Expos steal 2 from Dodgers

Game 1 - Mon 4, LAD 3 (11inn)

Carl Morton spotted LA 3 runs as the Dodgers scored solo runs in each of the first 3 innings. An RBI double by Larry Parrish and an RBI ground out by Tim Foli in the bottom of the 5th cut the deficit to 1. A 1 out pinch hit homer by Tony Perez squared it up at 3-3. The game headed into extras with nobody scoring in the tenth. Mike Marshall would throw 3 perfect innings of relief for the 'Spos who needed a run quick or risk sending their rubber armed reliever out for another frame. The problem was almost solved with 1 crack of the bat when "the hawk" Andre Dawson hit a bullet down the LF line that Dusty Baker misjudged. With the ball rattling around the warning track Dawson headed for third and had no intention of stopping. Dawson's third base coach thought otherwise and held up the red octagon. Kid Carter stepped to the plate and hit a deep fly ball that easily scored Dawson and awarded Marshall the much deserved win

Game 2 - LAD 6, Mon 2

Montreal jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the first, but did little right the rest of the way. Little Al Downing kept the Expos hitters off stride all day as the Dodger offense victimized Mike Torrez for 6 runs in 5 forgettable innings of work. Don Carrithers ate up innings in long relief and gave up just 2 hits, but nobody really cares about that kind of stuff when the team doesn't win. Dodger fans surely care when Billy Bucks goes 3 for 4 and executes 2 perfect H&R plays to setup big innings. Shortstop Bill Russell was 2-4 with 3 RBI's as the Dodgers thoroughly outclassed the men from the great white north.

Game 3 - Mon 2, LAD 1

The day belonged to the respective aces of each staff. Both Steve Rogers and Andy Messersmith brought their Cy Young efforts to Chavez Ravine on a beautiful 85 degree Southern California day. Messersmith was dominant from the outset. Rogers was working his way in and out of jams until Davey Lopes hit a solo blast to dead center in the bottom of the 5th to break up the scoreless deadlock. The Expos would scratch for a run to tie the game up in the top of the 6th. Warren Cromartie singled with 1 out and Messersmith uncharacteristically walked the next two hitters to load the bases. Montreal went to the bench and brought up former Dodger, lefty Ron Fairly, who sliced a one hopper that Ron Cey made a great play on. Cey's only play was to first, which allowed Cromartie to easily score from third. Fast forward to the top of the 9th where "Doggie" Perez led off with a clean single to left. Pinch hitter Tim Foli bunted Perez to second. Backup catcher Barry Foote singled back through the originator to put runners on the corners with 1 out. Ron Hunt came to the plate to pinch hit for Rogers and Ellis Valentine was sent in to pinch run for Perez at third. The stage was now set for Hunt to execute the squeeze play, which he did to perfection to make it 2-1 Expos. The bottom of the 9th was anticlimactic as the hometown heroes went three up and three down as reliever Mike Marshall once again earned his keep.

Sent from my iPhone typed completely left handed !