Phenoms Barnstorming Tour

GM# 157. AT 1960 ST. LOUIS CARDINALS. BUSCH STADIUM, ST. LOUIS, MO.

TOUR RECORD: 1960 PHASE (7-6) OVERALL (101-56)

RIPKEN HOMER IN TOP OF 9TH SENDS PHENOMS TO WILD, 9-8 WIN

PHENOMS 9

CARDINALS 8

WP- BRUCE SUTTER (4-6) LP-LINDY MCDANIEL

HR- FRANK ROBINSON 2 (38), SHOHEI OHTANI 2 (7), CAL RIPKEN 31; STAN MUSIAL

In yet another entry for wildest game of the tour, the Phenoms pulled off an incredible, 9-8 win, thanks to Cal Ripken’s home run in the top of the ninth and the relief pitching of Bruce Sutter.

Phenoms starter, Vean Gregg was in complete control, pitching shutout ball through six innings. He was aided by a Frank Robinson home run in the third inning, as well as a two-run blast from Shohei Ohtani, in the top of the sixth. Gregg took a 6-0 lead into the seventh inning. Then, baseball happened.

The Cardinal’s Leon Wagner led off with a double. That was followed by a walk and two singles, at which point Mark Eichhorn was brought in to pitch. That proved to be the wrong decision. Eichhorn loaded the bases without recording a single out, then surrendered a grand slam to Stan Musial. Suddenly, the ’60 Cardinals had a 7-6 lead.

The Phenoms would answer right away, courtesy of back-to-back homers, again by Robinson and Ohtani. That put the visitors back on top, 8-7. Mark Fidrych, who had relieved Eichhorn after Musial’s slam, came back out to pitch the eighth. Curt Flood led off with a single and he was later driven in by Bill White, to retie the game at eight apiece.

Cal Ripken led off the top of the ninth and sent a Lindy McDaniel offering over the fence, to put the Phenoms ahead, 9-8. Bruce Sutter had taken over for Fidrych, to get the last two outs in the eighth. He then set the Cards down in order in the bottom of the ninth, to close out a thriller.

NEXT GAME: AT 1960 KANSAS CITY ATHLETICS