Boyer battles Bucs singlehandedly, but loses.

After taking the opener 7-5, the ’69 Pirates took the final two games of a three game set against the ’61 Cardinals.

Ken Boyer was 4 for 4 with 3 RBIs in the Cardinal win. Dock Ellis spun a complete game, striking out nine to top St. Louis 3-1 in game two.

The Pirates put together a 13 hit attack in the series finale in a 6-5 win. The Bucs were cruising to a 6-2 2win in the 9^th before Boyer came up big again, hitting a 3 run homer to tighten the game to the final 6-5 score. 

--Bike Mike--

80 Milwaukee win 2 of 3 from 88 Red Sox in a tightly contested series

GAME 1 in Milwaukee
Bill Travers vs Roger Clemens

Boston wins 5-4

WP: Roger Clemens (4-0) 9 IP, 4 H, 4 R, 2 BB, 7 K
LP: Bill Travers (0-1) 8 IP, 6 H, 4 R, 3 BB, 2 K
SV: None
HR: Jim Rice (2)

MVP: Jim Rice (BOS) 2-4, 1 R, 2 RBI, 1 2B, 1 HR

Despite the fact that Bill Travers was my high school baseball coach for 3 years I felt like the pitching matchup favored Clemens in this one.  But the lanky lefty hung in with the Rocket until the 9th inning.  Travers' Brewers actually held a slim 2-1 lead until the Sox bat got going in the top of the 9th.  Larry Parrish and Rice doubled to tie the game.  Then Mike Greenwell worked a walk to drive Travers from the game.  Todd Benzinger hit a double to drive in pinch runner Kevin Romine and Greenwell to give the Sox a 2 run lead.  Jody Reed followed with another hit to push the lead to 5-2.  Clemens struggled in the 9th giving up a hit to Jim Gantner (2-4, R, 2 RBI), walking Cecil Cooper and allowing a big double to Gorman Thomas.  After a Sac Fly by Ben Oglivie drove home Cooper, Clemens was clinging to a 1 run lead with the tying run at 2nd base.  The Rocket was able to get Sixto Lezcano to pop out to shallow center to secure the win for Boston.

GAME 2 in Milwaukee

Moose Haas vs Bruce Hurst

Milwaukee wins 7-6 in 11 innings

WP: Reggie Cleveland (1-1) 2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K

LP: Wes Gardner (0-1) 4.2 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 BB, 5 K

SV: None

HR: Sixto Lezcano (1)

MVP: Robin Yount (MIL) 5-6, 1 R, 3 RBI, 2 2B

Another game that Milwaukee was in control heading to the 9th, but this time the Brewers were able to keep Boston from taking the lead and then the Brew Crew eventually claimed victory in the 11th.  Milwaukee was up 6-3 heading to the last inning thanks to a big game from Yount and some uncharacteristic control problems from Boston starter Bruce Hurst (5.2 IP, 5 BB).  Paul Molitor did not have a hit but the Milwaukee lead off batter drew 3 walks and scored 3 big runs thanks in larger part to Yount hitting behind him.  The Sox stayed within striking distance of the Brewers thanks to a good effort out of the pen from Gardner who came in and shutdown the Brewers from the 7th through the 10th inning.  That allowed the Sox bats to break through for 3 big runs in the 9th off of Bob McClure to send the games to extras.  Boston had a chance to push across the go ahead run in that inning when Jim Rice singled home Wade Boggs with the tying run however Rick Cerone was gunned down at the plate by LF Ben Oglivie to end the inning and keep the game knotted at 6.  It would stay that way until the bottom of the 11th when Yount hit a 1 out double off the wall in left center of Gardner.  After an intentional pass to Cecil Cooper, Bob Stanley was brought in to try and work out of the trouble.  He got the 2nd out on a fly ball to left off the bat of Gorman Thomas, but it was a pinch hit from Jim Gantner that ended it and sent the Milwaukee fans home happy.


GAME 3 in Boston
Mike Caldwell vs Oil Can Boyd

Milwaukee wins 6-4 in 11 innings

WP: Jerry Augustine (1-0) 2.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K
LP: Lee Smith (0-1) 2 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 0 BB, 3 K
SV: John Flinn (1) 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K
HR: Ben Oglivie (3), Sixto Lezcano (2), Ellis Burks (3)

MVP: Sixto Lezcano (MIL) 2-5, 1 R, 2 RBI, 1 2B, 1 HR

Another late inning lead blown by the Brewers but another extra inning win gave the series edge to the visitors.  Lee Smith had made quick work of the Brewers in the 10th inning so the Boston closer was left in to pitch a 2nd inning.  That proved to be a mistake as Oglivie and Lezcano went back to back to lead off the 11th to push the Brewers to victory.   Milwaukee had a balnced attack on the day with multi hit games from Molitor, Yount, Gantner , Oglivie and Lezcano.

Bronx Bombers take 3 of 4 from Motown

GAME 1 - Shea Stadium

Hunter vs Wilcox

Yankees 5, Tigers 1

With one out in the seventh-inning Lou Whitaker broke up Catfish Hunter's no-hit bid. One batter later Steve Kemp doubled Whitaker home for Detroit only run of the day. The Bronx bombers amassed five runs as catfish one easily. Chambliss, Munson and Piniella each had to head games with the latter knocking into runs

GAME 2

Morris vs Medich

Tigers 7, Yankees 0

Steve Kemp's two run shot in the top of the first broke the ice. Rusty Staub's double and Lance Parish's single added two more runs to steak Jack Morris to afford nothing lead before he even set foot on the mound.  Detroit added three more runs as Morris cruised to a nifty five it shut out

GAME 3

May vs Billingham

Yankees 8, Tigers 6 (10 inn)

In a seesaw battle at Tiger Stadium the Yankees and the Tigers exchanged leads numerous times. The Yankees rally back from a 5-1 deficit with four runs in the seventh to tie the game at 6-6. The game went extra innings and New York scored two runs in the top of the 10th on a Thurman Munson double. Dick Tidrow Who pitched 2 2/3 scoreless innings and relief got the win Sparky Lyle came on in the bottom of the 10th to get the save. Yankee captain Munson had four RBIs on the day

GAME 4

Dobson vs Rozema

Yankees 7, Tigers 2

New York broke open a 2-2 tie with four runs in the top of the seventh. Roy white led off the ending with a solo bast and Ed Herrmann capped it off with a 3 run shot. Pat Dobson went 8 to get the win. For the second game in a row the tiger pen imploded. Dave Rozema gave up only one earned run and six but the pen let them down

Boyer blasts Braves

GAME 1
Spahn vs L.Jackson
STL 3, MLN 2

Spahnie was victimized by 2 unearned runs, which cost him the game in the end.  Larry Jackson grabbed the "W" with a 2 run complete game performance.

GAME 2
Buhl vs Simmons
STL 9, MLN 0

Curt Simmons tosses a 3 hit shutout as the Redbirds offense "Buhl's" its way to victory.  Ken Boyer (2-4) homered and knocked in / scored 2 runs.  Four cards had 2 hit games.

GAME 3
Broglio vs Willey
STL 15, MLN 3

Boyer (4-5) and the Redbirds continued their hot hitting (15 runs on 18 hits) to seal the series sweep.  Stan the Man returned to the lineup and went 2-4 with 2 runs punched in.  Broglio went 7 and gave up 3 for the win.

Jays take 3 of 4 from Tribe

Toronto's three lefty starter stymie the bats of the Indians, with one game going 15 innings before the Jays manage the win.  Jimmy Key threw a 4 hit shutout in the opener.

Pale Hose Washed Out by Halos

Game #1, August 21

CHICAGO  – Frank Tanana (2-1) yielded just 1 ER and 5 hits for a complete-game 6-1 winner for the Angels. The southpaw fanned 7 and walked 0 with a tidy 114-pitch efficiency. Carney Lansford and Joe Rudi (2 RBI) led the offense with 3 hits apiece.

Game #2, August 22

CHICAGO – Nolan Ryan and Ken Kravec matched goose eggs for 8 innings. The bullpens took over and tacked on 2 more scoreless frames. Lansford doubled in Ken Landreaux and Dave Chalk in the T11th to land this 2-0 contest in favor of the Halos. Dave LaRoche (1-0) yielded just 1 hit in 3 IP and earned the win. Ed Farmer (0-1) was tagged with the L

Game #3, August 23

ANAHEIM –  Bill Nahorodny’s double down the RF line plated Jim Morrison giving the White Sox a 5-4 victory in another 11-inning affair.  Rich Hinton (1-0) got the win with Mike Proly (1) adding the save. Al Fitzmorris suffered the loss in relief. Lyman Bostock led all batters with 3 hits.

GAME #4, August 24

ANAHEIM – Joe Rudi (1) blasted a 7^th-inning grand slam off a Proly to break open a tight game. The Halos would go on to win 8-3 with Dyar Miller (1-0) grabbing the W in relief and Steve Trout (0-2) taking the loss.

dem Bums sweep Friars in 3 nail biters.

GAME 1 - Jack Murphy Std
Roe vs Whitson
Dodgers 2, Padres 1

Coming into the series, Dem Bums had a 3 game losing streak hanging over their head to go along with a 1-5 record.  In what Brooklyn Eagle columnist Roger Kahn termed a "must win" game the Dodgers put the ball in the hands of crafty lefty Preacher Roe.  The Friars countered with Steady Eddie Whitson.  Both hurlers were stingy, with Roe being a bit more frugal.  The Brooks scored first with a 2 out / 2 run RBI single by Jackie Roosevelt Robinson.  Whitson would not give up another run, but Roe was in lock down mode until he gave up a solo blast to sophomore catcher Benito Santiago in the 8th.  The 9th saw Roe on the edge.  He was tiring as evidenced by the 3 consecutive warning track shots by Thon, Alomar and Gwynn that the spacious Jack Murphy Stadium kept inside the fences.

GAME 2
Hatten vs Hawkins
Dodgers 6, Padres 1

For 7 innings this game looked to be a carbon copy of game #1, which turned out to be a 2-1 contest.  Then in the top of the 8th dem Bums erupted for 4 runs off of future Padre broadcaster Mark Grant.  Captain Pee Wee Reese blasted a 3 run shot to make it 6-1 as Joe Hatten (7IP / 0 R) got the win.

GAME 3
Barney vs J.Jones
Dodgers 3, Padres 0

Rex Barney carried a no hit bid into the 8th inning, but ended up having to settle for a tidy complete game 2 hit shutout.  Carl Furillo's 3 run homer in the 6th broke a scoreless tie and gave the Barney all the runs he would need.

Twinkies and Brew Crew Split

Thanks to Marvin for the quick series.  Has to be tough to play with DH without a full time DH, but his pitching held us down pretty well.

Very tight games that saw 3 of the 4 games end on the home teams last at-bat.

Aug 21 – MIN 8-3 – Pedro Ramos vs Reggie Cleveland

Brewers score a run in the 8^th to get within a run, but the Twins get 4 in the 8^th with 3 hits, 2 walks and 2 errors.  Cecil Cooper and Don Money hit their first homers for MIL, while Harmon Killebrew hits his 1st for the Twins

Aug 22 – MIN 4-3 (10) – Camilo Pascual vs Moose Haas

Brewers take a 3-2 lead in the 9^th, but Bob McClure gives up a pinch double to Gardner to tie the game.  Twins get 3 singles in the 10^th to win the game.

Aug 23 – MIL 3-2 – Mike Caldwell vs Jack Kralick

Series shifts to Milwaukee and Kralick shuts down the Brewers thru 7 innings while Tuttle and Versalles hit solo homers.  In the 9^th, the Brewers get 4 singles & a walk to score 3 runs.  Cecil Cooper has the game winner.

Aug 24 – MIL 5-2 (10) – Larry Sorensen vs Jim Kaat

Once again the Twins take a lead late into the game only to see the bullpen give up the game.  Gorman Thomas hit an 8^th inning home run to tie the game at 2.  In the 10^th, Ben Oglivie hits a 3 run homer to send the fans home happy.
--submitted by John Clingan--

Phigtin's take 2 of 3 from Reds

Reds take the first game in 11 innings as Sabo leads off the 11th with a home run off reliever Steve Sabo.

Robin Roberts pitches a complete game as the Phillies romp to a 12 – 4 win to tie the series.  Eddie Waitkus and Del Ennis each knock in 3 runs.

Russ Meyer, who once commented that his best pitch was a long fly ball to center shut out the Reds 4 – 0 as the Phillies took the rubber game of the series.  Del Ennis homered with one on in the top of the first and Granny Hamner and Stan Lopata also singled as the Phillies tallied four times in the frame for the only runs in the game.

Jim Clouser