Brooklyn Wins One

Dodgers at Phillies, April 23, 1949

Brooklyn Wins One

It was bound to happen.

After 4 straight losses to start the season, the Dodger bats finally broke free against the Phillies.

Watch the action here — or read below for the summary.

Poor Start

It looked like business as usual for the Dodgers in the early going.

Things looked grim right from the start. It looked for a second like Jackie Robinson was going to turn the ship around for the Dodgers, but…

Later in the top of the first, Roy Campanella managed to walk with two outs. That darn computer manager thought it would be the opportune time to steal with him. I’ve got no idea why the computer would even try this:

A walk to Andy Seminick with one out in the bottom of the first had Dodger starter Joe Hatten in trouble right from get-go. Dick Sisler hit a single up the middle, which brought up Del Ennis:

And, just like that, the Phillies were up, 2-0.

More Dodger Woes

Brooklyn’s troubles continued in the top of the 3rd.

Pee Wee Reese led off the inning with a single up the middle. Billy Cox then singled to put runners on first and second with nobody out.

That brought up Hatten, who the Dodgers needed to bunt.

As if that weren’t bad enough, Robinson then grounded into a double play to end the threat.

After Richie Ashburn led off the bottom of the 3rd, I really thought this game was going to be blown wide open:

Hatten managed to calm down after that, though, and on we went.

Questionable Decisions

The computer manager continued to make aggressive yet questionable decisions to try to get the Dodgers to score.

For instance, in the top of the 4th Gene Hermanski decided to try to advance on a passed ball that wasn’t really all that far passed:

Brooklyn threatened yet again in the top of the 5th inning. After a Gil Hodges leadoff single, Reese came back up again:

The Dodgers couldn’t do anything after that, though. Cox flew out to right, Hatten struck out, and Robinson flew out to right.

Longball

Duke Snider finally got one on the board for Brooklyn in the top of the 6th:

The home run came with the bases empty and two outs, however, and Brooklyn wasn’t able to do much to capitalize.

The Phillies were now up 2-1, and still had their turn at bat:

Willie Jones hit a triple that probably was close to an inside the park home run with one out in the bottom of the sixth. That brought up Nicholson:

And the lead was up to 2 again, just like that.

The Fateful Seventh

With two out in the top of the seventh, things finally came together for Brooklyn. Cox came up and did this:

Jorgensen came in to pinch hit for Hatten, who hadn’t pitched all that well. He worked a walk, and then Jackie Robinson walked as well.

And that brought up Hermanski, who was still smarting after that baserunning mistake back in the 4th:

The Gene Hermanski grand slam was certainly a sight to behold. I don’t know if this is what will turn Brooklyn’s season around or not. It certainly turned this ballgame around, though.

Final Stand

The Phillies didn’t go down quietly. With one out in the bottom of the 9th, Bill Nicholson came back up:

It was now a 5-4 ball game, and it looked like the Phillies had the Dodgers on the ropes. When Eddie Waitkus walked, still with one out, I thought this game might turn around yet again. Buddy Blattner ground him to short, making two out and bringing up Putsy Caballero:

And there was joy in Flatbush after all.

Despite the big win, the Brooklyn batting averages are falling faster than the S&P 500.