2010-11 Holiday Festivus Tourny

GAME 7 – Sportsman Park – BKN 8, STL 5
Joe Hatten vs Harry Gumbert
Tension filled the air in the Gateway city thanks to the finality that is felt on every pitch during a decisive game 7. Brooklyn broke the ice with 2 runs in the top of the 3^rd when Pee Wee Reese launched a sac fly to right to score Stanky with the bases loaded. Furillo followed with an RBI single before Jorgensen grounded out to end the inning. The 2-0 lead that Joe Hatten was given didn’t last long. After Litwhiler led off the bottom of the third by taking one off the noggin, Marty Marion doubled for the first of his 3 consecutive hits on the day. Hurler Gumbert lifted a sac fly to Furillo in left and Lou Klein singled home Marion to tie the game at 2-2. Hatten was  on the ropes at this point and was lucky to get Walker to pop out to short as St. Louis’ centerfielder was caught swinging from his heels hoping to go deep. No way Hatten was pitching to Musial who got a no brainer intentional pass in order to face Walker Cooper who grounded out to short to end the inning. Brooklyn would pick up where they left off in the 3^rd when Bruce Edwards led off the 4^th with a single and moved to second on Hatten’s sac attempt. Pete Reiser lined a double into the right center gap to make it 3-2, then scored on another White Kurowski error at the hot corner. After Carl Furillo and Jorgensen led off the 5^th with consecutive singles, Skoonj would score from third on a room service 6-4-3 DP off of Edwards’ bat to make it 5-2. Ray Sanders’ sac fly in the bottom of the 6^th scored Musial to bring the Redbirds back to within 2. Brooklyn would blow it open in the 7^th with 3 runs. After Reese walked and Furillo doubled Jorgensen was given an intentional pass. Edwards hit into his second consecutive run scoring DP, which for the moment was keeping the Cards and starter turned reliever Mort Cooper still in the game. Hatten stepped to the plate with 2 out and delivered an RBI single to give himself a 4 run lead. After a balk by Cooper, Reiser lined a single to right to balloon the lead to 5. Hatten looked fully intent on giving back the big lead he just received. After 3 consecutive  singles (Litwhiler, Marion & Pinch hitter Demaree) St. Louis was poised to make a run. Klein’s medium length fly ball to Furillo in left scored Litwhiler to make it 8-4. Harry Walkers untimely DP ended the inning a for all intents and purposes ended St. Louis’ chances of threatening Brooklyn. Kurowski’s lead off homer in the bottom of the 9^th off of reliever Clyde King made it a 3 run game. King got his sea legs and fanned the next two batters (Litwhiler / O’Dea). Pinch hitter Debs Garms would hit a hard chopper to Reese at short to end the game and the series. The Dodgers will await the winner of the '53 Brooklyn vs '96 Braves series to see who the meet in the finals
Brooklyn wins series 4 games to 3