Halos hang ringer on Pale Hose

Aug 03-05 – Comiskey Park

Game 1 – Angels 9, White Sox 4

Horlen vs. Tanana

This Opening Day game was closer than the final score indicated. Each team traded a couple single runs through 5 innings. Chicago went up 3-2 in the bottom of the 6th on a Chet Lemon squeeze bunt. But the Angels came back in the top of the 7th to go up 4-3 on a Doug DeCinces 2-run HR off of Joe Horlen. Jim Fregosi’s 3-run long ball in the top of the 8th put the game out of reach for the White Sox. Andy Messersmith (1-0) earned the win in emergency relief of starter Frank Tanana, who went down with an injury in the bottom of the 5th. Horlen (0-1) took the loss.

Game 2 – Angels 6, White Sox 0

Peters vs. Brunet

Game 2 started out as another pitcher’s duel, still scoreless after 5  innings. Angels got on board in the top of the 6th, as Dave Chalk scored on a Gary Peters wild pitch. Two batters later, Doug DeCinces increased the margin to 4-0 with a 2-out, 3-run bomb. In the end, though, this one belonged to George Brunet (1-0) with 8.1 innings of 4-hit shutout baseball. Peters (0-1) could get no run support and took the loss.

Game 3 – Angels 10, White Sox 1

John vs. May

California completed the series sweep going away. Sandy Alomar’s triple and a Doug DeCinces sacrifice fly gave the Angels an early 2-0 lead. After a Rod Carew RBI single in the 4th, White Sox Lamar Johnson’s solo shot off Rudy May in the 6th again made it a 2-run game. It appeared as if that score would hold for the Chicago 7th after the first two Angels hitters were retired in the top of the 7th. But the next four batters all singled to load the bases off Wilbur Wood. Up stepped Doug DeCinces, who capped his series performance with a grand slam, making the score 8-1 and sending the Windy City fans to the exists. Rudy May (1-0) pitched 6 strong innings for the win, and Tommy John (0-1) the loss.

For the series, DeCinces finished 5 for 10 with 3 HRs and 10 RBIs.

--submitted by Douglas Zaner--

A’s sweep 3 from Rangers in a Home Run Derby series.

Arlington Stadium
GAME 1 - OAK 8, TEX 6
Catfish Hunter vs Nolan Ryan
The wind was blowing out to the tune of 20 mph, which compromised what should have been a classic HOF pitcher's duel.  All this game was missing was Mark Scott to do the play by play for this home run derby.  6 long balls in total were hit by 6 different players...3 on each team.  Texas was up 3-0 after 5, but the 40+ year old version of "Von Ryan's Express" began to tire.  A two run, two out, shot by Jose Canseco brought the A's to within 1.  Texas would increase their lead with 3 unearned runs in the bottom of the 7th courtesy of a Bill North dropped fly ball in center, which would have been the third out of the inning.  Time and time again, those errors come back to bite you and this one certainly did when "the Capital Punisher", Frank Howard, launched a moon shot that is now orbiting Jupiter.  Catfish was frustrated and everyone in the house knew it.  However he was able to collect his composure to get out of the inning.  Jeff Russell would start the 8th for the Rangers and never make it out of the inning.  A 3 run shot by "Mr. October", Reggie Jackson matched Howard's homer and once again made it a 1 run game.  The fans in Arlington could have lived with the present result, but Oakland was not through scoring just yet.  Back to back singles by Sal Bando and Terry "Grapes of Wrath" Steinbach put runners on the corners with 1 out.  Carney Lansford was called on to pinch hit for Tony Phillips, and hit a sharp grounder to short to score Bando to tie the game at 6-6.  Rollie Fingers would pitch a scoreless 8th to preserve the tie.  Casey Cox, who relieved the embattled Russell to get the final outs in the 8th made one of the cardinal sins of baseball:  he walked Rickey Henderson.  Texas dodged a bullet as Henderson did not steal second and instead had to rely on a sac  bunt by Bill North to get there, which setup the turning point of the game.  With Feris Fain due up it was time to go to the bench and look for some power.  Mark McGwire grabbed a bat and put on his helmet and strolled to the plate.  Big Mac didn't waste a moment of time as he stepped into reliever Darrold Knowles' 1-0 offering and lined it just inside the foul poll for a 2 run shot to give the A's their first lead of the day.  "The Eck" was called on to close the game out and after Buddy Bell hit one to the track, Eckersley easily got Palmeiro and Howard to make out and end this wild shootout.

GAME 2 - OAK 11, TEX 5
Dave Stewart vs Dick Bosman
Dave "Smoke" Stewart was treated to a 5-0 lead even before he took the mound for his first pitch.  10 batters in all would come to the plate in the opening inning for the A's as Dick Bosman wilted under the 100 degree Texas heat.  Back to back jacks by Canseco and Reggie powered the A's.  A two out error by Tony Phillips in the bottom of the inning was followed by a 2 run shot by "Hondo" to cut Oakland's lead to 3.  Bosman remained in the game and settled into a nice groove for the next 4 innings.  That groove would abruptly end, just like his day, as once again Oakland exploded for another 5 run inning.  Four of those runs would be served up by a grand slam by Jose Canseco, who would go on to post 10 RBI's in the series.  Stewart would exit the game after 7 innings of work where he allowed just 3 unearned runs.  Reliever Jack Aker was tasked with throwing the ball down the middle of the plate and getting the game over quickly.  Aker did what he had to do and allowed two meaningless runs as Oakland would win this one walking away.

GAME 3 - OAK 8, TEX 6
Vida Blue vs Charlie Hough
Vida Blue struggled with his control all day, but that was nothing compared to the struggles that Charlie Hough had with his knuckle ball not knuckling.  When his knuckle ball was dancing it usually resulted in a walk.  That happened with the bases loaded in the first.  After battling back to fan Canseco and Jackson, Hough walked Sal Bando to force in Rickey Henderson to make it 1-0 Oakland.  Gene Tenace flew out to end the inning and Hough was able to dodge a bullet to get out of the first with only one run against.  The veteran knuckle ball ace would not be so lucky in the second as Oakland for the second day in a row posted a huge 5 run inning.  Canseco and Jackson were also back up to their old tricks.  Jose's 2 run single was followed up by Reggie's 2 run homer to make it 6-0.  Oakland would make it 8-0 with 2 more homers in the fourth.  Joe Rudi, starting at first base, lined an opposite field shot and Reggie Jackson hit his 4th homer of the young season.  Oakland went into cruise control mode and it nearly cost them dearly.  Texas posted solo runs in the 6th and 7th innings to make it 8-2.  Vida Blue would come out to start the 8th and leave two batters later after giving up a 2 run shot to DH Larry Parrish.  Mike Norris would finish out the inning and start up the 9th defending a 4 run lead.  Julio Franco would lead off the inning with a double and pinch hitter Pete O'Brien would work out a walk to put runners on 1st and 2nd with nobody out.  A single by Rafael Palmeiro would score Franco and make it 8-5. A single by Frank Howard would load the bases up with nobody out.  Norris just couldn't get anybody out, so a call to the bullpen was made  and out came Dennis Eckersley, who got Juan "Gone" to fly out to left.  That fly ball would score O'Brien and make it a 2 run game.  Parrish would get a hold of a 2-1 fastball and hit it to the wall in dead center for the second out of the inning.  4 more feet and Texas walks off with a win.  Instead the ball wound up in the webbing of vic Power's mitt.  Mickey Rivers would ever so slowly stroll to the plate to pinch hit for Geno Petralli.  Mick "the quick" would shoot a low liner to left that Rickey would catch on his shoe top to end the game.  Oakland escaped with a lucky win in a game that they almost let get away thanks to their complacency and Texas' resolve not to quit.

Bucs and Cards play action packed series

Aug 3 – It was more like homerun derby than a baseball game, and the team that won the derby lost the game.  St. Louis pounded Doug Drabek for 7 runs in 1.2 innings and went home with a 7-5 win.  The Pirates took a 3-0 lead in the 1st with homers from Bobby Bonilla and Willie Stargell.  That lasted...not long.  The St. Louis first went like this:  Lou Brock, single; Curt Flood, single; Stan Musial walk to load the bases; Ken Boyer 2-run single, runners on the corners; Bill White sacrifice fly to tie the game at 3-3, one out; Ted Simmons walk; Red Schoendienst ground out, 2 down; wild pitch, 4-3 Cardinals lead.  Finally Ozzie Smith lined out to end the inning.  Gee whiz!  Then in the 2nd inning, Bob Gibson led off with a single.  Here we go again.  But Brock and Flood are retired...then Musial homers, 6-3.  Boyer homers, 7-3.  Drabek leaves.  Bob Veale comes in and walks the first batter.  Is this for real?  But Simmons grounds out, the inning ends.  Gibson, after a rough 1st inning, settled in, except for two long fly balls...Bonilla in the 3rd, and Ray in the 6th.  That made the score 7-5.  The Pirates got a runner on in the 8th and 9th, but couldn’t do anything.  Todd Worrell worked the 9th to wrap up the St. Louis win, 7-5.

Pit  5  8  0

StL 7 10 0

Aug 4 – The Pirates’ hitting continued with 3 more homeruns, but the Cardinals’ didn’t, and the Bucs took game two, 11-4.  Dave Parker belted two of the three longballs and drove in 5 runs and Ralph Kiner added a 3-run shot.  The strange thing about this game was that Parker’s two homers came off Steve Carlton.  And any Pirate fan who remembers Parker batting against Carlton remembers that they could have pre-printed the Ks in the scorebook for Parker...three breaking balls in the dirt, and Parker takes a seat.  Anyway...John Candelaria got the win, 8 hits, 2 runs in 6 innings of work.  Series tied 1-1.

Pit 11 12  2

StL  4 10  1

Aug 5 – A thriller, won by St. Louis in the bottom of the 9th, 2-1.  The Pirates took a 1-0 lead in the 4th on a walk, single, and error by Garry Templeton.  Where was Ozzie?  He was injured the day before.  So Larry Jackson trailed 1-0 until the 6th.  Lou Brock singled with 1 out.  He stole 2nd, then Curt Flood singled off Bob Friend to put runners on the corners.  Stan Musial followed with a single to tie the game at 1.  Boyer and White were retired with no further damage.  The Pirates batted for Friend in the 7th and Dave Giusti came on to pitch.  Jackson was lifted in the 8th, with Al Hrabosky working the 8th and Lindy McDaniel the 9th.  Bottom of the 9th, Bill White singled to start the inning.  Red S. bunted him to 2nd.  And the 4th inning goat, Garry Templeton, became the hero as he singled, White scored, and the Birds had a 2-1 victory!

As always, a pleasure playing Mike.  --submitted by Jesse Elicker (PIT)--

Bronx Bombers take 2 of 3 from Wallbangers

Game 1: Bosio vs. Stottlemyre (Yankee Stadium)
The Yankees came out storming with a leadoff home run by Dave Winfield, followed by single by Phil Rizutto then a tape measure two-run shot from Mickey Mantle. Thus the first three Yankee batters all scored. Eight men came to the plate in the first but no further damage to the scoreboard was done. A BJ Surhoff solo homer in the top of the fifth was answered in the bottom of the inning by a two-run blast from “the Hitman” Don Mattingly. The Brewers attempted another comeback in the sixth by way of a two-run shot by Cecil Cooper, but the Yanks got two two right back in the bottom of the inning. Ed Lopat came in in relief and the Yankees cruised the rest of the way to win on Opening Day by a final score of 8-3.

Game 2: Higuera vs. Ford
The Brewers came out roaring as Rob Deer smashed a three run  homer in the first off “the Chairman of the Board”, Whitey Ford. Ford would settle down and give up nothing more through five and a third innings. The Yankees didn't go down without a fight, gradually climbing back to within 3-2 after seven. Deer hit another home run in the top of eighth, a solo shot off Ralph Terry in relief. But an RBI single by “The Yankee Clipper” Joe DiMaggio brought New York back to within one.  Dan Plesac shut the Yankees down in the ninth to post the save that preserved a 4-3 Brewers win.

Game 3: Colborn vs, Peterson
The two teams traded shots in the first inning, with a sac fly RBI by Robin Yount matched with an RBI single from Don Mattingly. Paul Molitor hit a solo shot in the third, only to be answered with an RBI triple from Joe DiMaggio. Molitor picked up an RBI single in the fifth to give Milwaukee the lead. But Jim Colborn walked in a run in the form of Mickey Mantle to tie the game, and Donnie Baseball followed that up with an RBI single. Ben Oglivie brought the Brewers within a run in the ninth, but it wasn't enough to catch up and the Yankees went on to a 5-4 win. Dave Winfield, who is hitting .091, was sat down in the bottom of the eighth and pinch-hit for by Rickey Henderson, who had a base hit and promptly stole second only to end the inning on a base running gaffe on the part of the manager (sent to third at an unwise time) that fortunately did not prove pivotal.

--submitted by Michael Hopcroft (NYY)--

Twins deal KC a Royal Flush

GAME 1 - Griffith Stadium - MIN 4, KCR 3 (11 inn)
Kevin Appier vs Bert Blyleven
Recent HOF inductee Bert Blyleven had his curveball breaking shaply as he fanned 7 Royals in 9 innings of work. On most days a line score of 3 runs over 9 innings gets you a win, but not today as Kevin Appier was his mirror image equal.  KC took a 3-1 lead into the 9th inning, but Appier couldn't close the deal.  After walking Bobby Allison, Appier was greeted with a 2 run shot by Gary Gaetti with one out to tie the game at 3-3.  KC would go to "the Quiz" as the game wen to extra innings.  After dispatching the twins in order in the 10th and getting the first 2 outs in the 11th Quisenberry ran into trouble in the form of a two out double by Bobby Allison.  Gaetti, who sent the game into extra innings, ended it with a line drive single to center.  KC's DH, Danny Tartabull, had one of those feast or famine days by striking out 3 times and homering twice.  Al Worthington would get the win for the Twins by tossing 2 perfect innings in relief.

GAME 2 - MIN 2, KCR 0
Bret Saberhagen vs Jim Perry
Two costly errors by HOF third baseman George Brett would  lead to two unearned runs in the 4th, which would be the only black mark against Saberhagen's record on the day.  Jim Perry would go 8 1/3 and give up only 5 hits and hand his shutout effort over to Rick Aguilera to close it out.  KC could not muster up any offense to offset Brett's two faux pas in the field.  Brett, who is hitting .143, let the team down both offensively and defensively.  Zoilo Versalles had himself a 3 for 3 day batting in the 9th spot for Minnesota.

GAME 3 - MIN 7, KCR 4
Larry Gura vs Jim Kaat
KC jumped out to a 4-0 lead on the heels of a 3 run outburst in the second, but the bullpen could not hold on as the Twinkies rattled off 7 unanswered runs.  Mark Gubicza would take the loss for his poor effort (4 ER / 2 IP).  A two run homer by Harmon Killebrew gave the Twins their first lead of the day in the 7th.  Minnesota would post two insurance runs in the 8th.  The Twins would hit 4 homers on the day (Sievers, Killebrew, Battey & Allison).  Jim Kaat recovered nicely from the 4 runs that he allowed over the first 2 innings to shut out KC over the next 6 innings he pitched.  Aguilera for the second day in a row pitched a scoreless 9th for his second save of the season.

KOD 12 Opener – Jints sweep Friars

The Baby Bull	Will the Thrill	The Say Hey Kid

Game 1 at San Francisco,

Randy Jones had trouble getting out of the first inning but managed to pitch a strong game the rest of the way.  San Diego tied the game in the sixth inning on a 2 RBI single but the Giants took the lead with an Orlando Cepeda single.  Cepeda drove in all runs for the Giants.  Juan Marichal pitched a strong game but only struck out one batter but constantly kept Padre batters off balance as he only allowed 4 hits through 7 innings....Giants 3...Padres 2.

Game 2 at San Francisco,

Clay Kirby and Gaylord Perry squared off in game 2 and were going strong until the eighth inning when San Francisco pushed across 3 runs. Will Clark came off the bench for a mammoth pinch hit homerun to break a 2-2 in the seventh inning...Giants 6...Padres 2.

Game 3 at San Francisco,

The Giants made it a clean sweep of the Padres in San Diego.  The Friars strike for 2 quick runs in the first inning however, Willie Mays smashed a 2-run homerun to tie the game.  Both teams went toe to toe after adding a run a piece to make the game 3-3. The Giants won the game on a Bobby Bonds RBI double in the bottom of the ninth.  Scott Garrelts earned the victory in relief and Dave Dravecky lost it for the Padres...Ginal score..Giants 4..Padres 3.

--submitted by Joey Scigliano (Padres Mgr)--

KOD 12 - Week #1 Schedule - Deadline Sunday 2/13 @ 11:59pm EST

AL
Aug 3    California @ Chicago (A)          
Aug 3    Kansas City @ Minnesota           
Aug 3    Oakland @ Texas                   
Aug 3    Baltimore @ Boston                
Aug 3    Cleveland @ Detroit               
Aug 3    Milwaukee @ New York (A)
 
NL          
Aug 3    Atlanta @ Cincinnati              
Aug 3    Houston @ Los Angeles             
Aug 3    San Diego @ San Francisco         
Aug 3    Chicago (N) @ Montreal            
Aug 3    New York (N) @ Philadelphia       
Aug 3    Pittsburgh @ St. Louis