Thursday, March 17, 2011

Game 7 - "Johnny on the Spot" - Dodgers take series in 7

GAME 7 - Dodgers 7, Braves 2
Bob Hendley vs Johnny Podres
As great as Koufax and Drysdale are there is no bigger big game pitcher than the king of the change-up, Johnny Podres.  As a mere 23 year old lad Podres tossed a 2-0 shutout in game 7 of the 1955 World Series to supply Brooklyn with their only championship.  The brash Podres told his veteran teammates on the way to the game, "Just give me 1 run and I'll shut them out".  Time moves on and so did the franchise.  Podres was now a wiley veteran in his early 30's and the franchise was now 3,000 miles west of the borough of churches. Still Podres maintained that poise and special something that made him a big game pitcher.  After winning the series opener Podres returned to the hill for one more heroic effort.  After giving up an RBI single to Hank Aaron in the first Podres would shut the door on the Braves until the 8th when he gave up another solo run, an RBI single to Joe Torre.  In between those scores came 6 shutout innings of baseball and 4 Dodger runs off of Hendley.  LA would add 3 runs in the bottom of the 8th to make this close game look like a blow out.  Once again LA would get 2 homers from one player in a win.  Johnny Roseboro known more for the glove and less for the lumber went 4 for 4 on the day with 2 homers and 4 RBI's plus 3 runs scored.  On most days an offensive performance like that would qualify a player for MVP status, but not on a day when Johnny Podres tamed the great Brave lineup into submission to close out a tightly contested 7 game series.
Dodgers win series 4-3

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