Pirates and Giants split 4 game series

GAME 1 : Candelaria vs Downs

San Francisco (15-12) -- 2
Pittsburgh (10-17) -- 1

WP: Holland (2-2) LP: Walk (0-2) SV: Minton (5)

  John Candelaria did all he could to push the skidding Pirates back onto the winning path.  The Candyman blanked the Giants for the 1st 6 innings while driving in the lone Pirate run of the game in the 3rd.  But in the 7th, SF tied it up on a Mike Aldrete ground out following a Kevin Mitchell triple to lead off the inning.  Then in the 8th the Giants took the lead after a Will Clark home run off of Bob Walk.  Greg Minton closed the door in the 9th for his 5th save of the year.

GAME 2 : Reuschel vs Reuschel

Pittsburgh (11-17) -- 8
San Francisco (15-13) -- 3

WP: R.Reuschel (2-0) LP: R.Reuschel (2-2) SV: McWilliams (1)

Rick Reuschel was poised to pick up a victory in this matchup.  It was just a matter of which hat he would be wearing for the post game interview.  It turns out Reuschel would be wearing the Black and Yellow of his Pittsbugh Pirates after going 6 strong innings giving up 1 run while driving in 1 with his bat.  The Pirates were powered by HRs by Mike Easler and Barry Bonds as well as 3 hit games by Ray and Madlock to coast to an 8-3 win.  Larry McWilliams picked up a 3 inning save but was shaky giving up 2 runs on 3 hits and 2 walks.  But luckily the Bucs had built up enough of a cushion to pick up the win.

GAME 3 : Blue vs Bibby

Pittsburgh (12-17) -- 11
San Francisco (15-14) -- 10  (11 innings)

WP: R.Reuschel (2-0) LP: R.Reuschel (2-2) SV: McWilliams (1)

33 Hits and 21 runs over 11 innings in just under 5 hours at Three Rivers Stadium in Pittsburgh.  A Barry Bonds walk off 441 foot bomb off of Al Holland in the bottom of the 11th inning capped a wild game that saw each teams pitchers struggle to hold onto a lead.  SF lead 2-0 after 1 and 5-3 after 2 and a half, while the Pirates lead 3-2 after 2, 7-5 after 3, 10-5 after 4 and all the way until a Candy Maldonado homer in the 8th off Enrique Romo tied the game at 10.   Brett Butler for SF and Tony Pena for Pit both had 4 hit games with Pena and Jack Clark leading their teams with 4 RBI apiece. 

GAME 4 : Krukow vs Rhoden

San Francisco (16-14) -- 8

Pittsburgh (12-18) -- 4

WP: Krukow (5-0) LP: Rhoden (3-3)

Mike Krukow was solid over 6 innings to pick up his 5th win of this short KOD season.  The Giants once again got a big day from Will Clark with 4 more hits and 2 runs scored.  Kevin Mitchell added a 3 run homer and Darrell Evans was also 2 for 3 with a homer and 2 RBI. 

Phillies take 3 from Padres

September 9 - Phillies 7 Padres 2 ....  Mike Schmidt hit a pair of home runs driving in 3 and Shane Rawley pitched 7 plus innings allowing 2 runs and 6 hits before he was ejected after arguing a ball 4 pitch call.  Glenn Wilson contributed a 2 run rbi single and catcher Bo Diaz had rbi double.  Padres runs came on back to back homers by Santiago and Salazar.

September 10 - Phillies 6 Padres 3 .... Pete Rose hit into a double play in the 7th inning but it also scored the eventual winning run. Glenn Wilson hit an insurance 2 run homer in the 8th.  The Phils scored first on Maddox's first inning solo homer but the Padres bounced back an inning later scoring 3 runs on 2 singles, 2 walks, an error and ground out. Phils pitching held the Padres to 1 hit over the last 7 innings. Bedrosian earned the save.

September 11 - Phillies 3 Padres 2 ... Phillies squeezed past the Padres to win their 3rd straight. Phillies lead 3-0 into the 6th with Boone, Rose and McBride contributing rbi hits. In the 6th, starter Steve Carlton suddenly weakened giving up 3 singles and 2 walks (Gwynn's single plated 2 runs) to leave the bases loaded with only 1 out. However he regrouped to strike out both McReynolds and Santiago leaving the game with a 1 run lead. The Phils bullpen gave up 3 hits but McGraw had just enough to shut the door ending the game on double play grounder to earn the save.

September 12 - Padres 9 Phillies 5 ... Padres rallied for 6 runs in the last 3 innings to salvage a win in the series.  Padres started fast with 3 runs in the 2nd inning combining a walk and 4 singles with starter Hawkins driving in the last run.  But the Phils started their half of the 5th with 3 singles (McBride's hit scoring the first run), getting the 2nd run on Schmidt's sac fly and taking the lead on Hayes 2 run homer.  Padres rallied in the 7th as Kruk had a 2 out 2 run single to give Padres the lead. In the 8th, Padres used 5 singles to score 4 more runs to guarantee their win.  Hayes added a meaningless solo homer in the 9th for the Phils.  Kruk finished the game with 3 rbis.

KOD Week 8

Cubs and Astros Split a Big Series


Chicago and Houston squared off in a 4 game set and each won two. The series could have been a sweep for either club, but Chicago Manager, Jim Walden and Houston Manager, Jim Upchurch,were each happy with the split.


Game 1

Chicago 6
Houston 5
 

Houston jumped out to a 1-0 lead on a Craig Biggio single that scored Cesar Cedeno. Chicago tied it in the 2nd on a Jody Davis RBI single, but Houston countered with 2 in the bottom half of the inning. It stayed 3-1 until the 7th when Gary Matthews opened the inning with a triple. Mark Grace, Jody Davis and Damon Berryhill singles helped produce 3 Cubs runs and it was 4-3, Chicago. Houston proceeded to tie it in the bottom of the 7th as Ohil Garner singled to score Bill Doran. Chicago would answer in the 8th when Andre Dawson, who led off the inning with a triple, would score on a Ron Cey sacrifice fly. Could Chicago hold on for the win? No. A Phil Garner sac fly would tie it up. Chicago's Andre Dawson would blast a 333 footer down the left field line to give Chicago the lead again. Lee Smith, who would get the win after blowing the save opportunity in the 9th, shut down the Astros in the 10th. 


MVP Andre Dawson

 Game 2

Chicago 0

Houston 4

Joe Niekro would go the distance in game 2 and shut out the Cubs while only giving up 5 hits. Glenn Davis   would provide the highlights as he went 3 for 4 with a 2 run home run to pace Houston.

MVP Joe Niekro

  Game 3 

Houston 2
Chicago 6


Greg Maddux would run his record to 3-3 with a complete game, 6-2 win.

Leon Durham opened the scoring with a double off the right filed wall scoring Bob Dernier, giving Chicago a 1--0 lead. It wouldn't hold up as Houston scored a run in the 2nd and 3rd to take a 2-1 lead. Chicago would score the next five runs over the next 4 innings while pounding out 16 hits for the game. Nolan Ryan would take the loss for Houston.

 MVP Andre Dawson

Game 4 

Houston 3

Chicago 2

Bob Knepper would take the win for Houston and gain a split for the Astros. In a 3-2 Houston win 4 of the 5 runs would be home runs.Craig Biggio would hit his 3rd, Ray Knight and Bill Doran would hit their first, all for The Astros. Shawon Dunston would hit his 3rd for Chicago. It would be tied 2-2 until the 7th when Ray Knight would hit the game winner and give Rick Sutcliffe his 4th loss of the year.

MVP Bill Doran

The Red Sox Shut Down the Rangers' Offense to Take Series

Boston continues its push for the AL East crown by taking two of three from Texas. John Tudor and Roger Clemens hand the Red Sox shutout wins in the first two games, but Boston runs into Texas ace Frank Tanana in Game Three.

Game One: Bos 3, Tex 0

W: Tudor (2-2)
L: Darwin (0-1)
S: Aponte (1)

Crafty lefty John Tudor pitches no-run ball for 7.1 innings, outdueling Texas's Danny Darwin, who only allows five Boston hits. Jim Rice smacks an RBI double, and Rich Gedman scores after lining a double to right for the main scoring. Relievers Lee Smith and Bob Aponte keep Texas from challenging, although the Rangers do threaten with two on in the eighth but can't bring them home.

Game Two: Bos 7, Tex 0
W: Clemens (5-0)
L: Hough (4-2)

Roger Clemens fires rockets at the Rangers hitters, striking out nine in 7.2 innings to add to his league leading K totals.  The game is close going into the ninth, with Boston up 3-0 on homers from Rick Miller and Wade Boggs and an RBI walk from a wild Charlie Hough. But then the Red Sox explode for four more, capped by Dwight Evans' eighth homer. Evans leads the AL with 28 RBIs.

Game Three: Tex 3, Bos 1
W: Tanana (5-1)
L: Hurst (2-1)
S: Kern (5)

Frank Tanana continues his league mastery with his fifth win, lowering his ERA to 1.18 in the process with eight innings of one-run ball. The Rangers finally score a few runs, plating two off Bruce Hurst in the fourth with RBI singles from Buddy Bell and Gary Ward and another an inning later on a throwing error from Boston SS Marty Barrett. Jim Kern gets his fifth save, while Hurst suffers his first loss.

 Cubs lose 2


I know we're into week 8 but I had to get this in for Keith. He and the Dodgers pounded us good.
The Cubs ended week 7 of KOD by not showing up, at least for competitive purposes. A two game set ended with Chicago scoring a total of 1 run. Keith and the Dodgers rolled right through the Cubs like Sherman rolled through Georgia.

Game 1

It was a laugher in Wrigley. Jerry Reuss started for the Dodgers and Greg Maddux faced him for the Cubs.  It was over in the first two innings. Los Angeles scored 3 in the top of the first. 4 singles and a walk produced 3 Dodger runs. In the top of the second, Los Angeles put two more runs on the board on a shot to left by John Shelby. That was all the Dodgers would need but for good measure they put 7 more runs on the board before calling it a day. Los Angeles pounded Chicago pitching for 18 hits. Reuss gave up only 6 hits and Chicago scored a lone run in the bottom of the 9th as the Dodgers pounded the Cubs, 12-1.

Game 2

While not as bad as game 1, it was still a showcase for Dodger pitching. Tim Belcher with some help from Tom Neidenfuer shut out the Cubs, 5-0. Again the runs came quickly as Los Angeles put up 2 in the second on a Mike Sciosia home run. They added another in the third on a RBI single by Bill Russell.

Chicago would hardly threaten and only managed 3 measly singles. The Dodgers would add 2 more runs in the ninth and take the game, 5-0.

Had to throw this one in as Belcher played for the Stars and I'm from Huntsville and saw him pitch.

Giants Take 3 from Phils
 September 4th ... Phils 4 Giants 3 .... Pete Rose singled home the winning run in the bottom of the 9th as the Phils rallied for 2 runs to over take the Giants. Giants had just taken a 3-2 lead in the top of the 9th on doubles by Will Clark and Mitchell. The Giants took an early lead on Jeff Clark's solo homer int he 2nd that was matched by Hayes solo homer. Will Clark's sac fly gave Giants a lead in the 4th and Phils tied the game in the 5th when Uribe made errors on 2 grounders. McGraw pitched last 2 innings for the win.

September 5th .... Giants 3 Phils 2 (10 innings) ... Will Clark homered to lead off the 10th inning to even the series for the Giants.  Giants 2 runs came on 2 fielder choice grounders by Chris Brown while the Phils scores came on double play grounder by Maddox and solo homer by Schmidt. Holland pitched last 2 innings for the win.

September 6th .... Giants 5 Phils 4 .... With the bases loaded and 1 out in the bottom of the 9th , Larry Bowa muffed a double play grounder allowing winning run to score.  Phils had taken an early 2-0 lead on Schmidt's single and McBride's rbi double only to see the Giants tie the game in the 4th as Leonard hit a 2 run homer and take the lead in the 5th as Maldonado doubled in a run and W Clark plated the other on a ground out.  Phils tied the game in dramatic style in 7th as Boone and Samuel hit back to back homers. 

September 7th .... Giants 5 Phils 4 .... for 4th straight game the team that won scored the winning run in their last at bat. The Phils lead 4-0 going into the 8th as Diaz hit a pair of homers, driving in 3 and Pete Rose contributed rbi single.  Giants rallied for 4 runs in the bottom of the 8th combining 5 hits and 2 walks.  Aldrete, Leonard, Youngblood and Brenly had consecutive rbi hits to tie the game.  Brenly's hit was to a drawn in infield and Leonard beat Mike Schmidt's throw home.  Chris Brown lead off the 9th with a home run off Bedrosian for the win.   

 

Twins Split Over White Laundry

Sept. 1 at Chicago – Gene Larkin singled in Randy Bush with the game winner in the 9^th as Minnesota begins September play by slipping by Chicago 3-2. The White Sox built a 2-0 lead early for Britt Burns (1-3), but the Twins tied it in the 8^th when Dan Gladden tripled home Steve Lombardozzi, then scored on Greg Gagne’s infield out. Ron Davis (1-1) notched the win in relief. Jeff Reardon (6) got the save.

Sept. 2 at Chicago – Tom Brunansky homered among his 3 hits and drove in 3 runs as Minnesota rolled over the ChiSox 7-1. Ken Schrom (1-1) was the beneficiary on the mound. Tom Seaver (1-2) was lit up for the second consecutive game. Ozzie Guillen’s solo blast in the 3^rd was the lone run for the Sox.

Sept. 3 at Minnesota – The HHH Homer Dome was just that as Greg Luzinski, Ron Kittle and Carlton Fisk all went deep for the Pale Hose in a 10-4 victory. Brunansky also had 3 more hits, including another round tripper for the Twins. Richard Dotson (2-3) took home the win; Alan Anderson (2-3) the loss.

Sept. 4 at Minnesota – LaMarr Hoyt (3-2) shutout the Twins on 4 hits through 8 innings as the White Sox earned the split in the series with a 5-0 whitewashing. Juan Agosto recorded the final 3 outs. Tony Bernazard homered and drove in 3 runs to power the offense.

Phils visit the Braves

September 1:  Phils 7  Braves 3 ... The Phils, down 3-2, rallied for 5 runs in the 9th inning as they combined 3 singles with 5 walks to upend the Braves. Lonnie Smith's double in bottom of 8th had given Braves a 3-2 lead. In the 9th, starter Mahler was lifted and Braves bullpen imploded. First Camp walked the lead off Mike Schmidt and after 1 out, Thompson singled and then Trillo singled Schmidt in to tie the game. Forster entered and walked the next 3 hitters with pinch hitter Matthews and Rose getting easy rbis. Forster was yanked and Moore entered to give up 2 run single to Bowa. Earlier in the game, Gant had started the game with a home run and Chamblis singled in a 2nd run later in that inning. Phils tied the game in the 5th on Boone's rbi single and Rose's 2 out double. Carlton was the winning pitcher. 

September 2:  Phils 5 Braves 4 (11 innings) .... The Braves took an early 4-0 lead as Hubbard hit 2 run homer in 2nd inning and then hit a 2 run double in the 3rd.  Glavine gave up only 1 hit in first 5 innings, but the Phils scored 2 runs in 6th as pinch hitter Schu started the inning with a double and later scored on McBride's single. Glavine now walked Schmidt to load the bases and after walking Matthews to force in a run was gone.  In the 7th the Phils tied the game getting a run on a passed ball and the tying run on Bowa's double.  In the 11th, Gross pinch hit and singled and was sacrificed to 2nd by Manny Trillo.  Rose followed with a double for the game winner.  Bedrosian got the save as Rose snuffed the Braves with an unassisted double play.

TexasBatters Do the Two Step on Royals' Hitters

The Rangers take three of four from the Royals in a battle of two AL West teams that can't hit the side of a barn. Texas manages to get its bats moving against KC's impressive starters (Leonard, Saberhagen, etc.) to move within two games of .500. KC plummets to a KOD worst 7-17.

Game One: Texas 7, KC 4
W: Hough (4-1)
L: Leonard (0-3)
S: Kern (4)

Dennis Leonard's loses his third while seeing his ERA rise to a hefty 6.75. He gives up three in the fifth after KC taken an early 2-1 lead, as the Rangers spray the ball around for a double, two RBI singles and a walk that spells Leonard's end.  Texas scores three more in the seventh off Bud Black, sparked by a leadoff triple from suddenly hot-hitting Mickey Rivers. Homers from KC's best hitter, Willie Mays Aiken, and Hal McRae at least make it close. Charlie Hough wins his fourth, with peerless relief help from closer Jim Kern.

Game Two: Texas 4, KC 0
W: Tanana (4-1)
L: Leibrandt (0-4)

Frank Tanana again is on his game for Texas, winning his fourth and lowering his ERA to a miniscule 1.19. A two-run double from Steve Buechele and a scorching single from Pete O'Brien provide the run support in the easy shutout win. The Royals only manage five hits.

Game Three: Texas 5, KC 4

W: Medich (2-1)
L: Gubicza (0-3)
S: Kern (5)

Doc Medich writes the prescription for another Texas win, as he scatters seven hits and one run in seven innings. Five straight two outs hits in the Texas second plate four off Mark Gubicza, capped by a two-run triple from Gary Ward. KC manages to make it close, scoring three runs in the eighth off Texas relievers as Hal McRae triples in two and Danny Tartabull follows with an RBI single. Kern again holds off the Royals in the ninth for his fifth save.

Game Four: KC 7, Texas 4
W: Black (1-1)
L: Matlack (0-2)
S: Montgomery (2)

Bud Black comes on in relief of Bret Saberhagen, yet another troubled KC starter, in the third inning and shuts down the Rangers' bats in 4.1 innings of one run ball. Steve "Bye Bye" Balboni strokes a grand slam off a struggling Jon Matlack in the fourth to provide KC with a 6-3 cushion that was comfortable enough for the win. Balboni went 4-for-4 with two runs scored to boot. Jeff Montgomery finally got a save opportunity for KC, nailing down his second.

Brew Crew Drowns White Sox 2 Games to 1

August 29 at Milwaukee – Ted Higuera (4-1) surrendered just 2 hits in a complete-game 5-1 victory for Milwaukee over the visiting White Sox. Ben Oglivie and Jim Gantner went deep to power the offense.

August 30 at Milwaukee – Ben Oglivie’s (5) 3-run blast highlighted a 4-run 3^rd inning for the Brew Crew as they captured a 4-3 win. Chet Lemon and Scott Fletcher went yard for the ChiSox in the 7^th, but it wasn’t enough. Mike Caldwell (2-1) got the win with Rollie Fingers (3) getting the save. Floyd Bannister (1-2) took the loss.

August 31 at Chicago – Harold Baines' (3 hits) single and Tony Bernazard’s double in the bottom of the 8^th plated the winning pair of runs as the White Sox enjoyed the home cooking in a 5-3 win. Ed Farmer (1-0) and Bob McClure (0-1) took the win and loss in relief, respectively. Bobby Thigpen (5) earned the save.

Thanks to Andy Sexton for subbing with Milwaukee

Orioles take 2 outta 3

O’s Take Two  from A’s

Game 1:  Oakland 4 Baltimore 3

Baltimore Starter:  McGregor

Minnesota Starter:  McCatty

Game MVP:  Phillips

Baltimore travels to the bay on the left coast for two.  In the opening game, Baltimore ace Scott McGregor gives up a one out solo jack to Tony Phillips to claim a 1-0 lead for Oakland in the bottom of the third.  Steve McCatty and McGregor go toe to toe, yielding nothing until the top of the sixth when Cal Ripken helps Baltimore break through with the three run shot to left center.  The game then returns back to a string of scoreless innings before Earl Weaver decides to turn the two run lead over to the Baltimore bullpen in the ninth.  Baltimore closer Don Aase immediately gives up three consecutive singles and a run before getting Alfredo Griffin to line to shortstop Ripken for the first out.  At this point, Tippy Martinez comes in to try and preserve the win.  He starts well by getting Rickey Henderson to ground out back to the mound for the second out.  Earl decides to walk Tony Phillips who already has a double and home run on the game to get to the slumping Jose Canseco (hitting under .200).  Jose comes through with a single through the left side driving in two runs and securing the win for Oakland.

Game 2:  Baltimore 5 Oakland 1 

Baltimore Starter:  Boddicker

Minnesota Starter:  Langford

Game MVP:  Boddicker

Another strong pitching matchup has the game scoreless until the top of the sixth.  Following two walks and a Cal Ripken RBI single, Eddie Murray deposits Langford’s offering in the right centerfield seats for a 3 run home run and a 4-0 Baltimore lead.  The scoring comes to a halt when Oakland breaks up the Boddicker shutout on a Mike Heath solo home run to right center.  This time the Baltimore pen comes through in the form of Scott Williamson who stops the Oakland threat after Boddicker yielded a pair of singles.   Williamson pitches a scoreless ninth to earn his first save and send the series to Baltimore.  

Game 3:  Baltimore 10 Oakland 3

Minnesota Starter::  Norris

Baltmore  Starter:  Palmer

Game MVP:  Lynn

 Back to the land of crab cakes and Natty Boh!  Veteran Jim Palmer was able to work his way out of trouble in the top of the second after yielding three single, but only one run.  Baltimore bats would dominate the rest of the way, answering with 2 in the bottom of the 2nd, 2 in the 3rd,  1 in the 4th, 4 in the 7th and another in the 8^th.  Baltimore’s attack produced 18 hitws on the day, with 13 coming against Norris in 6 1/3 innings of work.  Palmer gave up 6 hits in his 6 1/3 innings of work before Sammy Stewart pitched the final three innings, giving up two in the top of the ninth.  As Chuck Thompson would say, “Ain’t the beer  cold!” 

Overall a well played series on both sides.  Two very well pitched games in Oakland.

Dodger Blue takes 2 and Cardinal Red take 2

Three Blowouts And A Close One – Dodgers/Cardinals Split

Long time rivals who still get to battle each other in meaningful games now and then, the Los Angeles Dodgers and St. Louis Cardinals battled to a draw in the four game KOD19 series. Each team looked dominant in games at Dodger Stadium. Shifting to the Midwest, the Dodgers took the advantage by walloping the home town team in the third game before the Cardinals rallied late to win a tight one in the finale.

The Dodgers took the opening salvo by overwhelming the Cardinals in a 10-3 route in game one at Chavez Ravine. Pedro Guerrero homered twice and drove in five, while Ron Cey chipped in a homer and 3 RBI. Fernando Valenzuela was in control, striking out 7 and improving to 3-0.

The Cards got even in game two, taking an early 6-0 lead off Orel Hershiser, and rolling to an 8-2 win behind lefty John Tudor. Tom Herr, Keith Hernandez and Ozzie Smith each had 3 hits, with the Wizard driving in 3 as well.

On to St. Louis and it was the Dodgers turn again to flex their muscles. This time it was Dusty Baker leading the onslaught with four hits, while Steve Garvey and Ken Landreaux added home runs in the 8-3 victory.

Game four finally saw effective pitching on both sides, as Burt Hooton and Dave LaPointe kept their clubs in a tight one. LaPointe, in the rotation in place of the struggling Bob Forsch, went 7 innings surrendering only 4 hits, 2 runs but only 1 earned, striking out 5 and walking 1. Hooton gave up a first inning run, and that was it heading to the eighth with the Dodgers clinging to a 2-1 lead.

Speedy Willie McGee started the eighth with a bunt attempt, which was handled by Steve Yeager who would have had McGee at first by a step, but the ball was thrown low and skipped past Garvey into the right field foul area. An alert Mike Marshall got the ball back in quickly keeping McGee from advancing past second.

With no outs, Keith Hernandez up, and the tying run at second manager Bike Mike decided to let Hernandez hit away rather than give up the out to advance the runner.  Keith flied to right failing to advance McGee, and then Hooton got Andy Van Slyke off stride for an easy pop up. Tommy Herr then stepped in and turned on an inside knuckle curve that stayed a bit too far over the plate, and hammered it over the right field wall for a 3-2 Cardinal lead. Darrel Porter flied out to end the inning.

Todd Worrell had pitched a 1-2-3 eighth, and stayed in for the ninth. He got Baker to ground out, but Cey singled. On came Bruce Sutter, who gave up a screaming liner to first that might have tied the game, but Hernandez made a great play to glove the ball just off the ground. Sutter then struck out Marshall to end it.

Padres and Cubs Do Battle

Chicago,

Game 1,

The first of a 4 games needed extra frames to decide it.  Shawn Dunston punched a homerun to help the hometown Cubbies but pinch hitter Rupport Jones crushed a double of the right field wall to plate the go ahead run. The Goose the side in order in the ninth for this 3rd save and give the victory to reliever Gary Lucas 1-0. Padres 6...Cubs 5 (12 innings)

Game 2,

Pinch hitter Damon Berryhill belted a 3-run homerun to center field to give the Cubs a lead. Chicago was able to hold off the visiting Friars and take the second game of the season.  Frank Dipino and Bill Caudill pitched strongly in relief to support starter Rick Sutcliffe (1-2).  Tony Gwynn hit is team leading 3rd homerun of the season to lead off the 5th but it was not enough to overcome the Cubs. Cubs 3...Padres 2.

San Diego,

Game 3,

Eric Show and Steve Trout battled hard in this game.  The Cubs plated 2 runs in the top of the eighth inning to seal the win in sunny San Diego.  Berryhill and Bob Dernier drove in runs with singles off a tiring Eric Show.  Veteran third sacker, Ron Cey banged out 3 hits for the Cubs as he was the hitting star on the day.  Chicago's Dick Tidrow (2-0) got the victory with the save going to Lee Smith (4).  Eric show was hung with the loss to move to 3-2. Cubs 5...Padres 4.

Game 4,

San Diego took the lead in the eighth inning with a sacrifice fly to plate Alan Wiggins.  Two batters later, Kevin McReynolds lined a single just over the glove of first baseman Bill Buckner to give the Padres the lead.  Goose Gossage came in the 9th inning to nail the coffin shut on the Cubs with his 4th save of the season.  The winner was Mark Davis (1-0). Les lancaster (0-1) got the loss for the Cubs. Gene Richards hit his first homerun of the year for the Padres. Padres 3...Cubs 2.

Tigers Pitching Mauls Texas in Sweep

The red-hot Tigers are 14-6 after sweeping the sliding Rangers. Detroit's pitching, both starters and relievers, are overpowering and keep Texas from making much of a series charge.

Game One: Detroit 4, Texas 3
W: Morris (2-2)
L: Jenkins (0-4)
S: Hernandez (1)

Jack Morris survives some shakiness, giving up 14 hits in seven innings but leaving 13 Texas baserunners stranded, as the Rangers show a serious lack of clutch hitting. The game is tied 3-3 after five. The Detroit team strikes for two runs in the top of the fifth, as Texas's Fergie Jenkins walks two and allows two singles in another difficult outing. But Texas ties it in the bottom of that inning, sparked by a Buddy Bell triple and Ruben Sierra line single. However, the Tigers get a run back in the top of the sixth on a double play. The Tigers' Aurelio Lopez and Willie Hernandez do the rest, allowing no runs nor hits in the last three frames.

Game Two: Detroit 10, Texas 1
W: Petry (2-1)
L: Matlack (0-1)

The Tigers spank Texas from the get go in Game Two, with a five run fifth the big blow off Texas starter Jon Matlack. Lou Whitaker's two run single is a key part of a big inning to give the Tigers a 7-0 lead, and Larry Herndon goes three-for-four with two runs scored. Detroit's Dan Petry is brilliant, only allowing six singles in eight innings of work.

Game Three: Detroit 4, Texas 2
W: Wilcox (3-1)
L: Honeycutt (0-3)
S: Lopez (2)

It's Milt Wilcox's turn to shine for Detroit, only allowing five hits in 6.2 innings before giving way to the shutdown pitching of Aurelio Lopez the rest of the way (Lopez gives up no hits and Ks two in 2.1 innings). Detroit jumps out to a 3-0 lead off Texas's Rick Honeycutt, including a two run fifth highlighted by a clutch Chet Lemon single.

Reds play the Phillies

August 28 at Cincinnati :  Reds 3 Phils 1 ..... Browning pitched beautiful game allowing only 1 run and 2 hits in 8 innings. Bench hit a 2 run homer and Eric Davis added a solo blast.  Phils 2 hits came in 6th when with 2 outs, Rose doubled and scored on Bowa's single. Franco got the save.

August 29 at Cincinnati: 12 innings, Reds 2 Phils 0 .... George Foster hit a 2 run homer with 1 out in the 12th for the win. Both starters were magnificant as Denny went 7 for the Phils allowing 3 hits and Pastore finished 8 scattering 6 hits. Hume pitched the 12th for the win.

August 30 at Philadelphia:  10 innings, Phils 3 Reds 2 ... Hayes singled with 1 out and bases loaded in the 10th scoring Rose with the winning run.  Rawley started for the Phils and went 7 allowing only 1 run but Reds tied the game in 9th on 2 singles and 2 walks with Bench driving in tying run on a walk.  Foster earlier had hit solo homer. Phils runs came on rbi singles by Gross and Hayes. 

August 31 at Philadelphia:  Reds 4 Phils 2 .... Tom Seaver pitched 8 innings allowing only 1 earned run on 6 hits, only 2 after the 2nd inning.  Phils jumped out to early 2-0 lead on Hayes rbi single and Bowa's ground out. Eric Davis hit a 3 run homer in the 3rd inning and Seaver found his stride.  Franco earned his 2nd save of the series.

The O's Take the Rangers in a Strange Three Game Set

Baltimore and Texas both come into the series around the .500 mark. The Orioles take the first two fairly easily but lose the third game in a nail-biter. The series features two shutout wins and a Baltimore blowout.

Game One: Bal 4, TEX 0

W: Boddicker (2-0)
L: Medich (1-1)

Mike Boddicker is virtually unhittable for the Orioles, firing a five-hit complete game shutout. The game doesn't feature much hitting -- two of the four Orioles' runs come on John Lowenstein groundouts off Doc Medich, who pitched fairly well in the loss. Three Ranger errors didn't help their chances.

Game Two: BAL 13, TEX 2
W: Davis (3-0)
L: Hough (3-1)

Charlie Hough couldn't get his fingers around his knuckler, and the Orioles' bats pounded him for nine runs off nine hits in 3.1 innings of agony. Reliever Greg Harris came in and immediately gave up homers to Eddie Murray and Larry Sheets before settling down. It was that kind of day for the Rangers. Murray drove in four with a grand slam, and Cal Ripken Jr. also homered and knocked in three. Curiously, Orioles' starter Storm Davis was ejected in the seventh for arguing a walk, leaving with an 11-2 lead and having no real reason to complain.

Game Three: Tex 1, Bal 0
W: Tanana (3-1)
L: Flanagan (0-4)
W: Kern (3)

Mike Flanagan and Frank Tanana engaged in an old-fashioned pitchers duel. Flanagan, coming in with an ERA over 7, pitched his way back to respectability, only giving up a leadoff homer to Texas's Billy Sample. But, strangely, that was all the Rangers needed, as Tanana only allowed six hits and no runs in 7.2 innings of work - despite giving up four walks and watching Texas commit three errors. But reliever Jim Kern keep the shutout intact, allowing a hit and an error in the ninth but getting out of the jam on a Doug Decinces double play and a hard hit fly ball out from pitch hitter Fred Lynn.

The Oakland A's were reconciling there books one year and discovered there was a  $1,000,000 dollars difference. They soon discovered that Rickey Henderson, in his excitement at receiving a million dollar check, had framed it and hung it on the wall in his house. He never cashed it.