Pale Hose Split Pair with Newly Minted Texans

April 18, 1972
CHICAGO -- Wilbur Wood (1-1) dazzled the Texas Rangers (that will take awhile to get used to) and had them looking like, well  . . . the Washington Senators. Chicago won 7-1 with Carlos May (1) and Rick Reichardt (2) providing the thunder with home runs and 3 and 4 RBI, respectively.

April 19, 1972
CHICAGO -- Never say anything bad about Texas. This time 4 Rangers hurlers limited the ChiSox to one run on 4 hits in a 6-1 win. Jim Panther (1-0) got the win in relief. Joe Lovitto and Larry Biittner each knocked in a pair of runs.

Orioles Grounded As Tigers Take Series

Baltimore Orioles fans have not been acquainted with losing in recent past but

the 1972 O's seemingly have not shown up to start the season.  Losing 4 of it's first 5 home games has the Baltimore faithful scratching their heads to figure out where their beloved team has gone.  The Detroit Tigers came into Memorial Stadium without a win on the season, and everything looked like it was going to get back to normal as Baltimore caged the Tigers 7-1 in game 1.  Behind a stellar performance by Jim Palmer (1-0, 1.00 ERA, CG) the birds cruised to their first win of the season.  But normal these days is not what it used to be.  Detroit would take the next two games, outscoring the Orioles 6-2, to capture the series.  Tigers Mickey Lolich (1-1, 4.76 ERA) would strike out 8 batters in game 2 to get a complete game victory (his first) and Tom Timmermann (1-0, 0.00 ERA) would combine with Lerrin LaGrow (1 SV, 0.00 ERA) to capture game 3 with a shutout.  Mickey Stanley hit his 1st homer of the season (game 2) while Norm Cash hit his 2nd of the season in game 3.  Detroit improves to 2-2 on the season while Baltimore drops to 1-4.

Game 1:
Baltimore 7 Detroit 1
WP Jim Palmer (1-0, 9 IP, 5 H, 1.00 ERA)
LP Joe Coleman (0-1, 3.86 ERA)

Game 2:
Detroit 4  Baltimore 2
WP Mickey Lolich (1-1, 4.76 ERA, CG, 8 Ks)
LP Mike Cuellar (0-1, 4.00 ERA, CG)
HR - Mickey Stanley (1)

Game 3:
Detroit 2  Baltimore 0
WP Tom Timmermann (1-0, 0.00 ERA, 7IP)
LP Pat Dobson (0-2, 8.10 ERA, 6Ks)
SV Lerrin LaGrow (1)
HR - Norm Cash (2)

Redbirds Fly Past Expos in Opening Pair

April 15, 1972
ST. LOUIS -- Bob Gibson (1-0) scattered 7 hits and fanned 9 on his way to a CG 3-0 shutout win in the home opener at Busch Memorial Stadium. The other interesting note was Ken Singleton getting ejected for an illegal slide. That was a first for this veteran game-player.

April 16, 1972
ST. LOUIS -- Luis Melendez delivered a pinch hit, 2-out, 2-RBI single in the B9th to send the Cardinals to an 8-7 comeback, walk-off victory. Donn Clendenon (1) clobbered a PH 3-run home run to highlight a 4-run 8th for the Redbirds. Rick Wise, who arrived in St. Loo this season after a controversial trade which sent popular Steve Carlton to Philadelphia, did not endear himself to the home-town fans. He yielded 7 runs on 10 hits in 6 IP. Mike Jorgensen and Singleton did most of the damage with 4 hits apiece for Montreal. Rich Folkers (1-0) and Tom Walker (0-1) turned out to be the pitchers of record.

Yankees Defeather Orioles in Baltimore Home Opener

After a strike shortened start to the season the Baltimore Orioles finally got things underway hosting their division rivals the New York Yankees.  The Bronx Bombers wasted little time in showing the previous AL East Champions that there is a new kid on the block.  New York put up 25 hits in two games and 15 total runs to sweep the series at Memorial Stadium.  Ron Blomberg, Bobby Murcer and Bernie Allen all homered for the Yanks in game one while Felipe Alou and Ron Swaboda found game 2 to be more to their liking.  Yankees Mel Stottlemyer threw a complete game 3 hit shutout to earn his first victory of the season.  Fritz Peterson also picked up the win in game two for the Yanks.  Oriole coach Earl Weaver would not allow the press to interview any Baltimore players as he felt there were none worth mentioning or quoting.  The legendary coach's parting words were, "Don't worry, the fans don't start booing until July."

GAME 1:
New York 10  Baltimore 0
WP: Mel Stottelmyre (1-0, 3H, 8 Ks CG)
LP: Pat Dobson (0-1, 21.00 ERA)
HR: NYY - Blomberg (1), Murcer (1), Allen (1)  

GAME 2
New York 5 Baltimore 2
WP: Fritz Peterson (1-0, 6.2 IP , 6H, 2 Ks)
LP: Dave McNally (0-1, 8.2 IP, 11 H, 4Ks, 5.91 ERA)
SV: Sparky Lyle (1)
HR: NYY - Alou (1), Swaboda (1)