Le Expos take 2 of 3 from Redbirds

8/18-8/20 - Jarry Parc
GAME 1 - Cardinals 11, Expos 4
Larry Jackson vs Steve Renko
Renko made his first start of the year and judging by his performance he just might not get too many more.  7 runs in 8 innings of work just won't get it done.  The only positive is that he at least ate up innings.  Things went downhill quickly for Montreal after Andre Dawson's first inning RBI single.  Stan Musial's 2 out RBI single in the 3rd was followed up with Ken Boyer's two run double to quickly put St. Louis up 3-1. Eight runs over the final 3 innings sealed the deal.  Ted Simmons led the Cardinal offense with a 3 for 4 day including a 3 run blast and 4 RBI's total.

GAME 2 - Expos 9, Cardinals 2
Hal Brecheen vs Steve Rogers
Brecheen had "Renko-like" day for the Cards.  The only difference was his suffering ended before the 5th inning came to a close.  Steve Rogers, who had a rocky start to the season, rebounded nicely to go the distance and only give up 2 runs.  St. Louis, like Montreal the day before, had a 1 run lead until the expos exploded for 9 runs over the middle 3 innings.  Homers by Gary Carter and Larry Parrish rocked Brecheen's world and led to his early departure.  Carter would have 4 RBI's on day.  Rogers himself would go 2 for 4 at the plate to boost his season average to .375, wich is sadly still lower than his ERA (5.04).

GAME 3 - Expos 12, Cardinals 6
Bob Forsch vs Bryn Smith
Today was not a day for the "arms".  Forsch hit the showers after getting lit up for 7 runs in 2 innings, including a 5 run first where the Expos batted around.  Smith wasn't exactly Cy Young, giving up 5 earned runs in 6 1/3 innings.  The day belonged to the lumber.  In a losing effor the Cardinals featured two guys with 3 hit games (Brock/Simmons).  Lou Brock was a homer away from hitting for the cycle.  Brocks opposite number, Tim Raines was off the charts good going 5 for 5 and scoring 4 runs.  When "the Rock" wasn't getting hits he was distracting pitchers with the threat of stealing second.  This helped number two hitter Delino DeShields go 3 for 4 and #3 guy Andre Dawson go 2 for 3.  Montreal rang up 15 hits in total as they doubled up the Cards 12-6.

Bombers take 2 of 3 from Bosox to take 1 game lead in AL East

Game 1: Raschi vs. Clemens
This would be a day for the bats. Mickey Mantle started things off with a two-run shot, scoring Rickey Henderson who had stolen second off Roger Clemens. Ted Williams answered for the Sox in their half of the first with a two-run blast of his own. Again the teams traded runs in the third, with Mantle launching a solo shot with two outs and Carlton Fisk hitting a leadoff homer in the home half. But Craig Nettles two-run shot in the fourth gave the Yanks a lead they would not relinquish. In the sixth Joe DiMaggio hit a solo shot, to be countered by Ted Williams' second home run of the game. But Don Mattingly's two-run shot in the seventh blew the game open and Ron Guidry shut the Sox down out of the bullpen. Vic Raschi gave up his first runs of the year but the Yankees took home the win by a final of 10-5.

Game 2: Peterson vs. Tiant
The Yanks struck first with a leadoff home run from Rickey Henderson, only to have Ted Williams hit his fifth home run of the year with one on in the bottom of the first. The day would be rough on Yankee pitching, as the Sox were able to do just enough to stay ahead The game was tied at three going into the seventh, when the bottom fell out on reliever Ed Lopat. The Sox scored in the seventh on a Jim Rice sac fly and then Wade Boggs plated two in the eight on an RBI single. Dick Radatz recorded the save and the Sox evened the series with a 6-3 win.

Game 3: Reynolds vs. Kinder
Both sides were scoreless until the third inning, although the Yankees were getting the better of it at the plate. In the third Phil Rizzuto hit a one-out double and Mickey Mantle followed with a home run. Craig Nettles hit a home run in the fourth and Roger Maris' double plated two in the fifth. That would be more than enough to support Allie Reynolds, who gave up one run in eight innings.  The Yanks left 13 men on base and cruised to a 7-1 victory which put them alone in first place in the AL East.
--submitted by Michael Hopcroft--

Pale Hose lasso Rangers

Texas 5 White Sox 6
Charlie Hough vs. Wilbur Wood

Texas took an early 1-0 lead in the second with 3 singles in a row. In the 4th they added to the lead as Wilbur Wood walked Julio Franco with the bases loaded. In the 6th both teams traded runs. In the 7th both teams traded leadoff home runs. Frank Howard for Texas and Lamar Johnson for Chicago. In the 8th Casey Cox came in for relief and was given a blown save when Minnie Minoso put a two run blast over the fence. In the 9th a blown save was awarded to Hoyt Wilhelm when Juan Gonzalez put a solo shot out of the park to tie the game. Jeff Russell tagged with the loss when Jim Landis hit a double in the bottom of the ninth scoring Robin Ventura. Hoyt Wilhelm was given the win.
GWRBI Jim Landis
MVP Lamar Johnson 2 for 4, 1 HR

Texas 10 White Sox 14
Jon Matlack vs. Joe Horlen
The Cowboys and Da Bears took to the field in this classic battle of   the grid iron. Texas had a lead of 5-1 after 5 1/2 innings. In the bottom of the 6th the White Sox chased starter Jon Matlack from the game and sent 12 batters to the plate scoring a touchdown and adding a 2 point convert (8 runs). Texas clawed back tying it at 10 after 7 ½ innings. In the bottom half of the 8th Jim Landis (hero from the day before pinch hit again) kicked a field goal through the uprights (homered) scoring 3. Lamar Johnson the scored on a Luis Aparicio single. Giving the White Sox a 14-10 lead. Winning pitcher was Hoyt Wilhelm but was given a second blown save in as many games. Losing pitcher Joe Coleman. This game had 33 hits between the two teams and only 8 were for extra bases.
GWRBI Jim Landis  
MVP Luis Aparicio 3 for 4, 4 RBIs

Texas 5 White Sox 9
Kevin Brown vs. Gary Peters
A single by Harold Baines got the White Sox off to a 2-0 lead in the 1st. Frank Howard replied with a solo shot over the fence and Juan Gonzalez scored on a Harrah walk. The White Sox responded with 2 in the bottom of the inning. Lamar Johnson hit a 3 run shot out of the park as part of a 4 run 5th. Julio Franco and Juan Gonzalez added home runs to bring the score to 9-5 but a tired Gary Peters held on for the win with 11 strikeouts. Bobby Thigpen pitched the final out when Gary Peters left injured. Kevin Brown took the loss with Casey Cox coming in for relief.
GWRBI Jorge Orta
MVP Lamar Johnson – 1 HR, 3 RBIs

--submitted by Robert Chisholm--

Bravos take 2 of 3 from Friars

Dave Winfield	Bob Elliot	Rico Carty

Game 1 - Fulton County Stadium
Dave Winfield smacked a two-run homerun in the first inning to jump start the Padre offense. Nate Colbert and Terry Kennedy hit solo blasts in support of Andy Benes to knock off the Bravos.  Benes Threw 7 solid innings and struck out 9 Braves to earn his first win of the season. Padres 4...Braves 2

Game 2 - Fulton County Stadium
Nate Colbert hit his second homerun in as many days for San Diego but could not offset the three homeruns crushed by the Braves.  Dale Murphy, Bob Elliot, hit homeruns and Del Crandell put the game out of reach with a 3-run bomb in the seventh off loser Bruce Hurst.  Hurst was pitching a strong game until the sixth and seventh innings when Atlanta pushed across five runs.  Tom Glavine improves to 2-0 as he pitched a 2 hitter through 6 innings.  Kent Mercker earned the save in relief. Braves 6...Padres 2.

Game 3 - Fulton County Stadium
Rico Carty and Joe Adcock each collected three hits and drove in all three runs for the Braves to support a strong pitching performance by Lew Burdette. Final score: Braves 3....Padres 2.
--submitted by Joey Scigliano--

Phightin’s sweep ‘Stros

KOD 12 Houston vs. Philadelphia - Game 1
The Philadelphia Phillies steamrolled by the Houston Astros with superior pitching and offense in a 3 game set. Game one at Houston saw Terry Muholland (2-0, 1.99) pitch seven innings of 3-hit ball. He beat Astro ace Larry Dierker who pitched his worst start of the season: 6.1 innings, 6 earned runs. Philly OFer Johnny Callison had 3 hits and 3 RBI, Richie Allen chipped in 4 hits in 5 at bats. Final 8-0 Philadelphia.

Game 2
Nolan Ryan was cruising to victory until he puked up a 5 run 5th   inning against the home town Phillies. Ken Forsch was no help in the 6th as the Fightin' Phils scored 3 more times powered by Johnny Callison's first home run of the season to make the score 8-3. Astro outfileders Jim Wynn and Cesar Cedeno (5 HRs) cracked late home runs to keep Houston in the game, but Philadelphia relievers Gene Garber and Tug McGraw (4 saves) closed out an 8-6 win for the Phillies.

Game 3
Johnny Callison continued his amazing run with 3 more hits, 2 home runs and 4 RBI. He had 9 hits and 3 home runs in the 3 game set. Both Jim Lonberg of Philly and Joe Niekro for the visiting Astros barely escaped the first inning, and the Phillies led 4-3 when the hitting was finally subdued. Cesar Cedeno climbed the home run leaderboard with his 6th of the season, but that was all Houston could do off Longberg's replacement Ron Reed (1-0, 6.10) in 5 innings of ball. Art Howe was 4-4 for the visiting Astronomicals, Bob Boone chipped in 2 hits and 2 RBI, Tug McGraw notched save No. 5 in the 9-5 Philly win.

--submitted by Mike Johnson--

“Jacked-up” Halos’ take 2 of 3 from A’s

Aug 18 – Aug 20 – Anaheim Stadium
Game 1 – Angels 6, Athletics 5
Wright vs. Blue
Gene Tenace’s 3-run HR in the top of the 1st made Clyde Wright’s first start of the season an auspicious one for the A’s and an ominous one for Wright.  Fortunately for the Angels, Oakland could manage to plate only 4 runs over Wright’s 111 pitches and 4-innings of work, despite yielding 6 hits and 4 walks.  And thanks to a Doug DeCinces 2-run HR, the Athletic only led 5-2 after 6.5 innings.  But in the bottom of the 7th, 4 of the first 5 California hitters reached, with Bobby Grich’s pinch-hit, 2-run double keying the rally and tying the game at 5.  The game was still tied after 8.5 innings, and extra innings looked to be a certainty when Vida Blue retired the first two Angels in the bottom of the 9th. But in his second at-bat of the game, Bobby Grich parked one over the left field wall to give the Angels a stunning 6-5 win.                  

Game 2 – Angels 4, Athletics 3
Messersmith vs. Hunter
Jose Canseco’s 2-run 1st inning double and Rickey Henderson’s 2nd inning RBI single once again staked Oakland to a 3-0 lead against California starter Andy Messersmith.  And once again, the Angels came back in dramatic fashion.  After pitching brilliantly for 6 innings, Catfish Hunter faltered a bit in the 7th.  The Angels scored 2 runs on a sacrifice fly and a fielder’s choice ground ball.  But they were still down by 1 run with 2 outs and 1 on base.  Jack Howell was called on to pinch hit, and he delivered a 2-run HR to give the Halos their first lead of the game.  Messersmith pitched well in the 7th and 8th and turned it over to Doug Harvey in the 9th.  Harvey made it interesting by walking 2 batters, and setting up the final showdown against Reggie Jackson.   But the KOD12 AL Homerun leader fanned to the delight of the Angel fans to end the game.       

Game 3 – Athletics 4, Angels 3
Tanana vs. Langford
For the 3rd straight game Oakland broke out on top in the first, with Joe Rudi and Mark McGwire getting RBI hits to give the A’s an immediate 2-0 lead.  California got 1 back a few innings later on a Bobby Grich RBI single.  But the game was really a pitcher’s duel between Tanana and Langford until the 8th.  In the top of the frame McGwire’s solo blast gave Oakland a 2-run cushion.  But Reggie Jackson, playing for both teams, opened the bottom of the frame with a walk.  And once again Jack Howell made his presence felt with a 2-run jack (all puns intended) off Jim Aker that tied the game at 3.  However, unlike the first 2 games of the series, the breaks worked against the Angels in the top of the 9th when pitcher Kirk McCaskill fumbled a 2-out comebacker, allowing Bill North to score the unearned, go-ahead run.  Dennis Eckersley closed it out in the bottom of the 9th for his league leading 6th save. 
--submitted by Douglas Zaner--

Standings and League Leaders after 4 weeks