‘37 Redlegs take 3 of 4 from ‘85 Braves

8/16-8/17 – Crosley Field
GAME 1 – Reds 4, Braves 2
Simple equation for the Braves…when Horner and Murphy aren’t hitting the team has no chance to win.  Murph did hit a 2 run shot in the first with 2 out to put Atlanta up 2-0, but he and his buddy did nothing the rest of the way.  Cincy answered back in the bottom of the second and tied it at 2 thanks to a Kiki Cuyler 2 run triple.  A solo run on a wild pitch by Rick Mahler gave the Reds the lead and a squeeze play by Myers scored Ival Goodman to make it 4-2, which is how it ended up.

GAME 2– Reds 7, Braves 3
Paul Derringer went the distance and followed the formula for beating the Braves just like his teammates did the previous day.  Horner and Murphy were a combined 1 for 6.  Terry Harper hit a 2 run shot, but he’s only hitting .118 on the season.  Goodman hit his 2nd of the season and Cuyler tripled for the 2nd  consecutive game.  Alex Kampouris (3-4) is hitting a red hot .391.  8th place hitter Lew Riggs was 2 for 3 with 2 RBI as the Redlegs victimize Atlanta’s pen, specifically Terry “Big Tub of Goo” Forster for 4 runs.

8/18-8/19 – Fulton County Stadium
GAME 3 – Braves 5, Reds 4
The Braves were able to hold on to this game despite a shaky 9th inning performance by a declining Bruce Sutter.  Zane Smith left the game with 1 out in the 7th up 4-1.  Gene Garber and Sutter both made it a very close game by being marginally effective at best.  “Obi-Wan”, Ken Oberkfell was the hitting star going 3 for 3 with 3 RBI.  Murphy and Horner were a combined 2 for 6 and hopefully are coming to life.

GAME 4 – Reds 6, Braves 4
A three run 6th inning turned a 2-1 Brave edge into a 4-2 Red lead.  Buck Jordan stroked a 2 run single off Brave reliever Rick “Summer” Camp, who gave up  4 runs in relief of  Joe Johnson who didn’t have enough gas or talent to go more than 5.  Jordan doubled home a run in the 8th and Goodman single another home to provide reliever Johnny Vander Meer with 2 much needed insurance runs, because the Braves answered right back in the bottom of the inning with 2 of their own when Horner came through with a 2 run double.  “Horns” and Murph combined to go 3-6, but could not overcome Camp’s horrible relief outing.

‘80 Cubs split with ‘98 Spos

The 98 Expos and manager Marc Weiss hosted the 80 Chicago Cubs managed by Jim Walden for a 2 game set in Stade Olympique.

Game 1 – Cubs 4, Expos 1
Are we talking Cy Young so early in the season? We could be. Rick Reuschel took to the hill for the Cubs and promptly tossed a 4 hitter at the Expos, as he won his 2nd game in a row. " Big Daddy" pitched another complete game win as the Cubs took game 1 by a 4-1 score. Bill Buckner led the way for Chicago, going 3 for 5, with a solo shot in the 7th off of Expo starter Dustin Hermanson. Reuschel was never threatened except in the 5th when he hit a batter and gave up a double to start the inning, but then pitched his way out of the jam, only allowing 1 run to score.

Game 2 – Expos 5, Cubs 2
Carlos Perez got the game 2 win for Montreal,as he starts the season 2-0. Rondel White started the scoring against Chicago and Lynn McGlothen, as he deposited a dinger in the right filed seats. Chicago tied it in the top of the 3rd as Ivan Dejesus went opposite field with his first homer of the year. The lead was short lived as Montreal scored in the bottom half of the inning to regain the lead at 2-1. The Expos added another run in the 4th and Chicago added on in the  top of the 6th. Montreal salted the game away with 2 more runs in the bottom of the 7th. Expos pitching shut down the Cubs the rest of the way with Perez giving away to Ugueth Urbina in the 9th as Urbina closed out the Cubs for the save and a 5-2 Montreal win.

The series moved back to Chicago for games 3 and 4.
Game 3 – Expos 4, Cubs 2
Montreal used 5 pitchers to nail down the win in game 3 with starter Mike Thurman wining his first game of the year. A 3 run Expo 2nd,as they scored 3 runs against Cubs starter Dennis Lamp, would be all the Expos would need in the 4-2 win. Vladimir Guerrero's 3rd home run off the year sparked Montreal's outburst in the inning. Urbina would notch his 4th save of the year for Montreal.

Game 4 – Cubs 6, Expos 2
Mike Krukow would get his 2nd win of the year as a big 4 run Chicago 3rd would be all the Cubs would need to split the series. Bill Buckner continued to hit big for Chicago, going 3 for 3, to raise his average to .448 and Mike Vail's lone poke in the Cub 4th would lead the way to Chicago's big inning, while Dave Kingman would add his 3rd home run of the year to the inning. Krukow would only walk one and scatter 4 hits in his 7 innings of work. Carl Pavano would take it on the chin for his second loss for Montreal.

--submitted by Jim Walden--

‘80 Amazin’s sweep 2000 Phightin’s to go 7-1

8/16-8/17 - Veterans Stadium
GAME 1 - Mets 7, Phillies 1
Aided by a 4 run offensive explosion Craig Swan took the mound with a heightened sense of confidence.  Having recovered from numerous arm surgeries and being plugged in the base of the spine by a catcher's throw Swann has been enigmatic at best.  The 1978 NL ERA champ was brilliant in 8 shutout innings of work.  He started the 9th, but gave up a leadoff homer to Bobby Abreu and was done for the day.  Neil Allen mopped up beautifully by not allowing another hit.  The Amazin's hit 3 homers on the day off of Phillie starter Andy Ashby and reliever Omar Daal.  Lee Mazilli hit his 3rd of the young season and watched his average balloon up to .563.  Mike Jorgensen and Stevie "Hendu" Henderson also homered as the Mets blew away the Phillies.

GAME 2 - Mets 13, Phillies 9
Both pitching staffs threw batting practice to the opposition today.  Ray Burris was awful for the Mets giving up 4 runs on 7 hits in 4 innings.  He was lifted for a pinch hitter (Claudell Washington) in the 5th, and the move paid immediate dividends thanks to a 2 run RBI single.  New York would score 8 runs in total that inning as 12 batters came to the plate.  Prior to Washington's pinch hit single Phillie manager Justin Ryan elected to intentionally walk Jerry Morales and Doug Flynn assuming that Burris was going to bat for himself.  New York would score 2 more runs in the 6th to go up 13-4, but reliever Tom Hausman would do his best to make the game interesting by giving up 5 runs to cut the Amazin's lead to 4.  Neil Allen would once again come on to finish out the game, this time with the game a bit closer.  Both teams would combine to post 30 hits and 22 runs. Abreu would hit his second homer in consecutive days.  Met catcher Alex Trevino would go 3 for 5 with an RBI.  "Hendu" would have 3 RBI's thanks to a bases clearing triple in that 8 run 5th.  Hausman would undeservedly get the win for his 4 inning stint where he gave up 5 runs on 9 hits.  Pat "the bat" Burrell, the self acknowledged "Met Killer" went 3 for 5 for the Phightin's.

8/18-8/19 - Shea Stadium
GAME 3 - Mets 6, Phillies 4
Bruce Chen was staked to a 2-0 lead even before he took the mound, but he just didn't have enough to keep the red hot Amazin's in check.  Bobby Abreu tripled home Mickey Morandini with 2 outs in the top of the first then scored on a single by Pat Burrell.  A Jerry Morales solo shot got New York on the board in the bottom of the 2nd.  A 2 run shot by Morales in the 4th followed a run scoring triple by Steve Hederson, which made it 4-2 Mets.  Lee Mazzilli and Joel Youngblood homered in the sixth to chase Chen from the game and make it 6-2.  Met starter Mark Bomback was solid after giving up 2 in the first until Ron Gant homered off of him to lead off the top of the 7th.  Bomback would give up a 1 out double to pinch hitter Travis Lee then struggle through a 10 pitch at bat before getting Doug Glanville to ground out hard to third.  Lefty specialist Ed Glynn would enter the game and get Morandini to line out to gold glove second baseman Doug Flynn for the final out of the inning.  Jeff Reardon would take over in the 8th and struggle, but survive.  A Mike Lieberthal long fly ball narrowly missed a homer and wound up being a sac fly.  Reardon would fan Gant to end the inning without any further damage.  Neil Allen would pitch a scoreless 9th for his 3rd save of the season and set the Amazin's up for a possible series sweep tomorrow.

GAME 4 - Mets 5, Phillies 1
The much maligned Pat Zachry finally emerged from the huge shadow cast upon him for being "the pitcher in the Tom Seaver trade".  Zach, who has spent 2 1/2 seasons trying to make everyone understand that he isn't Seaver and nobody could be Seaver.  Tonight he went 8 shutout innings before tiring in the 9th.  After walking Scott Rolen he was replaced by Ed Glynn, who served up a run scoring double to Met killer Pat "the Bat" Burrell.  Dyar Miller would get Desi Relaford to ground out sharpely to Flynn to end the game.  New York scored all their runs in consecutive innings (4th/5th) off of Robert Person, who was victimized by two key errors.  Frank Taveras led off the 4th and was able to reach first thanks to Morandini booting a slicing grounder.  After John Stearns grounded out Lee Mazzilli singled to left and wound up on second when Gant airmailed his throw to the plate in an attempt to nail the speedy Taveras.  Stevie "Hendu" Henderson doubled home Maz then scored on a squeeze bunt by an unlikely source, Claudell Washington.  A 3rd Phillie error would cost them a run in the 5th when Relaford booted a Doug Flynn grounder to put runners on 1st and 2nd with nobody out.  Zachry bunted the runners up 90 feet and Taveras lined a single to right, which scored both runs.  Fans in the cheesesteak capital could have shut off Harry Kalas' broadcast at this point.  Met fans were delighted to get the "Happy Recap" from Bob Murphy as the Amazin's closed out their sweep of their rivals from 90 miles south.  As a reward for his great effort Zachry received a Citizens watch for being the guest on Kiner's Korner.

‘68 Pale Hose take 3 of 4 from ‘82 Twins

8/16-8/17 - HHH Metrodome
GAME 1 - White Sox 5, Twins 4
Bobby Castillo left the game after 7 strong innings of 1 run ball.  Castillo was on the winning side of the ledger with the score 3-1, but the Twins pen let him down in a big way.  The light hitting Chisox punched across 4 runs over the course of the next two innings off of reliever Paul Stanley Boris.  Chicago's 2 runs in the 8th began with a Luis Aparicio bunt hit, then a stolen base.  Tom McCraw walked and both runners executed a perfect double steal, which setup a Pete Ward sac fly to left and a two out clutch RBI single from Ken Berry.  With the score tied at 3 in the top of the 9th Buddy Bradford singled with one out.  Sandy Alomar executed the perfect hit and run to put runners on the corners.  Aparicio lined one deep to right for a sac fly and McCraw doubled home Alomar to give reliever Hoyt Wilhelm a 2 run cushion.  As it would turn out Wilhelm would need that cushion when Kent Hrbek doubled with 1 out and scored on a 2 out single by Tom Brunansky, before Bobby Mitchell ground out weakly to the box to end it.  Bob Locker would get the win for a perfect 8th inning in relief of starter Cisco Carlos.  The save would be Wilhelm's first of the season.

GAME 2 - White Sox 6, Twins 4
Frank "sweet music" Viola got rocked for 3 big runs in the top of the first.  On most days that would be enough for Chisox ace Joe Horlen, but today Horlen coughed the lead up in the bottom of the frame.  Tied at 3 the Chisox got 2 off of Viola in the 4th when Aparicio doubled home Bradford with 2 out.  Banjo hitting Tim Cullen lined an opposite field single to score Luis to make it 5-3.  Gary Ward would hit his second homer of the game in the bottom of the 5th to bring the Twins to within 1, but a Tim Cullen suicide squeeze in the 6th wold easily score Jerry McNertney to put the Pale Hose back up by 2.  After the near catastrophic 1st Horlen settled down and got as far as 1 out in the 9th before giving way to Wilhelm who served up a double to the first batter he faced (Mickey Hatcher).  The veteran knuckleball specialist righted the ship real fast and got John Castino to ground out to third and Tim Laudner to line out to left to end it.

8/18-8/19 - Comiskey Park
GAME 3 - Twins 3, White Sox 1
For the 3rd consecutive game the road team emerged victorious in this series.  Brad Havens went 5 shutout innings and Pete Redfern went the final 4.  The Twins took a 1-0 lead in the top of the 2nd when Gary Gaetti singled home Tim Laudner, who doubled with one out.  That tenuous lead would remain in tact until the top of the 7th when the Twins padded it with 2 runs.  Chisox starter Tommy John walked the first two batters then narrowly dodged a bullet when "Bruno" hit an opposite field liner that ran out of energy on the warning track.  Kent Hrbek would follow that with a sliced opposite field single that scored Gary Ward.  Laudner singled to load the bases and Gaetti legged out an infield single to make it 3-0.  Chicago would break the shutout in the 7th when Bradford led off with a single and stole 2nd.  McNertney singled to right to put runners on the corners.  Pinch hitter Leon Wagner grounded weakly to second as Bradford trotted home to cut Minnesota's lead to 3-1.  That would be it for the Chisox as Redfern would shut the door the rest of the way and earn a 4 inning save.

GAME 4 - White Sox 2, Twins 0
Chicago excels in low scoring games.  Jack Fisher clearly understood the recipe for success and cooked up a neat little two hitter.  Fisher was exceptionally efficient in going the distance and fanning 3 and not walking a batter.  Minnesota did not even get a runner to second as both singles were erased by double plays.  On the other side of the ledger Alvin Williams gave up only 2 runs in 8 innings of work, but those two runs would loom larger than the national debt on a day when runs would come at a premium.  Chicago got 1 of those runs in the bottom of the 1st with 2 out when Tom McCraw singled and stole second.  McCraw would wind up on 3rd because Laudner airmailed his throw into center and Bobby Mitchell was late in backing it up.  Veteran Tommy Davis followed that with a line drive single to center to easily score McCraw to make it 1-0.  It would stay that way until the 6th when Pete Ward hit a bomb to the deepest part of the ballpark only to see Mitchell track it down with a diving circus catch on the warning track.  Sandy Alomar, who led off the inning with a single, was able to stroll home for the second run.  With Fisher locked into "the zone" the Pale Hose would win easily.

‘87 Friars take 3 of 4 from ‘02 Brew Crew

Garry Templeton	Mark Davis	Goose Gossage	Jeff Hammonds

Game 1 - At Milwaukee – Miller Park

The Padres got homeruns by Garry Templeton and Shane Mack to edge the Brewers 8-7.  Storm Davis got the start for the Pads and pitched 6 innings but got relief help from Lance McCullers and the Goose to earn the victory.

Game 1 - At Milwaukee

Eric Show and Ben Sheets both pitched into the ninth innings but 4 runs scored in the 8th and 9th innings for San Diego gave the Padres the victory.  Mark Davis came into the 9th with one out and two runners on to finish off the Brew Crew. Padres 5....Brewers 2.

Game 3 –At San Diego – Jack Murphy Stadium

San Diego took the third game of the series as shortstop Garry Templeton continues his hot hitting with 2 hits and 2 RBI in a Padre 4-1 triumph.  Ed Whitson got the start for San Diego but only pitched 4.2 innings because of 93 minute rain delay that prevented him from going further. Lance McCullers threw 3 innings of scoreless relief to get the victory as Dravecky and Goose Gossage finished it up. The Goose earned his 3rd save of the year.

Game 3 –At San Diego

Milwaukee salvaged a game with an 8-6 win over Jimmy Jones.  Hammonds and Sexson both connected for homeruns. Jeffrey Hammonds drove in 5 runs to give Quevedo the victory for the team from the land of dairy.  DeJean earned his 3rd save of the year for the Brewers.

--Submitted by Joey Scigliano--

Standings after Week #1

August 19th

Tony Clark had a monster day with 2 homers and 6 RBI’s as the Tigers avoided the sweep at the hands of the Bosox.  Tom Brunansky had 2 homers himself as the Twins crushed the Tribe 8-1.  Philly salvaged 1 game vs the Cubs and needed 11 innings to do it.  Scott Rolen’s 2 our RBI double sent the fans heading toward Geno’s in a somewhat happy mood.  The 1937 Reds needed 10 innings to edge the Astros 4-3.  An Ival Goodman solo shot off of Capel provided the difference.

Tony Clark	Tom Brunansky	Scott Rolen	Ival Goodman

August 18th

3 extra inning games tested the mettle of the KOD11 pitching staffs.  The Chisox edged the Halos in 10 when a Luis Aparicio single scored Duane Josephson, who reached base via the hit batsman route.  The Mariners got 3 big runs in the top of the 10th to unseat the Browns thanks to a Danny Tartabull walk off homer.  LA need 14 innings to finally topple the Brew Crew.  A Mike Sharperson RBI double and an Eric Karros RBI single gave the Dodgers enough cushion in the top of the 14th to win.  Lee Mazzilli blasted 2 homers and went 3 for 5 with 5 RBI as the Amazin’s blew the Fish out of the water 11-1.

Luis Aparicio	Danny Tartabull	Mike Sharperson	Lee Mazzilli

August 17

Ty Wigginton (TBR) helped power the D-Rays over the Nats with 2 homers as did the diminutive Casey Candale for the ‘Stros over the Reds.

Ty Wigginton	Casey Candaele

August 16th – Opening Day

Joe Horlen and Rich Reuschel both had complete game shutouts.  Camilo Pascual fanned 10 DRays and Lee Grissom fanned 11 Astros and pitching took the spotlight during opening day

Joe Horlen	Rick Reuschel	Camilo Pascual	Lee Grissom

‘77 Jays sweep ‘90 Bombers

8/16-8/17 - Yankee Stadium
GAME 1 - Blue Jays 5, Yankees 2
Jerry Gavin went the distance for the Jays giving up just 2 runs, while Tim Leary struggled for the Yanks and had to leave in the 7th after allowing 4.  Sam Ewing's 3 run shot in the 2nd turned a 1-0 Yankee lead into a 3-1 Blue Jay lead that Garvin would never relinquish.  Ron Fairly would hit a solo shot off of Eric Plunk in the 7th for insurance.

GAME 2 - Blue Jays 8, Yankees 2
Toronto would score 2 in the 5th, 7th and 8th to overpower New York's porous pitching staff.  Chuck Cary started, but was done after giving up 4 in 4 innings.  Dave Lemanczyk gave up just 1 earned run in almost 7 innings of work for the Jays.  Mike Willis would pitch the final 2 1/3 to keep the Bombers in check.  Doug Rader and Bob Bailor would each hit 2 run shots as the Jays walked all over New York.

8/18-8/19 - Exhibition Stadium
GAME 3 - Blue Jays 9, Yankees 7
Both starters (Witt / Jefferson) were horrible.  Jefferson was just a tad better and so was his offense.  Still 4 runs over the final 2 innings got the Bombers right back in it, even though they would eventually fall short.  New York would hit 4 homers on the day (Cerone, Maas, Barfield & Nokes).  Toronto would get a big 3 runs from Doug Rader, his 2nd of the season, this one coming as a pinch hitter for Dave McKay.  Sam Ewing would post a 3 RBI day.

GAME 4 - Blue Jays 9, Yankees 7
New York jumped out to a 6-0 lead, which chased Toronto starter  Jim Clancy from the hill.  Unfortunately for New York their starter, Greg "life is a" Cadaret and his defense were both just as bad.  Thanks to that dreadful combination the Jays scored 6 runs in the bottom of the 4th to tie a game that New York seemingly had well in hand.  Jerry Johnson (3IP/0R) and Pete Vuckovich (3.1IP/1R) would combine to pretty much shut down New York's offense, while the Yankee gloves found ways to give runs back to Toronto.  New York would make 3 key errors on the day allowing 7 unearned runs, which wasted their early inning lead and Matt Nokes' 3 run shot.  Yankee castoff Otto Velez got some revenge by hitting a huge 2 run shot off of Dave Righetti, which would be the difference maker.

‘65 Bosox take 3 of 4 from ‘97 Tigers

8/16-8/17 - Tiger Stadium
GAME 1 - Red Sox 3, Tigers 1
Earl Wilson was able to ride the power bats of Lee Thomas and Jim Gosger, both who hit solo blasts in the top of the 8th to break a 1-1 deadlock.  Dick Radatz would come on to get the final two outs and notch the save.

GAME 2 - Red Sox 2, Tigers 1
Bill Monbouquette came one out of going the distance before Radatz would come on to get Joe Randa to ground back to the box with runners on the corners.  Jim Gosger would continue his hot hitting going 3 for 4 with a triple and a double and missing the cycle without the homer.

8/18-8/19 - Fenway Park
GAME 3 - Red Sox 6, Tigers 5
Detroit scored 3 big runs in the top of the second to chase Red Sox starter Dave Morehead from the hill.  Boston would answer back the following inning by posting a 3 spot of their own to make it 4-3.  Detroit would fight to keep it close, but Boston would score a key insurance run in the bottom of the 8th to make it 6-4, when Tony Horton doubled home Yaz.  Tony Conigliaro's 3 run shot in the 3rd over the Green Monstah was demoralizing to the Tigers, who had their first lead in the series to this point.  As a matter of fact Radatz came on in the 9th for the save for the third consecutive game.

GAME 4 - Tigers 9, Red Sox 1
Five Tiger pitchers combined to tame the Bosox bats.  Detroit  destroyed Dennis Bennett (5 runs / 7 IP).  Tony Clark had a monster day at the plate going 3 for 5 with 6 RBI's and 2 homers, including a 3 run shot.

1947 Bucs split with 1998 Expos

8/16-8/17 - Olympic Stadium
GAME 1 - Pirates 5, Expos 3
A 3 run 6th inning gave the Bucs and Kirby Higbe more than enough runs to defeat the 'Spos.  Dustin Hermanson limped into that fateful 6th inning, but never left it.  Ralph Kiner's 2 run blast was the big shot that chased Hermanson.  Wally Westlanke and Hank Greenberg also hit homers.  Rondell White went 3 for 4 in a losing cause as the Expos knocked out 12 hits, but could only score 3.

GAME 2 - Expos 6, Pirates 3
Hank Greenberg hit a homer for the second consecutive game, but that only succeeded in cutting Montreal's lead in half in the top of the 9th and chasing starter Carlos Perez in favor of Ugeth Urbina who got just one out and the save.  Rondell White continued to be hot with the bat going 3 for 3 with 2 RBI and his first homer of the season.  For the second consecutive day the Expos reached double digits in hits.  Wally Westlake was 3 for 4 for the Bucs, but only managed to score once.

8/18-8/19 - Forbes Field
GAME 3 - Expos 5, Pirates 1
A 3 run outburst by the Expos, in the top of the 3rd broke a scoreless tie.  Expo starter Miguel Batista gave up only 1 run in 6 innings of work before yielding to the pen.  Mike "don't call me Greg" Maddux pitched 2 perfect innings of relief and Urbina notched his second save with a spotless 9th.  F.P. Santangelo's 2 run shot off of Rip Sewell accounted for 2 of the 3 runs in the 4th.  Expo first baseman Brad Fullmer had a 3 for 5 day.  Santangelo had 3 RBI's and went 2 for 2.

GAME 4 - Pirates 7, Expos 5
Down 5-4 and heading into the top of the 9th the Expos got a 2 out game tying homer from Vlad Guerrero.  Thinking the game would go into extra innings the Expos manager went with Carl Pavano to start the bottom of the 9th.  Pavano, who allowed the go ahead run to score in the 8th was even more generous in the 9th.  With one out in the bottom of the 9th and Jimmy Russell on 1st Pavano grooved one to pinch hitter Clyde Kluttz who hit it deep into the trees beyond the left field wall for a walk off homer.