Week 9 Highlights

9/17

11 k - N.Ryan (CAL) vs BAL

SO - M.Lolich (DET) 6 hitter vs OAK

15 PO - G.Scott (MIL) vs CHW

 

9/18

5 hits - B.Bell (CLE) vs TEX

2 HR - D.Lopes (LAD) vs NYM - 4 RBI

3 SB - R.LeFlore (DET) vs OAK - 3 for 3

10 k - S.Renko (MON) vs HOU

10 k - G.Perry (CLE) vs TEX

SO - J.Kaat (CHW) vs MIL 8 hitter

DP - Chaney/Aaron (ATL) vs CHW

 

9/19

5 hits - C.Lemon (CHW) vs MIL 5-5, 5 R, 5 RBI, 2HR, SB

6 RBI - A.Kaline (DET) vs OAK

GRP - W.Davis (LAD) vs NYM (5-3 LA Win)

Standings after Week # 9

Pale Hose sweep Brew Crew to move back to .500

game 1- 4-2.. 

wsox Terry Forster pitches 2 inning scoreless relief for save and Gossage gets the win. Replacement Alan Bannister gets 2 hits and game winning rbi. Slumping Boomer Scott gets 4 hits in losing cause to raise avg to .159 for Brewers

game 2- 8-0.. 

Jim Kaat finally pitches well with a shut out and Sox score 8. Alan Bannister again has big game with 3 hits and 3 runs scored as Sox just had timely singles in this game. Travers the loss.

game3- 15-6...

Sox pull out the big bats. Chet Lemon finally hits 1st homer of year and has 5 hits, 5 runs scored and 5 rbi! Carlos May 4 hits 5 runs scored! Bottom 5 hitters in sox lineup had all the rbi's in this one

--submitted by Joseph Allen--

Oh Mickey, You're so Fine...

September 17 at Detroit.  Mickey Lolich threw a 6 hit shutout to earn his 6th win of the season and lower his era to 1.71.  Rusty Staub drove in his 21st run.  Tigers 3  As 0

September 18 at Detroit.  Ken Holtzman gave up one run, moving his record to 3 and 4.  Reggie Jackson (2), Dave Duncan (3) and Gene Tenace (3) all homered in the 6 run 4th inning.  As 6  Tigers 1

September 19 ar Oakland.  Mark Fidrych evened his record at 2-2 while the Tigers pounded the As 10-2.  Al Kaline drove 6 of those runs including two with his 4th homer of the season.

--submitted by Tom "Crash" Davis--

Have Mercer

The Yanks win both games at home but drop a 1-0 thriller in Minnesota.  Bobby Murcer and Mickey Rivers both went 3 for 5 with 3 RBI's in the opener at the Stadium.  Murcer repeated the feat in game 2 off of a lefty, Jim Kaat.  Rod Carew and Lyman Bostock each had 3 hits as well in a losing effort.  Fritz Peterson went the distance in the finale, but gave up 1 run on a two out Rod Carew single, which cost him the game.  4 Twin pitchers combined to shutout the mighty Yankees who are dominating the AL East.

Halo-again

Timely hitting and pitching all ow the Halos to earn another sweep.  They've won 9 of their last 10.  

Check out the 9th inning of game 1.  Angels were down 3-1 with 2 outs and a runner on 2nd.  Palmer was cruising. 3 batters later it was 5-3 Halos thanks to Ken McMullen's 1st HR of the season.

--submitted by Douglas Zaner--

Reds Roll over Cards

The powerhouse Cincinnati Reds completed a three game sweep of the St. Louis Cardinals on a Cesar Geronimo walk off home run to cap a comeback 8-7 win in game 3. The Reds took significant early leads in games one and three, only to see the Cardinals make a game of it each time before falling short. The Cardinals actually overcame a 6-0 deficit in game three and lead 7-6, but the lack of a strong bullpen gave up the lead as Joe Morgan homered to tie it in the 8th and Geronimo homered off Bob Forsch in the 9th to win it as mentioned above.

The Cardinals tried a different strategy in game two, taking a lead. But that did not work either as the Reds stormed back to win that one as well. The biggest difference in the series was probably control. Cardinal pitchers walked 17 Reds in the three games, while the Reds hurlers gave only 6 free passes. Giving away 11 extra base runners is not a recipe for success.

--submitted by Bikemike--

Knuckling Down

Home cooking was not the recipe as the visiting team won all 3 games

Game 1 the butterfly was working as Phil Niekro pitched a complete game leading Atlanta to a 4-1 win.

Game 2 Atlanta behind 3 home runs including one by Hank Aaron and another complete game by Carl Morton downed the Cubs 6-2

Game 3 Chicago turned the tables winning 9-1 as Milt Pappas for the second start in a row shut down the opponets bats. The Cubs roughed up 5 Braves pitchers

Cubs record is now 11-19

Braves stand at 17-13

--submitted by Gene Couture--

Pirates take 1 game lead in NL East

Game 1 at Three Rivers,

Game went into extras as the Pirates pulled it out in the 11th on a bases loaded walk to Phil Garner to force in Rennie Stennett as Mike Caldwell could not find the plate.  Pirates 7....Padres 6.

Game 2 at Three Rivers,

Padres pulled out the second game as for the second day in a row, the game went into extended time.  The Padres scored 3 runs in the 11th inning when Cito Gaston drove in 2 runs with a single then Billy Almon followed with a RBI hit to defeat reliever Kent Tekulve.  Rollie Fingers blew the save but pitched 4 innings of relief to earn his first win. Padres 9...Pirates 6.

Game 3 at Jack Murphy Stadium,

San Diego held a tight 4-3 lead going into the 8th inning when Rollie Fingers came in to try and wrap it up. However a 2 out homerun by Gene Clines knotted the game and the Bucos went on to score another run in the 8th and a solo run in the 9th to take the series.  Rennie Stennett collected 3 hits, scored 2 runs and drove in one in the game. Pirates 6...Padres 4.

--submitted by Joey Scigliano--

Dodgers sweep Amazin's

Game 1: Sutton vs Seaver:

The Dodgers chased Seaver with 7 runs in the first two innings. Sutton took a shutout in to the 8th, but settled for a complete game, giving up 2 runs and striking out 6 Mets. Final score 9-2

Game 2: Messersmith vs. Matlack

The teams traded runs in the first two innings and then the Dodgers slowed started showing their offensive prowess as they scored 1 in the 4th, 1 in the 5th, and 2 in the 6th on their way to a 5-3 victory. Davey Lopes hits 2 HRs with 4 RBIs.

Game 3: Hooton vs Koosman

A questionable decision as LA started Burt Hooton who has spent most of his time in the bullpen this season. But with a 4 game series with the Reds coming up the Dodgers wanted to save their starting rotation. Hooton went 6 2/3 innings before leaving with an injury and a 3-2 lead. The Dodgers chalked up two more runs. The Mets made noise in the 9th as Stearns homered and Harrelson singled with two outs, but Brewer got his 5th save as Millan grounded out to end the game.

Dodgers sweep the series and improve their record to 18-12 as the Mets fall to 13-17.

--submitted by Keith MacDonald--

Dodgers sweep the Mets

Game 1: Sutton vs Seaver:

The Dodgers chased Seaver with 7 runs in the first two innings. Sutton took a shutout in to the 8th, but settled for a complete game, giving up 2 runs and striking out 6 Mets. Final score 9-2

Game 2: Messersmith vs. Matlack

The teams traded runs in the first two innings and then the Dodgers slowed started showing their offensive prowess as they scored 1 in the 4th, 1 in the 5th, and 2 in the 6th on their way to a 5-3 victory. Davey Lopes hits 2 HRs with 4 RBIs.

Game 3: Hooton vs Koosman

A questionable decision as LA started Burt Hooton who has spent most of his time in the bullpen this season. But with a 4 game series with the Reds coming up the Dodgers wanted to save their starting rotation. Hooton went 6 2/3 innings before leaving with an injury and a 3-2 lead. The Dodgers chalked up two more runs. The Mets made noise in the 9th as Stearns homered and Harrelson singled with two outs, but Brewer got his 5th save as Millan grounded out to end the game.

Dodgers sweep the series and improve their record to 18-12 as the Mets fall to 13-17. 

--
Keith MacDonald
Check out my website and blog at www.kamacdonaldphoto.com

Week # 9: Tony, Tony, Tony

Montréal Needed a sweep to keep their slim hopes alive in the National League east pennant race after getting swept themselves in their previous series vs Cincy.

Expos 4, Astros 3
Niekro vs Morton

Carl Morton nursed his 2-0 lead until the top of the 7th when the 'Stros scored two of their own to tie it.  A Tommy Helms solo shot with 1 out in the 9th put the 'Stros up 3-2.  Houston brought Fred Gladding on to close out the game.  Larry Parrish lined out to center for the first out.  Ken Singleton was called on to pinch hit for reliever Bill Atkinson.  Singleton lined one into the gap that righfielder Terry Puhl hustled to cut off.  Singleton was "busting it" all the way out of the box and tried to stretch his hit into a double.  Puhl threw a strike to Roger Metzger covering at second to get Singleton by a stride.  With 2 out and nobody on Gladding looked to be in good shape.  Dave Cash singled with 2 out.  Tim Foli was called back to the dugout and Tony Perez was called upon to pinch hit.  Gladding snuck a fastball by Perez for the first strike.  He decided to double up, but Perez was waiting.  Tony jumped on Gladding's heat and deposited it neatly into the left center pavilion for a walk off two run shot.

Expos 10, Astros 5
Richard vs Renko
In a high scoring affair the Expos managed to score 5 runs over the final 3 innings to double up the 'Stros 10-5.  Steve Renko (3-2, 4.43) went the distance and fanned 10.  Andre Dawson (3-5, 3RBI) and Gary Carter each hit homers.  Tim Foli was the only Expo, which includes Renko who tripled, to not get a hit.

Expos 4, Astros 0
Torrez vs Wilson

Astrodome fans were treated to a scoreless pitcher's duel until the top of the 9th. Both Mike Torrez and Don Wilson went 8 scoreless innings.  George Culver relieved Wilson to start the 9th and immediately found himself in big time self inflicted trouble.  With nobody out the Expos loaded the bases thanks to tow errors by Culver on comebackers.  Larry Parrish ripped one to shallow left that Bob Watson caught off of his shoestrings.  Torrez was due to bat, but everyone in the house knew he wouldn't.  Montreal decided to go to the well one more time by summoning Tony Perez to pinch hit.  "Doggie" is the personification of clutch.  When Culver got the count to 0-2 it looked like he would be the one to be clutch.  The 0-2 curveball hung over the plate like mural hanging on the wall.  Perez, turned on the "hanger" and hit a bomb off the centerfield wall.  By the time the dust had cleared Doggie was standing on second and the score was 3-0.  Montreal would score an additional run before Mike Marshall closed the game out to ensure the series sweep as the Expos moved back to .500.

Standings with 11 games left to play

Friars win basement brawl

Game 1 at San Diego,

Milt Pappas hit a homerun to help himself in a hard fought pitcher's duel in San Diego.  The tough luck loser in the game was Clay Kirby, who went the distance. Bruce Sutter came in to nail down his fifth save of the season. Cubs 2...Padres 1.

Game 2 at San Diego,

Dave Winfield smacked his 6th homerun as Steve Arlin pitched a complete game gem. Arlin allowed only one run while scattering 8 hits as he improved to 1-3.  Ray Burris got tagged with the loss to move to 1-3 also.  Padres 5.....Cubs 1.

Game 3 at Chicago,

Darrel Thomas collected 3 hits and Mike Ivie's first homerun of the year helped lead a San Diego 10 hit attack to take the series from Chicago. Padre lefty, Bob Shirley(1-2) got the win with six solid innings of work. Rollie Fingers finished the game to earn his 3rd save of the year.  Rick Reuschel evened his record at 3-3 with the loss despite striking out 11 Padre batters in 6.2 innings of work. Padres 5...Cubs 2.

--submitted by Joey Scigliano--

O's drop 2 of 3 to Twinkies

Game 1: (Bal 3, Min 0) 

Dave McNally pitched a 3-hit shutout, while Jim Perry took the loss for Minnesota. The teams traded zero's for 5 innings before Eddie Murray hit a 2-run homer in the top of the 6th to open the scoring, and McNally held serve the remainder of the game to close out the 3-0 victory. The Twins once again dropped below .500.

Game 2: (Min 4, Bal 1) 

Minnesota sent LHP Jim Kaat to the mound, opposed by RHP Dennis Martinez. The Twins took the lead in the 2nd on Harmon Killebrew's 7th bomb of the season. Despite hitting only .200, he continues to supply power for the Twinkies. Kaat gave way to Bill Campbell in the 7th, and he pitched 3 scoreless innings (with 6 K's) to earn his 6th save.

Game 3: (Min 5, Bal 1) 

Scott McGregor made his 1st start of the year for Baltimore, while Dave Goltz (who sported nearly a 7.00 ERA at game time) tried to get untracked for the Twins. Larry Hisle staked the Twins to a 2-0 lead in the top of the 1st with his 3rd homer, and the game remained a 2-0 affair until Brooks Robinson brought the O's within 1 with a solo shot in the bottom of the 6th. Manager Schneider gambled in the 8th, bringing in LH reliever Tom Burgmeier to face a primarily right-handed Baltimore lineup. Burgmeier was up to the task, as he pitched 2 scoreless innings to earn his 1st save. Goltz finished with one of those pitching lines you won't see often today, allowing 1 run in 6.2 with 2 BB and only 1 K.
--submitted by Bill Schneider--

Red Storm Rising

Game 1

Montreal is in a tightly contested battle for the NL East and enters the 3 game series with high hopes.  The Expos send Mike Torrez to the mound and he delivers a strong performance.  The Expos take a 3-1 lead into the sixth inning after taking advantage of 2 Tony Perez HRs.  However, the Reds version of Tony out does the Canadien version and hits a 3 run dinger to put the Reds ahead for good.  Nolan gets the Win and Sarmiento the save as the Reds hold on 4-3. 

Game 2

In game 2, Steve Rogers out pitches Ross Grimsley early and pitches strong as the Expos take a 2-1 lead into the 7th.  The Reds had a big inning and post 4 runs behind the hitting of Ken Griffey, who went 3 for 4 with 2 runs scored on the day, and Bench who went 2 for 3 with 3 RBIs on the day.  Tom Hall closes out the game to earn the save and Clay Carroll gets his first win of the season.

Game 3

The Expos send Stoneman to the mound to face Tom Seaver in their hopes to salvage one game from this series.  Seaver pitches 8 strong innings and Ken Griffey goes 2 for 3 with 2 walks to pace the Red offense.  Rawley Eastwick closes out the ninth for his 3rd save and Seaver wins to take his record to a perfect 5-0 on the year. 

Despite keeping the Big Red Machine from exploding, the Expos were definitely reeling after the series.  After being swept in 3 very competitive games, Expos' Manager Marc Weiss was overheard by the media congratulating the Reds on winning the "Championship".  Although a premature prediction, who can blame Marc as the loses frustratingly hurt the Expos in their dogfight race in the East.

--submitted by Steve Tate--

Tribe shooting blanks

Halos get great starting pitching and sweep the Tribe with 3 shutouts!

CG 4 hit shutout

0 runs in 7 2/3 innings

0 R & 5 hits over 6 2/3 IP

A Call to Arms

Brewers 12, Rangers 8
Colborn vs Perry

The saga of "Why Gaylord Perry stinks" continues.  Texas' so called "ace" once again turned in another crappy performance.  When your ace sports a 0-6, 6.34 record your team is destined to occupy the cellar.  Perry gave up 8 runs in 5 innings of pitiful work.  Still the Rangers were only down by 1 run heading into the 9th, when the Brew Crew busted out for 3 insurance runs to salt it away.  Milwaukee slammed 6 homers (5 off Perry) to score their runs.  The "boomer", George Scott and "Stormin" Gorman Thomas each had 3 RBi's in this slugfest.

Brewers 9, Rangers 6
Slaton vs Bosman

It's a bad sign for a team when their ace is 0-6.  It's a surefire sign that you are a bottom feeder when your #2 guy is 1-5 (5.10).  For the second day in a row the Rangers received abysmal starting pitching.  This time Dick Bosman (11 hits, 7 ER, 7 IP) was the culprit.  The Brewers took full advantage by smashing 3 round trippers.  Johnny Briggs (4-5, 2 RBI, HR & 2B) spearheaded a potent 13 hit attack.  Texas scored 5 runs in the bottom of the 8th to make the final score seem a bit more respectable than it actually was.

Rangers 9, Brewers 0
Bibby vs Sorensen

Once again the men from Arlington called upon Jim Bibby to be their stopper.  The big man answered the call by tossing a 3 hitter.  He wound up getting into some trouble in the bottom of the 9th, but he waved off his manager for fear that the pen might just blow another game.  In a rare start in rightfield, Larry Biittner went 3 for 3.  His defensive replacement, Tom Grieve, had a hit in his lone plate appearance.  Mike Hargrove went 3 for 5 to up his season average to .338.  Both teams finish the series with identical 10-17 records with little or no chance to make any noise with 11 games left to play.

Week 7 Highlights - Part II

9/12

7 Hit Shutout - Paul Splittorff (KCR)

5 Hit Shutout - Steve Carlton (PHI)

11 k's - JR Richard (HOU)

Week 7 Highlights

9/10

2 HR - Rusty Staub (DET) vs CHW - 2 RBI

 

 

4-4 - Rick Manning (CLE) vs MIN - 3 RBI

 

5 Hits - Rusty Staub (NYM) vs Cin - 2 RBI

7 Hit Shutout - Clyde Wright (CAL)

Cruz'in.

Astros 4, Pirates 3

D.Roberts vs Briles

An interesting line score showed Houston in banging out 17 hits, yet only scoring four runs. Table setters Terry Puhl 3-5 and Enos Cabell 4-5 set the pace for an offense that had baserunners on the base paths all day long. Starter Dave Roberts fanned seven and gave up three in 7 2/3 worth of work. Pirates starter Nelson Briles gave up four runs and 13 hits in four innings which led to an early exit. the Pirate bullpen did not yield a run the rest of the way but their offense could not capitalize on their pen's stinginess.

Astros 4, Pirates 3

J.Niekro vs Candelaria

For one of the first times all year the Pirate bullpen collapsed late in a game. Kent Tekulve gave up two runs in just one third of an ending in relief before being replaced by Jim Rooker but the damage had already been done. Down 3 to 2 and heading into the top of the ninth inning Houston needed one run to tie and 2 runs to take the lead. Hitting sensation Bob Watson led off the inning with a clean single between third and short. The "toy cannon" Jimmy Wynn worked out a walk to put runners on first and second with nobody out. Slugger Lee May was pinch hit for by Julio Gonzalez, who executed a perfect sacrifice bunt to put runners on second and third with one out. Pinch-hitter Greg Gross was intentionally walk to load the bases. Jose Cruz promptly singled to left to knock into 2 runs and give the Astros 4-3 lead. Pittsburgh did not go down easy in the bottom of the ninth.  The Bucs had runners on first and second with only one out, but both Manny Sanguillen and Gene Clines failed to deliver game-winning hits.

Astros 3, Pirates 2 (11 inn)

Kison vs Richard

Pittsburgh broke up a scoreless pitchers duel with two runs in the top of the eighth. Omar Moreno bunted home Al Oliver for the first run of the game.  Dave Parker walked with the bases loaded to force home ta key insurance run.  Pittsburgh's normally reliable bullpen once again had themselves an uncharacteristic meltdown.  Reliever Dave Giusti served up two run homerun to José Cruz to tie the game in the bottom of the ninth and forced extra innings. In the bottom of the 11th Houston had runners on first and second with two outs. First baseman Lee May delivered the game-winning hit with a line single to center to score Jesus Alou.  Lost in the shuffle was a excellent seven innings of shut out ball that Bruce Kison threw for the Pirates and the 11 strikeouts that JR Richard had for Houston.  Ken Forsch walked away with the much deserved win after throwing 3 scoreless innings in relief.

Last Offense Standing

Rangers 10, Red Sox 8 (10 inn)
Bibby vs Siebert
Down 8-4 with 2 innings to go the Rangers scored 2 runs in each of the next 3 innings to walk away with a 10-8 win in 10 innings.  Both teams combined for 7 homers.  Texas scored their last 6 runs on 3 two run blasts.  Jim Sundberg's 2 run shot off Bill Campbell in the top of the 10th was the game winner.

Red Sox 13, Rangers 4
Alexander vs Lee
Bill Lee went the distance and most importantly prevented Boston's fate from being in the hands of their porous bullpen.  Doyle Alexander was thoroughly horrible giving up 7 runs while not even surviving through the 2nd inning.  Jim Rice's 4 for 6 day with 3 RBI;s paced Boston's 16 hit attack.  Frank Howard and Tom Grieve hit homers for the second consecutive day for the losing Texas club.

Rangers 7, Red Sox 6
Tiant vs Hargan
Boston carried a 2 run lead into the bottom of the 9th, but once again their sub par pen snatched defeat from the jaws of victory.  Bump Wills led off the inning with a single the found a way in between third and short.  The "Human Rain Delay", Mike Hargrove followed with a clean single of his own.  Frank Howard lined one in the same spot that Wills hit his to load the bases with nobody out.  Campbell replaced Cleveland and got Toby Harrah to line out to third.  Jim Spencer worked the count to 3-2 before serving up an opposite field single to left to tie the game up.  With momentum firmly on the side the Rangers received a game winning hit by Jeff Burroughs to plate Howard and send the Arlington fans home smiling.

"Don" of a new era

Giants 1, Expos 0

Montefusco vs Stoneham

A strange pitchers duel where both starters left after five shutout innings.  The contest came down to two fantastic bullpen efforts.  Neither pen would not allow a run until the top of the ninth inning. With runners on first and second and one out pinch hitter Ken Henderson sent one all the way back to the wall, which Andre Dawson made a leaping grab on.  It looked like Montréal was going to get out of the inning unscathed. Up steeped light hitting catcher Dave Rader, who proceeded to single through the whole in between 3rd and short to score Bill Matlock, which turned out to be the winning run.

Expos 12, Giants 10

Marichal vs Morton

Game two was the antithesis of game one.  Both teams battered and bruised each other for nine full innings. Juan Marichal was dreadful giving up seven runs and eight hits over four innings of work including two long balls.   San Francisco scored six runs over the final three innings yet still came up to run short of victory. Six homeruns were hit in all with three of them coming from future Hall of Famer's Willie Mays, Gary Carter and Andre the Hawk Dawson. Kid Carter had three RBIs for the winners and Bobby Bonds had four RBIs for the losers. Call Morton posted the undeserved win giving up six runs in six innings.  His claim to fame was being "less bad" than Juan Marichal.

Giants 5, Expos 4 (10 inn)

Renko vs Halacki

An RBI single by Bobby Bonds and a sac fly, which was almost a homer, by Willie McCovey helped the Giants rallied back from a two run deficit to tie the game at 4-4 in the bottom of the seventh. Neither team could push across another run in regulation. Dan Shatzeder started the bottom of the tenth by giving up singles to pinch-hitter Larry Herndon and catcher Dave Rader. Chuck Taylor came out of the pen to get Johnnie Lemaster to pop up to short, but pinch-hitter Terry Whitfield hit a medium-length fly ball to left field which Warren Cromartie was able to catch but not able to throw home to get the speedy Herndon.  San Francisco wins by one in the 10th. Veteran reliever Don McMahon (2-0), gets the much deserved win by tossing three scoreless innings in relief of Halicki.

This is Carlton..Your "Close the Door" man

Game 1 at Philadelphia,

Phillies take the first game of the series on the power of Larry Bowa's homerun into the left field seats. Twitchell earned the victory and Barry Lersch earned his first save of the year with 3.1 innings of strong relief. Phillies 4...Padres 1.

Game 2 at Philadelphia,

Dave Freislelben had a strong pitching performance and earned his first win of the year. Dave Roberts hit his second homerun of the season to lead a 9 hit Padre attack on Underwood. Underwood was taken out in the sixth inning as he was not sharp allowing four runs during that time.  Padres 5...Phillies 1.

Game 3 at San Diego,

Philadelphia grabbed the last game of the series with Steve Carlton on the hill.  Lefty pitched his best game of the year to earn his first win. Carlton went the distance pitching a shutout on only 5 hits, no walks and 2 strikeouts.  Phillies 3....Padres 0.

--submitted by Joey Scigliano--

KCR 4, NYY 0: "Mayberry KCR"

NYY 8, KCR 4: "REG-GIE"

KCR 6, NYY 1: "Doc Shock"