Cardinals Take Two at home, split in Wrigley vs Cubs

Game One: Cards 5 Cubs 0

The 1970 St. Louis Cardinals opened KOD14 in impressive fashion. Perhaps a better way to put is that ace Bob Gibson opened in impressive fashion. Gibson hurled a two-hit shutout in the season lid lifter,

Gibson struck out eighth, walked only one, and was so dominant that no Cub even reached second base. He had six 1-2-3 innings, and faced only 29 batters.

The Cardinal offensive firepower came from a surprising source, as second baseman Julian Javier went 4 for 4 driving in 3 of the Cardinals runs.

Game Two: Cards 4 Cubs 2 (10 innings)

Lefty Steve Carlton took the hill in game two for the Cardinals, matching up with right-hander Glen Hobbie of the Cubs. Carlton was almost as good as Gibson, pitching 8 scoreless innings and departing with a 2-0 lead. Hobbie wasn’t bad himself, going 7 and giving up only 3 hits, one of which was newly acquired Rich Allen’s first home run of the season.

When Carlton gave up a lead off single to former Redbird Al Dark to start the ninth, the Cardinal bullpen was entrusted to bring home the win. But they showed what looks to be the Achilles heel of this club. First Frank Linzy was summoned, who immediately walked Ernie Banks. He then got pinch hitter Jim Marshall to fly out to center, before giving up a single to Lee Walls scoring Dark and sending Banks to third.

With the fire now feeding on gasoline, lefty Tom Hilgendorf was brought in to face Sammy Taylor. Taylor hit a slow roller to the left side that Allen fielded cleanly (Allen was playing his old third base position as Mike Shannon is not 100% early on), and went for the around the horn double play to end the game. But his throw to second was a little wide and the Cardinals could only get the one out, as Banks scampered home with the tying run.

Dale Long then sent Jose Cardenal to the center field track, ending the ninth. With Don Elston on the hill for Chicago, hot hitting Julian Javier (make that “jot jitting Julian Javier”) doubled with one out. Vic Davalillo came off the bench to hit for Dal Maxvill, and was walked intentionally. Elston then retired another pinch hitter, Carl Taylor, while lefty Bill Henry came on to end the threat by getting Lou Brock on an infield pop up.

Ted Abernathy pitched around a hit batsman and walk to keep the game tied after 9 and a half. Henry retired the first two Cardinal hitters in the 10^th before walking Joe Torre. Young first baseman Joe Hague then sent the crowd home (mostly) happy by drilling a Henry fastball into the seats in left.

Game three: Cardinals 6 Cubs 1

The series moved north to Wrigley Field for the final two contests. Game three of the series was rather uneventful as Mike Torrez gave the Redbirds their third straight strong start, pitching 7 strong innings of two hit ball, with only a Jim Marshall solo home run keeping him from pitching shutout ball.

The Cardinals managed to put together 3 runs on 5 hits and 4 walks off of Cub starter Dave Hillman, with an error hurting the Baby Bears as well.

Sal Campisi looks like he could be a bright spot in the bullpen, pitching two scoreless innings in relief of Torrez. Meanwhile the Cardinals ended up getting 12 hits and 7 walks off of four Cub pitchers, with Lou Brock getting three, and Hague, Cardenal, Javier and Maxvill getting 2 apiece. Three games into the season Javier is hitting .667.

Game four: Cubs 3 Cardinals 1

The Cubs notched their first win of the year in the series finale, besting Nelson Briles and the Cardinals 3-1. Moe Draboswsky went six innings for the win, despite issues with his command. Don Elston got the final two outs for the save.

Walt "Moose" Moryn, Al Dark and Irv Noren each had 2 hits for the Cubs. The Cardinals held Ernie Banks to just 2 singles in 15 at bats in the series. Javier went only 1 for 5 in game four to finish the four game set with a .529 average.  --submitted by "Bike" Mike Roberts--