Sleep To Baseball Podcast

Game Summary — October 17, 2025
Milwaukee Brewers at Los Angeles Dodgers
Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles, California
Attendance: 52,883
Final Score: Dodgers 5 – Brewers 1

2025 NLCS: Dodgers Sweep Brewers

• The Dodgers defeated Milwaukee 4–0 in the best-of-seven series to win the 2025 National League Championship Series and advance to the World Series.

• They allowed only 4 runs in the entire series, and the Brewers’ team batting average was just .118 — the lowest ever by a team in a postseason series (of at least 3 games) 

• Shohei Ohtani was named NLCS MVP thanks to an awe-inspiring Game 4 performance: he struck out 10 and hit three home runs while pitching into the 7th inning, leading the Dodgers to a clinching 5–1 victory

  
  

  Game 4 (Series-clincher): Dodgers 5, Brewers 1

  Key moments / highlights:

  • Ohtani did it all: on the mound he struck out 10 and allowed just two hits over six-plus innings; at the plate he became the 12th player in MLB postseason history to launch three homers in a single game. 

  • His homers came in the 1st, 4th, and 7th innings. 

  • The Brewers’ lone run came in the 8th via an RBI fielder’s choice, off reliever Anthony Banda.

  • In relief, Rōki Sasaki closed the 9th with a scoreless frame to seal the sweep. 

  • The game lasted 2h 41m at Dodger Stadium with attendance of 52,883. 

Game Summary: September 11, 1983

Angels at White Sox

On Sunday, September 11, 1983, the Chicago White Sox secured a 5–4 victory over the California Angels in a thrilling 10-inning game at Comiskey Park. The game was highlighted by a dramatic walk-off single by Harold Baines in the bottom of the ninth inning, driving in Julio Cruz for the win. This victory completed a perfect 7–0 homestand for the White Sox, marking their third such homestand in franchise history. The win improved their record to 84–59, extending their lead in the American League West division. 

• Commentators: The broadcast opened with Ken Wilson, with Joe McConnell calling play-by-play and Ken Wilsonproviding color commentary throughout the game.

• The highlight of the game came with Harold Baines’ walk-off single in the bottom of the 10th, driving in Julio Cruz for the decisive run.

• This victory capped off a perfect 7–0 homestand for the White Sox, marking a remarkable stretch in the 1983 season.

• With the win, the White Sox improved their record to 84–59, solidifying their lead in the American League West.

1986 World Series – Game 6: Boston Red Sox @ New York Mets
October 25, 1986 – Shea Stadium, New York

Game 6 of the 1986 World Series between the Boston Red Sox and New York Mets is one of the most famous games in baseball history. Broadcast nationally on NBC with Vin Scully and Joe Garagiola, the game was filled with tension and unforgettable ambience.

The Red Sox took the lead early and were just one strike away from their first championship since 1918. But in the bottom of the 10th at Shea Stadium, the Mets staged a legendary comeback. Gary Carter, Kevin Mitchell, and Ray Knight kept the inning alive with clutch hits. A wild pitch tied the game, and then came the moment that defined the Series: Mookie Wilson’s ground ball that rolled through Bill Buckner’s legs. The error allowed Ray Knight to score, giving the Mets a stunning 6–5 victory.

This “Buckner game” is remembered as the ultimate collapse for Boston and one of the greatest comebacks in Mets history. The crowd at Shea erupted, Vin Scully’s iconic call captured the moment, and baseball lore was forever changed.

Final Score: Mets 6, Red Sox 5 (10 innings).

1989 World Series – Game 3: Oakland Athletics @ San Francisco Giants
October 17, 1989 – Candlestick Park, San Francisco

Game 3 of the ’89 Series was set to be a classic Bay Area matchup, but it will forever be remembered for what happened before the first pitch. At 5:04 PM local time, just minutes before the scheduled start, a 6.9 magnitude earthquake struck the Bay Area. The broadcast from ABC cut out mid-introduction, with commentators Al Michaels, Tim McCarver, and Jim Palmer initially thinking it was just technical difficulties—until the reality set in. The sound of the crowd, the shaking of Candlestick Park, and the stunned silence afterward created one of the most surreal ambiences in baseball history.

The earthquake forced a 10-day postponement of the Series. When play finally resumed on October 27, 1989, the atmosphere was unlike any other World Series game—somber, reflective, but also filled with relief that baseball could provide a sense of normalcy.

Al Michaels’ on-air reaction to the earthquake in Game 3 (“I’ll tell you what, we’re having an earthqua—”) is one of the most famous moments in sports broadcasting history.

On the field:

• The Oakland A’s, already up 2–0 in the series, dominated again, winning 13–7.

• For Oakland: Dave Stewart gave another strong performance on the mound, and the lineup was relentless. José Canseco doubled in a pair of runs, Carney Lansford added key hits, and Terry Steinbach’s bat helped open the game wide. Dave Henderson made a highlight defensive play in right field, tracking down a deep fly.

• For San Francisco: The Giants showed fight with big swings late in the game—Matt Williams and Candy Maldonado both provided RBI hits, and Kevin Mitchell crushed a home run that gave the crowd a reason to roar despite the deficit.

Though the A’s bats overpowered the Giants, the game is remembered less for the scoreboard and more for the unprecedented ambience: the tension of the earthquake’s aftermath, the resiliency of the Bay Area, and the unique commentary of Al Michaels, whose live reaction to the quake became one of sports broadcasting’s defining moments.

Final Score: Oakland 13, San Francisco 7.
The A’s took a commanding 3–0 lead, setting up what would become a Series sweep—forever marked as the “Earthquake Series.”

Date & Venue: October 26, 1997 – Pro Player Stadium, Miami, Florida
Final Score: Florida Marlins 3, Cleveland Indians 2 (11 innings)

Summary:

Game 7 of the 1997 World Series was a tense, rain-soaked, extra-innings thriller that ended with the expansion Florida Marlins winning their first championship in only their fifth season of existence.

The Cleveland Indians struck first in the 3rd inning when Tony Fernández singled in a run, giving them a 1–0 lead. The game remained tight as both starters .  Jaret Wright for Cleveland and Al Leiter for Florida , battled effectively.

In the 9th inning, the Indians were just three outs away from clinching their first championship since 1948. They held a 2–1 lead thanks to a sacrifice fly from Fernández in the top of the frame. Manager Mike Hargrove turned to closer José Mesa to finish it.

But the Marlins rallied. In the bottom of the 9th, Moisés Alou singled, and Craig Counsell hit a sacrifice fly that scored Alou, tying the game at 2–2 and sending it into extra innings.

In the 11th inning, the Marlins mounted their historic rally. With the bases loaded and one out against Charles Nagy, Édgar Rentería hit a soft single up the middle, scoring Counsell with the winning run. The Marlins walked off with a 3–2 victory and the 1997 World Series championship.

Key Performances:

• Edgar Rentería: Game-winning hit in the 11th.
• Craig Counsell: Scored the winning run, also drove in the tying run in the 9th.
• Tony Fernández (CLE): Drove in both Indians runs.
• Livan Hernández (FLA): Named World Series MVP (2–0 record, including a Game 1 win and a pivotal Game 5 performance).

Historical Significance:

• The Marlins became the fastest expansion team to win a World Series (5th season).
• It was one of the most dramatic Game 7s in Series history, ending on an extra-inning, walk-off hit.
• For Cleveland fans, it was a crushing heartbreak — the Indians were just two outs away from ending a nearly 50-year title drought.

Game Summary

• What happened: Nolan Ryan (age 44) threw his seventh and final no-hitter, for the Texas Rangers versus the Toronto Blue Jays.
• Final Score: Rangers 3, Blue Jays 0. 
• Location: Arlington Stadium, Arlington, Texas. 
• Attendance: 33,439 spectators
• Length of Game: Approximately 2 hours 25 minutes.

Pitching Performance & Key Stats

• Ryan’s performance: He struck out 16 batters, walked 2. 
• Total pitches: 122 pitches, with 83 strikes. 
• Opposing team: The Blue Jays were then among the best hitting teams in baseball, yet were held hitless. 
• Final out: Future Hall of Famer Roberto Alomar struck out swinging on a fastball to end the game. 

Offensive & Other Highlights

• The Rangers scored 3 runs off Blue Jays starter Jimmy Key.
• One of the runs was (at least) a home run by Rubén Sierra.
• Defensively, a few near-hits were erased; for example, a “short fly out to center” (Gary Pettis is credited with a big defensive catch) when the Jays threatened. 

Context & Backstory

• Physical condition: Ryan was not feeling great — dealing with back and heel pain, etc. He told manager Bobby Valentine and pitching coach Tom House that he might not make it through the first inning. 
• Significance: This was the first no-hitter thrown by a Ranger at home (Arlington Stadium). Prior no-hit games by Ryan were on the road or with other teams.
• At age 44, Ryan became the oldest pitcher ever to throw a no-hitter.

Commentators / Broadcast Information

• Canadian television (Blue Jays side): Don Chevrier called the game. He was a long-time commentator for the Toronto Blue Jays.
• It’s noted that the game “was broadcast in Canada and picked up nationally by ESPN” according to Sports Illustrated’s retrospective.
• It seems locally (in Texas) the game may not have been televised (or at least not widely shown), so many fans listened on radio.

thank you
nathankc for putting this game on my radar, classic!

Chicago White Sox vs. California Angels — October 5, 1980

Ballpark: Comiskey Park (the original, South Side of Chicago) City: Chicago, Illinois

Occasion: Final day of the MLB regular season and the final White Sox broadcast on WSNS Channel 44 before their games moved to another station.

So this one wasn’t a thriller like a World Series Game 7 — but as a last-day-of-the-season snapshot at old Comiskeywith Harry Caray and Jimmy Piersall signing off WSNS

The Game Flow

• 1st Inning (Sox strike fast): Chicago got to Angels starter Ralph Botting right away. Wayne Nordhagen doubled home a run, and later Mike Squires singled, helping the Sox plate three runs in the opening frame. The sparse Comiskey crowd (just under 9,000 fans) had something to cheer about early.
• 2nd Inning (Insurance): The Sox added two more runs in the bottom of the second. It was mostly small ball — base hits strung together, plus a fielder’s choice. After two innings, it was 5–0 White Sox.
• Middle Innings: The game settled into a slower rhythm. White Sox starter Steve Trout mixed in his sinker and curve, keeping the Angels quiet through five. Botting, after the rough start, calmed down a bit but was already in too deep of a hole.
• 6th Inning (Angels answer): The Angels finally broke through. Carney Lansford and Rod Carew helped manufacture a run, trimming it to 5–1.
• 7th & 8th Innings: California added two more — Trout allowed a few baserunners and walks, and Dan Fordknocked in a run. Suddenly it was 5–3, but Trout wriggled out of a bigger jam.
• 9th Inning (nail down): With the game still tight, Mike Proly came in from the bullpen for Chicago. He worked around traffic to record the save, preserving a 5–3 White Sox victory.

Pitching & Key Players

• White Sox:
• Starter: Steve Trout — 8 innings, 9 hits, 3 runs, 5 strikeouts, 5 walks. Earned the win (finishing season 9–16).
• Closer: Mike Proly — 1 inning, nailed down the save.
• Angels:
• Starter: Ralph Botting — 1.1 innings, 5 runs allowed.
• Relievers (including John Montague) kept it close afterward, but the early deficit was too much.
• Notables at the plate (Chicago):
• Wayne Nordhagen: RBI double in the 1st.
• Mike Squires: timely RBI single.
• Jim Morrison & Chet Lemon contributed to early rallies.
• Notables (California):
• Rod Carew: reached base a couple of times, steady as ever.
• Carney Lansford: part of the late push.
• Dan Ford: RBI single late in the game.

• Harry Caray – the booming, colorful lead voice of the Sox.
• Jimmy Piersall – fiery former outfielder, gave colorful commentary.
• Lorn Brown – play-by-play man, also part of the rotation.
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1960 World Series – Game 7

Date: October 13, 1960
Location: Forbes Field, Pittsburgh
Teams: Pittsburgh Pirates vs. New York Yankees

The Game Summary

This was one of the most dramatic and unusual World Series finales ever played.

• The Pirates jumped out early with a 4–0 lead, sparked by Rocky Nelson’s two-run homer and a Roberto Clemente RBI.

• The Yankees, with their thunderous lineup (Mantle, Maris, Berra), clawed back. Yogi Berra hit a key three-run homer to put New York ahead 5–4.

• By the top of the 8th, the Yankees had stretched it to 7–4, and it looked all but sealed.

• But the Pirates roared back in the bottom half. Hal Smith smashed a three-run homer off Jim Coates, giving Pittsburgh a 9–7 lead and sending Forbes Field into a frenzy.

• In the 9th, the Yankees tied it again. Mickey Mantle’s clutch single scored the tying run, making it 9–9.

• Bottom of the 9th, tied 9–9: Bill Mazeroski led off against Ralph Terry. On a 1–0 pitch, Mazeroski swung and sent the ball over the left-field wall.

• It was the first and only Game 7 walk-off home run in World Series history. Pirates win, 10–9.

Final: Pirates 10 – Yankees 9
Series: Pittsburgh wins 4–3

Mel Allen was the announcer

1986 NLCS Game 6

New York Mets @ Houston Astros – October 15, 1986
Location: Astrodome, Houston, TX
Final Score: Mets 7, Astros 6 (16 innings)
Series Result: Mets win NLCS, 4–2

Game Summary:

Game 6 of the 1986 NLCS was an epic, exhausting, and dramatic classic that stretched across 16 innings and nearly 5 hours—a test of endurance, willpower, and championship resolve. The Astros, behind starter Bob Knepper, dominated early, taking a 3-0 lead into the 9th inning. With just three outs to go and ace Mike Scott looming for Game 7, it looked all but over for the Mets.

But New York wasn’t done.

In the top of the 9th, the Mets strung together clutch hits, including a critical RBI double from Wally Backman and a game-tying sacrifice fly by Lenny Dykstra to stun the home crowd and send the game into extra innings at 3–3.

From there, the game turned chaotic and unforgettable.

Both teams missed chances in extra frames. The Mets took a 4–3 lead in the 14th, only for Billy Hatcher to crush a game-tying homer off the foul pole in the bottom half. In the 16th, the Mets broke through with three runs, helped by a Ray Knight RBI single and a wild pitch.

Even then, Houston wasn’t finished. The Astros scored two runs in the bottom of the 16th and brought the winning run to the plate before Jesse Orosco struck out Kevin Bass with the tying and winning runs on base, ending the instant classic and sending the Mets to the World Series.

Why It’s One of the Greatest Comebacks in Baseball History:

1. Down to Their Last Outs: The Mets were 3 outs away from losing Game 6 and facing Mike Scott in Game 7, who had dominated them twice already. Their chances looked slim.
2. High Stakes: This wasn’t just a single-game comeback—it was a season-saving rally with the pennant on the line.
3. Length & Drama: A 16-inning rollercoaster that saw four lead changes and clutch hits on both sides. It was a war of attrition, featuring contributions from almost every player on both rosters.
4. Legendary Status: Many baseball historians and players call it the greatest postseason game ever played not named Game 6 of the 1975 World Series. It had everything—narrative tension, late-inning heroics, managerial chess, and emotional swings.

Quote from Mets Manager Davey Johnson:

“If I hadn’t seen it, I wouldn’t believe it.”

Game 3 – October 3, 1951 @ Polo Grounds (NY)

On October 3, 1951, the Giants staged a dramatic come‑from‑behind comeback in the bottom of the ninth at the Polo Grounds when Bobby Thomson hit the legendary walk-off homer off Ralph Branca, turning a 4–2 deficit into a 5–4 pennant win. The radio broadcast, carried on WMCA in New York, featured broadcaster Russ Hodges, whose repeated exclamation “The Giants win the pennant!” became one of the most timeless calls in sports history.

Why It Still Matters

• One of baseball’s most-cinematic finishes  from a 13½-game deficit in mid-August to a pennant-clinching home run. ☑️

• The first major league game ever televised coast-to-coast, opening a new era radio remained the emotional centerpiece for that moment. sabr.org

• Russ Hodges’ radio narration, captured by a lucky fan on home tape recorder, ensures that moment lives on even decades later.

  
  

  Radio Broadcast: “The Giants win the pennant…”

  Local Giants radio home broadcasts on WMCA (New York) featured Russ Hodges at the mic, with his partner Ernie Harwell (listed as Giants radio team for the season), though for Game 3 Harwell was assigned to national TV while Hodges handled the radio alone. Russell Hodges’ ecstatic call, "The Giants win the pennant! The Giants win the pennant!", repeated four times, became the most famous call in baseball history. sabr.org

  This game was also carried on multiple networks, including the Mutual and Liberty systems, as well as Dodgers’ and Giants’ local affiliate feeds. Dodgers’ radio voice Red Barber, calling the play for Brooklyn fans, had his own classic ending:

  “It is … a home run! And the New York Giants win the National League pennant and the Polo Grounds goes wild!”