88 Spos sweep 65 Redbirds

GAME 1: (Olympic Stadium) - 88-MON 3, 65-STL 2
El Presidente' bested the great Gibson in a low scoring affair. With the game scoreless Tim Wallach led off the bottom of the 5th with a blast that went just past the outstretched arms of Lou Brock and off the left field wall on a bounce. Wallach pulled into second standing as Brock soft tossed it to Boyer at third. Gibby then jammed Luis Rivera with a 1-2 fastball. Rivera fought it off and sent a can of corn to Curt Flood in center. Gibson then walked the light hitting Nelson Santovenia on 5 pitches to make it 1st and 2nd. Dennis Martinez came to the plate to bunt, but Gibson wasn't about to let him lay down an easy one. With the count at 1-2 El Presidente' chopped one to Julian Javier at second to advance the runner, just as he originally intended. Up came Mitch Webster, the Expos Centerfielder, who has been fighting the injury bug. Webster is a good contact hitter with above average speed, but below average pop. Gibson jumped ahead in the count 0-1 and tried to sneak a back door slider by Webster who poked it into right to score both Wallach and Santovenia and break the scoreless tie. Gibson, ever the competitor, blew away the next hitter (Tom Foley) with a his 4th strikeout of the day, but the damage was already done and Montreal led 2-0 after 5. Montreal tacked on another run in the 6th as Tim Raines walked, stole second and was singled home by Wallach. Martinez was cruising, but after yielding a solo run in the 8th his day was done. Joe Hesketh started the 9th in relief of Martinez and promptly walked Flood who was then caught trying to steal second. Bill White then walked and moved to second on a wild pitch. Ken Boyer hit one deep in the hole that caused shortstop Luis Rivera to hurry his throw, which pulled Gallaraga off the bag. Rivera was charged with an error and the Cards had runners on the corners with 1 out. Tim McCarver followed with a hot smash to Foley at 2nd, who booted the ball, which allowed White to score from third. With 1 out and 2 runners on the call to the bullpen brought in closer Tim Burke, who got Dick Groat to fly out to Webster in center for the 2nd out. Burke, who is always an adventure, walked Tito "father of Terry" Francona and the Cards were really putting the pressure on. Burke, who loves the drama, began to rear back and throw bee-bee's. Three pitches and one flying mullet later Julian Javier was struck out and the Expos won the opener.


GAME 2: (Olympic Stadium) - 88-MON 4, 65-STL 2
Montreal opened the scoring off of Curt Simmons with a 2 run double in the first by Andres "El Ghatto" Gallaraga. "The Cat" hit a long fly ball off a 1-2 count that looked to be catchable. Cardinal manager Bike Mike did not seem happy in the dugout. Some speculate that he believes is enigmatic star, Lou Brock, might have been "loafing" in left. Brock had an all world year in 1964, but in 1965 he seems to be a little complacent and not as daring as the guy who single handedly pushed his team to the pennant during the previous campaign. The Cards scratched out runs in the 2nd and 3rd innings to tie the game. It stood that way until the bottom of the 6th when Luis Rivera singled home Hubie Brooks and the speedy Tim Raines to make it 4-2 Expos. Bryn Smith, the Expos starter, ran out of gas and exited after 6 innings. Montreal's bullpen held the Cards at bay to preserve the lead, but it wasn't easy. The Cards put a huge scare into the Expos in the 9th as Tim Burke lost his control and Joe Hesketh needed to come in from the pen to get the final out.

GAME 3: (Busch Stadium) - 88-MON 2, 65-STL 1
Tracy Stallard and Pascual Perez locked up in a good old fashioned pitchers's duel for 8 innings. Stallard was in the process of nursing a 1 run lead and a shutout when he tired in the 8th and Montreal scored 2 runs. Mitch Webster led off the inning with a fantastic drag bunt that caught the Cardinal infielders by surprise. Stallard was lifted immediately for reliever Hal Woodeshick, who walked Raines of 4 straight pitches to make it 1st and 2nd with nobody out. Gallaraga then hit a sharp grounder to Boyer who went around the horn for the double play. Unfortunately for the Cards Gallaraga beat Javier's throw to White by a hair. With Hubie Brooks coming up Cardinal manager Bike Mike went to the double switch and brought Bob Uecker in to catch and Don Dennis in to pitch. Brooks singled to right off of Dennis' 2-1 offering to tie the score at 1 apiece. With the count 1-2 Dennis made the perfect pitch, but Tim Wallach was able to turn on it and put it just past the diving Groat at short to give Montreal the 2-1 lead. Perez started the 9th, but couldn't close the door as Joe Hesketh came on in relief to notch his second save of the KOD season.

GAME 4: (Busch Stadium) - 88-MON 3, 65-STL 0 (6 innings)
Dark clouds were over St. Louis (literally and figuratively) as the game began. The weatherman (not Justin) advised the teams to play fast, because a bad storm front was going to move in. Since this was the final game of the series the powers that be agreed to take a chance and get the game in. Montreal had 4 singles and 3 runs off of Cardinal starter Ray Sadecki in the top of the 2nd to stake John Dopson to a nice 3 run lead off a Cardinal squad that has been having issues plating runs. Before the Cardinal offense could get on track mother nature opened up the heavens and the game was called 6th. Montreal completed the sweep and St. Louis was left to ponder why their lumber was splintered. Interesting to note, Cardinal reliever Barney Schultz left both games 1 and 2 with injuries. Schultz is in the twi-light of a no descript career, but he did solidify the Cardinal pen down the stretch last season (1964) as St. Louis was able to overcome the fading Phils.