Wednesday, January 26, 2011

GAME #6 - 1962 ALCS - Chisox turn tables on Halos with comeback of their own to force game 7

GAME 6 - Dodger Stadium - CHW 4, LAA 3
Eddie Fisher vs Bo Belinsky

Returning home turbo charged from the game 5 comeback victory the Halos jumped out to a 3-0 lead vs surprise starter Eddie Fisher.  Bo Belinsky who made a concerted effort to get home before the sun rose was dominating Chisox hitters for 5 innings.  Belinsky was a bit wild in walking 5, but for 5 innings he was posting goose eggs.  In the top of the 6th the Chisox finally cracked the scoreboard.  With the bases loaded and nobody out Belinsky's day was done.  Dan Osinski was called on to minimize the damage and he went right to work by striking out Joe Cunningham for the first out of the inning.  Mike Hershberger would not fall victim to Osinski and a run would score on "Hershey's" line single to center.  After Al Smith easily scored the Chisox got aggressive and sent Floyd Robinson from second in hopes of getting another run.  Albie Pearson, who was charging hard, made a great play to throw Robinson out at the plate by a stride.  Sherm Lollar was then given an intentional pass to load the bases and force Chicago's hands on whether to allow Fisher to hit or go with a pinch hitter.  Fisher, who started out slow (3 runs over 1st 3 innings) had settled down into a nice run, but the game was on the line and Charlie Maxwell was ready to go.  Osinski attempted to jam Maxwell, but the pitch caught way too much plate.  Maxwell turned on it and on most days and in most other ballparks he would have had himself a grand slam homer.  Dodger stadium is 420 feet to dead center and that's just where the ball died as Pearson was able to catch it just before colliding into the wall for what looked to be a game saver.  LA still had a 3-1 lead and the Chisox were running out of outs.  No additional scoring occurred, and so the game headed into the top of the 9th with Chicago down to their last 3 outs and needing at least 2 runs to tie.  Inexplicably reliever Frank Baumann led off the inning and somehow managed to get a single.  Either the Chisox manager was a genius in rolling the dice this way or he was busy on the phone making his flight reservations.  Somehow we might never know the answer to that question.  When Aparicio single there were now runners on the corners.  Nellie Fox fought off a few pitches then slapped a slow roller to short that easily scored Baumann and easily advanced Aparicio to second with 1 out.  With the score now 3-2 Angel fans were now beginning to feel the same way White Sox fans felt two days earlier.  They began biting their nails and wondering if what they were seeing was really happening.  Up stepped Al Smith, who before this at bat might best be remembered for having beer spilled on his head as he stood against the left field wall in Comiskey during the 1959 Series while watching a Dodger batter hit a big homer.  Now was the time for Smith to etch himself into a more positive light as he launched a sailing shot over Pearson's head in center that easily scored Aparicio and landed Smith on third with a stand up triple.  Just like that the game was now tied.  Floyd Robinson came to the plate and wasted no time serving an opposite field single into left to score Smith and give the Chisox a 1 run lead.  The next two batters would easily make out, but the damage was already done.  Chicago now had to get 3 outs and live for tomorrow.  Baumann, who started the whole rally in the 9th, was back on board to close out his win.  It was his game to either win or lose as the Chisox pen was empty.  Billy Moran hit a sinking liner to center that Jim Landis easily gobbled up for out number one.  Leon Wagner grounded easily to short and up stepped Lee Thomas as the final out.  Thomas would single for the fourth consecutive time on the afternoon to keep the Angels fading hopes alive, but Buck Rodgers would end all hopes by fanning on 4 pitches to send the series to a decisive game 7.
Series tied 3-3

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