Tuesday, June 30, 2009

Bosox take 2 of 3 from Royals

BOS 6, KC 1 (Municipal Stadium):
Boston shelled KC starter Bruce Dal Canton with 5 runs in the opening inning to put this game away early. Luis Tiant was brilliant over 7 innings and the pen finally stepped up big by tossing two scoreless innings to close it out. Backup catcher Bob Montgomery went 2 for 4 with 2 big RBI's. Rico Petrocelli was also 2 for 4, but he did fan twice. Boston moved to 2 games under .500.

BOS 12, KC 6 (Municipal Stadium):
Boston scored first as Rico Petrocelli hit a hard smash to Freddie Patek who booted the ball to allow Reggie Smith to score. The boomer, George Scott followed that up with a clean single to center to score Yaz and make it 2-0. Bill C then did exactly the same thing to score Rico and just like that the score was 3-0. Bob Montgomery slammed one off the fence in right center for a bases clearing trip and just like that the score was 5-0...all unearned. Boston added another run in the 3rd when Monty singled home Petrocelli who doubled to lead off the inning. Meanwhile Lonborg was cruising until the 5th when he yielded his first hit. A combination of wildness and errors loaded the bases for KC with 2 out and Lonborg tightened the screws and got Paul Schall to ground out weakly to end KC's chances to get back in it. The following inning Boston found itself in the same situation, but the outcome was a bit different as Petrocelli hit a bases clearing double to score 3 runs. Petro was out trying to stretch it into a triple, but Boston was up 9-0 and KC starter Dick Drago was lifted in favor of lefty Jim Rooker. KC broke the shoutout up when Amos Otis, who led off the 6th with a double, scored when Petro muffed Chuck Harrison grounder to third. Joe Keough flied out to end the inning. KC scored 4 off of Lonborg in the 7th to make it 9-5 and put some worry into the hearts of Red Sox nation. Have no fear, Jim York proceeded to give 3 runs back to Boston in the top of the 9th to make it 12-5. You could see the fans leaving Municipal Stadium in droves at this point. Lonborg (2-3) went the distance yielding only 2 earned runs and striking out 7. Boston is now 1 game under .500.

KC 3, BOS 1 (Municipal Stadium):
For the first time in the series KC did not allow Boston to score a run in the opening stanza. KC actually scored first with a solo run off of Sonny Siebert in the bottom of the 2nd, which had the potential to be a big inning, but KC could not capitalize with the bases loaded and only 1 out. The following inning KC had 2nd and 3rd with 2 out, but Harrison grounded weakly to Griffin at 2nd to end the threat. Siebert dodged another bullet. With an out in the 6th Reggie Smith lined Paul Splittorff's 2-2 offering through the hole into left field for a clean single. Yaz, who is hitting .192 on the season and .171 in the month of June stroked a clean double to right center off a tough lefty. Petro lined out to short and Scott bounced back to the box as the Sox were unable to capitalize. 3 singles later KC was able to score their second run of the game, but they were not able to issue the knock out blow. The following inning Amos Otis singled home Patek to make it 3-0. KC looking ever so much like a boxer and not a puncher was slowly but surely putting this game away. Splitts looked to have the shutout in hand until Bill C doubled and Duane Josephson doubled him home with 2 outs. At that point it was painfully obvious that Splits was dead tired and it was time for Tom Abernathy to come on board and close it out. Phil Gagliano came up to pinch hit for Siebert and was curiously walked. You never walk the tying run on base with 2 out, but for some reason KC's manager did just that. Doug Griffin was scheduled to bat, but he was called back in favor of Don Pavletich, Boston's 3rd string catcher. Pavletich ran the count to 3-2 before fanning to end it.

Davis will save us

LA 4, MON 3 (Jary Parc):
LA came perilously close to getting swept by the 3rd year Expos in this series. The Dodgers struck first by posting 2 in the 5th off of Expo starter Steve Renko. Showing a flash of brilliance from yesteryear Maury Wills led off the inning with a slap single to left and promptly stole second. Willie Davis followed 2 batters later by doubling him home and then another 2 batters later Wes Parker doubled home Davis. Shades of 1965 all over again. Unfortunately for the Dodgers this is 1971 and that same magic formula that worked so well in the middle of the previous decade wasn't about to work here. In years past Claude Osteen would have clung to that 2 run lead and all would be good in Dodgerland. The 1971 version of Osteen wasn't that stingy as the Expos tied it up in the 6th when light hitting Ron Hunt slammed a two run shot to dead center.

LA hung tough and made it 3-2 in the 8th when Wills again came through...this time with a key
RBI. Osteen was lifted for a pinch hitter and closer extraordinaire Jim Brewer came on to lock it down. Unfortunately Brewer was not up to the task as he blew his second save opp of the season. Clyde Mashore stroked a shot to left field that Richie Allen bobbled. When the dust cleared Mashore was on third with nobody out. Ron Fairly followed with a warning track shot to Willie Crawford to right that tied the game at 3. Brewer settled down, but clearly the Dodgers were in trouble. The top of the 9th saw the reliable Willie Davis double off the fence in right center. Richie Allen and Wes Parker both made out and it looked like LA was about to squander a great opportunity. Then along came Jim Lefebvre who sticking with the theme of this game, turned the clock back to 1965 and lined a 2 out 2 strike single to center to score Davis and give LA a 1 run lead that Brewer would protect for his second win of the season. Osteen, who did not get the win did have a shining moment in the 7th as he struck out the side (Staub, Bailey & Bateman). After 63 games Willie Davis is hitting a torrid .371. Going 2 for 5 with 2 runs and 2 RBI's did not hurt his average one bit.

New York Yankees at Oakland


Game 1 Oakland 7 New York 2
Catfish Hunter (6-7) picks up the win behind the 2 home run performance of Mike Epstein. With the score 4-2, Darold Knowles came in and struck out Roy White as the tying run in the 7th. Oakland then scored 3 in the 8th to put it away. Dave Duncan goes 4-4 with a double and triple. Steve Kline (7-4) took the loss

Game 2 New York 4 Oakland 1
Mel Stottlemyre (9-3) goes all the way giving up only 1 unearned run. Danny Walton in his first game of the season hits 2 home runs. Vida Blue (9-4) took the loss.

Game 3 Oakland 5 New York 2
Reggie Jackson and Sal Bando hit back to back 2 run homers to give the A's a quick 4-0 lead in the 1st. Blue Moon Odom (2-1) goes 7.2 innings for the win. Odom almost got into big trouble in the 7th. With the bases loaded, he walked back to back batters to make the score 5-2. Darold Knowles then came in and induced Danny Carter to hit into an inning ending double play.

Blues Singer...

MON 10, LA 7 (Jary Parc):
Willie Crawford led off the game with a towering shot off of Montreal starter John Stoneman. LA managed to scratch out another run to give Bill Singer a two run lead. Singer found a way to give it all back in the bottom of the inning by allowing Montreal to score 4. Singer was ineffective at best and was pulled in favor of Bob O'Brien who was tossed in the bottom of the fifth for arguing a very questionable ball 4 call. O-B went completely ballistic and even manager Walt Alston couldn't save him. At that point LA was down 5-4. The Dodgers rallied to score 2 runs in the top of the 7th to take a 6-5 lead. Jim Lefebvre and Tom Haller were responsible for the RBI's. Willie Davis swiped a key bag after leading off with a single. Again LA's mound corps couldn't hold the lead as Joe Moeller gave up 3 in the bottom of the inning to put Montreal up by 2. Then in the 8th Ron hunt led off with a single and Le Grande Orange', Rusty Staub hit a 2 run shot deep into the Quebec night to put it away. Howie Reed notched the win after blowing the save opportunity and Mike Marshall came on board to notch his 4th save of the year.

Down(ing) and out...

Montreal 10, LA 6 (Jary Parc)
Al Downing
is supposed to be the ace of the Dodger pitching staff...instead he's been nothing more than a joker. In 1971 Downing was 20-9. At this point in the season he's 4-6 with a 4.00 ERA. Staked to a 4-1 lead Downing allowed the Expos to post a 6-spot in the 4th and 2 in the fifth to put the game out of reach. Sandy Vance did a great job with 4 innings of relief with only 1 run allowed. Maury Will banged out 4 hits in a losing cause. Ron Fairly hit his 5th homer of the season for the Expos as he went 4 for 4 with 3 RBI's. In fact the bottom of the Expos lineup went 9 for 12 with 5 RBI's. Way to go Al !

Monday, June 29, 2009

1971 Cincinnati at Chicago

Friday June 11.  Chicago opened te scoring in the first but the Reds got single runs in the 4th and 6th.  The Cubs tied the game in the botom of the sixth.  In the top of the 8th Pete Rose singled home a go ahead run.  But in the bottom of the 8th, Ron Santo tripled,  Joe Ortiz, batting for Joe Pepitone, singled him home but then was thrown out trying to stretch the single into a double.  Ernie Banks then pinchhit for Paul Popovich and hit his second pinchhit home of the sason.  Bill Hands made the lead stand up in the 9th for his 7th win against 5 losses.  Joe Gibbon took the loss(1-1) blowing his second save opportunity.  Cubs 4 Reds 3

 

Saturday June 12.  Reds starter Jim McGlothlin came into the game with an era under 2.00.  So i figured that he might only allow one run to the Cubs.  Which is what he did over seven innings.  What didnt figure is that Ken Holtzman, who came into the game with a 6.02 era, would allow no runs and pitch a complete game shutout.  The Red loaded the bases with no outs in the 9th only to have Holtzman strike out Johnny Bench and Tony Perez and get George Foster on a fly out.  It was Holtzman's 4th win against 9 losses.  McGlothlin fell to 4-3.  Cubs 1 Reds 0

 

Sunday June 13.  All the scoring came in the bootom of the 5th.  With one out Don Kessenger doubled, Glenn Beckert (who went 7-12 in the series to raise his average to .416) tripled, Billy Willams singled, Ron Santo doubled and Joe Pepitone.  Fergie Jenkins (8-5) had a 4-0 lead and he made it stand up.  The Reds didnt get a hit until the sixth inning and only two more thereafter.  Gary Nolan (3-8) took the loss.  Cubs 4 Reds 0 

1981 Minnesota at Detroit

Firday June 11.  Norm Cash opened the scoring in the second with his 16th homerun.  The Twins came back with 2 in the third on rbis by Cesar Tovar and Rod Carew.  Cash tied the game in the fourth with his 17th homer.  But the Twins got to Mike Kilkenny (1-5) for three runs in the sixth and the Twinkies bullpen made it stand up.  Tom Hall got the win (2-3)  Twins 5 Tigers 3  Jim Strickland got the save (2).

 

Saturday June 12.  Bill freehan (9) homered in the second off Stan williams (2-1) and that was the only run Mickey Lolich (13-4) needed as he tossed his fifth shutout of the year, allowing 4 hits, 1 walk and striking out 10. .  Tigers 4 Twins 0

 

Sunday June 13.  The Twins broke through first with a run in the fourth but Ike Brown (4) homered off Jim Kaat in the sixth to give the Tigers a 2-1 lead.  Jim Nettles (1) tied the game in the 7th, homering off Joe Niekro, and that was the way th gam remained until the 11th inning.  With one out, Al Kaline walked, Willie Horton singled him to third and Aurelio Rodriguez brought him home with a sacrifice fly.  Strickland took the loss (0-2).  Tom Timmerman got the win (4-0)    Tigers 3 Twins 2 

Sunday, June 28, 2009

New York Yankees at Claiforina Angles

Game 1  New York 8  California 1
Mel Stottlemyre (8-3) pitches a 6 hit complete game leading the Yankees to a game 1 win.  Johnny Ellis scores 3 runs for the Yankees, Danny Carter had 2 RBI's.  Angles Jim Spencer went 3-4 with a home run in a losing cause.
 
Game 2  New York 1  California 0 (10 Innings)
In a great pitchers duel, Fritz Peterson and Andy Messersmith tossed duel 9 shutout innings.  In the 10th, off reliever Dave LaRoche (3-3), Horace Clarke reached on a Jim Spencer error, stole second, went to third on Jerry Kenney sac bunt and scored on a Bobby Murcer sac fly.  Peterson finished the 10th to earn  a complete game shutout to make his record 7-4.
 
Game 3  New York 5 California 1
The Yankees complete a three game sweep by winning 5-1 behind the pitching of Stan Bahnsen.  Bahnsen misses a shutout when Jim Fregosi hits a 9th inning homer.  Bobby Murcer goes 3-5 including a RBI triple.

Saturday, June 27, 2009

1971 Milwaukee Detroit

Tuseday June 8.  Mickey Lolich (12-4) was in complete command scattering three hits, walking none and striking out 9 en route to a 6-0 shutout over the Brewers.  Willie Horton hit his 9th homrun.  Bill Parsons (4-5) took the loss.

 

Wednesday June 9.  Les Cain matched Lolich's shutout and raised him one three run homer (1).  Horton also homered (10) as Cain four hit Milwaukee 9-0.  Lew Krausse (4-5) took the loss.

 

Thursday June 10.  The Brewers finally scored in Motown getting a run in the fourth inning off Joe Coleman.  One run was not enough though as the Tigers got 5 of their own.  Coleman won the game (7-2) with reief help from Fred Scherman(8th save). 

Friday, June 26, 2009

1971 Chicago at Atlanta

Friday June 4.  Phil Niekro (9-2) out pitched Ferguson Jenkins (7-4) with reief help from Cecil Upshaw's 4th save.  Jenkins hit his second homer and Zoilo Versalles his first.  Atlanta 5 Chicago 4 

 

Saturday June 5.  Bill Bonham (1-0) returned to the Cubs' rotation after a month on the disabled list. He went 5.2 innings in his return and allowed only one run.  Meanwhile, the Cubs hitters slammed away for 11 runs of their own, including homers by Billy Wiliams (13), Jim Hickman (11, 12), and Ernie Banks (1) in a pinchhitting role in the 9th.   Chicago 11 Atlanta 1

 

Sunday June 6.  Is it time for the Cubs to bring up a tenth pitcher?  After running through four pitchers yesteday, the Cubs manager was looking at squeezing every inning he could out of starter Bill Hands (6-5).  The Cubs hitters did their part, scoring 9 runs in the fist three innings.  But Hands allowed the Braves right back in it.  By the bottom of the fifth, the score stood Cubs 9 Braves 8.  The Cubbies broke it open in the sixth with five more runs.  But Hands was detemined to make it a ball game.  After he allowed a two run Henry Aaron (14) homer, he was finally and mercifully yanked.  The Cubs' relievers closed the door on the Braves, albeit quietly, and the final score was Cubs 15, Braves 11.  Johnny Callison had two homers (2,3) for the Cubs including a first inning grand slam.  Paul Popovich, subbing for Glenn Beckert (.409) who has had the flu for the past two days, hit his first homer and went 4-10 over the weekend to raise his average 104 points.  In addition to Aaron, Atlanta got homers from Earl Williams (9), Darrell Evans (2) and two from Versalles (2,3).  Jim Nash tok the loss (1-5).

Thursday, June 25, 2009

1971 Detroit at chicago

Jume 4, Friday.  Mickey Lolich went the distance for his 11th win of the season against four losses.  The Tigers got two quick runs off Wilbur Wood (5-5) in the first on an Al Kaline double and a Willie Horton sacrifice fly. Mickey Stanley (3) and Bill Melton (11) traded homers in the third.  After Bill Freehan (8) homered in the fifth, the White Sox cut the lead to one with two runs in the sixth.  But the Tigers exploded for three runs in the top of the ninth to allow Lolich to cruise in the bottom of the ninth.  Detroit 7 Chicago 4 

 

June 5 Saturday.  Mickey Stanley (4) continued to trade homers with a Sox player, this time Tom Egan (3) but Egan had a baserunner on.  The Tigers tied the game in the sixth but back to back doubles by Melton and Egan in the bottom of the 7th gave Chicago the win.  Steve Kealey (2-1) got the win and Bart Johnson (2), the save.  Bill Denehy (1-1) took the loss. Chicago 3 Detroit 2

 

June 6 Sunday.  Dick McAuliffe opened the scoring in the third with his fourth homer. The Tigers added a run in the fourth, but the Sox got single runs of their own in the fourth and fifth innings.  In the seventh, Eddie Brinkman opened the inning with a single and was bunted to second by Joe Coleman.  McAuliffe flied out and Kaline was intentionally passed to pitch to third baseman Dalton Jones.  But Gates Brown entered the game as a pinchhitter and slammed a three run homerun, his first of the season.  Coleman started the seventh fine with a strikeout but then gave up a single to pinchitter Mike Hershberger.  Coleman had clearly run out of gas so Fred Scherman was brought in to ace left hand hitting Carlos May.  Scherman walked May but partially redeemed himself by getting Melton to pop out.  However the Sox had a pinchhitter of their own and Walt Williams was sent to hit for Lee Maye.  Williams doubled home two and then Egan tied the game with a single. The Tigers picked up a run in the 8th on a single by pichhitter Ike Brown.  The put the game out of reach in the ninth with a one run triple by Aurelio Rodriguez and after, Jim Northrup had been intentionally passed, a three run homer by Norm Cash (15).  Scherman (4-1) go the win and his 3rd blown save.  Mike Kilkenney (1) got the save.  Terry Forster (2-2) took the loss.   

Wednesday, June 24, 2009

Sutton's Place

Les Expos traveled 3,000 miles to La-La land and barely avoided a sweep.

GAME 1 - Don Sutton (7-1, 2.69) continued his magical season by tossing 7 shutout innings before giving way to Sandy Vance to close it out. Vance made it interesting by yielding 5 runs in 2 putrid innings of work, but by then the outcome was completely sealed. LA dropped a 6 spot on the Expos in the first off of ineffective starter Ernie McAnally, who was gone before the 2nd inning ended. Richie Allen and Jim Lefebvre both went yard. Ron Hunt went 3 for 5 for the 'Spos.

GAME 2 - Steve Renko looked to be in complete control until the 8th inning when the Dodgers touched him for 3 runs to tie the game at 5. Dodgers starter Al Downing continued his ineffectiveness and was gone with 2 outs in the 6th. Jim Britton came on to quell the fire, but he wasn't able to keep the Dodgers from tying it in the 8th. LA won it in the 9th with a 2 out walk off homer by Willie Davis.

GAME 3 - Saw Bill Singer continue his regression as a front line starter. Singer (3-9) gave up 8 runs in 4 innings of work. Carl Morton went the distance for the Expos, but yielded 5 runs in the process. Montreal's hitting stars were Le Grande Orange aka...Rusty Staub (5 for 6) and former Dodger Ron Fairly (4 for 6). Staub hit a solo shot, his 5th of the year.

Wednesday, June 17, 2009

1971 Cubs at Cardinals


The Cubbies traveled to St. Louis for a three game set agaist the Cardinals.

Game 1. Bill Hands and Steve Carlton pitched magnificently. Carlton went nine innings, Hands went 10 and neither gave up a run. No one else did either until the 18th inning. Jose Ortiz, who had been intentionally waked three times in the game to get to the Cubs' pitcher, led off the 18th with a double. Pinch hitter Brock Davis singled him to third and Glenn Beckert singled him home. Phil Regan (2-3) got the win, Earl Stephenson, (1) the save. Mike Torrez (0-4) took the loss. Cubs 1-0, 18 innnings

Game 2. Started off nothing like Game 1. Both starters gave up three runs in the first inning. Jerry Reuss gave up three more in he third, but Ken Holtzman matched that in the fifth and the teams were tied after 5. Jim Beauchamp tripled home two in the 6th to give the Cardinals a two run lead, but the tired Cardinal bullpen gave the runs back in the 8th. In the tenth, consecutive singles by Beckert, Billy Williams and Jim Hickman produced the margin of victory. Hector Torres drove in an insurance run with a pinchhit double. Earl Stephenson (2) again got the save. Ray Newman (1-0) got the win. Chris Zachary, scheduled to start tomorrow, had to pitch the final two innings for the Cardinals and took the loss (1-2) Cubs 10-8, 10 innings

Game 3 Billy Williams doubled home two runs in the first inning and Fergie Jenkins made them stand up until the 8th. You guessed it. Extra innings for the third straight day. In the tenth, Moe Drabowsky hit Jim Hickman with a pitch with the bases loaded. Jenkins (6-3) made it stand up in the bottom of the tenth. Don Shaw (1-2) took the loss. Cubs 3-2 10 Innings. --submitted by Tom Davis--

Monday, June 15, 2009

Combined No-hit Gem - May 17, 1971

Rudy May and Dave LaRoche combined to no hit the Minnesota Twins 1 -0. A walk in the 2nd inning and another walk in the 7th were the only way any Twin reached base. May struck out 11, and LaRoche 2, as the Angels hurlers completely dominated the Minnesota hitters. Hard-luck loser Bert Blyleven pitched a fine, complete game himself yielding only 4 hits. His only mistake was an RBI double to Angels' catcher John Stephenson, which plated the only run of the game.

The real mystery here is why the APC Computer Manager chose to lift May for LaRoche in the top of the 8th inning. Although May was pitching on full rest and has an EPC of 125, the Computer Manager pulled him after only 88 pitches! What's more, he had NOT been pulled for a pinch hitter in the bottom of the 7th inning, and the reliever brought in to replace May was also a LHP. So what is the possible rational for pulling May?! --submitted by Douglas Zaner--

Saturday, June 13, 2009

Sox take 2 of 3 from Cal

Game 1 - Rick Reichardt's bases loaded Double proved to be all that was needed as the White Sox took the first game 4-0. Tom Bradley started but was tired after the 1st inning due to only 2 days rest. He went 3 shut out innings but Joel Horlen (1-0 -0 15.75) got the win. Bart Johnson (4-2-1 2.63) picked up his 1st save. Reichardt was the offense going 2 for 4 with 3 RBI's.

Game 2 - The Angels won 2-0. Tom Murphy (7-3 3.25) pitches a great game and Wilber Wood 4-3 3.12) does too as they both go the distance. Wood only threw 74 pitched in 8 innings in a tough loss. The only real offense for either team was Syd O'Brien's 2nd HR of the year. A 2 run shot to win the game.

Game 3 - Sox win 3-1. Bart Johnson (4-2 2.63) scatters 7 hits and 4 walks but only 1 run in 6 innings of work for the victory Terry Forster (2-1-2sv 5.40) got his 2nd save. Andy Messersmith (3-7 3.19) took the loss but pitched well giving up just 3 runs in 8 innings The big hit was by Lee Richard who's 2 RBI Double in the 3rd was the difference. Rick Reichardt hit his 4th HR of the year. --submitted by Jack Crownover--

New York sweeps Atlanta

Game 1 - Mets win 3-1 behind Nolan Ryan. Ryan (2-1 1.32) went 7 innings
and gave up 0 runs on 2 hits before tiring. Danny Frisella ( 4-0 6sv1.17) almost lost the save an the game in the 9th by loading the bases and then walking C Earl Williams to force in a run. Mike Lum , up with 2 outs and bases loaded, then flew out to left to end the game./For Atlanta, Pat Jarvis ( 2-6 6.63) took the lose giving up 3 runs over 7 innings.

Game 2 - Mets win 5-0. This time it was Tom 'terrific' Seaver that
turned in an excellent pitching performance. Seaver (8-2 1.47) gave up 2 hits, 0 walks and struck out 4 in going all nine. Tim Foli led the offense going 3 for 5 with 2 RBI's. For Atlanta, only the good relief pitching of Ron Herbal and Tom Kelley made things seem better. Each pitched 3 innings of shut out ball after starter George Stone had gone just 2 innings with 7 hits and 5 ER.

Game 3 - Mets took this one 2-0. Once again a fine pitching performance, this time by Ray Sadecki . Sadeki ( 2-0 1.57) pitches the 3 hit 0 run game and completes the Mets total domination of the Braves in this series. Cleon Jones went 3 for 4 and scored both runs for the Mets with Tim Foli hitting good again going 2 for 4. Mike McQueen (0-3 4.24) pitched well for the Braves going 7 innings and giving up 3 ER but the lack of any offense the entire series did them in. --submitted by Jack Crownover--

1971 Washington at Detroit

In a 4 game series played agaist the computer (Wash)

Game 1 Joe Janeski (1-3) walked the first three Tiger hitters in the 2nd. Eddie Brinkman doubled home two, the Tigers went on to score a total of four and provide the cushion of victory. Mike Kilkenney (1-2) took the win in relief of Dean Chance who was driven from the game by a 90 minute rain delay. Willie Horton hit his 5th homer. Tigers 6 Senators 2

Game 2 Joe Niekro (2-1) got the win in relief of Bill Zepp. Dick Bosman (0-7) pitched well but not well enough. Dalton Jones (2) homered for the Tigers. Fred Scherman earned his 6th save. Tigers 4 Senators 3

Game 3 (1st game of doubleheader) Denny McLain returned to the mound in Tiger Stadium for the

first time since last winter's trade. And he returned with a 6-1 record. In an even greater irony, his opposition would be Mickey Lolich. Mickey says he no longer holds any hard feelings for Denny for Denny having stranded Mickey at Washington National Airport after the 1969 All Star game when Denny flew off in his plane after promising Mickey a ride back to Detroit. Still, there was a gleam of revenge in Mickey's eye. And he got it on the mound. Lolich scattered four hits and five walks, giving up one run. Meanwhile the Tigers hammred Denny. Jim Northrup (10) and Bill Freehan (6) each connected for a homer and each drove in three runs as McLain's

record fell to 6-2 Mickey went to 8-4. Tigers 6 Senators 1

Game 4 (second game of doubleheader) Les Cain was recaled from Toledo to pitch in the nightcap of tis day's doubleheader. Cain pitched well, giving up only 3 hits over five innings, but the 6 walks cut into his arm strength and he gave way to Tom Timmerman in the sixth. Although he gave up three runs in r.r innings, Timmerman earned the victory, (2-0). as the Tigers scored three times in the bottom of the sixth and added two more in the 7th on Jim Northrup's 11th homerun. Frank Howard (11) homered for the Nats. Riddleberger took the loss (2-5). Scherman earned his 7th save Tigers 6 Senators 5 --submitted by Tom Davis--

Friday, June 12, 2009

Yankees go into Boston and Sweep 2 game set

Game 1- The Yankees jumped on the Red Sox with 3 runs in the first. Starting Boston pitcher Sonny Siebert hit a 2 home run to help his cause to cut the lead to 3-2. But the Yankees strike with 4 runs in the 5th and 3 more in the 6th on their way to a 13-2 romp. Bobby Murcer lead the way by going 4-6 with 7 RBI's and hit his 12th homer of the season. Horace Clarke goes 4-5 with 5 runs scored. Danny Carter and Felipe Alou each had 3 hits, the Yankees as a team pounded out 19 hits. Steve Kline (4-2) gives up only 2 hits, none after Sieberts homer in the 3rd, and pitched a complete game.
Game 2-The Yankees finish the 2 game set with a 6-2 win. After yesterday's pounding, Boston's computer manager Marc Weiss must have went out and had too much to drink the night before and let it effect his calling of this game. Bill Lee started his first game of the season and didn't last long. He hit 105 pitches in 4.2 innings. With the Red Sox leading 1-0 in the 4th, Felipe Alou hit a 2 run homer to give the Yankees a 2-1 lead. With the score 3-2 in the 9th, the strange occurrences happened. With one out Gene Michael singles and is sacrificed to second by Stan Bahnsen. Horace Clarke flies out to make it 2 outs. Then computer manager Marc Weiss, still drinking after last nights loss, decided to bring out a Bill Veeck promotion out and let the fans make the decisions for him. Unfortunately, for him, the section was filled with Yankees fan! They decide to walk a 235 hitting Thurman Munson to face a 328 hitting Roy White. Then with a depleted bull pen, Marc elects to send out back up catcher Don Pavletich to pitch. Roy White proceeds to hit a 3 run homer to make it a 6-2 final. Roy White goes 3-5 with 4 RBI's and hit his 6th home run. Stan Bahnsen (4-1) goes all the way in the loss. After the game, all manager Marc Weiss could mutter was those damn yankees fans!!! --submitted by Jim Halpin--

1971 Tigers at Indians

The Tigers rode their bats into and out of cleveland Municipal stadium and swept the Tribe.

Game 1 Mickey Lolich (7-4) didnt need the ten run barrage the Tigers inflicted on the Indians but after so many close losses, he welcomed it. And The Fat Man responded by scattering four hits and five walkks to throw a complete game shut out. Jim Northrup (9), Dick McAulifffe (2) and Willie Horton (4) paced the Tiger attack with homers. Ray Lamb (1-4) took the loss. Tigers 10 Indians 0

Game 2. It didn't look like the Indians were going to score at all in his series until Vada Pinson (4) hit a homer off Joe Coleman (5-1) in the bottom of the 8th. But it was a case of too litle and too late. Norm Cash's (12) three run first inning homer had given Coleman a comfortable cushion. The Tigers pushed across three runs in the fifth and added a two run homer by Bill Freehan (5) in the seventh. Ray Fosse (4) added a solo homer in the 9th off Darryl Patterson. Tigers 8 Indians 4 --submitted by Tom Davis--

Montreal splits 2 game series with Atlanta

Game 1 - The Expos beat the Braves 5-1 in the first game of their 2 game
series. Boots Day was the big stick going 3 for 4, Rusty Staub went 2
for 4 and Ron Fairly hit his 4th HR of the year.
Ernie McAnally (2-2 3.32) went the distance scattering 5 hits with 0 ER
Jumbo Jim Nash (1-2 5.72) took the loss giving up 9 hits and 3 ER in 5
innings of work. The only real bright spot for the Braves was the 4
inning and 1 hit performance by Tom Kelley.

Game 2 - Braves won 6-5. Phil Niekro had a 4 hit shut out going until 2
outs in the 8th and then Rusty Staub hit his 3rd HR of the year, this
one a Grand Slam to cut the lead to 5-4. In the 9th John Bateman hit his
3rd HR of the season to tie the game, drive out Phil Niekro and send the
game to extra innings. In the bottom of the 10th Earl Williams hit his
8th HR of the year for the walk off victory. Ron Reed (1-2 2.51) took
the loss in relief and Steve Barber (2-0 5.07) the win.

Wednesday, June 10, 2009

1971 Detroit at Boston

In a 2 game series played against the computer (Marc is plying softball)

 

Game 1.  Home cooking looked to be good for the BoSox who evened their record at 16-16 as Ray Culp (4-2) and Bob Bolin (1 save) combined to limit the Tigers to an Aurelio Rodriguez homer (8) and win 3-2.  Dean Chance took the loss (2-3)

 

Game 2.  The trip at 500 only lasted one game.  The Tigers clobbered Gary Peters (3-4) for five runs in the first two innings, including three solo homers in the second; one by Rodriguez (again) (9) and back to back jobs by Ike Brown (2) and Mickey Stanley (2).  Although the Tigers would add another run that was all the scoring support Bill Zepp (1-0) would need as he limited the Red Sox to one run over five innings.  Joe Niekro, recently banished to the bullpen after six starts ("Until it damn well pleases me to start him again," says manager Tom Davis) threw four scoreless innings in relief, allowing two hits, and one walk.  After the game, Manager Davis was heard to say, "I am mollified, not pleased, its bloody well about time he got someone out."  

 

   Are there rumblings of discontent in the Tigers locker room?  After the fiasco of last season, with Denny's three separate suspensions, his throwing of a bucket of water on a sportswriter (some claim it was well deserved) it was hoped trading McLain away would create harmony.  And while Joe Coleman and Rodriguez have performed above expectations and Brinkman has been steady, one looks to the 5-1 record and 2.14 ERA and wonders if it wasnt a lttle too soon to give up on a 27 year old who has already won 2 Cy Youngs and just three seasons ago won 31 games and an MVP award.    

Orioles Sweep Past the Bronx Bombers

Game 1 - Baltimore 4 NYY 2 - Behind the 4 hit pitching of Pat Dobson, Baltimore takes the first game 4 to 2.  Ellie Hendricks and Brooks Robinson hit homeruns while Dobson picks up game MVP honors.

Game 2 - Baltimore 5 NYY 1 - The Orioles struck early as Brooks Robinson triples in 3 runs in the first.  This proved to be all Baltimore needed as Mike Cuellar handcuffed the Yankees over 8 innings givinig up just 3 hits and 1 run.  After a 60 minute rain delay, Eddie Watt came in from the Oriole bullpen to close out the victory.  Baltimore has now won 5 in a row and 8 out of their last 10.

Royals crush the White Sox

The Kansas City Royals thumped the visiting Chicago White Sox 12-4. Paul
Schaal went 3 for 4, 3 RBI's and hit his 2nd HR of the year, Jerry may
went 2 for 5 with 3 RBI's and Amos Otis went 2 for 5 with his 5th HR to
led the Royals.
For the Pale Hose, Bill Melton went 3 for 4 and hit his 8th HR for the
only real spark of offense for the Sox
Pitching wise, Bart Johnson (3-2) 2.76 ERA went 6 innings and gave up 4
runs but Joel Horlen really poured on the gas giving up 7 runs in 1
inning. Mike Hedlund (4-3) 2.76 ERA picked up the win for the Royals.

Tuesday, June 9, 2009

Giants sweep Dodgers

Game 1: LA 1 SF 2. The Giants took advantage of an error by Dick Allen to score their first run in the third, followed by a Willie Mays RBI single. Steve Stone, who had been off to a rough start, pitched five scoreless innings before being lifted for a pinch hitter. John Cumberland came in and allowed only one unearned run and held on to give the Giants a 2-1 win.

Game 2: LA 3 SF 5. Juan Marichal had a rough start, giving up an unearned run

on his own error in the first and two more in the fourth on a two-run shot from Jim Lefebvre. But the Giant bats exploded in the sixth, opening with a leadoff homer by Bobby Bonds and cliamxed with a two-run double by Bill Dietz. Marchial hung on the rest of the way to secure the complete game win.

Game 3: LA 5 SF 6. Gaylord Perry did not have his A stuff in this game -- or perhaps he'd run out of Vaseline. He was surprisingly hittable in the first inning, giving up three runs. He hung on by the skin of his teeth, giving up two more runs in the 6th on a two-run single by Bill Buckner. But the Giants began to come back, with solo home runs from McCovery and Dietz in the sixth and an RBI double by Bobby Bonds in the sevents, followed by an RBI single from Willie Mays. A walkoff single by Dick Dietz with the bases loaded completed the sweep.

--submitted by Michael Hopcroft--

Monday, June 8, 2009

Baltimore sweeps 2 from Boston

Game 1-Baltimore 2 Boston 1-Jim Palmer for Baltimore and Sonny Siebert
for Boston hooked up for an old fashioned pitcher's duel in this game. Palmer gave up 7 hits 1 run and struck out 11 in a complete game victory. Siebert was nearly as good giving up just 6 hits and striking out 5 in going the distance. Unfortunately for Siebert 2 of the hits were homeruns - 1 each by Ellie Hendricks and Frank Robinson.

Game 2 - Baltimore 15 Boston 14 - This was one wild game from Fenway Park that featured 32 hits. Baltimore jumped out to a 15-4 lead after 5 innings on the strength of 2 grand slams...1 by Merv Rettenmund and 1 by Frank Robinson. But Boston kept battling getting 5 in the sixth inning and 1 in the 7th. Both teams were held scoreless......a rare feat in this one.....in the 8th inning. Boston made it very interesting in the 9th scoring 4 runs before Eddie Watt finally got the last out to perserve the victory.
--submitted by Lee Crouch--

1971 Detroit at Washington

Tigers take two of three from Washington

Game 1 Fred Scherman blew his first save of the season as the Senators rallied for three in the 8th to win 4-3. Riddleberger (2-4) got the win, Mike Kilkenney (0-2) took the loss. Aurelio Rodriguez (7), Al Kaline (3) and Frank "Hondo" Howard (10) hit homers

Game 2 Mickey Lolich had to go ten innings to earn his 6th wn (6-4) as the Tigers

took the game 4-3 in 11 innings.. Fred Scherman got his fifth save. Both teams scored in the tenth but only the Tigers managed a run in the 11th. Pina took the loss (1-1)

Game 3 The Tigers jumped on Casey Cox (0-7) for 5 runs in the second, with Mickey Stanley's 3 run double being the big blow. That was all Joe Coleman (4-1) needed as he threw 7 strong innings and one weak inning to get the win, 7-3

--submitted by Tom Davis--

Phils Drop Two to Braves

The Atlanta Braves took 2 of 3 from the Philadelphia Phillies in their 3 game set.
Game 1 -Atlanta wins 5 to 4 in 10 innings. Hank Aaron hit the walk off HR (11) with one out in the bottom of the tenth giving Steve Barber (1-0) the win with his 1 2/3 inn of scoreless relief.

Game 2- Another Atlanta win 4 to 1....Phil Niekro (7-2) had his

knuckle ball dancing as he held the Phillies to 4 hits and 1 ER for the complete game victory. He walked 3 and struck out 8. Orlando Cepeda led the way offensively going 2 for 4 with 2 (12) HR's For the Phillies, Chris Short (5-1) lost his first game of the season going 6 2/3 innings and giving up 3 ER

Game 3- The Phillies finally broke through with a 6 to 5 win. Rick Wise (5-1) scattered 11 hits and 5 runs over 9 innings to get the win. Don Money went 2 for 4 with 3 RBI's and Ron Stone went 3 for 4 to get the offense going for the Phillies --submitted by Jack Crownover--

White Sox take 2 of 3

The Chicago White Sox took 2 out of 3 against the Minnesota Twins.... Game 1 saw Minnesota coast to a 7-1 win. Harmon Killebrew's 3rd HR of the year along with Rick Renick's 1st led the Twins attack pounding Sox starter Wilber Wood (4-2) for 7 runs in 7 innings. Jim Kaat scattered 4 hits, one being Rick Reichardt's 3rd HR of the season, for the 1BB 8K complete game victory.

Game 2 saw the White Sox rebound to an 8 to 4 (45 minute rain delay)win. Mike Andrews (3), Bill Melton (6) and Lee Richard (1) hit home runs
with Richard going 3 for 5 and Ed Stroud going 2 for 4 with 2 triples.
Bart Johnson went 6 scoreless innings before giving way to Terry ' Fat
Tub of Goo' Forster (what a nickname!!) who almost blew the game giving
up 4 runs in 2/3 of an inning. Vicente Romo came in then to record his
1st save of the year. For the Twins, Jim Perry gave up 7 runs in 4 2/3
innings. Harmon Killebrew led the Twins with his 4th HR of the year

In Game 3 the Sox took the rubber game with an easy 9 to 2 victory behind Tom Bradley's 7 inning 2 ER performance. He won his 5th game of the year. Offensively, Ed Herrmann led the charge going 3 for 5 and hitting
2 HR's (6) along with 4 RBI's. Bill Melton (7) and Jay Johnstone (4) also hit HR's.

--submitted by Jack Crownover--

Sunday, June 7, 2009

NNY win both games over Milwaukee

Game 1 New York 6 Milwaukee 3
Roberto Pena hit a home run off Mel Stottlemyre to tie the game and send it into extra innings. In the 12th inning Danny Carter hit a 3 run homer to win it for the Yankees. Lindy McDowell picks up the win in relief giving him a 2-2 record.

Game 2 New York 4 Milwaukee 1
Bobby Murcer hit his 11th home run of the season in the 4th to give the Yankees a lead they never gave up. Horace Clarke added a 2 run single in the 5th. Fritz Peterson (4-3) goes all the way for the win striking out 11. Marty Pattin pitched well in a losing cause, giving up 5 hits and only 2 of the 4 runs he gave up were earned.

1971 Cubs at Phils

Fergie Jenkins evened his record at 3-3 beating Woodie Fryman who had relieved a tired Chris Short. Willie Montanez hit his fifth homer of the season. Cubs 2 Phillies 1

Bill Hands gave up six runs in the first two innings but saw the

Cubbies claw their way back to tie the game in the fourth. The rains came and the starters departed. Tompkins gave up two runs to Philly in the 7th with Montanez, who had homered earlier, driving in the winning run. Rick Wise hit his 3rd homer. Billiy Williams (6) and Don Kessinger (1) homered for the Cubs Phillies 8 Cubs 6

The last game was all Cubs. Ken Holtzman won his 2nd game of the season (2-6) throwing a complete game. Th Cubs bats echoed often and 16 Cubbies crossed the plate. Williams hit his seventh and Johnny Callison finally hit his first. Willie Montanez hit a homerun for the third consecutive day. Cubs 16 Phillies 2 --submitted by Tom Davis--