Yanks take 2 of 3 from Tigers

Yanks try to stay alive in wild card chase as Cleveland takes a three game lead in the East with 12 games remaining.

Game 1 - Yanks 6 Tigers 4

Steve Kline holds on for a complete game win, spreading out 9 hits and not allowing any big scoring innings from Detroit. This while the Yankee offence put together enough runs to win, with the help of Tiger reliever Harry Byrd who blew his second save of the year.

Game 2 - Tigers 5 Yanks 0

The Yankees are almost identical to Detroit as far as a bullpen is concerned - they have none. Game five was a pitching duel between the starters. Mel Stottlemyre finally broke down in the eighth and gave up 5 runs desperately trying to get that final out of the inning. Meanwhile Billy Hoeft pitched an excellent complete game shutout for Detroit, for his only win of the year.

Game 3 - Yanks 6 Tigers 4

For Detroit Jim Bunning pitches 5 innings, allowing only 1 run. The relievers for Detroit spot the Yankees another 5 runs though, giving the Yanks a 6 -0 lead. Fritz Peterson sailed along for 6 innings not allowing any runs. With him nearing his pith count and not wanting a similar occurrence of game 2, of staying with the starter too long, the Yankee manager calls on the bullpen. Damned if you do and damned if you don’t. Four runs later and four reliever later, with the tying runs on base in the ninth, Roger Hambright finally puts an end to the Tigers comeback attempt.

--submitted by Joe Mach--

Tribe sweeps A’s, end 6 game skid

9/12 - Oakland Coliseum - 3:57 - 71ø
GAME 1 - Indians 10, A's 2

The final score is quite deceptive.  It implies that this was a big time blow out that the Indians dominated, when in reality the outcome was totally in doubt until the top of the 9th when Cleveland exploded for 8 runs to put it away.  Before Oakland's tragic 9th, the game was actually tied at 2.  Oakland jumped out to a quick 2-0 lead in the bottom of the 1st off of Cleveland starter Gary "Ding Dong" Bell (4-0, 1.96).  Bell gave up a 2 run shot to Reggie Jackson, then closed the door as he went the distance.  Oakland starter Lew Krausse gave up a solo shot to Rocky Colavito in the 3rd to make it 2-1.  In the top of the 7th the Indians tied it when Vic Power led off with a double and Pete Ward wasted no time by singling him in to tie the game and hasten Krausse's exit.  Diego Segui was able to record the next 2 outs to end Cleveland's threat until the fateful 9th.  The Tribe sent 12 batters to the plate in the 9th and victimized Ed Sprague for 5 runs and call-up Rolland Fingers for the final 3.  Colavito had a typical "Rocky day".  He went 3 for 6, with 2 homers and 3 strikeouts to raise his average to .402.

9/13 - Oakland Colis. - 4:04 - 78ø - 5mph in LF
GAME 2 - Indians 12, A's 1
Oakland made 3 huge errors that cost John "Blue Moon" Odom any chance to be competitive in this game.  Odom lost interest and the Indians jumped all over him for 6 runs in 5 innings.  Only 1 of those 6 was earned.  Relievers Jack Aker and Warren Bogle were ineffective at best yielding 3 runs each in just 2 innings of work.  All 3 errors were committed by the normally sure handed Athletic infield.  John Donaldson, Sal Bando and Campy Campaneris were the culprits.  Cal McLish yielded only 1 unearned run, but he can't be too critical of the culprit, Rocky Colavito.  "The Rock" also went 3 for 6 with 2 doubles and 4 runs scored, so his offensive value far outweighed his defensive liability.  McLish got back to his winning ways by improving his record to 5-2 and lowering his ERA to 1.96.  Herbie Score came on in the 8th to finish it out and fanned 2 and allowed no one to score.  Will Harrell was 5 for 6 with 3 RBI's but seemed to be overshadowed by "the Rock".

9/14 - Cleveland Municipal  - 2:50 - 74ø - 15mph R to L
GAME 3 - Indians 3, A's 2
The series shifted 2,600 miles, but the change in venue did not change the A's fortune.  Interestingly this game featured a battle of the fish:  Mudcat vs Catfish.  Jim "Mudcat" Grant picked right up where Cal McLish left off and virtually shutdown the A's to close out the series sweep.  Oakland took a 1-0 lead on a Danny Cater 2 out homer in the first and Jim "Catfish" Hunter attempted to nurse it.  Hunter is real good, but not good enough to nurse 1 run leads every time out.  Back to back homers by Colavito and Minnie Minoso in the 6th gave Grant a 2-1 lead.  A two out triple by Russ Nixon to score Colavito in the 8th gave Grant (3-2, 2.45) the insurance run he would covet, but not need.  After the game Hunter (4-4, 2.13) told reporters that he's trying to take the lack of run support in stride.  The future star said all the right things, but you could see this tightrope act that he's being asked to perform is wearing thin on him.  His manager would not comment on the 3 game sweep, but did remind the press that Minnesota was also in the process of getting swept so no ground should be lost.

Colavito Watch:  The Rock went 7 for 15 with 3 HR’s and 5 RBI’s in as he edges closer to Triple Crown contention in the AL.  Rock’s BA now stands at .406 with 10 HR’s.  He is now 2 RBI behind NY’s Bobby Murcer with NY slated to play 3.

SD takes 2 of 3 from Cubbies: Sheff goes 4 for 12 with 4 RBI and 1 HR in series

Game 1 - at Jack Murphy Std.

Bill Buckner and Dave Kingman connect for homeruns as the Cubbies win the opener 7-1. Dennis Lamp threw 6 strong innings of scoreless ball.  Dick Tidrow pitched the final 1.2 innings for his first save.  Bruce Hurst gets the loss. Gary Sheffield went 1 for 4 with no RBI on Homeruns.

Game 2 - at Jack Murphy Std.

The Padres got back on track with a 10-2 drubbing.  San Diego hit 3 homeruns in the slugfest.  Darrin Jackson (#6), Fred McGriff (#5), and Benito Santiago (#5) reached the seats to help Andy Benes to even his record at 2-2. Benes went 7 innings scattering 6 hits and 2 runs and striking out 7 Cub hitters.  Gary Sheffield went 2 for 4 with 2 RBI's.

Game 3 - at Wrigley Field,

Gary Sheffield smashed his 13th homerun of the year, a 2 run bomb in the 6th to help seal the win. The real story of the game was Padre curve ball specialist, Greg Harris. The Padre right hander pitched a perfect game through 6 innings but gave up a single in the 7th inning to Sizemore.  Harris pitched a complete game 2 hitter as the Padres won the game 4-1. 
Gary Sheffield went 1 for 4 with 2 RBI and a homerun.

--submitted by Joey Scigliano--

Triple Crown Shef !!!

While his team is 7 games below .500 and 5 games out of a Wild Card spot Gary Sheffield has not quit.  He hasn’t quit on his team, nor has he quit on his season.  The enigmatic one has just gone about his business of punishing NL pitchers to the tune of a .391 batting average with 12 homers and 30 RBI.

Shef is hitting 45 points higher than his nearest competitor (Ron Fairly .346) for the NL batting crown.  With 15 games left in the season he seems a virtual lock to take that leg of the triple crown.

With 30 RBI in 25 games and a 7 RBI lead over Barry Bonds, Shef looks to be in control there as well.  Where he is in for the fight of his life is for the Home Run title.  Bonds is breathing down his throat with 11 homers, just one behind San Diego’s triple threat.

Can he do it ?  Can he be KOD’s first ever Triple Crown Winner ?

Only time and the next 15 games will tell !!!

Twins and Sahx battle to a draw

9/8 - Metrodome, Time 3:36
GAME 1 - Twins 6, Red Sox 5
The fans at the homer dome were treated to a battle of respective lefty aces (Mel Parnell & Frank Viola).  By the time all the dust and astroturf cleared neither was around to stake claim to a decision.  The Sahx were us 3-2 going into the bottom of the 8th.  Parnell was still on the hill, but it became apparent that he was tiring fast.  A hard ground ball was booted by Vern Stephens at short to put Mickey Hatcher on 1st.  Ron Washington bounced a seeing eye hit in the hole between 1st and 2nd.  Randy Bush's slow roller to second was fielded by Billy Goodman, who got the easy out, but runners were now on the corners with 1 out.  Parnell was able to reach back for one more high hard one as he struck out Tom Brunansky for the 2nd out of the inning.  Al Benton came on board for the righty/righty matchup vs Brown, who bounced one off of Goodman's glove to score Hatcher.  Goodman was charged with an error.  Benton walked the next batter to give the Twins a 4-3 lead, before Kirby Puckett fouled out to the catcher Sammy White to end the inning.  Ron Davis was on the hill to close it out for the Twins and just to make things interesting right off the bat he walked Johnny Lipon on 6 pitches.   The Moose, Walt Dropo crushed a double off the left field fence to put runners on 2nd and 3rd with nobody out.  Jimmy Piersall then grounded to Jimenez at short.  The throw went home and Lipon was barely safe to tie the game.  Piersall wound up on 1st as part of the fielder's choice.  Dom DiMaggio followed that one up with a grounder to short as well that Jimenez muffed to allow Dropo to score and give the Sahx a 5-4 lead.  With the bases loaded and 1 out Ted Lepcio hit a hard smash to Jimenez who rifled one to Laudner at the plate and back to Hrbek at first for the rare 6-2-3 DP to end the inning.  This would be huge, because Kent Hrbek lead off the bottom of the 9th with a game tying  418 foot homer to straight away center vs Bill Wright, who is known to be a lefty specialist.  Nothing special about that gopher ball.  Wright stayed in and proceeded to walk Hatcher on 4 straight pitchers.  Wright sawed off Ron Washington's bat, but it didn't matter to anyone...least of all Washington, because the ball wound up dropping into center just over Lepcio's head to put runners at the corners with nobody out.  With 1 out and runners on the corners the stage was set for Brunansky to be there hero.  Bruno was not about to let the opportunity pass, as he lifted a long fly to DiMaggio in center to score Hatcher easily and give the victory to the hometown Twins.

9/9 - Metrodome, Time 3:19
GAME 2 - Red Sox 4, Twins 3
For the second day in a row these two teams hooked up in another 1 run drama fest.  This time the Twins jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first off of Mickey McDermott (1-1, 7.31), who throws hard (8k's), but also throws straight as an arrow.  Ken Schrom was posting goose eggs until the fateful 7th inning when the Bosox touched him for 3.  There was no reason for the "homerdome" fans to worry after Hoot Evers led off the inning and struck out.  Even Vern Stephens' solo homers posed no concern, since the Twins still had a 2-1 lead and Schrom looked to be as strong as an ox, but things turned when backstop Sammy White doubled off the hefty bag.  Johnny Lipon pulled one through the whole to put runners on the corners with 1 out.  Dick Gernert was up next and he lined a bullet into center to score White and tie the game.  Lipon held wisely at second as Puckett was poised to gun him down at 3rd.  Faye Throneberry ripped a single to right to load the bases.  Lipon held at 3rd because the ball was hit too hard and he didn't want to challenge Bruno's arm in right.  The "Little Professor" Dom DiMaggio hit a routine grounder to third.  Instead of trying to cut down the runner (Lipon) at the plate Gaetti chose to go for the DP.  Throneberry was out easily at 2nd, but DiMaggio, who seems to be on his last legs...legged this one out and beat it by a hair to extend the inning and put the Bosox up 3-2.  The top of the 8th would see Boston add a much needed insurance run, when Billy Goodman led off with a walk and was bunted over to second by Hoot Evers.  With 2 out Sammy White his his second consecutive two bagger and Goodman easily walked home to make it 4-2.  Randy Bush led off the bottom of the 8th with a solo shot off of reliever Ellis Kinder to again make it a 1 run game.  Brunansky was up next and he fanned for the 3rd time in the game.  Gaetti singled, but was stranded on first.  Lysander, in relief of Schrom was able to get Boston out easily in the top of the 9th, and so Kinder was now tasked with getting 3 outs and saving the game for McDermott.  Nothing these days comes easily for Boston and the bottom of the 9th would be no exception.  After Puckett hit a lazy fly ball to DiMaggio in center it looked like it just might be easy for Kinder, but the dangerous Hrbek came to the plate and Kinder tried to pick the corners and eventually walked him on a 3-1 curveball that was nowhere near the plate.  Mickey Hatcher lined an opposite field hit to move Hrbek up 90 feet and into scoring position.  On the air at NESN "Rem-Dog" said, "Kind'ah needs to  get his head out of his rear and get this next guy".  A simple statement, but not an easy thing to do.  Kinder battled Tim Teufel, who just got under the ball and hit an elevator in silo.  Bill Goodman camped under it at second and caught it just as the infield fly rule was invoked.  Now with 2 down up stepped Randy Bush who was completely fooled by Kinder's 1-1 offering, but managed to top it down to 3rd.  Stephens had no play on it and the bases were loaded with 2 out.  The fans in the dome were so loud even ear plugs couldn't help.  It all came down to a matchup of power.  Kinder vs Bruno.  Kinder quickly had Bruno in the hole at 0-2 and tried to slip a changeup by the big right fielder.  Kinder's executed his plan to perfection as Bruno was looking fastball and swung years ahead of the 0-2 offering to end the game and record the "Golden Sombrero".

9/10 - Fenway Park, Time 3:14,68ø (Double-Header)
GAME 3 - Twins 6, Red Sox 2
Boston lead 2-1 going into the top of the 7th when the Twins exploded for 4 runs.  Minnesota's rock star with the lumber, Kent Hrbek, started it all out with a clean single.  Bruno walked and Teufel singled.  Brown pinch hit for Engle and put the inning in peril when he grounded into a routine 6-4-3 DP.  Hrbek scored to tie the game, but it looked like Sid Hudson and the Sahx were going to get away without further damage.  That was until Hudson needed a GPS to find home plate and walked both Jimenz and Castino to load the bases.  The diminutive one, Kirby Puckett, came to the plate and scored all three with a bases clearing triple.  A solo run in the 8th provide more insurances as the Twins spoiled Boston's homecoming.  Mike Smithson (2-1, 3.3) got the win and Tim Lysander pitched 2 perfect innings in relief.  Bobby Castillo closed out the 9th in a non-save situation.

GAME 4 - Red Sox 5, Twins 4 (12 inn)
No better way to close out this action packed series than with a 12 inning game that also featured a 1 hour rain delay in the middle of the 2nd inning.  The Twins posted a solo run in the first when Puckett reached first on an error by Johnny Pesky at 3rd.  Pesky, who has been fighting injury and ineffectiveness all season returned to the lineup for the first time since early August and looked rusty at the hot corner on Puckett's smash.  A balk by starter Dizzy Trout allowed Puckett to move up to third where he scored easily on a single by Gary Gaetti.  After the rain cleared the Bosox took a 3-1 lead with a big 4th inning.  Dom DiMaggio led off with a walk and scored when Clyde Vollmer doubled off the Green Monstah.  DiMaggio was able to race home all the way from first as Twins late season call-up Andre David had trouble handling the carom.   Vern Stephens singled home Vollmer and went to second on an ill-advised throw to the plate.  Backup catcher Del Wilber doubled off the Monstah to score Stephens easily.  In the top of the 6th the Twins scored when pinch hitter John Castino singled home Tim Teufel, who led off the inning with a walk.  That made the score 3-2.  By this point both teams were really depleting their bullpens.  Nothing hurts a pen more than a hitter friendly ballpark coupled with a 1 hour rain delay during the second game of a doubleheader.  By the top of the 7th Boston was on their 4th pitcher Al Benton, who served up a leadoff double to Bruno and was sent immediately to the showers in favor of the lefty/lefty matchup of Wight vs Hrbek.  Once again Hrbek proved to be the master of this matchup and again hit a homer off of Wight like he did in game 1.  Ellis Kinder was summoned once again from the pen with a simple set of instructions from his manager "NO MORE F-in RUNS".  Kinder was up for the task and easily got the Bosox out of the inning without further damage.  Minnesota was faring better with pitching by this point.  John Butcher was able to stretch his effectiveness to 5 full innings.  Larry Pashnick relieved Butcher and seemed fine until the bottom of the 8th when he issued a 1 out walk to Vollmer and then balked him over to second.  Vern Stephens, who has struggled this season without Ted Williams hitting in front of him, launched a bullet into the gap in left center for a game tying double.  The game would stay tied and force the cold and soggy fans to stay for extra frames. 

In fact, most were already in the Cask’n Flagon watching the game on the tube and enjoying an adult beverage.  By the time the 12th inning came along Ellis Kinder (2-1, 2.19) had thrown almost 6 innings in relief and allowed just 1 hit and had 6 strikeouts.  Pete Filson, who recorded the final out of the 11th was on board to start up the bottom of the 12th for the Twins.  Kinder, who was going to either win or lose this thing, led off the inning and struck out.  With nobody else left in the pen this was his game.  Billy Goodman walked and Dick Gernert doubled to put runners on second and third with 1 down.  DiMaggio was given and intentional pass to load the bases and hopefully allow the Twins the chance to get an inning ending double play or at least a force at the plate.  Hoot Evers came to the plate and before you knew it was sitting on a 3-0 count.  Given the take sign Evers did just that and Filson threw one right down Broadway for a call strike and a 3-1 count.  The pressure was squarely on Filson's shoulders to deliver 2 more strikes as it looked like Evers was not going to move the bat.  Filson missed high on his next offering and Goodman trotted home for the game winning run on a walk off walk to Evers.

Cubbies and Braves split

Game 1 – Cubs 6, Braves 5

Lynn McGlothen wins his 2nd of the year, as he scatters 9 hits, and the Cubs take game 1 in Boston by the score of 6-5. McGlothen helped his cause as he went 3 for 4 from the plate, scoring a run and knocking one in. Bruce Sutter notches his 4th save. Bill Buckner led the Cubs by going 4 for 6 as he knocked in 2.

The game see-sawed back and forth with Boston scoring a run in the bottom of the 1st. Chicago would counter with a run in both the 2nd and 3rd and 4th. Boston would tie in the 5th on an Earl Torgeson HR. The Cubs would regain the lead in the 6th as McGlothen would single and Billy Buck would drive him in, but the lead wouldn't last long as Boston plated 2 in the bottom of the 7th. Chicago came right back and scored 2 in the 8th, assisted by 2 Boston errors. They would commit 4 errors on the day. Bruce Sutter would come on in the 9th and shut down Boston 1-2-3 and the Cubs would get the win.

Game 2  -  Braves 5, Cubs 1

It was all Boston in game 2 at Braves Field. Bob Elliott would lead the way for Boston going, 3 for 4, while Earl Torgeson would drive in would drive in 3 capped by a 2 run shot to center in the 4th. Vern Bickford would pick up the win for Boston.

 

Game 3 – Cubs 5, Braves 1

The series moved to Chicago for a doubleheader. Game 3 was the reverse of game 2 as Johnny Sain would take his 4th loss on the year. Dave Kingman would hit a 2 run shot in the Cubs first, his 6tg on the year, and that would prove to be all the Cubs would need. Rick Reuschel would pick up the win, as he only gave up 4 hits over 7 innings. Sutter would pitch the last 2 innings and the Cubs would take it 5-1.

Game 4 – Braves 10, Cubs 8

The 2nd game of the doubleheader would be a wild one as neither team wanted to get the other team out. Boston got behind early as the Cubs scored 3 in the 1st as 5 Cubs' singles would plate 3 Cubs. Boston would then to proceed to pound the Cubs in the 2nd, as they scored 7. Chicago would get 2 back in their half of the 2nd, but Boston would score another in the 3rd. Boston would hang on for the 10-8 win. Warren Spahn would get the win, his 5th and Mike Krukow took his 3rd loss. Dave Kingman would add his 7th HR of the year in the loss.

--submitted by Jim Walden--

Halos and Jays split

9/8 – Edison Int. Field, Time 3:15,  88ø

GAME 1 – Angels 5, Blue Jays 0

Scott Schoenewis was so good, he pitched for both teams in this contest.  The version that plays for Anaheim was much better going 7 inning, not allowing a run and only allowing 3 hits.  Even more incredible is the fact that Anaheim’s Schoeneweis (2-2, 1.97) seems to normally not get any run support from a team with a ton of long ball hitters.  This game looked to be the same as he only had 2 over the first 7, until the Halos exploded for 3 in the bottom of the 7th.  Even more frustrated must be Pete Walker (2-2, 1.98), who needs to be Koufax or Seaver every time out to win.   Mo Vaughn hit his 6th homer of the season for Anaheim in the bottom of the 6th to make it 2-0 at the time.  Brandon League of Toronto was tossed in the 7th for arguing balls and strikes and saying the magic 4 letter word.

9/9 - Edison Int. Field, Time 3:29,  83ø

GAME 2 – Angels 8, Blue Jays 0

Kent Bottenfield (2-2, 3.08) didn’t have to do much other than switch on cruise control in this laugher.  Anaheim had a 4-o lead over an ineffective Dave Bush (7 runs in 6.2 IP).  Tim Salmon finally hit his first homer of this frustrating season where Anaheim’s power has been almost non-existent.  Salmon’s homer was his only hit in 4 plate appearances as he was walked in the other 3.  Scott Spiezio, who replaced Vaughn late in the game for defense, had 2 RBI in his one trip to the batter’s box.  Brandon League returned to action after being tossed the night before and did not have any incidents.

9/10 - Rogers Ctr, Time 3:35,  Double Header
GAME 3 – Blue Jays 5, Angels 4 (11 inn)

Ramon Ortiz had a 3-0 lead after 3 innings, but could not protect it as the desperate Blue Jays wanted to show their home town fans that they had not abandoned the season.  Gregg Zaun hit a solo shot in the 5th to get the Jays on the board.  In the 6th Toronto took the lead by posting 3 big runs.  Alex Rios doubled home Orlando Hudson for the first run.  Eric Hinske doubled home Rios for the next run and advanced to third when Tim Salmon’s throw overshot the cutoff man.  That allowed Hinske to score on a sac fly by Catalanotto to make it 4-3 Jays.  Salmon atoned for his sins by slamming a solo shot to lead off the 8th.  That round tripper tied the game, which eventually went into extra innings.  Eric Hinske’s walkoff homer to lead off the 11th ended it and set the tone for the Jays to possibly sweep the doubleheader and even the 4 game set.

GAME 4 – Blue Jays 3, Angels 1

Jays manager Justin Ryan was quoted as saying, “Roy  Halladay (3-2, 1.18) has pitched good enough to be 5-0.  This team just doesn’t hit for him”.  While that may true on most days the Jays actually hit just enough to allow “Doc” to win his 3rd of the season and sweep the doubleheader.  Toronto drew first blood when Vernon Wells led off the bottom of the 2nd with a solo shot off of Angel starter Jarred Washburn.  That would be the only run that Washburn would yield on the day.  In fact there would be no further scoring until Anaheim tied it in the top of the 8th with a 2 out RBI single by Orlando Palmeiro that scored Kevin Stocker who was on 2nd by way of a 2 out double.  At this point Halladay figured he was going to get at best another no decision or possibly an undeserved loss.  His teammates rewarded him with 2 run in the bottom of the frame thanks to a 2 run homer by Frank Catalanotto.  That was all that the great “Doc” Holladay would need as the Halos went down in order in the 9th.

M’s Sweep Sliding Tribe

Manager Bill Keller said after the game, “The Tribe is in trouble”.  What an understatement.  Just 2 weeks ago they were the darlings of the KOD world.  Now they seem to be in free fall and after this series they are barely clinging to a 2 game lead in the AL East over the Yanks.  Seattle, on the other hand, swept their way in to resurrecting their season.  At 13-12 they are in the thick of the Wild Card race and only 3 behind Oakland in the division.

9/8 – 9/10 – Kingdome

GAME 1 – Mariners 4, Indians 2

Erik Hanson (2-2, 3.67) had a shutout going for 7 innings, then yielded 2 runs that made the score look closer than the game was.  Seattle chipped away at Cleveland starter Hal Woodeshick (0-2, 3.86) with solo runs in the 1st, 3rd, 5th and 6th.  Leadoff hitter Rich Amaral went 3 for 5 and inched his way close to the Mendoza line (.198).  4 different M’s had RBI’s.  Seattle refused to pitch to Colavito, who walked twice and fanned once chasing anything to hit.  Steve Ontiveros came on and bailed out Hanson in the 9th for his first save of the season.

GAME 2 – Mariners 3, Indians 0

Cal McLish (4-2, 2.25) couldn’t be blamed for this one.  Giving up 3 runs in a complete game effort and not even having a chance to win means your offense completely went south on you.  Seattle jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first and with the way the Tribe has been hitting of late you could have turned your TV sets off right then and there.  After Rich Amaral received a leadoff walk he then stole second and moved to third on Omar Vizquel’s ground out.  Junior Griffey was pitched around and walked.  “How can you trade” Jay Buhner was riled up and he singled home Amaral.  Tino Martinez singled to load the bases and Mike Blowers lifted a sac fly to  deep center to score Griffey.  Blowers helped add an insurance run in the 6th, when he again singled home Griffey.  All the while Dave Fleming (2-2, 2.63) was cruising.  After yielding only 3 hits and no runs he was lifted due to fatigue in favor of Jeff Nelson who closed it out for his 4th save.

9/11 – CLE Municipal Stadium – Double Header

GAME 3 – Mariners 3, Indians 0

The “Big Unit”, Randy Johnson (3-0, 0.92) was dominant.  He fanned 8 and allowed only 1 hit over 5+ innings until he tweaked his shoulder and had to come out.  This is the 3rd time this season that he has had to exit a game early due to injury.  Manager Hopcroft was impressed by Johnson’s performance, but upset by his lack of durability.  Jim “Mudcat” Grant (2-2, 2.74) was going toe to toe with the “Big Unit” until Seattle broke through with 2 in the 5th.  The anemic Tribe bats could not score on both Bob Ayrault and Norm Charlton (5th save) and for the second straight game they were shut out 3-0.  Rich Amaral has come back to life in the lead off spot for the M’s.  Going 3 for 5 with 2 runs scored and raising his avg t0 .222.  Colavito took the collar (0-4) and saw his average drop under .400.  Tino Matinez had 2 RBI.

GAME 4 – Mariners 7, Indians 1

The non-existent Tribe Offense succeeded in making Chris Bosio (3-1, (2.55) look like a Cy Young candidate.  In this contest the M’s broke out and didn’t even allow Cleveland the chance to think there was any hope.  Ken Griffey Jr. went 2 for 5 with 3 RBI and hit his 6th homer of the season.  Tino had his 3rd homer in a 2-4 effort.  Rocky Colavito did go 2-3 and raised his average just under .400 with a .396 posting.  Veteran Bob Lemon saw some action in garbage time and tossed 2 scoreless innings despite walking 3.

Friars Get On Winning Track – Keep Redbirds Reeling

KOD9, Week 8 – 1992 San Diego Padres vs 1956 St. Louis Cardinals

The 1992 Padres made some big noise in this four game set with their Midwestern counterpart, taking three of four games from the slumping Cardinals. Included in the thrashing was an incredible 21 run, 28 hit performance by the Padres to open the series, prompting Cardinal manager Bike Mike to comment that it was “…the most ridiculous game I’ve even been involved in”.

Mysteriously, the Cardinals have suddenly taken a big turn for the worse after a strong start. Manager Bike is at a loss for his club’s demise. Here’s a brief summary of the Redbirds after 12 games, and as they currently stand at the 25 game mark:

After 12 games: 8-4 W-L record, 45 runs, 37 opponent runs, .239 BA, 2.49 ERA

Current: 11-14 W-L, 89 runs, 138 opponent runs, .237 BA, 5.05 ERA

Last 13 games: 3-10 W-L, 44 runs, 101 opponent runs

The difference in pitching between the first 12 games and last 13 is alarming. They are scoring under 4 runs per game, and giving up close to 8.

The question is, is this team really as bad as it’s played these last 13, or is it a combination of playing tougher teams and the breaks evening out. It’s hard to imagine that even playing better teams and not getting the breaks could cause such a drastic difference.

On to the series. Here’s a recap:

Game One at San Diego, St. Louis 3, San Diego 21

No, this was not the Rams and Chargers playing, although it was quite a bloodbath. MVP and Triple Crown candidate Gary Sheffield led the Padres 28 hit attack with a 4 for 4, 2 homer, 6 RBI game. The thrashing was so bad, that no less than four Cardinal pitchers had season ERA over 20 after this game was in the books. None of the 6 Cardinal pitchers used could stem the tide, save for perhaps Don Liddle’s scoreless 8^th.

This game was practically over after one batter, when Tony Gwynn took Harvey Haddix deep. After that it went HBP-HR-HR. Haddix had faced four batters, and given up four runs and three homers. After three innings it was already 14-0 and both teams began to make wholesale changes. 39 different players were used and the game took almost 4 hours to complete.

Game Two at San Diego, St. Louis 0, San Diego 7

  It was more of the same in game two, although to their credit the Cardinals surrendered only one touchdown instead of three.

Again the Padres dominated, out-hitting the Cardinals 14-4, and again Sheffield and McGriff went deep. St. Louis area native Andy Benes tossed a nifty complete game shutout for the home squad.

Game Three at St. Louis, San Diego 0, St. Louis 4

The Cardinals came home bruised and battered, sending their most consistent starter Tom Poholsky to the hill to face Greg Harris. Poholsky cooled the hot Friar bats off to such a degree, he almost no-hit them. He surrendered a lone hit in 8 innings of shutout ball, before Larry Jackson came on to finish it up in the ninth.

The game was scoreless until the Cardinal fifth, when Whitey Lockman lead off with a single, and after a fly out was bunted over to second. The Padres then walked Red Schoendienst intentionally to get to young Don Blasingame, who foiled the strategy with an RBI double.

The Cardinals tacked on three insurance runs in the eighth, with Rocky Nelson’s two-run pinch-hit double the big blow.

Game Four at St. Louis, San Diego 4, St. Louis 2

In the kind of game the Cardinals were winning early, the Padres  came from behind plating a run in the eighth and two in the ninth to overcome a slim 2-1 deficit and take the series finale.

Both starters, Frank Seminara for San Diego and Murry Dickson for St. Louis, were effective as the Padres had the game’s lone run through six innings when Fred McGriff singled home Gary Sheffield in the Padre third.

The Cardinals took the lead in the 7^th, putting two runs over against Padre reliever Mike Maddux with the aid of a Sheffield error, and another pinch-hit by Rocky Nelson.

The Padres came right back to tie it in the eighth off the usually reliable Lindy McDaniel, but these days no one is reliable that wears the Birds on the Bat. McGriff doubled to lead off the inning, but McDaniel bore down and got the next two before surrendering the two-out tying single to Jerald Clark.

The west coasters then sealed the deal in the ninth, scoring two on a pinch hit single by Velazquez and Tony Gwynn’s second series homer.

--submitted by “Bike-Mike” Roberts--

GIANTS STAY IN HUNT, TAKE 3 OF 4 FROM METS

9/8 – 9/9 – Candlestick Park
GAME 1 – Giants 9 , Mets 4

Offense was expected to be at a premium as the low-scoring Giants challenged the Mets vaunted pitching trio of Tom Seaver, Jon Matlack and Jerry Koosman. Right-hander Randy Tate wasn't considered among that list of elites but the Mets' No. 4 starter did enter the series opener sporting a nifty 2.70 ERA. So it didn't look too keen for the G-Men after John Milner belted a two-run HR in the sixth, staking the Metropolitans to a 4-1 lead. But the Giants finally got to Tate in the bottom half of the sixth, chasing the 22-year-old with four hits and a walk to tie the game. Then the Mets bullpen imploded as SF rocked reliever Rick Baldwin for four hits and 5 runs in just 2/3 of an inning to put the game on ice. Chris Speier was the catalyst for San Francisco, delivering three hits and three RBIs in the game. Jim Barr (2-1) survived a shaky start to pick up the victory. Gary Lavelle provided stellar relief, retiring all six batters he faced, four on strikeouts. San Francisco's nine-run outburst was the most allowed by New York's pitching staff this season.

GAME 2 – Giants 3, Mets 1          

OK. This one was more like it. Tom "Terrific" Seaver baffling opposing batters and the NY offense manufacturing a run. There's your lead Tommy. Hold it!  And Seaver pretty much did. Until the fifth inning, when a walk, error and Dave Rader’s improbable three-run HR lifted SF to a 3-1 lead. Rader even seemed dismayed himself, shaking his head in disbelief repeatedly as he rounded the bases. Meanwhile, Giants starter Pete Falcone was pretty terrific himself, holding NY to just a balk-aided run in the fourth. The hard-throwing lefty left after seven innings, yielding just the run and four hits while fanning seven. Seaver went the distance, keeping SF scoreless the rest of the way, though the California native did have to work out of a bases-loaded jam in the ninth. Giant relievers Dave Heaverlo and Randy Moffitt blanked NY over the final two innings as SF halted Seaver's four-game winning streak.

9/10 – Doubleheader -- Shea Stadium
GAME 3 – Mets 2, Giants 1 (10 innings)
Would a change of venue bring a change of fortune for the struggling Mets? Or would it be déjà vu all over again for San Francisco starter Ed Halicki, who on August 24, 1975 hurled a no-hitter against these same New York Mets? The answers were yes and...almost.  For a while at least, it must have seemed like 1975 once again for Halicki, who retired the first 12 batters and entered the fifth inning with a 1-0 lead. But then Dave Kingman - a .144 hitter of all people - rifled a single past diving shortstop Chris Speier for the Mets' first hit. Consecutive singles by Del Unser and Jerry Grote plated a run to tie the game before Halicki induced an inning-ending DP from Ed Kranepool. Halicki allowed two more singles before leaving after 8 innings with the score still tied 1-1. That's because his counterpart, Mets lefty Jon Matlack, was just as dominating on the mound. After yielding a run on Speier's sacrifice fly in the third, Matlack kept the Giants off the scoreboard until leaving for pinch hitter in the eighth. The game remained deadlocked at 1-1 until NY settled it with a run in the 10th, compliments of Unser's double and three walks from reliever Charlie Williams.   

GAME 4– Giants 5, Mets 2 (10 innings)
The finale was a matchup of two lefties that appeared to favor the Mets and southpaw Jerry Koosman, who had a 2.37 ERA before being belted around by San Diego last week. San Francisco countered with sinkerball specialist Mike Caldwell, who would probably have given his left arm for Koosman's ERA. Caldwell entered the nightcap with a 6.52 ERA, having yet to make it out of the sixth inning this season. Surprisingly, Caldwell and Koosman dueled to a 1-1 standoff until the sixth inning, when Joe Torre broke the tie with a two-out double to left. That chased Caldwell and Jerry Grote greeted reliever Dave Heaverlo with a single to center. Torre raced around third with a much-needed insurance run but was gunned down at home by San Francisco's Von Joshua.  Koosman pitched well (8.2, 9K, 2 ER) but was once again victimized by the longball. He surrendered home runs to Derrell Thomas Thomas in the third and a game-tying shot to Chris Speier in the eighth. That gave the 32-year-old veteran 12 gopher balls in 52 innings, worst among KOD starters. The Giants won the game in the 10th. After Steve Ontiveros drew a leadoff walk and was balked to second, Speier doubled and Bobby Murcer and Willie Montanez ripped RBI singles off losing pitcher Bob Apodaca. Randy Moffitt set the Mets down 1-2-3 in the tenth and sent SF home with a split of its twinbill.

--Submitted by Ron Leone--

A’s take 3 of 4 from Bombers to solidify hold on 1st in AL West

9/8 – 9/9 – Oakland Coliseum

GAME 1 – Yankees 6, A’s 5 (13 inn)

New York jumped out to a quick 3-0 road lead in the first and with Mel Stottlemyre (5-1, 2.22) on the mound the dye looked to have been cast.  New York added a 4th run off of A’s starter John “Blue Moon” Odom in the 5th and on most days the Stots would be on cruise control for a easy “W”.  That was the case until Oakland struck for 5 runs in the bottom of the 6th, but somehow Stotts remained in the game and righted the ship.  Ed Sprague, who came on to replace Odom yielded a 2 out single to Jerry Kenney to score Horace Clarke.  The game went into extra innings with neither team able to score until the 13th when the Sprague couldn’t get anybody out.  Consecutive singles by Roy White and Ron Blomberg were followed by a Felipe Alou walk to load the bases.  Horace Clarke blooped one over Bando’s head to score White, but Blomberg was nailed at the plate by a hard charging Floyd Robinson.  Sprague got out of the inning, but Jack Aker was able to pitch a perfect bottom of the 13th to save the game for Stottlemyre, who did not have his best stuff, but gutted it out for 12 innings.

GAME 2 – A’s 8, Yankees 1

Oakland torched Yankee starter Fritz Peterson for 8 runs (5 earned) over 8 innings worth of work.  Two runs would have been enough for Catfish Hunter (4-3, 1.95) who left the game in the 8th after scattering 8 hits and allowing only 1 runner to find home.  Danny Cater and the bottom of the A’s lineup were the true offensive stars.  Cater was 3 for 4 with 2 RBI.  Joe Rudi, Dave Duncan and Hunter each had 2 hits and combined to score 5 of Oakland’s 8 runs.  Making a rare start, utility man Ted Kubiak had 3 RBI.  Bobby Murcer’s solo shot in the 4th accounted for New York’s lone run.

9/10 – Yankee Stadium (Double Header)

GAME 3 – A’s 6, Yankees 3

The “Big Ballpark in the Bronx” played host to this rare day/night twin bill.  Chuck Dobson (5-0, 2.14) took the hill for Oakland and again showed the type of guts and brilliance that has made him Oakland’s defacto ace.  The A’s jumped out to a 6-0 lead over the first 5 innings off of Stan Bahnsen (1-3, 5.36).  Bahnsen had huge control issues and setup two of Oakland’s runs with wild pitches.  New York came back to life in the bottom of the 6th when they scored 3.  The normally surehanded Bert Campaneris booted a grounder by Danny Cater (both teams have one, you know) and pinch hitter Rusty Torres dropped one just into the short porch in right.  Three batters later Murcer singled home Jerry Kenney to cut Oakland’s lead in half.  That’s how it would stay as Dobson gave way to Ken Sanders and Paul Lindblad, who shut the door on the Bombers.

GAME 4 – A’s 12, New York 1

When you look at the final score you have a tough time rationalizing how this contest was a great 1-1 pitcher’s duel for 7 innings.  Jim Nash (3-3, 3.92), who has done a fantastic job salvaging his season after 3 dreadful starts locked up with Mike Kekich (0-2, 5.63).  Kekich broke first when he ran out of gas in the 8th and gave up 3 runs.  Unfortunately for the Yanks Jack Aker and Gardner cracked even further.  Oakland scored 9 runs and sent 12 batters to the plate in a half inning that took over 50 minutes to play.  Incredibly this all started with 4 straight walks.  In total 6 of the 12 batters walked.  The big  blow came off the bat of one Reginald Martinez Jackson, who hit a 2 run shot and proclaimed to the New York crowd that he was ready for prime time and that he was made to hit in this ballpark.  Danny Cater of the A’s provided the lumber by going 3 for 5 with 3 RBI.  The first 4 guys in Oakland’s lineup (Campaneris, Donaldson, Cater and Jackson) all had at least 2 RBI.  New York was only able to manage 4 hits on the day as they fell below .500 for the first time all season thanks to Oakland’s double header sweep.