ALCS - Halos upset favored Bombers in 5

October 09 - Yankee Stadium
California 3, New York 0

Ron Guidry and Frank Tanana locked horns is a real pitcher’s duel. Guidry’s only real mistake of the night was allowing a gopher ball to Don “Kingman” Baylor. It came with 2 men on in the top of the 1 st inning. That was all the runs the Halos would score, but at the same time was all the support Tanana needed, as he stifled the Yanks on just 3 hits and 3 walks, and picked up the complete game victory.

October 10 - Yankee Stadium
California 6, New York 3

New York scored 2 unearned runs in the bottom of the 1st innings on a 2-out single by Roy White. But California chipped away, scoring in 5 of the next 6 innings off New York starter Mel Stottlemyre. The Yankees managed to bring the tying run to the plate in the bottom of the 9 th. But Andy Messersmith induced a popup from Bobby Murcer to earn the save and preserve te win for Clyde Wright.

October 12 - Anaheim Stadium
California 5, New York 2

Don Baylor and Bob Oliver hit home runs in support of Nolan Ryan, who was forced to exit after throwing 124 pitches in only 5 innings. But the Angels relievers Paul Hartzel and Andy Messersmith were able to keep the Yankees in check with just 1 hit in the last 4 innings to give Ryan the win. Mickey Rivers, playing for both teams, hit a 2-run HR off Ryan to account for all of the Yankees’ scoring.

October 13 - Anaheim Stadium
New York 2, California 1

The Angles “Parade of Lefties” continued with Rudy May getting the call. He completed 7 innings of 4- hit work, allowing only a solo HR to Roy White. Fortunately for the Yankees, Catfish Hunter was just as good, giving up only a Bobby Grich RBI single in 8 innings of 5-hit pitching.

Chris Chambliss’ RBI single in the top of the 9th scored Bobby Mercer to give Hunter the win. Lindy McDaniel shut down the home team to earn the save.

October 14 - Anaheim Stadium
California 6, New York 2

A Game 1 rematch. Both pitchers look far less sharp than their previous outing. Piniella homered in the top of the 1st, while the Bronx Bombers threatened for more, leaving 7 runners on base the first 3 innings. But they just couldn’t seem to get the one hit they needed to break it open.

California got to Guidry in the 5th with 5 singles to give them a 5-2 lead, and never looked back. Tanana hung on for 7+ innings for the win, despite yielding 10 hits and 4 walks.

Angels shock the Yankees and the baseball world with an improbable 4-1 series win. They will continue their 1969 NY Mets reenactment with a KOD15 World Series appearance against the Reds or the Dodgers.
--submitted by Douglas Zaner--

ALDS - Bombers outlast Motown in 4

GAME 1 - Lolich vs Guidry
Yankees 5, Tigers 0
Louisiana Lighting was lighting up the skies in the Bronx in the opener.  Ron Guidry fanned 8 on his way to 3 hitting the Tigers.  The Bombers scored their 5 runs off of Lolich in the first 3 innings and never looked back.  Bobby Murcer and Reggie Jackson accounted for all of the runs with the long ball.  Murcer hit a 3 run shot in the bottom of the 1st and Mr. October hit a 2 run shot in the 3rd.  "Sweet" Lou Piniella chipped in with a 3 for 4 day.
Yankees lead series 1-0

GAME 2 - Coleman vs Stottlemyre
Tigers 3, Yankees 2
Tied 2-2 and heading toward the 9th the Tigers had the perfect opportunity to steal a game in the Bronx and head home with a series split.  Detroit's Joe Coleman hung in their against Cy Young candidate Mel Stottlemyre.  Both hurlers gave up just 2 runs over 7 innings.  Coleman had a lead heading into the bottom of the 8th, but reliever John Hiller gave up the tying run to the Bombers when Mr. October doubled home Roy White with 1 out.  With the game knotted at 2-2 Alan Trammell led off the top of the 9th with a single and moved to second on a wild pitch uncorked by Lindy McDaniel.  Tony Taylor hit a deep fly to death valley that Murcer tracked down and Trammell crossed over to third.  Lead off man Ron LeFlore singled on a 2-2 pitch to score Trammell and give the Tigers a 1 run lead.  Tom Timmerman, who got the final out in the 8th threw a perfect 9th to close out the game.  Trammell (4-4) had a perfect day at the plate.  LeFlore (3-5) had the GWRBI.
Series tied 1-1

GAME 3 - Peterson vs Fidrych
Yankees 1, Tigers 0
With 2 outs in the 5th Tiger starter Mark Fidrych hurt his elbow and had to leave a scoreless game.  With Yankee starter Fritz Peterson throwing up goose eggs the Tiger pen needed to be perfect.  In the top of the 7th Chris Chambliss lined a 2 out RBI single off of Milt Wilcox to break the scoreless deadlock.  Sparky Lyle would pitch a scoreless 9th and end the game by fanning LeFlore to notch the save.  Tiger Stadium was electric as "the Bird" had them captivated once again.  When he came up lame the crowd felt like a balloon that had it's air let out.  Fans left wondering how this great pitcher's duel might have turned out if Fidrych didn't get hurt.
Yankees lead series 2-1
GAME 4 - Hunter vs Lolich
Yankees 4, Tigers 3
Detroit brought opening game starter Mickey Lolich back on short rest in hopes of staving off elimination.  Lolich, who average over 300 innings per season during the early 70's was no stranger to pitching early and often.  The "fat man" kept the Bombers off the board for 4 innings before tiring.  Leading 2-0 on a 4th inning Norm cash homer, Lolich gave up an RBI single to Mr. October (Reggie Jackson) to make it a 2-1 game after 5.  Lolich started the 6th hoping to get 1 or 2 more quality innings under his elongated belt, but that was not to be.  RBI hits by Chambliss (double), Randolph (triple) and Piniella (single) spelled doom for Motown.  A pinch hit homer by Willie Horton would make it a one run game after 6, but Catfish Hunter would not allow any further scoring before giving way to Lyle who notched his second save in successive night.
Yankees win series 3-1

ALDS - Halos battle past Royals in 4

Angels avenge the regular season 4-game butt kicking they received from the Royals with a shocking 3 games to 1 win of their LDS series.  All 4 games we extremely close from the 1st pitch of Game 1 to the last pitch of Game 4.

The Amazing Kreskin has convinced the KOD15 Angels that they are the 1969 Mets.  Of course, the '69 Mets never had to face the KOD15 Even-more-amazing Yankees.  So we haven't started making any plans for a ticker tape parade through Disneyland.  --submitted by Douglas Zaner--

GAME 1 - Wright vs Leonard
Royals 3, Angels 2
The opener featured a great pitcher's duel between Clyde Wright and Dennis Leonard.  KC jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the home half of the first.  Hal McRae singled home Frank White and Amos Otis scored on a George Brett ground out to get things started.  Al Cowens would single home McRae, who led off the 4th with a double, to make it 3-1.  California made it a 1 run ball game in the top of the 6th and nearly took the lead as Don Baylor's shot to left took Piniella back to the wall.  Ken "F-Troop" Berry easily tagged and scored.  Roger Nelson closed it out in the 9th, but it wasn't easy.  Jerry Remy led off the top of the 9th with a single and was bunted over to second.  Any Etchebarren singled sharply just out of the reach of a diving Frank White at second.  Remy headed for home but was pegged by a beautiful one hop throw by Al Cowens.  Jim Spencer lifted a weak fly to center to end it.
Royals lead series 1-0

GAME 2 - Tanana vs Busby
Angels 3, Royals 0
California chipped away at Busby by posted solo runs in the 2nd, 3rd and 7th innings.  The Royals never solved the mystery of the left handed flame thrower, as Frank Tanana fanned 6 en route to a 2 hit complete game shutout.  Jerry Remy, atoning for his getting thrown out at the plate in game 1, went 3 for 5 with 1 run scored.
Series tied 1-1

GAME 3 - Drago vs Messersmith

Angels 6, Royals 3
Andy Messersmith went the distance while battling his control.  Lucky for him Dick Drago was having a hard time with California's bats.  Bobby Valentine, hitting in the 9th spot went 3 for 4 with 2 runs scored and an RBI.  Leadoff hitter Mickey Rivers was also 3 for 4.  Both pesky tablesetters were in the right place at the right time for Bobby Grich who delivered 4 RBI's on the day with 2 key hits.
Angels lead series 2-1

GAME 4 - Splittorff vs May

Angels 4, Royals 3
Both starters barely qualified for what MLB quantifies as a quality start.  Neither saw action past the 6th inning as the game would be decided by each team's respective pens.  California's pen (Hartzell and La Roche) bested KC's pen (Gura and Pattin).  Heading into the bottom of the 6th the Royals had a tenuous 3-2 lead.  Jim Spencer's 2 run pinch hit triple reversed California's fortune by giving his team a 4-3 lead.  Hartzell and LaRoche, who notched the save, gave up just 2 hits over the final 3 innings as the Halos clinched the series.
Angels win series 3-1

NLDS - Reds cruise to victory in 4

Giants break out in the opener and grab a W but then the Reds cruise on to victory like they did all season. Win in 4 games.

GAME 1 - Halicki vs Billingham
Giants 9, Reds 1
Giants scored 6 runs off reliever Ross Grimsley in the top of the 6th to surprise the jaugernaut Reds 9-1 in the opener.  An aging Willie Mays went 3 for 5 and Stretch McCovey hit a two run shot to pace the offense.  Ed Halicki went the distance fanning 9 and giving up just 1 run on 8 hits.
Giants lead series 1-0

GAME 2 - Barr vs Seaver
Reds 4, Giants 2
On paper this pitching matchup was a mismatch.  Nothing different on the field as Tom Seaver, who didn't have his best stuff, still managed to give up just 1 run in 7 innings of work.  Tom Hall gave up the second run in the 8th as he closed out the game with 2 innings of relief.  Cincy fired the opening salvo with 4 runs off of Barr in the bottom of the 2nd.  San Fran actually out hit the Reds 7-5, but Cincy had the more timely hits including a 2 run shot by Johnny Bench (2-3, 2 RBI).
Series tied 1-1

GAME 3 - Nolan vs Marichal
Reds 8, Giants 4
After victimizing future HOF'er Juan Marichal for 7 runs in 6 innings the Reds went into cruise control.  The Jints would score 4 runs in the 6th to make it a 3 run game, but Reds reliever Clay Carroll would not let them get any closer.  Dan Driessen had a breakout day with the bat for Cincy going 3 for 5 with 2 runs scored and 4 RBI's.  Three of those RBI's came on a 3 run blas in the 5th that broke the game open.
Reds lead series 2-1

GAME 4 - Gullett vs Montefusco
Reds 3, Giants 1
In an effort to stave off elimination the Jints drew first blood in the bottom of the first on an RBI double by Bill Madlock.  Cy Young candidate Don Gullett would not allow another hit the rest of the way while shutting out the Giants over the final 8 innings.  Cincy tied it up in the second on a Johnny Bench solo shot, then took the lead in the 4th when George Foster scored on a double play ball.  Cesar Geronimo led off the top of the 7th with a triple then scored 1 batter later when Dave Concepcion singled him home.  With 3 runs in his pocket, Gullett cruised to victory to close out the series.

Reds win series 3-1

NLDS - LA outlast Bucs in 5

Series MVP with 2 CG's

LDS Game 1: Dodgers (Osteen) at Pirates (Candelaria)

Claude Osteen pitched a complete game but gave up 3 runs with Clemente, Zisk and Robinson getting RBI's. However Candelaria held the Dodgers to just 1 run over 6 innings, with Hernandez and Giusti pitching 3 shutout innings to lead the Pirates to a 1-0 lead in the series.

LDS Game 2: Dodgers (Sutton) at Pirates (Ellis) – Pirates lead series 1-0

It took 13 innings to decide this game as it was another low scoring affair with Sanguillen heroically bringing Parker in in the bottom of the ninth. Then with 1 out Clemente flied out to left field, seemingly giving the Pirates the win as Zisk chugged down the line to bring home the winning run, but….OUT!  The Dodgers loaded the bases in the 10^th with only one out but a Garvey strikeout and a Baker fly out killed that rally.  It was not until the 13^th inning when the Dodgers were able to make a mark on the scoreboard as Crawford and Yeager brought in runs to give the Dodgers a 4-2 lead. With Hooton pitching the Pirates got two men on in the bottom of the 13^th, but Hooton held tight and the Dodgers tied the series 1-1.

LDS Game 3: Pirates (Blass) at Dodgers (Messersmith) – Series tied 1-1

This game was a blowout from the beginning as the Pirates put up 5 runs and batted around before the Dodgers ever got to the plate. Blass held the Dodgers to 5 hits.

LDS Game 4: Pirates (Reuss) at Dodgers (Rau) – Pirates lead series 2-1

The Pirates again opened the game with a first inning run, but this time the Dodgers held tight and came to bat only down 1-0. The game moved along quite quickly with the Dodgers only sending 13 men to the plate over the first 4 innings, with the Pirates sending up 10 batters over innings 2-4. But then in the bottom of the 6^th, the Dodgers exploded for 4 runs with Lopes scoring on a passed ball, Reggie Smith getting an RBI and Willie Davis singling and bringing in 2 runs.Tommy John came in in the 7^th and held the Pirates scoreless over the final 3 innings to help the Dodgers tie the series at 2.

LSD Game 5: Dodgers (Osteen) at Pirates (Candelaria) – Series tied at 2

This time it was the Dodgers who threw three runs up on the board in the top of the 1^st with Smith hitting a two run homer.  Osteen was masterful, spreading 5 hits over 9 complete innings and holding the Pirates scoreless to lead the Dodgers to a 3-2 series win. 

--submitted by Keith MacDonald--

Dodgers vs Pirates LDS

LDS Game 1: Dodgers (Osteen) at Pirates (Candelaria)

Osteen pitched a complete game but gave up 3 runs with Clemente, Zisk and Robinson getting RBI's. However Candelaria held the Dodgers to just 1 run over 6 innings, with Hernandez and Gisuti pitching 3 shutout innings to lead the Pirates to a 1-0 lead in the series.

 

LDS Game 2: Dodgers (Sutton) at Pirates (Ellis) – Pirates lead series 1-0

It took 13 innings to decide this game as it was another low scoring affair with Sanguillen heroically bringing Parker in in the bottom of the ninth. Then with 1 out Clemente flied out to left field, seemingly giving the Pirates the win as Zisk chugged down the line to bring home the winning run, but….OUT!

The Dodgers loaded the bases in the 10^th with only one out but a Garvey strikeout and a Baker fly out killed that rally.

It was not until the 13^th inning when the Dodgers were able to make a mark on the scoreboard as Crawford and Yeager brought in runs to give the Dodgers a 4-2 lead. With Hooton pitching the Pirates got two men on in the bottom of the 13^th, but Hooton held tight and the Dodgers tied the series 1-1.

 

LDS Game 3: Pirates (Blass) at Dodgers (Messersmith) – Series tied 1-1

This game was a blowout from the beginning as the Pirates put up 5 runs and batted around before the Dodgers ever got to the plate. Blass held the Dodgers to 5 hits.

 

LDS Game 4: Pirates (Reuss) at Dodgers (Rau) – Pirates lead series 2-1

The Pirates again opened the game with a first inning run, but this time the Dodgers held tight and came to bat only down 1-0. The game moved along quite quickly with the Dodgers only sending 13 men to the plate over the first 4 innings, with the Pirates sending up 10 batters over innings 2-4.

But then in the bottom of the 6^th, the Dodgers exploded for 4 runs with Lopes scoring on a passed ball, Smith getting an RBI and Davis singling and bringing in 2 runs.

Tommy John came in in the 7^th and held the Pirates scoreless over the final 3 innings to help the Dodgers tie the series at 2.

 

LSD Game 5: Dodgers (Osteen) at Pirates (Candelaria) – Series tied at 2

This time it was the Dodgers who threw three runs up on the board in the top of the 1^st with Smith hitting a two run homer.

Osteen was masterful, spreading 5 hits over 9 complete innings and holding the Pirates scoreless to lead the Dodgers to a 3-2 series win. 

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

AL Play In Game: Jack-ed !!! - Tigers defeat Twins 2-0

The Tigers score two runs in the second as Rusty Staub works Geoff Zahn for a walk and scores on Bill Freehan's triple.  Freeham came home on a sacrifice fly by Norm Cash.  Jack Morris got the start on the basis of his shutout of the Twins during the regular season and held the Twins scoreless, ably helped by 3 twin killings.  Tom :"Terrific" Timmerman put out a fire in the 8th with the fourth double play of the game.  John Hiller earned his 8th save of the season by putting down the Twins 1-2-3 in the ninth.  The Tigers advance to the playoffs to face the Yankees who took three out of four from the Tigers in the last series of the season.

--submitted by Tom Davis--

NL Play In Game: Jints bounce Braves 7-2

The Giants score seven runs in the fifth inning and beat the Braves 7-2 to advance to the playoffs.  Up to  that point Atlanta hurler Dick Ruthven had a 2-0 shutout going.  An aging Willie Mays turned back the clock with a bases clearing triple that spelled doom for the Braves.  John "the Count" Montefusco scattered 7 hit and allowed just 2 runs in 6 2/3 innings.  Veteran reliever Don McMahon finished it up with 2 1/3 scoreless innings of relief.  No rest for the weary as the Jints will fly to Cincy to face the juggernaut 30-8 Cincinnati Reds tomorrow in a best of 5 LDS.

Cincy dominates the NL West

LA swept their way into the playoffs at the expense of the hapless Astros.  Houston did not roll over and die as most of the series featured tight games separated by 1-2 runs.  Bill Buckner went 2-4 in the finale to finish with a .444 average.  Buckner didn't qualify for the batting title, which was won by Bob Watson of the Astros who flirted with .400 all season.  Watson finished with a more than respectable .378 to outlast ATL's Ralph Garr.

Atlanta took 3 of 4 from the lowly Friars to put themselves in a positon for the 2nd Wild Card Slot.  Knucle-balling ace Phil Niekro tossed a CG in game 2, which was aided by a 3-4 day off the bat of Dusty Baker.  Ron Reed tossed 6 shutout innings in the finale.

After the Giants won the series opener the Reds shut the door on the boys from the Bay area.  Cincy rattled off three straight wins to finish the season 30-8.  The Reds had the NL West title all sewn up before the series, but still played like the games meant something.  Don Gullett saw his record increase to 6-1 as his ERA dropped to 1.66 on a 5 hit shutout in game 3.  The Big Red Machine is known for their bats, but Gullett just might have put them on the map on the pitching side with a possible Cy Young award in his future.  By virtue of just 1 win in the final series the Jints were forced into a 1 game play in contest in Atlanta.  Cincy clinched Home Field throughout the playoffs.

NL East goes down to the wire

Montreal entered the series hotter than a stove, but they realistically needed a sweep to vye for post season consideration.  St. Louis had spoiler on their mind.  Montreal held on for a 1 run victory in the opener thanks to homers by Tony Perez and Larry Parrish and 6 shutout innings by Carl Morton.  The 'Spos held on again for a close win in game 2 thanks to Mike Marshall notching his 2nd save in as many days.  Andre Dawson hit his 9th homer and stole 3 bases.  A 2-1 win by the Spos made the folks from the great white north dare to dream.  Marshall saved his 3rd in a row.  Bob Gibson didn't have his A game, but was good enough to dash the hopes of the Expos.  Ted Simmons' 2 run shot was a back breaker.  Dawson hit his 10th homer.  Montreal would now need the Mets to sweep the Bucs to keep their hopes alive.

Chicago took 3 of 4 from Philly in a series that had no playoff implications.  The lone game Philly won the Phightin's posted a 10 spot in the top of the 8th.  The Bull, Greg Luzinski, went 5 for 6 with 6 RBI on 2 doubles and a homer.

The Amazin's needed a sweep of the Bucs to gain a tie for the NL East crown.  New York took the first 3 games of the series to put the pressure on the heavily favored Bucs.  Pittsburgh put all their hopes on ace Steve Blass' right shoulder in game 4.  Blass turned in a t hit shutout to boost his record to 7-1.  New York's starter, Jerry Koosman didn't even finish out the 4th as the Bucs rode a pinch hit 3 run homer by Willie Stargell.

The AL East Roundup

The Bronx Bombers clinched the AL East title by winning the opener vs Detroit.  After that they had little else to play for.  Spot starter Catfish Hunter pitched a gem in game 3 to clinch home field advantage.  Detroit needed a "turn the clock back" performance from the aging core of their '68 Championship squad to win the finale and hold on to force a play in game vs MIN for the 2nd WC slot.  Jim Northrup and Norm Cash both had 3 hit days.  The game was tied 1-1 until the Tigers erupted for 7 runs over the final 2 innings.

Boston and Milwaukee played this series for pride.  The Sahx managed to take 3 of 4 from the cellar dweller Brew Crew.  Luis Tiant threw a tidy 4 hit shut out on getaway day to close out the season.  Yaz had 2 hits in the finale to finish the season above .300 (.301).

Cleveland headed into the final week needing a sweep in order to keep their slim playoff hopes alive.  A series spit to the disappointing O's knocked them out of contention.  Jim Kern notched his league leading 12th save to pretty much sew up the Rolaids Relief man of the Year Award.

Week #11 in Review: The AL West Situation

Angels and Twins split.  Andy Messersmith dominates game 4.  But the first 3 were all down to the wire.  (submitted by D.Zaner)

Meanwhile, the Royals swept the A's for their 8th straight win to reward Justin Ryan with his first AL West crown.  Willie Wilson stole his league leading 30th base in the series finale.  On the Wildcard front, the Angels easily qualified as the #1 WC.  

The Pale Hose needed 2 wins vs lowly Texas to qualify for the play in game.  3 wins would have sured up the 2nd WC slot.  Texas showed some pride and took the first 3 games of the series to eliminate Chicago.  Even the embattled Gaylord Perry, who was 0-7 heading into the series, managed to scratch out a win.

Standings Prior to Play In Games

The regular season hs ended and we have a tie for the final WC slot in both the AL and NL (highlighted in red).  Teams that qualified for the post season are highlighted in green.