Baseball in the Pythagorean Universe: 1981

[Garrett Garlits]

Since both the Pirates and Steelers are playing tomorrow, I'm going to do a doubleheader today. Here's the American League Report for Saturday, July 25:

Boston 4, Kansas City 3 (NBC late: Dick Enberg, Bob Costas)
W: Bill Campbell (3-1)
L: Larry Gura (15-10)

The Bosox kept pace in the AL East, plating the winning run in the bottom of the ninth on singles by Dwight Evans, Jim Rice, and Carney Lansford. Larry Gura took the complete game loss for the Royals. For the moment, the Red Sox' elimination number remains at eight.

Cleveland 10, Toronto 5
W: Sid Monge (6-5)
L: Dave Stieb (12-15)
HR- CLE: Bo Diaz (11)

The Tribe won their fifth straight behind a three-RBI performance from Bo Diaz, including a home run. A five-run sixth blew the game wide open. Sid Monge got the win in relief of Rick Waits, who left the game after just one batter with an apparent arm injury.

Detroit 1, California 0
W: Kevin Saucier (6-3)
S. Dave Tobik (3)
L: Ken Forsch (14-11)

Ken Forsch allowed just seven hits in eight innings of work, but the Tiger staff combined to allow only four. Steve Kemp knocked in the game's only run with a single in the sixth, and the Angels left the tying run at third in the ninth.

Milwaukee 4, Oakland 1
W: Moose Haas (15-11)
S: Rollie Fingers (36)
L: Rick Langford (13-12)

The Brew Crew got all the runs it needed in the second and third, with the key blow being Paul Molitor's ground-rule double. The Brewers thus stay in a tie with the Red Sox for second place in the East, with an elimination number of eight. As for the A's, their elimination number in the West drops to eight, with the Rangers-White Sox result pending.

Yankees 7, Seattle 6
W: Dave LaRoche (6-4)
L: Shane Rawley (7-10)
HR- NYY: Bobby Murcer (12)

Reggie Jackson's single with the bases loaded in the bottom of the ninth got the Bronx Bombers their fourth win in a row. They now lead the Red Sox and Brewers by five games in the East, and their magic number is seven.

Texas 9, White Sox 5
W: Fergie Jenkins (8-9)
L: Francisco Barrios (1-4)
HR- CWS: Harold Baines (15), Greg Luzinski (25)

Mario Mendoza's triple keyed a three-run second for Texas, and a five-run sixth finished off the Pale Hose. Fergie Jenkins struck out ten. Harold Baines and Greg Luzinski each homered and drove in a pair for Chicago. The Rangers now have a four and a half game lead on the A's in the West, and their magic number, like the Yankees', is seven.

Minnesota 6, Baltimore 3
W: Fernando Arroyo (9-17)
S. Doug Corbett (19)
L: Jim Palmer (15-10)
HR- BAL: Lenn Sakata (9)

Fernando Arroyo and Doug Corbett combined on a five-hitter, and future Pirate interim manager Pete Mackanin knocked in Ron Jackson with the winning run in the fifth.

In Oriole news, there was another spat between Earl Weaver and one of his relievers, as he exchanged heated words with Tippy Martinez after Tippy gave up a pair of runs in the sixth. To add to the misery, the loss drops Baltimore back into fifth place in the East. Who will be the next Bird to squawk?

As for the Twins, they're now in sixth place by themselves in the West.

The standings in the East to the moment:

Yankees: 90-61 (Magic Number: 7)
(tie) Red Sox: 85-66- 5 GB
(tie) Brewers: 85-66- 5 GB

Tigers: 82-69- 8 GB
Orioles: 81-70- 9 GB
Indians: 73-78- 17 GB
Blue Jays: 53-98- 37 GB

In the West:

Rangers: 87-64 (Magic Number: 7)
Athletics: 83-69- 4.5 GB
Angels: 78-74- 9.5 GB
(tie) White Sox: 76-75- 11 GB
(tie) Royals: 76-75- 11 GB

Twins: 56-95- 31 GB
Mariners: 55-96- 32 GB

Special thanks to Joe Ray for the report. Desmond will return tomorrow.

Next: We look at July 26.

Thoughts?

 

[Garrett Garlits]

Here's the American League Report for Sunday, July 26:

Kansas City 3, Boston 1
WP - Paul Splittorff (10-10)
LP - Frank Tanana (8-17)
HR - BOS: Dwight Evans (38)

Summary: Splittorff had a shutout going until the Evans homer with one out in the ninth. The Red Sox now have to hope for the A's to beat the Brewers so they can maintain a share of second place in the East.

Toronto 6, Cleveland 5 (10 innings)
WP - Juan Berenguer (3-10)
LP - Mike Stanton (6-4)

Summary: The Jays rallied for two in the ninth and one in the tenth to beat the Tribe.

Detroit 14, California 5
WP - Dan Petry (16-14)
LP - Mike Witt (16-11)
HR - DET: Steve Kemp (18), Richie Hebner (7)
CAL:Brian Downing (25), Fred Lynn (10)

Summary: Hebner hit a home run in his first game back from the disabled list. The Tigers scored most often in the third and sixth innings (four runs each).

Milwaukee 5, Oakland 3
WP - Jim Slaton (12-9)
SV- Rollie Fingers (37)
LP - Steve McCatty (20-13)
HR - MIL: Ben Ogilvie (26)

Summary: The Brewers completed an important sweep, while the A's continued to lose ground to the Rangers. The Brewers now hold second place by themselves in the East, while the Oakland elimination number is down to six in the West.

Seattle 6, NY Yankees 3
WP - Ken Clay (5-12)
LP - Rick Reuschel (5-5)
HR - SEA: Tom Paciorek (24)
NYY: Oscar Gamble (23)

Summary: Paciorek paced the M's offense by hitting for the cycle, which was the first in these simulated games. The Yanks now lead the Brewers by four in the East, and their magic number is still seven.

Texas 4, Chicago 3
WP - Charlie Hough (8-2)
LP - Rich Dotson (11-10)
HR - TEX: Pat Putnam (15)

Summary: A bases-loaded walk gave the Rangers the lead in the fifth inning; neither team scored after that. The Rangers now hold a nearly-insurmountable five and a half game lead on the A's in the West, and their magic number has dropped to five.

Minnesota 8, Baltimore 4
WP - Al Williams (12-17)
LP- Scott McGregor (20-11)
HR - MIN: Roy Smalley (11), Dave Engle (7)
BAL: Eddie Murray (29)

Summary: Another stunning win for an AL West bottom-feeder over an AL East contender. The Os don't figure to be a contender much longer, though; their elimination number is two.

The standings in the East to the moment:

Yankees: 90-62 (Magic Number: 7)
Brewers: 86-66- 4 GB
Red Sox: 85-67- 5 GB
Tigers: 83-69- 7 GB
Orioles: 81-71- 9 GB
Indians: 73-79- 17 GB
Blue Jays: 54-98- 36 GB

In the West:

Rangers: 88-64 (Magic Number: 5)
Athletics: 83-70- 5.5 GB
Angels: 78-75- 10.5 GB
Royals: 77-75- 11 GB
White Sox: 76-76- 12 GB
Twins: 57-95- 31 GB
Mariners: 56-96- 32 GB

July 27 is an off day for the entire American League, so we'll pick up the action next time on Tuesday, July 28.

Thoughts?

 

[Garrett Garlits]

Here's the American League Report for Tuesday, July 28:

Baltimore 5, Texas 4
WP - Tippy Martinez (6-5)
LP - Steve Comer (13-3)
HR - BAL: Rich Dauer (5)
TEX: Pat Putnam (16)

Summary: Ken Singleton's RBI single in the ninth inning won it for the Orioles. The Rangers' magic number to clinch the West is still five.

Boston 9, Toronto 3
WP - Dennis Eckersley (15-11)
LP - Dave Stieb (12-16)
HR - BOS: Dwight Evans 2 (40)
TOR: George Bell (17)

Summary: Stieb gave up six runs in just four and a third innings; Bell's home run hit the video screen in right field, but no one was hurt.

Cleveland 3, Minnesota 0
WP - Rick Waits (13-16)
LP - Jerry Koosman (3-13)
HR - CLE: Andre Thornton (22)

Summary: Thornton's homer broke a scoreless tie in the seventh inning.

Detroit 9, Seattle 5
WP - Dan Schatzeder (10-11)
LP - Glenn Abbott (6-13)
HR - DET: Al Cowens (2), Steve Kemp (19), Tom Brookens (10), Kirk Gibson (15)

Summary: The Cowens, Kemp, and Brookens home runs were back-to-back-to-back; Gibson had a pinch-hit homer later in the game.

Milwaukee 9, California 8
WP - Reggie Cleveland (7-5)
LP - Luis Sanchez (1-5)
HR - MIL: Ben Ogilvie (27), Gorman Thomas (40)
CAL: Brian Downing (26), Don Baylor (19)

Summary: Sanchez walked Paul Molitor with the bases loaded to end a wild game in which the lead changed hands five times. The Brewers' elimination number remains at seven.

Oakland 4, NY Yankees 1
WP - Mike Norris (19-11)
LP - Ron Guidry (20-8)
HR - OAK: Rickey Henderson (13)

Summary: The A's scored a much-needed win in the Bronx, as they picked up a game on the Rangers. They now trail the AL West leaders by four and a half. Meanwhile, the Yankees' lead over the Brewers in the East is down to three games.

Chicago 4, Kansas City 2
WP - Steve Trout (9-10)
LP - Rich Gale (8-9)
HR - CWS: Carlton Fisk (22)

Summary: The second generation pitcher hurled a complete game victory. The Chisox and Royals are once again tied for fourth in the West, just a half-game behind the third-place Angels.

The standings in the East to the moment:

Yankees: 90-63 (Magic Number: 7)
Brewers: 87-66- 3 GB
Red Sox: 86-67- 4 GB
Tigers: 84-69- 6 GB
Orioles: 82-71- 8 GB
Indians: 74-79- 16 GB
Blue Jays: 54-99- 36 GB

In the West:

Rangers: 88-65 (Magic Number: 5)
Athletics: 84-70- 4.5 GB
Angels: 78-76- 10.5 GB
(tie) Royals: 77-76- 11 GB
(tie) White Sox: 77-76- 11 GB

Twins: 57-96- 31 GB
Mariners: 56-97- 32 GB

Next: We look at July 29.

Thoughts?

 

[Garrett Garlits]

Here's the American League Report for Wednesday, July 29:

Texas 6, Baltimore 3
WP - Doc Medich (11-11)
LP - Jim Palmer (15-11)
HR - TEX: Pat Putnam (17)

Summary: Medich's complete game and Putnam's four RBIs helped the Rangers reduce their magic number to clinch the West to four.

Toronto 3, Boston 2
WP - Jim Clancy (10-19)
LP - Frank Tanana (8-18)
HR - BOS: Jim Rice (34)

Summary: The Red Sox blew a winnable game at Fenway, in part because they left thirteen runners on base.

Cleveland 8, Minnesota 1
WP - Len Barker (12-14)
LP - Fernando Arroyo (9-18)
HR - CLE: Rick Manning (13), Toby Harrah (8)
MIN: John Castino (13)

Summary: The Indians strung together sixteen hits.

Detroit 12, Seattle 10
WP - Milt Wilcox (18-9)
LP - Jerry Don Gleaton (4-11)
HR - DET: Steve Kemp (20), Tom Brookens (11), Al Cowens (3)
SEA: Tom Paciorek (25)

Summary: Al Cowens' bases-clearing double in the seventh was the decisive blow for the Tigers. He also added a home run.

Milwaukee 5, California 4 (13 innings)
WP - Jamie Easterly (8-3)
LP - Don Aase (9-7)
HR - MIL: Robin Yount (20)
CAL: Don Baylor (20), Fred Lynn (10)

Summary: Gorman Thomas' sacrifice fly in the thirteenth scored Ben Ogilvie with the winning run. The Brew Crew's elimination number remains at seven.

Oakland 3, NY Yankees 0
WP - Brian Kingman (7-9)
LP - Ron Guidry (20-9)

Summary: Kingman came up big in the Bronx, beating the Bombers with a two-hit shutout which keeps the Athletics' elimination number at four and reduces the Yanks' lead over the Brewers in the East to just two games.

Kansas City 7, Chicago 0
WP - Larry Gura (16-10)
LP - Britt Burns (15-12)
HR - KC: Willie Aikens (25), John Wathan (6)

Summary: The Royals scored exactly one run in each of seven different innings. As a result of this win, they move into sole possession of third place in the West. The Angels' earlier loss drops them to fourth, and the White Sox are now fifth.

The standings in the East to the moment:

Yankees: 90-64 (Magic Number: 7)
Brewers: 88-66- 2 GB
Red Sox: 86-68- 4 GB
Tigers: 85-69- 5 GB
Orioles: 82-72- 8 GB
Indians: 75-79- 15 GB
Blue Jays: 55-99- 35 GB

In the West:

Rangers: 89-65 (Magic Number: 4)
Athletics: 85-70- 4.5 GB
Royals: 78-76- 11 GB
Angels: 78-77- 11.5 GB
White Sox: 77-77- 12 GB
Twins: 57-97- 32 GB
Mariners: 56-98- 33 GB

Next: We look at July 30.

Thoughts?

 

[Garrett Garlits]

Here's the American League Report for Thursday, July 30:

Texas 6, Baltimore 3
W: Fergie Jenkins (9-9)
S: Steve Comer (9)
L: Mike Flanagan (14-9)
HR- BAL: Doug DeCinces (14), Lenn Sakata (10)

Fergie Jenkins and His Orchestra pitched seven strong innings and the Rangers took the lead for good with a three-run fifth. The Rangers' magic number to clinch the West now stands at three.

Boston 13, Toronto 1
W: Mike Torrez (18-5)
L: Luis Leal (9-17)
HR- BOS: Jim Rice (35), Dave Stapleton (14), Tony Perez (13)

The Sox scored two in the third, four in the fourth, and six in the sixth to blow out the hapless Jays. Jim Rice drove in five runs, and Dave Stapleton added four more RBIs for the victors. With the loss, the Jays become the first team this season to lose a hundred games.

Minnesota 10, Cleveland 6
W: Don Cooper (2-6)
S: Doug Corbett (20)
L: Sid Monge (6-6)
HR- MIN: Ron Jackson 2 (7)
CLE: Jorge Orta (6)

The Twins broke a 6-6 tie with four in the top of the ninth to get the win at The Mistake by The Lake. Ron Jackson smacked homers in both the eighth and ninth for Minnesota and drove in five runs on the evening. Jorge Orta had a three-run blast for Cleveland in the bottom of the first.

Detroit 4, Seattle 2
W: Dan Petry (17-14)
S: Kevin Saucier (17)
L: Mike Parrott (3-10)
HR- DET: Lance Parrish 2 (17)

Lance Parrish's two home runs were the difference in the Tigers' win over the Mariners. The Tiger backstop homered in the second and sixth, with the dinger in the sixth traveling an estimated 430 feet. Dan Petry got the win, giving up just six hits in eight innings, and Kevin Saucier struvk out Budd Buling with the tying run at first in the top of the ninth to end the game. Buling and Joe Simpson had the Seattle RBIs.

Angels 3, Milwaukee 1
W: Don Aase (10-7)
S: Andy Hassler (6)
L: Pete Vuckovich (14-5)
HR- MIL: Charlie Moore (2)

Bobby Grich's eighth-inning single untied this one, as the Angels reduced the Brewers' elimination number in the East to six. That's not the only bad news for Milwaukee; second baseman Jim Gantner was hit by a pitch in the third and is day-to-day with a badly bruised hand.

Yankees 18, Oakland 1
W: Tommy John (13-11)
L: Rick Langford (13-13)
HR- OAK: Dwayne Murphy (31)
NYY: Jerry Mumphrey (9), Oscar Gamble (24)

The Yankees blew the reeling A's out of Yankee Stadium, and Oakland's elimination number is down to two. Jerry Mumphrey homered as part of a four-RBI performance, while Rick Cerone and Graig Nettles drove in three runs apiece and Willie Randolph, Dave Winfield and Oscar Gamble two apiece, with Gamble's pair coming on his home run. Both losing pitcher Rick Langford and reliever Matt Keough were pushed to the brink of physical damage, and catcher Jeff Newman had to get the last out in the bottom of the eighth.

The Yankees now lead the Brewers by three games in the East, and their magic number to clinch the division is down to five.

Kansas City 9, White Sox 8
W: Jim Wright (5-3)
L: Ed Farmer (4-7)
HR- CWS: Wayne Nordhagen (10)
KC: Clint Hurdle (9), Willie Aikens (26)

Amos Otis drove in the game-winning run for the Royals as he walked with the bases loaded in the ninth.

The standings in the East to the moment:

Yankees: 91-64 (Magic Number: 5)
Brewers: 88-67- 3 GB
Red Sox: 87-68- 4 GB
Tigers: 86-69- 5 GB
Orioles: 82-73- 9 GB
Indians: 75-80- 16 GB
Blue Jays: 55-100- 36 GB

In the West:

Rangers: 90-65 (Magic Number: 2)
Athletics: 85-71- 5.5 GB
Royals: 79-76- 11 GB
Angels: 79-77- 11.5 GB
White Sox: 77-78- 13 GB
Twins: 58-97- 32 GB
Mariners: 56-99- 34 GB

Special thanks to Joe Ray for today's report. Desmond will return tomorrow.

Next: We look at July 31.

Thoughts?

 

[Garrett Garlits]

Here's the American League Report for Friday, July 31:

Boston 10, Chicago 4
WP - Mike Torrez (19-5)
LP - Britt Burns (15-12)
HR - CWS: Carlton Fisk (23)
BOS: Dwight Evans (41), Carney Lansford (7), Tony Perez (14)

Summary: The only solace in defeat for the Pale Hose was that Fisk homered against his former team.

Cleveland 4, Milwaukee 2
WP - Bert Blyleven (18-8)
LP - Moose Haas (14-12)
HR - CLE: Rick Manning (14)

Summary: The Brewers blew a chance to keep pace in the AL East, leaving twelve runners on base in the loss. Their elimination number is down to four, and they're back in a tie with the Red Sox for second place in the East.

Toronto 3, Detroit 2 (10 innings)
WP - Juan Berenguer (4-10)
LP - Dave Tobik (2-4)
HR - TOR: George Bell (18)

Summary: The future AL MVP won it with a leadoff home run in the tenth.

Baltimore 8, Kansas City 7 (10 innings)
WP- Sammy Stewart (6-10)
LP- Jim Wright (5-4)

Wayne Krenchicki's tenth-inning single knocked home Ken Singleton with the winning run. The Os trailed 6-1 after eight, then scored six in the top of the ninth off of Dan Quisenberry on just four hits. But George Brett singled home Clint Hurdle in the bottom of the ninth to force extra frames. The two teams combined to use eleven pitchers.

NY Yankees 6, Texas 2
WP - Dave Righetti (9-6)
LP - Steve Comer (13-4)
HR - NYY: Dave Winfield (27), Oscar Gamble (25)

Summary: The Yankees led 4-0 after one inning and that was that. Their magic number to clinch the East is now down to three, while the Rangers' magic number to clinch the West remains at two.

California 14, Minnesota 0
WP - Ken Forsch (15-11)
LP - Al Williams (12-18)
HR - CAL: Brian Downing (27), Don Baylor (21), Fred Lynn (11), Bert Campaneris (2), Rick Burleson (7)

Summary: The Halos clouted five home runs in their rout over the hapless Twinkies. The win puts them back in sole possession of third place in the West.

The standings in the East to the moment:

Yankees: 92-64 (Magic Number: 3)
(tie) Brewers: 88-68- 4 GB
(tie) Red Sox: 88-68- 4 GB

Tigers: 86-70- 6 GB
Orioles: 83-73- 9 GB
Indians: 76-80- 16 GB
Blue Jays: 56-100- 36 GB

In the West:

Rangers: 90-66 (Magic Number: 2)
Athletics: 85-71- 5 GB
Angels: 80-77- 10.5 GB
Royals: 79-77- 11 GB
White Sox: 77-79- 13 GB
Twins: 58-98- 32 GB
Mariners: 56-99- 33.5 GB

Next: We look at August 1.

Thoughts?

 

[Garrett Garlits]

Here's the American League Report for Saturday, August 1:

Milwaukee 10, Cleveland 2
WP - Moose Haas (15-12)
LP - Bert Blyleven (18-9)
HR - MIL: Ben Ogilvie (28), Robin Yount (21), Larry Hisle (5)

The Brewers pounded out seventeen hits to earn a doubleheader split and cling to life in the East.

Toronto 9, Detroit 2
W: Mark Bomback (6-7)
L: Howard Bailey (2-5)
HR- TOR: Buck Martinez (6)
DET: Lance Parrish (18)

The Jays used a six-run third to swamp the Tigers. Buck Martinez's three-run homer in the third was the key blow. They added one in the fourth and two in the sixth. Lance Parrish's second-inning inside-the-park homer was the lone bright spot for Detroit.

Baltimore 7, Kansas City 5
W: Sammy Stewart (7-10)
S: Tippy Martinez (15)
L: Renie Martin (4-10)
HR- BAL: Lenn Sakata (11)
KC: Willie Aikens (27)

The Os took the lead for good with a four-run seventh which was capped by a Doug DeCinces two-run double. Lenn Sakata added four hits, including a home run, and drove in a pair of runs; Terry Crowley drove in another pair. Sakata's two errors ended up not costing the Os.

Boston 6, White Sox 2
W: Mark Clear (10-4)
S: Tom Burgmeier (10)
L: Ross Baumgarten (6-11)

Jerry Remy paced this vital victory for the Red Sox with three hits. The Bosox scored two in the first and three in the third, and their hurlers held the Pale Hose to just five hits. Tony Bernazard and Harold Baines knocked in the Chicago runs. The Red Sox are now back in sole possession of second place in the East, and their elimination number is three.

Seattle 4, Oakland 1 (NBC: Bob Costas, Willie McCovey)
W: Mike Parrott (4-10)
S: Shane Rawley (9)
L: Mike Norris (19-12)
HR- SEA: Paul Serna (5)

The last-place Mariners stunned the A's at the Oakland Coliseum. All of Seattle's runs came on a sixth-inning grand slam by rookie shortstop Paul Serna. Wayne Gross knocked in Oakland's only run with a fifth-inning single. If the Rangers can beat the Yankees, they'll wrap up the Western Division title.

Texas 3, Yankees 2 (NBC: Joe Garagiola, Tony Kubek)
W: Steve Comer (14-4)
L: George Frazier (0-2)
HR- NYY: Reggie Jackson (25)

We have a new champion in the West, as Billy Sample singled home the winning run in the bottom of the ninth off of Yankee reliever George Frazier. Sample knocked in two of the three Ranger runs today. The Yanks' magic number to clinch the East remains at three.

California 7, Minnesota 1
W: Steve Renko (10-8)
L: Fernando Arroyo (9-19)
HR- CAL: Bobby Grich 2 (28)
MIN: Gary Ward (7)

Bobby Grich homered in the fourth and sixth and drove in five runs to pace the California victory. Gary Ward went deep for the Twins.

The standings in the East to the moment:

Yankees: 92-65 (Magic Number: 3)
Red Sox: 89-68- 3 GB
Brewers: 89-69- 3.5 GB
Tigers: 86-71- 6 GB
Orioles: 84-73- 8 GB
Indians: 77-81- 15.5 GB
Blue Jays: 57-100- 35 GB

In the West:

Rangers: 91-66 (clinched)
Athletics: 85-72- 6 GB
Angels: 81-77- 10.5 GB
Royals: 79-78- 12 GB
White Sox: 77-80- 14 GB
Twins: 58-99- 33 GB
Mariners: 57-99- 33.5 GB

Note: The AL West season is now finished except for games that will help determine the race in the AL East. This means that tomorrow's Twins-Angels, Orioles-Royals, and Mariners-A's games have been canceled due to the lack of a collective bargaining agreement. More cancellations will be announced when they are official.

Special thanks to Joe Ray for today's report. Desmond will return tomorrow.

Next: We look at August 2.

Thoughts?

 

[Garrett Garlits]

Here's the American League Report for Sunday, August 2:

NY Yankees 10, Texas 1
WP - Ron Davis (10-9)
LP - Jon Matlack (5-10)
HR - NYY: Reggie Jackson (26), Bobby Murcer (13), Rick Cerone (4)

Summary: The Yanks used the longball to rout the disinterested Rangers and reduce their magic number for clinching the East to two,

Chicago 12, Boston 9
WP - LaMarr Hoyt (13-6)
SV- Salome Barojas (1)
LP - Bob Stanley (12-11)
HR - CWS: Chet Lemon (14), Carlton Fisk (24)
BOS: Dwight Evans 2 (43)

Summary: The lead changed hands four times in this game before the White Sox scored three times in the eighth to win it. Barojas picked up his first career save. The loss by the Red Sox lowers their elimination number to one.

Milwaukee 5, Cleveland 0
WP - Pete Vuckovich (15-6)
LP - Rick Waits (13-17)
HR - MIL: Gorman Thomas 2 (42)

Summary: Thomas gave the Brewers all the offense they needed as their elimination number stays at one . They're also back in second place in the East by themselves.

Detroit 4, Toronto 1
WP - Dan Schatzeder (11-11)
LP - Luis Leal (9-18)
HR - DET: Tom Brookens (12)

Summary: The Jays loaded the bases in the eighth inning but failed to score.

The standings in the East to the moment:

Yankees: 93-65 (Magic Number: 1)
Brewers: 90-69- 3.5 GB
Red Sox: 89-69- 4 GB
Tigers: 87-71- 6 GB
Orioles: 84-73- 8.5 GB
Indians: 77-82- 16.5 GB
Blue Jays: 57-101- 36 GB

In the West:

Rangers: 91-67 (clinched)
Athletics: 85-72- 5.5 GB
Angels: 81-77- 10 GB
Royals: 79-78- 11.5 GB
White Sox: 78-80- 13 GB
Twins: 58-99- 32.5 GB
Mariners: 57-99- 33 GB

Note: Only three games will be played tomorrow: Yankees-Blue Jays, Orioles-Red Sox, and Brewers-White Sox. The other three games (Indians-Rangers, Twins-Mariners, and Tigers-Royals) have been canceled due to the lack of a collective bargaining agreement. More cancellations will be announced if the season goes beyond tomorrow.

The scenario for tomorrow is simple: A Yankees win or a loss by either the Brewers or Red Sox gives the East to the Yankees.

Next: We look at August 3.

Thoughts?

 

[Garrett Garlits]

Here's the American League Report for Monday, August 3:

Boston 3, Baltimore 2 (10 innings; ABC: Al Michaels, Bob Uecker)
WP - Bill Campbell (4-1)
LP - Sammy Stewart (7-11)

Summary: The Red Sox prevailed when Rick Dempsey made a throwing error on a bunt, allowing Rick Miller to score.

NY Yankees 6, Toronto 5 (ABC: Don Drysdale, Bill White)
WP - Ron Guidry (21-9)
SV- Goose Gossage (25)
LP - Mike Willis (3-9)
HR - NYY: Oscar Gamble (26), Jerry Mumphrey (10)
TOR: George Bell (19), Jesse Barfield (8)

Summary: The Blue Jays scored four in the ninth, but Gossage struck out the last two batters to hold them off and clinch the East for the Yankees.

Chicago 8, Milwaukee 1 (ABC: Keith Jackson, Howard Cosell)
WP - Britt Burns (16-12)
LP - Pete Vuckovich (15-7)
HR - CWS: Carlton Fisk 3 (27)

Summary: Fisk's three-homer game helped the White Sox rout the Brewers, who end up in a tie for second with the Red Sox.

Here are the final standings in the East:

Yankees: 94-65 (clinched)
(tie) Red Sox: 90-69- 4 GB
(tie) Brewers: 90-69- 4 GB

Tigers: 87-71- 6.5 GB
Orioles: 84-74- 9.5 GB
Indians: 76-82- 17 GB
Blue Jays: 57-102- 37 GB

In the West:

Rangers: 91-67 (clinched)
Athletics: 85-72- 5.5 GB
Angels: 81-77- 10 GB
Royals: 79-78- 11.5 GB
White Sox: 79-80- 12.5 GB
Twins: 58-99- 32.5 GB
Mariners: 57-99- 33 GB

Next: Game 1 of the ALCS. Tommy John will take the ball for the Yanks, while Fergie Jenkins will do so for the Rangers. The Rangers have home field advantage as the Western champs, which means that the first two games will be at Yankee Stadium.

Thoughts?

 

[Garrett Garlits]

Now it's time for Game 1 of the American League Championship Series from Yankee Stadium in New York. The date is Wednesday, October 7. Our announcers are Joe Garagiola and Tony Kubek for NBC Television and Ernie Harwell and Curt Gowdy for CBS Radio:

Weather- 54 degrees, mostly cloudy, west wind at 23 MPH.

Yankees 1st: Center fielder Jerry Mumphrey led off the game by beating out an infield hit. Shortstop Larry Milbourne singled to center to put pinstripes on the corners with nobody out, and left fielder Dave Winfield brought Mumphrey home with a base hit to left center that gave the Yanks a 1-0 lead. Rangers starter John Butcher, who was a last-minute replacement for scheduled starter Fergie Jenkins, rebounded to strike right fielder Reggie Jackson out looking, retire designated hitter Oscar Gamble on a pop to first, and strike out third baseman Graig Nettles swinging to end the inning. After one, it's Yankees 1, Rangers 0.

Butcher and Yankees starter Tommy John engaged in a real pitcher's duel. Through six and a half innings, John had shut out the Rangers on four hits, which was anticipated if not expected, and Butcher had held the Yankees to three hits, which absolutely no one had expected. Butcher had pitched out of two-on, one-out jams in both the third and fourth, while the Rangers had put two on and failed to score in both the second and fifth.

Yankees 7th: With one out, Mumphrey singled off the glove of Rangers third baseman Buddy Bell, then stole second. Milbourne's base hit to right center brought him home, and the Yankees led 2-0. Winfield grounded into a 6-4-3 double play to end the inning, but the Yanks have added another tally here in the seventh, and go to the eighth leading 2-0.

Rangers 8th: Center fielder Tom Poquette led off the inning with a routine grounder to second, but Yankee second baseman Willie Randolph couldn't find the handle, allowing Poquette to reach. John retired designated hitter Al Oliver on a liner to Yankee first baseman Bob Watson and struck Bell out swinging, then faced Ranger first sacker Pat Putnam. Here's how Curt called it for CBS Radio:

"John's pitching a shutout so far, and the Rangers need some big offense in a hurry down 2-0. This is one of the guys who can give it to them, but he's down two strikes. In the Yankee eighth, it's Jackson, Gamble and Nettles, probably against Steve Comer. John checks the sign from Cerone, and here's the 0-2 pitch...........down the right field line, Jackson giving chase, the wind's got hold of it, at the wall......HOME RUN!........That's what they call a wind-blown home run, but it still counts, and Putnam's tied the game at two for Texas here in the eighth."

Harwell: "It looked like Reggie would make the catch at first, Curt, but that gusty wind took the ball away from him, quite literally. Putnam's a home run threat, but that ball didn't look like one off the bat. As you said, though, it still counts, and this game is tied."

Yankees manager Bob Lemon replaced John with Ron Davis, who retired left fielder Johnny Grubb on a fly to Mumphrey in deep right center to end the inning. But Putnam's dinger has drawn the Western champs even at two after seven and a half.

Yankees closer Goose Gossage pitched out of a first-and-second, two-out jam in the top of the ninth, and eventually this one went to extra innings.

Yankees 10th: Rangers reliever Charlie Hough retired Milbourne on a fly to right center and struck Winfield out swinging. Next up was Reggie, who showed the world once more why he's known as Mr. October. Here's how Joe G. called it for NBC:

"Two down, nobody on, as Hough's knuckleball badly fooled Winfield. He's six-six, and he looked like he was halfway to Hartford with that last swing. Let's see what Reggie can do with it. 0 for 2 tonight, plus two walks. Yankees 2, Rangers 2, bottom of the tenth. Here's Hough's first pitch......HAMMERED TO DEEP LEFT CENTER! POQUETTE GOING BACK, BUT THIS ONE'S WAY OUTTA HERE! YANKEES TAKE GAME 1, 3-2!...........Well, I asked what he could do with it, and we certainly saw, didn't we?"

Tony Kubek: "Sometimes with a knuckler, the pitcher just doesn't get anything on it, and this was one of those times. Reggie couldn't have hit it better if it had been teed up for him, Joe. And there you see, Hough knew it."

Final score in ten: Yankees 3, Rangers 2, and the Yanks lead the series one game to none.

Final totals: Yankees 3-6-2, Rangers 2-6-2.

W- Gossage (1-0)
L- Hough (0-1)

HR- TEX: Putnam (1)
NYY: Jackson (1)

Reggie was, of course, named Player of the Game by NBC.

Game 2 will be tomorrow night here at Yankee Stadium. Rick Honeycutt will start for the Rangers, while Rudy May will pitch for the Yanks.

Next: We look at Game 2.

Thoughts?

 

[Garrett Garlits]

Now it's time for Game 2 of the American League Championship Series from Yankee Stadium in New York. The date is Thursday, October 8:

Lineup Changes:

Rangers- Former Yankee Mickey Ruvers gets the start in center field and will bat second, which means that Tom Poquette moves from center to left field and will bat sixth.

Weather- 54 degrees, scattered clouds, wind northwest at 20 MPH.

Rangers 2nd: Buddy Bell was the leadoff man against Yankee starter Rudy May, and he gave the Lawmen the lead in style. Here's Curt Gowdy for CBS Radio:

"One and one to Buddy Bell, a dangerous hitter who's come into his own in Texas. Bell handled all three chances in the last half-inning, as (Rangers starter Rick) Honeycutt retired the Yankees in order. May gets the sign, here's the 1-1 pitch........fly ball high and deep to center, it's up into that wind, Mumphrey going back to the track, at the wall........GONE!........Buddy Bell has given the Rangers the lead on another of those wind-blown homers, much like the one (Pat) Putnam hit last night, Ernie."

Ernie Harwell: "The strong winds aren't helping out the home team at all, as once a ball is taken by them, it tends to go out. Mumphrey gave chase as best he could, but the ball just kept going beyond him and over the wall."

Poquette singled to right with one out, but May got catcher Jim Sundberg to pop to Graig Nettles at third and right fielder Leon Roberts to ground to Larry Milbourne at short to retire the side. After one and a half, the Rangers have broken on top 1-0 thanks to the homer by Bell.

Yankees 3rd: After two out, Mumphrey plopped a single into left center. Milbourne moved him to third with a clean base hit to right, and Dave Winfield brought him home by lashing a base hit to right center, with Milbourne moving to third. Reggie was next, but his hot smash found second baseman Bump Wills' glove for the final out. The Yanks have tied the game with three consecutive hits, and after three we're even at one.

The Rangers got runners to second and third in the fourth, but Roberts grounded into an inning-ending double play. The Yankees had the go-ahead run at third in the fifth, but couldn't bring him home.

Rangers 6th: After one out, Bell struck the Yankees again. Here's Tony Kubek's call on NBC:

"Bell's already had one homer tonight, but that's all the Rangers have been able to get against May. Each team with a run on five hits. Here's the pitch to him......fly ball to left center, Mumphrey on the run, it's carrying, Mumphrey leaps, AND IT'S GONE AGAIN!.........Buddy Bell has just hit his second homer of the night to give the Rangers a 2-1 lead here in the sixth, and the wind got a hold of this one too, Joe."

Joe Garagiola: "Bell's powerful enough that he doesn't need any help, but he's certainly gotten it on these balls. All three of the Texas home runs in this series have gotten up into the jet stream; the only homer that would have been gone no matter what was Jackson's game-winner last night."

Putnam fouled out to Bob Watson at first, and Poquette grounded to short to end the inning, but Bell's second homer of the night has given the AL West champs a 2-1 lead after five and a half.

The Yankees got the tying run to third in the last of the sixth, but stranded him there.

Rangers 7th: Sundberg led off with a single to left center. Roberts lined a single up the middle to put two men on, but he was forced at second by shortstop Mario Mendoza. With Wills at the plate, May threw one halfway to New Jersey, and by the time catcher Rick Cerone could corral it, Sundberg had scored to make it 3-1 Texas, with Mendoza moving to second. Wills grounded to short, and Rivers tapped to first to end the inning. It's a sullen crowd that gets up to stretch at the Stadium, and that's because their heroes are now down 3-1.

Rangers 9th: George Frazier was the new pitcher for the Yankees in the ninth, and he immediately got into trouble when he issued back-to-back walks to Sundberg and Roberts. With no one else to use at short in the bottom of the ninth, Rangers manager Don Zimmer was forced to let Mendoza hit for himself, and Mario surprised the world by drilling a double into the left center power alley. Sundberg and Roberts both scored, and the Rangers led 5-1. Wills' base hit to left center scored Mendoza with run number six, and there was still nobody out. Rivers drew a five-pitch walk, and after designated hitter Al Oliver flew to right center, Bell walked to load the bases and end Frazier's evening.

Dave LaRoche was the next one out of the Yankee pen, and the trouble didn't stop. Putnam's seeing-eye base hit to right center scored Wills and Rivers to make it 8-1, and Poquette's single to right scored Bell with run number nine. Next, it was back to Sundberg, and he walked for the second time in the inning to load the bases yet again. Yankees skipper Bob Lemon reluctantly went to Ron Davis to try and stop the massacre, but his first pitch to Roberts was smacked into right center for a hit that scored Putnam and Poquette to make it 11-1. Mendoza grounded into a 6-4-3 double play to end the inning at long last, but the Rangers had shelled the New York bullpen for eight runs on five hits and five walks. The Yankees went down easily against Honeycutt in the bottom of the ninth, and the Rangers had scored an 11-1 rout that tied the series at a game apiece.

Final totals: Rangers 11-13-0, Yankees 1-7-1.

W- Honeycutt (1-0)
L- May (0-1)

HR- TEX: Bell 2 (2)

Despite Bell's heroics at the plate, the Player of the Game award went to Honeycutt, who pitched a complete game, allowing just one run on seven hits without allowing a walk and despite recording just one strikeout (Winfield in the eighth). He only threw a hundred and five pitches.

Game 3 will be at Arlington Stadium on Saturday night. Dave Righetti will start for the Yanks, while Doc Medich, another former Yankee, takes the ball for the Rangers.

Next: We look at Game 3.

Thoughts?

 

[Garrett Garlits]

Now it's time for Game 3 of the American League Championship Series from Arlington Stadium in Arlington, Texas. The date is Saturday, October 10:

Lineup Changes:

Yankees- Reggie Jackson developed back spasms on the flight to Dallas, so he's on the bench. Oscar Gamble moves to right field to take his place, and Bobby Murcer will serve as the designated hitter and bat cleanup. It's uncertain whether Reggie can even pinch hit.

Rangers starter Doc Medich loaded the bases in the top of the first, but the Yankees couldn't score.

Rangers 1st: After two out, Al Oliver singled to right. Buddy Bell singled to left to put two men on and bring up Pat Putnam, who lined Yankees starter Dave Righetti's first pitch off the wall in right for a double. Oliver scored, and the Rangers led 1-0. Next up was Tom Poquette, who drilled one into the power alley in right center. Bell and Putnam scored to give Texas a 3-0 lead, and Yankee fans everywhere were wondering why twenty-one game winner Ron Guidry was being held back until Game 4. Jim Sundberg tapped to first to end the inning, but the Lawmen have treated the rookie Righetti rudely in the first, scoring three runs on four hits to take a 3-0 lead after one.

Rangers 2nd: Leon Roberts led off with a ground-rule double to right center. After Mario Mendoza popped to Larry Milbourne at short, Bump Wills singled to left center to score Roberts and put the Rangers up 4-0. Rick Reuschel began to throw in the Yankee bullpen, but after Wills stole second, Righetti came back to strike out both Mickey Rivers and Oliver swinging to end the inning. The Rangers thus have to settle for one and a 4-0 lead after two.

Rangers 4th: With one out, Roberts lined a double to left center. A balk was then called on Righetti by home plate umpire Jerry Neudecker, which moved Roberts to third and enraged both Righetti and Yankee manager Bob Lemon. Lemon sprinted from the dugout to stop Righetti from being ejected, and he barely made it at the cost of his own evening. Bench coach Joe Altobelli took over as manager, and Righetti struck out Mendoza for out number two, but walked Wills on a questionable ball four. This time it was Altobelli who had to save Righetti's hide, and for the second time in the same inning it cost the Yankees a manager.

Now Yogi Berra was in charge, and his reign began with Rivers' single up the middle which brought home Roberts with the fifth Texas run. Catcher Rick Cerone threw Rivers out to end the inning, and the second the out was recorded Righetti charged Neudecker and was tossed. The damage: one run, two hits, three ejections, and one man left on base. After four, it's Texas 5. New York 0.

After the inning, the Yankees announced that they were playing the rest of the game under protest.

Yankees 6th: Milbourne began the inning with a single to right. He was forced by Dave Winfield, and Murcer's single to right put pinstripes on the corners with nobody out. Gamble went down swinging for out number one, but Graig Nettles' base hit to right center scored Winfield and put the Eastern champs on the board. Bob Watson followed with a dying quail which found friendly grass in left center. Murcer scored, and it was 5-2. The tying run came to the plate in the person of Cerone, but he grounded to Bell to end the inning with Nettles still at third and Watson still at first. After five and a half, it's Lawmen 5, Pinstripes 2.

Yankees 7th: We pick up the action with one out and Mumphrey at the plate. Here's Ernie Harwell:

"Texas leading 5-2 here in the top of the seventh, and here's Mumphrey, he's one for three with a single in the first. Medich had a shutout through five, but the Yankees got to him with a pair in the sixth, and now they want to stay on him. Here's the first pitch....that's a high flyball deep to center, Rivers sprints back, does he have a chance, it's still going.......NO, IT'S GONE!.......Home run Jerry Mumphrey, his first of the series, and we're looking at a 5-3 game."

Curt Gowdy: "Mumphrey showed some power down the stretch, and he got all of this one. Medich looks a bit tired, Ernie, and I think we'll see the bullpen get up shortly."

Indeed we do, as Steve Comer started to throw in the Ranger pen. Meanwhile, Milbourne kept things going with a single to right, and Winfield walked on five pitches. Then a roar came up from the crowd, as Mr. October himself strode to the plate to bat for Murcer. Reggie ended up drawing another walk to load the bases, and up stepped Gamble:

Harwell: "For those of you wondering why Yogi Berra used Jackson to hit for Murcer instead of Gamble, Reggie can't play the field at all tonight. It's DH or nothing, at least for this game. Tomorrow may be a different story. Meanwhile, Gamble's ahead in the count 2-0, and there's nowhere to put him. Milbourne at third, Winfield at second, and Jackson at first. Medich rocks and deals......groundball gets past Putnam, base hit! Milbourne scores! Here comes Winfield! Reggie makes his way to second before he pulls up, and this game's brand new at five!"

Gowdy: "They're going to have Rudy May come out and run for Jackson before he hurts himself any more. And you can bet that there will be plenty of people questioning why Medich was in there instead of their bullpen aces (Steve) Comer or (Jim) Kern. Comer's coming in now, but it may be too little, too late."

The new Ranger hurler retired Nettles on a pop to short and Watson on a hot smash to Bell at third, but the Yanks have scored three runs on three hits and two walks, and we stretch in Arlington all tied up at five.

Yankees 8th: With one out, Willie Randolph walked, and with two out Milbourne did the same. That brought up "Mr. May" himself, Winfield. Here's Joe Garagiola:

"Randolph at second, Milbourne at first, and there you see Aurelio Rodriguez, the new DH, on deck. Winfield 0 for 3 tonight, but he's scored twice. Right now, he'd love a base hit. Comer checks the runners, and here's the pitch.........ground ball, BASE HIT LEFT CENTER FIELD! Here comes Randolph to score, and the Yankees have come all the way back to take the lead 6-5!"

Tony Kubek: "Winfield going with the pitch, not trying to hit a home run, just a nice easy base hit."

Garagiola: "That monkey on his back must have weighed about a hundred tons."

Rodriguez grounded to second to end the inning, but the Yanks had indeed come all the way back to take a 6-5 lead after seven and a half. Ron Davis pitched out of a first-and-third jam in the eighth, and Goose Gossage set the Rangers down in order in the ninth. Final score: Yankees 6, Rangers 5, and the Yankees now lead the series two games to one with a chance to clinch the pennant tomorrow night in Game 4.

Final totals: Yankees 6-12-0, Rangers 5-10-0.

W- Davis (1-0)
S- Gossage (1)
L- Medich (0-1)

HR- NYY: Mumphrey (1)

Winfield's game-winning hit made him the easy choice for Player of the Game.

Game 4 will be tomorrow night here at Arlington Stadium. Ron Guidry will take the mound for the Yanks, while the Rangers will turn to Fergie Jenkins to help save their season.

Next: We look at Game 4.

Thoughts?

 

[Garrett Garlits]

Now it's time for Game 4 of the American League Championship Series from Arlington Stadium in Arlington, Texas. The date is Sunday, October 11:

Lineup Changes:

Yankees- Reggie Jackson's back has improved enough for him to start in right field and bat cleanup, though we may see a defensive replacement late in the game. Oscar Gamble is back in the DH role and is batting sixth, with Graig Nettles moving up to fifth. The top of the lineup is different as well; Willie Randolph is now in the leadoff spot, with Jerry Mumphrey batting second. Larry Milbourne is now batting eighth, with Rick Cerone ninth.

Rangers- Mark Wagner will start at shortstop in place of Mario Mendoza and bat ninth.

Since there was no real-life Game 4, let's check the umpires for tonight's game:

Home Plate: Marty Springstead
First Base: Durwood Merrill
Second Base: Vic Voltaggio
Third Base: Nick Bremigan
Left Field: Russ Goetz
Right Field: Jerry Neudecker

Rangers 2nd: After two out, Tom Poquette singled to right. Jim Sundberg's single to center put runners at the corners, and Leon Roberts' base hit to center brought home Poquette and gave the Rangers a 1-0 lead. Things got worse for New York when starter Ron Guidry and catcher Rick Cerone got their signals crossed, which resulted in a passed ball charged to Cerone, Sundberg crossing the plate, and a 2-0 Texas lead. Wagner's fly ball to Winfield in left ended the inning, but the Rangers have scored twice to take a 2-0 lead after two.

Yankees 3rd: Randolph drew a leadoff walk. Mumphrey singled to right to move Willie to third, then Winfield walked to load the bases. That brought up Reggie, who lined a base hit to right center that scored Randolph and Mumphrey to tie the game at two. Winfield moved to third, but that was all the Yanks could muster, as Nettles' liner was caught by Buddy Bell at third and Gamble grounded into a 6-4-3 double play. The Yanks have scored twice to tie things up at two after two and a half.

Rangers 3rd: Bump Wills grounded a leadoff single to left, and Mickey Rivers followed his lead to put runners at first and third. Al Oliver then launched a fly ball deep to right. Jackson took an extra second to get untracked, but eventually made the catch just before the warning track. Knowing that there was little chance of an accurate throw, Wills jogged home from third, and the Rangers led 3-2. Buddy Bell's single to left moved Rivers to third, but Guidry recovered to strike out Pat Putnam looking and retire Poquette on a fly to right. The Rangers have taken the lead, and are treating Guidry roughly, to say the least. After three, it's Lawmen 3, Pinstripes 2.

The Yankees had runners at first and third in the fourth, but couldn't score.

Rangers 4th: Sundberg led off with a base hit to left center, and Roberts followed with a base hit to right center. Wagner doubled over Reggie's head in right to score both Sundberg and Roberts to make it 5-2, and Reggie limped to the dugout, waving in Lou Piniella to take his place. "He couldn't even get started on that ball," noted Tony Kubek. "It's a miracle that he was out there at all."

When action resumed, Wills lined a base hit to right that scored Wagner with the sixth Texas run. Arlington Stadium was a madhouse, and Guidry's night was finished. Rick Reuschel came in and restored order, as Rivers forced Wills at second and Oliver grounded into a 4-6-3 inning-ending double play. The Rangers have struck for three runs on four hits here in the fourth and knocked Guidry out of the box. After four, it's Texas 6, New York 2.

Before I forget, let's spotlight some excellent defense from Bell. Here's the very first out of the game as called by Ernie Harwell:

"Two-two pitch to Randolph........grounder through the hole STOPPED BY BELL! Can he get him at first......yes!.......That ball was headed for left field, but Buddy Bell dove to his right almost halfway to shortstop, smothered the ball, then threw to Putnam for the out."

Now back to the top of the fifth, with Dave Winfield at the plate. Again, here's Ernie:

"Winfield up there first-pitch swinging, line shot......DIVING GRAB BY BELL FOR THE OUT!.......That was a bullet hit right at Bell, but he made it look easy. One out in the fifth."

Rangers 5th: Speaking of Bell, he led off this inning with a single to right. Putnam followed with a base hit to center, and Poquette lined a base hit to right to score Buddy and put the Rangers in front 7-2. Reuschel got Sundberg to ground into a 4-6-3 double play, with Putnam moving to third, and Roberts grounded to short to end the inning. The Rangers have added another tally, and after five their lead is now 7-2.

Rangers 7th: After one out, Putnam walked. Poquette's base hit to right center put runners at the corners, and Sundberg's base hit to left center scored Putnam to make it an 8-2 game, with Poquette moving to third. Roberts made it three straight hits with a single to left, bringing home Poquette to make it 9-2 and excusing Reuschel for the night. Youngster Gene Nelson was called on to clean up the mess. This he did not accomplish, as Wagner beat out an infield single to load the bases. Then, Wills put the finishing touches on the evening. Here's Joe Garagiola:

"This place has been crazy since the Rangers took the lead. Imagine what it'll be like in a Game 5 with the pennant on the line. One strike to Wills, Nelson nods at Cerone, and here's the pitch......ground ball, PAST NETTLES AND DOWN THE LINE! HERE THEY ALL COME! Sundberg's in! Roberts is in! Will they send Wagner? Yes!......... Throw cut off by Randolph, and the Rangers are pouring it on, 12-2!"

Kubek: "Wills is having the night of his life, Joe."

Garagiola: "So are the Rangers and their fans! Who says Dallas is just a football town? Listen to this crowd!"

The fun wasn't quite over yet; Nelson walked Rivers, and after Oliver flew to right, Bell walked as well. But with a chance to truly humiliate the Yanks, the Rangers were stopped thanks to Mumphrey. Here's Joe, with Putnam at the plate:

"One-one pitch....fly ball, not too deep to right center, but it's dropping. Mumphrey on the dead run.........CAUGHT IT!......What hustle by Mumphrey. If that had dropped, at least two more runs would have scored. You don't always see hustle like that in a blowout."

That was all the scoring; the Rangers have evened the series at two games apiece with a 12-2 drubbing of the Yankees, and the pennant will be on the line in tomorrow's Game 5.

Final totals: Rangers 12-20-2, Yankees 2-6-0.

W- Jenkins (1-0)
L- Guidry (0-1)

Wills was named Player of the Game by NBC. He went four for five on the night with four RBIs and scored a run, with his major contribution being his bases-clearing double in the seventh.

Game 5 for all the marbles will take place tomorrow afternoon at Arlington Stadium. Tommy John will take the mound for the Yanks, and Danny Darwin will do the same for the Rangers.

Next: We look at Game 5.

Thoughts?

 

[Garrett Garlits]

Now it's time for Game 5 of the American League Championship Series from Arlington Stadium in Arlington, Texas. The date is Monday, October 12:

Lineup Changes:

Yankees- Lou Piniella will take Oscar Gamble's place as the designated hitter and bat fifth.

Here are today's umpires:

Home Plate: Durwood Merrill
First Base: Vic Voltaggio
Second Base: Nick Bremigan
Third Base: Russ Goetz
Left Field: Jerry Neudecker
Right Field: Marty Springstead

Through five innings, we had a scoreless pitcher's duel. Tommy John had blanked the Rangers on four hits, while Danny Darwin had done the same to the Yanks on just three hits.

Yankees 6th: Jerry Mumphrey led off with a high chopper over Darwin's head for an infield hit. Dave Winfield walked to put two men on. Darwin then caught Reggie Jackson looking for out number one, but Piniella socked a double to right that brought home both Mumphrey and Winfield to give the visitors a 2-0 lead. Graig Nettles grounded to first, which moved Piniella to third. Bob Watson drew a walk, then Larry Milbourne dribbled a base hit into right center to score Piniella and make it 3-0. Then came the big blow that put the pennant away for New York. Rick Cerone is at the plate, and Curt Gowdy is at the mic:

Gowdy: "Darwin can't afford to give up any more runs. The Yankees already have three in, with Watson at third and Milbourne at first. One and one to Cerone, and here's the pitch from Darwin.........high fly ball deep to center, it could go. back is Rivers, and it's off the wall! Watson can walk home, and now they're sending Milbourne! Rivers' throw to the plate......cut off, and it never would have gotten him anyway. Milbourne has also scored, the Yankees lead 5-0, and Cerone has a triple!"

Ernie Harwell: "And that's going to be all for Danny Darwin, Curt, perhaps a batter too late. Cerone really got around on that pitch and drove it far over Rivers' head, and that's doing something, with how fast Mickey is."

New pitcher Dave Schmidt got Willie Randolph to ground to short and retire the side, but the Yanks have exploded for five runs on four hits and two walks, and after five and a half they lead the Rangers 5-0.

Rangers 8th: Mark Wagner led off with a seeing-eye single to right center. Bump Wills drew a walk, but John got the next two outs with ease. It was up to Buddy Bell to keep the inning going, and his base hit to right center brought Wagner home and put the Rangers on the board. John finished his afternoon by striking out Pat Putnam swinging. The Rangers have gotten on the board, but they still trail by four as we head to the ninth.

Yankees 9th: Cerone led off with a single to left center. Randolph bunted him over to second, then Mumphrey dropped a double into the right center power alley to score Cerone and make it 6-1 Yanks. New pitcher Charlie Hough struck out Winfield swinging, then caught Reggie looking to end the inning. The Yanks have reestablished their five-run lead, and they're just three outs away from another American League pennant.

Here's how Joe Garagiola called the final out:

"Two out, two and two to Roberts. The fans hoping for a miracle, but time's just about up. Gossage sets, now throws.......HE STRUCK HIM OUT! The Yankees win the pennant!..........They were blown out twice, but they never put their heads down of felt sorry for themselves. And the Rangers put up one whale of a fight when they really weren't expected to, but in the end, there was just too much timely hitting and too much Tommy John. The final score here in Game 5, as the Yanks take the pennant three games to two: Yankees 6, Rangers 1."

This is the twenty-second American League pennant the Yanks have won so far in this project. (Note: We're only counting 1901 through 1959 plus 1981 for the moment, since I've only gotten through 1959 in the main thread.) In the World Series, they met the Dodgers and lost in six games. Again only counting through 1959 plus 1981, this is the Dodgers' fourth world championship and first since moving to Los Angeles. The World Series count now stands at American League 32, National League 25.

John was named both Player of the Game and series MVP. He pitched well in Game 1 despite a no-decision, and dominated today, pitching eight innings and giving up just one run on seven hits while walking two and striking out three.

Final totals: Yankees 6-9-0, Rangers 1-7-0.

W- John (1-0)
S- Gossage (2)
L- Darwin (0-1)

That's it for this thread, folks. Thanks for reading!

 

[Garrett Garlits]

Coming soon: What if the season had ended as it did, but without the halves?

A hint: Two teams in each division still make the playoffs.

 

[Garrett Garlits]

Now to begin to answer the question I posed in my last, rather cryptic post.

So far, we've been going on the assumption that the issues between the players and the owners have been tabled until after the season, thus ensuring that it would be completed. But what if that wasn't the case? What if there was still a strike in the Pythagorean universe?

First of all, the Pythagorean universe doesn't recognize the split season. But in an effort to stay as true-to-life as possible, two teams from each division- the first and second place finishers overall- will still contest a best-of-five Division Series, with the winner to go on to the League Championship Series. In the National League, the West has already been decided, as the Dodgers outlasted the Astros in five games. That still leaves the East, in which the first-place Montreal Expos will take on the second-place St. Louis Cardinals. The series will begin on Wednesday, October 7 at Busch Stadium. The Cardinals will host the first two games, with the last three taking place at Olympic Stadium in Montreal.

Without any further ado, here's the action for Game 1:

Weather: 61 degrees, mostly cloudy skies, north-northwest wind at 3 MPH.

Expos 1st: First baseman Warren Cromartie led off the game by grounding a single into right. Left fielder Jerry White also singled to put two men on, and center fielder Andre Dawson's fly ball to the warning track in left moved Cromartie to third. Catcher Gary Carter's seeing-eye base hit to left center cashed in Cromartie to give the Spos a 1-0 lead, and White came home when third baseman Larry Parrish forced Carter. Right fielder Tim Wallach popped out to Cardinals third baseman Kenny Oberkfell to end the inning, but the Expos have started the series by striking for two runs in the top of the first. Now it's the Redbirds' turn.

Cardinals 1st: Second baseman Tommy Herr led off by stroking a single to left, and moved to second on Oberkfell's grounder to first. Next up was first baseman Keith Hernandez, and he lashed a double into the right field corner to bring Herr home and cut the Montreal lead to 2-1. He was stranded at second, however, as center fielder George Hendrick flew out to right and right fielder Dane Iorg tapped to Cromartie at first. After one in Game 1, it's Expos 2, Cardinals 1.

Cardinals 2nd: Left fielder Gene Roof drew a leadoff walk, then stole second. Catcher Darrell Porter's tap to Cromartie moved Roof to third. That brought up shortstop Mike Ramsey, who was starting in place of the injured Garry Templeton. Mike proceeded to line Steve Rogers' first pitch off the top of the right field wall, which scored Roof to tie the game at two. Meanwhile, Ramsey ran hard all the way and slid in at third with a triple. Pitcher Lary Sorensen's fly to left was caught by White just behind third base, which kept Ramsey where he was. But Herr lined a shot just over first base for a single, which scored Ramsey and gave the home squad a 3-2 lead. Oberkfell's fly to right ended the inning, but the Cards have taken the lead with a pair of runs and are in front 3-2 after two.

Expos 3rd: Cromartie led things off with a base hit to right center, but was forced by White, who was promptly thrown out at second by Porter. Dawson's double to the warning tack in center rekindled the inning, and he came home on Carter's base hit past Sorensen and into center to tie the game at three. Sorensen rebounded to catch Parrish looking, but the Expos have tied the game at three after two and a half.

Expos 4th: With one out, second baseman Jerry Manuel grounded a base hit into right. Shortstop Chris Speier's single to left center put Spos on the corners, and Rogers' grounder to Oberkfell scored Manuel and gave the visitors a 4-3 lead. Sorensen then walked Cromartie of five pitches, and Jim Kaat's throwing in the St. Louis bullpen increased to warp speed. It was too late for Sorensen, though, as White's base hit to right brought Speier home with the fifth Montreal run.

On that note, Kaat was summoned in from the pen by Cards manager Whitey Herzog, but Dawson singled to right on his first pitch to load the bases. Then came Carter, whose ground ball up the middle just eluded Ramsey and scooted into center. Cromartie and White both came home, and the Spos led 7-3. Two pitches later, Parrish's screaming liner to left fell for a double, which brought home Dawson and made it 8-3. That ended Kaat's day in favor of Bob Shirley, who got Wallach to ground to Ramsey and end the inning. The total damage: five runs, six hits, and runners left at second and third. We've played just three and a half, and it's Spos 8, Cards 3.

Expos 7th: Parrish ended the scoring in style leading off the inning. Here's Dick Enberg with the call:

"One ball, no strikes on Parrish, Expos in command 8-3 top of the seventh. Shirley ready with the 1-0...…….LINE DRIVE DEEP TO CENTER! THIS ONE COULD GO, HENDRICK BACK...…..IT'S GONE! Touch 'em all, Larry Parrish! His third RBI of the day, and it's now a 9-3 Montreal lead."

Tom Seaver: "Parrish kind of takes a back seat to Andre Dawson in the power department on the Expos, but he's quite capable of jacking a ball out of any park in the league, as Bob Shirley just found out. It's been all Montreal from start to finish today."

Shirley got the next three outs on just six pitches: Wallach grounded to Hernandez at first, Manuel grounded to third, and Speier's infield pop was caught by Herr for the third out. It's time to stretch at Busch, and Parrish's homer has extended the Expos' lead to 9-3.

That was all the scoring. The Expos prevailed 9-3, and they lead the series one game to none.

Carter was named Player of the Game by NBC after going three for five and riving in four runs. Parrish merited consideration with a homer and three RBIs, and Rogers gave up three runs on eight hits in eight strong innings.

Final totals: Expos 9-16-2, Cardinals 3-9-0.

W- Rogers (1-0)
L- Sorensen (0-1)

HR- MTL: Parrish (1)

Game 2 will take place tomorrow night, with first pitch shortly after 8PM Eastern on NBC. Bob Forsch will take the mound for the Redbirds, while Bill Gullickson takes the hill for the Spos.

Next: We look at Game 2.

Thoughts?

 

[Garrett Garlits]

Now let's look at Game 2 of the NLDS East from Busch Stadium in St. Louis. The date is October 8, 1981:

Lineup Changes:

Cardinals- After taking a day off to nurse a sore knee, Garry Templeton is back in the lineup at short and batting second. George Hendrick remains in the cleanup spot, but moves from center field to right field. Dane Iorg is still hitting fifth, but he's in left field instead of right. Kenny Oberkfell moves down to the sixth spot, and David Green gets the start in center and bats eighth.

Expos- Jerry White is still batting second, but he's in right field instead of left. Terry Francona gets the start in left and bats sixth. In other news, double play partners Chris Speier and Jerry Manuel change places in the batting order; Speier will hit seventh today, while Manuel bats eighth.

Weather: 50 degrees, partly cloudy skies, northeast wind at 3 MPH.

Expos 2nd: Gary Carter led off the inning against Bob Forsch, and here's Dick Enberg with how he did it:

"Carter leading off here in the top of the second after going three for fie and driving in four runs yesterday. He's been a real sparkplug for the Montreal offense through the years. First pitch is DRIVEN DEEP TO RIGHT CENTER, GOING BACK IS HENDRICK, BUT THIS ONE IS IN THE SEATS!......Carter continues to torture the Cardinals, as he touches 'em all to put the Expos on the board."

Tom Seaver: "Forsch got this one up a bit, and all Carter had to do to get it out of here was swing naturally. He's as hot as you can be right now, and if the Cardinals are smart that's the last pitch he'll see today, if not the rest of the series."

Larry Parrish followed up Carter's dinger by ringing a double off the wall in left. That brought up Francona, whose base hit to left scored Parrish to put the Spos up 2-0. Speier hit an easy grounder to short, but the ball took a weird bounce on the artificial surface and hit off the back of Templeton's glove, which put runners at first and second with nobody out. But Forsch recovered to induce a 4-6-3 double play from Manuel, and starter Bill Gullickson's weak fly to left center was caught by Green for the final out. The visitors have jumped out on top for the second game in a row, as they take a 2-0 lead to the bottom of the second.

Expos 3rd: With one out, Jerry White dropped a double into left center. Andre Dawson's line drive base hot to approximately the same location chased White home, and the Spos led 3-0. The Hawk stole second, but was stranded there as Carter's stinging line drive was nabbed by Oberkfell at third for the second out. That brought up Parrish, and here's Dick:

"1-1 pitch......lined up the middle RIGHT AT TEMPLETON, WHO GOES TO HIS KNEES TO ENSURE THE OUT!......The defensive play of the series, as the Expos surely would have been up 4-0 if it had gotten through. As it is, the visitors add a run on two hits and leave Dawson at second. We've played two and a half, and it's Montreal 3, St. Louis 0."

Cardinals 4th: With one out, Iorg beat out a grounder to short for an infield single. Oberkfell's fly ball dropped in between White and first baseman Warren Cromartie for another single, and Iorg just slid in under Parrish's tag at third. Darrell Porter walked to load the bases, and Green also walked to force in Iorg and put the Redbirds on the board. After engaging in a brief staring contest with home plate umpire Frank Pulli, Gullickson got back to work, retiring Forsch on a fly to Dawson in center and Francona on a fly to right center. The Cards settle for one and leave the bases loaded, which means that they trail the Expos 3-1 after four.

Expos 5th: With one out, White lined a base hit up the middle. After Dawson struck out, Carter grounded one into left to putt Spos at the corners. Parrish's single to left center scored White to make it 4-1 Montreal, but the inning ended when Francona's fly to right center was caught by Green. The Expos have restored their three-run lead, as they're in front of the Redbirds 4-1 halfway through.

Cardinals 5th: Templeton led things off by whacking a ball that dropped on the warning track in right for a double. Hernandez's grounder to short held Garry at second, but Hendrick's grounder through the hole and into right center through Templeton home and cut the Montreal lead to 4-2. Iorg's base hit to right center put runners at first and second and set Stan Bahnsen to throwing in the Expos' bullpen. But Oberkfell forced Iorg at second, and Porter's grounder to third ended the inning. The Cards once again settle for a single tally, and they trail the Spos 4-2 after five.

Expos 7th: Dawson led off the inning, and he also ended Fiorsch's evening with one swing. Here's how Brent Musburger called it for CBS Radio:

"You would think that Forsch would be just about done, especially if Dawson gets on here. No balls, one strike, and Bob Shirley ready in the pen. Pitch to Dawson...…...down the line in right, Iorg sprints over, does he have a play...…..is it...….YES IT IS! A HOME RUN FOR DAWSON!......Right field umpire Terry Tata went up with the arm, it's 5-2 Montreal, and here comes Whitey Herzog."

Chuck Tanner: "Dawson got all of that one, Brent. The only question was whether it would end up being fair or foul. Forsch is usually better than this. but the Expos' bats have really been scalding hot over these first two games."

Carter whacked Shirley's first pitch into left for a standup double, and Parrish dropped a fly ball into left for another two-bagger to bring The Kid home and put the Spos up 6-2. Francona's grounder to second moved Parrish to third, and Speier drew a walk. Then it was up to Manuel. Here's Dick:

"(Rodney) Scott pulled a hamstring on Saturday and can't swing a bat yet, so it's been Manuel all the way at second so far in this series. A big hit here would put this one on ice and send the Expos home up two games to none, barring a miracle. Shirley out of the stretch, pitches to the plate...….LINE DRIVE, LEFT CENTER FIELD, REALLY HIT, AND HENDRICK HAS NO CHANCE! TOUCH 'EM ALL, JERRY MANUEL! 9-2 EXPOS!"

Seaver: "The Expos have been really hot with the bats so far, and Manuel lands ll over this pitch. It just keeps going and going until it's over the wall. Hendrick doesn't even go back, because this one's just tattooed. That's it for Shirley as well, Dick."

Bob Sykes was the next Cardinal out of the cage, and Gullickson greeted him with a base hit up the middle. Bill came home when Cromartie whacked the first pitch he saw into the right field corner for a double. The Expos now led 10-2. White and Dawson each grounded to short, and the inning was over. But the visitors have erupted for six runs on six hits, and as we stretch by the Gateway Arch, the Spos have an eight-run lead.

That was all the scoring. The Expos have taken Game 2 10-2, and lead this series two games to none.

Almost anyone in a Montreal uniform could have been Player of the Game, but NBC gave the award to Parrish, who went four for five, scored twice, and drove in a pair.

One last play before we go. It's the bottom of the seventh, one out, and Iorg at the plate. Here's Dick:

"Pitch lofted to center. Dawson coming in, he'll have to dive for it, AND HE MAKES THE CATCH! Dawson showing off his defensive sicde here in the seventh, and Iorg wonders what else the Cardinals could do to get back in this one."

Final totals: Expos 10-17-0, Cardinals 2-10-1.

W- Gullickson (1-0)
L- Forsch (0-1)

HR- MTL: Dawson (1), Carter (1), Manuel (1)

Game 3 will be tomorrow afternoon at Olympic Stadium, as the Spos look to punch their ticket to the NLCS. Ray Burris will take the mound for them, while John Martin will start for the Redbirds. Game time is 4PM Eastern.

Next: We look at Game 3.

Thoughts?

 

[Garrett Garlits]

Now let's look at Game 3 of the NLDS East from Olympic Stadium in Montreal. The date is October 9, 1981:

Cardinals 3rd: David Green led off with a bloop single to left, and was bunted along by starting pitcher Silvio Martinez. Next up was Tommy Herr, whose line drive off the wall in left brought Green home with ease and gave the Redbirds a 1-0 lead. Meanwhile, Herr's nonstop hustle around the bases earned him a triple. Garry Templeton was next, and his line drive skipped past Jerry White in right and ended up lodged in the corner. Herr jogged home to make it two-zip Cards, and Templeton took his place at third with another triple. Keith Hernandez's roller to Warren Cromartie at first kept Templeton at third, but George Hendrick took Expos starter Ray Burris' first pitch off of his right shin to put two men on. Dane Iorg's grounder to short ended the inning, but the visitors have scored twice in the third to lead the Spos 2-0 after two and a half.

Expos 3rd: The home squad got a run back in a hurry, as Cromartie led off the bottom of the third against Martinez. Here's Dick Enberg:

"Warren Cromartie leading off in the last of the third with the Cardinals leading 2-0 here in Game 3. One ball and one strike on him, as Silvio Martinez making his first start since September 8 in this do-or-die situation for St. Louis. Fastball hit deep to center, Green over near the wall, BUT THAT BALL IS OUTTA HERE! Touch 'em all, Warren Cromartie! The Expos get on the board thanks to their first baseman here in the third."

Tom Seaver: "Martinez tried to jam Cromartie inside, but the ball didn't break the way Martinez wanted it to, and it ended up about as fat a pitch as Cromartie could have asked for. Dave LaPoint has just started throwing in the St. Louis bullpen, so Martinez may be on a short leash, even with the lead."

Gary Carter's two-out walk kept the inning going, but Larry P arrish's slow grounder to Hernandez at first retired the side. The Expos have cut the Cards' lead in half thanks to Cromartie's dinger, but still trail 2-1 after three.

Expos 5th: Burris led off by lining a ball down the left field line and into the corner. Thinking that Burris would be satisfied with a standup double, Expos left fielder Terry Francona took his time retrieving the ball, and got the shock of his young career when he saw Burris standing at third with a triple. Cromartie's fly to right sent Hendrick back to the warning track, and Burris j.ogged home to tie the game at two. White grounded to first for the second out, and Andre Dawson's lazy popup behind third was gloved by Kenny Oberkfell for the final out. But the home squad has tied the game at two apiece after five.

Expos 7th: With one out against LaPoint, Cromartie launched a fly ball deep to center. Almost everyone at The Big O thought that the ball was gone, but it bounced high off the wall and bounded back toward the infield. By the time Green retrieved the ball and threw it in, Cromartie had a triple. LaPoint's day lasted just one more pitch, which went to the backstop as Cromartie scampered home to put the Spos up 3-2. Cards manager Whitey Herzog called Mark Littell out of the bullpen to face White, who promptly singled to left. That brought up Dawson, who put the series away with one swing. Here's Dick:

"The season is slipping away from the Cardinals, as they're already down 3-2 in the seventh. Littell trying to hold it there against Andre Dawson, the Expos' premier power threat. Jim Kaat throwing in the bullpen, and the first pitch to The Hawk...…...FLY BALL LEFT CENTER, GOING BACK IS IIORG, HE'S AT THE WALL, BUT IT'S GONE!...….Andre Dawson touches 'em all for the first time in this series, and it's 5-2 Expos. Listen to the crown here at The Bog O!"

Seaver: "Andre Dawson's been waiting for something he can hit since this series started, and he got it here in spades. Right out over the heart of the plate, as Littell missed his spot badly, and just like that the Expos have two huge insurance runs here in the seventh."

Carter kept the inning going against Kaat by lining a base hit to right center, but Parrish grounded into a 4-6-3 inning-ending double play. The home squad has scored three times here in the bottom of the seventh on four hits plus a wild pitch, and as we head to the eighth it's Montreal 5, St. Louis 2.

Cardinals 8th: Templeton led off by beating out a grounder to short for an infield single, but Hernandez grounded into a 6-4-3 double play. Hendrick whacked the first pitch he saw down the left field line for a double to rekindle the inning, and Irog's single to right center scored Hendrick to bring the Cards back within 5-3. Fanning came out to get Burris after that, and the big righthander exited to one of the loudest ovations in Olympic Stadium history. Oberkfell's grounder to second ended the inning, but the Cards have scored a run to draw just a bit closer We go to the bottom of the eighth with the Expos in front 5-3.

That was all the scoring. Here's how Dick called the final out, as pinch hitter Steve Braun faced Expos closer Elias Sosa:

"Sosain front one ball and two strikes. They're standing at Olympic Stadium just waiting for the last out. Sosa from the windup, and here's the pitch.....to short, up with it is Speier, on to Cromartie, AND THE EXPOS HAVE THEIR SWEEP!...…….The Expos, who finished first in the National League East over the strike-shortened season and weren't happy about having to play this extra series, make short work of the Cardinals regardless, and they'll face the winner of the Western series, either the Astros or the Dodgers, in the National League Championship Series next week. They'll be celebrating in Montreal long into this Friday night. Our final again: Expos 5, Cardinals 3, and the Expos sweep the Cardinals in three games to win the National League East. We'll be back with plenty of postgame coverage from the victorious Expos clubhouse right after these messages and a word from your local station."

There was no MVP for the series as a whole, but Dawson's two-run series-clinching homer earned him MVP honors for the day from NBC. Cromartie was also considered two for three day with two runs scored and two RBIs,, and Burris got some votes for his seven strong innings before he tired in the eighth. He finished seven and a third innings pitched, over which he gave up three runs on nine hits while walking just one and striking out just one.

Before we go, here's our Defensive Play of the Day. Hernandez is leading off the top of the sixth against Burris, and here's Dick:

"Fly ball into the right center gap, Dawson and White both coming over, White doesn't hear Dawson calling him off, BUT DAWSON DIVES TO MAKE THE CATCH ANYWAY!......White apologizing and helping Dawson up, as he knows he shouldn't have been anywhere near that ball. One out."

Final totals: Expos 5-8-0, Cardinals 3-9-0.

W- Burris (1-0)
S- Sosa (1)
L- Martinez (0-1)

HR- MTL: Dawson (2), Cromartie (1)

The Expos went on to lose a five-game thriller to the Dodgers in the NLCS. Rick Monday's home run in the top of the ninth of Game 5 off of Steve Rogers was the pennant-winning blow for Los Angeles.

Next: To be determined.

Thoughts?

 

[Garrett Garlits]

Now let's move on to the ALDS West. where the first-place Texas Rangers are taking on the second-place Oakland Athletics. Game 1 is taking place on Tuesday, October 6 at the Oakland Coliseum.

Weather: 65 degrees, cloudy skies, northwest wind at 7 MPH.

A's 1st: Left fielder Rickey Henderson led off by grounding a base hit into left center. Center fielder Dwayne Murphy slow roller to first was grabbed by Rangers first baseman Pat Putnam, whose throw to second shot past Bump Wills and into short center field. By the time the ball was retrieved, Henderson was at third and Murphy at second. Designated hitter Keith Drumright bounced one to short, where Mario Mendoza wasted no time throwing home in an effort to nab Henderson. Rickey just touched the plate with his fingertips before catcher Jim Sundberg could apply the tag. The A's thus led 1-0, and right fielder Tony Armas' fly to Mickey Rivers in left center was enough to bring home Murphy and make it 2-0.

Third baseman Wayne Gross drew a walk, and first baseman Jim Spencer lifted one to deep right center. Rivers again sprinted over to make the catch, with Drumright (who'd reached as Henderson scored) moving to third. Catcher Mike Heath's grounder to third ended the inning. The A's end up with two runs in the inning, but they also leave runners at the corners. After one, it's A's 2, Rangers 0.

Rangers 4th: Rivers led off with a single to left center, then scored when designated hitter Al Oliver scalded one into the left center gap for a double. Scoop scored to tie the game on the Rangers' third consecutive hit to left center, this one a single by Bell. Oakland starter Mike Norris rebounded to strike out Putnam and retire left fielder Tom Poquette on a fly to left center, but a base hit to center by Sundberg extended the inning. Right fielder Leon Roberts' grounder to Gross at third ended the inning, but the Rangers have tied the game with two runs on four hits, and we're even at two through three and a half.

Rangers 5th: Wills led off the inning by legging out an infield single to short. Rivers' fly to deep left center was caught by Henderson for the second out, with Wills remaining at first. Oliver's base hit to left center put Lawmen at the corners, and that brought up Bell. Here's Al Michaels:

"One ball and one strike to Bell, tied at two here in the fifth. Wills at third, Oliver at first, and Bell needs to come through here with two out. Norris nods in agreement, checks the runners, and here's the one-two...…..skied to center, coming in is Murphy, dives BUT CAN'T GET IT! It'll roll for a while...no, Murphy gets to it, he's got a shot at home......relay is THERE!.....They're saying that Oliver kicked the ball out of Heath's glove, so the run will score, and here comes (A's manager) Billy (Martin)!"

Jim Palmer: "He has a point for once, Al. Heath clearly tagged Oliver before Oliver got across the plate."

Michaels: "But what are the chances that Billy gets any sort of sympathy, let alone a reversal? Start with none and work backwards, I would think. What a play by Murphy to smother the ball after it kicked past him and make the play close. Billy's still hot, and DID HE JUST BUMP GEORGE MALONEY?...….He's gone, that's obvious, but is he gone for just this game or longer? First base umpire Joe Brinkman over to restrain him, and his season may have just ended, as he clearly shoved, bumped, or otherwise touched home plate umpire George Maloney."

Palmer: "He's looking at big fines, a suspension, or both."

Third base coach Clete Boyer took over the Oakland lineup card, and after a nine-minute delay the game continued. Morris walked Putnam to extend the inning, but Poquette grounded to Dave McKay at second to end the inning. The A's have not only given up two rums, but they've lost their manager here in the fifth, and the Rangers left two men in scoring position to boot. We're halfway through Game 1 in Oakland, and the home squad now trails 4-2.

A's 9th: Heath led off with a single to right against a tiring Doc Medich, and McKay followed up with a base hit to left. Boyer then played his big card off the bench, as he sent Cliff Johnson up to bat for shortstop Fred Stanley. Cliff cued one down to third, but Bell bobbled it, then ended up putting it in his pocket to load the bases. Rob Picciolo ran for Johnson at first, and Rangers manager Don Zimmer called to the bullpen for closer Jim Kern. Henderson's fly to right was caught by Poquette (who'd moved over in the seventh while Billy Sample replaced him in left) for out number one while the runners held. Murphy forced Picciolo at second for the second out while Heath scored to cut the Texas lead to 4-3, and Jeff Newman strode to the plate to bet for Drumright. Kern got him to fly to Rivers in center for the final out. The A's score one run, but still come up one run short, and the Rangers have taken Game 1 4-3.

Bell was named MVP by ABC, as he went two for four and drove in three runs, including the game-winning pair in the fifth. Medich also received consideration for his eight strong innings on the hill; he gave up three runs on six hits while walking three and striking out two. Norris tossed a complete game in a losing cause for the A's, giving up four runs on ten hits while walking one, striking out four, and throwing a hundred and twenty-two pitches.

W- Medich (1-0)
S- Kern (1)
L- Norris (0-1)

I got distracted by the NFL schedule release and forgot to note the final totals. Sorry!

Game 2 will be here at the Coliseum tomorrow, with first pitch scheduled for a little after 4PM Eastern on ABC. Steve McCatty will start for the A's, while knuckleballer Charlie Hough gets the call for the Rangers.

Next: We look at Game 2.

Thoughts?

 

[Garrett Garlits]

Now it's time for Game 2 of the ALDS West from the Oakland Coliseum. The date is Thursday, October 8:

Weather: 62 degrees, partly cloudy skies, west wind at 12 MPH.

Lineup Changes:

Rangers- First and most importantly, Charlie Hough has been scratched due to a finger blister. Fergie Jenkins will start in his place. Also, Marl Wagner will start in place of Mario Mendoza at short and bat ninth.

A's- Cliff Johnson will be the designated hitter instead of Keith Drumright, and he'll bat third. Mickey Klutts will get the start at third base in place of Wayne Gross, and he'll bat fifth. Kelvin Moore replaces Jim Spencer at first and bats sixth. Dave McKay moves up to seventh, Jeff Newman starts behind the plate for Mike Heath and bats eighth, and Rob Picciolo replaces Fred Stanley at short and bats ninth. Finally, Billy Martin is in the dugout today, since any hearing concerning yesterday's incident with plate umpire George Maloney won't take place until this series is over, according to Commissioner Bowie Kuhn.

Rangers 2nd: With two out, Tom Poquette singled to left center. A balk call on Oakland starter Steve McCatty moved him to second, and Jim Sundberg's bleeder into left center brought Poquette home to give the Rangers a 1-0 lead. McCatty fanned Leon Roberts to end the inning, but the Rangers have struck first and taken a 1-0 lead after an inning at a half.

A's 2nd: Klutts led off against Jenkins and tied the game with one swing. Here's Al Michaels:

"Klutts getting the start today because Gross' knee has been bothering him on and off since the start of the second half. He played in just fifteen games, but has a bot of power, as he homered five times, including twice on September 26 against the White Sox. Meanwhile, this one's driven deep to left, Poquette going back to the track, he's at the wall, AND WE'RE TIED!.....Just as we were talking about the home run power of Mickey Klutts, he tees off on Fergie Jenkins, and we're tied at one."

Jim Palmer: "Jenkins got this one a bit too far outside, and Klutts meets it square on. The wind may have helped it just a bit, but he put more then enough power into it regardless. With a little more seasoning, he could be an everyday third baseman for years to come somehwere."

Newman's two-out single to right was wasted when Picciolo flew to left. After two in Game 2, we were tied at one.

Rangers 3rd: Rivers drew a two-out walk, moved to third on Al Oliver's sharp single to right center, and scored on Buddy Bell's single to right, which gives him four RBIs so far in the series. Pat Putnam's fly to Dwayne Murphy in right center ended the inning, but the Rangers have taken a 2-1 lead after two and half thanks to Bell's RBI single.

A's 3rd: Henderson led off with a grounder to short. Wagner got to the ball in plenty of time, but double-pumped on his throw to first, which gave Rickey more than enough time to beat it out. Henderson promptly stole second, and a rattled Jenkins served up a fat pitch to Murphy, who golfed in high and deep to left. Poquette had a play on it, but he lost his balance slightly while making the catch, and the ball rolled out of his glove. Murphy had to stop at first, but the A's had runners at the corners with nobody out.

Johnson went down swinging, but Tony Armas walked on five pitches to load the bases. Klutts' fly to center was too shallow to score anyone, but Fergie was still wild, as he walked the rookie Moore on a 3-2 pitch to force Henderson home and tie the game at two. McKay's medium fly to right center ended the inning, but the A's have tied the game thanks to an infield single, an error, and a pair of walks. After three, we're deadlocked at two.

Rangers 5th: With one out, Bell drew a walk. Putnam lined a base hit to right, which put Lawmen on the corners. Poquette than drove Murphy back to the warning track in center with a fly ball, which was enough to bring Bell home and give the Rangers a 3-2 lead. McCatty then walked Sundberg, which was followed by Roberts' seeing-eye base hit to left center. Putnam trotted home, and it was 4-2 Texas. Wagner then drove in Sundberg with a base hit to right center to put the Rangers up 5-2. With runners still at first and third, Bump Wills got under a pitch and skied it harmlessly to right, where Armas made the catch to end the inning. The damage: Three runs, three hits, two walks, and runners left at the corners. We're halfway through Game 2, and the Rangers have a 5-2 lead.

A's 6th: Spencer batted for Moore leading off, and it didn't take him long to make his presence felt. Here's Pat Summerall (yes, you read that right), with the call over CBS Radio:

"Spencer down a ball and two strikes, and Jenkins seems to have finally righted himself after the Rangers took the lead. Sundberg puts one down for a fastball, and here it is......high fly ball, center field, Rivers sprints back, looks up, and it's in the seats!......He thought he had a play at the warning track, but that one was hit just a little too well, and we have a 5-3 game."

Harry Caray: "The move to bat Spencer for Moore paid off handsomely for the A's, as Spencer hit this one a ton. As you said, Pat, Rivers thought he had a play on it, got back in a hurry, but this one just kept rising until it was over the fence."

The inning continued with McKay lining one into the right center gap for a standup double. and Newman was next, with Jon Matlack throwing in the Rangers' bullpen. Here's Al:

Michaels: "Billy staying with Newman instead of using Heath, who has a bit more pop but not much more of an overall bat. Rangers 5, A's 3, bottom of the sixth. If Newman reaches, (Don) Zimmer almost has to go to Matlack. Here we go with the one-strike pitch, and it's hammered deep to center! Rivers looking up, but he has no chance at this one!......We're tied at five, as Jeff Newman, who only hit three home runs all year, goes deep here in the sixth, and that's all for Fergie Jenkins."

Palmer: "Fergie wasn't at his sharpest today, Al. He hadn't pitched since September 18, and the rust showed. This one gets up and out over the middle of the plate, and all Newman has to do is flick his wrists to get it all. Rivers has no chance whatsoever."

The inning continued, as Picciolo grounded one down to Bell at third that took a funny hop and almost ended up inside Buddy short. The Rangers' third sacker was charged with an error on the play. Henderson got Picciolo over with a grounder to second, and Matlack walked Murphy on five pitches, but rebounded to retire Johnson on a fly to short right center and Armas on a screaming liner to Wagner at short. Home runs from Spencer and Newman have tied the game for the home squad, and we go to the seventh even at five.

A's 11th: Murphy drew a leadoff walk against reliever Steve Comer. Johnson grounded an almost- certain double play ball to Mario Mendoza, now in at short, but Mario couldn't find the handle in time and there were two men on. A walk at Armas loaded the bases, and Klutts' spot was next. Even though Wayne Gross was still available off the bench, Martin decided to stick with the rookie and was justly rewarded. Here's Al:

"A reminder that we'll go directly back to the stations after the game due to its length; no World News Tonight. Klutts in a tough spot for someone with so little experience, but he has homered already in this game. Bases loaded, nobody out, and the first pitch to Mickey......line drive, right center, BASE HIT! The A's win it in eleven!.....The rookie Mickey Klutts is the hero today, as he gets kind of a surprise start, hits a home run, and drives in the game-winning run. What a day for him."

Palmer: "He hits this one solidly into right center, just enough to get Murphy home from third with the winning run. I have a feeling we'll see more from him before this series is out, Al."

Our final in eleven: A's 6, Rangers 5, and this series is tied at a game apiece.

Klutts was, of course, the MVP, although Newman got some consideration as well; he went three for five, scored a run, and drove in a pair.

Before we go, here's our defensive Play of the Day. Klutts is leading off the bottom of the ninth with the score still tied at five. Here's Al:

"Ground ball to third, diving stop by Bell, he'd got a long throw, but it's in time!...…...Bell doing a bit of everything so far for the Rangers in this series, and here's Spencer with one out."

Final totals: A's 6-10-0, Rangers 5-12-3.

W- Underwood (1-0)
L- Comer (0-1)

HR- OAK: Klutts (1), Spencer (1), Newman (1)

Game 3 of this series will be tomorrow night, but the scene shifts to Arlington Stadium in Arlington, Texas. Rick Langford will take the mound for the A's. while Danny Darwin will get the start for the Rangers. Game time will be shortly after 8PM on ABC, and Keith Jackson, who's in Dallas already to call the Oklahoma-Texas football game, will join Jim Palmer in the booth.

Next: We look at Game 3.

Thoughts?