Game 1 in Detroit
Jim Bunning (20-6, 2.57) v Jim Maloney (21-7, 2.83)
These first two games should give us a fairly good indication of just how strong Cincy is shaping up to be in this contest, and you’d love to see them go out and make a strong early statement of intent. Two of the absolute best facing off on the mound tonight in Jim Bunning and Jim Maloney, 20-game winners the pair of them.
And it is Detroit who get a win on the board as Bunning gives them 6 scoreless and the pen hangs on for a relatively comfortable 4-1 win. A nasty beaning knocks Frank Robinson out of the game but reports are he’s fine and will be available tomorrow.
Game 2 in Detroit
Mickey Lolich (14-10, 3.34) v Tony Cloninger (15-6, 3.94)
Tigers lead series 1-0
Another quality pitching match-up in this one with Lolich and Cloninger going head-to-head. No doubt the young Reds bats got a touch of the old stagefright yesterday and they really can’t afford to do so again here today.
Cincy responds well but are lucky to get two bites at the cherry after blowing a 9th-inning lead as they go ahead again in the 10th on a run-scoring double by George Thomas and this time hang on for a 3-2 win. Both pitchers do as is expected of them and this is the sort of gritty win that can really instil self-confidence in a young group like this Reds one, who now head home with an outside chance of clinching in front of their long-suffering fans. Frank Robinson shows no ill-effects from his Game 1 injury, cracking the first home run of the series.
Game 3 in Cincinnati
Joe Horlen (14-14, 3.76) v Jim O’Toole (12-13, 2.84)
Series tied 1-1
Feels like Jim O’Toole has been around forever, but he’s only 28—all the same, he’s been a great pitcher (118-76, 3.08 career) and it’s nice to see him get a chance to strut his stuff on the big stage after all those fruitless years with the Cubbies. Joe Horlen’s no busher himself, having won 29 games the past two years and this shapes up as another quality contest.
It’s no contest at all in fact, as the Tiger bats flex their muscles and tear Horlen apart in a 9-2 laugher. 15 hits all told including 3 each to Wert and McAuliffe, the latter of whom also goes yard. A poor showing by the Reds that undoes all their good work in Game 2 and at worst guarantees the Tigers another home game.
Game 4 in Cincinnati
Jim Archer (7-3, 2.67) v Bob Shaw (12-15, 4.42)
Tigers lead series 2-1
These Game 4s can often be the most entertaining as we get down to the weaker end of the rotations. Still, these are two wily vets on the hill tonight who’ll be using every trick at their disposal in this absolutely key game.
Which is precisely what happens as Archer pitches a 7-inning scoreless gem and the Reds finish it off for a 4-0 win to get it back to 2-2. The Judge pops another one into the seats in the 1st and that seems to settle them down, before 2 more in the 7th pretty much seal the deal with the Tigers only managing 3 hits all game. This series is certainly delivering on its promise.
Game 5 in Cincinnati
Jim Maloney (0-1, 4.55) v Jim Bunning (1-0, 0.00)
Series tied 2-2
Maloney will be dead keen to reverse the Game 1 result here and bring Cincy within a win of that dream maiden title. The Reds have got four games under their belts now, which means no excuses for them to not be ready to play here. Especially with so much on the line.
This ends up being a straight-up dogfight with the Tigers getting on Maloney early but the Reds hitting back with the game tied at 4 heading into the 7th. From there, however, it is all Detroit as, led by Flood's 3-hit game, they add 4 unanswered runs to take it out 8-4 and head home now being the team needing just the one win.
Game 6 in Detroit
Mickey Lolich (14-10, 3.34) v Tony Cloninger (15-6, 3.94)
Tigers lead series 3-2
It was a pretty dejected-looking Reds squad that walked out of Crosley Field after Game 5 and you just hope they have managed to get their heads right in the time since, because they are still very much in this. Cloninger can, on his day, be unhittable or close thereto and if he can pull one of those games out then everything will come down to a winner-takes-all decider. But Lolich is a tough nut and will take a ton of beating with the title on the line.
No dice I’m afraid, Reds fans, but your boys can hold their heads aloft as they really had a good old-fashioned go in this series and will be much better for the experience. That said, in the end the Tigers are too strong, too composed and too classy for them, shaking off a couple of Reds comebacks here to take the club’s 5th Championship with a 6-3 win in what is a most suitable finale to a classic series. Norm Cash wins the MVP.
