LA takes 2 of 3 from Cincy, as Reds clinch at least a tie for NL West.

Dodger Stadium
GAME 1
Grimsley vs Moeller
Dodgers 2, Reds 1

LA needed a sweep to tie the Reds and force a 1 game playoff for the division.  The Reds jumped out to a 1-0 lead when Pete Rose led off the 2nd with a double and scored on Woody Woodward's ground out.  That lead was safe for just 2 innings.  In the home half of the 4th Maury Wills lef off with a single and stole second and wound up on 3rd on a rare throwing error by Johnny Bench.  After Willie Davis walked, Tommie Davis singled home Wills to tie the game at 1-1.  Frank Howard's rope to left scored Davis to make it 2-1.  It was now time to play Dodger ball, which meant white knuckling it along as the pitchers had to hold the opposition at bay.  Joe Moeller (8k's/1 ER) was fantastic for 6.1 innings before he was lifted in favor of pen star Bob Miller, who gave up just one walk while retiring the final 8 outs for the save (his 6th).  Losing pitcher Ross Grimsley gave up just 2 in 6 innings, but his powerful offense never came to life to support him.

GAME 2
Nolan vs Ortega
Reds 2, Dodgers 0

Phil Ortega, who has been LA's best starter not named Koufax, toed the rubber and threw another solid game.  Unfortunately for him his team could not plate a single solitary run despite banging out 8 hits (2 more than Cincy).  Cincy's offense relied on solo blasts from Lee May and George Foster.  That was more than enough to reward Gary Nolan (7-1, 1.26) with the victory.  Nolan has been responsible for almost 1/3 of the Reds wins this season and is the odds on candidate for the NL Cy Young.  With the win Cincy clinched themselves nothing worse than a tie for the division (provided HOU or SDP sweep their series).  LA's Wes Parker was 3-4 and upped his avg to .349, but never found a way to touch home.  Howie Reed tossed two scoreless innings in relief of Ortega who finished the season 5-1, 3.00.

GAME 3
Gullett vs Koufax
Dodgers 8, Reds 3

With the division out of reach the Dodgers still went to their ace Sandy Koufax to keep their wild card bid alive.  Sandy carried a 1 hitter into the 9th inning, but faltered a bit and allowed 3 backdoor runs as the nimble lefty is not used to protecting 8 run leads.  LA's offensive explosion (5 runs in the 3rd) chased Don Gullett (7 ER's) after 5 innings.  Jim Merritt came on to mop up over the final 3.  Koufax fanned "just" 7 batsman.  3-Dog and Trixie both had 3-4 days with Trix scorning 3 runs out of the 8 hole.  Frank Howard knocked in 3 with a huge 3 run shot to bust the game open in the 3rd.  LA will now sit back and watch what SDP and HOU do to see where their post season fate lies.

Mets take 2 of 3 from Expos

Game 1:
Mets 4 Expos 1  Koosman pitches a complete game for the win. Millan and Staub 3 hits each

Game 2:
Expos 6 Mets 2  Bryan Little has 3 hits for the Expos as Harry Parker starts and struggles, taking the loss. Steve Rogers starts and gets the win for MTL with Dan Schatzeder pitching 4 strong innings in relief

Game 3:
Mets 4 Expos 2  Tom Seaver gets the complete game win, outpitching Bryn Smith. Ed Kranepool has 3 hits for the Mets

Montreal falls to 20-20, which puts a huge damper on their post season aspirations.  The Mets took their role as spoiler quite seriously.

--submitted by A.Raylesberg--

Final Week Outlook (Due 9/8/2019)

Well...here it is, the final week of the regular season and almost everyone still has a chance to make the post season !  Here are some summaries below, as per the meaning of each 3 game series:

CAL vs MIN - Zaner/Kaufman

This is the marquee series of the week.  Both teams are tied atop the AL West.  Winner takes the division.  Loser more than likely the #3 seed.

KCR vs SEA - Holm/Sexton

KC is fighting for a WC berth, while SEA is hoping to stay out of the basement.

BAL vs CHW - Nixon/Thomas

The O's have clinched the AL East and have a gr8 chance of clinching the #1 overall slot.  The Chisox are one game behind the Royals for the final WC slot

NYY vs BOS - Hoppy/Daly

New York is out of the running, but Boston needs to keep winning to ensure they host the WC game and not have to head on the road.

CLE vs DET - Pryweller/P.Allen

Both teams are out of the running and playing to stay out of the cellar.

CIN vs LAD - Schneider/Weiss

LA needs to sweep Cincy to win the division.  2 wins helps them for the #1 WC.

HOU vs ATL - Landers/Nelson

HOU needs to win 2 or 3 to stay in the hunt for the div and WC.  ATL is here to play spoiler.

NYM vs MON - Raylesberg/Falzone

The 'Spos need to take 2 or 3 to stay alive.  The Amazin's are out.

PIT vs CUB - Myers/Schaden

2 wins and the Bucs clinch the div.  The Cubs can take the div with 2 wins

SDP vs STL - Nixon/Roberts
STL is here to play spoiler.  The Friars need 2-3 win to clinch a post season spot.

Dodgers and Braves battle in 3 one run games

Dodger Stadium
GAME 1
Ortega vs Barker
Dodgers 1, Braves 0

Len Barker pitched 7 2/3 sparkling innings only to win up losing on an unearned run.  LA had Barker on the ropes in both the 1st and the 6th, but the nimble one was able to get away un-scarred.  Neither team scored, as Dodger starter Phil Ortega was equally adept to that point.  With RF'er Frank Howard mired in a deep slump rookie Derrell Griffith was summoned to pinch hit for him with 2 outs in the 7th.  Griff doubled home Maury Wills, who was 3 for 4 on the day, for what turned out to be the winning/only run.  Bob Miller, who threw 2 scoreless innings in relief, got the win.

 
GAME 2
Koufax vs Mahler
Braves 2, Dodgers 1

In a battle of aces, Atlanta's Rick Mahler bested the lord's left hand in a 2-1 nail biter.  Koufax "only" fanned 6 in this outing and stood a chance of winning, but his defense let him down in the 5th as a Rick Mahler grounder knocked in the would be winning run.  Trixie plated Ron Fairly with 2 outs in the 5th to make it a one run ball game, but the Dodgers could not get closer.  Bedrock pitched a scoreless 9th to earn is 7th save.  Koufax's record drops to 5-4, despite seeing his otherworldly ERA drop to 1.56.

GAME 3
Perez vs Drysdale
Dodgers 2, Braves 1

In a somewhat disappointing season, by his standards Big D had the burden of winning the rubber match to keep his team's pennant hopes alive.  Losing 2 of 3 would surely put LA out of contention.  Don Drysdale responded with his best outing of the year by going the distance and giving up just on run in the 4th.  During that inning the Braves were poised for a breakout.  With 2x MVP Dale Murphy leading off with a single and Chris Chambliss doubling him to 3rd the Braves had huge aspirations.  Murph scored on a Claudell Washington groundout, but with the infield pulled in Milt Thompson grounded back to the originator and Oberkfell failed to hit safely as well.  That was it for Atlanta's offense.  LA answered right back with a small ball tally (2 hits and a WP).  In the 5th LA took the lead with more small ball and some added strangeball.  Nate Oliver led off with a single and was bunted over to 2nd by Drysdale.  A PB moved Oliver to 3rd, who scored on a Willie Davis SF that Murph caught up against the fence at the 420 mark.  Drysdale held tight until the top of the 9th when it almost all came crashing down.  Murph and Chambliss both singled to lead off the inning.  Wash fanned for out #1.  Milt Thompson got himself an infield single to load the bases with one out.  Drysdale expected a visit from the dugout, but none came.  It was his game to win or lose since no one was up in the pen.  On a 1-1 count Oberkfell got a good pitch to hit and he hit it hard, but right to Wills, who flipped to Oliver at 2nd who tossed to Parker at first for a game saving DP.

All 3 games in this series were of the one run variety.  Fun/tense games to play and watch.  Dodger fans who stayed past the 7th inning were treated to some fine endings.

Amazin's take 2 of 3 from Northsiders

Game 1….Mets rout Cubs 9-2 as Seaver beats Maddux. A 5 run 8th for the Mets puts the game away. Rusty Staub drives in 3 runs

Game 2  Cubs win 8-6 in see saw battle. Ron Hodges hit a 3 run HR in the 6th to put Mets ahead 4-3 but Cubs scored 3 in 7th and took 8-4 lead into the 9th where Mets rally fell short. Ryan Dempster got the save  with the tying runs on base.

Game 3   Mets win 1-0 as Jerry Koosman pitches a complete game 5 hit shutout beating Mark Prior.Cleon Jones drives in the game’s only run

--submitted by A.Raylesberg--

O's take 2 of 3 from surging Motown.

Game 1
The Tigers came to Camden Yards and continued the O's woeful hitting of late, shutting them out 4-0 in game 1.  Although the O's did manage 10 hits against Trucks, they couldn't get the clutch hit all night while the Tigers touched up Baltimore ace Mussina for 2 home runs.

Game 2
The O's fight back with a shut out of their own by Scott Erickson riding 4 Baltimore home runs (2 by Chris Hoiles) to the 9-0 win.

Game 3
Rubber match sees Baltimore spot starter Doug Johns hold the Tigers to 3 hits and 1 run over 7 1/3 innings before Mills, Benitez and Rhodes close it out   However, not before the Tigers made it close scoring 1 against Benetiz who left the game with runners on 2nd and 3rd before Aruthur Rhodes comes in to save Benitez and earn his first save.

Fun series to play on a Sunday afternoon!
--submitted by M.Nixon--

Pods sweep Amazin's

Mets struggle continue as San Diego sweeps and takes over first place in the NL West. Mets head to the cellar in the East

Game 1  SDP 4  NYM 1
Hurst gets the complete game win with a 6 hitter. He had a shutout until 2 out in the 9th when John Milner homered. Matlack was the hard luck loser.

Game 2   SDP 6 NYM 4
Padres take 4-1 lead after four. Mets battle back but get no closer than two runs as Andy Benes gets the win, pitching 8 innings. Lefferts gets his 7th save. Tom Seaver is the loser, giving up 5 runs and 10 hits in 7 innings.

Game 3    1G DH  SDP 6 NYM 5  10 innings    at SD
Joe Carter-yes Joe Carter- hit a lead off HR in the bottom of the 10th to win it. Pods tied it with 2 in the bottom of the 9th as Roberto Alomar singled in the tying run off Jack Aker (4-5, 2 doubles. Cleon Jones had 2 HRs and 3 RBIs for the Mets.

Game 4   2G DH  SDP 2 NYM 1
Ed Whitson pitches a complete game allowing only 2 hits. Mets took 1-0 lead on HR by Rusty Staub. Alomar’s 4th inning single tied it. Jerald Clark singled in Alomar in the 6th with the winning run. Bip Roberts was red hot all series and was 2-4 with a double and triple in this one. Harry Parker was the hard luck loser.

SDP now 16-9. Mets now 10-15.

--A.Raylesberg--