after inning. Tapani earned only 5 strikeouts, but prevented any hitters reaching base.

The Cubs put Tapani ahead with two runs in the third and another in the fifth. Tapani approached the mound in the top of the 9th to a standing ovation, but never acknowledged the crowd and went straight to work knocking out Harper and Gagne. With two down, the beer stands empty, and a lusty, screaming, crowd hopping on its feet, Tapani finally lost his edge and left a curve hanging over the outside corner where Pagliarulo laced it just over third baseman Gary Gaetti — the other former Twin on this Cubs team — where it fell harmlessly in shallow left. The entire north side of Chicago let out a simultaneous groaning “FUCK!"

When the ball came back to Tapani, his perfect game ruined, he looked at it in his hand and shook his head just once before looking in for the sign to finish the game. Though he looked collected, the pitcher was rattled as he sailed a sinker over the heart of the plate and noodle-armed Chuck Knoblauch lofted it over the wall in left.

The Cubs, one out away from a perfect game, were on the verge of losing their 3-run lead in the 9th, and had no choice but to pull Tapani from a game he’ll never forget. Wrigley sent him off the field to Titanic’s “My Heart Will Go On” and closer Rod Beck came in to collect the third out. They’re still talking about it down at the Cubby Bear.

+Mets 3 @ Braves 4

Atlanta, Ga. - In its final year as the home of the Atlanta Braves, Fulton County Stadium was the scene of an electrifying finish in tonight’s matchup between the 1988 New York Mets and the 1996 Atlanta Braves. Fresh off their World Series Championship a year ago, the Atlanta Braves sought their first win of the young season, but the task would be complicated by a talented Mets squad led by its stars Keith Hernandez and Darryl Strawberry. Sid Fernandez would take the mound for the Mets, while Tom Glavine got the start for the Braves.

Both pitchers would get off to strong starts, allowing no runs by either team through the first three innings. In the bottom of the fourth, a leadoff walk to Mark Lemke and a single by Ryan Klesko set the table for Chipper Jones, who has struggled early in the year. Jones hit a long single to center field, plating Lemke. Then, with Klesko on third, Javy Lopez hit a slow ground ball to the second baseman Wally Backman who had no chance to stop the streaking Klesko from crossing home plate. After four innings the score stood at 2-0 Braves.

During the middle of the inning, home plate umpire Greg Bonin was seen conversing with Mets starter Sid Fernandez, who seemed perturbed at the conversation with the ump. Reports came in following the game that Bonin accused Fernandez of applying an unknown substance to the ball, which Bonin alleges came from Fernandez’s back pocket. Braves manager Bobby Cox appeared to have raised the concern to Bonin, who confronted Fernandez on the mound. A check of the Hawaiian southpaw’s pockets produced no contraband, and play resumed with the top of the fifth inning, but not before a volley of un-pleasantries were yelled by Mets players towards the Braves’ bench.

After an uneventful fifth, the Mets made a splash in the sixth inning when, with one out, Kevin McReynolds, Darryl Strawberry and Keith Hernandez strung together three singles, plating McReynolds and Strawberry in the process. And so after six innings, the score stood tied at 2 runs apiece.

The top of the seventh inning would see the Mets strike again. With Gary Carter on second, care of a wayward curveball that hit Carter in the leg, and a Kevin Elster sacrifice bunt, Kevin McReynolds would score Carter with a line drive double off the left-center field wall.

After the Braves left two men on in the bottom of the inning, the score was 3-2 Mets. Braves’ reliever Greg McMichael survived a two-hit top of the ninth, which meant it would all come down to the bottom of the ninth inning. Shortstop Jeff Blauser continued his quiet night with an easy pop fly to center fielder Lenny Dykstra, putting the Mets just two outs away from sealing a victory. Designated hitter Luis Polonia singled to right, bringing to the plate Marquis Grissom to face Mets closer Randy Myers. The matchup doubtlessly loomed large in Myers’ memory. In 1997 Grissom scored the winning run with Myers on the mound in the bottom of the 12th inning on a dramatic (and controversial) suicide squeeze play to win game 3 of the ALCS. Perhaps it was this exact memory that dogged and distracted the typically sharp-minded Myers, because on a 3-1 pitch that sailed squarely down the middle of the plate, Grissom uncoiled and sent a towering, walk-off home run midway into the second deck at Fulton County Stadium. Fireworks boomed overhead and fans cheered and hugged one another as Grissom made the trot around the diamond. Right fielder Darryl Strawberry was halfway to the dugout by the time the ball landed. He hadn’t even turned to watch it fly; there was simply no doubt about it.

W- McMichael (1-0)

L- Myers (0-1)

+‘19 Dodgers 4 @ ‘15 Cubs 3

Chicago, Ill. - Brian Sutter's 2015 Cubs were one out away from a Saturday day game win at the Friendly Confines, but a Cody Bellinger blast onto Sheffield Avenue turned the tables and allowed Jay Miller's 2019 Dodgers to leave the Windy City with a 4-3 victory.

The Cubs led the Dodgers by two runs heading into the ninth inning, on the strength of an excellent outing by Kyle Hendricks and timely hitting by Anthony Rizzo and the rookie Matt Szczur. Hendricks limited Los Angeles to one run on four hits through 7 1/3 innings. Rizzo's two-run single in the second and Szczur's solo shot in the third looked to be enough for Chicago. But reliever Julio Urias kept the Dodgers close after starter Clayton Kershaw exited after five innings, shutting down the Cubs in four innings of relief.

Still, it looked to be Chicago's game when reliever Pedro Strop got two outs after walking the leadoff batter Will Smith in the top of the last frame. However, Chris Taylor, hitting ninth for the Dodgers, was able to work his third walk of the day to bring Cody Bellinger to the plate.

"On this team we always have a 'next man up' attitude" Taylor told reporters after the game, "but that's especially the case when I'm batting in front of Cody."

With two aboard and the go-ahead run at the plate, lefty Clayton Richard came in to match up against Bellinger, who nevertheless drove a fastball out of the park to give Los Angeles the lead for good.

When asked about his big hit later, Bellinger said, "You know, it doesn't matter if it's a righty or a lefty, right now I feel confident about my swing, and I'm looking to do damage every at bat. If was fun to come through for my team today."

"That's a tough loss," Rizzo told reporters. "You tip your cap to the other team and go out and try to win tomorrow. There are a lot of games left in this tournament."

W: Urias (1-0)

L: Richard (0-1)

Player of the Game: Bellinger, 1-3, HR, 3 RBI

+White Sox 7 @ Cardinals 4

St. Louis, Mo. – Right-handers Jason Bere and Chris Carpenter faced off at Busch Stadium Saturday afternoon in a 7 – 4 White Sox win. The Cardinals started the scoring on an RBI single from Colby Rasmus that scored David Freese. Freese would go on to 4-5 for the day but was stranded on the basepaths all afternoon.

Carpenter kept the Sox in check through three but let the game get away from him in the top of the fourth, giving up 6 runs (5 earned) on 6 hits in the inning. The scoring started with a Frank Thomas 2-R blast, his first of the year. Robin Ventura scored on an Ozzie Guillen single. Bo Jackson reached base on an Aaron Miles error, his first of two on the day. The error proved costly, as Guillen, Jackson, and Lance Johnson all came around to score on a 3-RBI single from Ellis Burks.

Carpenter came back out for the fifth and sixth to improve his pitching line, but a string of White Sox relievers mostly held the Cardinals in check. A lead-off HR from Felipe Lopez in the bottom of the eighth gave the home fans some hope, but that would be the end of the scoring for the Cardinals. Roberto Hernandez worked a scoreless ninth for the save, his second of the year.

WP: J Bere 1-0 (6 IP, 3R, 5K, 5BB)

LP: C Carpenter 0-1 (6IP, 5R, 2K, 2BB)

S: R Hernandez (2)

+ '19 Dodgers 13 @ White Sox 3

Chicago, Ill. - Jay Miller's 2019 Dodgers put on a hitting clinic in a 13-3 blowout against Andrew Tucker's 1993 White Sox. It was a Pyrrhic victory, however, as Cody Bellinger left the game after being hit by a pitch in the seventh inning.

Everything had been going right for the Dodgers leading up to Bellinger's injury. Facing off against the White Sox lefty Wilson Alvarez, right-handed hitters A.J. Pollock and Kiké Hernandez got their first starts of the season, and made the most of them in their opening at bats. Pollock's 2-run homer in the first, and a grand slam by Hernandez in the third, gave the Dodgers a 6-0 margin and drove Alvarez from the game after walking six and giving up three hits. When Los Angeles starter Rich Hill got into trouble by loading the bases with one only out in the fifth, Julio Urias entered and was able to induce a double play after allowing a single run, putting himself in line for his second win in as many games.

By the fateful seventh inning a second Hernandez home run had extended the Dodger lead to 12-2, with Bellinger coming to the plate. After hitting a game-winning home run in the previous contest, the young star was 3 for 3 with two doubles and two runs scored, playing with a noticeable swagger. The first pitch from the new White Sox reliever Kirk McCaskill, a veteran right-hander, was a hard fastball inside that drilled Bellinger's back elbow. He immediately left the game in significant pain.

"I don't know if he meant to hit Cody with that pitch," Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said afterwards. "But it was certainly way in off the plate, and if he was intentionally throwing at one of our players, well, there's no place for that in today's game."

McCaskill was laconic when speaking to reporters. "This is the South Side of Chicago," he said, "not Hollywood."

Tim Raines, the best White Sox hitter of the day going 2 for 3 with a solo home run, was more diplomatic.

"You never want to see a guy get hurt, especially in a lopsided game," Raines said. "I think we lost our focus in those late innings, and that pitch just got away from Kirk. We'll regroup tonight and get ready to face the next team."

Bellinger is currently listed as having a contusion, and will miss three games. That represents a third of the Silverhawk Open, and comes at a crucial time in the tournament.

"Losing Cody is a setback for sure," Dodgers third baseman Justin Turner said after the game. "But today's win goes to show that we have a lot of guys on this team who can step up when called upon, and that's what we'll have to keep doing."

W: Urias (2-0)

L: Alvarez (0-1)

Player of the Game: Hernandez, 2-4, 2 HR, GS, 5 RBI

Injury: Cody Bellinger, 3 games (elbow)

+ '15 Cubs 2 @ Mets 7

New York, N.Y. - Gregg Jefferies hit two solo home runs and Bobby Ojeda struck out nine to lead the Mets to a 7-2 victory over Brian Sutter's Cubs on Tuesday night.

The Mets came up with bigs hits all game, scoring five times with two outs in four different innings. Jefferies, Darryl Strawberry, Gary Carter, Dave Magadan, and Mookie Wilson all had RBI hits.

The Cubs, meanwhile, struggled all game long with runners in scoring position, leaving a total of eight baserunners altogether. Kris Bryant alone struck out four times; as a team the Cubbies fanned 12 times.

"You can't win if you don't score," lamented Sutter. "We have to get some better at-bats from the middle of our order if we want a chance at this Open championship."

Not that the Chicago pitching gave them much of a chance. Starter Dan Haren lasted just four innings (6 hits, 2 runs) and Justin Grimm and Travis Wood each allowed a pair of runs. The Mets totaled 13 hits, including a 4-5 day by Magadan. The leadoff hitter has an OBP of .579 so far in the Open.

"We're clicking right now," said Ojeda, who got the win. "Like a bycicle with Orel Hershiser baseball cards in its spokes."

W: B. Ojeda (1-0)

L: D. Haren (0-1)

Player of the Game: Gregg Jefferies (3-4, 2 HR, 3 RBI)

+Cardinals 6 @ Grays 7

Pittsburgh, Pa. - At Forbes Field this afternoon, the 1931 Homestead Grays clawed out a 7-6 win over the 2010 St. Louis Cardinals. The Cardinals took a big 5-0 lead early after 2 singles, 2 walks, and a HBP set up left fielder Skip Shumaker for an opening frame grand slam.

“That first inning was ugly and boy did I get mad," said Grays starter Chippy Britt. "After we just lost a close one last game, and to start the way I did today, I knew I had to get locked in and shut it down after that.”

And indeed Britt did just that. For the remaining 8 innings, Britt allowed 2 walks, 1 HBP, 2 hits, and 1 run with 5 strikeouts.

The Grays got their scoring going in the 2nd inning with a 3-run HR by DH Buddy Burbage, the start of what turned out to be a 4-4 day with 4 RBI, who earned player-of-the-game honors.

“Down 5 early, man, the team was getting tight," commented Britt. "You could feel it in the dugout. Having Buddy get that big homerun, it just got everybody excited. We were all like, ‘Ok, we’re in this, we got it. Take a breath, no problem.’”

The Grays continued clawing their way back bit by bit. In the 4th, hits by center fielder Ambrose Reid and Burbage, with a walk by shortstop Jake Stephens, set up Jud Wilson for a chance to tie the game with 2 outs. His single plated Reid, but a perfect laser from Cardinals centerfielder Colby Rasmus cut down Stephens at the plate and preserved the Cardinals 1-run lead. But in the sixth, singles by Reid, who was 2-4 in the game with three runs scored, and right fielder Ted Page chased Cardinals starter Jake Westbrook. Burbage would come through again against reliever Kyle McClellan, hitting an RBI single to plate Reid, leaving Westbrook with a final line of 5 earned runs in 5 innings. In the 7th, the Grays finally took the lead, 7-5, on a 2-run HR off McClellan by Oscar Charleston.

Leading off the 8th, Cardinals first baseman Albert Pujols hit a HR that just barely cleared the glove of leaping left fielder Vic Harris, pulling the Cardinals within a run. But after that, Britt retired the final six batters of the game, striking out 5 and ending the game by getting pinch hitter Tyler Greene to ground out to shortstop, a difficult play by Stephens who ranged to his right for a backhanded grab, pivoted hard, and just barely got the throw to first in time.

“I saw Tin Can (Kincannon) starting to get loose, and I thought, nah, no way. I’m wrapping this one up myself," Britt recounted. "Was damn thankful Jake was able to make that play though. I think if he didn’t probably [Grays manager] Cum [Posey] would have said enough is enough and pulled me whether I liked it or not. Glad I was able to finish it after the guys picked me up after that first inning.”

The Grays moved to 3-1 for the Silverhawk Tournament, and the Cardinals dropped to 0-4. The first inning HBP knocked Cardinals DH Matt Holliday out of the game with an injury. He is day-to-day with a bruised wrist, but expected to miss at least one game.

WP: Chippy Britt (1-0)

LP: Kyle McClellan (0-1)

Player of the Game: B. Burbage (4-4, HR, 4 RBI)

Injuries: M. Holliday, 1 game (Wrist)

+'55 Dodgers 13 @ Twins 10 (10 Inn.)

Minneapolis, Minn. – The '91 Twins, reeling from their third loss to open the season, hoped to take some momentum from their 9th inning perfect-game-killing rally against the Cubs as the '55 Dodgers made the trip to a raucous Metrodome on Wednesday night. The game-time temperature of 68° didn't account for the fire that Tom Kelly lit in the Twins clubhouse prior to the first pitch.

The Twins roared to life with home runs by Randy Bush, Brian Harper, and Chuck Knoblauch in the first three innings. Effective pitching by David West kept the Dodger lineup relatively silent—scattering five hits and allowing only a solo home run by Frank Kellert through the sixth. Dodger starter Carl Erskine was pulled after allowing 11 hits and 7 runs in the first three innings—leaving the Dodgers with a 6-run hole with nine outs to go.

In the seventh, momentum swung dramatically after George Shuba, pinch-hitting for Don Zimmer, was sent back to the Dodger dugout on a questionable third strike call by home plate umpire Al Barlick. Shuba shared his frustrations with a tin of sunflower seeds, the water cooler, and three of the new-fangled batting helmets used by the Dodgers for the first time in 1955. Duke Snider settled down the frustrated Shuba, then led a barrage of hits with a double and a 3-run homer over the next two innings to put the Dodgers up 10-8 heading into the ninth.

The Twins were stunned by the two-inning turn-around, however, an inning-ending double play by Rick Aguilera doused the Dodger rally and set the stage for Mike Pagliarulo to play the ninth-inning spoiler once again. With a runner on first and one out, Pagliarulo launched a towering fly that skirted the Metrodome rafters and just cleared the "Hefty bag" in right field to shift the momentum back in favor of the Twins and tie the game.

The Twins' momentum proved to again be a fickle partner as back-to-back two-out errors and a passed ball gave the Dodgers three unearned runs in the top of the tenth and allowed Clem Labine to wrap up the Dodgers' third straight victory.

Back in the Twins clubhouse, the embers of Tom Kelly's fire were reignited by Rick Aguilera's fury and the solemn realization that Kirby Puckett would miss the next three games after being hit on the hand in his 8th inning at-bat.

W: C. Labine (1-0)

L: R. Aguilera (0-1)

Player of the Game: Duke Snider (3-5, BB, 2B, HR, 3 R, 4 RBI)

Injuries: K. Puckett, 3 games (Hand)

+'98 Cubs 1 @ Braves 3

Atlanta, Ga. - Atlanta Braves starter Denny Neagle needed no relief on the mound Tuesday as the righty threw a complete game, 4-hit gem against the 1998 Chicago Cubs.

The Braves started the game with a bang, belting two homers in the first inning; one each by Grisson (2) and Klesko (2).

Neagle was simply dominant throughout, facing the minimum number of hitters in five of his nine innings. He walked just two while striking out eight and giving up an eighth inning solo homer to Mark Grace for his only blemish on the mound.

To their credit, Cubs defenders made it a much closer game than it might have been after the two-homer first inning, allowing only one additional run in the sixth on a Marquis Grissom double and forcing the Braves to strand 8 hitters on the night.

“It was a good effort all around,” said Neagle after the game. “Everybody was out there doing their job and backing everybody else up.”

Manager Bobby Cox was proud of his newly-acquired pitcher.

“He threw real good tonight I thought,” said Cox. “You can’t ask for much more than he did out there.”

For Cubs starter Steve Traschel, things got off to a rough start and then settled down.

“Yeah, I mean that’s not how you want to start the game,” he noted. “But I think I bounced back pretty well and guys were out there playing hard [and] making plays.”

Cubs slugger Sammy Sosa was 0-4, adding to a generally slow start to the season for him.

“I was out there trying,” Sosa said, “But sometimes it doesn’t happen for you. You just have to get ready for the next one.”

The Cubs did get a spark late in the game from Mark Grace who sent a towering, 3-1 hanging slider from Neagle into the stands in right field, but it was too little too late as Neagle would finish the inning-and the game-without another hitter reaching base. Along with Grace, Glenallen Hill stood out for the Cubs from the plate, going 2-4 with two singles.

Not everything was roses for the Braves as they will be without their flashy rookie Andruw Jones, who was put on the 10-day DL with a strained pectoral suffered during a swinging strikeout in the bottom of the 5th. Jones was unable to be reached for comment, but assistant trainer George Poulis called the injury “not too bad” and said that the young slugger would be resting for a couple days and “be back before too long.”

W: Neagle (1-0)

L: Traschel (0-1)

Player of the Game: D. Neagle (CG, 8K, 4H, 2BB)

Injuries: A. Jones, 8 games (Pectoral Strain)

+ Braves 2 @ '55 Dodgers 7

Brooklyn, N.Y. – A first-place matchup between the '96 Braves and '55 Dodgers had the Crown Heights neighborhood filled with fans waiting to get their first glimpse at the legendary Greg Maddux against their beloved Bums.

On a cool, breezy night, the buzz of the crowd approaching Ebbets field was accompanied by the sweet tones of Vin Scully and Al Helfer. The game was headlined by two heralded right-handers—Maddux coming off his fourth straight Cy Young Award in 1995 and Don Newcombe, the would-be inaugural Cy Young winner in 1956.

Both teams squandered leadoff doubles in the first two innings but the Dodgers would get things going in the bottom of the 3rd off the bat of Duke Snider. The inning started with back to back singles and brought Snider to the plate with one out. A 1-1 changeup from Maddux got too much of the plate and Snider lofted a high fly that plated the game's first three runs. The blast rewarded the faithful congregating on Bedford Avenue and brought "Howlin'" Hilda Chester and the 31,901 other fans in attendance to their feet.

In the top of the 4th, the Braves came within a whisker of countering Snider's blow, as Javy Lopez pulled a fastball down the line in left field. But the Dodgers Sandy Amoros made a running leap and pulled the would-be 2-run homerun back from the crowd just to the right of the 340 sign. On the night, the Braves would strand nine and manage only two runs, despite nine hits.

Maddux Called it a night in the 6th after the Dodgers plated two more runs and extended the Dodger lead to four. Newcombe scattered hits and got timely outs over his 7 2/3 innings of work, while the Dodgers offense steadily added runs. Snider again came through with a 2-run double in the 8th to finish the scoring, put the Dodgers up 7-2, and take home his second straight player of the game award.

The Dodgers move to 4-1 and head back to Chicago to face the '98 Cubs. The Braves look to regain momentum with a home matchup against the 2010 Cardinals.

W: D. Newcombe (1-1)

L: G. Maddux (0-2)

Player of the Game: Duke Snider (3-4, BB, 2B, HR, 2 R 5 RBI)

+ Greys 2 @ '19 Dodgers 9

Los Angeles, CA --- Returning to Southern California after a three-game roadtrip, Jay Miller's 2019 Dodgers bested Caesar Montevecchio's 1931 Grays, winning 2-9 and scoring all of their runs off Smokey Joe Williams, who lost despite pitching a complete game and striking out eight Los Angeles batters, a season high against the team.

Cyclone Joe held the Dodgers scoreless in six of his eight innings pitched, but the home team did damage early. Justin Turner hit a solo shot to get the scoring started in the first, which was quickly followed by a Max Muncy walk, a David Freese double, and a three-run homerun by Joc Pederson. A consummate platoon hitter, Pederson has crushed righties all tournament, slashing .357/.470/.786 in fourteen at bats.

"Smokey Joe is one the of the best there's ever been, and he showed that today," Pederson said afterwards. "But when a pitcher throws hard, you can hit the ball hard. They don't want that smoke."

Los Angeles added five more runs in the third inning, capped off by back-to-back jacks from Will Smith and Alex Verdugo following an error by third baseman Judd Wilson.

"Sometimes that happens," Williams told reporters. "I'd already given up a run, and after that error I lost my focus and left two fastballs over the plate. I found my groove, but we were in a big hole by that point."

Williams found his groove indeed, holding the Dodgers scoreless and striking out five in as many innings to finish the game. For a brief moment it looked as if the Grays might make a charge in the final innings, scoring their second run the in sixth and driving Los Angeles starter Walker Buehler from the game. Williams escaped a bases-loaded jam in the second half of the frame to give his team some hope, but Kenta Maeda pitched three scoreless innings of relief in his first appearance of the tournament to secure a Dodgers win.

It was an encouraging victory for Los Angeles, whose best hitter Cody Bellinger is currently on the IL. Turner, the unofficial team captain, reiterated his confidence in the squad: "Like I said last week, we have guys who are ready to step up. And it's always nice to come home to play in LA."

W: Buehler (2-0)

L: Williams (1-1)

Player of the Game: Joc Pederson (2-3, HR, 3 RBI, 2 R)

+ Mets 3 @ '98 Cubs 4

Chicago, Ill. - Wrigley Field was rocking again Friday night as the Cubs rallied in the 8th inning for a come-from-behind win against the visiting 1988 Mets.

Cubs second-baseman Micky Morandini launched a first-pitch fastball over the ivy in right for an early lead, but David Cone settled in after that, blanking the Cubs until the 6th. Despite striking out 9, Kerry Wood was streaky, only barely escaping serious trouble when the Mets left bases loaded in the first, fourth, and sixth innings.

After seven, the Mets led 3-2 but lost their grip on the slim lead in the pivotal eighth inning. With two down, a Randy Myers inside fastball went too far inside and plunked Cubs star Mark Grace in the hip. With the Cubs faithful raining down abuse from the not-so-friendly confines, Grace decided to refuse the indignity and walked out to the mound to give Myers a piece of his mind. Mets catcher Gary Carter tried to intervene, but Grace stiff-armed the receiver and charged the remaining few steps to Myers, who ducked a right hook and shoved Grace off the mound. Grace fell on his shoulder and dislocated it — the Cubs first baseman will spend 10 days on the Injured Reserve.

Jose Hernandez took first base on the hit-by-pitch, and Chicago was out for blood. The beer-soaked stands were rattling with noise, and Myers hung a curveball to Glenallen Hill, who crushed it and sent the ball over the stands in left where it bounced down Waveland for a 2-run homer and the lead.

The Mets displayed some grit of their own in the ninth — just not quite enough. Cubs closer Rod Beck came in and coaxed two easy outs before letting Keith Hernandez get a hold of a slider and sending it to deep center field. As the stands went silent, fearing their lead was evaporating, a slight breeze nudged the ball back into play and it ricocheted off the top of the ivy for a double. But Hernandez died on second when pinch hitter Mookie Wilson failed to convert.

W: K. Wood (1-1)

L: R. Myers (0-2)

S: R. Beck (2)

Player of the Game: G. Hill (2-4, Go-Ahead HR, 2 RBI)

+ '93 White Sox 5 @ '15 Cubs 2

Chicago, IL – With aces Jack McDowell and Jake Arietta facing each other for the first time, the fans at the Friendly Confines were expecting a pitcher’s duel tonight. But the White Sox had other ideas, smashing three home runs en route to a 5 – 2 win against the crosstown rival Cubs.

Tim Raines kicked off the scoring in the top of the first with a single to rightfield that scored Lance Johnson, who loped in from third base after his leadoff triple. Arrieta worked his way out of the inning and retired the next six batters, but in the top of the fourth Frank Thomas sent a ball deep into the night for his second homer of the season. Arietta avoided further damage in the fourth, but Ron Karkovice led off the fifth with another blast onto Waveland Ave. A fuming Arietta retired the next three batters on strikeouts.

McDowell carried the 3-0 lead into the seventh, having surrendered just one hit, a double off the wall from Kris Bryant. After a rousing rendition of “Take me out to the ball game,” from Eddie Vedder and Bill Murray, the home team tried to scratch their way back into the game. Bryant drew a walk, Anthony Rizzo leaned into an inside fastball to draw a base, and Jorge Soler made it to first on an Ozzie Guillen error. McDowell struck out Kyle Schwarber to get the second out of the inning, but couldn’t retire Junior Lake, who laced a single towards the leftfield gap to score Bryant and Rizzo and end McDowell’s night. Scott Radinsky was called in from the bullpen and promptly walked Miguel Montero to load the bases again, but the lefty got Dexter Fowler on a curveball to strand the runners and end the inning with the Cubs still trailing by a run.

Arrieta was sent back out to start the eighth with his pitch count at an even 100. Lance Johnson sent his 101st pitch through the infield for a single and stole second on pitch 102, but Ellis Burks quickly popped out to Bryant and Addison Russell made a nice play to retire Johnson at third for the second out. This brought Frank Thomas to the plate. Thomas worked his way to a full count and barreled up Arrieta’s 115th pitch of the evening for a two-run bomb that landed in the rooftop seats at 1032 Waveland.

Asked why he left Arietta on the mound to face Thomas for the fourth time on the night, Cubs manager Sutter said, “Jake has earned the benefit of the doubt this year. I wanted to give him a shot at the “W.” Sometimes the other guy wins.”

The Cubs would load the bases again in the bottom of the eighth, but Jeff Schwarz, who had come in to relieve Radinsky, struck out Soler and then Schwarber to end the threat. Schwarber struck out three times on the evening and left six on base. Sox closer Roberto Hernandez worked a drama-free bottom of the ninth, striking out Tommy LaStella to end the game and earn his third save of the season.

W: McDowell (2-0)

L: Arrieta (1-1)

S: Hernandez (3)

+ Twins 1 @ Cardinals 2

St. Louis, Mo. - The St. Louis Cardinals earned a 2–1 victory over the Minnesota Twins in a closely fought battle at Busch Stadium on Saturday evening. Adam Wainwright went the distance, holding the Twins scoreless while striking out 12 batters. Colby Rasmus provided the offense with a two-run home run in the fourth inning, which proved to be the difference.

The Cardinals tried their best to squander the lead, giving up a run in the sixth inning and barely escaping two other occasions where the Twins had runners in scoring position. The Redbirds also managed to botch a suicide squeeze attempt in the eighth inning when shortstop Brenden Ryan took leave of his senses and popped into a double play.

Nevertheless, the Cardinals did just enough to win, while also benefitting from a cold night at the plate for the Twins’ offense. Without All-Star Kirby Puckett, who remains out with an injury, the Twins’ lineup lacked some punch and failed to come up with the big hit when it counted. Still, spirits were high in the Twins’ clubhouse despite falling to 0–5.

“We are right on the cusp of something,” First Baseman Kent Hrbek said. “We just have to keep grinding.”

WP: Adam Wainwright

LP: Jack Morris

Player of the Game: Adam Wainwright

+ White Sox 6 @ Mets 7

New York, N.Y. - Light-hitting Mets shortstop Kevin Elster blasted a ninth-inning homerun off star White Sox closer Roberto Hernandez for a walk-off, 7-6 New York victory Sunday night in Queens. The win keeps the Mets in contention but makes the Chicago chances somewhat slim with just three games to go.

Elster's shot bailed out the Mets' not-so-amazin bullpen, which managed to cough up a three-run lead in the ninth. Lefty closer Randy Myers was again the culprit, blowing his third save opportunity of the tournament. He came in with two on and two out to face lefty leadoff man Lance Johnson, who promptly tripled to bring the game within one.

"It's frustrating," Myers said after the game. "I thought I could get it by him-I should be able to-but he turned on my best heater. Which obviously isn't good enough right now."

The Sox's ninth-inning rally was also aided by a two-base error by rightfielder Darryl Strawberry. The almost-meltdown frustrated the fans at Shea, who booed that play as well as Myers when he entered the game.

"You know, we're winning games, which is what counts," said Manager Insley. "But it's been sloppy. We seem to lose our focus at times."

The home team seemed to be in control for most of the contest, leading 6-2 after seven innings. Gregg Jefferies doubled and scored in the second, hammered an RBI double in the fourth and drove in two more with his fourth homerun of the tournament in the sixth. Keith Hernandez also homered in the seventh.

But the White Sox wouldn't go away. Ozzie Guillen doubled and scored three times in the contest and Bo Jackson contributed two RBI. Frank Thomas added a solo homerun in the eighth to make it 6-3.

Then came the ninth-inning fireworks. Roger McDowell entered for starter Doc Gooden, Insley's latest attempt to find stability at the back end of the bullpen. He retired two White Sox, but then came the Strawberry error, which plated Guillen. Then Johnson's triple scored Jackson from second. Manager Tucker, playing a hunch, went with pinch-hitter Ivan Calderon, who doubled off Ron Darling (the Mets' third pitcher of the inning) to plate Johnson and tie the game.

"We fought hard," Tucker said. "And I must say, bringing in Calderon despite his .273 OBP, was pretty genius. But that damn pesky Elster..."

The slight shortstop, brought in as a defensive replacement in the ninth, was not meant to get an at-bat. But the fans at Shea are glad that he did. The win sets up a show-down with the league-leading 1955 Dodgers (5-1), with a spot in the final up for grabs.

W: R. Darling (1-0)

L: R. Hernandez (0-1)

Player of the Game: K. Elster (1-1, walk-off HR)

'15 Cubs 3 @ Greys 2

+ '55 Dodgers 7 @ '98 Cubs 6

Chicago, Ill. – It looked like déjå vu all over again at Wrigley Field Wednesday night. Coming off an 8th inning home run-fueled come-from-behind victory over the '88 Mets, the '98 Cubs nearly managed to repeat the feat against the '55 Dodgers.

In a game that saw runners reach base in all but two frames, opportunities abounded for the two teams. The Cubs struck twice in the first two innings on RBI singles by Glenallen Hill and Mickey Morandini. The Dodgers countered in the top of the second and fourth with Don Zimmer driving in three on a double and a sacrifice fly.

The game looked to be slipping away from the Cubs as Manny Alexander fumbled a potential inning-ending double-play ball that led to a Carl Furillo 3-run home run off of Terry Mulholland in the 5th. For the Dodgers, Billy Loes held the Cubs to the two early runs into the 8th.

With five outs to go, Loes was pulled from the game with eight strikeouts and a runner on first. In a move mirrored in the Cubs previous game, the opponent went to a lefty out of the bullpen and the script was quickly flipped.

After entering the game, Karl Spooner tried to sneak a first-pitch fastball in on the hands, but Cub's catcher Sandy Martinez guided a looping line drive down the line in right field. The double put runners on second and third for 39-year old veteran and 3-time all-star Gary Gaetti.

With lefty Brant Brown on deck, Dodger pitching coach Joe Becker went to the mound to settle Spooner and discuss the approach to Gaetti. A steady diet of off-speed pitches to Gaetti induced two swing-and-misses, but a fifth hung up in the strike zone. Gaetti didn't miss—launching a towering fly that landed halfway up the bleachers in left-center field. The hit pulled the Cubs within one and breathed new hope into the Wrigley faithful.

After a strikeout, the 8th inning magic was completed by Cubs ninth hitter, Manny Alexander. Alexander took Spooner into the bleachers for the second time in 8 pitches—tying the game at six.

A hitless 9th for both teams led to extra innings and free baseball for the friendly confines.

Dave Stevens relieved Mulholland after nine innings of work but quickly fell into trouble with a Pee Wee Reese walk and the second hit of the night by Furillo. With runners on first and third and no outs, Dodger DH Frank Kellert hit a bounding groundball toward second. Reese took for home on contact and Cubs' shortstop Alexander had no choice but to step on second and complete the double play, letting the go-ahead run score.

Righty Don Bessent stayed in the game to get Gaetti in the 10th but gave way to rookie Sandy Koufax with the tying run on second and one out. Koufax dispensed of the lefty Brown, walked Alexander, and finished the game by striking out lefty Morandini, earning his first save.

The Dodgers have reeled off five straight wins and head back home to host the cross-town '88 Mets. The Cubs drop two games under .500 and head to St. Louis to face the rival Cardinals.

W: D. Bessent (2-0)

L: D. Stevens (0-1)

S: S. Koufax (1)

Player of the Game: Carl Furillo (2-5, HR, R, 3 RBI)

+ '19 Dodgers 6 @ Twins 5

Minneapolis, Minn. - Jay Miller's 2019 Dodgers escaped the Metrodome with a 6-5 win against Ricky Klee's 1991 Twins, but only barely, taking the lead for the first time in the ninth inning and handing Minnesota their third one-run loss in four games. With Cody Bellinger and Kirby Puckett on the bench with injuries, each team received key contributions from less-heralded players in a contest that had both fanbases feeling nervous throughout.

The two squads arguably sent their best starting pitchers to the mound, with Los Angeles tapping Hyun-Jin Ryu and Minnesota sending out Kevin Tapani, but most of the game was a tale of timely hitting. Greg Gagne started the scoring with a two-run triple in the second inning, which Alex Verdugo matched with a two-run double in the third. The Twins scored twice again in the bottom half of the same frame, only to see the Dodgers slug their way back to a draw on solo homers from Will Smith in the fourth and Corey Seager in the sixth. Kent Hrbek gave Minnesota the once more with a solo shot of his own in the sixth, but Seager came through again in the seventh with an RBI double that tied the game.

Twins closer Rick Aguilera entered in the ninth inning with the goal of keeping the score even, only to load the bases on a walk and two singles to the first three hitters he faced. Playing back, the infield was able to turn a 6-4-3 double play on the subsequent batter, but paid a costly price by allowing the go-ahead run to cross home plate.

Dodgers reliever Julio Urias came in for the save attempt, but after a leadoff single and a fielder's choice, the Twins had Gagne on first representing the tying run. In a gutsy move, Manager Tom Kelly called for a steal. Dodgers catcher Smith threw a bullet to Seager at second to catch the would-be thief, extinguishing Minnesota's hopes for their first victory.

"I know that the standings say our teams aren't close," Kelly told reporters after the game. "But tonight there was only a few fractions of a second difference between us and them, and it could have gone the other way. That's why we play the games, and we're going to keep playing them until things break for us."

W: Ryu (1-1)

L: Aguilera (0-2)

S: Urias (1)

Players of the Game: Seager, 2-4, HR, 2 RBI; Smith, 1-4, HR, CCS

+ Cardinals 3 @ Braves 4

Atlanta, Ga. - Both the 1996 Atlanta Braves and the 2010 St Louis Cardinals came ready to play Sunday night, and the impressive crowd (45,244) at Fulton County Stadium delightfully got their money’s worth. The Braves sent Tom Glavine to the mound while Jaime Garcia was the hurler for the Cards.

Defenses were strong for both teams, with the Braves stranding 11 runners on base and netting 12 hits, while the Cards left 12 men on and amassed 10 hits. And despite the fact that these two teams left so many runners on base (23 combined), there was enough offense to keep the fans of both teams on the edge of their seats.

The scoring began in the second inning for both teams, with the Cardinals’ Colby Rasmus being driven in by an Aaron Miles single and Braves’ right fielder Jermaine Dye scored on a Marquis Grissom double.

After the second inning the Braves would struggle to put men in scoring position despite 7 hits in the final 6 frames, while the St. Louis Cardinals kept the hits and runs coming. Albert Pujols and David Freese would both score runs on sacrifice fly balls in the 3rd and 5th innings, respectively.

In the top half of the 8th inning, Tom Glavine would end his night on a high note, stranding Aaron Miles on base after a leadoff single by inducing two pop outs and a strikeout. Glavine was met with handshakes by his teammates in the dugout once Bobby Cox let the veteran know that his work was done for the night.

The Cardinals’ Jaime Garcia pitched a very disciplined game, not allowing the big innings by the Braves offense despite not seeming to have his best stuff on the mound. His only true mistake came in the bottom of the 8th inning, when Jermaine Dye led off with a home run that wrapped around the left field foul pole and seemed to dodge the outreached glove of Matt Holliday, making the score 3-2 Cards. Garcia’s night would last just two more batters before Tony La Russa went out to relieve his 25 year old starter and put in Jason Motte to face the top of the Braves order.

Motte finished the 8th inning by forcing a weak grounder to first that Albert Pujols handled easily. Tony La Russa would pull Jason Motte and insert Kyle McClellan to pitch the 9th, while Braves skipper Bobby Cox would make the unconventional decision to put his closer, Mark Wohlers, into the game despite his team’s one run deficit. Wohlers, perhaps rattled by the odd call for his services in a trailing game, would give up a leadoff single to Albert Pujols. Braves fans began to feel as though the game might well be slipping away until Wohlers settled in and struck out the next two batters before a grounder to short would end the 9th inning campaign of the Cards.

Braves’ fans emotional roller coaster took another steep dive when in the bottom of the ninth inning, the reliable Mark Lemke popped out to center field for the first out. This brought Jeff Blauser to the plate, who was making his first appearance since a leg injury forced him out almost three weeks ago. Blauser had apparently not lost his edge, as he lined a double into the left-center field gap and slid into the bag just a hair ahead of a magnificent throw by Colby Rasmus. After some dispute between shortstop Brendan Ryan and second base umpire C.B. Bucknor, play resumed with Blauser remaining safe at second.

Cleanup hitter Ryan Klesko continued the cardiac chaos of the ninth by grounding out to first without advancing Blauser. The Braves last hope lay with Chipper Jones, who has struggled with offensive consistency all season. Kyle McClellan fired two straight fastballs for strikes past Jones, who called for time to adjust his gloves and helmet. Braves fans, on their feet since the beginning of the inning, rose to a fever pitch for the next pitch, which was a slider low and away. Jones called for time again and adjusted his batting gloves and helmet once more. McClellan looked, set and went into his windup before sending a curveball that never curved right down the middle of the plate. Jones uncoiled on the mistake pitch, and sent a towering home run to straightaway center field that disappeared into the mass of jumping, clapping, cheering humanity that filled Fulton County Stadium. Jones rounded the bases stoically until he neared home plate, where the entire team had gathered to mob him as he crossed. Jones was fairly assaulted by his adoring teammates.

The disappointed Cardinals players exited the field led by Kyle McClellan. After he saw the contact with his lackluster curveball he needed no visual confirmation of its final destination, he simply strode off the mound and headed for the showers.

W- Wohlers (1-0)

L- McClellan (0-1)

Player of the Game: Chipper Jones – 1-4, BB, 2RBI, HR

+ Braves 5 @ '19 Dodgers 4

Los Angeles, Calif. - On an unseasonably muggy, 83-degree evening at Chavez Ravine, two titans of the hurling arts faced off in what would be a white-knuckle, mile a minute thrill ride for the entire nine innings as Clayton Kershaw and the 2019 LA Dodgers dueled with John Smoltz’s 1996 Atlanta Braves. The Braves visited the white hot Dodgers in a battle for a share of first place. Fans crammed to the rafters in beautiful Dodgers Stadium would not be treated to a low-scoring, hum-drum affair on this night, despite the pitching prowess of the game’s starters. Kershaw would start the game in typical, dominating fashion, shutting down the Braves in order. In contrast, Dodgers hitters got to John Smoltz right away as Justin Turner sent a 2-out, 1-0 fastball into the seats in left field, making it a 1-0 Dodgers game.

After the first, Kershaw and Smoltz kept the game under their control. The next score would come for the Braves in the 4th, but from the must unlikely of sources. Jeff Blauser, who hit just 10 home runs in 1996, found his power tonight. He sent a pitch into the stands for a solo home run, his first of the season. After Smoltz shut down the home half of the fourth inning, Atlanta flipped the power switch in the top of the 5th as Eddie Perez, Marquis Grissom and Jeff Blauser each hit solo home runs. Blauser’s second homer of the game was not, to the utter shock of this writer, his best home-run hitting game. Blauser had a three-homer game in 1992 against the Cubs, a feat he would not repeat and one he himself had trouble believing.

With Kershaw reeling in the dugout, his teammates would come to his aid. In the home half of the fifth, leadoff hitter Corey Seager lined a rocket of a hit straight at right fielder Jermaine Dye. Dye’s reaction was fast enough, but judged poorly as he made an awkward attempt to dive forward for the catch. The ball skimmed under him and his outstretched glove, ricocheting off of the unpadded bottom of the wall and straight towards center fielder Marquis Grissom as Seager trotted into second base. Three batters later Chris Taylor would score Seager with a grounder into left field.

Kershaw’s night would end after a strong 6th inning, making way for left-handed reliever Julio Urias. Urias would shut down the Braves’ efforts in the 7th inning before Smoltz did likewise in the bottom half. In the 8th inning the big bats came out again for the Braves, with a solo homer by Ryan Klesko- his fifth on the season- that made the score 5-2 Atlanta. John Smoltz took the mound in the 8th inning, and despite giving up two hits to Verdugo and Pederson, he finished the frame without giving up a run.

To start the 9th inning, Braves skipper Bobby Cox sent Mark Wohlers to the mound. The Braves closer struggled, allowing a leadoff single to Corey Seager and a 2-run homer to Will Smith. The offensive burst by the Dodgers was met with a roar from the Dodger faithful, relieved to see their team score its first runs since the 5th inning. With the score now at a dramatic tally of 5-4, Cox seemed ready to climb the steps and pull Wohlers, but he waited and left him in. Wohlers settled down and set down the next two Dodger hitters. Cox then did climb the step from the dugout and pulled Wohlers in favor of the lefty Pedro Borbon to face the powerful Joc Pederson. Dave Roberts, not to be outdone, allowed the pitching change and then called for time, in order to pull Joc Pederson in favor of a right handed pinch hitter, AJ Pollock. With two outs, a runner on first and trailing by one run, a single swing of the bat was all it would take for Pollock to be a hero and the Dodgers to go away victorious. To the dismay of Dodgers fans near and far, Pollock swung at the first pitch and dribbled an easy ground ball to the left of Mark Lemke. Lemke fielded, turned and flipped the ball to Fred McGriff who was standing on first, ending the Dodgers 9th inning comeback just two runs shy of glory.

W: Smoltz (1-0)

L: Kershaw (0-1)

Player of the Game: Jeff Blauser (ATL): 2-4, 2HR, 2RBI

Injuries: David Justice - 2 games (hamstring)

+ Mets 7 @ '55 Dodgers 8

Brooklyn, N.Y. – The '88 Mets were serenaded by the Brooklyn Sym-Phony Band on their short walk from Prospect Park Station to Ebbets Field Wednesday afternoon. A few choice insults were heard from the pedestrians on Empire Boulevard as the cross-town team made their first visit to Brooklyn for a critical matchup between two of the top teams in the Silverhawk Open. The crowd and the tension built as the visiting club approached McKeever avenue. A final gesture toward the crowd by the Mets' David Cone sent the gathered fans into full-on fury.

The tension and vitriol continued as 31,047 fans filled the stadium early. The gravelly voice of "Howlin" Hilda Chester led a collective response to Mr. Cone that wasn't fit for family listening.

The crowd erupted with glee as Jackie Robinson lofted a classic 360-foot Ebbets Field home run to straight-away left field to start the first inning. Three outs later, the Mets would quiet the crowd with four straight two-out hits to plate three and take the lead 3-1.

In the top of the 4th, Mets' 20-year old rookie, Gregg Jefferies would extend the lead with a two-out, two-run blast that shocked the Dodger faithful and put the Mets up by three. But just when that finely-honed sense of doom began to dim the Brooklyn crowd, Robinson brought them back to life with his second lead-off home run of the game—this one a no-doubter into the second deck down the left-field line.

With the score 5-3 after five innings, the Mets pulled former Dodger prospect Sid Fernandez and went to Ron Darling. A double and three walks quickly left Darling hanging by a thread with two outs. The crowd sensed blood and Duke Snider was at the plate. Snider pounced on an early fastball and sent a sizzling shot onto Bedford Street that curled just foul. Darling pulled the count even on a 2-1 slider. But a second slider was elevated and Snider swatted what looked to be a back-breaking hit to left-center field. Mookie Wilson playing with his back to the short fence in center, got a good read on the ball and closed quickly before a full-body dive caught the sinking liner, ended the inning, and pulled Darling back from the brink.

The Mets temporarily quieted the Dodger faithful, but a half-inning later the relentless Brooklyn lineup caught up with Darling's lack of control. Home runs by Roy Campanella and Frank Kellert evened the score and then stole the lead from the Mets.

In the top of the 8th, it was the Mets turn. Karl Spooner showed his knack for relinquishing Dodger leads as a first-pitch fastball turned into an elegant 469 ft. extension of Darryl Strawberry's looping swing and tied the score at 7-7.

Roger McDowell came on to keep the Dodgers in check but with two outs, a double by Snider and a single by Campanella put the Dodgers up by one going into the last frame.

With the tying run on third and one out, the Dodgers went to rookie Sandy Koufax for the second time in two games. A leaping grab by Pee Wee Reese robbed Howard Johnson of a hit and kept a run from scoring. Lefty Dave Magadan then ended the Mets' hopes with a soft grounder to Reese.

The Dodger faithful celebrated quietly and with little of the earlier hostility. Vin Scully described the crowd as one that had seen a 12-round title match; emotionally exhausted, satisfied, and humbled by the narrow victory.

The Dodgers next host St. Louis with a chance to clinch a birth in the championship game. The Mets, head back to Queens trying to win out and give themselves a chance to push back into contention.

W: K. Spooner (1-0)

L: R. McDowell (0-1)

S: S. Koufax (2)

Player of the game: J. Robinson (2-5, 2 HR, 2 R, 3 RBI)

+ '98 Cubs 3 @ Cardinals 6

St. Louis, Mo. - The St. Louis Cardinals emerged victorious over the Chicago Cubs in a 6–3 win yesterday at Busch Stadium.

While not always sharp, Chris Carpenter used grit and determination to go the distance and earn the win despite giving up 11 hits and walking two batters. Things looked especially dicey for Carpenter in the early going as the Cubs quickly scored in the first inning off a single by Glenallen Hill and then loaded the bases before Carpenter retired Gary Gaetti on a fly-out to left field. It must have been a relief to Carpenter (though he would never show it) when the Cardinals quickly answered back in the bottom of the first against Terry Mulholland, scoring four runs off six hits to take an early 4–1 lead.

Undaunted, the Cubs again flexed their collective muscle in the third, scoring two off a double by Henry Rodriguez and loading the bases with one out. Shortstop Manny Alexander came to the plate with a chance for glory, but instead grounded into an inning-ending double play. This proved to be the turning point of the game. While the Cardinals tacked on a few extra runs (a Pujols homer in the fourth and a sacrifice fly from Pujols in the seventh), the Cubs’ bats went silent, with their top four hitters in the lineup going a combined 0 for 8 after the fifth inning.

The Cardinals and Cubs now share a 2–5 record in the Silverhawk Open and will try to avoid sliding down the standings any further in their final few games.

WP: Chris Carpenter (1-1)

LP: Terry Mulholland (0-2)

POTG: Chris Carpenter

+ Grays 7 @ White Sox 6

Chicago, Ill. - Walks, walks, and more walks. Bases on balls were the story last night in Comiskey Park, but it was the Homestead Grays who managed to do a little bit more to take advantage of their free-pass opportunities, prevailing 7-6 over the White Sox. Satchel Paige went the distance for the Grays, issuing 8 walks. But his 7 strikeouts helped keep the damage somewhat limited, allowing 6 earned runs. For the Sox, the combination of Jason Bere and Tim Belcher yielded similar results. 11 combined walks and 6 strikeouts, with 7 runs, one unearned.

There was more offense in the game than just walks, however. Grays second baseman Tubby Scales opened the scoring by depositing a hanging Jason Bere breaking ball just over the left field wall for a first inning HR. It was the beginning of what would be a 3-4 day for Scales with 2 HRs and 4 RBIs. But outside Scales, it was the bottom of the Grays order that pestered Bere the most. DH Buddy Burbage reached based 5 times out of the nine spot in the lineup, with 4 walks and a single and 2 runs scored. In front of him in the lineup, shortstop Slim Evans had 2 walks, a single, and 2 runs scored. Third baseman and leadoff man Jud Wilson made contributions as well, going 2-5 with a walk and an RBI.

6 of the Grays 7 runs came off of Bere in his five innings of work. Belcher’s first inning began by yielding Scales's second HR of the game, but after that he kept the Grays in check for the remainder of the game and allowed the Sox to claw their way back into things.

The offensive sparkplug for the White Sox was Ivan Calderon, who entered the game after starting DH Bo Jackson struck out awkwardly in his first at-bat, appearing to pull an oblique on the strike-three cut. He is expected to miss at least one more game. But Calderon may seize the DH job anyway with another performance like he had against the Grays. He ended up 2-4, with a reach on error, 2 doubles, 2 runs, and an RBI. But as a team, it took the White Sox some time before being able to break through against Paige, who danced his away out of trouble repeatedly early on.

The Sox loaded the bases without scoring in the third and fourth innings, and loaded them again in the fifth. But then shortstop Ozzie Guillen finally came up with a timely hit, delivering a 2 RBI single. The Sox would add 1 more run in the sixth when right fielder Ellis Burks drove home Calderon, and then 3 runs in the seventh to make it a one-run game. Calderon had his RBI hit that inning, and he was followed by another clutch 2 RBI single, this time by center fielder Lance Johnson. In the ninth, with one out, Calderon busted it down the line to beat a throw from Jud Wilson after Wilson bobbled a routine grounder. That hustle gave the Sox a spark of hope for completing their comeback. But Paige got Johnson and Burks to fly out to end the threat. Burks was the White Sox’ other offensive leader. The ninth inning flyout was the only blemish on the day for him, as he ended the game 3-4 with 2 walks, a double, a run, and an RBI.

The Grays moved to 4-3 for the tournament, and will travel next week to New York to face the 1988 Mets. The White Sox dropped to 3-4, and will also go on the road for their next game, heading to Minnesota to take on the 1991 Twins.

WP: Satchel Paige (1-1)

LP: Jason Bere (1-1)

Player of the Game: Tubby Scales

Injury: Bo Jackson, one game

Twins @ '15 Cubs

+ Cubs 3 @ Braves 1

ATLANTA, GA - Cubs starter Kyle Hendricks was masterful in a 7.1-inning performance against the Braves, allowing just 1 run on 4 hits and tallying 8 strikeouts. The Braves offense showed signs of life early, but Hendricks and reliever Justin Grimm didn’t allow a hit past the 4th inning.

Dexter Fowler began the game by reaching on an uncharacteristic error at 3rd by Chipper Jones, and immediately came around to score on consecutive singles by Javier Baez & Kris Bryant. Bryant powered the Cubs offense early against Braves starter Denny Neagle, with that RBI single and a solo homer in his first two plate appearances. The Cubs tacked on their 3rd run in the 7th, when Fowler scored again on a long single by Anthony Rizzo. Neagle allowed 3 runs (2 earned) over 7 innings, with 10 strikeouts and 3 walks. Greg McMichael was solid in relief, with 2 innings of 1-hit work. The Cubs struck out 12 times on the day, but were able to string hits together when it mattered.

The Braves pushed across their run with singles from DH Luis Polonia and 2nd baseman Mark Lemke, followed by a Jeff Blauser sacrifice fly to deep center field. In the 7th, Braves catcher Eddie Perez pulled up lame on a ground ball to 3rd, and is expected to miss the next 10 games with a severe hamstring strain.

W: Kyle Hendricks

L: Denny Neagle

Player of the Game: Kyle Hendricks (7.1 IP, 4H, 1R, 8K, 2BB, W)

Injuries: ATL Eddie Perez out for 10 games (hamstring strain in the 7th)

+ White Sox 10 @ Twins 5

Minneapolis, MN – Looking for their first win of the season the tough-luck Twins turned to ace Scott Erickson to help them find their way, but Erickson got lost and the visiting White Sox are back at .500 after a 10-5 win.

Ron Karkovice turned the tide early with a two-run blast in the top of the second and a laser to throw out an overzealous Dan Gladden in the bottom of the inning. For his heroics, Karkovice took an inside fastball to the wrist in the third. He’ll be out 7 games. Erickson finished the inning but not before DH Ivan Calderon sent the Sox to a six-run lead with a deep flyball to center to score Joey Cora. Klee sent Erickson back to the mound for the fourth but he surrendered a single to Tim Raines to start the inning and was replaced by Tom Edens. Edens retired Frank Thomas but then issued a walk and a single and allowed Raines to score on a sac fly from Ozzie Guillen, hanging run number seven on Erickson’s stat line.

Shane Mack tried to get the Twins going in the bottom of the fourth with a leadoff single, and Brian Harper tried to make a game of it with his two-run shot to deep center to get the home team on the board. But Sox’ lefty Wilson Alvarez struck out Gladden to end the inning and curb the momentum. Alvarez would give up two more runs on the night on singles from Gene Larkin (in the fifth) and Greg Gagne (in the seventh). The lefty also issued a walk to Mack in the eighth, who would later score when Lance Johnson bobbled Harper’s bloop in centerfield.

But the Sox offense allowed room for a ho-hum start from Alvarez and some sloppy defense. The tenth and final run for the Sox came when Carlton Fisk, playing for the injured Karkovice, sent Mark Guthrie’s lazy curve into the stands. It was Fisk’s first (and likely only) homerun on the season and the third longball of the night for the backstops. Only a handful of fans stayed to watch as Roberto Hernandez closed out the game for the visitors. Asked after the game what might be wrong with the Twins, first baseman Kent Hrbek said, “Maybe 1991 was just a dream?”

W: Wilson Alvarez (1-1)

L: Scott Erickson (0-2)

+ '19 Dodgers 11 @ '98 Cubs 1

Chicago, IL - Trying to play their way back into first place after a slip in the standings last week, Jay Miller's 2019 Dodgers slugged their way to an 11-1 victory over Josh Noem's 1998 Cubs at Wrigley Field.

The final score obscures the extent to which the story for most of the game was lefty Rich Hill's dominance on the mound. Los Angeles's fourth starter only threw 4 and 1/3 innings in his last appearance; tonight he went the distance, striking out nine while yielding only two hits. Hill did walk four batters, one of which came around to score Chicago's only run in the seventh inning.

At that point the Cubs looked to be making a late comeback. While Justin Turner, Will Smith, Alex Verdugo, and David Freese had all homered off starter Kevin Tapani, each was only a solo shot, and the score entering the eighth was a reasonably close 4-1. But the wheels came off for Tapani, and when Marc Pisciotta entered in relief the transmission fell out. The Dodgers had thirteen plate appearances in the top of the eighth, five singles, and three walks. When the dust settled the hand-operated scoreboard in centerfield read 10-1.

"That's a tough one," said Gary Gaetti, the 39-year-old veteran whose double plated the lone run for the Cubs. "You expect those guys to hit longballs, but six runs on singles and walks in one inning? Good grief."

The Wrigley faithful can take solace in the fact that they are guaranteed both a winner and a lovable loser in next week's matchup between the 1998 and 2015 iterations of the Cubs.

Los Angeles looks ahead to welcoming their forbearers, Clint Carlson's 1955 Brooklyn Trolley Dodgers, to Chavez Ravine, in a much anticipated showdown with championship implications.

Justin Turner, who homered twice in the game, spoke to reporters about the upcoming matchup. "On the one hand, we control our own destiny. If we win we're at the least tied for first place. On the other hand, sometimes destiny controls you, and the Boys of Summer are legends. We'll see what happens."

W: Hill (1-0)

L: Tapani (1-1)

Player of the Game: Hill, CG, 9 K, 2 H, 1 ER

+ Greys 9 @ Mets 5

FLUSHING, NY – In a must-win game to keep championship hopes alive for both teams, Homestead Grays two-way star Chippy Britt walked into manager Cumberland Posey’s office shortly before the Grays 9-5 win and made an unusual request. With Britt scheduled to be the starting pitcher, and with the home-team New York Mets starting lefty Bob Ojeda, and with Britt platooning as the Grays’ DH against left handers most of the season on days when he isn’t pitching, Britt asked Posey to waive the team’s designated hitter allowance and have Britt hit for himself: “I said, Cum, we gotta have this one, and I know you like me to just concentrate on throwing when I’m on the mound, but let me go ahead and hit today.” Said Posey after the game, “I knew it could backfire and I’d get second-guessed pretty hard if it did backfire, but Chippy made a convincing case. I think it showed something to the rest of the guys, brought into focus just how crucial of a game this was.” And according to center fielder Ambrose Reid, Britt’s gambit did just that: “We saw Chippy on the lineup card, and everybody was a little confused, but then we all kind of realized what Cum and Chippy were trying to tell us and the energy level just got a big boost.”

The Grays came out with that energy in the first inning and took an early lead when catcher Josh Gibson doubled home first baseman Oscar Charleston. Charleston reached on a hit that would have also produced an RBI had it not been for center fielder Mookie Wilson throwing out second baseman Tubby Scales at home. Ojeda settled in after that, retiring six consecutive Grays in the second and third innings with 4 strikeouts. Then, the Mets got their offense going with a single by Wilson, an RBI single by third baseman Gregg Jefferies, and a 2-run HR by right fielder Darryl Strawberry that just barely arced over the fence in right, staking the Mets to a 3-1 lead.

But the lead was short lived. In the top of the fourth, Ojeda started off with his fifth strikeout in three innings, but then the Grays went single-HR-single-HR, with the 2 2-run HRs coming off the bats of leftfielder Victor Harris and Ambrose Reid. And the second single in that run was courtesy of Chippy Britt. Said Reid, “Yeah, that setup nicely, huh? Seeing Chippy get that hit right after Vic hit the bomb, I was pretty juiced.” The Grays would extend their tally to 9 with another 4-run inning in the fifth. Britt was once again at the center of things. Coming to the plate with the bases loaded and 2 out, Britt hit a slow grounder to shortstop. Howard Johnson had to charge and throw off balance, and sailed the throw over Keith Hernandez’s head. The throwing error allowed 2 runs to score and chased Ojeda from the game. Reid immediately picked up 2 more RBIs with a double off reliever Rick Aguilera.

The Mets would add two more runs in the bottom of the fifth on a 2-RBI single by Darryl Strawberry, who drove in 4 of the Mets 5 runs on the day, but that would be the end of the scoring for the day. Aguilera and Terry Leach finished the game for the Mets by keeping the Grays scoreless, and while he had to occasionally get out of some jams, Britt settled in and held the Mets down for the remainder of the game to get the complete game win, finishing with a 1-2-3 ninth.

Said losing pitcher Ojeda, “I really do feel like I let the guys down. I was making some good pitches tonight, but had too many mistakes mixed in and they made us pay on each once. The error hurt, sure, but I was too sloppy that inning, walked Harris right before the error play after getting ahead in the count. Should have been able to end the inning right there.”

Wilson and Strawberry were the offensive stars for the Mets, with Wilson 2-3 with 2 runs scored and Strawberry 2-3 with a walk, 4 RBIs, and a HR. The leaders for the Grays were Reid, 2-4 with a HR, a double, 2 runs, and 4 RBIs, and Josh Gibson, 4-5 with 2 doubles, 2 runs, and an RBI.

WP: Chippy Britt (2-0)

LP: Bob Ojeda (1-1)

Player of the Game: Ambrose Reid

Cardinals 12 @ '55 Dodgers 5

The 2010 Cardinals topped the 1955 Dodgers last evening 12–5 with an uncharacteristic offensive outburst. Albert Pujols, the player of the game, led the way by going 2 for 4 with 2 HRs, 4 RBI, and a walk. His three-run homer was part of a seven run fifth inning off Carl Erskine, which turned a 4–1 deficient into an 8–4 lead. The Dodgers managed a run in the sixth inning and scattered some other base runners, but mostly succumbed to the sinkerball of Jake Westbrook, who went the distance for the win. The victory ensured that the Cardinals will not finish in last place in the inaugural Silverhawk Open. For the Dodgers, there is still hope of a league championship despite the setback against St. Louis.

+1955 Dodgers 2 @ '19 Dodgers 5

Los Angeles, Calif. - "It's time for Dodger baseball," intoned Vin Scully, as Jay Miller's 2019 Dodgers took the field to host Clint Carlson's 1955 Brooklyn Dodgers. Scully, who called games for the Dodgers in both Flatbush and Chavez Ravine from 1950 to 2016, came out of retirement for this much-anticipated matchup in the final week of round robin play for the 2021 Silverhawk Open. With both teams assured of a spot in the championship, Sandy Koufax faced off against Walker Buehler with home field advantage on the line.

The game was tight in the early innings. Brooklyn scored first, on a sacrifice fly by designated hitter Frank Kellert that plated Carl Furillo in the second. Los Angeles took the lead when their designated hitter David Freese doubled with the based loaded in the third, driving in A.J. Pollock, Justin Turner, and Max Muncy. Duke Snider led off the fourth with a solo shot that brought Brooklyn within one, and it looked as if the two best teams of the tournament would battle down to the last out.

But Koufax's exit after three and two-thirds innings due to a prior relief appearance, and Buehler's strikeout of Snider to end the fifth, marked a permanent shift in momentum. The young right-hander took complete control of the game, striking out ten of the last thirteen Brooklyn batters. A two-run homerun by Muncy in the seventh gave the Dodgers breathing room, and Los Angeles won the game by a final score of 2-5.

Buehler's complete game, 12 strikeout gem was a fitting bookend to round robin play for the West Coast version of the Dodgers. He went the distance to open the tournament, in another 12 strikeout performance in which he also allowed only two runs. He had walked five batters in that outing; today, he walked none.

After the game Buehler attributed his stellar performance to the stature of the competition. "I knew that with Sandy on the mound and guys like Snider at the plate I'd have to pitch my best. After those opening innings I was able to find my command, and my teammates did the rest in terms of getting us on the board. We'll have to do the same thing again to lift that trophy."

It will be dueling aces again for the championship, with Brooklyn's Don Newcombe (1-1) taking the mound against Hyun Jin Ryu for Los Angeles (1-1). With Brooklyn looking to prove themselves, and Los Angeles down two key players due to injuries, it promises to be a close contest.

After the game Scully tweeted: "I can't wait for this rematch! Go Dodgers!"

W: Buehler (3-0)

L: Koufax (0-1)

Player of the Game: Buehler, CG, 2 ER, 12 K, 0 BB

Injuries: Chris Taylor (calf, 5 games), David Freese (ankle, 2 games)

+Mets 10 @ Cardinals 2

St. Louis, Mo. - David Cone allowed just five hits over eight innings while the Mets offense pounded out 18 hits as the ballclub from Queens finished off the Silverhawk Open regular season with a 10-2 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals.

"Yeah, we wish this whole thing should have gone diffeently," said first baseman Keith Hernandez. "But we were able to take out a little bit of that frustration against their pitchers today."

Indeed. Hernandez had two hits himself, as did six other Mets. Dave Magadan led the way, going 2-4 with a walk and three RBI. Amazingly, the Mets did all their damage without hitting a single homerun.

Once again in this tournament the Cardinals lacked offense and relief pitching. They managed just six hits. And while Adam Wainwright was not ineffective, the bullpen allowed six runs over the last two innings.

W: D. Cone (2-0)

L: A. Wainwright (0-2)

Player of the Game: D. Cone (8 IP, 5 H, 6 K, 2 BB, 2 ER)

+Braves 3 @ White Sox 1

Chicago, Ill. - Fans streamed into New Comiskey Park this afternoon, gleaming and new in its second year as the home of the Chicago White Sox, excited to see a first-rate matchup between the 1993 Chicago White Sox and the 1996 Atlanta Braves. The duel on the mound tonight featured “Black Jack” McDowell for the Sox against Greg Maddux for the Braves. Tonight’s game, while low scoring, rewarded true fans of the game with dominating, timely pitching and managerial finesse along with excellent defensive performances.

Tonight, simply put, was dominated by pitching. The teams combined for just 4 runs on nine hits as both starters had the strike zone well within their sights. One inning of breakout hitting by the Braves made the difference, despite a quality start by McDowell. That inning was the 4th, when Atlanta saw five consecutive hitters reach base after giving up two outs. Of those five, however, only two reached on hits; two walks and an error accounted for the other runners. In the inning, Atlanta plated three runs on hits by Fred McGriff and Javy Lopez before Jack McDowell regained control and induced a Luis Polonia lineout to Mark Lemke.

But overshadowing the breakout offensive inning tonight was the performance of the game’s starting pitchers. Jack McDowell, despite that half inning of weakness, had a fantastic night, going 8-1/3 innings with 6 hits, 2 earned runs, 4 walks and 7 strikeouts. McDowell made it difficult to outdo his performance tonight, but if anyone could have done it, it was Greg Maddux. Maddux performed spectacularly, pitching a complete game and allowing just 3 hits, 4 walks and giving up one run that came on a solo homer from Frank Thomas that this writer believes to be orbiting one of Saturn’s moons at this point. The cosmic home run by Thomas came in the bottom of the ninth with two outs, and while Bobby Cox was reportedly climbing the steps of the dugout to pull Maddux, his starter shouted something towards the dugout that convinced the Braves skipper to return to his seat. Cox was wise to listen to his ace, even after Maddux gave up a walk to the next batter which brought the tying run to the plate, because Joey Cora popped up to Marquis Grissom in short center field to end the game.

McDowell following the game had this to say about his night: “It just one of those nights, man. Sometimes you pitch pretty good but [sic] happens. They strung together a pretty good inning in the fourth and that ended up being the difference. I’ll be ready next time out.”

Braves manager Bobby Cox was asked in his postgame press conference what Maddux shouted to convince him to keep in the veteran. “Well, I won’t tell you what he said, but I’ll tell you he said it with conviction,” Cox chuckled, “Sometimes you just have to trust your pitcher, and Greg is the kind of guy you can trust more often than not to get the job done, like he just did.”

Maddux was likewise coy about the exchange with the dugout. “I’m sure the fans heard it,” he smiled, “you can check with them. I said I wanted to stay in the game, pretty much.”

W: Maddux

L: McDowell

Player of the Game: Maddux- CG, 3H, 4BB, 5K, 1ER

+Twins 4 @ Grays 5

Pittsburgh, PA - The Minnesota Twins completed their perfectly imperfect Silverhawk Open round robin run last night, dropping to 0-8 after a tight 5-4 loss to the Homestead Grays. The Grays moved to 6-3 for the Open.

The Twins staked themselves to an early lead, getting the scoring started in the second inning with consecutive singles from left fielder Dan Gladden, shortstop Greg Gagne, and third baseman Mike Pagliarulo. Pagliarulo’s single scored Gladden and was followed by a sac fly to score Gagne from leadoff man Gene Larkin, who was filling in at second base for the injured Chuck Knoblauch. Pagliarulo went on to finish the game 3-4 with an RBI and 2 runs scored, while Gagne was 2-4 with a run.

The Grays answered in the bottom of the second with a two-out rally begun by a double from center fielder Ambrose Reid. He would score on a single from shortstop Jake Stephens, but Twins starter David West was able to retire second baseman Tubby Scales with the bases loaded to temporarily preserve the early lead. The Grays came back in the third to tie it when Reid’s second double of the night plated first baseman Oscar Charleston, who had led the inning off with a single.

The middle innings were dominated by the pitchers. After the early hiccups, both West for the Twins and Smokey Joe Williams for the Grays settled into a groove and held things scoreless until the bottom of the sixth. Grays’ DH Chippy Britt drew a one-out walk and later scored on a ground out by right fielder Ted Page. The Twins answered in the top of the seventh, with Pagliarulo again sparking the offense. He led the inning off with a single, advanced to third with some aggressive base running on a single by Gene Larkin, and scored on a Kirby Puckett sac fly. But in the bottom of the seventh, Jud Wilson led off against West and deposited a rocket shot over the right field wall for a HR and 4-3 Grays lead. The home run chased West from the game. Reliever Terry Leach immediately surrendered a double to Tubby Scales, but almost pitched his way out of it. An uncharacteristic error from usually sure-handed shortstop Greg Gagne allowed Scales to move to third and score what would prove the decisive run on a fielder’s choice by left fielder Victor Harris, whose grounder to short was just soft enough to give him time to leg it out and beat the attempted double-play relay.

The Twins had some fight left, though. With Williams starting to look noticeably fatigued, Kirby Puckett ripped a hanging breaking ball into the gap for a one-out double. Then with two down, DH Chili Davis took a diminished Williams fastball down the right field line for another double to score Puckett. Lefty-hitting first baseman Kent Hrbek was due up next, and Grays manager Cumberland Posey strode to the mound with lefty Sam Streeter ready to go in the bullpen. However, Williams said something to convince Posey to let him have one more shot to finish the game. Hrbek got a pitch to hit, but couldn’t quite square it and ended the game with a fly to center.

Asked after the game what made him keep Williams in, Posey said, “He told me that if I left him in, he was buying tonight.”

WP: Smokey Joe Williams (2-1)

LP: David West (0-1)

Player of the Game: Smokey Joe Williams

'15 Cubs 5 @ '98 Cubs 3