Jints take 2 of 3 from ‘Spos

Game 1: Through the first 5 innings, the game was a battle. Tied at 2, with each starting pitcher nearing their limit the game looked like it was going to come down to the bullpens. But then in the bottom of the 6th, the Giants broke it open with 4 runs to take a 6-2 lead in big part of Monte Irvin's 3 run pinch hit homer. But the Expos quickly answered back in the top of the 7th with 3 runs of their own, as 7 batters came to the plate. The Giants were feeling good with their 1 run lead which they took in to the 9th inning. But the Expos exploded for 3 runs in the top of the 9th thanks to sloppy pitching by the Giants closer Hoyt Wilhelm. Down 8-6 in the bottom of the 9th, the Giants held a quick team meeting where they talked about the potential of their season slipping away from them. That was enough to inspire a tie as Alvin Dark (HR), Will Clark and Willie Mays all delivered. And so it was on extras. Linzy held the Expos silent in the top of the 10th. And it only took one batter to end the game in the bottom of the 10th as Mr. Strikeout Bobby Bonds launched one out of the park for a Giants win 9-8.

Game 2: Neither starting pitcher made it past the 5th inning in this game. The Giants put up 5 on Montreal's starter Lea and the Expos hung 4 on San Fran's Antonelli. The Expos scored runs in the 6th and 7th innings to take a 6-5 lead and once again the Giants looked worried. But the 8th inning saw 9 Giants come to the plate with Kevin Mitchell coming in and hitting a pinch hit double to put the game out of reach at 9-6. Raines and Dawson each had 2 doubles a piece for the Expos.

Game 3: The Expos were expecting to be swept after seeing how poorly their bullpen played in the first two games. So of course, the Expos delivered the best pitching performance of the series with Scott Sanderson going 7 and giving up 3 runs and both Fryman and Schatzeder pitching an inning of scoreless relief. Couple that with 2 homeruns for the Expos (Wallach and Carter) and 4 stolen bases and you have the recipe for a win. 7 of the 8 position players for the Expos got hits and they led from the very beginning as the Expos beat the Giants 8-3.
The Giants are now 17-13, while the Expos are 12-18.
--
Keith MacDonald