1970 Season Coming in Jan. 2015

Year In Review : 1970 American League

Off the field...

After large numbers of North Vietnamese troops entered Cambodia in 1969. Premier Lon Nol assumed control of the government, while Prince Sihanouk was in Peking, and pledged to force the removal of the occupying military. Initially, the invaders agreed to withdraw, but then announced their support for Sihanouk, who had promised to fight the new government. President Nixon announced that U.S. troops would join with South Vietnamese troops to invade the border areas of Cambodia and eliminate all Communist sanctuaries.

Four students were killed at Kent State University after Ohio National Guardsmen clashed with anti-war protesters. The students were engaged in a rally condemning President Nixon's approval for a massive incursion into Cambodia. While appearing on television on April 30th, Nixon announced that the invasion was for a limited period, and was to save American lives, and claimed that American forces would not advance more than twenty-one miles into the country.

Monday Night Football debuted on ABC, with Howard Cosell, Keith Jackson, and Don Meredith all giving play-by-play. The on-camera camaraderie in the booth as well as the groundbreaking approach to covering the game resulted in the development of several multi-camera and play-by-play technologies that are still being used today. As a result, Monday Night Football has become the most successful and longest-running primetime sports series in television history.

In the American League...

Baltimore's Frank Robinson hit two successive grand slams during a 12-2 Orioles triumph over the Washington Senators becoming just the seventh major leaguer to ever accomplish the feat. The back-to-back historic blasts were the only grand slams Robinson ever hit as a "Blackbird".

The Kansas City Royals set an unwanted Major League mark on August 3rd after falling 10-8 to the Baltimore Orioles for the twenty-third time in two seasons.

Tommy Harper of the Milwaukee Brewers matched thirty stolen bases with his thirtieth home run of the year to become the fifth major leaguer to go 30-30 in the same season. Incidentally, the stats added up as the resulting 4-2 win over the Anaheim Angels marked the Brewers "60th" of the year.

In the National League...

On July 8th, San Francisco Giant Jim Ray Hart tied a modern Major League record with six runs batted in during one inning with all coming in the fifth. The "bay area brawler" slammed a three run home run and three run triple and eventually hit for the cycle en route to a 13-0 victory over the Atlanta Braves.

The New York Mets' Tom Seaver set a Major League record after striking out nineteen Padres, including the last ten in succession, during an April 22nd, 2-1 victory over San Diego. The feat topped every pitcher ever to take the mound in the 20th Century and no one had ever struck out ten in a row to date.

Atlanta Braves icon "Hammerin'" Hank Aaron collected his three-thousandth hit with an infield single as well as his five-hundred seventieth home run off of Wayne Granger during a 7-6, 15-inning loss to the Cincinnati Reds on May 17th.

Around the League...

St. Louis Cardinals' Golden Glove outfielder Curt Flood filed a civil lawsuit against Major League Baseball in an effort to challenge their contract reserve clause. Flood refused to report to the Philadelphia Phillies after being traded and contended that the rule violated federal antitrust laws. Flood eventually lost his $4.1 million suit later in the year after Federal Judge Irving Ben Cooper upheld the legality of the clause. However, Cooper did recommend changes in the reserve system, to be achieved through negotiation between both players and owners.

"X-5" baseballs, a new experimental brand claiming to travel faster and farther than traditional balls was field tested during all Major League Spring Training games in both Arizona and Florida. Commissioner Bowie Kuhn ordered a halt to their use after a three week trial period, which had ended with inconclusive results.

All-Star Game voting was finally returned to the fans as punch-card ballots debuted in major league ballparks across the nation. It was the first time since 1958 that the exhibition's squads were not entirely selected by managers, coaches and players.

Both players and management agreed to end their labor dispute on June 8th by settling on a new standard contract. Among the compromises that benefited the players was a raise in the minimum league salary from $10,000 to $12,000 per season.

Angels Top Pirates in World Series Show Down

Nolan Ryan

The Califoria Angels capture their first World Series title by downing the Pittsburgh Pirates 4-2.
 Nolan Ryan captured the WS MVP honors by striking out 18 Pirates in 15 innings pitched.  Ryan earned a complete game and went 1-0 in the series.  The Pirates returned to the Series for the 2nd time in 3 seasons, but again lost in their attempt to grab the crown (lost to Texas in 1977).  Series box scores can be viewed here: http://www.sportsattic2.com/araigBB/archives/79WS.htm

Brew Crew Dunks White Sox into September

GAME ONE – Mike Caldwell (17-9) completed the game with the tying run poised on 3^rd base. Milwaukee won the opener of 4, 2-1. Robin Yount tripled in 1 run in the 7^th, then scored on Charlie Moore’s infield out.

GAME TWO – Bill Travers (17-5) out-battled Steve Trout (6-9) as the Brew Crew slipped by the ChiSox again, 3-2. Sixto Lezcano was the offensive star with 2 hits and 2 RBI.

GAME THREE – Chet Lemon doubled twice and singled once, driving in 3 runs in a 4-2 White Sox victory. Rich Wortham (11-10) pitched 7 strong innings and Fred Howard (2) notched the save.

GAME FOUR – Cecil Cooper tripled in the T10 and Lezcano (3 RBI) singled him home for a 6-5 Brewers win. The Crew takes 3 of 4 as cooler temperatures settle over September in Chicago.

Chicago Whitewashes Red Sox in 2

GAME ONE – Ken Kravec (12-13) and Ed Farmer (8) combined on a 5-hitter as the White Sox whitewashed the Red Sox 2-0.

GAME TWO – Ross Baumgarten (7-14) blanked the BoSox again 1-0. The Carmines again were limited to 5 knocks. Mike Squires and Greg Pryor had 3 hits apiece for the Pale Hose.

Hooton Tosses 1-Hitter; Bums Claim 2 of 3 from Cards

GAME ONE – Keith Hernandez doubled twice and drove in 4 runs to lead St. Louis to a 6-4 win at Los Angeles. It was the 10^th consecutive loss for the Dodgers. Pete Vukovich (8-10) tossed 8 innings of shutout ball. Steve Garvey went 4-for-4, including a 3-run blast for LA.

GAME TWO – Burt Hooton (11-10) figured out how to get the Bums in the win column again and Garry Templeton finally figured out how to solve Hooton’s knuckle-curve. The surly St. Lou SS broke up Hooton’s no-hit bid with 1 out in the 9^th.  LA won 7-0.

GAME THREE – Dave Lopes single in the B10 led to a 7-6 walk-off winner for LA. This game got wild in the final innings with the Cardinals plating 4 in the 8^th and 9^th. The Dodgers scored 5 in the 8^th and 9^th with Garvey’s (21,22) 2-run blast in B9 sending the game into extras. 

O's Pound 6 HRs to Sweep ChiSox

GAME ONE – Mike Flanigan (23-4) continued his Cy Young type season with an 8-4 win over the White Sox in the first game of a DH in Chicago. He owes thanks to his offense as Rick Dempsey (6), Gary Roenicke (23) and Brant Ayala (5) all went yard. Dempsey’s was a 3-run blast in the 8^th after Chicago had closed the gap to 5-4.

GAME TWO – O’s again use the long ball to complete the sweep of the ChiSox. This time 7-2 as Lee May (20), Ken Singleton (36) and Roenicke (24) again went deep.

Bombers - ChiSox Lift Curtain on August

GAME ONE – Craig Nettles (17) homered and drove in 4 runs to lead the Yankees to a 7-2 opening game win. Lou Piniella (8) had one of his 4 hits leave the yard. Tommy John (14-8) pitched the full nine for the win.

GAME TWO – Bill Naharodny’s (3 hits) 8^th inning single plated two as the White Sox came from behind to beat the Yanks 5-4. Jim Spencer (17) had put the Bombers ahead in T8 with a 3-run bomb.

GAME THREE – White Sox threaten with 3 in the B9, but lose 4-3 when Goose Gossage (6) enters and records the 27^th out. Don Hood (4-0) was very strong for 6 innings. “Chicken” Fred Stanley (1) hit his first round tripper of the year.

ChiSox Sweep Jays Twice

GAME ONE – The White Sox won 6-4 in the opener of back-to-back double dippers. Lamar Johnson (8) homered among his 3 hits. He also scored 3 runs. Ken Kravec (11-11) pitched 8 1/3 innings to even his record.

GAME TWO – The ChiSox swept the first of the DHs with a 11-3 whuppin’ on the Blue Jays. Mike “Spanky” Squires banged out 4 hits. All 9 Sox in the lineup had at least one base knock in an 18-hit team attack.

GAME THREE – New day, new double header, but same result. Chicago wins 10-3. Junior Moore led the way with 4 hits. Greg Pryor added 3. Ross Baumgarten (5-13) went nine for the W. The Jays got all their runs on a 3-run blast from Roy Howell (16).

GAME FOUR – Call Stats, Inc. to figure up the records! Chicago closed out their second consecutive DH sweep with a 21-3 thrashing of the Blue Jays. The Pale Hose had 22 hits total with Alan Bannister going 5-for-6 with 4 runs scored and 4 RBI. Chet Lemon drove in 5 with just two hits.

Interesting Notes

** – the major league record for most team runs scored in a DH is 43 by Boston in 1894. Texas holds the modern mark with 39 against Baltimore in 2007.

** - I could not find MLB info on sweeping DHs on consecutive days

** - In real life, both clubs split each day's DH

**  - DH notes of interest from Wikipedia

The home-and-home doubleheader, where each team hosts one game, is extremely rare, as it requires the teams' home ballparks to be in close geographical proximity. During the 20th century and before the advent of interleague play in 1997, only one instance was recorded in Major League Baseball—a Labor Day special event involving the New York Giants and Brooklyn Superbas.

·         September 7, 1903

·         Game 1: Washington Park (II): Giants 6, Superbas 4

·         Game 2: Polo Grounds (III): Superbas 3, Giants 0

This is the only home-and-home doubleheader known to have been part of the original major league season schedule.^[8][1]

Since interleague play began, the New York Mets and the New York Yankees have on three occasions played home-and-home doubleheaders. Each occasion was due to a rainout during the first series of the season. During the second series of the season, a makeup game was scheduled at the ballpark of the opposing team as part of a day-night doubleheader.

·         July 8, 2000^[8]

·         Game 1: Shea Stadium: Yankees 4, Mets 2

·         Game 2: Yankee Stadium (I): Yankees 4, Mets 2 (June 11 makeup)

·         June 28, 2003

·         Game 1: Yankee Stadium (I): Yankees 7, Mets 1

·         Game 2: Shea Stadium: Yankees 9, Mets 8 (June 21 makeup)

·         June 27, 2008

·         Game 1: Yankee Stadium (I): Mets 15, Yankees 6 (May 16 makeup)

·         Game 2: Shea Stadium: Yankees 9, Mets 0

On September 13, 1951, the St. Louis Cardinals hosted a double header against two different teams. The first game was a 6-4 win against the New York Giants. The second game resulted in a 2-0 loss to the Boston Braves.^[9]

On September 25, 2000, the Cleveland Indians also hosted a doubleheader against two different teams. The September 10 game against the Chicago White Sox in Cleveland had been rained out. With no common days off for the remainder of the season and both teams in a post-season race, the teams agreed to play a day game in Cleveland on the same day that the Indians were to host the Minnesota Twins for a night game. The Indians defeated the White Sox 9-2 in the first game while the Twins defeated the Indians 4-3 in the second.^[10]

On July 23, 2013, the Cincinnati Reds and the San Francisco Giants played a unique doubleheader in which the Reds were the designated home team for Game 2 even though the game was held at AT&T Park, the Giants ballpark. Since the last game of a 4 game series in Cincinnati got rained out earlier in the year and both the Giants and the Reds had a game the next day, it was not possible to reschedule the game the day after, so the game spilled over into what should have been a 3 game series in San Francisco. MLB decided to preserve what should have been the Reds' home field advantage by making them the designated home team for that game. San Francisco prevailed in an ugly 5-3 victory.

** - Finally, the only triple header in the modern era was between the Pittsburgh Pirates and Cincinnati Reds on October 2, 1920^[7] (Cincinnati won two of the three).

Midwest Rivals Battle for Five

GAME ONE – Bill Caudill (1-7) notched his first win of the year by tossing 7 innings of 1-hit ball, yielding just one unearned run in a 2-1 Cubs victory to open a five game set in St. Louis. Dick “Dirt” Tidrow (5) pitched the final 2 frames for the save. Dave Kingman’s (33) solo shot in the 4^th tied the game. Bill Buckner extended his hitting streak to 19 with a 6^th inning GWRBI.

GAME TWO – Ken Reitz 10^th inning double off the wall sent PR Tony Scott flying around the bases from 1^st and eluding the tag of Cubs catcher Barry Foote for the game winner in a 2-1 Cardinals victory. Buckner extended to 20.

GAME THREE – RBI singles by Garry Templeton and Lou Brock in the B7 overcame Foote’s (19) solo shot in the T7 for another 2-1 Cardinals win. Buckner’s streak ended at 20 with an 0-4.

GAME FOUR – Lou Brock led a 20-hit Redbird attack with 4 of his own as St. Louis topped Chicago 8-2. Templeton, Reitz, Ken Oberkfell and Keith Hernandez added 3 knocks apiece. John Fulgham (7-4) went the distance on the bump.

GAME FIVE – St. Louis battled back with 5 runs in the B9 to tie the game at 6-6 and send it into overtime. Cubs win however in 11 when Larry Biittner hit a sac fly scoring PR Miguel Dilone. 

Wahoos Wash Out White Sox

GAME ONE – Chet Lemon’s (11) 3-run blast and Wayne Nordhagen’s 3 hits powered the White Sox to a 6-5 win. It evened their 1979 mark at 50-50. Ron Hassey had 3 hits for the Indians.

GAME TWO – The Tribe even the series with a 9-5 victory. Cliff Johnson drove in 3. Mike Paxton (10-5) hit double figures in wins and Sid Monge (13) earned the save.

GAME THREE – Rick Wise (13-7) fired a complete-game, 2-hit shutout as Cleveland takes the series with a 1-0 win in the finale. In the T9, Dell Alston walked, stole 2^nd and went to 3^rd on Milt May’s throwing error. He scored on Rick Manning’s IF out. 

Royals Fail to Wash White Sox

GAME ONE – The bottom 4 hitters in the White Sox order drove the ball over the wall as Chicago took the opener, 10-2. Claudell Washington (9), Greg Pryor (2), Milt May (5) and Jim Morrison (3) all blasted home runs. Washington and Pryor had 3 hits. Ken Kravec (10-9) earned double figures in wins with 7 strong innings.

GAME TWO – Jim Morrison (4) hit an 0-2 pitch with 2 outs in the bottom of the 9^th over the left field wall to tie the game at 2-2. In the 10^th, Pryor singled through a drawn in infield to score Jorge Orta with the winning run.

GAME THREE – Morrison was again up with 2 outs in the B9 and the ChiSox trailing by one, 4-3. He put a charge into a Larry Gura (9-7) pitch, but this one stayed in the ball yard and Willie Wilson caught it to allow KC to avoid the sweep. George Brett singled home Amos Otis after his RBI double in the 7^th for the difference makers for the Royals. Gura notched the complete-game win. 

Tigers Shred White Sox

GAME ONE – In the 10^th, Ron LeFlore singled, stole 2^nd and raced home on Lou Whitaker’s RBI single as Detroit too the opener 3-2. Alan Trammell contributed 3 hits to the 13-hit Tigers attack. Lamar Johnson’s 2-run double in the 3^rd was the only scoring for the White Sox.

GAME TWO – Dan Petry (1-1) scattered 5 hits over a full 9 innings for a 3-0 whitewashing of the Pale Hose.

GAME THREE – Steve Baker (2-7), John Hiller and Steve Tobik (3 inn. save) combined on a 6-hit shutout as the Tigers win again 7-0. Trammell had 3 more safeties.

GAME FOUR – Claudell Washington (6,7) had 3 hits, scored 3 runs and drove in 3 to power Chicago to a 10-4 win in the final game before the all-star break. Only one of Washington’s hits stayed in the ballpark. Milt May doubled twice and drove in 4. Jorge Orta (9) hit a 470-foot bomb. Ron Leflore had 3 hits, 3 runs and 3 SB for Detroit. Whitaker had 3 RBI. 

'Spos take 3 of 4 from Friars. Sanderson and Perry toss shutouts in 1st and 4th games

7/13 - SDP 6, MON 0
Gaylord Perry tosses a complete game 6 hitter to shut the door on the 'Spos.  Perry was not only the pitching star, he was also the hitting star going 3 for 3 for an RBI and 2 Doubles.

7/13 - MON 7, SDP 6
The Expos needed 11 innings to salvage the second half of this rare Friday night Twin Bill.  Andre Dawson and Larry Parrish had huge 3 hit 2 RBI days.  The Expos squandered a 4-1 lead and were lucky to come back and steal this one.

7/14 - MON 6, SDP 3
The "Spaceman" Bill Lee weaseled his way in and out of trouble to outlast the Friars and get the victory.  Tied 3-3 after 5 1/2 innings of play the 'Spos scored solo runs in 3 consecutive innings to seal the deal.  "Cool Breeze", Rodney Scott hit a rare homer.  Ellis Valentine went yard for his 11th on the season.

7/15 - MON 5, SDP 0
Second year hurler Scott Sanderson continued his hot ways by tossing a nifty 4 hit shutout while upping his record to 13-3 with a 2.30 ERA.  Montreal had a well balanced 11 hit attack that saw everyone in the lineup reach base except for Rodney Scott.  Ellis Valentine connected for a 432 foot blast for his second homer in 2 nights.

Texas Star Does Not Shine in Chicago

GAME ONE – Fergie Jenkins (9-8) was magnificent, yielding just 2 hits in a 2-1 Texas win. A Bump Wills (3) leadoff homer in the 6^th and a Richie Zisk walk with the bases juiced in the 7^th was all the Rangers managed off Sox starter Ross Baumgarten (4-10).

GAME TWO – The White Sox lit up the Comiskey Park scoreboard 3 times in a 7-4 win. Lamar Johnson (5) and Wayne Nordhagen (1) hit back-to-back jacks in the 4^th. Kevin Bell (3) also went yard for the Pale Hose. Dave Roberts (1) and Al Oliver (7) each hit 2-run homers to account for the Rangers runs.

GAME THREE – Chet Lemon drove in 4 runs with 3 hits to power the White Sox to a 6-2 victory. Steve Trout (4-2) worked around 4 errors and tossed 8 2/3 innings for the W. Guy Hoffman (1) recorded his first save. 

Astros Make Cincinnati See Red by Taking Series

Houston continues to have a good month of June by taking the series from the tough Reds squad, winning two of the three games. The Astros have won seven of their last 10.

Game One: Hou 2, Cin 0

J.R. Richard moves to 10-3 by outpitching Cincinnati's Tom Seaver and striking out 13 Reds batsmen in the process, matching the season high for the MLB strikeout king. RBI singles from Cesar Cedeno and Jeffrey Leonard represent the only scoring.

Game Two: Hou 4, Cin 2

Mustachioed hombre Randy Niemann has a strong outing, going eight innings and only giving up two runs. Enos Cabell continues his hot month by going two for four, and backup catcher Bruce Bochy drives in two runs. New addition Bert Roberge gets his second save in the second game of the doubleheader.

Game Three:  Cin 6, Hou 3

Houston's Joe Niekro was mowing down the Reds batters and took a 3-1 lead into the seventh. But the knuckler suddenly took some strange bends, and Cincinnati scored five runs in the top of the seventh to win one for starter Paul Moskau, with fine relief help from Pedro Borbon and Doug Bair. Davey Concepcion hit his fourth homer and drove in two, and the Cincy cause was aided by doubles from Bench, Foster and Geronimo.

Houston Sweeps San Diego to Draw Closer to .500

The upstart Astros now are only three games under .500 after sweeping San Diego in three close, tense games.

Game One: HOU 4, SD 0
W: J. Niekro (6-4)
L: Shirley (4-4)

Joe Niekro has the knuckler working today, shutting out San Diego on five hits in his third complete game of the year. A three run sixth keyed by a two RBI single from Julio Gonzalez does in San Diego's Bob Shirley.

Game Two: HOU 3, SD 2 (10 innings)

W: Roberge (2-2)
L: Kinney (0-2)

Houston spot starter Rick Williams again pitches well, scattering seven hits and two runs in 8.1 innings (including a solo blast from Padres second bagger Fernando Gonzalez). However, Houston can only scratch out two runs off San Diego starter Randy Jones. But in the bottom of the 10th, Jose Cruz gets his third hit of the day and it's a big blow, a solo homer (his fourth) to win it for Houston.

Game Three: HOU 8, San Diego 7
W: Dixon (2-3)
L: Kinney (0-3)

The bats finally come out for both teams. Houston starter Joaquin Andujar surprises the Astrodome crowd by belting an early two run homer but gives it right back as San Diego takes a 6-3 lead in the seventh. Houston finds a way to come back with three runs in its half of the seventh but finds itself down 7-6 in the bottom of the ninth. However, San Diego's Dennis Kinney again blows the game,  walking Cesar Cedeno and Jose Cruz. Denny Walling then bangs a double off the right-center wall in Houston's spacious park. Cruz comes around from first on a close play at the plate to score the game winner.

Mets Offense Stays Meek Versus Astros

Houston comes home after a rough road trip and takes two of three from the Mets. The Mets can barely muster an offense, an ailment keeping them in the second division.

Game One: HOU 7, NYM 1

Newly acquired Met Dock Ellis (over from Texas) gets shelled for six runs and 13 hits in five innings, while Houston continues to find a starting pitching jewel in sinkerballer Rick Williams, who wins his fourth. Art Howe blasts his fourth homer and both Enos Cabell and Craig Reynolds drive in two in the easy victory.

Game Two: NYM 1, HOU 0

Well-traveled Andy Hassler (another new Met just over from Boston)

looks unbeatable, taking a no hitter into the seventh before Cabell grounds a single. He is matched by Houston's Joaquin Andujar, who pitches the entire game and only allows five Mets hits. But John Stearns strokes an RBI double in the top of the ninth off Andujar for the only run of the game, giving reliever Dale Murray his third win.

Game Three: HOU 3, NYM 1

J.R. Richard wins his ninth, striking out eight in a complete game. Houston musters just enough offense off the Mets' best starter, Craig Swan, to support Richard's pitching effort and take the series.

ChiSox Steer Past M's

GAME ONE – Ross Baumgarten (3-7) earned a complete-game 5-1 win over Mariners. A Larry Cox (1) solo shot in the 5^th was the lone blemish. Meanwhile Jorge Orta (6) launched a monster rocket to CF to highlight a 4-run 7^th for the ChiSox.

GAME TWO – Seattle evened up the series with a complete-game 2-1 effort from Rick Honeycutt (4-4). The lefty threw 8 shutout innings until Chet Lemon (7) took him deep in the 9^th. The Mariners pushed across a pair of runs in the 3^rd on a RBI single from Ruppert Jones and a wild pitch by Sox starter Rich Wortham (5-6).

GAME THREE – Lamar Johnson singled, slole second and scored on Alan Bannister’s base hit in the 10^th to lift Chicago to 2-1 win. Fred Howard (1-1) got the W in relief. John Montague (0-5) recorded his 5^th blown save for the M’s.

GAME FOUR – An early see-saw contest saw Johnson score on a Milt May infield out in the 5^th. It would be the last run scored as the White Sox won 7-6. Francisco Barrios (6-3) tossed 8 innings for the W. Steve Trout (2) retired the final hitters. Seattle’s Jones led all hitters with 3 knocks.

Brewers Win Streak Improves to 9

The Milwaukee Brewers continue their winning ways by sweeping the Minnesota Twins and improving their current win streak to 9 games.

Game 1: Milwaukee 2 Minnesota 1
WP: Moose Haas (5-5, 4.75 ERA 6 Ks)
LP: Dave Goltz (6-8, 3.63 ERA, 5 Ks)
SV: Bob Galasso (1)

Moose Haas pitches his best game of the season, striking out 6 in 7.2 innings pitched.  Key play of the game was a Dick Davis two shot homer, to left center, which gave the Brewers enough runs to slip past the Twinkies.

Game 2: Milwaukee 4 Minnesota 3
WP: Bill Castro (2-2, 4.91 ERA, BS 2)
LP: Mike Bacsik (0-2, 5.03 ERA)

This game was a battle all the way into the last of the ninth.  Tied 3-3, Charlie Moore would come up with a 2 out single to drive in Paul Molitor from third for the winning run.  Both teams blasted 2 homers apiece.  Minnesota's Dave Edwards (1) and Roy Smalley (10) and Milwaukee's Cecil Cooper (13) and Sixto Lezcano (12) all had long balls leave the park.  Bill Travers threw a gem of a game striking out 7 Twins batters in 8 innings of work before being replaced by Bill Castro to finish things off.  Castro blew the save but would eventually pick up the win.

Game 3: Milwaukee 15  Minnesota 2
WP: Mike Caldwell (12-3, 3.62 ERA)
LP : Gary Serum (0-3, 15.22 ERA)

Caldwell goes the distance, Brewers wrack up 17 hits, including 4 homers.  Not much else to say about this one.

Pale Hose Sweep Away Red Hose

GAME ONE – The White Sox jumped out to an early 5-1 lead and cruised to a 9-1 victory over the Red hosiery. Claudell Washington’s (5) 2-run blast highlighted a 4-run 2^nd for the Pale Hose. Alan Bannister tripled in a pair in the 6^th. Rick Burleson collected 4 of Boston’s 5 total hits.

GAME TWO – Ralph Garr and Don Kessinger banged out 3 hits apiece to lead Chicago to a 7-5 win. The White Sox led 4-0 through 4 innings when Dwight Evans (8) smacked a 3-run home run to highlight a 5-run 5^th for the Carmines. Jorge Orta (5) hit a solo homer in the B5 for the eventual game winner. Randy Scarbery (5-0) started his first game of 1979 and kept his perfect record. Steve Trout (1) yielded just 1 hit in 3 full innings of relief.

GAME THREE – Ken Kravec (7-5) surrendered 1 run on 7 hits in a complete game 8-1 win as the ChiSox complete the sweep at Comiskey. Kessinger drove in 3 runs with 3 hits.  

KC TAKES ROYAL BEAT DOWN - GORMAN THOMAS BLAST 5!

Game 1: Milwaukee 10 Kansas City 8 - WP Caldwell (11-3)  LP Splittorff (5-8) SV Castro (4)
Game 2: Milwaukee 4 Kansas City 2 - WP Slaton (7-4) LP Busby (4-4)  SV Castro (5)
Game 3: Milwaukee 9  Kansas City 6: - WP Sorenson (8-4) LP Pattin (0-5)

Gorman Thomas went 6 for 13 with 8 runs batted in including 5 home runs, in a 3 game series, to help the
Brew Crew knock off a pesky Royals team at County Stadium.  Thomas hit 2 homers in game 1 and 3 in game 3 and took home the series MPV honors.  Ex-Brewer Darrell Porter added a nice performance for the Royals going 4-10 with 5 RBI's and a homer.  Milwaukee improves to 44-22 on the season and still trails the Baltimore Orioles by 3.5 games in the AL East division race.  Kansas City drops to 29-36.

O-Birds Dump on White Sox

GAME ONE – The White Sox rallied late, plating all of their runs in the final 3 innings to best Baltimore 9-2. Claudell Washington’s (4) home run just inside the RF foul pole gave the Sox a 2-1 lead in the 6^th and all the runs they would need for winner Rich Wortham (4-5). Lamar Johnson also had a big day with 3 hits, including a pair of doubles.

GAME TWO – A dandy southpaw pitching duel finds Mike Flanagan (10-2) nipping Ken Kravec (6-5) 1-0. Baltimore notched its only run in the 5^th when Al Bumbry singled home Doug DeCinces. Both pitchers surrendered just 4 hits apiece. 

GAME THREE – Ken Singleton’s (11) 6^th inning grand slam completely turned this game around, taking the score from 7-4 Chicago to 8-7 Baltimore. The O’s went on to take the game and the series with an 11-7 triumph. Eddie Murray (16) also went deep and Al Bumbry chipped in 4 hits and two SBs. Sammy Stewart (5-1) got the win in relief.

ChiSox Split Pair with Brew Crew

GAME ONE – Sal Bando, Sixto Lezcano and Ben Oglivie all went yard to lead Milwaukee to a 6-4 win. Mike Caldwell (9-3) went the distance on the hill.

GAME TWO – Ralph Garr and Chet Lemon had 3 hits apiece, including singles in the 7^th when the White Sox plated a pair to break a 3-3 deadlock. The ChiSox would go on to win 5-3. Rich Hinton (1-1) got the win in relief. Cecil Cooper and Robin Yount also had 3 hits in the game for the Brew Crew. 

Phils Take the Series with Dramatic Home Run

Two of the NL upstarts, the Phillies and the Astros, met in the Astrodome, with both teams looking to contend in their respective divisions. The Phils came out triumphant in an exciting rubber game.

Game One: Hou 6, Phi 3
W: Niemann (2-1)
L: Christensen (1-2)

It's Jose Cruz night, as the Houston outfielder clubs a homer and a double and drives in four as Houston wins easily behind spot starter Randy Niemann (subbing for an injured Ken Forsch). The Phils threaten late off reliever George Throop, who loads them up but then strikes out the side.

Game Two: Phi 5, Hou 2

W: Carlton (8-4)
L: Williams (3-2)
S: McGraw (8)

Steve Carlton isn't at his best, walking four in seven innings, but has enough life on his fastball to win his eighth. Houston righty Rick Williams struggles, giving up 11 hits, including a three-for-four day from Pete Rose, who is now batting .371 after this game. Not bad for a 38-year-old, with many people "betting" that he'll have a good season.

Game Three: Phi 4, Hou 3
W: Lerch (4-8)
L: Richard ( 6-3)
W: McGraw (9)

An interesting game. The Phil's Randy Lerch keeps Houston off the scoreboard for five innings and takes a 2-0. But he gives up three runs in the sixth,  including a key two-RBI double from Enos Cabell. Meanwhile, Houston's J.R. Richard strikes out 14 Phillies and has a 3-2 lead in the eighth, despite wild pitching in one Philadelphia run. But with two outs, Phillies' centerfielder Garry Maddox punches a homer to deep right to give his team a 4-3 lead. Tug McGraw does the rest for his ninth save. Two Houston runners are thrown out trying to score in the wild game.

Houston Hoists Series Win from Expos

The Astros take two of three from Montreal, slowing the Expos' hot start (they are still 27-20 and a surprise NL East contender). Two comeback wins fuel the Houston charge.

Game One: Hou 6, Mon 4

W: Richard (6-2)
L: Grimsley (2-5)

Houston takes 2-0 first inning lead against Montreal's bushy-haired Ross Grimsley, but J.R. Richard falters in the sixth, giving up four Expos runs, two on a double off the leftfield wall by hot-hitting catcher Gary Carter. But Houston comes back from the 4-2 deficit, bringing home three in the seventh and one in the eighth off a tired Grimsley. Young centerfielder Terry Puhl strokes a key double to right as he raises his average to .316.

Game Two: Mon 4, Hou 2
W: Schatzeder (1-1)
L: Andujar (1-3)
S: Sosa (7)

22-year-old lefty Dan Schetzeder befuddles the many Astros portside hitters on his way to a four hitter in 7.2 innings of work. Montreal does much of its damage in a three run third, helped by a bases loaded walk from a wild Joaquin Andujar, who walks six on the day. This time, Montreal reliever Elias Sosa allows no Houston comeback in 1.1 innings of hitless pitching.

Game Three: Hou 3, Mon 2
W: J. Niekro (4-3)
L: Rogers (9-4)

Montreal's Steve Rogers goes for his 10th win, but is matched by Houston's Joe Niekro, who is having a good year (2.19 ERA) despite a record hovering around .500 But in this game, Niekro goes the distance, only allowing two runs. Montreal actually takes a 2-1 lead in the seventh on Carter's eighth homer, a liner to left.. But the Houston batters again respond by scoring two in the bottom of the inning. Rogers spells his own undoing with a key error that plates a run before Astros SS Craig Reynolds hits a tiebreaking single for the eventual win.

Cincinnati Red-lights Astros Batters in Series Win

The Reds continue to stay close in the NL West by taking two of three in Houston, including a long 14-inning middle game.

Game One: Cin 4, Hou 2
W: Moskau (2-2)
L: Niemann (1-1)
S: Borbon (4)

Houston jumps out to an early 2-0 lead for Randy Niemann but the forkballer can't hold onto a good thing, giving up three runs in the middle innings highlighted by a sharp triple off the bat of light-hitting Paul Blair. Reds reliever Pedro Borbon is a bit shaky, giving up four hits in three innings of long relief, but Astros batters can't take advantage of the opportunities.

Game Two: Cin 6, Hou 4 (14 innings)

W: Bair (1-1)
L: Dixon (1-3)

Cincinnati's Tom Seaver is strong but not dominant, going 10 and giving up three Houston runs on scratch singles. Houston's dominant knuckleballer, Joe Niekro, also is tough, and the teams find themselves knotted up at three apiece. It then settles down to pitching, as neither team can generate scoring chances. Houston has to resort to unsteady reliever Tom Dixon in the fourteenth, and he responds characteristically by giving up three runs on six hits, including four straight Reds singles. Houston loads them up against Doug Bair in the bottom of the inning and grabs one run back, but disappointing Jeffrey Leonard grounds into a DP to end the marathon.

Game Three: Hou 9, Cin 5
W: Williams (3-1)
L: Norman (2-6)
S: Roberge (1)

Spot starter Rick Williams has another fine outing for Houston and is aided by a three-for-five day with three RBIs from banjo-hitting shortstop Craig Reynolds. Cincinnati's Ken Griffey stretches his hit streak to 22 games and drives in two in defeat. He is now batting .370 on the year.

Tribe Trips Up ChiSox

GAME ONE – The White Sox got all the runs they needed in the 1^st inning of a 3-1 win over Cleveland. Ralph Garr led off with a home run. Eric Soderholm doubled in two runs. Ken Kravec tossed 8 2/3 innings for the win. Randy Scarbery got the 27^th out.

GAME TWO – Toby Harrah and Ron Pruitt led the Tribe attack with 3 hits apiece as Cleveland evens the series 4-2. Eric Wilkins (1-1) evened his season mark with help from Sid Monge and Victor Cruz (3). Garr had 3 safeties for the Sox.

GAME THREE – Horace Speed (3H) and Pruitt (3H) collect 6 of the Indians 10 hits as the Wahoos take the finale of the series 6-3. Rick Waits (7-4) gets the mound win with Monge (8) notching the save. 

Halos and Pale Hose Split DH and Series

GAME ONE – Halos pound out 15 hits with every starter getting at least one in a 9-5 California win at Comiskey Park. Bobby Grich topped the least with 3. Dan Ford hit his 9^th long one of the year. Nolan Ryan (7-1) used 141 pitches to record the 27 outs.

GAME TWO – Wayne Nordhagen’s double in the B9 plated Lamar Johnson with the walk-off winner as the Angels’ bullpen complete melts down. Leading 6-1 heading into the final frame, Halo hurlers record the leadoff out, then 8 straight Sox hitters reach safely leading to 6 runs and the come-from-behind victory. Nordhagen, Johnson and Greg Pryor smacked 3 hits apiece.

GAME THREE – More late-inning heroics from the Pale Hose as they plate 6 in the B8 to break open a 4-4 score to win 10-4 in a DH opener. Alan Bannister and Jorge Orta collected 3 hits each. Johnson and Eric Soderholm had 3 RBI apiece.

GAME FOUR – No come back this time for the Pale Hose as the Halos used an 8-0 advantage after 3 innings to cruise to an 8-4 victory in the nightcap. Rod Carew and Dickie Thon (3 runs) swat 3 hits each for Cal. Tom Donohue (1) and Jim Anderson (1) went yard at the bottom of the order for the Angels.

Athletics Grab 2 of 3 from White Sox

GAME ONE – A tiring Rick Langford (5-3) hung in there and got PH Rusty Torres to ground out with 2 White Sox aboard to preserve a 6-5 win for Oakland. Ralph Garr had 3 hits to lead a 12-hit Sox attack. The A’s scored their first two in the 1^st on a Mitchell Page (5) 2-run blast. They scored their final pair in the 6^th when Glenn Burke, Mickey Klutts and Mike Edwards tripled on triples (3 consecutive).

GAME TWO – Oakland scores a run in the 8^th and one in the 9^th to spoil a superb pitching effort by Ken Kravec. Wayne Gross’ double in the 9^th plated Dave Revering with the game winner as the A’s won 2-1. Dave Heaverlo (3-2) grabbed the win in relief. Mike Proly (1-4) took the loss. White Sox have lost 6 straight.

GAME THREE – Pale Hose break losing streak in a big way with a 10-1 win. Rich Wortham (3-4) went the distance. Don Kessinger, Claudell Washington and Lamar Johnson all collected 3 hits. The Sox had 15 total safeties for the game, but no extra base hits. Johnson drove in 3. Matt Keough (2-8) was lit up for the Athletics.

California Taps Out As Brewers Sweep Series

Game 1: Milwaukee 6 California 4

WP: Larry Sorenson (5-3, 4.09 ERA, 4 Ks)
LP: David Frost (1-3, 2.37 ERA)
SV: Juan Castro (2)

Brewer home runs by Ben Oglivie (10) and Cecil Cooper (7) were the story behind Milwaukee's victory in
game 1.  Big Ben hit a two run shot in the bottom half of the 3rd to break a 1-1 tie and Coop hit his in the bottom of the 5th to break a 3-3 tie.  California was only able to battle back to within 1 run of the "Crew" before succumbing to Juan Castro in relief.   Don Baylor went 4 for 5 with 3 RBI's in the losing effort.

Game 2 Milwaukee 7 California 3

WP: Bill Travers (5-2, 2.23 ERA)
LP: Don Aase (2-4, 3.45 ERA)

An eighth inning 4 run explosion opened up a Milwaukee route as Bill Travers earned his eventual 5th win of the season with a complete game performance. California gave up 4 singles and a double in the bottom half of the 8th to see the Brewers break a 3-3 tie and settle on the eventual winning numbers of 7-3.  Cecil Cooper added his 8th homer of the season and the Angel's Carney Lansford chipped in a nice performance going 3-4 with an RBI.

Game 3 Milwaukee 6  California 5

WP Bob McClure (1-1, 2.13 ERA)
LP Dave LaRoche (1-1, 4.22 ERA)

Trailing 5-2 in the bottom of the ninth inning, the California Angels looked like they finally had the Milwaukee Brewers on the ropes.  But it was the Brew Crew who would receive the MIRACLE as Bambi's Bombers banged out 4 runs to steal the game 6-5.  Ben Oglivie led the inning off with a 343 foot shot down the right field line for his 11th homer of the season.  The Brewer bats continued to pound Angel relief pitcher Dave LaRoche with a double, single, single, double before LaRoche and California would wave the white flag. The Brewers rally gave them their 29th win of the season (29-15) while California drops to 26-17 (still 1st place in the AL West).

Astros, Padres Each Take Two

Houston and San Diego, both striving to get above .500 after some difficult years, split the four game series at the Astrodome.

Game One: SD 3, Hou 2 (15 innings)

W: D'Aquisto (1-1)
L: McLaughlin (0-3)

San Diego, behind the crafty curveball of Bob Owchinko, holds a 2-0 lead into the eighth. But the Astros squad ties it up after punch hitting Craig Reynolds smashes a triple down the right field line, scoring Terry Puhl before coming in with the tying run. After that, both offenses shut down. Finally, in inning 15 after a long evening in Houston, San Diego pitcher John D'Acquisto lashes an RBI single to break the deadlock. He then pitches a 1-2-3 bottom of the inning to finally end the marathon.

Game Two: SD 7, Hou 0
W: Jones (5-5)
L: Richard (4-2)

San Diego's slow-curve lefty Randy Jones is almost unhittable, taking a no-hitter into the seventh inning and only allowing two hits in a complete game shutout. Triples by Dan Briggs and Ozzie Smith and a two-RBI single from Bill Almon provide some of the San Diego fireworks off Houston ace J.R. Richard, who is off his usual game.

Game Three: Hou 3, SD 1
W: Williams (2-0)
L: Perry (4-3)
S: Andujar (1)

Spot starter Rick Williams is again effective for Houston, only allowing one SD run in 7.2 innings of work, while Joaquin Andujar does the rest while shutting down the Padres offense. Houston only manages seven hits off Gaylord Perry in eight innings but get clutch RBI singles from Cesar Cedeno and Denny Walling in the first two innings to provide most of the scoring.

Game Four: Hou 6, SD 0
W: Niemann (1-0)
L: Lolich (1-3)

Journeyman Randy Niemann outduels long-toothed vet Mickey Lolich in a battle of lefties. Niemann only gives up three hits in 7.2 innings before yielding to Joe Sambito to finish the game for the tired pitching staff. Lolich is bombed for five runs in four innings of work, as the Astros spray the ball to all fields, including getting a two-RBI single from Jeffrey Leonard as he attempts to get regular playing time.

Reds Tackle Dem Bums in the Queen City.

Riverfront Stadium,

Game 1,

Concepcion smacks 10th homerun

George Foster drove in 3 runs as he led the Reds over the Dodgers in the first of a three game set.  Mike Lacoss got the start for Cincinnati and pitched well but was not around for the win. Pedro Borbon earned the victory to improve to 3-2. The loss was credited to Bob Welch (0-1). Reds 6...Dodgers 4.

Game 2,

Dodger righty Rick Sutcliffe was masterful as he shut down the Big Red Machine sticks with an eight inning two run performance to even the series.  Big Red helped himself at the plate as well. Sutcliffe doubled in two runs during the seventh inning to help his wonderfully pitched ball game. Sutcliffe improves to 3-2 with Bob Welch pitching the ninth for his 2nd save of the year. Paul Moskau threw well for the Reds but got tagged with the loss to fall to 1-2. Dodgers 4...Reds 3.

Seaver wins 4th game of season.

Game 3,

Tom Seaver improved his record to 4-1 as he hurled 8 solid innings of six hit, 2 run work.  Tom Terrific also collected 2 hits and drove in a run with a basehit to center.  Dave Concepcion connected for his 10th homerun of the year to help Seaver's cause.  Don Sutton got hung with the loss to sink to a record of 6-2. Steve Garvey crushed his 12 homerun of the season in the losing effort.

Reds Take 2 of 3 from Padres in Cincy.

Riverfront Stadium,

Game 1,

Champ Summers connect for his first homerun of the season while Paul Moskau pitched 8 strong shutout innings to improve his record at 1-1.  Eric Rasmussen got the loss for San Diego and evens his record at 3-3. Reds 7...Padres 2.

Game 2,

This game required extra innings to settle the matter.  The Reds scored single runs in the 8th and 9th innings to take a 2-1 lead and the lead appeared secure.  However, Dave Winfield crushed his 13th homerun of the season off reliever Doug Bair to knot the game at 2.  The game was finally decided in the bottom of the 13th when Junior Kennedy grounded a game winning RBI single to right to score Ray Knight with the deciding run....Reds 3...Padres 2 (13 innings).

Game 3,

San Diego battered Bill Bonham and Frank Pastore as they preserved one game in the series.  Gene Richards, Kurt Bevacqua, and Bill Fahey all collected 3 hits to lead a 18 hit, 10 run offensive explosion in Cincinnati.  The recipient of this huge offensive surge was veteran Mickey Lolich who recorded his first win of the season against 2 set backs.  Padres 10...Reds 3.

Houston Cuts Down the Giants

The Astros sweep the Giants, who now have won only two of their last 10 games.

Game One: Houston 4, SF 2
W: Richard (4-1)
L: Nastu (0-3)
S: Sambito (5)

Heat thrower J.R. Richard strikes out 13 Giants in eight innings, while Houston chips away for three runs and holds off a late SF rally. Joe Sambito's fifth save stops the threat.

Game Two: Houston 6, SF 5

W: Williams (1-0)
L: Knepper (2-6)
S: Sambito (6)

Rick Williams was cruising for Houston, supported by six early runs and a 6-0 lead when he left after seven. But reliever Bo McLaughlin stokes another late Giants rally, as SF scores four in the eighth, three on long homers from Terry Whitfield and Rob Andrews. But Sambito again hands Houston the win, this time in tense fashion he gives up two hits and a run before retiring the final out. Red hot Astro Bob Watson hits a three run homer to aid the cause.

Game Three: Houston 8, SF 3
W: Forsch (4-3)
L: Halicki (3-4)

Ken Forsch survives a rocky three run fourth after Houston tags SF starter Ed Halicki for four early runs, including a three run homer from Bob Watson, who is busting the chops of Giants pitchers. Forsch settled down after the fourth for a complete game, giving up no more runs. Jose Cruz hits his first homer to help Houston pull away. Watson has now hit safely in 11 games.

"King Kong" Kingman Attacks Houston

The Cubs and Astros played four close games, the first three going to extra innings and the fourth won in the bottom of the ninth. Dave Kingman does most of the late inning damage for the Cubbies in the extra inning affairs.

Game One: Cubs 5, Astros 3 (10 innings)
W: Burris (1-1)
L: Sambito (3-2)
S: Caudill (1)

Three singles off the Astros' Frank Riccelli in the Cubs' fifth give them a 3-0 lead, but the Astros come right back to score two quick runs and tie it in the eighth on a Bob Watson smash aided by a Dave Kingman throwing error. In the 10th, Kingman redeems himself by socking his 10th homer of the year off Astros' closer Joe Sambito for the win.

Game Two: Cubs 7, Astros 5 (11 innings)

W: Sutter (1-0)
L: Sambito (3-3)

The game is tied 5-5 in regulation as both teams score early. Bill Buckner and Jerry Martin homer off the Astros' Ken Forsch, while Houston chips away with 10 hits in seven innings off Cubs' starter Lynn McGlothen. Cubs' pinch hitter Scot Thompson homers in the 10th but the Astros hand Bruce Sutter his first blown save as Jesus Alou walks with the bases loaded to tie the game. But shades of Game One, Dave Kingman steps in the batters box in the 11th and hits a two run homer off Joe Sambito to provide the margin of victory.

Game Three: Cubs 4, Astros 2 (10 innings)
W: Sutter (2-0)
L: Mclaughlin (0-2)

Houston spot starter Rick Williams keeps Chicago bats at bay but allows two runs in the eighth to Mick Kelleher and Bill Buckner to tie the game, after Houston pulled ahead early off Ken Holtzman on a Bruce Bochy single that scores two. Bruce Sutter pitches three innings of scoreless relief and gets the win in the 10th. Kingman again does damage by singling, stealing second and scoring the winning run off a ground single from Tim Blackwell.

Game Four: Houston 3, Chicago 2
W: Dixon (1-1)
L: Caudill (0-2)

Starters Mike Krukow and Joe Niekro  pitch good games but both tire after six and the score tied at 2 apiece. It looks to be another long afternoon of extra inning baseball at the Astrodome until Alan Ashby and Julio Gonzalez single off Cubs reliever Bill Caudill in the bottom of the ninth. With two outs, pinch hitter Jesus Alou sends the crowd home happy for once by singling to left center for the Houston win.

Royals and ChiSox Split

GAME ONE – Amos Otis and Clint Hurdle hit 2-run homers in the 8^th and 9^th, respectively to power Kansas City to a 6-3 win over the White Sox in the opener of a 4-game set. Paul Splittorff (5-1) pitched 8 2/3 for the win. Al Hrabosky (8) recorded the 27^th out.

GAME TWO – Ken Kravec (5-2) was nearly un-hittable in a complete game 3-0 shutout for the White Sox. U.L. Washington’s sharp single between first and second was the only blemish. Kravec fanned 7. Claudell Washington’s 2-run single in the 8^th was the biblow offensively for the Pale Hose.   

GAME THREE – Chet Lemon plated Washington for a White Sox winner in the 9^th capping a wild one, 13-12 at Comiskey. Lemon and Washington each had 4 hits to pace the ChiSox total of 23 safeties for the game. U.L. Washington’s 4 knocks led the Royals 15 hits. The Sox put a 5-spot on the board in the 3^rd with Lamar Johnson and Bill Nahorodny swatting back-to-back home runs. Nahorodny would add a second dinger in the 6^th. Chicago led 12-6 heading into the 9^th, but the Royals tied it with 6 in the 9^th without an extra base hit.

GAME FOUR – KC earns the split in the series with a 10-6 win in the finale. Eduardo Rodriguez muscled up and went the distance in his first start of the year. Everyone in the Royals lineup had at least 1 hit except Washington and George Brett. Chicago’s Johnson was the only player to leave the yard.  

Houston Shuts Down Disappointing Cardinals Club

Houston is attempting to get back in the NL West race after a slow season start and is aided by a sweep of the dispirited St. Louis ballclub in the 'Dome. Houston is starting to climb back toward .500 at 13-18 while St. Louis drops to a horrid 7-21.

Game One: HOU 3, STL 0
W: Forsch (3-3)
L: Vuckovich (2-2)

Ken Forsch pitches a tidy three-hit complete game to even his record at three apiece. Pete Vuckovich isn't too shabby himself, only allowing six hits in eight innings, but allows RBI singles from Terry Puhl and Art Howe to give Houston the slight edge.

Game Two: HOU 1, STL 0

W: J. Niekro (2-3)
L: Denny (0-7)
S: Sambito (4)

A great pitching duel, as the Cards' John Denny finally finds his groove after a horrible beginning to the season that has put his ERA at over 5. However, Houston's Joe Niekro has the knuckleball fluttering today, only allowing six hits and no runs in 8.2 innings. A Bob Watson smash to left scores Cesar Cedeno in the sixth with the game's only run. After Niekro puts a runner on in the ninth, Joe Sambito comes in to get Jerry Mumphrey on a groundout to end the game.

Game Three: HOU 3, STL 1
W: Richard (3-1)
L: Sykes (0-4)

St. Louis scores its only run of the three game set, but one run is all they can muster off Houston ace J.R. Richard. The great fireballer strikes out eight en route to a complete game, four-hit win. Little used youngster Jeffery Leonard drives in two runs with singles off Cards' young starter Bob Sykes, who looks good but can't get around the lack of a Cardinals' offense.

Milwaukee Massacres Tribe

Jim Slaton is now 5-1.

The Milwaukee Brewers put on quite a show scalping the Tribe in three straight to improve to 20-11 on the season.  The Brewers outscored the Indians 22-3 over the 3 game series bashing 5 home runs in the process.  Milwaukee has now strung together 8 straight wins to move into first place in the AL East.  Cleveland has lost 10 of their last 12 games to drop to 14-14.

4 Game Split on the Ohio Between Reds and Astros

Riverfront,

Game 1,

Concepcion hits 5 homeruns in the series.

The Big Red Machine flexed these muscles in the game with 5 homeruns!! Dave Conception connected for a pair and starter Tom Seaver, helped his cause with 2 long balls of his own ( Seaver already has hit 3 homeruns this season).  Reds batters crushed the Astros batters as Tom Seaver held down the Astros sticks to improve his record to 3-1.  Reds 12...Astros 2.

Game 2,

Cincinnati continued their offensive onslaught in the second game of the series.  Shortstop Dave Conception made it back to back days with with multiple homerun games!!! This was the 3rd game of the season that the slick fielding shortstop has gone deep twice in the same game.  Tom Hume and Dave Tomlin blanked the Astros lineup while surrendering a meager 5 hits.  Tom Hume still stands perfect with his 5-0 mark.  Reds 9...Astros 0.

Game 3, Doubler header,

Watson hits homerun in victory.

J.R. Richard found the cure for the Astros pitching woes against the Reds with a complete game victory over the Big Red Machine.  Richard struck out 7 batters and only allowed one measly run to record his second victory of the year.  Reds shortstop Dave Conception accounted for the only Reds run with his third consecutive game with a homerun. Davy leads the Reds in homeruns with 8.  Astros 2...Reds 1.

Game 4, second game of DH,


Houston first sacker Bob Watson hit his 3rd homerun of the season to lead the Astros to a

double header and 4 game split with the Reds.  Red starter Fred Norman was knocked out of the box in the fourth inning and was relieved by Frank Pastore.  Houston southpaw Frank Riccelli won his first victory with a solid pitching performance. Riccelli threw 5 innings of 2 hit ball but was relieved by Mclaughlin and Joe Sambito to help secure the victory.  Sambito earned his 3rd save of the year. The loss went to Fred Norman (2-3). Astros 6...Reds 3.