Here's the National League West Report for Wednesday, August 5:
Astros 8, Padres 1 (Game 1)
The Astros took the first half of this double dip rather easily, keyed by a five-run fifth. Craig Reynolds and Alan Ashby were the hitting stars, each going two for four, scoring a run, and driving in two. Bob Knepper wrapped up his season on a excellent note, going eight strong innings on the mound and driving in a run at the plate. Juan Bonilla had the only RBI for the Friars.
W- Knepper (15-7)
L- Kuhaulua (1-2)
Padres 6, Astros 0 (Game 2)
The Padres got the breaks for once, as the Astros committed two errors that led to a five-run fifth. They also got superb pitching from ace Juan Eichelberger, as he pitched a six-hit complete game shutout. The offense was truly spread around, as six different members of the San Diego lineup drove in a run. First baseman Broderick Perkins led the way offensively with two hits. Meanwhile, Alan Ashby was the only Astro with two hits off of Eichelberger.
W- Eichelberger (11-9)
L- Ruhle (6-9)
Giants 6, Reds 5
The Giants stole one from the Reds, or so the Reds think.
With one out in the bottom of the ninth, Jack Clark singled. Milt May's base hit moved him to second, and Larry Herndon reached on a fielder's choice. Dave Bergman then launched a 2-1 curve from Tommy Hume into center field, where it dropped in and rolls to the wall. Clark scored easily to tie the game, but Ken Griffey came up throwing in an effort to nail Herndon at the plate. The throw was on time; the question was whether Herndon touched home plate before catcher Mike O'Berry's tag touched his rump.
After a few seconds, plate umpire Doug Harvey ruled in the affirmative, and what seemed like the entire city of Cincinnati poured out of the dugout to protest. In the melee, it appeared that manager John McNamara bumped Harvey, and first base umpire Dick Stello swore after the game that Davey Concepcion spit on him. Both incidents are under review, with discipline unlikely to come before next season.
In other news, Johnny Bench started at first base for the Reds and acquitted himself well, going two for three with a run scored and an RBI. George Foster and Ray Knight each drove in two for the Reds, while Bergman knocked in a total of three for Frisco.
W- Lavelle (5-7)
L- Hume (9-6)
HR- CIN: Knight (8)
Braves 3, Dodgers 1
Bob Welch, Steve Howe, and Bobby Castillo combined to hold the Braves to four hits, but one of them is an eighth-inning single by Terry Harper that drives in the winning run. The Dodgers got three-for-four performances from Mike Scioscia and Dusty Baker, but wasted them both. Rufino Linares went two for three with a home run for Atlanta.
The Dodgers learned during the seventh-inning stretch that they've won the National League West, thanks to the Padres' win over the Astros in Game 2 of their doubleheader. Congratulations to the 1981 National League Western Division Champions, the Los Angeles Dodgers!
W- Niekro (11-10)
S- Camp (27)
L- Howe (6-5)
HR: ATL: Linares (7)
LA: Cey (19)
Final National League West Standings:
Dodgers: 95-66
Astros: 93-68- 2 GB
Reds: 86-74- 8.5 GB
Giants: 79-77- 13.5 GB
Padres: 72-86- 21.5 GB
Braves: 70-86- 22.5 GB
All National League West games scheduled for Thursday, August 6 have been canceled due to the continued lack of progress toward a collective bargaining agreement.
So one league is set: the Cardinals and Dodgers will square off in the NLCS, with home field advantage going to the Cardinals as the Eastern champs. But what about the American League? We'll begin to solve that mystery next time. Stay with us!
Astros 8, Padres 1 (Game 1)
The Astros took the first half of this double dip rather easily, keyed by a five-run fifth. Craig Reynolds and Alan Ashby were the hitting stars, each going two for four, scoring a run, and driving in two. Bob Knepper wrapped up his season on a excellent note, going eight strong innings on the mound and driving in a run at the plate. Juan Bonilla had the only RBI for the Friars.
W- Knepper (15-7)
L- Kuhaulua (1-2)
Padres 6, Astros 0 (Game 2)
The Padres got the breaks for once, as the Astros committed two errors that led to a five-run fifth. They also got superb pitching from ace Juan Eichelberger, as he pitched a six-hit complete game shutout. The offense was truly spread around, as six different members of the San Diego lineup drove in a run. First baseman Broderick Perkins led the way offensively with two hits. Meanwhile, Alan Ashby was the only Astro with two hits off of Eichelberger.
W- Eichelberger (11-9)
L- Ruhle (6-9)
Giants 6, Reds 5
The Giants stole one from the Reds, or so the Reds think.
With one out in the bottom of the ninth, Jack Clark singled. Milt May's base hit moved him to second, and Larry Herndon reached on a fielder's choice. Dave Bergman then launched a 2-1 curve from Tommy Hume into center field, where it dropped in and rolls to the wall. Clark scored easily to tie the game, but Ken Griffey came up throwing in an effort to nail Herndon at the plate. The throw was on time; the question was whether Herndon touched home plate before catcher Mike O'Berry's tag touched his rump.
After a few seconds, plate umpire Doug Harvey ruled in the affirmative, and what seemed like the entire city of Cincinnati poured out of the dugout to protest. In the melee, it appeared that manager John McNamara bumped Harvey, and first base umpire Dick Stello swore after the game that Davey Concepcion spit on him. Both incidents are under review, with discipline unlikely to come before next season.
In other news, Johnny Bench started at first base for the Reds and acquitted himself well, going two for three with a run scored and an RBI. George Foster and Ray Knight each drove in two for the Reds, while Bergman knocked in a total of three for Frisco.
W- Lavelle (5-7)
L- Hume (9-6)
HR- CIN: Knight (8)
Braves 3, Dodgers 1
Bob Welch, Steve Howe, and Bobby Castillo combined to hold the Braves to four hits, but one of them is an eighth-inning single by Terry Harper that drives in the winning run. The Dodgers got three-for-four performances from Mike Scioscia and Dusty Baker, but wasted them both. Rufino Linares went two for three with a home run for Atlanta.
The Dodgers learned during the seventh-inning stretch that they've won the National League West, thanks to the Padres' win over the Astros in Game 2 of their doubleheader. Congratulations to the 1981 National League Western Division Champions, the Los Angeles Dodgers!
W- Niekro (11-10)
S- Camp (27)
L- Howe (6-5)
HR: ATL: Linares (7)
LA: Cey (19)
Final National League West Standings:
Dodgers: 95-66
Astros: 93-68- 2 GB
Reds: 86-74- 8.5 GB
Giants: 79-77- 13.5 GB
Padres: 72-86- 21.5 GB
Braves: 70-86- 22.5 GB
All National League West games scheduled for Thursday, August 6 have been canceled due to the continued lack of progress toward a collective bargaining agreement.
So one league is set: the Cardinals and Dodgers will square off in the NLCS, with home field advantage going to the Cardinals as the Eastern champs. But what about the American League? We'll begin to solve that mystery next time. Stay with us!