FanNation - The Republic of Sport

This year's Dodger team has struggled, largely due to injuries, to remain a consistent force in the National League West.  Fortunately, the struggles of the rest of the division have left the Dodgers in a position where a good second half of the year should keep them in contention for the playoffs.

The 1978 Los Angeles Dodgers had no problems with consistency.  Coming off a National League championship season in 1977, the 1978 squad won 98 games to capture its second straight league championship.  The team had six all-stars (pitcher Tommy John, first baseman Steve Garvey, second sacker Davey Lopes, third baseman Ron Cey and outfielders Rick Monday and Reggie Smith), and won 54 games at Dodger Stadium on the season.

On July 6, 1978, the Dodgers faced the Atlanta Braves who were in the midst of a horrible season that would see them lose 93 games and finish sixth in the National League West.  On this day, the Braves were up to the task of competing with the National League's bset team.  In the end, however, the Dodgers would have the last laugh.

The game developed into a serious pitchers duel between Atlanta's knuckleballing ace Phil Niekro and Dodger righthander Rick Rhoden.  Atlanta struck first, scoring a run in the second off of Rhoden on two singles and a double play grounder that plated Jeff Burroughs from third base.  Niekro held the Dodgers in check through eight innings, allowing only five harmless singles.

Facing a 1-0 deficit in the bottom of the ninth, Cey started a Dodger rally with a one out walk.  A walk to Steve Garvey moved pinch-runner Ted Martinez to second, and Atlanta's manager Bobby Cox removed Niekro and replaced him with Gene Garber.  Dusty Baker greeted Garber with a single to right, scoring Martinez and moving Garvey to third.  With the game on the line, Garber bore down and struck out Monday and Smith the end the threat and move the game into extra-innings.

Both teams flirted with danger in the 10th inning. Terry Forster was able to retire Atlanta's Rod Gilbreath in the top of the inning on a flyout with the bases loaded, and Atlanta's Craig Skok got Martinez on a foul popup with men on third and second in the bottom of the frame.  Things wouldn't go as well for Skok in the eleventh inning.      

After Charlie Hough retired the Braves in order in the top of the 11th, the Dodgers began the 11th with a Garvey single.  Baker sacrificed Garvey to second, and Cox then ordered an intentional walk of Monday.  Skok then got Johnny Oates to hit what looked like a potential rally-ending grounder, but Jerry Royster booted the ball to load the bases.  One out later, Skok faced Lopes with the game on the line.  Lopes won the game in dramatic fashion, hitting a game ending grand slam homer.  The blast was one of three grand slams in Lopes' career, and one of 17 he would hit in the 1978 season.