NOT Disco Demolition

GAME ONE – Ken Kravic (4-1) tossed 7 1/3 shutout innings as the ChiSox blanked the Tigers 3-0 in this single game set. Marv Foley’s (3) solo shot in the 4^th was all that was needed. Ralph Garr added 3 hits. Just FYI, I checked. This was not Disco Demolition Night. That comes later in the year in July. 

Jint prevent Spos from sweeping with classic 11 inning victory in game 3

Expos 7, Giants 5
Knepper vs B.Lee

Neither hurler was stellar as both teams combined to bang out 12 runs on 24 hits.  Montreal carried a 6 run lead into the 9th when Bill "Spaceman" Lee ran out of gas and gave up 4.  Stan Bahnsen rode in from the pen to come to the rescue by getting 3 big outs in a row to end it.  Andre Dawson and Tony Perez both had 3 hit days, with "Doggie" knocking it 3 on a pair of homers.  Montreal hit 4 homers in total.  Carter and Dawson chipped in the other 2.  Larry Herndon hit a pair for the Jints.

Expos 6, Giants 4
Halicki vs Sanderson

Scott Sanderson increased his record to 4-0 (0.79) to start this young season by going 8 solid innings.  Two of the three runs yielded by Sanderson were unearned.  Of great concern was the fact that he walked 5 and threw a large number of pitches (145).  Woodie Fryman finised it off with a sloppy 9th that narrowed the gap to two.  Ed Halicki (1-2, 5.46) gave up 11 hits and 6 runs (5 earned) in his 7 subpar innings.  Hawk Dawson had his second 3 hit day in a row to boost his season average to .392.  Warren Cromartie (3-4) was the offensive star knocking in 2 and scoring 2.  Interestingly the game featured 3 triples (Roger Metzger, Terry Whitfield & Gary Carter), but no homers.  Whitfield was 3-4 in a losing cause.

Giants 4, Expos 3 (11 inn)
Blue vs Grimsley

Vida Blue was electric fanning 7 and not allowing a run until the bottom of the 7th when the Expos scored 2 to make it a 1 run game.  To this point the Jints were riding the coatails of Jack Clark's 3 run blast, which broke a scoreless tie in the 6th.  Gary Lavelle came on in the 9th to seal the deal.  After Perez hit one to the warning track, Kid Carter singled.  Jerry White grounded Carter into a force out at second for the second out.  Larry Parrish worked the count to enable White to steal second then singled home White to tie the game and force extra innings.  Neither team scored in the 10th.  In th top of the 11th Mike Ivie worked out a one out walk off of reliever David Palmer, then moved to third on a Bill Madlock single.  Darrell Evans was given an intentional pass to load the bases and creat forces all around and possibly setup an inning ending DP.  Rob Andrews was called upon to pinch hit for Lavelle and he jumped on an inside fastball and rode it to the warning track for a perfectly timed sac fly.  Lefty Dave Roberts came aboard to set down the Expos and save the the win for Lavelle.  After Carter flew out weakly and White grounded to third it looked like the Expos were going to go down easily.  Larry Parrish, who refused to make the final out in the 9th, once again stood stubborn and singled to keep the Expos alive.  Parrish stole second to move into scoring position for shortstop Chris Speier to do some magic of his own.  Speier ripped Roberts pitch right into the glove of his opposite number (LeMaster) to end this exciting contest.

Big Red Machine Sweeps Birds!

Riverfront Stadium,

Game 1,

Foster has 5 home runs

George Foster connected for his 5th homerun of the season with a runner on base in the 6th inning to put the Reds out in front to stay. Mike Lacoss was masterful. Lacoss went the distance to earn his 4th victory of the year. Reds 2...Cardinals 1.

Game 2,

St. Louis was holding a 2-1 edge heading into the bottom of the 9th.  Pinch hitter Champ Summers walked and Auerbach came in to run for the slow footed first sacker.  The next batter, Ken Griffey attempted to bunt the runner into scoring position but hit it a little to hard and Keith Hernandez made a nice snare and was able to double off the runner. It appeared the Cardinals were in the clear but reliever Mark Littell proceeded to walk the next 3 batters. With the sacks full of Red runners, David Collins ripped a single to right center to plate two runs and a walkoff victory for the Reds. Reds 3....Cardinals 2.

Game 3,

Bench with the game winner.

Tom Seaver was not on his "A" game but he managed to pitch 8 innings. During Seaver's 8 inning performance, he surrendered 12 hits and 6 runs and required relief assistance from veteran bullpen ace Pedro Borbon.  Cincinnati erupted for 6 runs in the sixth including Ray Knight's second home run of the year.  St. Louis rallied off Seaver to knot the match at 6 with three runs during the seventh inning.  Matters were settled in the bottom of the tenth inning as Joe Morgan was safe on first after a failed sacrifice attempt. Morgan stole second base, then George Foster was intentionally passed.  Johnny Bench then lined a single to right to score Morgan with the Reds second walk off victory in as many games. Reds 7....Cardinals 6 (10 innnings)

Pale Hose Play Texas Hold 'Em

GAME ONE – Ross Baumgarten (1-1) scattered 4 hits over 9 complete innings as the White Sox toppled the Rangers 7-1. All but DH Jorge Orta has hits for the Chicago.

GAME TWO – Ralph Garr’s 2-run homer in the 1^st would give the White Sox all the runs they would need in a 6-1 victory, but it was Jorge Orta’s 2-run bomb just three batters later that had everyone in Comisky Park talking. Orta’s titanic blast carried 467-feet over the center field wall. Chet Lemon added 3 safeties and Francisco Barrios cruised through 7 1/3 innings for the W.

GAME THREE – There was some Texas-sized hitting in this one as the Rangers outlast the ChiSox 11-8. Bill Sample and John Ellis drove in 4 runs each. Ellis skimmed one over the far-away CF wall with 2 aboard in the 1^st. Orta repeated his feat from yesterday with a 452-foot shot to CF in the 4^th. Garr, Sample, Jim Sundberg and Buddy Bell all collected 3 hits as both clubs combined for 30 base knocks. The Rangers overcame 5 errors.   

Bucos and Reds Split a pair on the Mighty Ohio

Cincinnati,

Game 1,

The Lumber Company got out to a five run lead however, the Reds came back strong to make it game as they scored four runs later in the game. In the end it was not enough as Kent Tekulve came in relief to hold off the hot red bats.  Don Robinson earned the victory for the Pirates to improve to 3-0 while Frank Pastore fell to 0-1.....Pirates 5....Reds 4.

Game 2,

Bert Blyleven (2-3) and Fred Norman (2-1) fought it out in the finale of the short two game set in Cincy. Both veteran hurlers went the distance for their respective ball clubs.  However, The Big Red Machine proved to be on the better end of the game when they plated a tally in the third inning when Ken Griffey smashed a homerun to right field to put Cincinnati in front 1-0. The Reds never relinquished the lead and held on for the 1-0 victory. Reds 1...Pirates 0.

'Spos take 2 from Friars in mini-series

Expos 5, Padres 1
R.Jones vs Grimsley

Ross Grimsley returned to the form that won him 20 games last season and the offense made the most of a solo Kid Carter blast and a 2 run shot by Ellis Valentine.

Expos 3, Padres 1
Shirley vs S.Rogers

Steve Rogers went the distance scattering 11 hits and yielding just 1 run.  Jerrry White knocked in 2 of the Expos 3 runs.  Rodney Scott, Warren Cromartie and  Larry Parrish each had a pair of knocks.  Rogers upped his record to 5-0 (1.84) as the 'Spos try to keep pace with the Bucs.

Bambi's Bombers Bring Bats

Milwaukee's sluggish 7-8 start had Brewer fans wondering if their 91-71 record, just a year ago, was
nothing but a fluke.  But skipper George Bamberger had the Crew ready for a twin bill vs. Detroit today.  The Brewers racked up 26 hits, including 6 homer runs, to take the Tiggers 7-1, 9-4 in the double dip.  Ben Oglivie hit 2 home runs (4th and 5th of the season) in the series including a 5th inning grand slam in the first game.  Ron LeFlore went 5 for 9 for Detroit in the losing effort.   The wins push the Crew past .500 with a 9-8 overall record.  Detroit falls to 9-4.

Mighty Buccos down the Astros in Three Straight

Pittsburgh looks like it's going to be a difficult team to beat. The Astros lose three straight in the 'Dome.

Game One: Pittsburgh 4, Houston 3 (11 innings)

W: G. Jackson (1-0)

L: Riccelli (0-1)

S: Tekulve (3)

Bruce Kison and the Bucs had an early 3-0 lead, thanks to a three run fourth paced by a double from Dave Parker that scored two. The Astros looked to be going down to defeat until Cesar Cedeno knocked a three-run homer off Kison in the eighth to tie it. J.R. Richard was cruising along with 12 Ks, including six in a row, but the Astros could score no more runs for him. In extras, another Parker double off reliever Frank Riccelli proved the game winner, as Kent Tekulve shut down the Pirates' bats in the extra frames.

Game Two: Pittsburgh 6, Houston 3

W: Blyleven (2-2)

L: Forsch (1-2)

S: Tekulve (4)

The "Dutchman," Bert Blyleven, mowed down Astros hitters and carried a 6-1 lead into the eighth, thanks in part to a two-RBI game from Ed Ott (who had a double) and Tim Foli (who had a key triple). Ken Forsch gave up 10 hits but lasted through eight; the Astros staged a late rally but again couldn't solve Tekulve.

Game Three: Pittsburgh 1, Houston 0

W: Candelaria (2-0)

L: Niekro (1-1)

The Candyman pitched a complete game masterpiece, only allowing six hits and no runner past second. Houston's Joe Niekro was also on his game, giving up only an RBI single from Willie Stargell in the first inning. Houston bats again couldn't produce a big hit. 

A's win series over M's

Game 1:  Oakland 6  Seattle 4
W: Lacey (1-0)  L: Montague (0-2)


Jeff Newman's 3-run homer keyed a 5 run seventh inning as the A's rallied to beat Seattle.


Game 2:  Oakland 3  Seattle 2
W: J Johnson (1-0)  L: O. Jones (0-1)  S: Hamilton (2)


John Henry Johnson went 8 strong innings and Jeff Newman had 3 more hits to pace the A's.


Game 3:  Seattle 8  Oakland 2
W: Honeycutt (1-0)  L: Wirth (0-2)


Rick Honeycutt went the distance for his first win of the season.  Ruppert Jones had 3 hits including his 3rd homer of the season, and "The Ancient Mariner" Willie Horton had 2 hits, the game-winning RBI, and raised his average to a cool .364 for the year.

‘Spos and Amazin’s split a pair

4/17 - Stadie Olympique
Expos 2, Mets 1
Falcone vs Sanderson

Andre Dawson singled to leadoff the bottom of the 6th, stole second, took third on a passed ball and scored on a Warren Cromartie sac fly to give the Expos a 2-1 lead that they protected like Ft. Knox.  Young Scott Sanderson threw 8 strong innings fro the win and Elias Sosa pitched a scoreless 9th for the save.

4/18
Mets 8, Expos 7

A wild and wacky see-saw battle saw the Expos score 3 runs in the bottom of the 7th to take a 1 run lead.  Relievers Stan Bahnsen and Rudy May were not up to the task of keeping the Amazin's at bay.  New York scored 2 in the top of the 9th on a 2 run single by hot dog Willie Montanez (3-4), who knocked in 4 of New York's 8 runs.  Bespectacled Skip Lockwood fanned 2 in a perfect 9th to earn his second save.

Reds sweep Braves in Short Set

Game 1 at Riverfront Stadium,

Cincinnati earned a big come from behind victory however it went into extras. The game was settled when George Foster crushed a 3-run walk off homerun off reliever Adrian Devine.  The clout was Foster's fourth of the infant season. The winning pitcher for Cincy was Dave Tomlin (1-0)...Reds 6...Braves 3 (10 innings)

Game 2,

Tom Terrific was just that in the finale of the short two game Set. Seaver went the distance to earn his second victory of the season. The right hander also helped himself at the plate with a booming homerun to right center field in the 5th inning. Seaver's homerun covered 436 feet!  The losing pitcher was knuckle ball artist Phil Niekro (0-1)....Reds 5....Braves 2.

Spos take 2 of 3 from Cubbies…Krukow tosses 1 hitter in finale.

Expos 1, Cubs 0 (11 inn)
Reuschel vs Grimsley

“The White Stuff…”

It took 11 innings to get a decision as Reuschel (9 IP) and Grimsley (8.1 IP) hooked up in a good ole fashioned pitcher's duel.  Ray Burris was brought on to pitch the 10th and did a great job getting out of trouble.  Woodie Fryman did the same for the Expos.  Tony Perez led off the home half of the 11th with a double.  Kid Carter took one in the ribs to put runners on 1st and 2nd.  Larry Parrish made a productive out by grounding weakly to second to advance the runners to 90 feet for Chris Speier, who lined out to Bucker at first.  With 2 out pinch hitter Jerry White smashed a single through the originator to score Perez and win the game for the Spos.  Fryman was credited with the win and Burris got hung with the loss.

Expos 6, Cubs 3
McGlothen vs Rogers

“Rogers and Hammertime”

Dave Kingman's RBI single in the top of the 8th gave the Cubbies a 3-2 lead, which wouldn't last long.  Montreal exploded for 4 unanswered runs in the bottom of the inning to double up the Cubs 6-3.  Steve Rogers, who looked for a time to be the hard luck loser persevered and got the complete game victory.  Reliever Donnie Moore, responsible for the 4 run eight, took the loss.  Back to back RBI doubles by Tony Perez and Ellis Valentine knocked in 3 of those 4 runs.  Kid Carter had a perfect day at the plate going 2 for 2 with 2 walks and a homer.

Cubs 4, Expos 0
Krukow vs B.Lee

“1 is the loneliest number…”

A two out double by "the Hawk", Andre Dawson, broke up Mike Krukow's no hit bid.  Dawson's two bagger did not phase the Polish Prince one bit.  Krukow didn't miss a beat and went the distance for a one hitter as he fanned 9.  Cub leadoff man Ivan DeJesus (3-5) was on base all day.  Billy Bucker hit his second homer of the young season with 2 out in the top of the first to start the scoring.  The Spaceman, Bill Lee started shaky giving up a solo run in each of the first 3 innings before setting down.

Dodgers Take Series from Astros in Stellar Pitching Duels

Game One: LA 4, Hou 1
W: Sutcliffe (1-0)
L: Ruhle (0-1)

Dave Lopes ignited the Dodger offense with a triple and two runs scored and Steve Garvey went 3-for-4 with a double and two ribbies, as LA took game one of a tough divisional matchup. LA starter Bob Welch had to leave the game after an inning but Rick Sutcliffe and Jerry Reuss held Astros bats at bay all day.

Game Two: LA 3, Hou 1 (10 innings)

W: Hough (1-0)
L: Sambito (1-1) (BS 1)
S: Rautzhan (1)

J.R. Richard was stellar for the 'Stros, mowing down LA hitters through eight innings with 13 strikeouts and leaving with a 1-0 lead, thanks to Bob Watson's first homer of the year (off LA starter Burt Hooton in the fifth). It looked like sure victory for Houston when closer Joe Sambito recorded the first two outs in the top of the ninth. But then Ron Cey drove a fastball to left for a tying homer. That proves to be a back breaker, as Sambito gave up two runs in the top of the 10th on a Davey Lopes home run.

Game Three: Hou 1, LA 0
W:K. Forsch (1-0)
L: Sutton (1-1)
S: Sambito (2)

Ken Forsch kept LA hitters off balance all day, only allowing three hits with no walks and two Ks in eight innings (for a gamescore of 78). Terry Puhl's two-out RBI single in the fifth was all the offense the Astros could muster off Don Sutton, who only allowed five hits through eight innings. But this time out, Sambito was perfect in the ninth inning to nail down his second save.

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