Tribe and Brew Crew split opening series

Game 1 – Cleveland 6 Milwaukee 4

Wiley veteran Gaylord Perry’s mystery pitches were really dancing today. He held Milwaukee to 1 run over 6.1 innings. Finally even he couldn’t control those pitches as he piled up 5 walks and 125 pitches. Ray Lamb made it interesting allowing 3 runs in his 2/3 of a inning relieve work but 2 RBI’s apiece by Graig Nettles and Oscar Gamble were too much for Brewers to overcome.

Game 2 – Cleveland 6 Milwaukee 3

Dennis Eckersley was in command all day going the distance, allowing 3 runs, two of them earned on 4 hits. He had a shutout entering the 9th but an error by Chris Chambliss opened the door and Don Money walked through with a 3-run homer. But the Tribe had build a comfortable lead heading into the 9th on homers by Ray Fosse and Rick Manning.

Game 3 – Milwaukee 4 Cleveland 2

A pitchers duel broke out between a couple of crafty lefties.  Jerry Augustine and Rick Waits held their opponents scoreless through 6 innings. Milwaukee finally pushed two runs across in the 7th. After Buddy Bell misplayed a potential inning ending double-play, Cecil Cooper lined a single to left scoring John Briggs and Robin Yount. Cleveland would score an unearned run in their half of the seventh and tie the score in the 8th on a Rico Cary base knock. Ace Cleveland reliever Dave LaRoche came on to work the ninth and promptly walked 4 batters allowing Milwaukee to walk away with their 1st win of the year.

Game 4 – Milwaukee 4  Cleveland 3

Continuing the trend of road teams winning the 1st three games, the Brewers got off to a fast start against Jim Bibby scoring 4 runs by the 4th inning. Gorman Thomas delivered the big blow, a 3-run blast in the 4th. Cleveland kept nibbling away but Bill Travers, Tom Murphy and Ken Sanders were just good enough to hold on for the win.

A well played series by newcomer Joe Allen who kept his team in every game played. Look for good things this year from the Brewers.

--submitted by Ron Burnette--