COVID World Series 1973 Players Edition - Part 15

Game 4 was another extra inning nail-biter. The Fighting Mikes scored in the 12th to even the series at 2 games apiece.

George Stone faced off against Tommy John in a battle of left handed starters. As in the previous 3 games, the Battling Pauls went with more of an Opener strategy as John only pitched one batter into the 3rd inning.

• John was pulled after giving up a lead-off triple to Garry Maddox. Chuck Taylor came in and struck out Ron Hunt, but Toby Harrah doubled to put the Mikes up 1-0
• That held up until the 5th inning. Stone gave up a lead-off single to Bob Boone, pinch-hitting for Taylor).
• Boone went to 3rd on a double by Dave Concepcion. 
• After striking out Rod Carew, Stone intentionally walked George Scott to face game 1 & 2 hero Darrell Evans.
• Evans hit a pop foul that Stone took care of himself for the 2nd out
• It looked like Stone would get out of the inning without allowing a run but Toby Harrah made a wild throw on Bob Watson's grounder to short allowing both Boone and Concepcion to score.
• Ted Simmons popped to 3rd to end the inning, but the Pauls now lead 2-1
• Paul decided to ride his ace reliever Don McMahon as long as he could after taking the lead. 
• McMahon was spotless in the 5th and 6th
• He gave up a single to George Hendrick in the 7th but ended that threat quickly
• Garry Maddox lead off the 8the with a double, Hunt moved him to 3rd with a ground-out
• Dick McAuliffe stepped in to pinch-hit for Harrah and singled home Maddox, tying the game at 2
• John Mayberry made a defensive gem in the 10th that stopped a potential rally - George Scott opened the inning with a walk off Grant Jackson. 
• Evans hit a hard liner to first that Mayberry hauled in and stepped on the base to double off Scott.
• In the bottom of the 12th Jim Rooker, who won game 1 and saved game 2, was working on his second inning of relief.
• The Mikes were down to one bench player so they opted to let Jackson hit for himself to lead off the inning - and it paid off with a slap single to left field
• Manny Sanguillen followed that with a single to center, the slow Jackson and the strong arm of Bobby Murcer held runners to 1st and 2nd
• Maddox got his 3rd hit of the day - another single to Murcer -this time Jackson was waved around to try to score - Murcer made a perfect throw for the first out of the inning
• Sanguillen and Maddox had moved to 2nd and 3rd on the throw, so with the base open, Rooker walked Hunt intentionally to set up the double play
• But McAuliffe came through again in the clutch with a base hit and Sanguillen scored the winning run to even the series at 2 games each