Still Waiting 'Till Next Year?

Reds at Dodgers, May 3, 1949

Still Waiting ‘Till Next Year?

We’ll jump right into the 8th inning in this one, Brooklyn leading 4-2. This is a game that Brooklyn should be able to win easily. After all, the Reds are coming into this one at 3-10, and have one of the worst offensive attacks in the majors.

However, with two men out in the top of the 8th, Brooklyn starter Ralph Branca started to lose his touch. After giving up a walk to Ted Kluszewski, Branca faced the ever dangerous Grady Hatton:

The computer manager decided to hold Kluszewski at third for some strange reason. I would have sent him in this situation.

Up came Virgil Stallcup:

Brooklyn had gotten out of the jam for the moment, but there were clear signs of weakening.

It was potentially all going to become academic, though. The Dodgers managed to load the bases in the bottom of the 8th. Branca came up with one out, and I thought I’d try something fancy:

Maybe that was a little too fancy. The Reds managed to get out of the inning without allowing another run, and the score stayed 4-2 Brooklyn.

The 9th

And that brought up the fateful 9th.

Johnny Wyrostek led off for Cincinnati:

That triple was surprising, and Branca was visibly shaken. Up came catcher Ray Mueller:

That was the first out, and Brooklyn only needed two more. Lloyd Merriman came up next:

That was it for Branca. I looked up and down that bullpen, and finally decided on Erv Palica. Carl Erskine, who I was looking for, was not on the roster for this game for whatever reason.

After I made that change, the computer manager sent Bobby Adams up to hit for the pitcher, which was a smart move:

I loved the play by play description, but was worried by the result. The score was now tied at 4, and there was still only one out. Up came Jimmy Bloodworth:

And that set the scene for Danny Litwhiler:

Brooklyn did find its way out of the inning, but the score was now 6-4 Reds. And the Dodgers needed a miracle.

We can always count on Jackie Robinson, though:

In all of my years of replaying, I don’t remember ever seeing so many triples in such a short time span.

Next came Pee-Wee Reese:

That was one of the two runs Brooklyn needed to tie. The score was now 6-5, and there was still a chance.

Here came Duke Snider:

Gil Hodges was next:

That was the second out, but the tying run reached second base.

Of all the hitters in the Dodger lineup, the man I least wanted to see up there in this situation was Billy Cox. And here he was:

At this rate, we might have to wait ‘till next year.

I’m guessing that Branca just tired out there. That’s all I can figure. Palica pitched poorly, and Brooklyn really needs a better bullpen.

It would also be nice if Carl Furillo could hit on the right side of .200, at least.