Bob’s 1979 World Series replay between the Orioles and the Pirates is into Game 5 now! -Tom
Game 5 of the 1979 Series finds us in Pittsburgh with the Bucs just one win from winning it all. They send their ace, John Candelaria (Grade BZ) to try and end the series (and save you from having to read any more of my recaps). John won Game 2 giving up 1 earned run in 7 innings of work. Manager Earl Weaver switches from Steve Stone to his long time friend (?), critic (?), uh, well it’s Jim Palmer (Grade CZ). Stone didn’t pitch well in Game 2 and Earl is looking for someone to light a spark. Rumor is that Palmer’s blue eyes and jockey shorts lit quite a few sparks, but that might be slightly off topic. Let’s see how it works out for Earl and the Birds.
Garcia doubles to right center to start the first. Roenicke flies to Parker in right for the first out. He moves to third on Singleton’s infield grounder. Much to Earl’s chagrin, Garcia gets picked off with Murray at the dish. (Much to Walt’s delight, the Eddie chants were negligible). Palmer retires the side in order.
Both sides go in order in the second. Dauer singles to start the O’s third. After Dempsey whiffed, Palmer bunted into a Candelaria to Foli to Garner double play. We know he’ll be taking some extra bunts next April in Florida. He makes up for it by putting the Bucs down in order again – and is perfect through three. Roenicke walked with one gone in the fourth, but was stranded as Singleton and Murray grounded out. Moreno singled to start the Pirate fourth. He has three steals in the series… Foli grounds back to Palmer and Omar moves to second. The Cobra, Dave Parker, steps in and grounds to Dauer. Rich holds Omar and fires to first for the second out. Now Willie Stargell with the lead run in scoring position. But Willie rolls one to Murray who waves off Palmer and takes it unassisted.
Top 5 and the O’s make some noise. Ayala singles to lead it off. DeCinces bangs one to Candelaria’s glove side. He’s up with it and throws to Foli for the force, but that’s all they get. Dauer drills a 1-1 pitch off of Madlock’s chest. It took a bad hop, so the scoring is an infield single, no E5. Dempsey has a chance to get the Birds in the lead, but pops to Madlock for the second out. Palmer is overmatched and strikes out on 3 pitches. Number three for the Candy Man. Ott’s comes up to the plate with two gone in the Pirate fifth. He hits a drive to right center… Roenicke racing back, he won’t get it. Ott is in with a double. Earl holding 4 fingers aloft. They’ll walk Garner intentionally to bring up Candelaria with two gone. A Palmer curve ball skips off Dempsey’s glove and to the screen. Passed ball resulting in second and third with two out. Candelaria can only muster a pop up to Garcia at short and the O’s come up in the sixth.
Both sides go in order in the sixth and seventh. Going to the eighth, we are scoreless. The Orioles have 4 hits, the Pirates just two. Crunch time at Three Rivers. Dauer is 2-2 and leads off. He singles for the third time. Earl elects to bunt with Dempsey and the pitcher spot on deck – Palmer has been great, but Earl knows he has to hit for him. Dempsey gets a sac bunt down and Earl sends Lee May out. Lee is 0-2 in the series. He hits a long, high fly to deep center. Moreno racing back, back and runs out of real estate. The Oriole bench is high giving as they take a 2-0 lead. Candelaria gets Garcia to ground out. Roenicke hits a sinking line drive to center. Moreno comes charging and and makes a shoestring catch. End of seven and a half, Birds by two. Earl goes to McGregor to pitch the eighth. He’ll face 7-8-9. Belanger comes on for Garcia at short. McGregor gets Ott to pop to third, one out. Garner is 0-1 today. He flies to Ayala in left, two out. Lee Lacy comes out to hit for Candelaria. McGregor fans him on a curve and we go to the ninth.
Tanner brings the lefty, Dave Roberts (Grade D(B*)Z) to force the Oriole switch hitters to hit right handed. (I play the basic game, so it doesn’t matter, but, hey, I’m looking for that major league management job.). Singleton pops to third, but Murray singles to center and the Birds are in business. Romo (Grade BXZ) comes out to face Ayala. Earl leaves him in instead of sending out Lowenstein. The move pays off as Ayala hammers one to deep left for a 4-0 lead. Romo settles in and fans DeCinces and gets Dauer to line to center. The Bucs come up trailing by four. McGregor stays in with the big lead. Bumbry comes in to play center and Roenicke shifts to left. Moreno grounds to Dauer, over to Murray, one out. Foli is 0-3, but gets a chance to bat. He singles to left center and Pirate fans are hopeful that Parker and Stargell can make something happen. Parker grounds to Belanger, over to Dauer for one……Parker busts it down the line and beats the relay. But Stargell is the Pirates last hope today…. He grounds one to Dauer, who flips to Belanger to end it. Palmer and McGregor get the win and save respectively – they combine for the shutout and hold the Lumber Company to three hits.
Game six up next. We stay in Pittsburgh (since somebody screwed up and played Game 3 in Baltimore. Seems more like the Stanley Cup.). The Orioles will be looking to tie the series up behind Denny Martinez. Martinez lost to Kison in Game 3 and Bruce will pitch for the Bucs again in Game 6.
