Series 4: X-Giants sweep Kennedys

X-Giants 4-6, Kennedys 3-7

Pitcher use update: Mendez needs four games; Carlton and S. Jones 3 games, Seaver 2 games. Koufax worked two innings in finale, H. Smith one.

Game One: X-Giants 2, Kennedys 1
WP: S. Jones (1-1)
LP: Seaver (0-1)
HR: Monroe (2)
Game Two: X-Giants 5, Kennedys 3
WP: Mendez (2-0)
LP: Carlton (0-2)
Sv: H. Smith (3)
HR: McCovey (2)

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The X-factor for the X-Giants was its pitching's ability to strand baserunners.

Slim Jones fanned 12 in his complete game win in the opener; he scattered eight hits and four walks. Three times the Kennedys left multiple men on base against the skinny southpaw.

Tom Seaver, meanwhile, was arguably better — he and Don Drysdale combined to allowed just four hits and no walks. Seaver fanned five in his six innings of work and Drysdale three more in two innings. But Bill Monroe reached Seaver for a solo homer, and the X-Giants parlayed a double by Rap Dixon and a single by Ben Taylor into another run.

In the nightcap, the Kennedys scored two unearned runs in the first off Jose Mendez. But the Cuban kept the Kennedys off the board until the eighth despite never getting a 1-2-3 inning.

Meanwhile, the X-Giants chipped away at Steve Carlton and Sandy Koufax. The latter, who entered the game with a 15.75 ERA, allowed two runs in two innings.

A pivotal moment come in the top of the sixth, when X-Giants center fielder Pete Hill threw out Reggie Jackson trying to score from first base on a Johnny Bench double. Hill's throw kept the X-Giants within one, and they promptly scored twice on a double by Taylor.