The Hoosier state hosted the 1-game playoff between the visiting Frankfort Fortress and the home standing, Speedway Sparkplugs who, since July 18th had gone 41-17 to get to this game. The Fortress started veteran knuckleballer, Bruce Dal Canton, 17-7, 2.73. The Sparkplugs with their staff taxed greatly, went to an earlier starter who had faired well against the Fortress, Steve Stone, 4-7-1, 4.04. The Fortress struck first in the 3rd, with one-out, former Fortress 2B, Sandy Alomar fielded a routine grounder off the bat of Ed Goodson and wildly overthrew 1st, with Goodson going to 2nd. He scored on a solid single by Bob Bailey, 1-0. Then in the 5th, after Bailey doubled, former Sparkplug, Ron Bloomberg, singled him in, 2-0. Dick Selma replaced Stone and got Barry Foote to ground out to end the threat. Selma started the 6th, he got Dave Nelson ground out, but Rick Burleson singled, but Vada Pinson flied out before Richie Zisk singled. Manager Ryan brought in Ken Holtzman, who had relieved 8 times during the season, to face Willie McCovey, who he walked. Manager Plunkitt called upon pinch-hitter Buddy Bradford who delivered a 2-run single, 4-0, before Bailey flew out. Finally, in the bottom of the 6th Willie Davis led off with a single, Jeff Burroughs reached on an error by McCovey, Jim Spencer singled to CF and Davis scored, 4-1. Paul Blair grounded out to 2B, Ron LeFlore struck out for the 3rd time and Jerry Grote grounded out. Top of the 7th and Holtzman gets 3 ground outs. Manager Plunkitt brings in Jim Barr to start the 7th, Alomar grounds out, John Lowenstein beats out an infield hit, Toby Harrah's single to right sends Lowenstein to 3B. Davis gets an infield hit to score Lowenstein, 4-2. Burroughs strikes out and Jim Spencer grounds out. Ken Tatum replaces Holtzman and gets Burleson and Pinson quickly out before Zisk singles. Ryan brings in Jim Brewer to face McCovey who flies out. The Sparkplugs start the 8th with a single from Blair, but Barr retires the next three. Top of the 9th, Robby Thompson singles and Ken Griffey comes in to PR, but Brewer gets Bailey to hit into a 4-6-3 DP. Tom Paciorek PH for Jim Tyrone and lines out to RF. Still 4-2 Fortress. The Fortress leave Griffey in LF and Bailey moves in to play 3B. Barr gives up a lead off single to Lowenstein and Manager Plunkitt brings in Steve Foucault to stem the uprising. Harah singles to CF and Lowenstein stops at 2B. Davis strikes out. Burroughs singles to CF and Lowenstein scores, Harrah to 2B, 4-3. Rookie Ivan DeJesus PR's for Burroughs. Spencer grounds to Nelson at second and he boots it to load the bases, his 2nd error of the game. Paul Blair stepped in and lined a single down the 1B line scoring Harrah and DeJesus for a walk-off game winner, 5-4! Both teams had 13 hits and 12 LOB. Congratulations to Gary on a great run to end the season. Speedway prepares to host the Montreal Royals while Frankfort will travel to the Seattle Totems. 10/1/1974, FOR74-SPK74, Atlanta Stadium 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E LOB DP 1974 Fortress 0 1 0 0 1 2 0 0 0 4 13 2 12 0 1974 Sparkplugs 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 3 5 13 1 12 1 Fortress AB R H BI AVG Sparkplugs AB R H BI AVG Burleson ss 4 1 2 0 .305 Lowenstein 3b 5 2 2 0 .267 Pinson cf 5 0 0 0 .307 Harrah ss 5 1 3 0 .261 Zisk rf 4 1 2 0 .333 Davis,W rf 5 1 3 1 .290 McCovey 1b 4 0 1 0 .264 Burroughs lf 5 0 2 1 .305 Goodson 3b 3 2 0 0 .313 DeJesus pr 0 1 0 0 .000 Bradford ph 1 0 1 2 .361 Spencer 1b 4 0 1 1 .318 Thompson 3b 1 0 1 0 .226 Blair,P cf 4 0 2 2 .259 Griffey pr 0 0 0 0 .253 LeFlore dh 3 0 0 0 .281 Bailey lf 5 0 3 1 .316 Thornton ph 1 0 0 0 .289 Blomberg dh 3 0 3 1 .301 Grote c 4 0 0 0 .239 Tyrone ph 1 0 0 0 .200 Alomar 2b 3 0 0 0 .302 Paciorek ph 1 0 0 0 .231 39 5 13 5 Foote c 4 0 0 0 .252 Nelson,D 2b 4 0 0 0 .243 40 4 13 4 Fortress INN H R ER BB K PCH STR ERA DalCanton 6.0 5 1 0 2 5 100 57 2.73 Barr,J H 3 2.0 5 2 2 0 2 50 33 3.46 Foucault BS 5, L 4-5 0.1 3 2 1 0 1 17 11 3.52 8.1 13 5 3 2 8 167 101 Sparkplugs INN H R ER BB K PCH STR ERA Stone,S 4.2 8 2 1 2 1 82 51 3.99 Selma 1.0 2 2 2 0 0 9 7 3.12 Holtzman 1.1 1 0 0 1 0 24 15 3.69 Tatum 0.2 1 0 0 0 0 13 6 1.76 Brewer W 4-1 1.1 1 0 0 0 0 11 7 2.50 9.0 13 4 3 3 1 139 86 FOR: Bradford batted for Goodson in the 6th Thompson inserted at 3b in the 6th Tyrone batted for Blomberg in the 7th Griffey ran for Thompson in the 9th Paciorek batted for Tyrone in the 9th Griffey moved to lf in the 9th Bailey moved to 3b in the 9th SPK: Thornton batted for LeFlore in the 8th DeJesus ran for Burroughs in the 9th E-McCovey, Nelson,D, Alomar. 2B-Bailey(34). RBI-Bailey(111), Blomberg(41), Bradford 2(22), Davis,W(74), Burroughs(103), Spencer(56), Blair,P 2(75). K-Foote, Harrah, Davis,W, Burroughs, LeFlore 3, Grote, Thornton. BB-Burleson, Zisk, McCovey, Spencer, Alomar. SH-Blair,P. GWRBI: Blair,P Temperature: 84, Field: wet, Sky: threatening, Wind: none. 10/1/1974, FOR74-SPK74, Atlanta Stadium 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E LOB DP 1974 Fortress 0 1 0 0 1 2 0 0 0 4 13 2 12 0 1974 Sparkplugs 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 3 5 13 1 12 1 Fortress -----A------ -----B------ -----C------ -----D------ -----E------ Burleson ss 1>43 3>S W.1-2 S 8>Tatum 43 Pinson cf 31 43.1-2 54/f 7 4 Zisk rf 63 W 5>63 S.1-2 S McCovey 1b 2>7 8 S Holtzman Brewer W.2-3;1-2 9 Goodson 3b e4.B-2 8 64/f.B-1 Bradford ph note 1 Thompson 3b 9>S Griffey pr Bailey lf S.2-H 4>S D.1-3 9 463/gdp Blomberg dh S.1-3 S.1-2 S.3-H;2-3 Tyrone ph 7>43 Paciorek ph 9 Foote c 13.1-2 k Selma 63 53 Nelson,D 2b 4 note 2 6>63 63 1: S.3-H;2-H;1-3 2: 46/f.2-3;B-1 Sparkplugs -----A------ -----B------ -----C------ -----D------ -----E------ Lowenstein 3b 1>7 8 63 S 9>S Harrah ss 63 S/b.1-2 k S.1-3 Foucault S.1-2 Davis,W rf S 9 6>S S.3-H;1-2 k Burroughs lf 43 4>S e3.1-2;B-1 k S.2-H;1-2 DeJesus pr Spencer 1b 2>63 W.1-2 S.2-H;1-2 54/f note 1 Blair,P cf 7 note 2 note 3 8>S note 4 LeFlore dh k k k Thornton ph k Grote c 3>9 k 63 3/g.1-2 Alomar 2b W 5>6/L 7>Barr,J 9 13 1: e4.2-3;1-2;B-1 2: 13/SH.2-3;1-2 3: 4/f.2-3;B-1 4: S.3-H;2-H;1-3 Fortress IN OUT ER Sparkplugs IN OUT ER DalCanton A1 C8 0 Stone,S A1 C7 1 Barr,J C9 E1 2 H 3 Selma C8 D3 2 Foucault E2 E6 1 BS 5, L 4-5 Holtzman D4 D9 0 Tatum E1 E3 0 Brewer E4 E7 0 W 4-1 10/1/1974, FOR74-SPK74, Atlanta Stadium 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E LOB DP 1974 Fortress 0 1 0 0 1 2 0 0 0 4 13 2 12 0 1974 Sparkplugs 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 3 5 13 1 12 1 Score O Rnr BS Event ----- - --- -- ----- ************** Top of the 1st inning, Fortress batting 0-0 0 --- 21 Burleson grounded out to second (BBCX) 0-0 1 --- 12 Pinson grounded out to first (CCBX) 0-0 2 --- 11 Zisk grounded out to short (CBX) ************** Bottom of the 1st inning, Sparkplugs batting 0-0 0 --- 21 Lowenstein flied out to left (CBBX) 0-0 1 --- 00 Harrah grounded out to short (X) 0-0 2 --- 20 Davis,W lined a single to shallow left (BBX) 0-0 2 1-- 31 Burroughs grounded out to second (CBBBX) ************** Top of the 2nd inning, Fortress batting 0-0 0 --- 01 McCovey flied out to left (SX) 0-0 1 --- 00 Goodson to second on an error by the second baseman Alomar (X) 0-0 1 -2- 11 Bailey lined a single to right center, Goodson scored (CBX) 1-0 1 1-- 10 Blomberg lined a single to left center, Bailey to third (BX) 1-0 1 1-3 01 Foote grounded out to the mound, Blomberg to second (FX) 1-0 2 -23 21 Nelson,D popped out to second (BBCX) ************** Bottom of the 2nd inning, Sparkplugs batting 1-0 0 --- 32 Spencer grounded out to short (BBBCCX) 1-0 1 --- 01 Blair,P flied out to left (FX) 1-0 2 --- 32 LeFlore struck out (BBCSBC) ************** Top of the 3rd inning, Fortress batting 1-0 0 --- 00 Burleson grounded a single up the middle (X) 1-0 0 1-- 21 Pinson grounded out to second, Burleson to second (CBBX) 1-0 1 -2- 31 Zisk walked (BBCBB) 1-0 1 12- 20 McCovey lined out to center (BBX) 1-0 2 12- 31 Goodson flied out to center (C+2BBBX) ************** Bottom of the 3rd inning, Sparkplugs batting 1-0 0 --- 12 Grote flied out to right (CFBX) 1-0 1 --- 32 Alomar walked (BCFBFBFB) 1-0 1 1-- 00 Lowenstein popped out to center (1X) 1-0 2 1-- 10 Harrah bunted for a single, Alomar to second (B1Xb) 1-0 2 12- 00 Davis,W flied out to right (X) ************** Top of the 4th inning, Fortress batting 1-0 0 --- 12 Bailey lined a single to left (FCBX) 1-0 0 1-- 22 Blomberg reached on an infield single to the pitcher, Bailey to second (CBFBFX) 1-0 0 12- 32 Foote struck out (BBBCSS) 1-0 1 12- 12 Nelson,D grounded to second, forcing Blomberg at second, Bailey to third, Nelson,D to first (CFBX) 1-0 2 1-3 32 Burleson walked, Nelson,D to second (FBBFB>F>B) 1-0 2 123 02 Pinson grounded to third, forcing Burleson at second (CFX) ************** Bottom of the 4th inning, Sparkplugs batting 1-0 0 --- 11 Burroughs lined a single down the right field line (CBX) 1-0 0 1-- 31 Spencer walked, Burroughs to second (BBBCB) 1-0 0 12- 10 Blair,P sacrifice bunted to the mound, Burroughs to third, Spencer to second (BbXb) 1-0 1 -23 22 LeFlore struck out (FBCBS) 1-0 2 -23 02 Grote struck out (FSC) ************** Top of the 5th inning, Fortress batting 1-0 0 --- 11 Zisk grounded out to short (BCX) 1-0 1 --- 00 McCovey grounded a single up the middle (X) 1-0 1 1-- 01 Goodson grounded to short, forcing McCovey at second, Goodson to first (FX) 1-0 2 1-- 01 Bailey grounded a double down the first base line, Goodson to third (CX) 1-0 2 -23 00 Blomberg lined a single to shallow left, Goodson scored, Bailey to third (X) Selma now pitching 2-0 2 1-3 00 Foote grounded out to third (X) ************** Bottom of the 5th inning, Sparkplugs batting 2-0 0 --- 32 Alomar lined out to short (BFBFBX) 2-0 1 --- 10 Lowenstein grounded out to short (BX) 2-0 2 --- 32 Harrah struck out (BBCBCFC) ************** Top of the 6th inning, Fortress batting 2-0 0 --- 11 Nelson,D grounded out to short (BFX) 2-0 1 --- 00 Burleson lined a single to shallow center (X) 2-0 1 1-- 00 Pinson flied out to left (>X) 2-0 2 1-- 11 Zisk lined a single to shallow left, Burleson to second (BFX) Holtzman now pitching 2-0 2 12- 32 McCovey walked, Burleson to third, Zisk to second (BBCBF>B) Bradford pinch hitting for Goodson 2-0 2 123 22 Bradford singled to right center, Burleson scored, Zisk scored, McCovey to third (BFFBFX) 4-0 2 1-3 00 Bailey flied out to right (X) ************** Bottom of the 6th inning, Sparkplugs batting Thompson now playing third base 4-0 0 --- 00 Davis,W lined a single to shallow left (X) 4-0 0 1-- 32 Davis,W to second, Burroughs to first on an error by the first baseman McCovey (1BBCBFX) 4-0 0 12- 01 Spencer lined a single to shallow center, Davis,W scored, Burroughs to second (CX) 4-1 0 12- 32 Blair,P grounded to second, forcing Spencer at second, Burroughs to third, Blair,P to first (BBFFBX) 4-1 1 1-3 32 LeFlore struck out (1CSBFBBS) 4-1 2 1-3 01 Grote grounded out to short (1>F>X) ************** Top of the 7th inning, Fortress batting Tyrone pinch hitting for Blomberg 4-1 0 --- 00 Tyrone grounded out to second (X) 4-1 1 --- 22 Foote grounded out to short (BBFCFX) 4-1 2 --- 12 Nelson,D grounded out to short (CBFX) ************** Bottom of the 7th inning, Sparkplugs batting Barr,J now pitching 4-1 0 --- 12 Alomar grounded out to the mound (FBFFFX) 4-1 1 --- 32 Lowenstein reached on an infield single to second (BBFBFX) 4-1 1 1-- 12 Harrah grounded a single between first and second, Lowenstein to third (FBCX) 4-1 1 1-3 21 Davis,W reached on an infield single to second, Lowenstein scored, Harrah to second (BBFX) 4-2 1 12- 32 Burroughs struck out (SBBFFFFFBS) 4-2 2 12- 12 Spencer grounded to third, forcing Davis,W at second (2CBFX) ************** Top of the 8th inning, Fortress batting Tatum now pitching 4-2 0 --- 31 Burleson grounded out to second (BBFBX) 4-2 1 --- 11 Pinson popped out to second (SbBX) 4-2 2 --- 31 Zisk grounded a single up the middle (BCBBX) Brewer now pitching 4-2 2 1-- 21 McCovey flied out to right (CBBX) ************** Bottom of the 8th inning, Sparkplugs batting 4-2 0 --- 21 Blair,P lined a single to shallow center (BCBX) Thornton pinch hitting for LeFlore 4-2 0 1-- 12 Thornton struck out (1CBCS) 4-2 1 1-- 00 Grote grounded out to first, Blair,P to second (>X) 4-2 2 -2- 22 Alomar flied out to right (BCFBX) ************** Top of the 9th inning, Fortress batting 4-2 0 --- 10 Thompson lined a single to shallow left (BX) Griffey pinch running for Thompson 4-2 0 1-- 11 Bailey grounded into a double play, Alomar to Harrah to Spencer (1CBX) Paciorek pinch hitting for Tyrone 4-2 2 --- 01 Paciorek lined out to right (SX) ************** Bottom of the 9th inning, Sparkplugs batting Griffey moved to left field Bailey moved to third base 4-2 0 --- 10 Lowenstein grounded a single between first and second (BX) Foucault now pitching 4-2 0 1-- 31 Harrah grounded a single up the middle, Lowenstein to second (1BCBBX) 4-2 0 12- 02 Davis,W struck out (1FCS) Started raining 4-2 1 12- 11 Burroughs grounded a single up the middle, Lowenstein scored, Harrah to second (BCX) DeJesus pinch running for Burroughs 4-3 1 12- 22 Harrah to third, DeJesus to second, Spencer to first on an error by the second baseman Nelson,D (CFBBX) Stopped raining 4-3 1 123 00 Blair,P lined a single down the right field line, Harrah scored, DeJesus scored, Spencer to third (X)