Worst All-Time Twins Tournament, Nishioka Round, Game 4: All I do is Wynn

Result

For two-thirds of Game 4, Early Wynn was nearly perfect.

Even after Wynn stumbled in the later innings, ‘81 was not able to do enough.

Wynn pitched 6.2 no-hit innings, finishing his outing allowing just one run as ‘48 took a 3-1 series lead by knocking off the Twins 6-1.

Through the first six innings, Minnesota managed just one baserunner, Mickey Hatcher working a full-count walk in the fifth. But with two outs in the seventh, John Castino blooped a single into left-center to break up the no hitter, and after Dave Engle’s single, Hatcher doubled over Bud Stewart’s head in center to score Castino, ending Wynn’s shutout and putting a run on the board for ‘81.

By that time, however, they were already trailing by two. While Albert Williams got through the first eight batters without allowing a hit, Mark Christman singled with one out in the third; singles by Gil Coan and Mickey Vernon followed in quick succession, Vernon’s hit driving in Christman. Three innings later, Coan led off the frame with a single, stole second, and advanced the remaining two bases on fly balls.

With their lead cut in half by Castino’s run, ‘48 responded by extending that lead to a comfortable margin. Eddie Yost led off the frame with a double, and Al Kozar’s single moved Yost to third and knocked Williams out of the box. Jack O’Connor entered, but the parade of baserunners continued: Jim Clark walked to load the bases, Al Evans drove in two with a single over the drawn-in infield, Christman singled to put three men on again, and Coan singled to bring home Clark. O’Connor retired Vernon on a shallow fly ball before Don Cooper trotted in from the bullpen, and Cooper kept Washington from scoring further, striking out Tom McBride and getting Stewart to fly to left.

After ‘81 left two men on in the top of the eighth, Sid Hudson entering from the Washington bullpen to record the final out, ‘48 added to their lead in their last time batting. For the second straight inning, Yost led off with a double and Evans singled him home.

Down five, ‘81 went down meekly in the ninth, Hudson retiring Castino, Engle, and Hatcher to record the save and put ‘48 one game from avoiding the title of Worst of the Worst.

Nishioka Round, Game 3 | Nishioka Round, Game 4 | Nishioka Round, Game 5