Game 41 A win in Wrigley

  The Braves extended their winning streak to 3 with a tough 2-1 victory of the Cubs at Wrigley. Struggling starter David Palmer turned things around in this game limiting the Cubs to only 1 run in 7 1/3 innings pitched. Ironically, the lone Cubs run was a home run by starting pitcher Scott Sanderson.

  Sanderson started the scoring by launching one into the left field bleachers with 1 out in the bottom of the third. The score stayed 1-0 through 7 innings. Cubs manager had no reason to remove Sanderson to start the 8th as he had been cruising, handcuffing the Braves to 3 hits through those 7 innings. With the pitcher's spot set to lead off the 8th, Chuck Tanner sent up pinch hitter Ted Simmons for Palmer. Simmons responded with a double. Tanner then sent in Albert Hall to run for the slow moving Simmons. Dion James followed with a RBI single to score Hall and he went to second on the throw home. Ken Oberkfell then followed with a RBI single of his own to score James and put the Braves in front 2-1 and chase Scott Sanderson from the game. Jim Frey brought in lefty reliever Frank DiPino who set down Perry, Murphy, and Griffey in order to end the top of the 8th.

 Chuck Tanner then turned to his shaky bullpen starting with lefty Paul Assenmacher. He responded to Tanner's confidence by striking out Chico Walker, getting Ryne Sandberg to fly to center and Jerry Mumphrey to fly to left. The Cubs pen stifled the Braves in the 9th to set up the bottom of the 9th. Tanner turned to struggling closer Jim Acker. Through 40 games, Acker only had 3 saves. Shaking off his prior struggles, Acker set down the Cubs in order getting Leon Durhamto fly to center, Jody Davis to foul out to catcher Ozzie Virgil, and finally getting Keith Moreland to pop up to shortstop Andres Thomas.

  The shoddy Braves pitching staff held the Cubs to 1 run on just 6 hits to possibly show signs of turning things around.  Below is the box score and the play by play courtesy of the Strat-O-Matic Direct Entry system and below that are the player stats through 41 games.

BOXSCORE: 1987 Atlanta Braves At 1987 Chicago Cubs                  5/22/1987
 
  Braves             AB  R  H RBI AVG   Cubs               AB  R  H RBI AVG
  D.James CF          3  1  1  1 .333   C.Walker RF         4  0  0  0 .217  
  K.Oberkfell 2B      3  0  2  1 .281   R.Sandberg 2B       4  0  1  0 .256  
  G.Perry 1B          3  0  0  0 .193   J.Mumphrey LF       3  0  1  0 .320  
  D.Murphy RF         4  0  0  0 .327   L.Durham 1B         4  0  1  0 .255  
  K.Griffey LF        4  0  0  0 .307   J.Davis C           4  0  1  0 .202  
  G.Nettles 3B        4  0  1  0 .260   K.Moreland 3B       4  0  1  0 .280  
  O.Virgil C          3  0  0  0 .302   S.Dunston SS        3  0  0  0 .250  
  A.Thomas SS         4  0  1  0 .167   D.Martinez CF       3  0  0  0 .317  
  D.Palmer P          1  0  0  0 .059   S.Sanderson P       3  1  1  1 .071  
A-T.Simmons PH        1  0  1  0 .406   F.Dipino P          0  0  0  0 ----  
B-A.Hall PR           0  1  0  0 .228   D.Noles P           0  0  0  0 .000  
  P.Assenmacher P     0  0  0  0 ----                                          
C-G.Roenicke PH       1  0  0  0 .288                                          
  J.Acker P           0  0  0  0 ----                                          
                     -- -- -- ---                          -- -- -- ---      
         Totals      31  2  6  2               Totals      32  1  6  1
 
A-Pinch Hit For Palmer In 8th Inning
B-Pinch Ran For Simmons In 8th Inning
C-Pinch Hit For Assenmacher In 9th Inning
 
Braves.......... 0 0 0  0 0 0  0 2 0  -  2  6  0
Cubs............ 0 0 1  0 0 0  0 0 0  -  1  6  1
 
Braves (18-23)           IP       H   R  ER  BB  SO  HR  PC    ERA
D.Palmer WIN(2-3)         7       6   1   1   1   4   1 110   6.63
P.Assenmache HOLD(2nd)    1       0   0   0   0   1   0  12   6.92
J.Acker SAVE(4th)         1       0   0   0   0   0   0  12   5.70
Totals                    9       6   1   1   1   5   1
 
Cubs (21-19)             IP       H   R  ER  BB  SO  HR  PC    ERA
S.Sanderson LOSS(2-2)     7       6   2   2   3   2   0 112   3.28
F.Dipino                  1 1/3   0   0   0   0   1   0  11   2.08
D.Noles                   0 2/3   0   0   0   1   0   0  10   1.33
Totals                    9       6   2   2   4   3   0
 
ATTENDANCE- 22,903 DATE- Friday, May 22nd 1987 TIME- Day 
T- 2:46
LEFT ON BASE- Braves: 7  Cubs: 5
DOUBLE PLAYS- Braves: 1  Cubs: 1
ERRORS- C.Walker
DOUBLES- T.Simmons(6th), R.Sandberg(5th)
HOME RUNS- S.Sanderson(1st)
RBIs- D.James(16th), K.Oberkfell(12th), S.Sanderson
SACRIFICE HITS- D.Palmer
WALKS- D.James, K.Oberkfell, G.Perry, O.Virgil, J.Mumphrey
STRIKE OUTS- G.Perry, O.Virgil-2, C.Walker-2, L.Durham, J.Davis, S.Dunston
GIDP- S.Dunston
RLISP 2-out- G.Perry, L.Durham, D.James, K.Moreland, A.Thomas, K.Griffey
TEAM RISP- Braves: 2 for 8  Cubs: 1 for 4
 

 
*** TOP OF INNING 1 ***
0     D.James     5-12     5 Ground Out                     b-0 
1     K.Oberkfell 1- 5     6 Single                         b-1 
1 1   G.Perry     3- 8     4 Walk                           1-2 b-1 
1 12  D.Murphy    2- 2     5 Line Out Double Play           2-o b-0 
*** BOTTOM OF INNING 1 ***
0     C.Walker    1- 7     3 Strike Out                     b-0 
1     R.Sandberg  3- 8     5 Ground Out                     b-0 
2     J.Mumphrey  2- 9     5 Ground Out                     b-0 
*** TOP OF INNING 2 ***
0     K.Griffey   3- 8     3 Ground Out                     b-0 
1     G.Nettles   5- 9     3 Fly Out                        b-0 
2     O.Virgil    1- 7     3 Strike Out                     b-0 
*** BOTTOM OF INNING 2 ***
0     L.Durham    2-12     6 Line Out                       b-0 
1     J.Davis     3- 9     6 Single                         b-1 
1 1   K.Moreland  3-12     2 Fly Out                        b-0 
2 1   S.Dunston   2- 4     3 Fly Out                        b-0 
*** TOP OF INNING 3 ***
0     A.Thomas    3- 4     1 Pop Out                        b-0 
1     D.Palmer    1- 9     5 Ground Out                     b-0 
2     D.James     3-10     4 Walk                           b-1 
2 1   K.Oberkfell 1- 7     5 Walk                           1-2 b-1 
2 12  G.Perry     5- 2     3 Ground Out                     b-0 
*** BOTTOM OF INNING 3 ***
0     D.Martinez  6- 9     5 Fly Out                        b-0 
1     S.Sanderson 3-12  1  3 Home Run                       b-H 
1     C.Walker    1- 3     6 Pop Out                        b-0 
2     R.Sandberg  1- 7  1  1 Double                         b-2 
2  2  J.Mumphrey  1- 2  1  2 Single                         2-3 b-1 
2 1 3 L.Durham    2- 7     3 Strike Out                     b-0 
*** TOP OF INNING 4 ***
0     D.Murphy    4- 7     3 Ground Out                     b-0 
1     K.Griffey   5-12     1 Ground Out                     b-0 
2     G.Nettles   2- 3     1 Pop Out                        b-0 
*** BOTTOM OF INNING 4 ***
0     J.Davis     2-12     3 Line Out                       b-0 
1     K.Moreland  1- 8  1  4 Single                         b-1 
1 1   S.Dunston   2- 8     6 Ground Out Double Play         1-o b-0 
*** TOP OF INNING 5 ***
0     O.Virgil    2-11     3 Line Out                       b-0 
1     A.Thomas    1- 4     4 Single                         b-1 
1 1   D.Palmer             3 Sac Bunt                       1-2 b-0 
2  2  D.James     3- 3     3 Pop Out                        b-0 
*** BOTTOM OF INNING 5 ***
0     D.Martinez  2- 5     1 Fly Out                        b-0 
1     S.Sanderson 4- 2     3 Ground Out                     b-0 
2     C.Walker    2- 5     3 Ground Out                     b-0 
*** TOP OF INNING 6 ***
0     K.Oberkfell 3- 5     5 Fly Out                        b-0 
1     G.Perry     2- 6     2 Ground Out                     b-0 
2     D.Murphy    5-10     3 Fly Out                        b-0 
*** BOTTOM OF INNING 6 ***
0     R.Sandberg  3- 8     4 Ground Out                     b-0 
1     J.Mumphrey  3- 9     6 Walk                           b-1 
1 1   L.Durham    1- 8  1  6 Single                         1-2 b-1 
1 12  J.Davis     1- 6     3 Strike Out                     b-0 
2 12  K.Moreland  2- 5     6 Fly Out                        b-0 
*** TOP OF INNING 7 ***
0     K.Griffey   1-11     6 Ground Out                     b-0 
1     G.Nettles            6 Single & Error - RF            b-2 
1  2  O.Virgil             5 Strike Out                     b-0 
2  2  A.Thomas    2- 3     6 Fly Out                        b-0 
*** BOTTOM OF INNING 7 ***
0     S.Dunston   1- 7     5 Strike Out                     b-0 
1     D.Martinez  1-11     5 Fly Out                        b-0 
2     S.Sanderson 2-12     5 Line Out                       b-0 
*** TOP OF INNING 8 ***
                             SUBSTITUTE PH- Ted Simmons
0     T.Simmons   4- 8  1  5 Double                         b-2 
                             SUBSTITUTE PR- Albert Hall
0  2  D.James              6 Single                         2-H b-2 
0  2  K.Oberkfell          3 Single                         2-H b-1 
                             SUBSTITUTE P - Frank Dipino
0 1   G.Perry     1- 6     3 Strike Out                     b-0 
1 1   D.Murphy    5- 5     3 Ground Out                     1-2 b-0 
2  2  K.Griffey   1- 8     3 Ground Out                     b-0 
*** BOTTOM OF INNING 8 ***
                             SUBSTITUTE P - Paul Assenmacher
0     C.Walker    1- 7     3 Strike Out                     b-0 
1     R.Sandberg  4-10     3 Fly Out                        b-0 
2     J.Mumphrey  1- 8     6 Fly Out                        b-0 
*** TOP OF INNING 9 ***
0     G.Nettles   5- 4     2 Fly Out                        b-0 
                             SUBSTITUTE P - Dickie Noles
1     O.Virgil    1- 9     5 Walk                           b-1 
1 1   A.Thomas    5- 3     3 Force Play                     1-o b-1 
                             SUBSTITUTE PH- Gary Roenicke
2 1   G.Roenicke  2- 3     2 Fly Out                        b-0 
*** BOTTOM OF INNING 9 ***
                             SUBSTITUTE P - Jim Acker
0     L.Durham    3-12     6 Fly Out                        b-0 
1     J.Davis     6- 4     1 Foul Out                       b-0 
2     K.Moreland  1-10     5 Line Out                       b-0 

Primary Player Statistics For 1987 Atlanta Braves Totals After 41 Games
 
 
NAME              BAVG  GM  AB   R   H 2B 3B HR RBI  BB  SO HB SH DP  SB CS  E
T.Simmons         .406  28  64  10  26  6  1  1   9   4   6  0  0  1   0  0  0
D.James           .333  37 141  26  47  9  2  2  16  20  11  2  2  2   2  0  0
D.Murphy          .327  41 171  36  56  6  0 16  44  21  26  1  0  2   4  1  0
K.Griffey         .307  24  88  13  27  4  3  5  24  12  15  1  0  1   0  0  0
O.Virgil          .302  37 129  16  39  4  0  9  30  15  30  1  0  6   0  0  0
G.Hubbard         .290  38 124  17  36  4  2  0  14  30  15  0  0  4   0  0  5
R.Ramirez         .288  29 111  20  32  8  0  1   8   4  16  3  1  4   1  1  6
G.Roenicke        .288  28  59  12  17  3  0  4  14  10   1  2  0  4   0  0  1
K.Oberkfell       .281  39 160  17  45  5  1  0  12  14  16  2  1 10   2  1  6
G.Nettles         .260  32  50   5  13  1  0  1   9   6   6  0  0  2   1  1  0
A.Hall            .228  31  79  12  18  0  3  1   5   5  15  0  2  1   6  1  2
G.Perry           .193  37 119  23  23  4  1  3  14  18  21  2  0  4  10  0  2
A.Thomas          .167  20  78   5  13  1  1  3  11   4  20  0  0  3   0  0  4
B.Benedict        .133  10  30   2   4  0  0  0   0   6   4  0  1  0   0  0  0
D.Motley          .000   3   6   1   0  0  0  0   0   1   2  0  0  0   0  0  0
P.Runge           ----   0   0   0   0  0  0  0   0   0   0  0  0  0   0  0  0
J.Blauser         ----   0   0   0   0  0  0  0   0   0   0  0  0  0   0  0  0
T.Bell            ----   0   0   0   0  0  0  0   0   0   0  0  0  0   0  0  0
T.Davis           ----   0   0   0   0  0  0  0   0   0   0  0  0  0   0  0  0
M.Fischlin        ----   2   0   0   0  0  0  0   0   0   0  0  0  0   0  0  0
R.Gant            ----   0   0   0   0  0  0  0   0   0   0  0  0  0   0  0  0
ALL PITCHERS      .092  41  76   5   7  0  0  2   3   0  20  1 14  0   0  0  2
----------------- ---- --- --- --- --- -- -- -- --- --- --- -- -- -- --- -- --
TEAM TOTALS       .271    1485     403    14    213     224    21     26    28
                        41     220     55    48     170     15    44      5
 
 
NAME               ERA  W  L   PCT   G GS CG SH SV    IP   H   R  ER HR  BB  SO
S.Ziem            0.00  1  0 1.000   2  0  0  0  0   3.0   3   0   0  0   0   0
E.Olwine          2.51  0  0  ----  19  0  0  0  0  14.1  15   4   4  1   4   6
C.Puleo           2.51  1  0 1.000  17  2  0  0  0  43.0  43  12  12  2  18  32
J.Dedmon          2.57  2  2  .500  21  0  0  0  0  28.0  26   9   8  3  12  12
R.O'Neal          3.19  4  1  .800   7  6  0  0  0  36.2  40  16  13  2  11  25
Z.Smith           3.80  3  3  .500  11 11  0  0  0  71.0  76  37  30  8  14  51
G.Garber          4.94  2  3  .400  23  0  0  0  0  31.0  39  19  17  3  13  19
J.Acker           5.70  1  4  .200  22  0  0  0  4  23.2  27  16  15  3  18  14
D.Palmer          6.63  2  3  .400  11 11  0  0  0  58.1  76  43  43  8  21  39
R.Mahler          6.79  1  4  .200  11 11  0  0  0  57.0  84  46  43 11  26  41
P.Assenmacher     6.92  1  3  .250  17  0  0  0  0  13.0  15  12  10  0   7  13
L.McWilliams      ----  0  0  ----   0  0  0  0  0   0.0   0   0   0  0   0   0
D.Alexander       ----  0  0  ----   0  0  0  0  0   0.0   0   0   0  0   0   0
P.Smith           ----  0  0  ----   0  0  0  0  0   0.0   0   0   0  0   0   0
J.Boever          ----  0  0  ----   0  0  0  0  0   0.0   0   0   0  0   0   0
C.Cary            ----  0  0  ----   0  0  0  0  0   0.0   0   0   0  0   0   0
M.Clary           ----  0  0  ----   0  0  0  0  0   0.0   0   0   0  0   0   0
P.Niekro          ----  0  0  ----   0  0  0  0  0   0.0   0   0   0  0   0   0
T.Glavine         ----  0  0  ----   0  0  0  0  0   0.0   0   0   0  0   0   0
K.Coffman         ----  0  0  ----   0  0  0  0  0   0.0   0   0   0  0   0   0
ALL NON-PITCHERS  ----  0  0  ----   0  0  0  0  0   0.0   0   0   0  0   0   0
Team                                          0                   +0
----------------- ---- -- -- ----- --- -- -- -- -- ----- --- --- --- -- --- ---
TEAM TOTALS       4.63    23        41     0     4       444     195    144
                       18     .439     41     0    379.0     214     41     252

40 Days and 40 Nights

Hi everyone,

Rather than inundate YouTube with video after video of this season replay, I decided to go this route. I will still post occasional videos of this replay just not as many as previously done. After suffering through a 10 game losing streak, the combination of a closed door players only meeting and the return of Ken Griffey from the Disabled List has brought the Braves to two consecutive victories in Games 39 & 40 of the season.

  Game 40 was a good one against the Cardinals. The Braves jumped on St, Louis starter, Bob Forsch, for 3 runs in the bottom of the 1st, Albert Hall led off with a walk. After Andres Thomas struck out and Dion James flied to left, Dale Murphy followed with a single to put runners on the corners with two outs. In his first at bat off the DL, Ken Griffey launched a 3-run Home Run, The score stayed that way until the top of the 4th, St. Louis rallied for 2 runs on their own on a two out, bases loaded single by Tom Herr. The game stayed close at 3-2 as Zane Smith and Bob Forsch matched goose eggs in the 5th, 6th, & 7th innings.

  In the top of the 8th, the Cardinals struck again and it was against the woeful Braves' pen. Zane Smith was removed for a pinch hitter in the 7th so Paul Assenmacher was summoned to pitch the 8th. Pinch hitter Curt Ford led off with a single. Vince Coleman followed with an RBI double to tie it at 3. He then stole 3rd base, Ozzie Smith followed with a sac fly and the Cards had a 4-3 lead with only 1 out. Terry Pendleton struck out for the 2nd out of the innning but it brought up righty Jack Clark. Playing the percentages, Chuck Tanner went to RHP Gene Garber who was promptly greeted with a Jack Clark special (a home run). The Cards now led 5-3. Fast forward to the bottom of the 9th. Cardinals closer Todd Worrell is in, Pinch hitter Gerald Perry leads off with a single and promptly steals second. Gary Roenicke then pinch hit for Albert Hall and launched a 2-run HR to tie it at 5, still no one out. The struggling Andres Thomas flied to right. Dion James singled thanks to the 3-5-6 platoon roll. Dale Murphy followed with a double sending James to third. Griffey was intentionally walked to load the bases. Whitey Herzog had seen enough of Worrell and brought in LHP Rickey Horton to face Graig Nettles. Tanner countered by bringing in righty Rafael Ramirez to pinch hit which cost him. The Eager quality of Ramirez forced a pop up. Had Nettles been batting it would have been a bases loaded walk to end it. Ozzie Virgil had a chance to win it on a plate drama roll but Gold catcher Steve Lake forced a foul out to send the game to extra innings. Neither team threatened in the 10th. In the 11th, Randy O'Neal pitched for the Braves and retired the Cardinals in order. With Horton in his second inning of work, Thomas continued to struggle with a ground out. Dion James then followed with a double. With first base open, Dale Murphy was walked to set up a lefty on lefty duel between Horton and Griffey. Griffey found the 2-3-3 roll and since Horton was not an Ace and Griffey was a Slugger, he sent the Fulton County Stadium faithful home happy with a walk off 3-Run bomb. Braves win it 8-5 and improve to 17-23 on the season. In real life, they were 20-20 after 40 games.

  It is now time for the Braves to hop on the Delta charter and fly to the Windy city of Chicago to face the Cubs in Game 41.

.