Oh, Danny Boy !

[GAME 2 - NYM 2, LA 1]

Different game, same results. This time, Al Downing (4-7) would be the hard luck loser for the Dodgers. The game was scoreless until the 4th when the Metsies plated 2. The inning started off badly for the visitors from the left coast when Downing jammed Don Clendenon, only to see catcher Tom Haller pick up the ball in front of the plate and air mail it over Wes Parker's head at first. Thankfully Willie Crawford backed up the play and Clendenon remained at first. Rookie Ken Singleton single to left to put runners on 1st and 2nd. Aspromonte bunted the runners up. Jerry Grote hit a Texas leaguer to score Clendenon and Tim Foli followed suit to score Singleton. Downing was able to get the next two batters (Nolan Ryan & Don Hahn) to ground out to end the inning. For the next 3 innings Nolan Ryan was flat out dealing. In fact he would have had a no hitter going if it wasn't for the jam job single that Tom Haller had in the 2nd. The top of the 8th saw Clendenon boot a room service hop at first off the bat of Bobby V, who promptly stole second and was bunted to third by Downing.

Maury Wills came through with a sac fly to Hahn in center, but that would be it for the Dodgers sojourn into the scoring column. Curiously Ryan was pulled from the contest after Clendenon's error. One would have suspected that he would have been allowed to pursue his shutout. In any case the move worked out just fine as reliever Danny Frisella threw two scoreless innings and notched his 9th save. LA's lone run was an unearned run charged to Ryan (4-1).