Redbirds sweep Cubbies

In a series that saw two pitching duels and a blowout, the Cardinals won all three on their home turf to get off to a fast start in KOD23.

Bob Gibson bested Greg Maddux in a duel of aces in the lid-lifter. Gibby struck out 11, surrendering four hits in a complete game victory. Two of the four hits were from the first two hitters in the game. Mark Grace got the Cubs off to a flying start by leading off the season with a home run. Ryne Sandberg followed with a crisp single. 

Meanwhile Maddux was perfect through four. Joe Torre singled to open the fifth ending the perfecto and no-hitter all at once. The Cardinals went on to plate two in the inning on a clutch single by Julian Javier with runners at second and third. Bill White singled in an insurance run in the sixth, which the Cardinals needed when Sandberg doubled and rode home on a single by former Cardinal Bull Durham. But Gibson closed it out to keep the score 3-2.

Game two was more of the same as Mike Morgan and Ray Washburn kept hitters befuddled. The game was tied at 1 in the bottom of the ninth when Lou Brock lead off with a triple, and score the game winner on a sac fly from Dick Groat.

The Cardinals bats woke up in game three, scoring 9 on 14 hits off of four Cub hurlers. Dick Hughes kept the sterling Cardinal pitching going with 7 strong innings, striking out nine. Things went so well for the home squad in this that when catcher Ted Simmons had to leave the game early, all his backup, Tim McCarver, did was single in a run and then hit a two run homer. Groat added a single and double and 3 RBIs as well. 

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