LA takes 3 of 4 from Big Red Machine

Dodger Stadium
GAME 1
Merritt vs Sutton
Dodgers 4, Reds 1

Don Sutton scattered 9 hits and allowed just on run in this complete game effort.  With the score tied 1-1 after an inning and a half of play the Dodgers scored 2 in the bottom of the second and never looked back.  Sutton "squeezed" home Bill Buckner and reached first in the process in a play that the normally sure-handed Johnny Bench misplayed.  Davey Lopes lifted a sac fly to center to make it 3-1.  Ron Cey's RBI single in the 5th would add an extra insurance run that Sutton did not need, but appreciated.

GAME 2
Cloninger vs Messersmith
Reds 4, Dodgers 3

Cruising along with no worries in the world Andy Messersmith had the Big Red Machine striking out as often as you see a beer commercial during a football game on TV.  Then it all came un-done in the top of the 8th when a Willie Crawford error and a Tony Perez 2 run shot put the Reds up 4-3.  Messersmith would fan 12 and not walk a single batter, but was done in by a 3 spot in the 8th.

Crosley Field
GAME 3
T.John vs Maloney
Dodgers 8, Reds 6

LA jumped out to a 4-0 lead, but Cincy answered back with 6 run over the next 4 innings.  Things looked good for Jim Maloney until LA chased him with 2 in the 8th thanks to a costly error by Tony Perez at 3B, which was followed by RBI singles from Manny Mota and PH Ken McMullen.  A Ron Cey RBI single and a Bill Russell Sac Fly off Pete Ramos staked LA to a 2 run lead.  Charlie Hough, who got the win, combined with Jim Brewer to get the final 3 outs to record the "W".

GAME 4
Osteen vs Nolan
Dodgers 8, Reds 6

Same score...different day.  Once again Cincy feasts on LA's lefty pitching, but can't get a hold from their pourus pen.  For the second day in a row Joe Ferguson hits a huge 3 run blast.  Lost in the shuffle was Pete Rose's (4-5) 4 hit / 2 RBI game.  Jim Brewer, the only lefty the Reds didn't score on, recorded his second save in as many days.

Mets/Braves renew rivalry and come away w/a split

Braves and Mets split an exciting four game series. All one run games.

Game 1  Mets 4 Braves 3

Tom Seaver took a shutout into the 8^th with the Mets leading 4-0 but began to tire as the Braves came back with 3 runs before Ron Taylor shut the door for the save. Donn Clendenon and Cleon Jones homered for the Mets. Craig McMurtry took the loss.

Game 2    Braves 4 Mets 3 10 innings

Atlanta reverses the score, winning it in the 10^th on a bases loaded single by Bruce Benedict. Braves led 3-1 after 3 against Jerry Koosman. Mets came back with 1 in the 5^th and 1 in the 7^th to tie it as Ken Boswell drove in both runs. Mets manager Raylesberg had a brain cramp in the 10^th, forgetting to warm up a pitcher after pinch hitting for the pitcher. Nolan Ryan came in for the 10^th, without warming up, and quickly loaded the bases before giving up the game winning hit to Benedict.

Game 3  Braves 4 Mets 3

Do we see a pattern here? Third 4-3 game in a row and the Braves take the series lead. Mets took 3-1 lead in the third on a 3 run HR by Boswell. Braves tied it in the 7^th on a 2 run HR by Chris Chambliss. In the 9^th, Rafael Ramirez singled to drive in what proved to be the winning run, beating Ron Taylor. Phil Niekro went 8 innings to get the win. Steve Bedrosian picked up the save.

Game 4  Mets 2 Braves 1

Cleon Jones hit a walk off 2 run HR to win it for the Mets in the bottom of the 9^th. The game featured a great pichers duel between Atlanta’s Rick Camp and New York’s Jim McAndrew. Camp took a 1-0 lead and shutout into the 9^th. After retiring the leadoff hitter (Agee) Camp gave up a single to Boswell. With Joy Foy pinch running at first, and distracting Camp, Jones hit his game winning blast right down the left field line. Danny Frisella won it in relief for the Mets. Camp took the hard luck loss.

--Alan R--

Go-Go Gone; 55 ChiSox Sweep 69 A's

The White Sox use a power surge, hitting 6 home runs in a surprising 4-game sweep.

Game #1 -- Billy Pierce (1-0) held the Athletics to 2 runs on 3 hits through 8 innings of work, guiding the Pale Hose to win 3-2. Chico Carrasquel (3 hits) and Nellie Fox (2 hits) led the way at the top of the order in what should be a "normal" looking Sox win.

Game#2 -- Walt Dropo (1) and Sherm Lollar (1) each hit 2-run shots off Catfish Hunter in a 4-run 2nd inning for Chicago. Still, it took single runs in the 8th and 9th, respectively to topple the A's 8-6. Dick Donovan (1-0) tossed 7 innings for the win. Jim Roland (0-1) took the loss.

Game #3 -- Walt Dropo (2) cracked a 2-0 Rollie Fingers (0-1) fastball over the LF wall in the B9, lighting off the Comiskey Park scoreboard, and lifting Chicago to a 9-7 walk-off win. Lollar (2) had swatted a 3-run blast in the 6th. All of this to overcome 4 hits by Dick Green and two homers and 4 RBI from Rick Monday (1,2).  Mike Fornieles (1-0) got the win in relief.

Game #4 -- Walt Dropo (3) again collected the GWRBI with his 2-run HR in the 7th, propelling the ChiSox to a 6-5 victory. Minnie Minoso (1) also went yard with a massive 445-foot bomb in the 7th. Reggie Jackson (1) got off the sneid for the Athletics in 1st with a 2-run shot. Still, the "straw" wasn't stirring much with just a .214 average. Fornieles (2-0) scarfed another W in relief.