PRELIMINARY ROUND
Series #62
1952 Cincinnati Reds (69-85) vs 2007 San Francisco Giants (71-91)
The 1952 Reds went through three different managers but still could not put together a winning season finishing 6th in the NL. The club had no answers for their pitching staff starting 11 different pitchers in an era that usually went with 4 or 5. The so called ace of the staff was Ken Raffensberger who did have a good season with 17 wins and a 2.81 ERA in 33 starts; but even he was used out of the pen when needed. Harry Perkowski was decent winning 12 games with a 3.80 ERA but from there the cupboard ran empty. Frank Smith and young Joe Nuxhall did do nice work out of the pen when called upon but it wasnt enough. Muscle man Ted Kluszewski leads the offense hitting .320 with 16 home runs and catcher Andy Seminick put together a nice year at catcher with 14 home runs but played in only 108 games. Joe Adcock and Willard Marshall were a nice duo in the outfield but the infield was very light hitting and the team slugged only .366. There really isnt much to get excited over with this club, and may would feel they are the actual underdogs against the 91 loss Giants.
At 43 years old Barry Bonds was winding down a career like no other. In his final season of course he surpassed Henry Aaron as the disputed home run king, hitting 28 for his final season. Bonds still had a .480 OBP and 75 runs in 125 games. Another 40 year old, Omar Vizquel was still playing short but couldnt bring much anymore at the dish, Benji Molina and Pedro Feliz did their best to try and punp power into the lineup but no one on the team hit over 30 home runs. Dave Roberts and Ray Durham were just two more very old starters that were way past their best. Giants pitching on the other hand still had some punch. Matt Cain did not deserve to lose 16 games as he struck out 163 batters in limited innings at only 22 year old. Tim Lincecum at only 23 did decent in his 24 starts and his weird delievey was already fooling league hitters, Barry Zito had a down season allowing 24 home runs and a 1.34 WHIP. Matt Morris was also hanging on to add to the senior citizens already on the roster. Thye pen was stable but without no dominant closer, Brad Hennessey. Bruce Bochy is a very good manager and the Giants do have a world of experience, and Mr. Bonds is still batting third.
Game 1 At Crosley Field
Partly cloudy 59
2007 Giants...................5
1952 Reds.....................4
WP: M. Cain (1-0) LP: K. Raffensberger (0-1)
HR: B. Bonds (1), B. Molina (1)
POG: Matt Cain
2007 Giants lead series 1-0
Benji Molina hit a three run home run to the opposite field in the 8th inning to make the difference for Matt Cain and the Giants in game one. Cain struggled with control walking seven and gave up the lead when Reds catcher Andy Seminick hit a two run double in the seventh. Both Ted Kluszewski and Barry Bonds had homered earlier as both teams played well enough to win.
Game 2 At Crosley Field
Partly cloudy 58
2007 Giants...................1
1952 Reds.....................2
WP: H. Perkowski (1-0) LP: M. Morris (0-1)
HR: T. Kluszewski (2), D. Ortmeier (1)
POG: Harry Perkowski
Series tied at 1
Harry Perkowski was in command for the home Reds as they tie the series behind his complete game effort. Perk allowed one earned run and five hits on 131 pitches defeating Matt Morris who went 8 and allowed 4 earned. Bobby Adams delivered a two run single and Ted Kluszewski hit his second home runs in as many games. Series now heads to the Bay for three games.
Game 3 At Oracle Park
Clear 64
1952 Reds...................12
2007 Giants..................5
WP: F. Hiller (1-0) LP: T. Lincecum (0-1)
HR: None
POG: Roy McMillan
1952 Reds lead series 2-1
Tim Lincecum didnt make it through the fourth inning allowing 8 runs, 5 of them earned. The Giants defense also let him down with two errors in one inning including one by Barry Bonds who showed his age. Roy McMillan drove in three runs and the Reds made the most of their chances while Frank Hiller was steady in the win even if he wasnt at his best.
Game 4 At Oracle Park
Clear 68
1952 Reds....................0
2007 Giants..................7
WP: B. Zito (1-0) LP: E. Blackwell (0-1)
HR: D. Ortmeier (2)
POG: Barry Zito
Series tied at 2
Daniel Ortmeier continued his good series driving three in backed by a two run home run. The Giants had the perfect answer to their big loss in game three and the perfect man on the mound as Barry Zito had everything working for 9 innings. Zito's curveball was dipping as he allowed only 3 hits and no runs on 4 strikeouts. Matt Cain takes the hill in game five as the Giants look to leave the Bay with the series lead.
Game 5 At Oracle Park
Cloudy 60
1952 Reds....................3
2007 Giants..................7
WP: M. Cain (2-0) LP: K. Raffensberger (0-2)
HR: B. Bonds 2 (3), B. Molina (2), P. Feliz (1)
POG: Barry Bonds
2007 Giants lead series 3-2
Barry Bonds launched two home runs including one into the cove as the Giants won a crucial game 5. Bonds hit a 3 run home run in the first inning and ended the game with 5 RBI. Matt Cain won his second game of the series striking out seven and scattering three runs. Bonds was quoted, "I am not ready to join the AARP yet."
Game 6 At Crosley Field
Partly cloudy 61
2007 Giants.....................2
1952 Reds.......................3
WP: H. Perkowski (2-0) LP: M. Morris (0-2)
HR: G. Hatton (1), T. Kluszewski (2)
POG: Harry Perkowski
Series tied at 2
Facing elimination down a run in the 8th inning, Ted Kluszewski hit a two run home run to turn the game and maybe the series around as the Reds held on to force a game seven. Klus had his big hit off of Matt Morris who pitched his heart out over 8 innings. Harry Perkowski earned his second win of the series running into trouble only in the 8th inning where he allowed 2 runs when he walked three in the inning. The clutch home run was one to remember and now the series heads to its last turn as Tim Lincecum faces Frank Hiller.
Game 7 At Crosley Field
Partly cloudy 51
2007 Giants.....................4
1952 Reds.......................7
WP: J. Nuxhall (1-0) LP: T. Lincecum (0-2)
HR: J. Adcock 3 (3), T. Kluszewski (3)
POG: J. Adcock
In a legendary game seven performance, Joe Adcock hit three home runs including the series walk off three run winner in the bottom of the ninth off of Tim Lincecum that wont be soon forgotten. The Giants started well taking the lead on a two run double by Pedro Feliz in the 3rd and later Dave Roberts hit a two run home run to make the margin 3 runs for the visiting side. Two solo home runs in the bottom of the inning cut the lead to one and in the seventh Adcock hit his second of the game to tie the score, he ended with 5 RBI. It was a fantastic series from start to finish with the type of finish everyone wishes for.
1952 Cincinnati Reds Win Series 4 games To 3
Series MVP:
Ted Kluzsewski
(.333, 3 HR, 9 RBI, 6 R, 2 2B, .741 SLG)