Philly vs Brooklyn

The 1951 Dodgers look to take advantage of the hapless 1977 Phillies, as they try to regroup after the loss of their manager. However, things are never as they seem.

Game 1:
The Dodgers wasted little time in trying to intimidate the Phillies. They sent Preacher Roe to the mound to square off against Jim Kaat, but the game was slow going. The Dodgers carried a 3-0 lead into the top half of the 8th inning, as they managed those 3 runs off some timely hits that included a Triple by Jackie Robinson. In the 8th inning, the Dodgers scored another 7 runs that began with a homer by Gil Hodges and was capped off by a Duke Snider Grand Slam. With a 10-0 lead heading into the bottom half of the 8th inning, the Dodgers eased up a bit and the Phillies scored 2 quick runs to end the game. Dodgers pounded the Phillies 10-2.

Game 2:
For Game 2, the Dodgers once again called on Ralph Branca to face Randy Lerch. This game also began slowly, as both teams were held scoreless thru 4 innings. The Dodgers managed a run in the 5th inning, but the Phillies scored 3 runs of their own in the bottom half of the 6th inning that was highlighted by a monster bomb from Mike Schmidt - his 7th on the year. That would be all the Phillies could score, but it appeared to be enough. The Dodgers did not have any answers for Lerch, as he pitched a great game, even though they made it interesting by scoring another run in the 9th inning on a pinch-hit Double by Rocky Bridges to make the score 3-2. The game ended with Bridges stranded on 2nd base. Lerch had earned a complete game and the 3-2 Philly victory. A good game.

Game 3:
The Phillies were happy to steal that last game and had Steve Carlton ready to go for Game 3. The Dodgers still felt pretty good after losing a close one and sent Carl Erskine to the mound. The Dodgers were getting prepared for a tough battle against Carlton, but no one could have predicted this game. The Phillies made short work out of the Dodgers, as Carlton pitched a 4-hit shutout. On the other hand, Erskine was lit up like a X-mas tree. The Phillies scored in the 2nd inning off a Richie Hebner homer, and they scored again in the 4th inning. With the score just 2-0, the Phillies broke it open in the 5th inning by scoring another 4 runs by way of a Jay Johnstone Grand Slam. Johnstone would go on to hit another homer in the 7th inning to bring the score to 7-0. The Phillies scored another run in the 8th inning and another 5 runs in the 9th inning by way of a 3-run blast from Mike Schmidt - now his 8th of the year. The game ended 13-0, as Carlton blanked the Dodgers with a complete game. Even with new management, the Phillies are looking pretty good.

--submitted by Georges Bseraini--