Category: Spring Training

ST-1997 Florida Marlins at 1999 Arizona Diamondbacks

Randy Johnson

  • 1997 Florida Marlins 0
  • 1999 Arizona Diamondbacks 2

A Spring Training absolute pitching masterpiece by both teams as both combined for no earned runs, complete games pitched, and 24 strikeouts between them. The D-backs grabbed their first run thanks to an error by Bobby Bonilla in the bottom of the second that put Matt Williams on base. He was driven home two batters later by an Andy Fox single to left. In the 7th another error on Bonilla allowed Tony Womack to score giving Arizona a 2 run lead. Florida had a pair of chances to get back into the game when Gary Sheffield had runners on first and third in the 7th inning only to ground out to short, and a one out triple from Moises Alou in the top of the 9th was followed by two strikeouts to end the affair. Both pitchers were superb, but Randy Johnson gets the game ball throwing 13 strikeouts while only allowing 2 walks and no earned runs. Florida drops a heartbreaking pitcher duel with no runs on 4 hits and 3 errors that ultimately cost them the game. Arizona takes the victory with 2 runs on 4 hits and no errors.

Game Notes

  • Date Played: 23 Oct 2021
  • Venue: Soothing Meadows
  • Game Duration: 20 Minutes
  • 2B: Steve Finley
  • 3B: Moises Alou
  • HR: None
  • TB: Steve Finley (4), Moises Alou (3), Edgar Renteria, Jeff Conine, Devon White, Tony Womack, Andy Fox
  • SH: Kevin Brown (2),
  • SF: None
  • IBB: None
  • HBP: None
  • With RISP: Florida 0 for 4, Arizona 2 for 9
  • GIDP: Bobby Bonilla
  • RBI: Jay Bell, Andy Fox
  • R: Tony Womack, Matt Williams
  • Team LOB: Florida-6, Arizona-11
  • E: Bobby Bonilla (2), Edgar Renteria, Andy Fox
  • DP: Johnson-Bell-Lee
  • Outfield Assists: None
  • PB: None
  • SB: Tony Womack
  • CS: None
  • Picked Off: None
  • Win: Randy Johnson
  • Loss: Kevin Brown
  • Save: None
  • Balks: Kevin Brown
  • WP: None
  • HBP: None
  • IBB: None
  • Pickoffs: None
  • Additional Notes: Five Star Game.

ST-1965 California Angels at 1965 Houston Astros

Jim Wynn

  • 1965 California Angels-5
  • 1965 Houston Astros-8

A spring training exhibition match between 2 teams who never met head-to-head in the regular season saw the 65 win Astros defeat the 75 win Angels in what had the makings of an early blowout. Despite an early lead from a Vic Power opening frame homer, the Astros batted around in the bottom of the 1st and plated 6 thanks in part to a Jim Wynn 3 run bomb and a Lee Maye triple. Jim Wynn added another run in the 4th after a Rusty Staub RBI single to right, and in the 7th Staub gave himself a run with a homer. Down 8-1 and with Robin Roberts looking solid on the mound for the ‘Stros, the Angels looked to be doomed to defeat, but in top of the 8th after a walk, base hit, and error on Astros second baseman Joe Morgan, Buck Rogers (in the 25th Century) crushed a 1-0 curve for a grand slam. Their inning and game ended after that without another hit. The Angels lose with 5 runs on 8 hits and 1 error while Houston captured the win with 8 runs on 13 hits and 2 errors. Going 3 for 3 with 3 RBI’s, 2 runs, a stolen base, and a homer, Jim Wynn makes the easy choice for player of the game.

Game Notes

  • Date Played: 2 Apr 2019
  • Venue: Soothing Meadows
  • Game Duration: Unknown
  • 2B: Bobby Knoop
  • 3B: Lee Maye
  • HR: Vic Power, Jim Wynn, Rusty Staub, Buck Rogers
  • TB: Buck Rogers (6), Jim Wynn (6), Vic Power (5), Rusty Staub (5), Lee Maye (3), Bobby Knoop (2), Jose Cardenal, Albie Pearson, Joe Morgan, Bob Lillis, Bob Aspromonte, Ron Brand, Robin Roberts
  • SH: None
  • SF: None
  • IBB: None
  • HBP: None
  • With RISP: California 2-6, Houston 4-10
  • GIDP: None
  • RBI: Buck Rogers (4), Jim Wynn (3), Rusty Staub (2), Vic Power, Joe Morgan, Lee Maye, Ron Brand
  • R: Vic Power (2), Jim Wynn (2), Rusty Staub (2), Jim Fregosi, Paul Schaal, Buck Rogers, Joe Morgan, Bob Lillis, Lee Maye, Ron Brand
  • Team LOB: California-7, Houston-9
  • E: Jim Fregosi, Joe Morgan, Jim Gentile
  • DP: None
  • Outfield Assists: None
  • PB: None
  • SB: Jose Cardenal, Jim Wynn
  • CS: Jim Wynn
  • Picked Off: None
  • Win: Robin Roberts
  • Loss: Fred Newman
  • Save: Claude Raymond
  • Balks: None
  • WP: None
  • HBP: None
  • IBB: None
  • Pickoffs: None
  • Additonal Notes: None

ST-1968 St. Louis Cardinals at 1955 Brooklyn Dodgers

orlando cepeda

  • 1968 St. Louis Cardinals-3
  • 1955 Brooklyn Dodgers-2

This one was a good game between two teams separated by 13 years as the Dodgers took a one run lead in the bottom of the 2nd from a Carl Furillo bomber to center before St. Louis tied it in the top of the next frame.  In the top of the next inning, the Cardinals added two more runs from a Maxvill double and the score remained 3 to 1 until the bottom of the 7th inning.  A double from Pee Wee Reese to begin the inning saw him score two batters later when Zimmer singled to drive him home and bring the Dodgers within a run.  In the last 2 innings the Dodgers could only manage a single, no runs, and lost the game with 6 hits that scored 2 runs and a single error.  The 1968 Cardinals won the game with 3 runs on 12 hits and no errors.  Player of the game ball goes to the Cardinals Orlando Cepeda who went 4 for 4 with an RBI double in the 3rd.

Notes: My brother’s first game. He played as the 1955 Brooklyn Dodgers while I handpicked the 1968 Cardinals looking for a comparable team to offer up a competitive game.

ST-2013 Pittsburgh Pirates at 1909 Pittsburgh Pirates

pedro alvarez

  • 2013 Pittsburgh Pirates-2
  • 1909 Pittsburgh Pirates-0

Sometimes you can do nearly everything right and still lose the game, and unfortunately for the 1909 Pirates that is exactly what happened to them in this one. Both teams pitched shutout ball until the top of the 9th when 1909 Pittsburgh pitcher Howie Camnitz hung a fast ball over the plate that Pedro Alvarez crushed for a 2 run home run and the win.  Alvarez earns top player status after his only hit of the game which gave the 2013 Bucs the victory.  Camnitz gets the loss despite pitching a complete game where he gave up only 3 hits and accounted for 7 strikeouts.  The 2013 Pirates win 2 to nothing on only 3 hits without committing an error.  Devastated, the 1909 Bucs lose without a run, 6 hits, and no errors.

Notes: Played at Red Canyon on 21 Apr 2014.  My then girlfriend, and now wife’s first game. She played as the 1909 Pirates while I took the field as the 2013 team.

ST-1986 New York Mets at 1990 Pittsburgh Pirates

Zane Smith

  • 1986 New York Mets-1
  • 1990 Pittsburgh Pirates-6

A demoralizing 3rd inning proved to be all the Pirates needed to defeat the great ’86 Mets.  Gary Redus led off the inning with a double and the rest of the team came alive adding five runs to their already one run lead on another double, 2 walks, and 3 singles before Redus groundout to second to end the onslaught.  New York got their only run in the top of the 8th off of a Lenny Dykstra single to end the game down by five instead of six.  The Mets lose on the road with 1 run on 6 hits and no errors.  The Pirates take the easy win with 6 runs on 12 hits and zero errors.  Pirates pitcher Zane Smith takes the game ball after a dependable 8 innings pitched, surrendering 6 hits and 1 earned run while striking out 9 and only walking 2.

Notes: Played at Red Canyon on 3 Apr 2014. My first Statis Pro Game in nearly 20 years.