KOD 12 - Playoff Matchups Set

KOD 12 - Final Regular Season Standings

Killebrew’s Klout Klobbers A’s in Finale

9/27 - Oakland Coliseum
A's 5, Twins 3
Bob Porterfield vs Blue Moon Odom
Oakland jumped out to a 5-0 lead, then Odom began to tire after 135 pitches and the Twins rallied back for 3 runs to make it a game.  Jack Aker and Dennis Eckersley (11th save) combined for 2 scoreless innings of relief.  Rickey Henderson stole his 15th base of the season and Jerry Lumpe had a 3 for 3 day including 2 RBI's.  Killebrew did not have an official AB as he walked 3 times and was hit by a pitch.

9/28
A's 7, Twins 5
Dave Goltz vs Catfish Hunter
Hunter was bad early, but Goltz was just plain bad.  After being staked to a 4-0 lead Goltz surrendered 4 runs in the 4th the gave up solo runs in each of the next 3 innings.  Feris Fain (2) and Reggie Jackson (16) each went deep.  Eckersley was once again shaky, as evidenced by the solo shot he gave up to light hitting Eddie Yost, but he still had enough to get his 12th save to lead the league.

9/29
Twins 8, A's 4 (10 inn)
Kevin Tapani vs Bob Welch
Both starters went 6 and gave up 2 and left the game with a no decision.  Middle relievers Bert Blyleven and Rollie Fingers surrendered 2 in 2 innings and looked nothing like the HOF'ers that their plaques in Cooperstown attest to.  For a season finale this game was extremely exciting.  With the A's having nothing to play for and the Twins just trying to remain healthy for the post season one would expect both teams to have mailed it in.  This was certainly not the case.  Every time the Twins took the lead late in the game the A's answered right back.  Jose Canseco, who had 2 homers on the day, hit his 7th off of Blyleven in the 8th to tie it up at 3-3.  After the Twins took a 4-3 lead in the top of the 9th Brian Harper singled home Mickey Vernon to give the Twins another 1 run lead.  Joe Rudi's sac fly in the bottom of the inning forced extras.  Jack Aker fanned the first 2 batters he faced in the 10th, but he could not survive a 3 run upper deck job by Harmon Killebrew, who recorded his KOD single season record 22nd round tripper.  For good measure Tom Brunansky added a solo blast to make it a 4 run gap that the A's were not going to come back from.  Al Worthington got the win and Aker took the loss.  Killebrew had a 2 for 4 day with 3 RBI's to finish off the season in grand style.  Jose Canseco's 4 for 5, two homer day was not enough for the A's who finished the season an even 24-24.

Congratulation to Marvin Sik for making his 3rd KOD post season with the Twins.  This would be Marvin's 1st appearance in the post season since KOD8, when he took the 61 Twins to the LDS.  Prior to that he lost in 7 in the ALCS with the 64 Twins in KOD 6.  By virtue of winning the division the Twins will be awarded the #2 seed in the AL.

Chisox take 2 of 3 from KC in season finale

No homeruns were hit in this 3 game series between Chicago and Kansas City. Not a one.

Chicago 11 Kansas City 5
Wood vs Appier

Doubles in the third inning by Melton, Baines, and Lance Johnson resulted in a 5 run inning by the Sox. The Royals in the eight got back 3 with singles by Tartabull, Otis, Brett and a double by Seltzer. Any thoughts of a comeback were dashed in the 9th when Sox scored three more. Wilbur Wood went the distance for the win. Appier took the loss. Game MVP Lance Johnson was 2 for 4 with 3 RBIs, and a stolen base.

Chicago 2 Kansas City 5
Peters vs Gura
Chicago started off the game with a 2 run first. Then Royals starter Larry Gura got in the zone. In the third Willie Wilson stole his 18th base of the season and Washington brought him home on a single. He later scored on a Seitzer double. In the 4th the Royals took the lead when McFarlane doubled scoring Piniella and White.  In the sixth Danny Tartabull scored on a Peters passed ball. Larry Gura went the distance for the win. Peters the loss. Game MVP Larry Gura allowed only 6 hits.

Chicago 3 Kansas City 2 - 15 innings
Pizarro vs Saberhagen 
What a game to finish the season. A pitching duel. Kansas City struck first in the 3rd when Macfarlane scored on an Otis ground out. The Sox got it back in the 4th as Robinson scored on a May single. In the 5th Otis became involved again as he contacted the ball and arrived at first on an error by Guillen scoring Willie Wilson. Chicago tied it in the 7th. Cy Young candidate Bret Saberhagen (1.81 season ERA) went 11 innings before surrendering the ball to Montgomery. Pizarro went 8 and 2/3 and was relived by Forster who faced 1 batter in the 9th and struck him out. Wilhelm came in and pitched 5 innings allowing only 2 hits. In the top of the 15th Fisk flew out, then Lance Johnson and Fox singled off Quisenberry and Minnie Minoso singled off Pattin scoring Lance Johnson. Bobby Thigpen came in to relieve Wilhelm and got the save. Wilhelm got the win and Quisenberry the loss. Game MVP Pizarro allowed only 6 hits in 8 2/3 innings.

--submitted by Robert Chisholm--

Tigers sweep O’s

Thursday September 23 at Tiger Stadium.

Mickey Lolich (3-3, 5.43) didn't need much help as he only allowed one run on six hits and one walk in going the distance.  Nevertheless the Tiger bats gave him plenty.  Lou Whitaker supplied most of the help, driving home the first two runs after Milt Pappas (2-4, 5.50) walked the bases full in the second, then driving home two more with a double in the fourth and a final run in a 6 run 7th.  Altogether the Tigers chalked up 12 runs and coasted to a 12-1 win.

Friday September 24, at Tiger Stadium.

Jack Morris was looking for another Tiger bat fest and he got it.  whereas in his last outing, the Tigers had trouble scoring and cost him a win, this time, the bats were alive.  Dave McNally (3-6, 3.09) was the victim of ten runs, including 3 homeruns, to Lance Parrish (7),  Al Kaline (5) and Ray Boone (6).  Morris struck out 11 in 8 and a third innings, (7-1, 2,31) Tigers 10  Orioles 1

Saturday September 25 at Tiger Stadium.

Denny McLain had given up 20 homers in 60 innings.  In the first Boog Powell (7) made it 21 with a two run shot to right center.  When the Orioles continued to kick McLain around in the 2nd, scoring 3 more on a two run double by Al Bumbry and a single by Eddie Murray, Denny was headed for an early shower.  Fred Gladding came in and closed the door on the Orioles and continued to keep the door closed for the next 3 innings.  Meanwhile, the Tigers waited for their bats to come alive.  Dennis Martinez held the Tigers in check for two innings, but gave up four runs in the 3rd, highlighted by a three run Norman Cash homerun (11).  In the fourth, Charley "Paw Paw" Maxwell tripled with one out and scored when Alan Trammell dropped a sweet squeeze bunt.  Martinez exited after the fourth and Hoyt Wilhelm came on.  Kaline greeted Wihelm's first pitch with a line drive into the left field lower deck and the Tigers were ahead.  Boog Powell greeted John Hiller with a lead off double in the 6th and scored on Gus Triandos' double.  Though each time had scoring chances, the game remained tied into the 11th.  With two outs, Al Bumbry singled.  Then Eddie Murray caught a too well placed fastball and drove it into the right field seats (7).  The bottom of the 11th saw Kirk Gibson lead off with a strike out.  Whitaker worked a walk and Harvey Kuenn moved him to second  with a ground out.  Kaline singled Sweet Lou to third and that brought up Stormin' Norman Cash.  With manager Tom Davis shouting from the dugout that he could do it, Cash simply grinned and rubbed the head of his bat with a little dirt.  He must have been hiding the cork because the next pitch sailed high and deep to right, missing the overhang and dropping softly into the right field seats for a walk off three run homer.(12).  Mark Fidrych got the win (3-0, 4.50).  Dick Hall took the loss (0-1, 6.05)  Tigers 9  Orioles 8  

--submitted by Tom “Crash” Davis--

Week #15 - Bosox sweep Brew Crew

Milwaukee 7 Boston 8

Slaton vs Clemens

Boston off to a 7-0 lead. Milwaukee fights back ties it at 7. Bottom of the 9^th. Dwight Evans leads off late called strike one down. Carlton Fisk faces Plesac. Fisk cuts it’s a little blooper to right center. Base hit. Castro balked. Fisk to 2^nd. Jensen swings it’s a blooper to left center that’s a base hit.. Fisk holds up at 3^rd. DiMaggio will be intentionally walked. Castro with a 3-2 breaking ball high he walked that forces in the winning run. Winning Pitcher Lyle. Losing Pitcher Plesac. Clemens 10 strikeouts. Game MVP Ted Williams 3 for 5.

Milwaukee 6 Boston 16

Colborn vs Parnell

Boston leads 14- 6 in the bottom of the 7^th. Carlton Fisk will lead off the inning. Three for three in the ballgame. McClure toes the rubber 2-1 count. Here’s the pitch. Fisk swings. Fisk hammered this one. Here’s a well hit fly ball to right center way back. Lezcano racing back. It’s over the fence and gone! His 3^rd home run of the game. That one measured 386 feet. That’s 4 hits today for Fisk. Winning Pitcher Parnelll. Losing Pitcher Colborn. Yastrzemski 2 homeruns. Game MVP Carlton Fisk 4 for 5 -3 homeruns, double- 5 RBIs.

Milwaukee 3 Boston 8

Higuera vs Eckersley

Top of the 9^th. Boston leads 8-0. Eckersley looking for his 1^st shutout. Getting a nice ovation. Robin Yount will start the inning 0-2 count. Yount cuts and misses one out. Cooper swings ground ball between 1^st and 2^nd and into right for a base hit.Thomas steps in against Eckersley man on first. 1-2 count Thomas cuts and comes up empty. Two out. Sixto steps in against Eckersley 3-1 count low and in ball 4. Don Money swings grouned between 1^st and 2^nd. Cooper will score from 2^nd. Oglivie cuts its lined between 3^rd and short. Stephens lunges he can’t come up with it. Lezcano crosses the plate. Ted Simmons line drive towards left center DiMaggio lays out he can’t make the play. Money crosses the plate. Paul Molitor swings flys to right Evans gets under and makes the catch. That’s all from Fenway Park. Winning Pitcher Eckersley. Losing Pitcher Higuera. Game MVP Jim Rice 3 for 4.

Milwaukee manager Joe Bukal. Boston manager Robert Chisholm (subbing for Eric Stouber)  --sumbitted by R.Chisholm--

Tigers take 2 of 3 from Tribe

9/19 - Municipal Stadium
Jack Morris (6-1, 2.45) vs Bob Feller
Tigers 7, Indians 5 (15 inn)

Jack Morris looked to have his 7th win locked up, but the Tiger pen could not close the deal.  Bobby Avila's 2 run double in the 8th off of Willie Hernandez tied the game up a 3-3.  Neither team scored in the 9th.  Bill Freehan's 2 out 2 run single in the top of the 10th off of Doug Jones looked to be the game winner until the Tribe answered back in the bottom inning with a Dale Mitchell 2 run homer.  After that fans would be treated to 4 scoreless extra innings.  Then in the 15th Tito Francona mishandled a slow roller down the first base line off the bat of Lou Whitaker.  Francona's error allowed Freehan to score.  Indian reliever Jim Kern can't blame Francona for the run since his wild pitch allowed Freehan to move to second.  Al Kaline, who had a 5-8 day, singled home Whitaker and the Tigers were now ahead for good.  Hank Aguire pitched two scoreless innings in relief to get the win in this marathon.

9/20
Denny McLain (3-3, 4.15) vs Sam McDowell (1-1, 5.20)
Tigers 6, Indians 2
Denny McLain went the distance and allowed just 4 hits.  Two of those hits were solo blasts by the Tribe's backup catcher Ron Hassey.  Detroit tattooed "Sudden Sam" for 4 runs in the 1st to set the pace.  Back to back homers by Lance Parrish and Willie Horton in the 6th made it 6-1 and put the game out of reach.  McLain has given up 20 round trippers so far this season, which should be a huge source of concern for manager Davis as he heads toward the post season.

9/21
Frank Larry (1-3, 7.96) vs Mike Garcia (4-2, 4.47)
Indians 11, Tigers 3
The Tigers jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first, but Mike Garcia would get stingy after that and blank them the rest of the way.  The same could not be said for Frank Larry who after 3 shutout innings to start the game imploded in the bottom of the 4th and never recovered.  After Tito Francona walked with the based loaded to make it 3-1, Woodie Held doubled in two to tie it.  The Tribe would take the lead on Julio Franco's ground out to second and never look back.  Larry Doby hit his 13th and 14th homers of the season and had 4 RBI's on the day.  Garcia would allow just 1 hit, a leadoff single to Whitaker in the 9th, after the first.  Detroit is now 24-18 and poised for a nice post season run, while the Tribe has faded to .500.

Rangers reap havoc on A’s

The red hot Texas Rangers sweep a three game series from the Oakland A's, their second sweep in a row

Game 1 Texas 7 Oakland 3

“Hip Hip Harrah!”
Texas, coming off a three game sweep of Detroit, looked to continue their climb out of the cellar. Dave Stewart started for Oakland and Joe Coleman took the rock for the Rangers. The first 5 innings were dominated by the pitchers Texas scoring the only run in the second inning on a Sac Fly off the bat of Ruben Sierra. The top of the 6th saw a two-out offensive outburst of 5 Texas runs sparked by a 3-run jack off the bat of Toby Harrah. Orlando Palmeiro added a 2-run 2-out double. Texas added their final run in the top of the 7th on a Jose Canseco solo blast. Oakland scored 2 in the bottom of the 7th on a 2-run HR of the bat of Reggie Jackson and 1 in the 8th on a Billy North single. But 3 runs would be all they would scoe. Jeff Russell pitched a perfect 9th inning to collect his first save.
WP Joe Coleman (3-1) LP D Stewart (3-5) Jeff Russell S (1)

Game 2 Texas 7 Oakland 6

“The Old See-Saw”

Texas beat Oakland in 10 innings 7-6. It was a see-saw battle that saw Texas taking a 2-run lead in the 2nd inning on a 2-run Juan Gonzalez blast which Oakland matched in the bottom of the 3rd on a Terry Steinbach solo Hr and a Vic Power bases loaded ground out. Texas would respond by scoring 2 more in the top of the 4th and Oakland scored 2 in the bottom of the 6th to tie the game up at 4. Oakland would take the lead in the bottom of the 8th when Ricky Henderson hit a 2-run bomb. Oakland would get 3 straight singles after the Henderson blast but would leave the bases loaded. Texas, not to be denied, scored the tying runs on a Buddy Bell ground out and a Orlando Palmeiro double. Juan Gonzalez started the top of the tenth with his 2nd HR of the day and that blast would be enough for Texas to win as there was no more come back in the Oakland A's.
WP Jeff Russell (3-1) LP Eckersley (0-1) Save Darold Knowles (3)

Game 3 Texas 4 Oakland 1

“Kevin Brown Makes the Oakland A's Blue”

Kevin Brown was on his game tonight as he pitched a complete game to finish the Ranger's sweep of the A's. Though Brown scattered 7 hits and walked 3 he was able to keep Oakland off balance when it mattered most. Not much offensive output by either team ,but Texas produced just enough to win. Texas scored its first run in the 3rd inning on a Toby Harrah HR. The Rangers finished their scoring by coming up with a 3-spot in the 5th inning. Buddy Bell  provided the blast that produced the 3 runs. Oakland managed to only score one run in the 6th when little Bert Campaneris popped one out of the yard. That would do it as the last three innings were uneventful. Texas has now won 6 in row and is, for at least the time being, ahead of both Chicago and Oakland.
WP Kevin Brown ( 3-3) LP Catfish Hunter (3-6)

--submitted by Frank Selders--

Cubs sweep Spos @ St. Baldrick Celebration

A big series for the Cubs in Wrigley this week as the northsiders continue to be in the thick of a pennant race in the National League East. Marc Weiss brought the Expos of Montreal into town to face the Cubs. The series was designated by the Cubs organization as St. Baldrick's Day.All three games were dedicated to the organization and the Cubs wore special uniforms,while all of Wrigley field was dressed up to recognize the St. Baldricks organization with special bunting draped around the field and special promotions at all concession stands. St. Baldricks is an organization that was begun to raise funds to battle childhood cancer. The Cubs organization would like to recognize the wonderful work they do

and in doing so have donated $10.00 to help raise funds. 78% of all money raised by the organization goes directly to cancer research. So of the $10.00 donated, $7.80 goes straight to finding a cure.
I challenge all KOD managers to match the Cubs $10.00 contribution. It's a small price to pay, for I know we're all blessed with so much, and it can make a difference in a child's life and the life of their family. Come on guys. Pitch in. Help out and if we all contribute just $10.00 dollars we will get to see Marc's shaved head proudly displayed on the Action forum for all to see. Do it,please.

Go here to contribute:  
http://www.stbaldricks.org/participants/mrw

Game 1
Montreal Expos  0    Chicago Cubs  6
Dennis Martinez   L(0-5)      Fergie Jenkins   W(6-1)
Wrigley Field   Time 2:38   76°
It ended up being a whitewash as Ferguson Jenkins pitched a complete game shutout. “Fergie” scattered 5 hits over 9 innings and only walked 1. Dennis Martinez worked a good ballgame himself as he only  gave up 7 hits as he went the distance for Montreal. The game was scoreless until the Cub half of the 6th when Ernie Banks led off the inning with his 16th home run of the year. That would prove to be all the runs Chicago would need , but they did add 5 more insurance runs in the 8th capped by a Rick Monday 2 run shot into the right field seats. It was Rick's 15th of the year. The Cubs had game one of the series and tied the Phillies for the lead in the East.

Game 2
Montreal Expos  0   Chicago Cubs  5
Scott Sanderson  L(2-5)   Greg Maddux  W(2-2)
Wrigley Field   Time 3:01  77°  Light Rain
In game 2 it was Greg Maddux's time to shutout the Expos. On a gloomy and dank day at Wrigley,Maddux shined. Keeping the Montreal hitters of balance with  changing speed and hitting his spots, Montreal could only manage 2 hits all day. Maddux would have a no hitter until the 5th when SS Tim Foli stroked one over Santo into left field. Andres Galarraga would add another single to Montreal’s total in the 9th. It would be the Hank Sauer show for Chicago. Hank would knock his 12th homerun over the bleachers in left. In fact he hit it so hard and so long it lodged in a window in the apartment building on Waveland Ave. Sauer would hit number 13 in the 5th. A solo shot it was for Sauer as he ended  the day 3 for 5 as he knocked in all 5 Cub's runs. Chicago now moved into first place in the East.

Game 3
Montreal Expos  3   Chicago Cubs   7
Steve Rogers  L(4-5)   Bill Hands  W(5-3)
Wrigley Field   Time 2:58   71°   10 mph Out to Center
Chicago's great shortstop and a true gentlemen, Ernie Banks led off the game by blasting the first pitch from Rogers into the bleachers in left. It was his 17th. Rick Monday would lead off the 2nd and put Roger's first pitch of the inning into the right field seats. It was his 16th. Chicago would add 2 more runs in the inning and grab a quick 4 run lead. Hank Sauer would pop his 14th homer of the year as he belted one over the ivy and off the tarp in  dead center. Chicago had a 6-0 lead.  Montreal would finally score in the series when Hands gave up a 3 run shot to Gary Carter and Montreal had cut the lead in half. The Cubs would add a run in the 7th on a Bill Buckner double that scored Andre Dawson. Hands would not allow Montreal to get close after that and the Cubs would have the sweep. Hands would close out Chicago's 3rd complete game as Cubs Manager, Jim Walden did not have to go to his bullpen one time. Chicago would now have a 2 game lead on the division with 6 to play.

--submitted by Jim Walden--
Make a donation guys,please. I just did.