After the offensive fireworks of Game 1, the second game of our season turned into a pitchers’ duel fitting with a pair of Dodgers opposing each other. My 1975 Burt Hooton and his 1985 Orel Hershiser each gave up one early run and that was it. Hooton lasted 6 innings and allowed 4 hits, while Hershiser went 7 and gave up only 3 hits.
Both teams threatened in the 9th, but we left the bases loaded and Tulo left two on. The bullpens battled into the 10th inning, until Tony Phillips hit a walkoff homer off Joe Sambito to leave the Veterans Stadium crowd jubilant with a 2-1 victory.
It’s important to note that I developed a text-message friendship with NebHusker, my opening opponent, over the past couple years playing this game, and we really ramped up the conversation during this draft. Because I’d already taken a second baseman, Ryne Sandberg, in the 3rd round, I asked Husker if he’d been considering Phillips for his open 2B spot as the draft progressed. He hadn’t, then immediately took a liking to him and drafted him. And now, fittingly, Phillips delivers the winning hit in Game 2.