Sleep To Baseball Podcast

White Sox @ Astros - World Series, Game 4, 2005

2005 World Series — Game 4

• Date: October 26, 2005

• Location: Minute Maid Park, Houston, Texas

• Series: Chicago White Sox led 3–0 over the Houston Astros, looking to complete a sweep.

  
  

  How the game unfolded

  • 1st inning:
    The White Sox struck first. Jermaine Dye hit an RBI single to score Willie Harris, giving Chicago a 1–0 lead. It would be the only run scored in the entire game.

  • Pitchers’ duel:

    • Freddy García (White Sox) pitched brilliantly, going 7 shutout innings, scattering 4 hits and striking out 7.

    • Brandon Backe (Astros) was also outstanding, giving up just 5 hits and 1 run in 7 innings.

  • Astros missed chances:
    Houston had runners in scoring position in the 3rd and 5th innings, but couldn’t capitalize. The best chance came in the 5th when they had men on second and third with one out, but García induced two pop outs to escape.

  • Closing it down:

    • In the 8th, Neal Cotts got the first out, then Bobby Jenks came on for a 5-out save.

    • Jenks retired all five batters he faced, finishing with a ground out to shortstop Juan Uribe to end the game — and the series.

      
      

      Final score:

      White Sox 1, Astros 0
      Chicago wins the series 4–0, their first World Series title since 1917.

      
      

      Key performances:

      • Freddy García: 7 shutout innings, clutch pitching in tough spots.

      • Jermaine Dye: Drove in the only run of the game, later named World Series MVP.

      • Bobby Jenks: Slammed the door with a perfect 1.2 innings for the save.

      • The White Sox completed a 4-game sweep, ending an 88-year championship drought.

      • It was also the first World Series appearance in Astros franchise history, though they would not capture a title until 2017.

      • The Sox dominated the series with outstanding pitching — holding Houston to just 3 runs combined over the final three games, two of which were one-run Chicago victories.

      ⚾ Historic notes

      • The White Sox completed a 4-game sweep, ending an 88-year championship drought.

      • It was also the first World Series appearance in Astros franchise history, though they would not capture a title until 2017.

      • The Sox dominated the series with outstanding pitching — holding Houston to just 3 runs combined over the final three games, two of which were one-run Chicago victories.

        
        

        A tense pitchers’ duel ended with the White Sox clinching their first World Series title since 1917. Freddy García’s gutsy outing and Bobby Jenks’s ice-cold finish preserved Jermaine Dye’s lone RBI, wrapping up a 4-game sweep of the Astros.

Reds @ Athletics ,

1990 World Series — Game 4

• Date: October 20, 1990
• Location: Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum, Oakland, CA
• Series: Cincinnati Reds led 3–0, needing one more win to complete a stunning upset sweep of the defending champion A’s.

🏟 How the game unfolded

• Early tension:
  The game started as a pitchers’ duel between Dave Stewart (A’s) and José Rijo (Reds). Both traded scoreless innings through the early going.
• 6th inning:
• Oakland finally broke through. With two outs, Willie McGee singled to right, scoring Carney Lansford to put the A’s ahead 1–0. It was their first lead in any game of the series.
• 8th inning:
• The Reds responded immediately. After two were out and nobody on, Barry Larkin singled and Herm Winningham followed with another single.
• José Rijo, the Reds pitcher, was due up, but manager Lou Piniella sent up pinch-hitter Glenn Braggs, who worked a walk to load the bases.
• Billy Hatcher then came up and drew a critical walk from Stewart to force in the tying run, 1–1.
• Paul O’Neill followed with a sharp grounder that A’s second baseman Mike Gallego couldn’t handle cleanly, allowing Winningham to score, putting the Reds up 2–1.
• 9th inning:
• Randy Myers, the Reds’ tough closer, came on to finish it off.
• With two outs, he faced Carney Lansford, who hit a pop fly to short right. Paul O’Neill settled under it — and caught it for the final out.

🏆 Final score:

Reds 2, Athletics 1
Cincinnati wins the series, 4–0, completing a shocking sweep over the heavily favored A’s.

⭐ Key performances:

• José Rijo: 8 innings, 2 hits, 1 run, 9 strikeouts, dominating a powerful Oakland lineup.
• Randy Myers: Earned the save with a scoreless 9th.
• Billy Hatcher: Capped an incredible World Series by setting a record with 7 consecutive hits earlier in the series and reaching base in this key rally.

Red Sox @ Cardinals - World Series Game 4 , October 27, 2004

Wednesday, October 27, 2004

Start Time: 7:26 p.m.

Local Attendance: 52,037

Venue: Busch Stadium II

Game Duration: 3:14

Night Game, on grass

How the game unfolded

• 1st inning:
• The Red Sox wasted no time. Johnny Damon led off with a solo home run off Jason Marquis, immediately putting Boston up 1–0.
• 3rd inning:
• Trot Nixon doubled to drive in two runs, stretching the lead to 3–0.
• 7th inning:
• The Sox added insurance when Ortiz was intentionally walked and then Jason Varitek grounded into a force play that scored another run. It was now 4–0.
• Meanwhile, Derek Lowe was magnificent for Boston.
• He pitched 7 shutout innings, giving up just 3 hits, keeping the Cardinals lineup (including Albert Pujols, Scott Rolen, Jim Edmonds) off balance all night.
• 8th & 9th innings:
• Mike Timlin and Keith Foulke closed it out, with Foulke inducing Edgar Rentería to ground back to the mound for the final out.

🏆 Final score:

Red Sox 3, Cardinals 0
(Note: Often reported as 4–0 overall in the series, with this game itself being 3–0; however, the correct Game 4 final score was 3–0.)

⭐ Key performances:

• Derek Lowe: 7 innings, 3 hits, 0 runs, winning pitcher in the clincher.
• Johnny Damon: Leadoff HR set the tone.
• Trot Nixon: Big 2-run double in the 3rd.
• Keith Foulke: Nailed down the save, fielding the final out himself.

⚾ Historic notes

• This game clinched the Red Sox’s first World Series title since 1918, breaking the infamous 86-year “Curse of the Bambino.”
• Boston swept the Cardinals 4–0, dominating the series after their miraculous comeback from down 0–3 in the ALCS vs. the Yankees.
• It sparked massive celebrations in New England, with long-suffering fans finally seeing their team crowned champions.

Angels @ White Sox, October 5, 1980

New York Yankees @ California Angels , July 13, 1979

Game Summary – Yankees @ Angels (July 13, 1979)

• Final Score: Angels 6, Yankees 1
• Venue & Conditions: Anaheim Stadium, attendance 41,805. Game time ~2h53m

🏟 Key Moments

• Pitching Duel:
• Nolan Ryan (Angels) pitched a near no-hit gem—he carried it into the 9th inning before giving up his only allowed hit.
• Luis Tiant (Yankees) had a strong outing but let in 6 runs SABRBaseball-Reference.com+2Baseball-Reference.com+2SABR+2.
• Breaking the No-Hitter:
• With two outs in the bottom of the 8th, Jim Spencer hit a sinking liner. It was ruled an error on center fielder Rick Miller, preserving the no-hit bid.
• In the 9th, Reggie Jackson broke it up with a clean single. Thurman Munson reached on another error, and Lou Piniella later hit a sac fly to score Munson — but that run was unearned Reddit+3SABR+3Wikipedia+3.
• Angels’ Offense:
• They built a 3–0 lead with back-to-back two-out singles in the 3rd inning.
• In the 8th, Dan Ford added a triple, and the Angels extended their lead to 6–1 .

🎯 Standout Performers

• Nolan Ryan (California Angels):
• Went 8⅔ innings, allowed just 1 earned run, and struck out 9, marking one of the most remarkable one-hitters in his storied career
• Dan Ford (Angels): Delivered a key triple in the 8th that helped cement the commanding lead
• Reggie Jackson (Yankees): Snapped the no-hitter in the 9th with a clutch hit

🏁 Final Takeaway

Nolan Ryan dazzled with one of his signature pitching performances, dominating for Anaheim while the bats around him provided early and late support. The Angels' 6–1 victory showcased their balanced game—stout pitching and aggressive hitting. Though Ryan narrowly missed a second no-hitter of the season, his outing remains legendary.

Athletics@ Yankees July 17, 1970

Friday, July 17, 1970

Start Time: 8:06 p.m.

Local Attendance: 17,821

Venue: Yankee Stadium

Dodgers @ Yankees - World Series Game 5, Oct 30, 2024,

Final Score: Dodgers 7, Yankees 6; Dodgers win series 4–1

Scoring Highlights

• Early Domination by Yankees:
• 1st inning: Aaron Judge and Jazz Chisholm Jr. hit back-to-back homers—Yankees up 3–0.
• 2nd inning: RBI single by Alex Verdugo brings Volpe home—4–0.
• 3rd inning: Giancarlo Stanton solo homer—5–0 lead 
• Dodgers Fight Back (5th inning):
• A series of Yankees errors (Judge, Volpe, Rizzo/Cole misplay) lead to five unearned runs—Freddie Freeman (RBI single), Teoscar Hernández (two-run double) tie it 5–5 
• Lead Changes:
• 6th inning: Stanton’s sacrifice fly puts Yankees ahead 6–5
• 8th inning: Dodgers retake lead—sacrifice flies by Gavin Lux, then Mookie Betts give them a 7–6 edge 
• Closing It Out:
• Blake Treinen holds off a bases-loaded jam in the 8th.
• Walker Buehler, on just one day of rest, pitches a perfect 9th to seal the win and the championship
• Freddie Freeman is named World Series MVP, tying the single-series RBI record with 12
• 
  

A historic comeback: from an early 5–0 deficit, the Dodgers rallied to win 7–6 and clinch the World Series. Anchored by Yankees' defensive miscues and clutch Dodgers hitting, helped by veteran bullpen arms Treinen and Buehler—this was a classic Fall Classic finish.

Sleep To Baseball Podcast Episode 17

Something a bit different this week, an incredible find of the 1934 All-Star game featuring Babe Ruth & Lou Gehrig from the NY Polo Grounds

Sleep To Baseball Podcast Episode 16

Reds at Athletics, October 20, - World Series Game 5 1972

Sleep To Baseball Podcast Episode 15

Cardinals @ Royals, October 27, 1985 - World Series, Game 7

1985 World Series — Game 7

• Date: October 27, 1985
• Venue: Royals Stadium (now Kauffman Stadium), Kansas City
• Series: Tied 3–3 coming into this decisive Game 7.

🏟 How the game unfolded

⚾ Pitching matchup:

• Royals: Bret Saberhagen, their 21-year-old ace, who had already won Game 3.
• Cardinals: John Tudor, who’d shut out the Royals in Game 4.

🔥 The Royals’ big night

• 2nd inning:
  The Royals jumped out early. Darryl Motley crushed a 2-run homer to left, putting Kansas City up 2–0.
• 3rd inning:
  The Cardinals unraveled. Tudor lost his command, loading the bases. Steve Balboni singled to make it 3–0, then Jim Sundberg walked to force in another, 4–0. A wild pitch by reliever Bill Campbell made it 5–0. Darryl Motley then singled again to drive in two more, pushing the lead to a shocking 7–0.
• 5th inning:
  The Royals added two more on RBI singles from Lonnie Smith and Willie Wilson, stretching it to 9–0.
• Cardinals meltdown:
  Frustration boiled over. John Tudor had already been removed after lasting just 2.1 innings, giving up 5 runs on 4 hits and 3 walks. Later, in the dugout, he famously punched an electric fan and cut his hand badly.

🚀 Bret Saberhagen’s masterpiece

• Meanwhile, Saberhagen was in complete control.
• He pitched a complete game shutout, allowing just 5 hits, walking none, and striking out 2.
• When Jorge Orta grounded out to second for the final out, Saberhagen celebrated on the mound with his teammates — his newborn son was even brought onto the field during the celebration.

🏆 Final score:

Royals 11, Cardinals 0
Kansas City wins the 1985 World Series, 4–3, capturing their first championship in franchise history.

⭐ Key performances:

• Bret Saberhagen: Complete game shutout on the biggest stage, named World Series MVP.
• Darryl Motley: 3-for-4, with a 2-run homer and 3 RBIs total.
• George Brett: Went 1-for-3 with 2 runs scored, steady leadership throughout.

⚾ Historic notes

• This Game 7 rout came one night after the infamous Game 6 blown call by umpire Don Denkinger, which sparked Kansas City’s late rally and shifted the momentum of the series.
• The Cardinals’ frustration was obvious — manager Whitey Herzog and pitcher Joaquín Andújar were both ejected in the 5th inning for arguing balls and strikes.
• It remains one of the most famous turnarounds in World Series history, as St. Louis had been just three outs from winning the title in Game 6.

✅ In short:

The Royals pounced early and never looked back, crushing the Cardinals 11–0 behind Bret Saberhagen’s brilliant shutout to win their first-ever World Series title, just a day after a controversial call gave them new life.