With the No. 2 seed on the line, Joe Burns and Steve Lounello locked up in a classic pitcher's dual and the Reds came away with a 3-2 win Saturday at New Scotland Town Park to take over sole possession of second place in the hotly contested 45 Division race.
Entering the day, the Reds, Giants and Black Sox were tied with 10-4 records behind the 12-1 Marlins, who won their game earlier in the day. The Blue Thunder are 10-5 with one game to play. They face the Black Sox Sunday morning, but will likely have to succumb to the fury of Irene driving up the coast.
The win boosted the Reds' record to 11-4 with one game remaining with the Marlins. A Reds' victory would solidify that No. 2 seed. A loss would throw the No. 2 seed up for grabs with the Blue Thunder and Black Sox in contention. A win over the Vets on Tuesday at New Scotland would give the Giants no worse than the No. 4 seed. A loss would drop them to 10-6 and a likely No.5 seed.
Chuck Handford started the winning tally when he was hit in the elbow with one out in the 7th. After a walk to Reds' manager Dave VanWormer, Schillinger singled to center to drive in Handford with the winning run.
Meanwhile, Burns and the Reds defense were the story lines in this one. The Reds turned two nifty double plays, both started by shortstop Alex Marin, who showed his range and quickness on both with Dave Schillinger making strong relays to first to complete the efforts. George Schillinger also ran down a long drive off the bat of Paul Scutieri in left-center to hold the Giants to just one run in the third inning.
And Burns made those plays stand. The righty continued his stellar season and run at the Bill Jones Award by scattering 7 hits to improve his record to 7-0 and lower his ERA from an already miniscule 1.09. But he had to work for it. Taking a 2-1 lead into the top of the 7th, Jim Whitford barely missed a home run on a blast that hit the top of the fence in left field for a one-out double. Then with two outs, Dick Stark worked a walk on a 3-2 pitch and Tony Nardacci made his second hit of the evening count when the lefty hitter slapped a single just fair down the left-field line to score Whitford. Scutieri followed with an infield single to load the bases with two outs. But Burns buckled down and executed his best pitch of the night on a 3-2 pitch that earned him his just his third strikeout of the game to keep the score tied at 2 and set up the Reds' winning tally.
Rich Wander had two hits for the Reds, including a 2nd-inning single that kickstarted the Reds to a 1-0 lead. After Handford flied to right, VanWormer scorched a pitch over the left-fielder's head that one-hopped the fence and put runners on second and third. George Schillinger's grounder to short plated Wander.
Then with a steady drizzle and dark, thickening clouds sending fans to their cars and players covering their equipment, the Giants came back to tie it in the third inning. Tony Nardacci reached on a fielder's choice, then stole second. Lounello then singled up the middle to score Nardacci and tie it at 1.
The Reds came back in the 4th. Burns, hitting .432, singled to open the inning and stole second. He moved to third on a grounder to 2nd and scored on Wander's second single of the day, a soft liner to right for a 2-1 Reds' lead just as the rain dissipated and skies cleared making it a perfect afternoon for baseball.
Lounello was the hard-luck losing pitcher for the Giants, tossing a 6-hitter in going the distance.
The Reds have now taken the season series from the Giants, winning both games by identical 3-2 scores.
This was one of the best-played games of the season with both pitchers working effeciently and effectively. While the Reds were turning two double plays, Scutieri, Mike Kane in right field, 3rd-baseman Wayne Phillips and Lounello kept would-be Reds hitters off the bases with great plays as well in a game that took about an hour and a half. Scutieri and Kane showed great range in running down drives in the OF. Philips made a diving stop of a short-hop liner to rob Dave Shillinger of a hit. Lounello ranged to his right, fell after spearing a bouncer heading to short and threw from his backside to get an out to end the 6th.
The 45 playoffs, which will get under way sometime after the Labor Day weekend, promise to be exciting and full of drama. Meanwhile, if you want to see some great playoff baseball now, get out and watch the 35 Division playoffs. The Division is down to four teams: Dodgers, Pirates, Cubs and Hummingbirds, teams rich with great talent, a few Hall of Famers and a few future Hall of Famers I'm sure. Can't wait!
Couldn't have said it any better Jim, that why I asked you to write it up. I would just add that the 2nd best thing of the night(after a reds win in a great game of course), was about 20 guys from both teams hanging out for a good chunk of the night having some post game ****tails talking baseball and solving some of the worlds problems. I have a feeling the Reds and Giants will get a chance to do it all again before it is all said and done.
Dave, you put together a class group of men who play the game the way it's supposed to be played.
Speaking of Ed Class! I forgot to mention Ed's play on a line drive off the bat of Mike Kane to start the 7th. Class, playing 3B, ranged to his left and was fully stretched when he snared the drive. Two inches more and we score two runs in the 7th because Whitford followed with his blast off the fence. No doubt a Web gem.
And you are right, with those great Rensselaer players on your roster, the post game was very much enjoyable. Always good to see Chris Leahy and little Chucky (I went to school with his older sister, Sue Handford. When I was 19, Chuck was, um, 5. And we used to call him little Chucky)!!! Sorry, Chuck, this is your official introduction to the 400 members of CDMSBL!
