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A hundred years ago this week, the Brooklyn Dodgers inched ever closer to a trip to the World Series, thanks in part to a pair of walk-off wins.
Brooklyn won three of four games in a sparsely scheduled week, all at home.
The first two wins were against the Pirates. On Sunday, outfielder Bernie Neis doubled off Wilbur Cooper to start the ninth inning in a 3-3 tie. Then, with team captain Zack Wheat at the plate, Neis stole third. When catcher Walter Schmidt’s throw sailed, Neis ran home with the game-winner.
The next day, Brooklyn and Pittsburgh were scoreless into the ninth. Pie Traynor doubled and scored for Pittsburgh against Al Mamaux in the top of the frame, but Dodgers first baseman Ed Konetchy homered in the bottom of the inning to send the game into extras.
In the 10th, Neis started this again, this time with a one-out single against Earl Hamilton. With two outs, center fielder Hi Myers doubled to right field to bring home Neis with the winning run.
Konetchy has been one of Brooklyn’s best run producers all season, but through September 7, he had one home run in 118 games. Since then he’s hit three home runs in eight games, including two last week.
Even with Saturday’s home loss to the Giants, the Dodgers have a four-game lead over New York with five games remaining (the Giants have seven games left). Brooklyn’s next four games are against New York, giving them a chance to eliminate their rival in person.
Week 24 summary
3-1 record
9 runs scored (2.25 per game)
13 runs allowed (3.25 per game)
.338 pythagorean record
Year to date
89-60 record
640 runs scored (4.27 per game)
513 runs allowed (3.42 per game)
.600 pythagorean record (89-60)
NL standing: 1st place, 4 games up on New York
Magic number to clinch pennant: 3
Game results
- Sunday, September 19: Dodgers 4, Pirates 3
- Monday, September 20: Dodgers 2, Pirates 1 (10 innings)
- Wednesday, September 22: Dodgers 3, Braves 1
- Saturday, September 25: Giants 8, Dodgers 0
Up next
The Dodgers run the Jim Thorpe gauntlet, with three games against the Giants, trying to clinch the pennant, then a finale against Boston at home.