Washington Senators (0-0) @ Chicago Cubs (0-0)
WAS: Charlie Sweeney (0-0) v CHC: Lefty Leifeild (0-0)
The presumptive AL RoY against a late-season recruit to kick things off. Leifield is a quality southpaw, Sweeney a force of nature. Which tyro will better handle the pressure? Aye, there’s the rub of Game 1.
After a tentative start by both sides, the Cubs strike first in the 5th with a run when Jay Johnstone doubles, advances to third on a Norm Larker groundout and comes home on a single by Tom Tresh. They double their lead in the next in a very similar fashion, with Todd Dunwoody doubling to lead off the inning, going to third on an error by Sweeney and scoring on a Woody Woodward sac fly.
Looking down the barrel of an opening game loss, the Sens find a way to rally in the 8th, and it is Sweeney who gives them a huge lift with a solo shot after fouling off six pitches. Three straight singles then tie the game, with Rudy Law driving in the run.
A two-out double in the top 9th by Alex Gonzalez puts the go-ahead run on base for Washington, but Charlie Neal can only fly out to end the inning. Sweeney sends the Cubs down 1-2-3 as the game goes into extras.
After Sweeney grounds out to lead off the away 10th, a key error by Chicago 1B Larker, who drops a routine throw from 3B Cookie Lavagetto, costs the hosts big time, putting the go-ahead run on second with one out. But not as much as the throwing error by Todd Dunwoody after Micah Owings, who had only come into the game in the 9th, singled to center with two out. Dunwoody’s errant throw scores Danny Valencia to put the Sens in front for the first time in the game. And when Sweeney retires the Cubs in order again in the home half, Washington has a vital away win. Sweeney, who in addition to his home run, scattered just 5 hits over the 10 innings and fanned 5, is rightfully named PoG.
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