Reds sweep Dodgers on Frank Robby Walk off

8/16 - 8/18 - Crosley Field - Cincinnati, OH
GAME 1:  Reds 10, Dodgers 6
In this war of attrition it became apparent right from the start that Dodger starter Joe Moeller didn't have much.  Before the 5th inning was in the books he was hitting the showers.  6 runs allowed over the first 2 inning would normally do a hurler in, but veteran manager Georges Bseraini decided to stick with him and allow him to work things out, which actually did work.  Moeller regained his confidence, and yielded only a solo run in the 5th.  By this time the Dodger offense began shelling Cincy starter Brooks Lawrence.  The game was actually tied at 6 in the middle of the 5th before Moeller yielded his final run of the day.  Howie Reed came on in relief and allowed 3 insurance runs, which made all the difference.  Jerry Lynch was the hitting star of this contest, going 3 for 5 with 6 RBI's and 2 homers.

 

GAME 2:  Reds 2, Dodgers 1
One of the cardinal rules of baseball is:  when a day game follows a high scoring night game, you get a low scoring pitcher's duel.  You'll find this rule immediately after the "he who makes a great play in the field will lead off the next inning" rule.  It is said that rules are made to be broken, but not in the mundane 1950's or the early 1960's.  Both squads obliged as did veteran starters, a pair of Don's (Drydale and Newcombe).  This matchup posed an even greater sideline.  By 1958 Don Newcombe had worn out both his arm and his welcome in Brooklyn and was unceremoniously dumped on the Reds.  Dodger management cut bait on the tall fireballer who's fastball and personality could be overpowering and unpredictable at times.  Don Drysdale on he other hand was the fair haired golden boy, the new face of this franchise when it went west for greener pastures.  For this afternoon Newcombe was able to harness his inner demons and fading fastball to keep the Dodgers in check.  Drysdale was equally spectacular and if not for poor Dodger fielding in the 3rd, just might have left this game the victor.  Don Hoak led off the bottom of the 3rd with a routine grounder to third.  Darryl Griffith fielded it cleanly, but bounced the throw in the dirt past Ron Fairly to reach base safely.  8th place hitter Roy McMillian walked and Newcombe (a fantastic hitting pitcher) fanned for out number 1.  Leadoff man Johnny Temple singled home Hoak and advanced McMillian to 3rd, where he scored on a force out by Jerry Lynch.  Amazingly Big Newk was able to make those 2 unearned runs hold up.  The Dodgers made it a one run ball game in the 6th when Newk walked Maury Wills, who easily stole second.  No blame should be handed out to Red catcher Smoky Burgess, who never had a chance vs the fleet footed Wills.  "3-Dog", Willie Davis, lined a single to right to score Wills easily, but that would be it for the Dodger offense.  LA threw a bit of a scare into Newk in the 8th when they had 2nd and 3rd with 2 out and "Jumbo" Frank Howard at the plate.  Newk, not one to back down from a challenge threw pure heat by Howard who weakly flew out to Jerry Lynch in right.

 

GAME 3:  Reds 1, Dodgers 0 (10 inn)
On most days a 9 inning no run effort yields a complete game shutout victory.  Sadly for Bob Purkey today was not one of those "usual" days.  Today was a day that harkened back to the deadball era, where hits would be plentiful, but runs would come at a premium.  LA started Larry Miller, who was cruising until the 5th when he rubbed up a huge blister and was replaced by Bob Miller (no relation), who was equally adept at getting hitters out.  LA's big chance to score in this game came early on in the 3rd when they had the bases loaded with 1 out, but Purkey was able to get both Frank Howard and rookie Wes Parker to pop up to the corner infielders.  Cincy's big chance came in the 8th, when they had the bases loaded with 2 outs, but rookie pinch hitter Vada Pinson grounded weakly to Wills at short.  With the game scoreless after 9 Purkey was done for the day and replace by Jack Aker.  Bob Miller, who is used to starting was still on the hill for the Dodgers.  Aker was treated to a 1-2-3 inning in the 9th, Miller was not so lucky.  After getting Jerry Lynch to ground out back to the box, Miller served up a long fly ball to future HOF'er Frank Robinson.  There was no doubt in anyone's mind if this would be a home run when it left Frank's bat.  The only doubt was if it would completely leave Crosley field and find it's way on the Interstate (it did not).  Robinson's shot locked down the 3 game sweep for the home team, which evened it's record on the season at 3-3.  LA fell to a woeful 1-5 and heads home to Chavez Ravine in hopes of righting the ship.