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Game of the Week – Opening Day (2nd April) 1961
Los Angeles Canaries @ New York Gothams
GNB Ballpark
LOSA: Roger Clemens (0-0, 0.00)
NYOR: Dwight Gooden (0-0, 0.00)
Well the first of our GotW features was a total no-brainer, with Rocket Clemens and the Canaries heading to GNB Ballpark to take on Doc Gooden and the Gothams. It’s the ’86 World Series all over again!
As you can see from the lineups screenshot below, the Gothams have a fairly clear edge here, especially given they are at home. Still, they shouldn’t expect to get it all their own way, with plenty of pop in the LA bats and Rocket obviously ready to go. McGraw and Lasorda will have their charges primed to get the season off on the right foot, so this should be a beauty.
TOP 1ST
A nervy start for Gooden, who walks Bonds to lead it off and then surrenders an RBI triple to Lindor.
A base on balls to Slaughter puts men at the points, and a Griffey jr groundout brings Lindor in from third.
Gooden issues his third walk of the inning but manages to get out of the inning without conceding further.
LOSA 2, NYOR 0
BOTTOM 1ST
No such problems for Clemens, who starts confidently with a 1-2-3 inning.
TOP 2ND
Gooden regathers himself and sends them down in order.
BOTTOM 2ND
Clemens retires the first two men he faces no problem, but then gives up back-to-back singles to Judge and Campanella. He gets out of the inning unscathed, however, when he gets Jones to ground out harmlessly.
TOP 3RD
An infield hit with two out puts Griffey jr on base, and he steals second to move into scoring position, but is stranded there when Molina whiffs.
BOTTOM 3RD
Another incident-free inning for Clemens.
TOP 4TH
Gooden, in the groove now, retires them in order.
BOTTOM 4TH
Medwick leads off the inning with a single to right and moves to second on a Mathews groundout. Bagwell reaches on a HBP, putting the tying run on. After Judge strikes out, Campanella singles to get the Gothams their first run. Jones then grounds out to 2B to end the inning.
LOSA 2, NYOR 1
TOP 5TH
A one-out single puts Bonds on base and a wild pitch allows him to advance to second. He’s erased, though, on an iffy call to steal third. That hurts more when, after Lindor walks, Slaughter singles. Gooden again escapes falling further behind by getting Griffey to ground out to SS and end the inning.
BOTTOM 5TH
Two-out trouble for Clemens when Winfield singles and gets to third on a Medwick double. He escapes as Mathews flies out to deep RF to end the inning.
TOP 6TH
Just a hit and stolen base to Rogan, who is left at second when Williams strikes out looking.
BOTTOM 6TH
Judge walks with one out and moves to second on a Campanella single, but Clemens fans Jones and gets Grich to ground out to 3B to end the threat.
TOP 7TH
Gooden’s control issues continue as he walks Randolph to lead off the inning and McGraw decides he’s seen enough, summoning Colon from the bullpen. Bartolo strikes out Bonds but then puts Lindor aboard with a walk and gives up a 2-run double to Slaughter. They give Griffey jr a free pass to set up the DP, but Colon instead fans Molina and gets Rogan to ground out, ending the inning.
LOSA 4, NYOR 1
BOTTOM 7TH
Things are looking grim for the hosts, but Alomar revives the home fans’ hopes with a leadoff double, steals third and scores on a Winfield groundout. That ends Clemens’ game, with Lasorda bringing in Candelaria. He retires Medwick for the second out but then gives up a solo homer to the lefty Mathews and New York are right back in it. The inning is over when Bagwell flies out to RF.
LOSA 4, NYOR 3
TOP 8TH
Colon walks Schmidt to lead off the inning and Williams bunts him over to second. Randolph then singles to put men at the corners but Bonds can only move the runner to second when he grounds out sharply to 3B. Colon then strikes out Lindor to strand the runner.
BOTTOM 8TH
The raucous GNB crowd goes crazy when Judge leads off the inning with a solo shot to knot the game at 4.
LOSA 4, NYOR 4
TOP 9TH
Griffey jr gets aboard with a one-out bloop hit but Adams, in for Colon, retires the next two men to douse the threat.
BOTTOM 9TH
The crowd smells blood as Alomar leads off with a single and goes to second on a Winfield single. And the comeback is complete when Medwick caps off a great game with a walkoff double.
NYOR 5, LOSA 4 FINAL
WP: Babe Adams (1-0)
LP: John Candelaria (0-1)
POTG: Dwight Gooden
Well that certainly lived up to the hype. Despite his wildness, Gooden hung tough and the Gothams never stopped trying. Clemens was great but the question has to be asked why Lasorda stuck with Candelaria for so long. Then again, it’s easy to wonder these things after the event and the Canaries’ offence had their chances to put the game away. A fantastic start to the league indeed.
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