Sens Shut Down Tigers to Take Series

Washington, hoping to avoid the cellar under tough talking manager Ted Williams, takes two of three from the Tigers to win the first series of 1970 vs. the aging tabbies at RFK Stadium.

The series didn't start out well for the Senators. Tiger great Mickey Lolich pitched a four hit, complete game. The Senators didn't get their first hit of the season -- or off Lolich -- until the sixth inning, as Williams found their bats totally useless against lefty starters. The Tigers' Jim Northrup had a day, going four to four with two homers off Washington starter Dick Bosman. Freehan and Horton also homered in the 9-2 Tigers win.

But Washington didn't go quietly in the series. In Game Two, it was the Tigers' Earl Wilson who was hammered for five runs in six innings. Del Unser stroked a two run shot for the Sens, and singing star Lee Maye (who also led a double life as doo wop singer with Arther Lee Maye and the Crowns) stroked three singles and knocked in two. Newly anointed starter Casey Cox, a former reliever, showed worthy of the task with seven innings of three hit ball in the 6-2 Senators win.

Game Three was closer but still favored the Senators. Detroit's Joe Niekro seemed to be cruising, ahead 3-0 in the top of the seventh, as the Tigers had knocked out Washington starter George Brunet after six.  But Niekro proceeded to give up back to back homers to big Frank Howard and Mike Epstein and departed for the showers. Tigers reliever Tom Timmermann was ineffective in the eighth, as the Sens battled for two more, the main blows a clutch RBI
single from future Tiger Eddie Brinkman. Mexico's finest, Horacio Pina, picked up the save in the ninth for the 4-3 Sens win.

Minnesota Sweeps Twin Series with ChiSox

April 7, 1970 at Chicago – A beautiful spring Opening Day at Comiskey Park was spoiled for South-siders very early on as visiting Minnesota rolled up 6 runs through the first 3 innings and cruised to a 12-6 win. Harmon Killebrew (1), Geroge Mitterwald (1) and Rich Reese banged out 3 hits each. Starting pitcher Jim Perry (1-0) drove in 3 runs of his own.

April 9, 1970 at Chicago – Tony Olivia (1,2) cracked 3 hits with only 1 staying in the ballpark. He drove in 3 as the Twins abused Sox pitching again to the tune of 15 hits and an 8-3 win. Luis Tiant (1-0) enjoyed the batting largesse. Joel Horlen (0-1) didn’t look ready for the new season. 

Orioles Take Two out of Three from Tribe

Pennant fever was short lived in Cleveland as after winning the first game of the series the Tribe drops the next two.

In game one the Indians struck for two runs in the first inning on a Sac fly and a Jack Heidimann single.  Ted Ford homered in the second to increase the lead to 3 - 0.  A two-run homer by Boog Powell brought the Orioles to within one run, but Sudden Sam McDowell shut down the Orioles for the rest of the way with relief help from Dennis Higgins in the eighth to seal the victory.

Mike Cuellar dazzled the Indian hitters as he threw a complete game limiting the Indians to just one run on four hits.  For the first six innings Barry Moore matched Cuellar but was lifted for a pinch hitter in the bottom of the sixth.  Bob Miller gave up a run scoring single to Frank
Robinson in the seventh and two more runs in the eighth and Brooks Robinson tagged Mike Paul for a three run homer in the ninth to seal the win for the Birds.

The Orioles scored early and often in the rubber game of the series tagging Tribe starter Rich Hand for six runs in the first three innings en route to an easy 9 - 2 victory.  The big blows were a two run blast by Boog Powell in the first and a three run homer by Brooks Robinson in the third.  The only runs tallied by the Indians came via a  Russ Nagelson two run homer in the second to bring the Indians to within one run of the Orioles but Tom Phoebus kept the Indians off the board until he was relieved by Dick Hall with two out in the eighth.  Hall set down the four Indians he faced.

Braves take 2 of 3 from Padres in Season Series Opener.

San Diego Stadium,

Game 1,

Atlanta brought their bats as the battered the Padres for 12 runs on 20 hits. Clete Boyer and Orlando Cepeda each reached the seats as the Braves offense poured it on.  Brave second sacker, Felix Millan got in the act with 4 hits of his own.  The recipient of these offensive surge was Knuckle ball hurler Phil Niekro, who threw 7 strong innings for his first win of the year.  The loss was credited to Pat Dobson who coughed up 10 runs in the game.  Braves 12....Padres 4.

Game 2,

Padre hurler Al Santorini was the story in game 2 as he quieted the Braves bats after the first game. Santorini pitched 8 innings. However, he tired after 8 innings and was relieved by Tom Dukes in the ninth. San Diego broke a 2-2 tie in the bottom of the ninth with an RBI single by Nate Colbert that drove in the winning run to secure San Diego's first win of the season.  Padres 3...Braves 2.

Game 3,

Clete Boyer hit a 2 run dinger in the fifth inning to give Atlanta an early lead. The Braves added another run in the ninth to secure the win and series as Jim Nash earned the victory. The hard luck loser for the Friars was Clay Kirby who went the distance but his team could not muster much offense as they banged out only one run on six hits....Braves 3...Padres 1.

Brewers Open with 2 Wins Over Angels

MILWAUKEE 5  CALIFORNIA 2
Milwaukee hosted its first major league game since the Braves departed for Atlanta after the 1965 season.  And this version of Milwaukee baseball (the Brewers) did not disappoint their loyal fans.  Game 1 saw the "Crew" fall behind early before Danny Walton would tie things up in the first with a 349 ft. solo homer.  This got the ball rolling for the Brewers as they would put up another 3 runs in the next two innings to help them cruise to 5-2 opening day victory.  SP Lew Krausse would get his first win of the season by throwing 7 innings enroute to a 2.57 ERA. Bob Locker would get the save.  California's bright spot came with a Jim Fregosi homer in the first (his first of the season).  

MILWAUKEE 3  CALIFORNIA 2
Game 2 saw the Brewers jump out quickly to a 3-0 lead and carry it all the way into the 8th inning before the California bats would wake up.   Registering 5 of its 8 hits on the day in the final two innings, the Angels would cut the lead to just 1 run before sputtering out.  Milwaukee's Marty Patton threw a gem of a game, only allowing 5 hits, 1 ER and striking out 4 in his 7.2 innings pitched.  Patton would get the win and John Gelnar the save to give Milwaukee a 2-0 start to the season.