MCM vs. TCT Game 6: Blass and Jackson make it Terribly CLOSE, 6-2

Game 6 provided a bit of interest in my Monsters-Terribles season.  Is the tide turning?  Up until this point, the Monsters have averaged 18 runs per game.  However with a pitching performance by ‘73 Steve Blass that can only be described as absolutely mediocre, the Monsters 6-2 was remotely interesting thanks to some offensive heroics by ‘67 Reggie Jackson.

For the first time in the six-game old season…

• the Monsters scored in single digits with just six runs
• the Terribles scored more than one run with two
• the Monsters hit only one homerun
• the Monsters scored more than one run in an inning just once

While ‘73 Steve Blass certainly wasn’t perfect, he lasted seven innings and gave up just six runs.  Not since Game One has a Terrible starter gave up less runs than innings pitched (‘63 Jim Duckworth pitched six and gave up five in the first game).  ‘82 Matt Keough also pitched a perfect eighth.

The big offensive hero of for the Terribles today was Reggie Jackson who drove home ‘68 Ray Oyler in the top of the ninth with a one-out triple.  One batter later, Jackson scored on ‘67 Johnny Bench’s sacrifice fly.  Bench has three of the Terribles’ four rbis so far this season.

Terribles excitement aside, the Monsters did still win.  A tough loss for Blass.

WP- ‘05 Mathewson (2-0), LP- ‘73 Blass (0-2) HR- ‘41 Williams (1)

Monsters Highlights:  ‘41 Ted Williams went 1 for 3 with a HR and two rbis and two runs scored.  ‘01 Napoleon Lajoie went 2 for 4 with a double, an rbi and a run.  ‘11 Ty Cobb went 3 for 4.  ‘27 Babe Ruth 3 for 4, 2 doubles and an rbi.

Terribles Highlights:  ‘66 Rick Monday went 1 for 3.  Reggie Jackson was 1 for 3 with a triple, and rbi, a run scored and a walk.  Ray Oyler walked and scored a run.  ‘67 Johnny Bench drove home a run.

Around the dugout

Game Six was the first time the Monsters felt the need to go to closer ‘90 Dennis Eckersley.  It wasn’t a save situation but with a four run lead, they weren’t going to take any chances and MM management thought it would be a good time to get Dennis some work.  Eck got the last out with no problem forcing ‘11 Adam Dunn to pop out to third.

It was ‘01 Napoleon Lajoie’s first game at second base for the Monsters.  Before you blame him for the Monsters lack of output (‘22 Rogers Hornsby has been murmuring nasty rumors about him to anyone who will listen), he was was one of the big producers in Game Six.  He went 2 for 4 with a double and a rbi.  No confirmation whether Hornsby’s job is safe or not.

Rumor has it that Matt Young has a starting job for the Terribles after his brilliant relief performance in Game Five.  He gave up just one run in three innings and retired eight straight batters.  No word on whether he will bump ‘62 Bob Miller who gave up 11 runs in six innings in Game Three but it seems likely.

By the numbers (through 6 games)

Next up

After two three-game series, it’s back to Desperation Field where the Terribles hope the hometown fans can keep the momentum going.  ‘62 Bob Miller (0-1) is still slated for the hill for the home team and ‘31 Lefty Grove (1-0) who pitched a no-hitter in Game Two, gets the ball for the Monsters.