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The race in the National League in 1920 is shaping up as a two-team affair, and it got closer last week (100 years ago) with Brooklyn dropping three of four games at home to Cincinnati.
The Dodgers, trying to get back to the World Series for the second time, and the first time in four years, are up a half-game on the Reds, reigning champions, with two months to play. As good as Brooklyn’s pitching has been this season, leading MLB with 3.31 runs allowed per game, Cincinnati is right behind them at 3.45.
The Dodgers were held to only five total runs in their three losses to the Reds this week at Ebbets Field. Brooklyn’s lone win came in another brilliant two-way performance by Burleigh Grimes, who pitched his third shutout on Wednesday, and at the plate went 3-for-4 with a double, an RBI, and three runs scored.
Grimes on the season is hitting .354/.408/.492 with seven extra-base hits, and has drive in a run in five of his last seven starts.
The Reds have won nine of the 15 matchups with the Dodgers so far this season. The two teams will meet again four games in Cincinnati from August 19-22, then on September 16-18 for three games in Brooklyn.
But a quirk in the schedule could favor Brooklyn down the stretch. As much as we’ve talked about all the rainouts this season for the Dodgers, Cincinnati has played eight fewer games than Brooklyn to date. The Reds have 13 rainouts to make up over the final two months.
Week 16 summary
3-4 record
33 runs scored (4.71 per game)
36 runs allowed (5.14 per game)
.460 pythagorean record
Year to date
56-42 record
414 runs scored (4.18 per game)
328 runs allowed (3.31 per game)
.605 pythagorean record (59-39)
NL standing: 1st place, a half-game up on the Reds
Game results
- Sunday, July 25: Pirates 5, Dodgers 4
- Monday, July 26: Dodgers 6, Pirates 4
- Tuesday, July 27: Reds 8, Dodgers 3
- Wednesday, July 28: Dodgers 9, Reds 0
- Thursday, July 29: Reds 3, Dodgers 2
- Friday, July 30: Reds 11, Dodgers 0
- Saturday, July 31: Dodgers 9, Cardinals 5
Up next
The Dodgers run the Art Butler gauntlet, staying home at Ebbets Field to host the Cardinals and Pirates.