[Nick Soulis]

Series #196



1960 Milwaukee Braves
Record: 88-66
Finish: 2nd in NL
Manager: Chuck Dressen
Ball Park: County Stadium
WAR Leader: Henry Aaron (8.0)
Franchise Record: 10-2
1960 Season Record: 1-0
Hall of Famers: (3)
https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/MLN/1960.shtml

2009 San Francisco Giants
Record: 88-74
Finish: 3rd in NL West
Manager: Bruce Bochy
Ball Park: ATT Park
WAR Leader: Tim Lincecum (7.4)
Franchise Record: 8-8
2009 Season Record: 5-2
Hall of Famers: (0)
https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/SFG/2009.shtml
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Milwaukee Muscle Powers Braves In 5
Mathews, Aaron, And Adcock Terrorize Giant Pitching


Game 1
At County Stadium
2009 San Francisco Giants 2
1960 Milwaukee Braves 5
WP: W. Spahn (1-0) LP: T. Lincecum (0-1) S: D. McMahon (1)
HR: W. Covington (1), E. Mathews (1)
POG: Warren Spahn (7 IP, 6 H, 2 ER, 0 BB, 3 K, 74 P)
1960 Braves Lead Series 1-0

On a crisp October afternoon under clear skies at Milwaukee County Stadium, the 1960 Milwaukee Braves leaned on the arm of 39-year-old Warren Spahn to open their Field of Dreams series against the 2009 San Francisco Giants with a 5-2 victory. Spahn worked masterfully, scattering six hits over seven innings without issuing a walk, frustrating a Giants lineup that couldn't capitalize on scattered opportunities. Eddie Mathews put the Braves in front early with a towering two-run homer in the first inning, and Wes Covington added to the fireworks with a solo blast in the second. Though Tim Lincecum battled for eight innings and even drove in a run with a double, he couldn’t escape damage from a Milwaukee lineup that seized key moments, including an RBI triple from Del Crandall in the eighth. Don McMahon secured the save with two efficient innings of relief. With the win, the Braves take a 1-0 lead in the best-of-seven series, leaving the younger Giants looking for answers before Game 2 on Sunday.

Game 2
At County Stadium
2009 San Francisco Giants 5
1960 Milwaukee Braves 4 (10 inn)
WP: B. Wilson (1-0) LP: B. Rush (0-1) S: S. Romo (1)
HR: A. Torres (1), E. Mathews (2)
POG: Joey Jay (7 IP, 4 H, 4 ER, 1 BB, 5 K, 96 P)
Series Tied 1-1

On a crisp October afternoon under the clear skies of Milwaukee County Stadium, the 2009 San Francisco Giants clawed their way to a gritty 5-4 extra-inning win over the 1960 Milwaukee Braves, evening the Field of Dreams series at one game apiece. A four-run surge in the second inning gave San Francisco an early cushion, but Milwaukee chipped away behind a relentless lineup and a solid start from Joey Jay, who went seven innings with just four hits allowed. The game stayed locked at 4-4 until the top of the 10th, when center fielder Andrés Torres launched a dramatic solo homer off Braves reliever Bob Rush with two outs, providing the go-ahead run. San Francisco’s bullpen duo of Brian Wilson and Sergio Romo combined for three scoreless frames, with Romo earning the save and Wilson picking up the win. Despite the loss, Jay was named Player of the Game for his gutsy performance. As the series shifts west to AT&T Park, the Giants return home with new life and momentum in this intergenerational showdown.

Game 3
At ATT Park
1960 Milwaukee Braves 4
2009 San Francisco Giants 0
WP: L. Burdette (1-0) LP: J. Sanchez (0-1)
HR: C. Cottier (1)
POG: Lew Burdette (9 IP, 5 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 0 K, 88 P)
1960 Braves Lead Series 2-1

At a breezy and overcast AT&T Park in San Francisco, the 1960 Milwaukee Braves rode a masterclass from Lew Burdette to blank the 2009 San Francisco Giants 4-0 and seize a 2-1 lead in their Field of Dreams best-of-seven showdown. Burdette was impeccable, scattering just five hits across nine shutout innings without issuing a single walk or striking out a batter, needing only 88 pitches to carve through a quiet Giants lineup. Milwaukee set the tone early with a run in the first, followed by a two-run third that included Eddie Mathews’ RBI double, and a solo homer by Chuck Cottier in the fourth to cap the scoring. Joe Adcock had a perfect day at the plate, going 3-for-3 with a walk and a stolen base, while the Giants struggled to generate anything resembling offense, with Pablo Sandoval, Nate Schierholtz, and Andres Torres going hitless. Jonathan Sánchez pitched well for San Francisco but was ultimately undone by key hits and minimal run support. With the win, the Braves have stolen momentum and now look to push the Giants to the brink when the series continues tomorrow.

Game 4
At ATT Park
1960 Milwaukee Braves 6
2009 San Francisco Giants 4 (11 inn)
WP: D. McMahon (1-0) LP: B. Medders (0-1) S: B. Rush (1)
HR: None
POG: Hank Aaron (3-6, 3B, 2 RBI, R)
1960 Braves Lead Series 3-1

The Milwaukee Braves of 1960 took one giant step toward winning the Field of Dreams Series #196, outlasting the 2009 San Francisco Giants in a dramatic 11-inning, 6-4 victory at AT&T Park. A four-run burst in the opening frame gave the Braves early command, but the resilient Giants chipped away and eventually tied it by the seventh inning. From there, the bullpens took center stage until a Field of Dreams legend delivered—Hank Aaron, already with a three-hit game, crushed a two-run triple off Brandon Medders with two outs in the top of the 11th to break the deadlock. Don McMahon and Bob Rush combined for four scoreless innings in relief, with Rush nailing down the save in the bottom of the 11th. The Giants had their chances, outhitting the Braves 11-11 and stranding 11 runners, but failed to capitalize in key spots. Aaron’s heroics earned him Player of the Game honors as Milwaukee now holds a commanding 3-1 series lead. One more win, and they will punch their ticket to immortality on the cornfield diamond.

Game 5
At ATT Park
1960 Milwaukee Braves 11
2009 San Francisco Giants 3
WP: W. Spahn (2-0) LP: T. Lincecum (0-2)
HR: H. Aaron (1), J. Adcock (1), E. Mathews (3), A. Torres (2)
POG: Warren Spahn (8 IP, 3 ER, 1 BB, 6 K, 120 P)

In a historic power display beneath the golden October skies of AT&T Park, the 1960 Milwaukee Braves crushed the 2009 San Francisco Giants 11-3 in Game 5 of the Field of Dreams series, clinching the series with authority. With the series on the line, the Braves delivered two thunderous grand slams—Joe Adcock clearing the bases in the fourth off Tim Lincecum and Hank Aaron launching a no-doubt blast in the sixth off Jeremy Affeldt—putting the game and the series out of reach. Warren Spahn, named Player of the Game, pitched eight strong innings and even chipped in with a double at the plate. Eddie Mathews added to the early scoring with a two-run homer in the first, setting the tone. Though the Giants managed ten hits, including a solo homer by Andres Torres, they couldn’t keep pace with Milwaukee’s relentless offense. The victory capped a dominant 4-1 series win for the Braves, who celebrated with champagne and high spirits under the California sun.

1960 Milwaukee Braves Win Series 4 Games To 1

Series MVP:

(.408, 1 HR, 4 RBI, 3 R, 1 SB, .458 OBP, 1.049 OPS)