Thursday – April 23rd

Trailing 5-2 entering the bottom of the ninth, the Phillies exploded for four runs in a 6-5 victory over the Pirates.

Jack Baldschun (1-0), the fifth pitcher used by Gene Mauch, picked up the win. Roy Face (2-2), the fourth pitcher employed by Danny Murtaugh, took the loss.

The Pirates KO’d starter Art Mahaffey (0-0) with three runs in the first and two more in the second to take a 5-0 lead. But that was the extent of the scoring for the Pirates. John Boozer (inning-and-a-third), Rick Wise (2 innings), Dallas Green (3 innings), and Jack Baldschun (1 inning) shut down the Pirates the rest of the way.

Training 5-0 in the bottom of the third, Richie Allen (#4) hit a two-run homer to cut the gap to 5-2. But that’s all the Phils could muster until the bottom of the ninth:

• Richie Allen led off with a single – raising his average to .440.

Taking no chances, Pirates manager Danny Murtaugh called on Tom Butters (0-0) to replace Joe Gibbon. Butters was a 26-year-old rookie right-hander appearing in his third game.

• Working too carefully, Butters walked Roy Sievers to put runners on first and second with nobody out. Mauch then sent speedy rookie Johnny Briggs in to pinch-run for Sievers.
• With left-handed batter Tony Gonzalez stepping to the plate, Murtaugh brought in rookie lefthander Frank Bork (0-0). But Gonzalez beat the percentages with a single that scored Allen to cut the gap to 5-3 – with Briggs racing to third.

With runners on first and third and still nobody out, Murtaugh replaced Bork with Roy Face (2-1).

• Face struck out Danny Cater for the first out.
• With right-hand hitter Gus Triandos due up, Gene Mauch sent left-hander Clay Dalrymple up to pinch-hit against.
• Face got Dalrymple on a fly ball to left for the second out. But the fly ball was deep enough to score Briggs and cut the Pirates lead to 5-4.
• With a runner on first and two outs, Bobby Wine stroked a clutch single to left. Gonzalez moved to third and Wine took second on the throw to make it second and third with two outs.
• With pitcher Jack Baldschun due to bat, Mauch called on rookie left-handed hitter John Herrnstein to pinch-hit. Which put Danny Murtaugh in a pickle.

First base open.

Should Murtaugh walk Herrnstein and pitch to right-hander Tony Taylor? Or should he tempt the percentages and pitch to Herrnstein?

Murtaugh decided to pitch to the rookie.

Bad choice.

• Herrnstein lined a two-run, walk-off double that gave the Phillies a 6-5 come-from-behind win.

It was a highly-strategic game. Both managers used 31 players. Murtaugh 12 and Mauch 19.

[Header Photo: John Herrnstein when he played linebacker at Michigan.]

Around the League

The victory was the fifth in the first six games for the Phillies. Enabling them to move into a virtual tie for first place with the idle Giants.

Barry Bowe is the author of Born to Be Wild and his new baby is 21 Years.

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