Redbirds take 2 of 3 from “lowly” Friars

Game 1 at San Diego,
Future color analyst Tim McCarver collected 2 hits and drove in 4 runs as the Cardinals took the opening game the three game set with the Padres.  Bill White added three more hits to the redbirds cause as they went on to defeat the lowly Friars 7-0.

Game 2 at San Diego,
Randy Jones pitched a strong game as San Diego took down the powerful Cardinals 6-3. The hosts put up 4 runs in the first including a 3-run bomb to center by catcher Terry Kennedy. Jones was sharp in this game but got sloppy in the 5th inning when he hung a sinker to Curt Flood and he nailed it just over the 8 foot temporary fence down the left field line. That would be the only runs the crafty lefty would surrender as he went the distance to earn his first "W" of the tournament. Dave Winfield contributed 2 hits and a pair of RBI in the San Diego triumph. Padres 6....Cardinals 3.

Game 3 at St. Louis,
Clay Kirby and Steve Carlton matched up in game 3 and it looked for a while that the Padres would mount an upset and take 2 of 3 from the tough Cardinals Unfortunately that would not be the case.  The Padres held a 4-2 edge into the 8th inning powered by blasts from Benito Santiago and Dave Winfield. However, in the bottom half of the 8th inning and a run in for the Cardinals, Lefty Dave Dravecky decided to walk Joe Torre to face lefty Lou Brock.  St. Louis made a gutsy call and decided to pinch hit for the future Hall of Famer with former Padre George Hendrick. Big George got a pitch to his liking and slammed it into the seats for a 3-run home run and a 6-4 Cardinal lead. McDaniel came in the 9th inning and put the nail into the Padres coffin to seal the Cardinals dramatic come-from-behind victory and snatch the game from the Padres. Final score: Cardinals 6....Padres 4.

--submitted by Joey Scigliano--