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.

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