[Nick Soulis]

Series #121



1950 Detroit Tigers
Record: 95-59
Finish: 2nd in AL
Manager: Red Rolfe
Ball Park: Briggs Stadium
WAR Leader: Art Houtteman (6.7)
Franchise Record: 8-7
Hall of Famers: (2)
https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/DET/1950.shtml

1985 Atlanta Braves
Record: 66-96
Finish: 5th in NL West
Manager: Eddie Haas
Ball Park: Fulton County Stadium
WAR Leader: Dale Murphy (5.0)
Franchise Record: 5-2
Hall of Famers: (1)
https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/ATL/1985.shtml
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Braves Torture 95 Win Tigers
Atlanta Surges With 4 Wins After Dropping Opening 2



Game 1
At Briggs Stadium
1985 Atlanta Braves 3
1950 Detroit Tigers 4
WP: D. Trout (1-0) LP: Z. Smith (0-1) S: F. Hutchinson (1)
HR: A. Thomas (1), B. Horner (1)
POG: Vic Wertz (3-3, RBI, BB)
1950 Tigers Lead Series 1-0

The 1950 Detroit Tigers started Series #121 on a triumphant note, defeating the 1985 Atlanta Braves 4-3 at Briggs Stadium. Despite a rain delay in the seventh inning, the Tigers maintained their focus, with Vic Wertz leading the charge by going 3 for 3 with three singles and a walk. The turning point came in the bottom of the third inning when Johnny Lipon smashed a bases-clearing double, driving in three runs and giving the Tigers a 3-3 tie. They later pulled ahead in the sixth inning with a crucial RBI single from Wertz. Detroit pitcher Dizzy Trout held the Braves at bay for seven innings, allowing three runs on eight hits, while Fred Hutchinson secured the save with two scoreless innings. Despite home runs from Atlanta's Andres Thomas and Bob Horner, the Braves couldn't overcome the Tigers' timely hitting and stout pitching, giving Detroit a 1-0 lead in the best-of-seven series. Braves manager Jim Smith remained optimistic, praising his team's effort despite the loss. The series continues tomorrow at Briggs Stadium.

Game 2
At Briggs Stadium
1985 Atlanta Braves 0
1950 Detroit Tigers 5
WP: V. Trucks (1-0) LP: L. Barker (0-1)
HR: H. Evers (1)
POG: Virgil Trucks (9 IP, 6 H, 0 ER, 4 BB, 6 K, 146 P)
1950 Tigers Lead Series 2-0

The 1950 Detroit Tigers continued their dominant performance in Game 2 of the Field of Dreams series, blanking the 1985 Atlanta Braves 5-0 to take a 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven matchup. Tigers' pitcher Virgil Trucks was nearly untouchable, delivering a complete-game shutout and allowing just six hits while striking out six batters. Detroit's offense set the tone early, scoring four runs in the first inning, highlighted by a solo home run from Hoot Evers and a two-run triple by Jerry Priddy. George Kell contributed with a double and a triple, adding to the Tigers' offensive onslaught. Despite a solid effort from Atlanta's starter Len Barker, who pitched seven innings and struck out one, the Braves' bats were silenced by Trucks' masterful performance. Detroit's manager Jim Smith praised his team’s resilience but emphasized the importance of maintaining their momentum as the series shifts to Atlanta for Game 3.

Game 3
At Fulton County Stadium
1985 Atlanta Braves 5
1950 Detroit Tigers 3
WP: P. Perez (1-0) LP: T. Gray (0-1)
HR: H. Evers (1), A. Thomas (2)
POG: Pascual Perez (8 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 3 BB, 9 K, 122 P)
1950 Tigers Lead Series 2-1

The 1985 Atlanta Braves secured their first victory of the series with a commanding 5-3 win over the 1950 Detroit Tigers in Game 3 of the Field of Dreams series. Pascual Perez was the star of the game, pitching eight innings of one-run ball, striking out nine and scattering just three hits. Atlanta jumped to an early lead with two runs in the first inning, thanks to a double by Claudell Washington and a timely RBI double from Ken Oberkfell. Andres Thomas extended the lead with a two-run homer in the fourth, and Thomas added a triple in the seventh that contributed to an insurance run. Detroit attempted a late rally in the ninth with a two-run triple from Johnny Lipon, but it wasn’t enough to overcome the deficit. The win narrows Atlanta’s series deficit to 2-1, with Game 4 set for the next day at Atlanta Fulton County Stadium.

Game 4
At Fulton County Stadium
1950 Detroit Tigers 5
1985 Atlanta Braves 11
WP: R. Mahler (1-0) LP: A. Houtteman (0-1)
HR: H. Evers (3), C. Washington 2 (2), D. Murphy (1), A. Thomas (3)
POG: Claudell Washington (3-5, 2B, 2 HR, 4 RBI, 2 R)
Series Tied 2-2

The 1985 Atlanta Braves tied the series 2-2 with a dominant 11-5 win over the 1950 Detroit Tigers in Game 4 of the Field of Dreams series. Claudell Washington led the charge, going 3-for-5 with two home runs, including a two-run shot in the first inning and a solo blast in the fourth. Andres Thomas delivered the decisive blow with a grand slam in the seventh inning, cementing Atlanta's lead. Rick Mahler pitched a complete game, scattering 12 hits and allowing five runs, while striking out two. Detroit's Hoot Evers and Vic Wertz each had multi-hit games, but it wasn't enough to overcome Atlanta's explosive offense. The Braves now look to carry this momentum into Game 5 at Atlanta Fulton County Stadium.

Game 5
At Fulton County Stadium
1950 Detroit Tigers 3
1985 Atlanta Braves 4
WP: B. Sutter (1-0) LP: H. Newhouser (0-1)
HR: None
POG: Zane Smith (8 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 6 BB, 4 K, 129 P)
1985 Braves Lead Series 3-2

In a pivotal Game 5, the 1985 Atlanta Braves rallied to a dramatic 4-3 victory over the 1950 Detroit Tigers, seizing a 3-2 lead in the best-of-7 Field of Dreams series. Atlanta starter Zane Smith delivered a masterful performance, pitching eight innings of three-hit ball, allowing only one earned run while striking out four. Detroit jumped to an early lead with three runs in the first inning, but Smith and the Braves bullpen held them scoreless the rest of the way. The Braves chipped away at the lead, with a run in the fourth and sixth innings. The game reached its climax in the bottom of the ninth when Dale Murphy, with one out and runners on second and third, lined a walk-off two-run single off Hal Newhouser. The crowd erupted as Murphy's clutch hit capped the comeback and pushed the Braves one win away from the series victory. The series now shifts back to Detroit for Game 6 at Briggs Stadium.

Game 6
At Briggs Stadium
1985 Atlanta Braves 4
1950 Detroit Tigers 3
WP: B. Sutter (2-0) LP: H. Newhouser (0-2)
HR: D. Murphy (2)
POG: Len Barker (8 IP, 7 H, 1 ER, 3 BB, 4 K, 125 P)

On a crisp October afternoon at Briggs Stadium, the 1985 Atlanta Braves clinched their first Field of Dreams series with a thrilling 4-3 upset victory over the 1950 Detroit Tigers in 10 innings. Atlanta struck early with a run in the first and, despite a scoring drought, managed to add single runs in the sixth and seventh innings, thanks to a solo homer by Dale Murphy and a key RBI triple by Bob Horner. Detroit, held scoreless through eight innings, rallied in the ninth with three runs, including a clutch two-RBI single by Hoot Evers, to force extra innings. However, Bruce Sutter, who had blown the save in the ninth, redeemed himself by shutting down Detroit in the tenth. In the top half, Paul Zuvella's pinch-hit single set up the game-winning run, driven in by Murphy's timely hit. Len Barker's gritty performance and Sutter's resilience on the mound sealed the victory, sending the Braves into jubilant celebration. Manager Eddie Haas praised his team's perseverance and credited their timely hitting and solid defense for the series win, while MVP Claudell Washington, despite an off day, basked in the triumph, declaring the series a gift to their loyal fans.

1985 Atlanta Braves Win Series 4 Games To 2

Series MVP:

(.478, 2 HR, 4 RBI, 3 2B, 4 R, 1 SB, 1.425 OPS)