Tribe takes 2 of 3 from visiting A's

Game 1:

Mike Heath, Mitchell Page and Rickey Henderson homered off an ineffective Bert Blyleven, L ( 2 - 3) to lead the A's to an easy 12 - 3 win.  Blyleven's ERA soared to 5.09 and the Indian staff saw their ERA sky rocket to 5.64.  Keough got the win with a complete game 7-hitter to record his third victory against no defeats.
 
The A's put the game away in the third with 5 runs to lead 9 - 0 as Blyleven lasted only 3 2/3 innings in yielding 9 runs, 8 of which were earned and surrendered 8 hits and 4 walks.
 
Game 2:

The tribe evened the series with a 4 - 2 win the second game as John Denny W, (2 -3) went the distance yielding 7 hits.  His fine performance lowered his ERA to a mere 7.49.  Wayne Gross hit his third homer of the year with a runner on to account for the two Oakland runs.  Andre Thornton and Rick Manning each drove in two runs for the Tribe.
 
Game 3:

Cleveland took the rubber game of the series 3 - 2 behind a fine performance by Rick Waits W, (2 - 3) who scattered 10 hits over  8 innings to get the win and lower his ERA to 8.04.  Dan Spillner set down the A's in order in the ninth to pick up his second save of the season.  Cleveland who managed only six hits off Steve McCatty, L (2 - 3) scored all three runs in the third as Thornton walked to lead off the inning followed by singles by Rick Manning and Tom Veryzer which drove in the first run.  Miguel Dilone grounded out to drive in the second run and with two out Mike Hargrove singled to drive in what proved to be the winning run.
 
A single by Mike Heath and a double by Tony Armas accounted for two Oakland tallies in the fourth but that was the end of the scoring.  --Jim Clouser--

Amazin's take 2 of 3 from 'Stros

New York comes into Houston for a three games series after Houston came off of a 29 inning game against Philly. Needless to say Houston's pitching staff was dilapidated.

New York too full advantage taking the first two games.

Game 1

Pat Zachry went 7.1 innings giving up only 3 hits improving to 2-1 for NY and getting the win as the much maligned Neil Allen got his 6th save. Lee Mazzilli broke open a scoreless game in the 6th with a 2 run shot to center which proved to be the game winner. Joe Niekro got start for Houston on only 3 days rest due to the previous extra inning game. He went 7.1 giving 5 hits and suffered the loss dropping to 2-2. Frank LaCorte and Billy Smith finished out the game for Houston. Houston got 1 run back in the 8th on a Garcia single scoring Craig Reynolds. Final 2-1

Game 2

A complete disaster for Houston. New York wins big 15-0. Future Astro Mike Scott threw 7.2 flawless innings giving up 2 hits and getting the win (4-1).  Jesse Orosco came in to mop it up.  New York pounded out 21 hits. Every Met batter got a piece of the action. All 8 scored at least one run and had an RBI. Houston's pitching staff still recovering sent Joaquin Andujar to the hill. He pitched until his arm started bothering him, 6 innings, 8 hits, 4 runs. Billy Smith came in to take one for the team for the second day in a row. He went 2.2 innings 13 hits, 11 runs. He pitched until he had to be removed due to a sore arm.

Game 3

Things finally got back to normal for Houston as lefty Bob Knepper (4-1) took the mound fully rested. He got the complete game giving up 5 hits and 1 run. Houston scored 3 in the first including an Alan Ashby 2 run homer. New York started Tim Leary 0-1 who was pulled after one plus. The Mets used 5 pitchers on the night. Houston wins 5-1. Great series!!! Thanks

--submitted by Mark Angle--

AL Leaders as of Week #6

NL Leaders After Week 6

Standings After Week #6

Billy Ball takes 3 of 4 up in Beantown

8/27 - Fenway Park
Rick Langford vs Mike Torrez
Oakland 16, Boston 13 (12 inn)
Boston had this game in the bag after posting a 7-0 lead and chasing Langford before the second inning was done.  5 runs in the top of the 3rd made it a game again, but 3 more runs off reliever Brian Kingman made it 10-5 Boston.  A solo run in the 5th made it 11-5.  Oakland would strike for 8 runs over the final 4 innings to give themselves an unlikely 13-11 lead.  Boston forced extra innings with 2 in the bottom of the 9th thanks to a 2 out 2 run shot by the veteran, Yaz, off of Beard.  Neither team scored over the next 2 innings, which was probably the biggest shock of all.  Oakland errupted for 3 in the top of the 12th thanks to an RBI single by Jeff Newman, a ground out by Chicken Stanley and a bases loaded walk to Dwayne Murphy.  Rainey took the loss and Beard got the undeserved win.  Both teams combined for 39 hits and 19 runs.  Dave McKay had a 5 RBI day and Tony Armas had a 4 RBI day for the victors.  Rich Gedman had a 6 RBI day in a losing effort.

8/28 - Steve McCatty vs Frank Tanana
Oakland 6, Boston 2
The A's got a much needed complete game effort from Steve McCatty, who saved a tired and worn out bullpen after yesterday's slugfest.  McCatty nursed a 1-0 lead until the A's posted 3 in the top of the 6th.  Jeff Newman's 2 out, 2 run single was followed up by Rickey Henderson's RBI single.  Tony Armas' 2 run shot in the 9th made it 6-2.

8/29 - Ed Figueroa vs John Tudor

Boston 5, Oakland 4 (12 innings)
With their staff worn out from overwork the A's went to ailing veteran Ed Figureroa.  "Figgy" was in the process of turning back the clock with 3+ scoreless innings of work, but then blew out his arm and immediately left the game.  The normally reliable Tom Underwood was called on for spot duty, but he came he came up woefully short.  Boston tallied 3 runs in the 7th to tie the game up at 4-4.  Backup catcher Gary Allenson was the unlikely hero with a two out 2 run double.  Glenn Hoffman lined one to center to score Allenson to tie the game up.  Jeff Jones, who threw 3 shutout innings in relief of Underwood took the hill for his 4th inning of work in the 10th only to see his good string come to an end.  Rem-dog led off the inning with a clean single to center that eluded Murphy's gold glove for a rare error.  With Remy on second Carney Lansford lucked out with a slow roller down the third base line that wound up being an infield single.  Dewey Evans popped out to second with the infield drawn in.  Jim Rice was given and intentional pass to load the bases and create a force everywhere.  Up stepped the aging warrior, Yaz, who hit a bullet to short that Chicken Stanley inexplicably threw to first and didn't either throw home or to second for a DP shot.  Rem-dog scored easily and the Sahx notched the win.

8/30
Mike Norris vs Dennis Eckersley

Oakland 9, Boston 1
In a battle of two aces heading in opposite directions, Mike Norris bumped his record up to 3-0 (1.87 ERA) with 7 and 1/3 solid innings of work where he scattered 8 hits.  Norris didn't need to be overly sharp thanks to "The Eck" giving up 8 runs in 2 2/3 innings.  Light hitting Oakland shortstop, Fred "Chicken" Stanley made up for his 10th inning gaffe the day before, by going 3 for 4.  Tony Armas was 2 for 5 with 2 runs scored and 2 RBI's.  Rickey Henderson was the only Oakland starter to not get a hit.  In fact he struck out looking 3 times.  Rainey did a fantastic job throwing 6 1/3 scoreless innings of relief for Boston.  Eckersley took the loss and saw his record drop to 0-4 and his ERA balloon to 6.58.

Friars take 3 of 4 from Redbirds @ Jack Murphy

Game 1 at San Diego,

Both teams battled hard and after 9 innings, the score was tied at 3-3.  However, Joe Lefebvre hit a homerun off Bob Sykes in the bottom half of the 10th inning. John Curtis threw 3 innings of relief to earn the victory. San Diego 4....St. Louis 3

 

Game 2 at San Diego,

Game two went extra innings as well.  Larry Sorenson and Chris Welsh battled for their respective teams but were not around to earn the win.  With 2 outs in the bottom of the 10th, Joe Lefebvre tripled and then scored when pinch hitter Randy Bass singled off Jim Kaat to score Lefebvre...San Diego 3....St. Louis 2.

 

Game 3 at San Diego,

Cardinal lefty Sykes had a no hitter until the sixth when pinch hitter Barry Evans lined a single.  Sykes was holding a 2-0 lead until the 8th inning when the Padres struck for 4 runs to knock out Sykes and reliever Bruce Sutter.  Gene Richards got a two run triple to break the tie and give the win to Gary Lucas.  Danny pitched a scoreless 9th to earn his first save of the season. San Diego 4....St. Louis 2.

 

Game 4 at San Diego,

The Cardinals salvaged the final game as they shut down the Padres.  Forsch went the distance surrendering only 5 hits and no runs to even his record at 2-2.  Tim Lollar got the loss and fell to 2-2.  George Hendrick and former Padre Gene Tenace for a pair of 2 run homeruns to lead the Cardinal attack. Tommy Herr added a run in the ninth inning with an RBI triple, his fourth of the year.  St. Louis 5...San Diego 0.

--submitted by Joey Scigliano--

Bombers take 3 of 4 in Chi-town

8/27 - Comiskey Park - White Sox 4, Yankees 3
Rich Dotson vs Rudy May

Greg Luzinski hits another 3 run homer against the Yankees for a 3-0 lead.  The Yankees get 2 back on a HR by Bobby Murcer and a Rick Cerone single.  The White Sox scrounge up a run on in the 6th for a 4-2 lead, and the Yankees  can't get catch up.  MVP: Bull Luzinski 1-2, HR, 3RBI

8/28 - Comiskey Park - Yankees 4, White Sox 1
Tommy John vs Britt Burns

The Yankees score 3 in the 6th on a bases loaded walk and a 2 run single by Jerry Mumphrey.  The Sox get 1 back on a solo HR by Luzinski.  Tommy John gets his 1st win and Goose racks up his 4th save.  MVP: Tommy John 8IP, 5H, 1ER, 1W, 4K

8/29 - Comiskey Park - Yankees 2, White Sox 1
Gene Nelson vs Ross Baumgarten

Pitcher's duel as this game is decided by solo homers.  Aurelio Rodriguez hits his first homer in the 5th, while Wayne Nordhagen hits his 4th in the 7th.  Barry Foote's first home run in the 8th is the difference.  Goose picks up his 5th save. MVP: Rich Gossage 1.1 IP, 1W, Save

8/30 - Comiskey Park - Yankees 6, White Sox 1
Dave Righetti vs Steve Trout

This game is all Yanks early, highlighted by a 3 run homer from Bucky Freaking Dent.  Rags Righetti goes the distance for his 2nd win. MVP: Dave Righetti 9IP, 5H, 1ER, 0W, 8K.

The Yankees continue their road trip with a stop in Minnesota, while the White Sox welcome the Tigers.

--submitted by John Clingan--

NL Leaders as of Week #5

AL Leaders as of Week #5

Standings after Week #5

Tigers take 2 of 3 from KC

Monday August 24 at Tiger Stadium 

Amos Otis hit his second homer of the season in the first inning.  That was all the offense the Royals got off Tiger pitching.  But one run might be enough against the punchless Tigers.  Jim Wright made it stand up for five innings.  Steve Kemp led off the 6th with a single.  Al Cowens moved Kemp to second with a ground out and Richie :"he Gravedigger" Hebner singled Kemp home. Lynn Jones led off the 8th with a double and moved to third on Tom Brookens' single.  Sweet Lou Whitaker hit into a double play but Jones cam across the plate with the winning run.  Dave Rozema (2-1, 1.82) pitched brilliantly, giving up 6 hits and 2 walks in 8 innings.  Kevin saucier earned his first save.  Renie Martin took the loss in relief.  ((0-1, 4.91)  Tigers 2 Royals 1

Tuesday August 25 at Tiger Stadium.

Dan Schatzeder got his first start of the season and responded well, giving up 1 earned run and two runs in 6 innings.  An Alan Trammell error in the second led to the first Royals run.  Dave Chalk led off the 4th with a single and went to third on a Jerry Grote single.  After Grote was picked off, Frank White delivered the run with a sacrifice fly.  Steve Kemp led off the 5th with a single, stole second, moved to third on a Cowens single and scored on a Hebner double play ground ball.  In the 7th, Champ Summers led off with a single.  Whitaker singled him to third and then was squeezed home by Trammell.  After an intentional walk to Cowens, leftie Atlee Hammaker was brought in to face left handed Kemp.  Kemp doubled home two for a 4-2 lead.  Willie Mays Aikens hit a pinch hit homer off Aurelio Lopez in the 8th to bring the Royals within one but the Tigers picked up 2 in the bottom of the 8th to close out the scoring.  Schatzeder got the win (1-0, 1.29) with Dave Tobik picking up his first save.  Dennis Leonard took the loss (1-2, 5.47)  Tigers 6 Royals 3

Wednesday August 26 at Tiger Stadium

The Tigers looked to sweep, sending out ace Jack Morris for the last game of the series.  The Royals had other things in mind.  Clint Hurdle hit his 1sr homer of the season in the first.  Hal McRae added a three run homer (3) in the 6th.  The Tigers countered with some rare firepower of their own.  Lance Parrish left the yard twice (3,4) and Kirk Gibson hit his first of the season, but it was a case of too little too late.  Mike Jones was the winner (3-1, 3.49)  Dan Quisenberry earned his 4th save/  Morris took the loss (0-3, 3.00)  Royals 6  Tigers 5.
--submitted by Tom "Crash" Davis--

Bronx Bombers take 2 of 3 from Twins @ the Stadium

8/24 - Yankee Stadium
Yankees 7, Twins 4
Dave Righetti vs Fernando Arroyo

The game is tied 2-2 when the Twins take the lead in the 6th on 3 hits and 2 walks, including a bases-loaded walk to Gary Ward.  In the 7th, the Yankees tie it on a 2-out 2-run double by Dave Winfield.  Bottom of the 8th and Oscar Gamble comes up big yet again with a pinch 3-run homer. Goose gets the final 2 outs to cap the win.  MVP: Oscar Gamble 1-1, HR, 3RBI

8/25 - Twins 6, Yankees 5 (14 innings)
Roger Erickson vs Rick Reuschel

The Yankees had a 5-2 lead until the 8th when the Twins tied it up on a 2-run homer by Ron Jackson.  The bullpen kept the game tied until the 14th when the Twins scored on a 2 out single by Roy Smalley.  MVP: Mickey Hatcher 3-5, 2B, RBI

8/26 - Yankees 7, Twins 2
Ron Guidry vs Pete Redfern

The Yanks put up 3 in the 5th and 4 in the 8th. The big hit was Mr. October (Reggie Jackson's) 2out bases loaded single.  Ron Guidry picks up his 2nd win of the season. MVP: Doug Bird 2IP, 1H, Save

The Yankees head to Chicago while the Twins go home to host the Tigers.
--submitted by John Clingan--

Brew Crew takes 2 from Chisox

The White Sox ended a brutal 15 game road swing going 7-8

Game 1 Brewers 3 Wsox 2 (11innings)
wsox made 5 errors and should not even been in the game. A error on Lamp wins the game for Milw

Game 2 WSox had 5-2 lead but with 3 more errors and lost 8-5
Lamp second loss in row as he stands to see lots of work being the only relief pitcher on team.. Jerry Augustine win, Rollie Fingers save
--submitted by Dan Holm--

O's sweep Jay in 2 game set

Baltimore 16 Toronto 2
Stone (W) Bomback (L)

Starter Stone pitched a strong game for Baltimore. Game MVP Al Bumbry went 4 for 5. His double in the 7th followed by a Dauer Single and a Murray homerun put the game out of reach and Baltimore lead 6-1. Being a double header and Toronto wanting to rest pitchers the threw a tired Willis under the bus and in the 9th Baltimore added another 10 runs.

Baltimore 4 Toronto 2
McGregor (W) Todd (L)

The first inning looked like a slugfest was in the works. Both teams started off 2 runs. Then game MVP Scotty McGregor settled down and shutdown Toronto. Over the next 7 innings he allowed only 3 hits. Meanwhile Singleton hit a shot to the 2nd deck in centrefield with Murray onboard. Martinez took to the mound in the 9th and got the save. --submitted by Robert Chisholm--

Redbirds take 2 of 3 from Jints

In a series featuring two clubs that are having some troubles getting untracked, the St. Louis Cardinals managed to take the final two games at Busch Stadium after the Giants rocked starter Bob Forsch to win the opening game.
 
Forsch surrendered 10 hits and 5 runs, all earned, as Allen Ripley and the Giants rolled to an 6-1 victory. Former Cardinal Larry Herndon's 3 hits, including a second inning 2 run homer, lead the way for San Francisco. Milt May and Jack Clark also had 3 hits each, prompting Cardinal executive Bike Mike to comment "we've got some catchers, but that Clark guy would look good in our uniform". The Giants totaled 14 hits in all, with Ripley going 7 innings for his first victory of the season.
 
The Redbirds rebounded in game 2 earning a 4-2 victory in a contest featuring lefthanders Vida Blue for San Francisco and John Martin for St. Louis on the hill. Martin was stellar, going 7 1/3 innings giving up 7 hits and 2 runs, earning the win and moving to 3-0 on the season giving him 3 of the Cardinals 5 wins so far. Meanwhile the veteran Blue could not find the strike zone, walking six while not recording a single strikeout.
 
The Cardinals got all the runs they would need in the first inning when Garry Templeton started the game with a single, and an out later Keith Hernandez signled. George Hendrick then drove a ball into the left field corner to score Templeton with the first run of the game. Blue's wildness then reared up as he walked Sixto Lezcano, then got former teammate Gene Tenace to hit a ball back to the box where Blue was able to force Hernandez at the plate. But then he walked in two runs, losing both Tito Landrum and Ken Oberkfell on walks.
 
Enos Cabell got one back in the second on a solo homer, and Jeff Leonard hit one out in the sixth, but that was all the Giants could muster. Bruce Sutter came on with 2 out and 2 on in the eighth and pitched the final 1 1/3 innings to earn his first save of the season.
 
Game 3 featured righthanders Doyle Alexander and Silvio Martinez on the mound, and each club's offense came through with 10 hits. The Cardinals managed to get more out of their hits though, winning by a 5-3 score. The middle of the Cardinal order, Keith Hernandez, George Hendrick and Dane Iorg accounted for two hits apiece, while Darrell Evans had 3 safeties and Milt May 2 for the Giants. Hendrick's first inning home run after Hernandez' double got the Cardinals offense untracked. Martinez earned his first win of the year while Alexander dropped to 0-3. Sutter pitched the ninth for his second save in as many days.
--submitted by BikeMike--

Bucs take 2 of 3 from Dodgers

Game One - Rick Monday slams two two-run homers off of the Pirates' Odell Jones to account for all the Dodgers' runs in a 4-3 win over the Pirates. Fernando Valenzuela goes eight innings for the win, and Dave Stewart finishes up for the save.
 
Game Two - Phil Garner breaks a 3-3 tie in the fifth inning, and Pascual Perez helps save a spent Pittsburgh bullpen by pitching eight innings in the Pirates 4-3 win over the Dodgers. Perez throws 144 pitches with an empty bullpen, finally giving way to Grant Jackson, who pitces the ninth for a save. Monday hits his third two-run homer of the series, and Mike Scioscia goes 3-5 for seven hits in the first two games.
 
Game Three - The teams play their third one-run game of the series, as the Pirates pull out a 3-2 win in ten innings. Ken Landreaux tied the game for the Dodgers in the top of the ninth with a pinch-hit sacrifice fly. With one out in the bottom of the tenth, Willie Stargell hit a pinch double. Pinch-runner Lee Lacy stole third and the Dodgers intentionally walked Phil Garner. With Omar Moreno coming to bat, the Dodgers played the infield back to try for an inning-ending double play; but Moreno's grounder was too slow for the Dodgers to turn two, and Lacy scored the game and series-winning run.

--submitted by Chris Gotay--

Toronto sweeps West Division leader Texas

Texas 6, Toronto 7

Matlack (L) vs Clancy (W)

Toronto picked up where they left off against Chicago. After 6 Toronto was up 7-0. Yes Buck Martinez was playing again but the Blue Jays star hitting wise was a young George Bell. He was 3 for 4 with 4 RBIs. Texas though showed why they were 1st in the East. When Willis came in to relieve a tired Clancy who had pitched a strong game but had given up 3 runs in the 7th. Willis could not stop the Texas onslaught it wasn't until Game MVP Roy Lee Jackson came in to shutdown Texas juggernaut after they scored 6 finished the 7th and held Texas hitless for the rest of the game.

 

 

Texas 1 Toronto 7
Jenkins (L) vs Steib (W) 

Welcome home Fergie Jenkins. Bump Wills decided to get Texas going with a lead off hit to left field decided to stretch it to a double but Woods gunned him down at 2nd. It was a sign of things to come. Woods would put lead-off hitter Moseby in scoring position with a sacrifice bunt in the bottom of the 1st. Moseby would score and Toronto would lead 2-0. The Blue Jays would add to the lead with when Jenkins allowed 2 walks and 3 singles in the 2nd resulting in 3 runs. Texas managed their only run in the 4th. Canadian born Jenkins was chased after 5 1/3 innings allowing 7 hits, 4 walks and 5 runs. Game MVP Dave Steib went the distance allowing only 6 hits in 9 innings.  --submitted by Robert Chisholm--

Buck Martinez hits for the cycle as Toronto takes 2 of 3 from Pale Hose

Buck Martinez impressively hits for the cycle, Toronto takes Pale Sox 2 games to 1

Chicago 0 Toronto 4
Trout (L) vs Bomback (W)

After two previous bad outing Game MVP Bomback finally put together a GEM of a game allowing only 2 hits and 1 walk and striking out 4. Trout pitched a strong game allowing only 6 hits but  was rocked in the 4th inning when Almor error-ed to allowed Ainge lead-off batter to get on base. He scored on a Griffin single and Bonnell singled before Mayberry hit a home run to complete the games scoring.

Chicago 12 Toronto 7
Dotson (W) vs Todd (L)
A hitters game. The Pale Sox struck first in the 4th when Lemon doubled, game MVP Luzinski singled, Baines doubled and Nordhagen singled. Toronto replied in the 5th when lead-off hitter Moseby was HBP, Ainge sacrifice bunt sent him to second. A Garcia single scored Moseby and a single by Velez scored Garcia. Chicago struck back with 4 singles scoring Luzinski and Baines. Toronto got it back when pich hitter Cox homered with Moseby on with base. In the 7th a double by Luzinski scoring Almon, and intentional walk to Baines setup Nordhagen's double scoring two.Moseby homered in the 8th for Toronto making it 7-5. Chicago went through the lineup in the 9th scoring 5 with Luzinski hitting a 2 run homer run shot, Morrison doubling scoring 2 and Bernazard tripling scoring another. Toronto got two back but Chicago held on for the victory.

Chicago 2 Toronto 21
Burns(L) vs Leal(W)
Game MVP Buck Martinez was the star. He made great calls for starting pitcher Leal and went 5 for 5 hitting the cycle and getting two homeruns. His number was 5. 5 at bats, 5 hits, 5 runs, 5 RBIs. Toronto had 4 homeruns, 21 hits. It was a close game 4-1 after 4 but the 5th inning Toronto sent 13 batters to the plate scoring 10.

A final note on Buck Martinez's accomplishment was how he hit the cycle 1st hit homerun, 2nd hit homerun, 3rd hit triple, 4th hit double, 5th hit single. He did it in reverse order.  --submitted by Robert Chisholm--