ChiSox Complete 2-Game Sweep over Blue Jays

GAME ONE – Chet Lemon and Jorge Orta (3 hits) smacked back-to-back doubles to highlight a 4-run 8^th for the ChiSox as Chicago wins its home opener 4-2. Ken Kravec earned the win.

GAME TWO – Lamar Johnson (can’t you still picture him in those pajamas the Sox wore in the 70s?) went 3-for-3 and blasted a 2-run homer in the 2^nd to power the White Sox to a 3-1 victory and a series sweep of the Blue Jays. Mike Proly (1-0) pitched 7 strong for the win. Dewey Robinson nailed down the 2-inning save.

Brewers Battle Boston To A Draw

Game 1 Milwaukee 5 Boston 4

WP: Mike Caldwell (1-1, 4.24 ERA)
LP: Bill Campbell (1-1, 4.50 ERA)
GWRBI: Cecil Cooper

Milwaukee scores 2 in the bottom of the ninth with 2 outs to take the first game of the homestand at County Stadium.   The Red Sox broke a 3-3 tie in the top of the ninth when Rick Burleson singled to left scoring Dwight Evans from second.  But it was the Brewer 2 run rally in the bottom half that would give the game to the Crew.Cecil Cooper (1) and Ben Oglivie (2) went yard for the Brewers.  Mike Caldwell had a complete game victory.

Game 2 Boston 4 Milwaukee 1 10 innings

WP: Mike Torrez (1-1, 4.20 ERA , 4 Ks)
LP: Juan Castro (0-1, 16.20 ERA)
SV: Dick Drago (1)
GWRBI: Rick Burleson

The Brewers looked like shades of their 1978 self as the motto "if we aint hitting homers, we aint winning" played true in the 4-1 loss to Boston.  Red Sox pitching held Milwaukee to just 6 hits and kept every ball in the yard (allowing only 1 extra base hit) en route to their win on the road.  Fred Lynn's 2 run homer, his first of the year, broke open a 1 run tie in the top of the 10th inning.  The 3 run extra inning explosion was too much for the Brewers to overcome as relief pitcher, Dick Drago, put Milwaukee away in the bottom half of the inning.

The split keeps Boston one game ahead of Milwaukee in the standings at 3-2 and 2-3 respectively. 

O's bounce back to take two after dropping series opener to Yanks.

BALTIMORE, MD: After beginning the season taking 2 of 3 from the White Sox, the Orioles continued their home stand hosting the Yankees.  The Tuesday night series opener saw two lefties facing off.  Ron "Gator" Guidry for the Yankees and Scott McGregor for Baltimore.  The Orioles took an early 1-0 lead in the bottom of the third.  Kiko Garcia singled past the diving Willie Randolph to start the inning.  Garcia advanced to second as Guidry crossed up Munson with the passed ball.  Rick Dempsey followed with a walk.  It looked like the rally would die as Dauer lined to left and New York leftfielder Roy While doubled up Dempsey who strayed too far off first.  However, Al Brumby clutched up and lined a single up the middle to plate Garcia. 

NETTLES BLAST GROUNDS BIRDS

The top of the fourth looked to be another quiet inning for McGregor as he retired the first two Yankee hitters.  "Sweet" Lou Piniella lined a shot that Belanger was only able to knock down.  Cliff Johnson then lined a double to left center with Piniella stopping at third.  Chambliss then went the other way with a base hit to left center, scoring Piniella and Johnson and giving New York a 2-1 lead.  Nettles followed that with a shot down the right field line extending the Yankee lead to 4-1.

The bottom of the sixth started promising for the Orioles.  Ken Singleton singled to left.  Doug DeCinces followed with a drive off the right center field wall as Singleton scored and DeCinces cruised into second with the double.  That was all for Baltimore as Guidry escaped further damage and Goose Goosage closed it out with two scoreless innings of relief.   New York 4  Baltimore 2   WP: Guidry 2-0  LP:  McGregor 0-1  Sv:  Goosage (1).  HR:  Nettles (1).

Game two of the series looked a lot like game one as the Orioles scored single runs in the second and third innings but the Yankees counted with runs in the fourth, fifth, and sixth.  Baltimore tied it in the bottom of the sixth as DeCinces hard ground ball between first and second went to the wall.  Pat Kelly followed with a hard hit ball between first and second that Willie Randolph was only able to knock down allowing DeCinces to go to third.  Veteran Lee May then flied deep enough to left to plate DeCinces to tie the game at three.  New York quickly regained the lead as a leadoff triple in the top of the seventh by Mickey Rivers finally chased Oriole starter Jim Palmer.  Reliever Sammy Stewart was able to pop Willie Randolph up for the first out with Rivers still at third.  However, Munson then doubled off the right field wall scoring Rivers as the Yankees regained the lead 4-3.  One out later Nettles walked and then Chambliss singled extending the New York lead to 5-3.  In the bottom of the inning it was the Orioles turn to rally with two outs.  Belanger walked, Singleton singled to left with Belanger racing to third.  Eddie Murray then doubled to right center scoring with Belanger scoring and Singleton moving to third.  DeCinces followed with another double that drove in both Singleton and Murray as Baltimore regained the lead 6-5.  This finally chased Yankee starter Figueroa with Tidrow coming in.  After walking Pat Kelly intentionally, Terry Crowley came up to hit for Lee May, grounding a single between short and third to drive in DeCinces to extend the lead to 7-5.  Closer Don Stanhouse came in to retire the final three Yankee hitters.  WP: Stewart 1-0  LP:  Figueroa 0-2.  SV:  Stanhouse (1).

The series finale saw Orioles starter Mike Flanagan keep the Yankee hitters off balance.  Tossing the shutout as Baltimore won 2-0.  Belanger got Baltimore going with a one out triple in the bottom of the first.  Singleton then doubled down the first base line as Belanger scored easily.  While that would turn out to be all Flanagan would need the O's added another run in the bottom of the second.  Lee May began the inning reaching on an error.  Dempsey then singled to left center as May raced to third.  Garcia then grounded into a double play but May scored.  Flanagan allowed only seven hits, no walks, and four strikeouts.  WP: Flanagan 2-0  LP: John 1-1.  

Pirates 1 Phillies 1

April 10, 1979 68 and clear breeze clicking at 15mph from right to left. The stars were

John Candelaria

brightly shining and the Phillies felt good.  However it changed instantly, when in the top of the 1st, the Pirates scored 2 off the starter Ruthven. Stennett had the first of his two doubles, the first one driving home two runs with two outs. the Pirates tagged Ruthven for another run in the top of the 2nd, when Garner doubled off the wall in left, moved to third on a ground out and then scored on another ground out.  The Phillies were stymied by Candelaria until the bottom of the 6th when with two outs, Luzinski singled, Schmidt walked and Maddox singled home Luzinski.  They would score one more time in the bottom of the 7th when Ruthven helped his cause with a single, smith hit a sharp groundball to Taveras at Short who couldn't handle it. With one out and runners at 1st and 2nd, Bowa delivered a meager groundball single just the outstretched glove of Taveras, a better shortstop would have gotten it.  Ruthven scored on the play and scoring ceased. Candelaria pitched the complete game picking up his first victory, while giving up 8 hits, 2 walks, 2 runs, 1 earned and striking out 5. On the other side of the field Ruthven took his first loss while pitching 8 innings allowing only 7 hits with no walks, however he allowed 3 to score.  Pirates 3-2

April 11, had two future hall of famers square off against each other. Carlton for the hometown crowd and Blyleven for the visiting Pirates.  The pirates drew first blood when they scored in the top of the 2nd. Stennett tripled with two outs and was doubled home by Nicosia. Another single tally added in the top of the 6th for the Pirates when Parker tripled and scored on a Sac Fly by Robinson.  In the bottom of the 6th, the Quakers had McBride lead off with a single, Rose reached on an error by Stennett and Luzinski put a high fastball over the fence in left center for 3 runs to take

Greg Luzinski

the lead. In the top of the 7th with Carlton laboring, the Pirates sent him to the showers after Nicosia singled and Moreno walked. Kaat gave up a Sac Fly but that was all to knot the score at 3.  In the bottom of the 8th Blyleven tweaked his back when Bowa bunted and he tried to make the play. He faced one more batter but left the game. Romo  entered getting Luzinski to fly to left. Schmidt was walked intentionally. Maddox, already 2-3 on the day got in a hole 0-2 before lashing a single to right center scoring Bowa. Philadelphia's Reed who had rescued Bird in the 8th pitched the 9th for a 1-2-3 inning as the Phillies evened the two game series. Phillies 4  Pirates 3

Houston Takes Series from Atlanta in Three Tight Games

Houston 4, Atlanta 3

W: Sambito (1-0)

L: Garber (0-1)

A Bob Horner homer off J.R. Richard and a sac fly from Dale Murphy gives Houston a 3-2 lead in the top of the ninth. Reliever Gene Garber gets the first two outs before Cesar Cedeno singles, steals second and scores on a hit by Jose Cruz, who goes to second on the throw home. Enos Cabell then grounds a single between first and second to give the 'Stros the comeback win.

Atlanta, 4, Houston 2

W: Garber (1-1)

L: Andujar (0-1)

S: Devine (1)

Atlanta breaks a 2-2 tie in the top of the ninth with a single to right-center by Glenn Hubbard that plates two off reliever Joaquin Andujar, who is not on his game. Adrian Devine comes in and promptly loads the bases for Houston with one out in the bottom of the ninth. But pinch hitter Jeffrey Leonard keeps both flaps down by striking out and then Jose Cruz ends the threat with an infield fly.

Houston 4, Atlanta 1

W: J. Niekro (1-0)

L: Matula (0-1)

S: Sambito (1)

Joe Niekro pitches eight innings of one run ball and drives in two with an RBI single. Atlanta rookie Rick Matula, in his first major league start, gives up three in the fourth inning but pitches well. Enos Cabell steals three bases for the running Astros but doesn't score any of the four runs. 

Orioles take 2 of 3 over White Sox

4-6-79  BAL 5-1

Dauer drives in 2 runs and Palmer goes the distance giving the O's opening game win.

4-7-79 BAL 5-1

Lee May collects 2 hits including a 2b with 3 RBI.  Flanagan goes 7.1 IP to pick up the win.

4-8-79 Sox 3-2

Tied at 2 after 8, Sox load the bases against reliever Tippy Martinez with Washington scoring go ahead run on a Soderholm SF.  LaGrow throws 2 scoreless innings of relief to pick up the win.

Padres Stun Dodgers. Champs Fall 3-1

Game 1
Gaylord Perry and Burt Hooten pitch well and the only runs scored were in the 8th when the Padres put up 3 on a 2 out bunt single by Ozzie Smith, a Mike Hargrove double and IBB to Dave Winfield, a Hooten wild pitch and a Jerry Turner 2 run single.  Padres win 3-0.

Game 2
It's Randy Jones for SD and Don Sutton for LA.  The Padres score one in the 2nd on a Barry Evans double and 2 more in the 4th on a Fernando Gonzalez single and a Fred Kendall SF to take a 3-0 lead.  The Dodgers got one back in the 4th off a SF by Steve Garvey and then scored 3 in the 7th on an error and two bases loaded walks to take the lead.  Bob Welch came on to pitch 2 scoreless innings for the save.  Dodgers win 4-3

Game 3
Eric Rasmussen and Andy Messersmith paired off in game 3 and Messersmith never found his rythem.  After the Dodgers gave him a 1-0 lead in the first Messersmith gave up 2 runs in the 2nd and 3rd and one more in the 4th before being lifted for Jerry Reuss who also gave up a run in the 4th to give San Diego a 6-1 lead after 4.  Winfield's 2 run HR in the 3rd went 435 feet and got out of the ballpark in a hurry.  Los Angeles got single runs in the 6th (a Garvey HR) and the 8th (a Garvey SF) but that was all the offense the Dodgers could muster.  Padres win 6-3

Game 4
Bob Owchinko and Doug Rau met in the last game of the series and LA struck early as Garvey once again hurt the Padres pitching staff with a 2 run HR in the first giving him 6 RBI for the series.  Rau held the Padres scoreless until the 6th when Turner hit a solo HR to cut the score in half.  Then with 2 out and a runner on first Rau came undone as he made the cardinal sin of walking the opposing pitcher.  San Diego followed that with a Richards single to load the bases and Ozzie Smith singled to center to score 2 runs to give the Padres the lead.  Lance Rautzhan came on to try and get the last out of the inning and immediately tossed a wild pitch to score Richards and San Diego led 4-2.  That 4th run proved big for the Padres as Dusty Baker hit a HR in the bottom of the 7th to bring the Dodgers within one but Steve Mura came on to get the last 6 outs.  Padres win 4-3 and win series 3-1