Baseball in the Pythagorean Universe: 1981

Hare's the National League Report for Wednesday, July 15:

Braves 6, Cubs 1

The Bravos broke a tight one open in the seventh with four runs, two of which came on bases-loaded walks. Dale Murphy hit one onto Waveland Avenue for the visitors. Braves manager Bobby Cox is already being discussed as a potential skipper for the Cubs if he should be fired by Atlanta; when asked about this, Cox just smiled and shook his head.

W- Niekro (9-8)
L- Tidrow (3-12)

HR- ATL: Murphy (17)

Reds 3, Astros 0

It was another gem by the man they call Tom Terrific; Mr. Seaver gave up only one walk and two hits, both to Astro shortstop Craig Reynolds. George Foster homered.

W- Seaver (18-4)
L- Ruhle (6-7)

HR- CIN: Foster (31)

Cardinals 4, Pirates 3

The Cards got a tougher fight than expected from the Buccos, but prevailed in the end. Darrell Porter was the main force at the plate for St. Louis, going two for three and knocking home two. Bill Madlock did the same for the Pirates, thus keeping up his lead in the NL batting race. Bruce Sutter ran into a bit of trouble in the ninth, but after giving up a run to make it 4-3, he settled down and ended the game by getting Mike Easler looking, which precipitated an angry confrontation between Easler and home plate umpire Fred Brocklander. No punches were thrown, but Easler will have to deal with him again soon; Brocklander's crew will be working the Bucs' next series in Cincinnati as well.

W- Martin (13-5)
S- Sutter (40)
L- Bibby (7-7)

Note: Sutter's save total is now correct; I've accidentally had him one short for a while.

Dodgers 7, Expos 1

Fernandomania ran wild north of the border as Senor Valenzuela threw a complete game. The Dodgers now lead the Astros by three in the West.

W- Valenzuela (18-9)
L- Sanderson (13-8)

HR- LA: Cey (15), Baker (13)

Giants 11, Phillies 5 (11 innings)

The Giants exploded for six in the eleventh after the Phils got the winning run to third in both the ninth and tenth but couldn't score. Jack Clark capped things off by hitting one halfway to Delaware.

W- Breining (8-3)
L- Lyle (9-8)

HR- SF: Clark 2 (24), Morgan (11), May (4)

Padres 9, Mets 6 (13 innings)

Four rain delays plagued this game, which ended just before four in the morning. The Pads scored three in the thirteenth, and Chris Welsh, normally a starter, got the save for San Diego.

W- Curtis (3-6)
S- Welsh (1)
L- Miller (1-1)

The standings in the East to the moment:

Cardinals: 86-56
Expos: 77-66- 9.5 GB
Phillies: 73-68- 12.5 GB
Pirates: 63-75- 21 GB
Mets: 53-85- 31 GB
Cubs: 49-89- 35 GB

In the West:

Dodgers: 85-58
Astros: 81-60- 3 GB
Reds: 76-65- 8 GB
Giants: 72-70- 12.5 GB
Padres: 66-75- 18 GB
Braves: 64-76- 19.5 GB

Next: We look at July 16.

Thoughts?
 
Here's the National League Report for Thursday, July 16:

Pirates 4, Reds 1 (Game 1)

Reserve first baseman Willie Montanez carried the Pirates in the first half of this twi-night doubleheader, going two for four with a home run and two RBIs. Starter John Candelaria, making his first start in this "makeup season". only gave up a run and three hits through five, but he also walked three and threw eighty-two pitches, which is more than enough for someone with back trouble. The bullpen picked him up from there, with Enrique Romo collecting the save. George Foster doubled in the only run for the Reds.

W- Candelaria (3-3)
S- Romo (11)
L- Berenyi (12-8)

HR- PIT: Montanez (2)

Reds 5, Pirates 3 (Game 2)

The Reds earned a split, thanks mostly to a three-run sixth. Foster's dinger ties the game at two, and Johnny Bench's two-run pinch hit double gave the Reds a 4-2 lead. The big news is that Pirate captain Willie Stargell made his first start since April and went two for four with an RBI. "I can't make a habit of it," Captain Willie noted ruefully after the game, "but it sure felt good to contribute for nine innings for a change."

W- Pastore (7-10)
S- Moskau (3)
L- Perez (3-9)

HR- CIN: Foster (32)

Astros 4, Cubs 3 (11 innings)

In a game delayed twice for a total of over two hours because of rain, the Astros just beat the deadline for having this one suspended by scoring a run in the top of the eleventh on a base hit by Craig Reynolds. Terry Puhl directed the Astro attack by going four for six with a run scored and two RBIs.

W- Dave Smith (6-5)
L- Lee Smith (5-9)

Cardinals 7, Braves 2

Cardinals manager Whitey Herzog decided to play some of his subs in order to rest his regulars for the playoffs, and they responded with a six-run second that blew the Bravos out of the water. The attack was led by two of the regulars who did play: Garry Templeton went four for five with an RBI and two runs scored, while Tommy Herr went three for five with an RBI and a run scored. Kenny Oberkfell, another regular, drove in three more with a second-inning double. A Bob Horner two-run homer provided the Braves' only offense.

W- Shirley (14-6)
L- Walk (1-6)

HR- ATL: Horner (24)

Expos 8, Padres 1

The Spos ruin Dick Williams' homecoming with six runs in the final two innings. Andre Dawson homered and drove in four, Warren Cromartie drove in two more, and Larry Parrish was a perfect three for three at the plate.

The big news, though, was the five-minute ovation Williams received when he was introduced before the game. The normally gruff Williams was visibly moved, and took a hat-waving, kiss-blowing curtain call before going into the Padre dugout.

W- Burris (11-11)
L- Eichelberger (9-9)

HR- MTL: Dawson (32)

Giants 5, Mets 1

The Giants broke a tight one open with a three-run ninth. Leading the attack was left fielder Larry Herndon. Usually he bats fifth, but tonight, skipper Frank Robinson made him the leadoff man, and he responded with a four-for-five, four-RBI performance. Not to be outdone, Doyle Alexander and Greg Minton combined on a three-hitter. Dave Kingman's sacrifice fly brings home the only run for the Metsies.

W- Alexander (14-8)
S- Minton (28)
L- Harris (4-10)

Phillies 8, Dodgers 5 (USA: Jim Woods, Nellie Briles)

If you missed the second inning, you missed most of the action. The time of the game was two hours, thirty-seven minutes; the second inning takes an hour and two minutes. The Dodgers put up a five spot to erase a 1-0 Philly lead, only to see the Fightins come back with five of their own to take a 6-5 lead. The big blow was Mike Schmidt's 410-foot rocket into the box seats in left center field that gave the Phils the lead for good. Bake McBride went three for five with two RBIs and scored twice, and Keith Moreland was three for four.

The Phils retain hope for a huge turnaround in the East..... provided, of course, that the Cardinals disband tomorrow. Meanwhile, the Dodgers' lead over the Astros in the West is back down to two games.

W- Proly (10-2)
S- Reed (10)
L- Hooton (14-7)

HR- PHI: Schmidt (43)

The standings in the East to the moment:

Cardinals: 87-56 (Magic Number: 10)
Expos: 78-66- 9.5 GB
Phillies: 74-68- 12.5 GB
Pirates: 64-76- 21.5 GB
Mets: 53-86- 32 GB
Cubs: 49-90- 36 GB

In the West:

Dodgers: 85-59
Astros: 82-60- 2 GB
Reds: 77-66- 7.5 GB
Giants: 73-70- 11.5 GB
Padres: 66-76- 18 GB
Braves: 64-77- 19.5 GB

Next: We look at July 17.

Thoughts?
 
Here's the National League Report for Friday, July 17:

Astros 4, Cubs 2

The Stros scored three in the ninth to top the Cubbies. Present closer Dick Tidrow gave up a bases-loaded walk to pinch hitter Jose Cruz, then future closer Lee Smith gave up a two-run single to Tony Scott which put the Stros in the lead for good. Bobby Bonds went deep for Chicago.

W- Sutton (13-12)
S- Sambito (13)
L- Tidrow (3-13)

HR- CHC: Bonds (13)

Cardinals 9, Braves 3

The Cards spotted the Braves three in the fourth on a Bruce Benedict homer, then scored the next nine. Steve Braun made a rare start in left field for the Redbirds and went two for four with three runs driven in. Dane Iorg, starting at first base, added a two-for- three evening with a run scored and two RBIs. The Cards' magic number to clinch the East is now down to nine.

W- Shirley (15-6)
L- Mahler (12-11)

HR- STL: Hernandez (12)
ATL: Benedict (7)

Reds 16, Pirates 15

Pitching didn't even bother to show up in this slugfest: thirty-one runs and thirty-eight hits in four hours and fifty-three minutes, a major league record for a nine-inning game.

The Bucs built a 10-3 lead after four and a half, only to see the Reds score six in the fifth and two in the sixth to take the lead themselves. George Foster's home run off of Ernie Camacho was the key blow. The Bucs came back in the seventh on a two-run blast of their own from Bill Madlock to reclaim the lead, and a two-run pinch-hit shot from Dave Parker made it 15-11 after seven and a half. But Foster's second home run of the game off of Enrique Romo in the bottom of the eighth cut the lead to one, and rookie Mark Lee gave up singles to Dave Concepcion and Foster to begin the bottom of the ninth. A rattled Lee then faced Dan Driessen, who blasted a 1-1 pitch into the power alley in right center to score both of them.

For the second time this year, Tom Seaver came out of the bullpen to pitch in relief, but this time he got the win. Foster and Madlock each went five for six for their respective teams, with Foster driving in five runs.

W- Seaver (19-4)
L- Lee (0-3)

HR- CIN: Foster 2 (34)
PIT: Parker (12), Madlock (9)

Expos 10, Padres 2

Dick Williams' homecoming ended up a complete bust, as the Expos broke things wide open with a six-run seventh. The Padres actually took a 2-0 lead on a first-inning homer by Gene Richards, but it was all downhill from there. Andre Dawson went two for five with three RBIs, while Rodney Scott hit a homer and scored three runs himself. Williams added some excitement when he got tossed out in the eighth for riding plate umpire John McSherry about the small size of his strike zone. "You'd think that someone as fat as he is could have a bigger strike zone. Hell, one of his fingers couldn't fit in the one he gave us tonight," Williams said after the game.

Funny line though that is, Major League Baseball showed no sense of humor; a report on Saturday's pregame show confirmed that they're investigating Williams' remarks.

W- Reardon (3-0)
L- Mura (8-17)

HR- MTL: Scott (2)
SD: Richards (5)

Giants 13, Mets 5

The evening started out nostalgic for Mets fans, as they honored their former broadcaster Lindsey Nelson, now with the Giants; he has said that this will be his final year as a baseball broadcaster anywhere. It ended up something less, as Jeffrey Leonard drove in five for the Giants, four of them on a fourth-inning grand slam, and pitcher Tom Griffin tied the game with a two-run blast in the second. The worst inning was the ninth, when reliever Craig Swan couldn't find the plate and walked four batters, forcing in two runs. At one point he plainly begged to be taken out, and manager Bob Gibson steadfastly ignored him.

"He wasn't hurting, he wasn't tired, he was just wild," Gibson defended himself later. "He was following through well, he just couldn't get the ball down, and he's got to pitch through that. He's a top three starter when he's right; he should know how it works."

For his part, Swan claimed that Gibson has been ignoring his recurring elbow discomfort since he became manager. "Not all of us are like him. Some of us hurt. There's no way I should be throwing seventy-two pitches in four innings with a bad elbow."

Does the future Hall of Famer expect too much out of his rather pedestrian pitching staff?

W- Griffin (10-10)
L- Lynch (5-7)

HR- SF: Leonard (7), Griffin (2)
NYM: Valentine (10)

Dodgers 10, Phillies 9

The Fightins lived up to their name, spotting the Dodgers a 10-2 deficit before scoring three in the eighth. In the ninth, the erratic Steve Howe gave up two hits and a hit batsman to load the bases. Bobby Castillo then came in and threw ten balls in his first eleven pitches, which forced home two runs and made it 10-7. Pinch hitter Dick Davis then served one into right center field, scoring Bake McBride and Larry Bowa and bringing the Phils within one. Closer Dave Stewart was next in, and Pete Rose drew a walk on a pitch that everyone except Rose and home plate umpire Dutch Rennert thought was strike three. With the bases loaded, Manny Trillo lifted a fly ball into deep left center, but Kenny Landreaux had a bead on it from the start and made the catch, preserving the win.

Steve Garvey drove in three and Derrel Thomas two for the Dodgers.

W- Welch (11-9)
S- Stewart (9)
L- M. Davis (1-7)

HR- LA: Cey (16), Garvey (15), Thomas (5)
PHI: Schmidt (44), Mattthews (11)

The standings in the East to the moment:

Cardinals: 88-56 (Magic Number: 9)
Expos: 79-66- 9.5 GB
Phillies: 74-69- 13.5 GB
Pirates: 64-77- 22.5 GB
Mets: 53-87- 33 GB
Cubs: 49-91- 37 GB

In the West:

Dodgers: 86-59
Astros: 83-60- 2 GB
Reds: 78-66- 7.5 GB
Giants: 74-70- 11.5 GB
Padres: 66-77- 19 GB
Braves: 64-78- 20.5 GB

Next: We look at July 18.

Thoughts?
 
Last edited:
Here's the National League Report for Saturday, July 18:

Reds 6, Cardinals 2 (10 innings; NBC: Joe Garagiola, Tony Kubek)

The normally reliable Cardinal bullpen, which was without Bruce Sutter due to more elbow trouble, imploded in the tenth against an exhausted Reds squad that didn't even get to St. Louis until 4AM. Base hits by Dave Concepcion, George Foster, and Dan Driessen accounted for the runs.

The Redbirds weren't the only ones with relief troubles; Reds skipper John McNamara's bullpen is stretched so thin that last night's starter, Mike LaCoss, had to come on in the bottom of the ninth to face Gene Tenace. He threw two pitches, got Tenace to ground into a fielder's choice. and picked up the win. Another starter, Bruce Berenyi, had to pitch the tenth, and after he walked Kenny Oberkfell to load the bases, Tom Seaver (who got the win in relief last night and is Monday's scheduled starter) began to warm up. However, Berenyi got George Hendrick to ground into a double play, and the game was over. "There are no starters and no relievers from now on," McNamara stated afterward. "Unless they pitched eight innings the day before or something, everybody's eligible to come in at any time."

Driessen was the hitting star, going three for five and driving in two for the victors. The Cardinals managed thirteen hits, but could only score twice.

W- LaCoss (5-10)
L- Kaat (7-8)

Mets 14, Dodgers 2

Just when they needed to win in order to keep the pesky Astros at bay, the Dodgers gave up fourteen runs and nineteen hits to the second-worst team in the National League. Center fielder Mookie Wilson led the way with a four-for-six afternoon, while right fielder Ellis Valentine drove in three with a two-for-five performance. Jerry Reuss had one of his worst outings ever, giving up eleven runs on thirteen hits in just two and two-thirds innings. Ron Cey's home run was the lone bright spot for the Men in Blue.

Dodger manager Tommy Lasorda was uncharacteristically quiet in the clubhouse after the game, only mumbling, "What's there to talk about? We got our asses kicked, period." Fear not, Dodger fans; Senor Valenzuela pitches tomorrow!

W- Hausman (2-2)
L- Reuss (12-8)

HR- LA: Cey (17)

Astros 16, Pirates 5

For the second night in a row, Pirate pitchers gave up sixteen runs. This time, though, the offense didn't keep it close. The Stros snowed under a 2-0 Pirate lead with six in the fifth, then embarrassed all concerned with an eight-run seventh. Left fielder Denny Walling and second baseman Joe Pittman drove in four runs apiece, while everyone in the starting lineup except Terry Puhl got a hit. Both John Candelaria (pressed into service despite having pitched just two days earlier) and Donnie Robinson left the mound in pain, Robinson after giving up eight earned runs on six hits and three walks in two-thirds of an inning. "Somebody had to take the lumps," manager Chuck Tanner said later. "We're out of pitchers; it's as simple as that."

Both at least temporarily reaggravated old injuries; Candelaria was wracked with back spasms, while Robinson felt tightness in his throwing shoulder. About the only bright spot for the Bucs was Willie Stargell's first home run of the year in the second inning.

The Astros now trail the Dodgers by just a game in the West, and are even in the loss column with two games in hand.

W- Knepper (12-7)
L- Scurry (7-7)

HR- HOU: Cedeno (7)
PIT: Stargell (1)

Phillies 8, Padres 0

The Phillies banged out twenty-one hits, and Steve Carlton only allowed eight singles in the shutout. Every member of the starting lineup had at least one hit, and several had as many as three, including Carlton, who drove in two to help his own cause. Mike Schmidt clouted his forty-fifth home run of the year, and George Foster's National League record of fifty-two set four years ago is now in jeopardy if the Phils play enough of their remaining schedule.

W- Carlton (17-7)
L- Wise (5-9)

HR- PHI: Schmidt (45)

Giants 6, Expos 4

In a rather sloppily played game, the Giants withstood a furious ninth-inning rush to get the win. Down 6-1, the Spos scored three in the bottom of the ninth and had the tying run at the plate, but Giants closer Greg Minton got Tim Wallach to ground out to first to end the game. Jerry Martin and Johnnie LeMaster each knocked in two for the Giants, while Warren Cromartie did the same for the Spos. Tim Raines went a perfect two for two with three walks.

The loss by Montreal has knocked the Cardinals' magic number for clinching the East down to eight.

W- Whitson (9-10)
S- Minton (29)
L- Gullickson (12-11)

Cubs 6, Braves 4

Ivan DeJesus and Bill Buckner each drove in two runs for the victorious Cubbies, while Chris Chambliss homered and Rafael Ramirez drove in two for the homestanders.

The rumors persist that Bobby Cox is the top choice to manage the Cubs should he be fired in Atlanta. "I appreciate the interest, but I already have a job," Cox said at his postgame news conference. Then he gave a small smile and added, "At least as far as I know." All other officials for both teams declined comment.

W- Krukow (12-12)
L- Boggs (5-17)

HR- ATL: Chambliss (13)

The standings in the East to the moment:

Cardinals: 88-57 (Magic Number: 8)
Expos: 79-67- 9.5 GB
Phillies: 75-69- 12.5 GB
Pirates: 64-78- 22.5 GB
Mets: 54-87- 32 GB
Cubs: 50-91- 36 GB

In the West:

Dodgers: 86-60
Astros: 84-60- 1 GB
Reds: 79-66- 6.5 GB
Giants: 75-70- 10.5 GB
Padres: 66-78- 19 GB
Braves: 64-79- 20.5 GB

Next: We look at July 19.

Thoughts?
 
Last edited:
Here's the National League Report for Sunday, July 19:

Reds 8, Cardinals 4

George Foster drove in three runs as the Reds took their second in a row over what had been the hottest team in the National League. The Cardinals blew golden opportunities in each of the last two innings after loading the bases in both. In the eighth, Joe Price struck out Keith Hernandez; in the ninth, Tommy Hume got rookie Willie McGee, the last bat on Whitey Herzog's bench, to fly out to Dave Collins in right. Hernandez homered in the ninth for the Redbirds to set up the drama that never really came. In addition to recording the last out, Collins went three for four with two runs scored and two RBIs for Cincy.

W- Soto (17-10)
S- Hume (17)
L- Forsch (17-6)

HR- STL: Hernandez (13)

Dodgers 6, Mets 2

Today, the Dodgers managed to keep pace with the surging Astros thanks to Fernando. He threw a two-hitter, giving up the Mets' only runs in the sixth on a bases-loaded walk and a fielder's choice. Davey Lopes got the start at second base and went two for four with a homer and three runs scored. Ron Cey also homered to continue his hot swinging.

W- Valenzuela (19-9)
L- Zachry (8-16)

HR- LA: Cey (17), Lopes (7)

Pirates 5, Astros 2

Fate finally smiled on the Buccos, as this time they were the ones busting out the offense with a four-run seventh to break a 1-1 tie. Omar Moreno and Dave Parker each drove in two, while Bill Madlock went three for four to maintain his lead in the National League batting race. Meanwhile, four Pirate pitchers combined to hold the Stros to five hits. The Stros are now two behind the Dodgers with seventeen left to play for themselves and fifteen for Los Angeles.

W- Rhoden (11-6)
S- Cruz (5)
L- Ryan (14-7)

Padres 11, Phillies 9

Just when the World Champions needed to be taking advantage of an unexpected Cardinal stumble, they blew a 7-3 lead in the ninth, as their top three relievers (Ron Reed, Sparky Lyle, and Tug McGraw), all had their worst day of the season at once, giving up eight runs on eight hits combined. Even with all of that, the Phillies scored two in the bottom of the ninth and had the winning run at the plate, but young Danny Boone got Larry Bowa to ground out to his shortstop counterpart Ozzie Smith to end the game.

The Pads lit up Philly pitching for twenty hits, as Ruppert Jones went five for six and Juan Bonilla four for five with three RBIs to lead the way. Mike Schmidt continued his homer streak with number forty-six for the Phils, and Garry Maddox went deep as well.

W- Lucas (13-7)
S- Boone (5)
L- Lyle (9-9)

HR- PHI: Schmidt (46), Maddox (8)

Expos 4, Giants 3

The Spos pulled two great comebacks in this one, as they first overcame a 2-0 Giant lead with three in the bottom of the eighth to take the lead. The Giants tied it back up in the top of the ninth on a base hit by Joe Morgan, but Andre Dawson's RBI single in the bottom of the ninth scored Mike Phillips with the winning run. Phillips had walked to lead off the inning, which only added to manager Frank Robinson's chagrin. "Those walks. Man, oh man." was all Robinson could say when asked about the situation after the game.

A pair of Tims, Wallach and Raines, had three hits each to pace the Expo attack; this team still believes that it can nip the Cardinals at the wire, but they'll have to get moving real fast and real soon. Woodie Fryman got credit for the win despite throwing only three pitches in the ninth.

W- Fryman (8-5)
L- Breining (8-4)

Cubs 7, Braves 5

Hector Cruz's first-inning grand slam is part of a two-home run, six-RBI day he used to help the Cubs turn back the Bravos. Jody Davis had the other Cub RBI, while Chris Chambliss went deep for Atlanta and drove in three runs. Gaylord Perry left the game right after the grand slam with a stiff neck and upper back, but should be fine for his next start.

W- Kravec (4-11)
S- Smith (5)
L- Perry (9-13)

HR- ATL: Chambliss (14)
CHC: Cruz 2 (11)

The standings in the East to the moment:

Cardinals: 88-58 (Magic Number: 8)
Expos: 80-67- 8.5 GB
Phillies: 75-70- 12.5 GB
Pirates: 65-78- 21.5 GB
Mets: 54-88- 32 GB
Cubs: 50-92- 36 GB

In the West:

Dodgers: 87-60
Astros: 84-61- 2 GB
Reds: 80-66- 6.5 GB
Giants: 75-71- 11.5 GB
Padres: 67-78- 19 GB
Braves: 65-79- 20.5 GB

Next: We look at July 20.

Thoughts?
 
Here's the National League Report for Monday, July 20:

Cardinals 6, Reds 2 (ABC: Keith Jackson, Howard Cosell, Don Drysdale)

The Cardinals got back on track, banging out fourteen hits and three home runs to salvage something out of this series. Shortstop Garry Templeton was four for five and has one of the dingers; first baseman Keith Hernandez was two for four with another home run and three RBIs. Of greater concern is the health of closer Bruce Sutter; he hasn't been used in almost a week, and rumors persist of major structural damage to his elbow, though the Cardinals heatedly deny it. "We just haven't had to use him, that's all," insisted manager Whitey Herzog in a pregame interview with Cosell. But will he be there when they do?

Lost in the above drama is the reduction of the Redbirds' magic number for clinching the East to seven.

W- Martinez (7-7)
L- Pastore (7-11)

HR- STL: Hernandez (14), Iorg (6), Templeton (2)

Phillies 5, Padres 4 (10 innings)

Bob Boone singled in Garry Maddox with the winning run in the bottom of the tenth to keep the Phillies at least mathematically alive in the East. Pete Rose went four for five for the Fightins, while Maddox had three hits. The Padres got some unexpected offense from relief pitcher Tim Lollar, whose two-run homer in the sixth gave the Friars a 4-3 lead. Terry Kennedy had the Pads' other two runs batted in.

W- McGraw (6-4)
L- Lucas (13-8)

HR: SD: Lollar (2)

Dodgers 5, Mets 2

The Dodgers managed to stay on pace in the NL West, thanks in large part to a three for five evening from Pedro Guerrero in which he homerd. Eighteen year-old phenom Darryl Strawberry got his first major league start for the Mets and went one for three.

W- Hooton (15-7)
S- Castillo (7)
L- Scott (7-15)

HR- LA: Guerrero (15)

Pirates 10, Astros 1

The Lumber Company broke out the heavy-duty machinery early against Vern Ruhle, scoring four in the top of the first and cruising from there. The leader of the pack was left fielder Mike Easler, who went two for five with a home run and four RBIs. Rookie second baseman Johnny Ray burned his former organization by driving in two, and Jason Thompson homered as well. In bullpen news, John Candelaria pitched a pain-free ninth inning, getting the Stros out on just seven pitches.

The Stros now trail the Dodgers by three games in the West, and their schedule doesn't get any easier; the Cardinals invade the Astrodome for a three-game series beginning tomorrow night.

W- Solomon (11-10)
L- Ruhle (6-8)

HR- PIT: Thompson (20), Easler (12)

Cubs 5, Braves 3

Catcher Jody Davis enjoyed a perfect two-for-two day at the plate and drove in three runs to lead the Cubs past the Bravos. Cubs pitcher Doug Bird left after three and two-thirds innings because of a summer cold; he should be fine for his next start.

W- Kravec (5-11)
S- Capilla (1)
L- Niekro (9-9)

The standings in the East to the moment:

Cardinals: 89-58 (Magic Number: 7)
Expos: 80-67- 9 GB
Phillies: 76-70- 12.5 GB
Pirates: 66-78- 21.5 GB
Mets: 54-89- 33 GB
Cubs: 51-92- 36 GB

In the West:

Dodgers: 88-60
Astros: 84-62- 3 GB
Reds: 80-67- 7.5 GB
Giants: 75-71- 12 GB
Padres: 67-79- 20 GB
Braves: 65-80- 21.5 GB

Next: We look at July 21.

Thoughts?
 
Here's the National League Report for Tuesday, July 21:

Cardinals 5, Astros 4 (10 innings)

The Cardinals won on a tenth-inning single by Garry Templeton and reduced their magic number to six, but they might lose something much more important: closer Bruce Sutter, who had an abysmal outing, giving up the tying runs in the bottom of the ninth. His line score: two runs on four hits and a walk in one credited inning. "Obviously, we're concerned," said manager Whitey Herzog after the game. "His split-finger had nothing on it, and without that pitch, he's just good. He needs that pitch to be great."

Bob Shirley, whose new nickname is "Plastic Man" for his ability to throw multiple innings on multiple days with no sign of weariness, filled in as closer and recorded the save. Is he the new closer? "Bruce is the closer unless he's hurt," Herzog answered.

Jose Cruz went deep for Houston, who lost yet another opportunity to make up ground on the Dodgers in the West.

W- Otten (2-0)
S- Shirley (2)
L- LaCorte (6-4)

HR- HOU: Cruz (16)

Reds 6, Cubs 1

Tom Seaver threw a complete game at the Cubs for his twentieth win of the season. He wasn't exactly at peak efficiency, giving up three walks and five hits, but the Cub bats were too anemic to do any lasting damage. Dan Driessen homered to help the cause, and Seaver knocked in a run himself. A long standing ovation followed the game, as the Reds' fans paid tribute to the man who just might be the best starting pitcher the team has ever had.

W- Seaver (20-4)
L- Kravec (5-12)

HR- CIN: Driessen (9)

Expos 3, Dodgers 2

Warren Cromartie's two-run double in the sixth put the Expos in front to stay, and Larry Parrish added a home run. Meanwhile, the Dodgers wasted a perfect three for three performance from right fielder Pedro Guerrero. The Spos are still hanging in, but making up a nine-game deficit on the Cardinals with just fourteen games to play is a tall order to say the least. Meanwhile, the Dodgers' magic number to clinch the West now stands at twelve.

W- Sanderson (14-8)
S- Fryman (8)
L- Welch (11-10)

HR- MTL: Parrish (11)

Phillies 7, Giants 4

The Phils broke a 4-4 tie with a run in the sixth and two in the seventh. Gary Matthews was the big hitter for the evening, going two for four and driving in three runs. But pitching is starting to be a real problem for the Fightins; starter Nino Espinosa's shoulder stiffened up in the chilly San Francisco winds, and he gave up a two-run homer to Larry Herndon on a pitch that bounced a foot in front of the plate. After Dan Larson left when a ball was lined off his foot (he should be fine in a few days), the pitching-strapped Phillies were in a bind until Steve Carlton peeled off his warmup jacket and walked to the mound, surprising even his manager. "I never would have thought of him," Dallas Green said after the game. He threw six innings, and though he gave up nine hits, the Giants scored only twice more off of him.

"I probably won't make my next start, but if we didn't win tonight, we'd be out of it anyway by then," Carlton explained. "I needed to help the team now, so I just walked out there and went to work."

In order not to tempt his star, Green said during his news conference that Lefty's going home. "We're sending him back to Philly. There's no way he's pitching again until we get home. He's done too much already." Dickie Noles will fill in for the rest of the road trip.

W- Carlton (18-7)
S- Reed (11)
L- Holland (8-8)

HR- SF: Herndon (6)

Padres 6, Mets 3

The improving Padres showed the mettle they've acquired under new skipper Dick Williams by scoring two in the seventh and three in the eighth to stun the hapless Mets. Luis Salazar singled home Terry Kennedy with what turned out to be the game winner. "This is the type of game we'd have never won at the start of the year," Kennedy saod after the game. "Dick's put the fire in our bellies, definitely."

Meanwhile, the Mets wasted a three-hit performance from Doug Flynn and two Ellis Valentine RBIs. "This one's gonna be a five-miler; I'm gonna be up all night pacing the floor, about five miles' worth," manager Bob Gibson said afterward.

W- Lucas (14-8)
S- Urrea (4)
L- Searage (2-3)

Pirates 5, Braves 1

The Bucs got a home run and three RBIs from Dave Parker and good starting pitching from Jim Bibby to get the win. Tim Foli drove in the other two runs, and Willie Stargell made his second start of the simulated period and went two for four. "I know it's too late for this year, but if we play well these last couple of weeks, we'll be something to see in '82," promised manager Chuck Tanner, who's been told by GM Pete Peterson that he definitely will be back next year. No word on his dugout counterpart, Bobby Cox, as yet.

W- Bibby (8-7)
L- Walk (1-7)

HR- PIT: Parker (13)

The standings in the East to the moment:

Cardinals: 90-58 (Magic Number: 6)
Expos: 81-67- 9 GB
Phillies: 77-70- 12.5 GB
Pirates: 67-78- 21.5 GB
Mets: 54-90- 34 GB
Cubs: 51-93- 37 GB

In the West:

Dodgers: 88-61
Astros: 84-63- 3 GB
Reds: 81-67- 6.5 GB
Giants: 75-72- 12 GB
Padres: 68-79- 19 GB
Braves: 65-81- 21.5 GB

Next: We look at July 22.

Thoughts?
 
Here's the National League Report for Wednesday, July 22:

Cardinals 5, Astros 4

The Redbirds kept rolling, although the Stros gave them a fight from beginning to end. Tommy Herr singled in Sixto Lezcano and Gene Tenace to give the Cards the lead, and they expanded it to 5-0 after six and a half, only to give almost all of it back in the bottom of the seventh. The lead held until the ninth, when Whitey Herzog called on Bruce Sutter. Thankfully for the hearts and stomachs of St. Louis fans everywhere, Sutter was his old dominating self, getting the side out on ten pitches to earn save number forty-one. Garry Templeton joined Herr with two RBIs, while Cesar Cedeno knocked in two for the Stros.

"I felt really good," Sutter said afterward. "For a while, I was either warming up or pitching every day, so Whitey gave me a little break. Yesterday I was just a bit rusty. Now I'm good to go through the playoffs." That's great news for Cardinal fans.

W- Shirley (16-6)
S- Sutter (41)
L- Sutton (13-13)

Giants 1, Phillies 0

Enos Cabell's third-inning double scored Joe Morgan with the game's only run, and Doyle Alexander and Greg Minton combined on a seven-hit shutout that reduces the Phillies' elimination number to one. The Phils' best chance came in the top of the eighth, when they chased Alexander after loading the bases. But Minton came in and induced Larry Bowa to ground out to second, ending the threat.

Things look bleak indeed for the Fightins, but as Pete Rose put it after the game, "We're still the best until someone beats us, and no one has yet. As long as we're not officially eliminated, we'll go down swinging."

W- Alexander (15-8)
S- Minton (30)
L- Bystrom (4-5)

Reds 10, Cubs 3

The Reds pounded the hapless Cubs, totaling fifteen hits. As usual, the biggest bat belonged to George Foster. He went three for three, scored three times, and drove in five with two doubles and a home run. "He's the National League MVP, no doubt about it," said Cubs manager Billy Williams after the game. Catcher Mike O'Berry also homered for Cincy. On the pitching side, Bruce Berenyi went eight strong innings for the win. Former Red Hector Cruz drove in two for the Cubbies.

W- Berenyi (13-8)
L- Krukow (12-13)

HR- CIN: Foster (35), O'Berry (2)

Dodgers 8, Expos 4

The Dodgers reduced their magic number for clinching the West to ten by clubbing thirteen hits against the Spos. Bill Russell led the way with three RBIs, and Ron Cey drove in two more. Andre Dawson and Larry Parrish went deep for Montreal, whose elimination number in the East has dropped to four. They've now dropped a staggering eleven games in the standings in a little more than a month, and only because of a possible strike wiping out the final days of the regular season will they likely hold off the Phils for second place.

W- Reuss (13-8)
L- Burris (11-12)

HR- MTL: Dawson (33), Parrish (12)

Padres 5, Mets 1

The Friars broke open a close one with three in the seventh. The hitting stars are third baseman Luis Salazar, who went three for four and scored three runs, and right fielder Joe Lefebvre, who was a perfect three for three and drove in two. Salazar also homered.

"We're coming along," manager Dick Williams said after the game. "Once we get a spring training under our belts, we'll be playing the way we should be. But we'll take the wins whenever and however we can get them."

John Stearns had the only Mets RBI.

W- Lollar (3-9)
L- Lynch (5-8)

HR- SD: Salazar (4)

Braves 4, Pirates 2

The Braves won this one behind a pair of Chris Chambliss RBIs, one of them on a home run. Rick Camp came back from a sprained wrist to record the save. Bill Madlock went three for four for the Buccos, and the batting title is all but a foregone conclusion.

W- Mahler (13-11)
S- Camp (26)
L- Perez (3-10)

HR- ATL: Chambliss (15)

The standings in the East to the moment:

Cardinals: 91-58 (Magic Number: 4)
Expos: 81-68- 10 GB
Phillies: 77-71- 13.5 GB
Pirates: 67-79- 22.5 GB
Mets: 54-91- 35 GB
Cubs: 51-94- 38 GB

In the West:

Dodgers: 89-61 (Magic Number: 10)
Astros: 84-64- 4 GB
Reds: 82-67- 6.5 GB
Giants: 76-72- 12 GB
Padres: 69-79- 19 GB
Braves: 66-81- 21.5 GB

Next: We look at July 23.

Thoughts?
 
Here's the National League Report for Thursday, July 23:

Cardinals 5, Astros 4

Tito Landrum made his first start in a while and went four for five with two RBIs, while Garry Templeton drove home the game winner with an eighth-inning sacrifice fly. Astros manager Bill Virdon decided to give several banged-up regulars the day off, but the Stros hung tough until the end anyway.

Closer Bruce Sutter was once again a source of concern for the Cardinals; while he earns his forty-second save, the Astros loaded the bases in the ninth, and his out pitch tonight wasn't his vaunted split-finger, but a regular fastball. "Just trying out the heat in case I need it," Sutter explained. "I need another out pitch in case people start waiting on the split-finger."

While this explanation sounds reasonable, it did little to end the speculation that Sutter is trying to hide damage in his elbow. When asked directly if his elbow hurts, Sutter replied, "Yes, but so does every other pitcher's elbow on this staff. We've pitched a hundred and fifty games plus spring training, and we're not supposed to hurt? Get real!"

Former Cardinal Tony Scott had three hits for the Astros, while Jose Cruz drove in two runs.

W- Shirley (17-6)
S- Sutter (42)
L- Sambito (6-6)

Giants 9, Phillies 3

The Giants dealt the Phils a fatal blow when they cracked open a 4-3 game with five in the eighth. Joe Morgan, Jack Clark, and Larry Herndon all went deep for Frisco, while the big bats for Philly remained silent. Morgan took offensive honors for the Giants by scoring three times.

The Phils are now officially eliminated from playoff contention, although the Cards' victory would have eliminated them as well.

W- Holland (9-8)
L- Proly (10-3)

HR- SF: Clark (25), Morgan (12), Herndon (7)

Reds 8, Cubs 4 (USA: Jim Woods, Nellie Briles)

The Big Red Machine finished chewing up the Cubbies with a fourteen-hit attack, led by a four-for-five evening from right fielder Dave Collins. They needed the hitting because none of their four pitchers could go more than two and two-thirds innings. However, those who did pitch held the Cubs to five hits. Leon Durham and Jody Davis combined to drive in all four Cubs runs, and Davis went deep.

W- Price (9-2)
S- Hume (18)
L- Howell (3-1)

HR- CHC: Davis (6)

Expos 6, Dodgers 2

Just when the Dodgers needed Fernando Valenzuela to be Superman, he turned out to be human, giving up four first-inning runs in the Expos' win. The big hitter on the night for the Spos was right fielder Warren Cromartie, who went three for four, scored twice and drove in another run. Gary Carter and Chris Speier drove in two runs each. Dusty Baker went deep for the home squad.

With their win, the Spos kept the Cardinals' magic number to clinch the East at three. Meanwhile, the Dodgers' magic number to nail down the West has shrunk to nine with the Astros' loss earlier tonight.

W- Lee (7-7)
L- Valenzuela (19-10)

HR- LA: Baker (14)

Padres 9, Mets 0

The Pads continued their steady improvement under new skipper Dick Williams by whitewashing the Mets. Every member of the starting lineup had a hit, and all but shortstop Ozzie Smith had an RBI. Smith had three hits and scored twice, though. Terry Kennedy went two for four and knocked in two, and pitcher Juan Eichelberger not only had a hit and an RBI, but threw a complete game six-hitter as well.

The Mets announces before the game that their entire coaching staff will be fired at the end of the year, including current manager Bob Gibson, who will not interview for the permanent job. "We need to clean house and start over," said Mets GM Frank Cashen. This immediately began rumors of a Dave Kingman for Billy Martin trade which would bring Billyball to Queens, although Martin has said repeatedly that he loves it in Oakland and wants to stay there forever. Another candidate is Jim Leyland, a minor-league skipper in the Tiger organization who according to many observers has the potential to be the best manager in baseball someday.

W- Eichelberger (10-9)
L- Jones (1-12)

Pirates 5, Braves 4

The Bucs scored four in the first off of the luckless Tommy Boggs, then had to hold on for dear life to record the win. The offensive assault was led by shortstop Tim Foli, who drove in two runs. Five different Pirates had two hits. The Bravos got the tying run to third in the bottom of the ninth, but Bob Horner's fly ball was too shallow to score Glenn Hubbard with the tying run, and Brian Asselstine flew out harmlessly to Omar Moreno in right center to wrap things up. Bruce Benedict homered for Atlanta.

W- Scurry (8-7)
S- Tekulve (5)
L- Boggs (5-18)

HR- ATL: Benedict (8)

The standings in the East to the moment:

Cardinals: 92-58 (Magic Number: 3)
Expos: 82-68- 10 GB
Phillies: 77-72- 14.5 GB
Pirates: 68-79- 22.5 GB
Mets: 54-92- 36 GB
Cubs: 51-95- 39 GB

In the West:

Dodgers: 89-62 (Magic Number: 9)
Astros: 84-65- 4 GB
Reds: 83-67- 5.5 GB
Giants: 77-72- 11 GB
Padres: 70-79- 18 GB
Braves: 66-82- 21.5 GB

Next: We look at July 24.

Thoughts?
 
Here's the National League Report for Friday, July 24:

Cardinals 16, Braves 7

The Braves jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the bottom of the first, only to have the Cardinals score thirteen runs and send seventeen men to the plate in the third. The most amazing thing is that the Braves were one pitch away from getting out of the inning completely unscathed, as George Hendrick's single to start the scoring came on an 0-2 pitch with two outs. The Cardinals got eight straight two-out hits, scored once on a bases-loaded walk, and plated another run when Braves reliever Preston Hanna threw one so high that it bounced off the dugout railing. Terry Harper hit a three-run pinch-hit homer for Atlanta in the eighth, but it was far too late.

Hendrick led the way for the Redbirds with four RBIs, and the only Cardinal who didn't drive in a run was relief pitcher Mark Littell, although he did get a hit. In addition to Harper's homer, Bruce Benedict drove in two more runs for Atlanta.

The Cardinals' magic number is now two, but it couldn't go any lower since the Expos had the night off.

W- Sorensen (10-8)
L- Perry (9-14)

HR- ATL: Harper (3)

Pirates 2, Reds 0

Five Pirate pitchers combined to throw a three-hitter at the Reds. A first-inning double by Bill Madlock and a fifth-inning double by Tony Pena provided the Bucco runs.

In other news, Willie Stargell confirmed that he will be returning to the Pirates for his twenty-first season in 1982. "Some of the guys let me know that my work isn't finished just yet," Stargell answered when asked to explain his decision. "If I can get healthy, I just may have a swing or two left in me."

W- Scurry (9-7)
S- Cruz (6)
L- Leibrandt (1-3)

Mets 4, Dodgers 3

The Mets scored two in the top of the eighth to stun the Dodgers. Mookie Wilson collected three hits for the Amazins, but it was pinch hitter Bob Bailor who doubled in the winning runs in the eighth. In an ending that led to the mother of all profane tirades from manager Tommy Lasorda after the game, the Dodgers had first and third with nobody out in the bottom of the ninth against Mets closer Neil Allen, but Derrel Thomas popped out, Kenny Landreaux swung at ball four in the dirt, and Dusty Baker grounded out to Frankie Taveras at short to end the game. According to one reporter, not one full sentence of Lasorda's postgame news conference was printable or suitable for broadcast.

W- Falcone (7-8)
S- Allen (24)
L- Castillo (3-6)

Phillies 13, Padres 3

Phillies manager Dallas Green, whose starting staff is almost bereft of healthy pitchers, started Steve Carlton, and was rewarded with a complete game as the Phils demolished the Padres. Lefty was helped out by the Philly offense, which scored its thirteen runs on fifteen hits. Dick Davis, starting because of Bake McBride's sore hamstring, led the way with a three-for-five evening, which included a home run and four RBIs. Four other Phils had two RBIs apiece. Second baseman Juan Bonilla drove in two for the Pads, who played their worst game in quite some time; manager Dick Williams is spotted visibly fuming after several poor fielding plays, including two errors by the Wizard himself, Ozzie Smith.

W- Carlton (19-7)
L- Mura (8-18)

HR- PHI: D. Davis (3)

Astros 4, Cubs 1

Nolan Ryan shined tonight, throwing a three-hitter at the apathetic Cubbies through eight innings. Five different Astros had two hits, including catcher Luis Pujols, who was a perfect two for two on the evening. Joe Sambito pitched the ninth to earn the save. Mike Lum drove in the only run for the Cubbies.

The Stros now stand just three games behind the Dodgers, with two more games against the hapless Cubs this weekend before they head to St. Louis to battle the all-but-certain NL East champs.

W- Ryan (15-7)
S- Sambito (14)
L- Martz (6-9)

The standings in the East to the moment:

Cardinals: 93-58 (Magic Number: 2)
Expos: 82-68- 10.5 GB
Phillies: 78-72- 14.5 GB
Pirates: 69-79- 22.5 GB
Mets: 55-92- 36 GB
Cubs: 51-96- 40 GB

In the West:

Dodgers: 89-63 (Magic Number: 9)
Astros: 85-65- 3 GB
Reds: 83-68- 5.5 GB
Giants: 77-72- 10.5 GB
Padres: 70-80- 18 GB
Braves: 66-83- 21.5 GB

Next: We look at July 25.

Thoughts?
 
Here's the National League Report for Saturday, July 25:

Cardinals 4, Braves 1 (NBC early: Merle Harmon, Ron Luciano)

The Cardinals only managed six hits against Phil Niekro and the rest of the Atlanta staff, but scored two in the fifth and two in the eighth to reduce their magic number to one. Bob Forsch not only threw six workmanlike innings, he knocked in the winning run with a fifth-inning single. Other RBIs came from Sixto Lezcano, who had two hits, and Dane Iorg. The better news came from the Cardinal pen: Bruce Sutter throws two dominant innings to pick up his forty-third save, only allowing one hit. If the Giants beat the Expos tonight at Candlestick, the Cards will clinch the Eastern Division title.

W- Forsch (19-6)
S- Sutter (43)
L- Niekro (9-10)

Expos 1, Giants 0

A sixth-inning single by Gary Carter drove in Rodney Scott with the game's only run. Warren Cromartie had a pair of hits, and Bill Gullickson pitched a complete game six-hit shutout and struck out eleven as the Expos stayed alive for one more day. Frisco starter Eddie Whitson only gave up four hits in seven innings, but it wasn't enough. The Expos must win tomorrow and hope that the Cardinals lose in Atlanta to be granted another day's reprieve.

W- Gullickson (13-11)
L- Whitson (9-11)

Reds 23, Pirates 3 (NBC early: Don Criqui, Joe Torre)

No, that is not a misprint. The Reds scored seven in the third and six in the eighth, and those are just the big innings. They racked up twenty-eight (again, not a misprint) hits, and held the Pirates to one hit through seven innings. In the eighth, since there was almost a football score anyway, Criqui invited football broadcast partner John Brodie, in town early for a celebrity golf tournament, to do guest commentary.

As for the Reds, where do I start? How about with George Foster? Six for seven, three runs scored, two upper-deck home runs and six RBIs. Leadoff man Dave Collins went five for six plus a walk, with four runs scored and four RBIs. Both Ron Oester and Ken Griffey were four for seven; Oester drove in four runs, while slacker Griffey drove in only two. Dan Driessen had three more RBIs and scored twice. The only Red without a hit is catcher Joe Nolan, who still managed to knock in two runs. Even pitcher Mario Soto went two for six, although he didn't drive in a run. Rick Rhoden and Donnie Robinson were the sacrificial lambs; Rhoden gave up ten runs on twelve hits in three innings, while Robinson gave up ten more on thirteen hits in four.

The few Pirate fans left by the eighth inning angrily booed manager Chuck Tanner for risking Robinson's health, but Donnie didn't blame him after the game. "I wasn't in a bit of pain. They just hit everything I threw, that's all," he told reporters. Utility infielder Vance Law pitched the final inning and two-thirds.

For a final stat, Foster's first home run, hit on the fly, measured 453 feet; the second, scalded on a line drive, 508 feet. Criqui's call of the second home run: "Oh, my gosh!!! I DON'T BELIEVE THIS!!!!!" (as the ball kept rising and rising until it landed in the upper deck). Once he caught his breath and put his eyes back in his head, he called it "a sick home run". This call was replayed ad infinitum for the rest of the year from Columbus to Indianapolis. (By the way, Soto only gave up five hits and pitched a complete game.)

I can't be sure, but I think this would have been the biggest blowout in the history of NBC's Game of the Week.

W- Soto (18-10)
L- Rhoden (11-7)

HR: CIN: Foster 2 (37)

Dodgers 7, Mets 0 (NBC late: Joe Garagiola, Tony Kubek)

Three Dodger pitchers combined to four-hit the hapless Mets. Shortstop Bill Russell was three for three at the plate and drove in a pair. Steve Garvey drove in two more, and the Dodgers totaled fourteen hits against the ragtag pitching staff of the Mets. Fir now, their magic number to clinch the West rests at eight, with the Astros entertaining the Cubs at the Astrodome later.

W-Welch (12-10)
L- Scott (7-16)

Phillies 5, Padres 0

The Fightins shut out the Padres at The Murph. Dick Ruthven needed a hundred and thirty-one pitches to get the complete game seven-hitter; the bullpen was decimated by a food poisoning incident involving Tug McGraw, Mike Proly and Sparky Lyle, which forced manager Dallas Green to either use starters as relievers (Steve Carlton is already on his way to Los Angeles to avoid being tempted) or extend Ruthven. He chose the latter, and it paid off.

The Phils got four in the first on two home runs to take control, one of which was a three-run inside-the-park-job by Mike Schmidt (who ignored third base coach Bobby Wine's stop sign and ended up leaping over Padre catcher Terry Kennedy in order to touch the plate). Garry Maddox hit a more conventional home run two batters later.

W- Ruthven (16-8)
L- Welsh (8-9)

HR- PHI: Schmidt (47), Maddox (9)

Cubs 9, Astros 5

The heretofore anemic Chicago bats woke up and pounded Astro pitching for fourteen hits, breaking a 5-5 tie with three in the seventh and one in the eighth. Both Bill Buckner and Jody Davis drove in three runs, and Davis' seventh-inning double put the game out of reach. Art Howe and Joe Ptttman each knocked in two for Houston, whose elimination number in the West is down to seven. They also have to look out for the surging Reds, who are now just a game and a half behind them for second place.

W- Kravec (6-12)
L- Sambito (6-7)

The standings in the East to the moment:

Cardinals: 94-58 (Magic Number: 1)
Expos: 83-68- 10.5 GB
Phillies: 79-72- 14.5 GB
Pirates: 69-80- 23.5 GB
Mets: 55-93- 37 GB
Cubs: 52-96- 40 GB

In the West:

Dodgers: 90-63 (Magic Number: 7)
Astros: 85-66- 4 GB
Reds: 84-68- 5.5 GB
Giants: 77-73- 11.5 GB
Padres: 70-81- 19 GB
Braves: 66-84- 22.5 GB

Next: We look at July 26.

Thoughts?
 
Here's the National League Report for Sunday, July 26:

Cardinals 7, Braves 2

The Cardinals clinched the NL East today by throttling the Braves. George Hendrick had his biggest game in quite some time, driving in four runs, scoring three and hitting his first home run in over three weeks. Tito Landrum also knocked in a pair. Rufino Linares went deep for the Bravos. Bruce Sutter collects his forty-fourth save.

Congratulations to the 1981 National League Eastern Division Champions, the St. Louis Cardinals!

W- Martinez (8-7)
S- Sutter (44)
L- Walk (1-8)

HR- STL: Hendrick (26)
ATL: Linares (6)

Expos 1, Giants 0 (12 innings)

In a thrilling pitchers' duel, the Spos and Giants combined for only nine hits, the biggest one being Warren Cromartie's twelfth-inning triple. The Giants got runners to second and third in the bottom of the twelfth, but Mike Phillips dove and speared Johnnie LeMaster's ground ball before it could get through to score the game-tying (and possibly winning) runs.

W- Sosa (4-5)
S- Bahnsen (6)
L- Breining (8-5)

Pirates 5, Reds 0

In a stunning example of how different each game can be in baseball, the offense that scored twenty-three runs on twenty-eight hits yesterday was shut out on eight hits by Eddie "Buddy Jay" Solomon this afternoon. Catcher Steve Nicosia provided all the offense the Buccos needed with a two-run double in the fourth. Dave Parker, Willie Stargell, and Bill Madlock drove in the other Pirate runs. Tom Seaver pitched another complete game in a losing effort for the Reds, whose elimination number in the West is now four.

W- Solomon (12-10)
L- Seaver (20-5)

Dodgers 4, Mets 0

Jerry Reuss, Steve Howe, and Bobby Castillo combined to toss a four-hit shutout at the Mets. Pedro Guerrero was the offensive star, going two for three and driving in two runs. The other Dodger RBIs came from Steve Garvey and Ron Cey. Hubie Brooks had two of the Mets' four hits.

The Dodgers' magic number is now six, with the Cubs-Astros result still to come from the Astrodome.

W- Reuss (14-8)
L- Harris (4-11)

Padres 5, Phillies 4

The Phillies' reign as World Champions unofficially ended because of a big day by Padres first baseman Randy Bass. Bass went three for four, scored twice, and drove in three, including the winning run with a seventh-inning triple. His other two RBIs came in the fourth on a home run, which opened the scoring. The Phillies get a three-for-five, three-RBI day from Gary Matthews, but it's not enough.

"I'm still proud of these guys. They fought as hard as they could," manager Dallas Green says in the somber Phils clubhouse afterward. "The Cardinals beat the pants off of us. Hell, they're beating the pants off of everybody. But next year is a new year, and we'll be ready for 'em. We'll be ready for the Dodgers come Tuesday, for that matter."

W- Urrea (6-2)
S- Boone (6)
L- Lyle (9-10)

HR- SD: Bass (5)

Cubs 7, Astros 4

For the second day in a row, the Cubs defeated the deflated Astros. Hector Cruz smashed a three-run homer in the top of the first to start things off, and the Cubs never trailed. Cruz went on to drive in four runs for the day, and second baseman Steve Dillard, who has missed much of the "makeup season" due to tendinitis in his knees, went three for four. Denny Walling homered for the Stros, who are playing without top of the lineup catalyst Tony Scott, who's day-to-day after fouling a pitch off of his foot last night.

The Stros are in a bad way; their elimination number is five, and their next stop is St. Louis, where they have to face the red-hot NL East champs for three games starting Tuesday night. They also have to look out for the Reds, who now sit just half a game behind them for second place.

W- Kravec (7-12)
S- Tidrow (12)
L- Niekro (12-13)

HR- CHC: Cruz (12)
HOU: Walling (6)

The standings in the East to the moment:

Cardinals: 95-58 (clinched)
Expos: 84-68- 10.5 GB
Phillies: 79-73- 15.5 GB
Pirates: 70-80- 23.5 GB
Mets: 55-94- 38 GB
Cubs: 53-96- 40 GB

In the West:

Dodgers: 91-63 (Magic Number: 5)
Astros: 85-67- 5 GB
Reds: 84-69- 6.5 GB
Giants: 77-74- 12.5 GB
Padres: 71-81- 19 GB
Braves: 66-85- 23.5 GB

Now that the Cardinals have clinched the East, here's how we'll play the rest of the NL season:

MLBPA executive director Marvin Miller, frustrated at the slow pace of negotiations between his union and the owners, has called for all teams not involved in division-deciding games to go on strike in an effort to produce urgency and get a collective bargaining agreement signed. This means that the Expos-Giants finale tomorrow night, plus the Braves-Pirates, Expos-Padres and Mets-Giants series set for July 28-30 have been canceled. The Astros-Cardinals, Reds-Cubs, and Phillies-Dodgers series will go on as planned, with the situation to be revisited on July 31. If the Reds are eliminated from contention at any point during their trip to Chicago, the other games of the series will be canceled.

Next: We look at July 28.

Thoughts?
 
Last edited:
Here's the National League Report for Tuesday, July 28:

Cubs 6, Reds 2

The Cubs continued their mini-streak by stunning the Reds. The visitors took a 2-0 seventh-inning lead on a Dave Collins home run, but promptly gave up six runs in the bottom of the seventh, the crowning blow being a two-run double by Bill Buckner. Davey Concepcion went three for four for the Reds in a losing effort. The Reds' elimination number is now down to two.

W- Tidrow (4-13)
L- Pastore (7-12)

HR- CIN: Collins (4)

Dodgers 4, Phillies 3

The Dodgers reduced their magic number to four by scoring two in the bottom of the sixth and holding off the Fightins the rest of the way. The game-winning hit was a two-run single by Bill Russell. Dusty Baker provides the other two Dodger runs with a first-inning home run. On the home run pitch, Phils starter Nino Espinosa could be seen holding his elbow after he released the ball and was immediately pulled by skipper Dallas Green, who later announced that Espinosa is finished for the year. "He's hurt badly from what I can tell," Green said later.

Fernando's outing wasn't up to his usual standard- three runs and five hits in six innings- but it earned him his twentieth win of the season and a thunderous standing ovation, as he came out for the top of the seventh and was pulled by manager Tommy Lasorda before he could throw a pitch. "I wanted him to have his moment," Lasorda explained. "As hard as he's worked, he deserves it."

W- Valenzuela (20-10)
L- Noles (3-3)

HR- LA: Baker (15)

Astros 3, Cardinals 0 (11 innings)

The NL East champs were held to four hits by the combined efforts of four Astro pitchers, while Jose Cruz's two-run ground rule double in the eleventh gave the Stros all the runs they needed. Art Howe drove in the other Houston run. Tommy Herr had three of the four Cardinal hits; Dane Iorg had the other.

W- Smith (7-5)
S- LaCorte (6)
L- Kaat (8-9)

The standings in the West to the moment:

Dodgers: 92-63 (Magic Number: 4)
Astros: 86-67- 5 GB
Reds: 84-70- 7.5 GB
Giants: 77-74- 13 GB
Padres: 71-81- 19.5 GB
Braves: 66-85- 23.5 GB

In the East:

Cardinals: 95-59 (clinched)
Expos: 84-68- 10 GB
Phillies: 79-74- 15.5 GB
Pirates: 70-80- 23 GB
Mets: 55-94- 37.5 GB
Cubs: 54-96- 39 GB

Next: We look at July 29.

Thoughts?
 
Last edited:
Here's the National League Report for Wednesday, July 29:

Reds 17, Cubs 4

The Reds brought their hitting muscles with them to Wrigley, scoring double-digit runs for the second time in four days. George Foster was "held" to one hit, a 420-foot home run to left center that expanded the Cincinnati lead to 8-0 in the fourth. Ron Oester, Ken Griffey, and Dave Concepcion each drove in four runs; Oester also scored four runs. As for hits, the Reds had twenty-one, featuring a five-for-six performance from third baseman Ray Knight. The Reds totaled five runs in the fourth and seven in the sixth. Ken Kravec and Lynn McGlothen were the sacrificial lambs out of the Chicago pen; Kravec gave up five runs and five hits in a third of an inning, McGlothen seven runs on six hits in two-thirds of an inning. Hector Cruz homered for the outclassed Cubbies.

The Reds' elimination number in the West remains at one.

W- Berenyi (14-8)
L- Martz (6-10)

HR- CIN: Foster (38)
CHC: Cruz (13)

Phillies 5, Dodgers 4

The Phils mounted a four-run seventh-inning comeback to defeat the Dodgers. Pinch hitter Lonnie Smith's bases-clearing double tied things up, and Pete Rose scored him with a single for the winning tally. Right fielder Dick Davis, in the lineup due to Bake McBride's balky knees, went three for four and scored twice. Dallas Green's running out of arms, though, so he again had to go to a starter to close out a game. It was Dick Ruthven this time, and he got the final two outs on eight pitches to earn the save.

The Dodgers' magic number remains at four pending the Astros-Cardinals result from St. Louis.

W- Reed (7-5)
S- Ruthven (1)
L- Hooton (15-8)

Astros 9, Cardinals 5

For the second night in a row, the Stros outplayed the Cardinals in almost every phase of the game. First baseman Cesar Cedeno paced the Astro attack by going three for five and driving in two runs, and pitcher Bob Knepper helped his own cause with a home run. The big inning for the Astros was the eighth, when they scored four to bust things wide open. The NL East champs didn't make things any easier by committing three errors. The only bright spots for them were Keith Hernandez, who went three for four, and George Hendrick, who drove in two runs.

The Stros gained a game on the Dodgers tonight, but the task in front of them is still large; they trail by four games with just six to play for the Men in Blue and eight to play for themselves.

W- Knepper (13-7)
S- D. Smith (10)
L- Shirley (17-7)

HR- HOU: Knepper (2)

The standings in the West to the moment:

Dodgers: 92-64 (Magic Number: 4)
Astros: 87-67- 4 GB
Reds: 85-70- 6.5 GB
Giants: 77-74- 12.5 GB
Padres: 71-81- 19 GB
Braves: 66-85- 23.5 GB

In the East:

Cardinals: 95-60 (clinched)
Expos: 84-68- 9.5 GB
Phillies: 80-74- 14.5 GB
Pirates: 70-80- 22.5 GB
Mets: 55-94- 37 GB
Cubs: 54-97- 39 GB

Next: We look at July 30.

Thoughts?
 
Last edited:
Here's the National League Report for Thursday, July 30:

Reds 17, Cubs 1

The Reds hammered the Cubs for the second day in a row, scoring seventeen runs on twenty-two hits without the benefit of a home run. The big inning was an eight-run seventh where the Big Red Machine sent eleven men to the plate. The big hitter on this day was catcher Joe Nolan, who went four for five with six RBIs. Star slugger George Foster went three for four and drove in four. Hector Cruz managed to homer again for the Cubs.

The Reds thus are clinging to the smallest of mathematical chances to win the West; their elimination number is one, and they welcome the Dodgers for a pair starting Saturday afternoon.

W- LaCoss (6-10)
L- Bird (5-9)

HR- CHC: Cruz (14)

Phillies 2, Dodgers 1 (USA: Jim Woods, Nellie Briles)

All of the scoring in this one took place in the first inning; Dick Davis singled in two in the top half, and Kenny Landreaux answered with a home run in bottom half. Pete Rose had two hits for the Phils, while Pedro Guerrero had two for the Dodgers, whose magic number is still four pending the Astros-Cardinals result from St. Louis.

W- Proly (11-3)
S- Reed (12)
L- Welch (12-11)

HR- LA: Landreaux (8)

Astros 5, Cardinals 1

The Stros completed an improbable sweep over the NL East champs. Second baseman Joe Pittman went three for four, and the Astros got two hits each from Craig Reynolds, Jose Cruz, and pitcher Nolan Ryan, who combined with Joe Sambito on a five-hitter and fanned eleven Redbirds in eight innings. Rookie center fielder Willie McGee went 0 for 4 in his first major league start, and Dave LaPoint lasted only three innings in place of Andy Rincon, who's been shut down for the year. Kenny Oberkfell had the only St. Louis RBI.

The Astros are now just three games behind the Dodgers, and they still have two games in hand. They'll use one of them tomorrow night in the opener of a three-game set with the Giants at the Astrodome.

W- Ryan (16-7)
L- LaPoint (1-1)

The standings in the West to the moment:

Dodgers: 92-65 (Magic Number: 4)
Astros: 88-67- 3 GB
Reds: 86-70- 5.5 GB
Giants: 77-74- 12 GB
Padres: 71-81- 18.5 GB
Braves: 66-85- 23 GB

In the East:

Cardinals: 95-61 (clinched)
Expos: 84-68- 9 GB
Phillies: 81-74- 13.5 GB
Pirates: 70-80- 22 GB
Mets: 55-94- 36.5 GB
Cubs: 54-98- 39 GB

Since there's no further progress in the talks for a new collective bargaining agreement, all games involving National League East teams from July 31 through August 3 have been canceled. The series involved are Cardinals-Pirates, Expos-Mets, and Cubs-Phillies. All National League West series will go on as scheduled unless the Dodgers clinch the division title before August 3, in which case the remaining games of said series will be canceled.

Next: We look at July 31.

Thoughts?
 
Here's the National League West Report for Friday, July 31:

Astros 5, Giants 3 (13 innings)

Jose Cruz went deep for the Stros in the bottom of the thirteenth off of Fred Breining to break a 3-3 tie. The Giants figured to have it put away in the eleventh when they got to rookie Gordie Plaxton for two runs, one on a wild pitch. Greg Minton came in to close thuings out in the bottom of the eleventh and got the first two outs on two pitches, but gave up two hits and a walk to load the bases. He and Gary Woods engages in a classic duel, with nine straight foul balls at 3-2. The tenth 3-2 pitch is right on the corner, but plate umpire Frank Pulli called it ball four. An incensed Minton charged at Pulli and was immediately ejected. Breining had to come in cold, and his very first pitch plunked Luis Pujols in the knee, forcing in Cruz and tying the game as the Astrodome went wild.

Out of pitchers in the thirteenth, Astros manager Bill Virdon called on Bob Knepper, who started just two nights ago, to bail the Stros out, and he pitched an easy inning. In the bottom of the thirteenth, Breining walked Cesar Cedeno on four pitches, then grooved a 1-1 curve that Cruz hit directly into the glove of Nolan Ryan in the Astro bullpen in right. The walk-off capped a four-for-six night for Cruz. Joe Morgan went deep for the Giants.

The Stros have now closed to within two and a half games of the Dodgers with a game still in hand.

W- Knepper (14-7)
L- Breining (8-6)

HR- HOU: Cruz (17)
SF: Morgan (13)

The standings in the West to the moment:

Dodgers: 92-65 (Magic Number: 4)
Astros: 89-67- 2.5 GB
Reds: 86-70- 5.5 GB
Giants: 77-75- 12.5 GB
Padres: 71-81- 18.5 GB
Braves: 66-85- 23 GB

Next: We look at August 1.

Thoughts?
 
Here's the National League West Report for Saturday, August 1:

Dodgers 8, Reds 1 (NBC late: Don Criqui, Joe Torre)

The Dodgers looked like the soon-to-be NL West champs on this day, blowing away the Reds and ending their division title hopes with a six-run seventh. Pedro Guerrero was the hitting star for Los Angeles, going two for four and driving in four runs, including three on a seventh-inning homer. A double play grounder by George Foster spoils the shutout in the bottom of the ninth.

W- Reuss (15-8)
L- Leibrandt (1-4)

HR- LA: Guerrero (16)

Astros 7, Giants 0

Joe Niekro, one of the true masters of the knuckleball, showed the Giants just how effective it can be, pitching a four-hit shutout and only giving up one walk. Offensively, the Stros were paced for the second night in a row by Jose Cruz, who went three for five and drives in three runs, and also by Craig Reynolds, who drove in two runs and scored two more.

The Stros thus remain two and a half games behind the Dodgers, but their elimination number has been cut to three. They finish with the Giants tomorrow, then end the season hosting the Padres for four, while the Dodgers wrap things up with the Reds tomorrow, then end their year in Atlanta.

W- J. Niekro (13-13)
L- Hargesheimer (1-3)

Braves 7, Padres 1

The Bravos dominated from beginning to end, led by Bruce Benedict and Glenn Hubbard, who clouted home runs, and shortstop Rafael Ramirez, who went a perfect four for four and drove in two runs. Phil Niekro and Gene Garber combined to hold the Friars to five hits; Gene Richards provided the only San Diego RBI. Claudell Washington collected two hits in his return to the Atlanta lineup from a broken finger.

W- P. Niekro (10-10)
L- Mura (8-19)

HR- ATL: Benedict (9), Hubbard (9)

The standings to the moment:

Dodgers: 93-65 (Magic Number: 3)
Astros: 90-67- 2.5 GB
Reds: 86-71- 6.5 GB
Giants: 77-76- 13.5 GB
Padres: 71-82- 19.5 GB
Braves: 67-85- 23 GB

Next: We look at August 2.

Thoughts?
 
Here's the National League West Report for Sunday, August 2:

Dodgers 3, Reds 1

The Dodgers were held to four hits, but took advantage of a George Foster defensive gaffe in the seventh to score their first run and cruise from there. Foster lost Ron Cey's flyball in the sun, allowing Rick Monday to score, and the Dodgers got a later run on a sacrifice fly. The teams exchanged home runs in the ninth, with Steve Garvey homering for the Dodgers and Ray Knight going yard for the Reds. Fernando Valenzuela ended his year as the NL's winningest pitcher by getting his twenty-first victory of the year.

The Dodgers' magic number is now two pending the Giants-Astros result from the Astrodome.

W- Valenzuela (21-10)
S- Castillo (8)
L- Seaver (20-6)

HR- LA: Garvey (16)
CIN: Knight (7)

Astros 4, Giants 1

Joe Pittman went two for two with an RBI and Danny Heep homered in the sixth to propel the Astros over the Giants. Don Sutton finished his season strong as well, pitching eight innings and striking out seven. Catcher Mike Sadek had the Giants' only RBI.

There are rumors circulating around the Giants that manager Frank Robinson plans to activate himself in one of the four games against the Reds this coming week, but there's no official comment from any team personnel, including the man himself, who simply stared a reporter down when he was asked about the rumors after the game.

W- Sutton (14-13)
S- Sambito (15)
L- Alexander (15-9)

HR- HOU: Heep (1)

Braves 10, Padres 2

This one's a scoreless tie at the seventh-inning stretch, but Chris Chambliss smacked the first pitch of the bottom of the seventh over the center field wall. Claudell Washington followed up later in the inning with a grand slam, and Terry Harper went deep in the bottom of the eighth as a pinch hitter. Washington drove in a total of five runs for the Bravos, while Chambliss went three for five and drove in two more. Future Hall of Famer Tony Gwynn got his first major league start for the Pads and went one for four with a run scored.

W- Mahler (14-11)
L- Welsh (8-10)

HR- ATL: Chambliss (16), Washington (11), Harper (4)

The standings to the moment:

Dodgers: 94-65 (Magic Number: 2)
Astros: 91-67- 2.5 GB
Reds: 86-72- 7.5 GB
Giants: 77-77- 14.5 GB
Padres: 71-83- 20.5 GB
Braves: 68-85- 23 GB

Going into the last series of the season, the Astros need to sweep the Padres at home and hope that the Dodgers lose two out of three to the Braves in Atlanta to force a tie for the division title.

Next: We look at August 3.

Thoughts?
 
Here's the National League West Report for Monday, August 3:

Braves 9, Padres 8 (14 innings)

In a game where each manager used twenty-one players, the Braves prevailed on a fourteenth-inning double by third-string catcher Biff Pocoroba, pressed into service at third base because of Bob Horner's hamstring pull. Pocoroba had a career evening: three for eight with four RBIs. Left fielder Rufino Linares went five for eight, a career evening for him as well, and several other players on both squads had at least three hits. Ruppert Jones of the Padres had the game's only home run. The Braves outhit the Padres 22-20, and they used ten pitchers, including winning pitcher Gaylord Perry, while Dick Williams was forced to use Steve Mura, whom he'd hoped to avoid using so Mura wouldn't lose twenty games this season. Unfortunately, Mura was pressed into service and tagged with the loss.

Time of the game: five hours and fifty-four minutes, which means that it ended at 1:29 AM Atlanta time.

W- Perry (10-14)
L- Mura (8-20)

HR- SD: Jones (6)

The standings to the moment:

Dodgers: 94-65 (Magic Number: 2)
Astros: 91-67- 2.5 GB
Reds: 86-72- 7.5 GB
Giants: 77-77- 14.5 GB
Padres: 71-84- 21 GB
Braves: 69-85- 22.5 GB

Next: We look at August 4.

Since there's no further progress on a collective bargaining agreement, all three National League East series scheduled for August 4-6 have been canceled. The series involved are Cardinals-Cubs, Phillies-Expos, and Pirates-Mets.

Thoughts?
 
Here's the National League West Report for Tuesday, August 4:

Giants 7, Reds 4

The Giants treated the Reds rudely, using a four-run fifth to put the game out of reach. Left fielder Jerry Martin and catcher Milt May were the main suppliers of offense, each driving in three runs, and May clouted a home run. Dan Driessen went deep for the Reds, as did the returning Johnny Bench. Mario Soto threw a 138-pitch complete game in a losing effort for the Reds, while Giants starter Tom Griffin fanned eleven in seven innings.

W- Griffin (11-10)
L- Soto (18-11)

HR- CIN: Bench (13), Driessen (10)
SF: May (5)

Dodgers 4, Braves 1

The Dodgers clinched a tie for the NL West title with their victory tonight. Third baseman Pedro Guerrero led the way with a 421-foot blast in the second inning, while Dusty Baker was two for four with an RBI. Chris Chambliss had the only RBI for the Braves.

W- Hooton (16-8)
S- Goltz (2)
L- Boggs (5-19)

HR- LA: Guerrero (17)

Astros 9, Padres 3

The Astros used a five-run fifth to defeat the exhausted Padres, who didn't reach Houston until 6AM after their fourteen-inning marathon with Atlanta last night. Terry Puhl led the way, going three for five and driving in two runs. Center fielder Cesar Cedeno, whose injured ankle from last year's NLCS has finally healed enough for him to resume playing in the outfield after an attempt earlier in the year failed, had two hits and two RBIs, as did shortstop Kiko Garcia. Nolan Ryan closed his year out on a strong note as well, giving up only four hits in seven innings.

The Astros now have to win the final three games of this series and hope the Dodgers lose their last two against the Braves to force a playoff.

W- Ryan (17-7)
L- Lollar (3-10)

The standings to the moment:

Dodgers: 95-65 (Magic Number: 1)
Astros: 92-67- 2.5 GB
Reds: 86-73- 8.5 GB
Giants: 78-77- 14.5 GB
Padres: 71-85- 22 GB
Braves: 69-86- 23.5 GB

Next: We look at August 5.

Thoughts?
 
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