World Series Game # 1 - ' 54 Giants vs ' 74 Athletics

Mays Leads Giants to Series Opening Win

Willie Mays hit 2 RBI doubles and his sacrifice fly in the tenth inning scored the winning run as the  New York Giants took game one by the count of 6-2 over the Oakland Athletics. However, the unsung heroes in this game were the Giants' bullpen corps as they retired twelve batters in order after Giants' starter Ruben Gomez left the game tied at 2-2  tossing six innings and 100 pitches. Gomez only allowed 4 hits and 1earned run while striking out seven in a stellar outing.

Both teams traded runs in the opening frame as Mays first double plated Al Dark all the way from first base for a short-lived lead. The Athletics then responded thanks to a throwing error by Giants' first baseman Whitey Lockman. After fielding a ball that took him to his right, he fired a wild throw past Gomez who was moving over to cover the bag allowing Athletics' shortstop Bert Campaneris to score. Campaneris had just swiped second after getting aboard on a fielding error by Giants' third baseman Hank Thompson.

In the third inning, Mays hit his second RBI double for a 2-1 Giants' lead and  things stayed that way until Joe Rudi leveled things for the A's with an RBI double of his own in the bottom of the sixth.

The Giants' bullpen then put on a pitching clinic as Al Corwin, Hoyt Wilhelm and Marv Grissom combined for 4 innings of hitless relief. Wilhelm would be awarded the win. Dave Hamilton of the A's was equally effective for 2.2 innings of shutout baseball as he came on for Oakland starter Catfish Hunter who only managed to last 5.1 innings. 

However, the wheels came off for Oakland in the tenth. With Leon Hooten pitching his second inning of relief, the Giants loaded the bases via singles by Wes Westrum, Bill Mueller and a hit batter. Billy Gardner came on to pinch run for Westrum who went 3-4 in the game.  Mays then lifted a sacrifice fly to center to drive in Gardner for the winning run. Dave Knowles came on for Hooten and got what should have been a double play grounder, but A's second baseman Dick Green air mailed his throw allowing Mueller to score. Hank Thompson added an RBI double and Lockman struck an RBI single to finish off Oakland.