Reds take 2 of 3 from Amazin's

GAME 1 - Shea Stadium
Browning vs Seaver
Mets 5, Reds 4

A huge 3 run outburst in the bottom of the 8th put the Amazin's ahead for the first time all day.  Jason Phillips started it off with a solo blast and pinch hitter Wally Backman finished it with a two run double that scored Kevin Mitchell and Darryl Strawberry, who was intentionally walked just before Backman strolled to the plate.

GAME 2
Nolan vs Matlack
Reds 11, Mets 3

Cincy was all over the 1972 ROY, Jon Matlack.  A huge 5 run third inning helped hasten the lanky lefty's departure.  The Met pen wasn't much better.  Gary Nolan fanned 7 Amazin's in a workman like effort.  "Dibbs" got the final 5 outs in a non save opportunity.  Joey Votto hit 2 doubles and knocked in 5 for the Big Red Machine.

GAME 3 - Riverfront Stadium
Gooden vs Simpson
Reds 2, Mets 1

Doc fanned 8, but Simpson was 1 run more stingy.  A great pitcher's duel for those of us who like quick games.  Doc had a 1-0 lead until the bottom of the 8th when the Redlegs scored 2.  Vada Pinson led off with a triple and scored when "Charlie Hustle" doubled into the gap.  A Joey Votto sac fly would score Rose 3 batters later, which sent the Queen City fans home exceptionally happy.

TWIB Notes for Week #9

9/11

• Ken Retzer 3 hits in Texas' 5-4 win over DET
• Bert Blyleven Fans 10 as MIN beats OAK 4-2
• Greg Luzinski 4 hits as Philly crushes the Cubbies 7-1
• Tim Raines 3 hits in MON 8-4 win over SF
• Nate Colbert 2 HR's & 5 RBI as SD beats ATL 11-4
• Don Sutton fans 11 in a 2-1 win by LA over FLA
• Jim Barr (SFG) injured & out until 9/14
• PIT fires Frank A as manager and hires Justin R to manage

 


9/12

• Mark Teixeira 2 HR's as TEX edges DET 4-3
• Paul Molitor 3 hits as MIL slips past CHW 5-4
• Terrance Long 3 hits in OAK's 7-6 come from behind win over MIN
• Bob Horner 3 hits as ATL tops SD 7-5
• Vinegar Bend Mizell (STL) injured and out until 9/15

 

9/13

• Billy Williams (CUB) HR's in romp over PHI
• Bill Mueller 4 hits for SF in 6-5 win over MON
• Curt Flood 3 hits in STL's 1 run win over HOU
• Mike Piazza boosts avg to .365 & (LAD) has 4 hits in 10-6 win over FLA
• Walt Moryn injured & out until 9/14

Games left to play today:
CLE vs TOR
ARI vs PIT
NYM vs CIN

Dodgers take broom to Fish

Game 1: Don Sutton (LAD) vs Josh Johnson (FLA)

Florida scored in the 5th and the Dodgers tied it up in the 8th. The game went 11 with the Dodgers eking out a 2-1 victory in a game riddled by errors (4 total) and with only 9 total hits.

Game 2: Don Newcombe (LAD) vs Scott Olsen (FLA)

Newcombe pitched a complete game 4 hitter and the Dodgers won the game 3-2 as the Dodgers scored the winning run in the top of the 9th.

Game 3: Fernando Valenzuela (LAD) vs Chuck Smith (FLA)

The teams finally found some offense as the Dodgers jumped out to a 7-2 lead after 4.  Mike Piazza went 4 for 5 with 3 RBI's to lead the Dodgers to a 10-6 victory and a series sweep.

--submitted by Keith MacDonald--

Invaders from the North sweep Pale Hose

Milwaukee sweep south siders.

 

Game 1 – Brew crew scores 1 unearned run in the 2nd but it’s enough for a 1-0 win.

 

Game 2 – Brewers Pete Ladd blows the save. Chisox score 2 in top of the 11th and look to even the series. But Terry Foster gives up 3 in the bottom of the 11th including a 2 out 2 strike base hit to Pat Listach with the bases loaded to give the Brewers a 2-0 lead in the series.

 

Game 3 – Brewers use long ball 3 times to win the finally 6-2.

--submitted by Ron--

A's take 2 of 3 from Twinkies

GAME 1 - Metropolitan Stad.
Blanton vs Blyleven
Twins 4, A's 2

Tied 2-2 after 6 1/2 innings pinch hitter Justin (credible) Morneau hit a 2 run shot off of a tiring Joe Blanton to give Bert Blyleven (1-2, 3.29) the lead for good.  Minnesota had been nursing a 2-1 lead since the 4th, but Blyleven served up a solo shot to "Mr. October" Reggie Jackson, to tie the game at 2-2 in the top of the 7th.  Blyleven fanned 10, while walking just 1 in this complete game effort, which put the Twins back over the .500 mark.

 

GAME 2
J.Parker vs Tapani
A's 7, Twins 6

After going up 6-0 and knocking Kevin Tapani out of the box the A's thought they had a laugher on their hands.  A 5 run outburst in the bottom of the 6th knocked the underachieving men from the Bay area back down to reality.  Starter Jarrod Parker, who cruised for 5 shutout innings headed for the showers.  Reliever Tony Pierce wasn't all that stellar himself.  In their defens, there wasn't much defense.  Two errors by lead gloved third baseman Finigan helped open up the flood gates.  Gerry Arrigo, who came on board in the 7th for Tapani, did a wonderful job keeping the A's at bay during his first 2 innings on the hill.  In the top of the 9th the surprisingly powerless Mark McGwire hit his 4th bomb of the year to up the lead to 2.  Big Mac's homer would loom large as the Twins scored a solo run in the bottom of the 9th off closer Andrew Bailey.  To add to the drama Koskie made the final out on a warning track shot that Canseco bobbled before finally corralling.

GAME 3 - Oakland Coliseum
D.Stone vs Nash
A's 7, Twins 4
Jose Canseco scored in the bottom of the 5th on a ball that bounced in the dirt and went to the backstop.  At the time the score was 4-1 Twins.  That run broke Dean Stone's 35 consecutive scoreless innings streak on the mound.  The following inning "The Glider" Ed Charles doubled home Cespedes to make it 4-2.  With closer Doug Corbett on the mound in the bottom of the 8th to rescue a tiring Stone things still looked good for the visiting Twins.  With runners on 1st and 2nd and one out Walt Weiss went against the book and bunted.  Twin catcher Joe Mauer was caught napping.  Mauer jumped out from behind the plate to get the ball.  He pivoted to throw to second and in turn air mailed the ball into center, which allowed Dick Howser to score and make it 4-3.  Pinch hitter Ben Grieve delivered a two run single to give Oakland their first lead on the day.  After Reggie Jackson struck out looking for out number 2 Terry "Grapes of Wrath" Steinbach delivered a clutch 2 out two run single to make it 7-4.  All 5 runs scored in the inning were unearned.  Huston Street closed out the game and got the win, because he was on the hill for the final 4 outs.

All 3 games in this series could have gone either way.  Special thanks to Twins Mgr Bill Schneider for managing a great game.  Lots of chess match style moves by both skippers.

Jints take 2 of 3 from Spos

September 11th (Herbel @ Gullickson)

Raines and Deshields fire up the crowd early as they both have 2 hits by the end of 2 and it's 4 - 0 Expos early. Things were quiet until the 6th when the Giants rally for 3 and it appeared we have us a game. B Hickerson on to pitch the 7th for the Giants and he did not fool anyone as Bryce Harper lead of with a HR and the Expos would rally for 3 more after that and break it open. Expos win 8 - 4 and Gullickson moves to 2 -1.

*********************************************

Sept 12th (Marichal @ Hesketh)

D Gladden leads off with a booming 2B off the LF wall and scores on a bases loaded wild pitch. The Expos strike right back with a run when T Raines walks and steals second and later scored on a B Harper Sac fly. 1- 1 after 1.  M Irvin and T Fuentes would single to start the Giants 2nd and score 1 on a SS error to take the 2 -1 lead.  Brad Fullmer would tie the game with a solo HR in the 6th and the crowd feels another victory coming. The Giants bullpen was up to the task as Romo, Holland & Wilhelm would shut the door and Monte Irvin doubled home B Posey after his 2B to start the Giants 8th and the Giants even the series @ 1-1. J Marichal finally has a good outing and goes 6IP only allowing the 2 runs.

*******************************************

Sept 13th (Morton @ Downs) 13 Innings

This was a real test for both managers as we would need 4 extra innings to decide this rubber game. The Expos lead by D DeShields again who walked and singled in his 1st two plate appearances has his team up 2 - 0 after 2. K Downs would help his own cause with a single in the 3rd and the B Posey singles home the tying run and we are locked at 2 after 3. The Expos would plate 2 in the 4th. G Carter & I Desmond would start the rally with singles and both score to put the Expos up 4 - 2. The Giants add 1 in the 6th and 1 in the 7th and we are tied again at 4. Things were tense and quiet thru the 11th inning. W Cromartie & R Zimmerman would lead off with singles in the 12th and A Dawson would single home the go ahead run and the Expos are about to steal the series. Up come the Giants needing a run to stay alive when D Kingman doubles with 1 out and scores on a B Mueller base hit and we are tied again headed to the 13th. H Wilhelm shuts down the Expos and the Giants need a run as their bullpen is down to Gaylord Perry remaining. D Gladden would get a 1 out infield single that sparked the hometown fans. McCovey singles and Posey walks and the bases are loaded with 2 outs for PH Marvin Benard who strokes the game winning single and is hero for a day. Great series!!
--submitted by Larry Reeves--

Road Teams Rule

September 11
Sullivan vs Stoddard
Boston 5  Seattle 3
For the first three innings there was little hitting and even less run.  Seattle managed to scrape out a single and double and the BoSox nothing.  Mike Greenwell broke the drought in a big way when he got Boston's first hit and first run of the game on a solo HR to right field.  After that everyone started to hit as Danny Tartabull took Frank Sullivan long to give the Mariners a 2-1 lead after 4.  That was the score until the 6th when both teams traded runs, Boston on a ground ball out by Greenwell and Seattle on a Julio Cruz single scoring Ken Griffey, Jr. after he had doubled.  The 3-2 Mariner lead did not last long as Boston put together 4 singles in the 7th and scored 2 runs on RBI hits by Carl Yastrzemski and Wade Boggs and then added another run in the 8th on a bases loaded walk by Jacoby Ellsbury.  Jonathon Papelbon came on in the 9th to shut the door and earn his 5th save.

September 12
Curtis vs Hanson
Boston 5  Seattle 1
Southpaw John Curtis was the star of the this game with Seattle.  After the Boston offense gave him a 3-0 lead in the third on a Wade Boggs RBI ground out and a 2 run double by Mike Greenwell Curtis looked like he might give it all back in the bottom of the inning.  A single, walk and RBI single to the first 3 batters of the inning didn't look good but Curtis composed himself to get the next 3 batters and get out of the inning with a 3-1 lead.  After that Curtis settled in and gave up 2 meaningless hits the rest of the way in tossing a complete game giving up one walk and striking out 7 while lowering his ERA to a sparkling 1.74.

September 13
Pineiro vs Kiecker
Seattle 5  Boston 2
After losing the first 2 games of the series at home, the Mariners were trying to salvage one game when the venue moved to Boston.  It looked like it might not happen as Boston broke a 0-0 game with a run in the bottom of the 6th on a Wade Boggs RBI double.  That awakened the Seattle bats as in the top of the 7th they broke open game and scored all their runs.  Putting together 4 singles and 2 doubles the Mariners put all 5 runs on the board to take a commanding 5-1 lead.  The Red Sox managed to get a run in the bottom of the inning but that was all the scoring in the game.  Julio Cruz had a good day at the plate getting 2 hits, scored a run and drove one in.  With the Seattle win, the road teams ruled the series winning all the games.

O's take 2 of 3 tight games from Rangers

Game 1 – Memorial Stadium
Garver  vs Ogando
Baltimore 4  Texas 3  
 

Baltimore opens the series scoring 1 in the bottom of the first on three straight singles off of Texas starter Alexi Ogando.  Baltimore starter Ned Garver’s season opening streak of shutout innings stops at 26 when he allowed an unearned run as a result of Baltimore second baseman Jerry Adair’s error, a Bump Wills stolen base and a Mike Hargrove RBI single. In the fourth inning Eddie Murray regained the lead for Baltimore on a solo homerun, his third of the season.  Texas immediately countered in the fifth off of Garver on a two run shot by Mark Texiera.  Baltimore tied it up in the sixth on Jim Gentile’s solo shot to close out the scoring for both teams until the 13th inning.  Combined, both teams bullpens allowed only 1 run over 13 1/3 innings of relief.  Curt Blefary’s  13th  inning pinch hit double opened the bottom of the 13th and pinch runner Don Baylor drove in the winning run on Jeffery Hammonds game winning RBI single.  A well pitched game by both sides. 

Game 2 – Memorial Stadium
Barber v Goglewski
Baltimore3 Texas 2

Another tightly contested, one run game on 33rd Street in Charm City.  Texas opened the scoring in this one when Pete Incaviglia walked and moved to second on a Clint Courtney passed ball. Mike Lamb was then walked by Baltimore starter Steve Barber before George Wright singled home Incavigilia.  Lamb later scored from third on a groundball out spotting Texas an early two run lead.  Baltimore immediately struck back in the bottom of the inning when Eddie Murray hit his second homerun in as many days to pull Baltimore within one.   Texas starter Pete Gogolewski was touched up again the next inning for two runs on two walks, a single and an Eddie Murray RBI double to close out the scoring for the game.  Both starters pitched effectively deep into the game before turning it over to the respective bullpens, which combined yielded only 1 hit and no runs for 1 2/3 innings, Baltimore’s Greg Olson earning his fifth save of the season.   

Game 3
O’Dell vs Darvish
Texas 4 Baltimore 1

Yu Darvish was on his game in this one, yielding only one Baltimore hit over seven innings and completely dominating this game.  On the Baltimore side, Billy O’Dell could not match Darvish and yielded three runs  over 5 2/3 innings.  Before yielding to Jim Palmer O’Dell was touched for a two run homerun by Ruben Sierra and another RBI double by George Wright.  In the eighth inning Texas padded it’s lead on a George Wright single, a walk that move him to second, a bunt by Texas catcher Paul Casnova that moved Wright to third and a suicide squeeze by Bump Wills that plated the run.  Mitch Williams and Neftali Feliz continued Darvish’s dominance of the O’s by pitching a perfect 8th and 9th inning.
--submitted by Mark Nixon--

'Spos take 2 of 3 from Cincy

9/6 - Riverfront Stadium
C.Morton vs Tomko
Expos 5, Reds 2

A 2-2 deadlock was broken open in the top of the 9th when Montreal scored 3 huge runs off of Red reliever Hector Carrasco.  After Ellis Valentine led the inning off with a walk Delino DeShields and pinch hitter Vlad Guerrero both struck out.  Carrasco looked to be in good shape having just a man on first with 2 outs.  Valentine caught Carrasco napping and easily stole 2nd.  Cabrera was given and intentional pass to create a force on the bases.  Moises Alou worked out a walk to load the bases, which set the stage for future HOF'er Andre Dawson to clear the bases would a two bagger.  Tyler Clipard got the win in relief of Carl Morton, who fanned 7.  Jeff Fassero, who pitched a scoreless 9th got the save.  Cincy starter Brett Tomko fanned 8 in 5 2/3 innings, but did not factor into the decision.

9/7
Hesketh vs Nolan
Expos 2, Reds 0

Joe Hesketh and three relievers (Burke, Murray & Cordero) combined to toss a 2 hit shutout of the "Big Red Machine".  Hesketh fanned 10 and walked 5 in 6 innings of heady work.  His opposing number, Gary Nolan, gave up just one lone run...a RBI single to Ryan Zimmerman in the top of the 5th.  "Zimm" was 3 for 3 with 2 RBI and a double.  The rest of the Expo lineup had just 2 hits.  15 Red batters fanned in this game.

9/8 - Stadie Olympique
Simpson vs Rogers
Reds 1, Expos 0

The series finale saw the Reds rely on the right arm of Wayne Simpson, who was 2 outs away from recording a complete game shutout.  Simpson left the game after registering 1 out in the 9th, but he did leave runners on 1st and 2nd for fireman Billy McCool, who got Andre Dawson to ground into a game ending around the horn (5-4-3) DP.  Cincy scored the only run of the game in the top of the 5th off of a Brad Fulmer infield error.

A's sweep Jays

9/6 - Exhitbition Stadium
Byrd vs Chachin
A's 6, Blue Jays 1

Mark McGwire hit only his 2nd homer of the season, but it was a prodigious 3 run clout that put a 2-1 game out of reach for an offensive challenged Blue Jays team.  Harry Byrd (CG / 1 ER) needed just 103 pitches to go the distance.  Robert Perez went 3 for 3 for they Jays and accounted for half their hits.

9/7
Archer vs Rzepczynski
A's 8, Blue Jays 1

A 5 run outburst in the top of the 3rd easily erased Toronto's 1-0 lead.  Jim Archer only gave up a first inning run.  Oakland DH Lou Skizas (3-5) bumped his average up to .429.  Muscle-man Jose Canseco hit 2 bombs and knocked in 3 runs as his average hit the Mendoza line for the first time all season.  Oakland evened it's record back to .500 (13-13).

9/8 - Oakland Coliseum
D.Bush vs Keough
Oakland 12, Blue Jays 3

Those "Swingin' A's" scored early and often.  Five runs over the first 2 innings put the Jays in a deep home.  A 5 run bottom of the 5th put the game completely out of reach for Toronto, who dropped to 6-21.  Matt Keough (1-1) went 8 strong innings and gave up just 1 earned run (3 total).  Walt Weiss, no relation to his manager, went 4 for 5 with 2 RBI's.  Mitchell Page had 3 RBI's and Dave Revering had a 4 RBI day.  Special thanks to Jim Clouser for subbing in game 3 for Jays regular manager Eric Stouber, who has had enough agiata from this team all season.

Mets Breeze by Padres

New York,

Game 1,

Eric Nolte and Tom Seaver battled. The Padres held a 2-0 lead until Gregg Jefferies tied the game with a 2 run homerun which extended the game extra innings when Steve Henderson doubled in Carl Everett. Mets 3...Padres 2(13 innings)






Game 2,

New York scored 3 runs in the 5th inning. Two of the runs came home on a Duda 2-run blast.  San Diego plated 2 runs in the ninth inning but not enough to overtake the home team.  Jon Matlack earned his 3rd win and Roger McDowell recorded his 7th save.  Matt Clement's record sunk to 1-5. Mets 4...Padres 3.

San Diego,

Game 3,

The Mets pounded out 13 hits including 2 by Daryl Strawberry. The Straw Man knocked in 4 runs including his 4th homerun of the season.  Padre righty, Frank Seminara was pounded for 9 runs and he deservedly received the loss. Dwight Gooden was the hero of the game as he pitched a complete game shutout while striking out 15 Padre batters.  Mets 10....Padres 0.

Game 4,

The final game of the series was much closer but the result was the same as the Mets swept the Padres in four games.  Jerry Koosman got the win to improve to 3-2. The loss was attributed to Clay Kirby who is now 1-4. Mets 3....Padres 1.

KOD16 - KCR/LAA

The Kansas City Roylas and LAA Angels met for a 4-game series. These two teams always battle as if it each game was the 7^th game of the World Series.  And this series was no exception.

September 06; Royals Stadium
Royals 7, Angels 4

After exchanging leads a few times early, the game settled on a 4-4 tie after 4 innings and remained so through 7 innings.   By the 8^th inning starters Mike Jones and Marcelino Lopez had turned the game over to their bullpens.  Doug Bird took care of the Angels in order in the top of the 8^th.  But in the bottom half, Mark Quinn greeted Jose Arredondo with a solo shot to left center to put the Royals up 5-4.  Carlos Beltran followed with a single and two outs later Kevin Seitzer put the game out of reach with a 2-run blast to left.  Dan Quisenberry pitched a perfect 9^th for the save, as Kansas City took the opening game of the series. 

 

September 07; Royals Stadium
Angels 6, Royals 5

Kansas City established an early lead in the bottom of the 3^rd inning off LAA starter Jered Weaver, scoring 4 times by stringing together a double, 3 singles and a couple of walks.  George Brett's 2-run single was the big hit.  But then Weaver settled down and the Angles began to chip away at Royals starter Paul Splittorff, scoring single runs in the 5^th, 6^th and 7^th innings to make it a 1-run game after 8 innings.    

In the top of the 9^th, with Splittorff still on the mound and KC still leading 4-3, Angels pinch hitter Rick Reichardt led off with a single, and the cat-and-mouse game began.  Shaun Figgins was called on to pinch run.  The Royals responded by sending in Dan Quisenberry to face the switch-hitting Devon White, who sacrificed Figgins to 2^nd base.  Then when Garrett Anderson was announced as a pinch hitter, the Royals responded with LHP Tim Collins.  In a surprise move, LAA took the bat out of the hands of their start slugger and handed it to light-hitting RHB Dave Chalk, hoping for only a single to tie the game.  Kansas City decided to set up the double-play and promptly walked Chalk intentionally.

With 2 runners on and 1 out, up to the dish stepped David Eckstein.  Despite having closer Joakim Soria ready in the bullpen, KC decided to let Collins face Eckstein, who proceeded to shock everyone in the stadium, himself included, with a HR down the line that barely cleared the fence.  After trailing since the 3^rd inning, suddenly the Angels were on top 6-4.

The Royals made bottom of the 9^th very interesting, with 2 singles, 3 pinch runners and 4 stolen bases.  But LAA closer Bob Lee managed to allow only 1 run to score, and finally induced a groundout from Carlos Beltran to end the game with the tying run in scoring position, and preserve a 6-5 Angels win.            

 

September 08; Angel Stadium
Angels 4, Royals 2

Despite relocating the series to Southern California, the tone and tenor of the series didn't change a bit. Game 3 starters Rickey Clark and Bill (not Billy) Butler pitched well and limited the scoring to a Carlos Beltran RBI single in the 3^rd and a Jim Edmonds RBI single in the 5^th.   But LAA jumped ahead when Dallas McPherson led off the bottom of the 7^th with a HR off Doug Bird. Wally Joyner followed with a single and Mike Napoli a double.  Both ended up scoring, first on a groundout and then a sacrifice fly.

Trailing 4-1, once again the Royals refused to go quietly in the 9^th.  Lou Piniella led off with a single, and was followed by 2 walks to load the bases with no outs.   With the home crowd on the edge of their seats, Bob Lee came in from the pen and induced a groundball to Wally Joyner, who converted it into a rally-killing 3-6-3 twin-killing, as pinch runner Willie Wilson came in to score. Next batter Tom Goodwin then grounded out to earn Lee his AL leading 8th save.   

 

September 09; Angel Stadium

Angels 1, Royals 0  (12 innings)

Yet another nail-biter to finish the series.   Angels' starter Dean Chance went 8.1 innings allowing only 5 scattered singles, no walks and striking out 7.  Royals' starter Kevin Appier was nearly as good, going 8.0 innings and allowing 4 hits and 2 walks while striking out 5.  Neither team was able to score, as the game went into extra innings.  Kansas City threatened in the in the top of the 10^th when Clint Hurdle singled and Kevin Seitzer reached on an error.  A sacrifice bunt later, the LAA strategy of bringing the infield in paid off when Angel Berroa grounded to SS, freezing the runners, and Troy Percival came on to strikeout Carlos Beltran.

The game remained scoreless until the bottom of the 12^th inning when Devon led off with a single and was sacrificed to 2^nd.  Following an intentional walk, Rance Mulliniks joined the ranks of unlikely Angels hero by doubling off of Royals ace Tom Terrific Gordon, easily plating Devon White with the winning run.     

--submitted by Douglas Zaner--

Friars and Desert Snakes do battle!

San Diego,

Game 1,

Johnny Grubb and Benito Santiago smacked homeruns to lead the Padres past the Snakes in the opening game. Eric Nolte got his first start and surrendered 4 runs through 6 innings and helped keep the Padres in the game.  Kahlil Greene and Will Venable each had 3 hits as reliever Webb go the win in relief to improve to 3-0. The loss went to Hellickson(0-5). Padres 7 ....Diamondbacks 4.

Game 2,

Arizona shortstop Alex Cintron drove in a pair of runs to help the D-Backs even the series.  Daniel Hudson pitched 7 innings for his first win. The loss was hung on Matt Clement (1-4). Clement's ERA on the season stands at a staggering 7.22. Diamondbacks 4....Padres 3.

Arizona,

Game 3,

Johnny Grubb hit his second homerun of the series and Nate Colbert hit his fourth dinger as the Padres clobbered the D-Backs in the desert.  Frank Seminara pitched a strong game shutting down the snakes on 3 hits through seven innings.  Butch Metzger pitched the final two innings to preserve the win.  Brandon Webb got the loss(2-1)....Padres 8....Diamondbacks 1.

Game 4,

Padre starter Mark Thurmond got pounded in the first two innings. Thurmond coughed up six runs and was relieved. That would be all the snakes would need in this game as they scored seven runs on ten safeties.  Travis Lee hit a grandslam in the second inning. The beneficiary of the offensive onslaught was Scott Kazmir(2-1). Diamondbacks 7...Padres 4.
--submitted by Joey Scigliano--

Friars Swat Big Red Machine

San Diego,
Game 1,
Lefty Bob Shirley evened his record at 2-2 with an 8 inning 3-run allowed performance to pitch the Padres past the Big Red Machine.  Johnny Grubb crushed a 2-run homerun off Wayne Simpson to lead the San Diego hitting charge. Nate Colbert tripled twice for the Friars.  Padres 4.....Reds 3.

San Diego,
Game 2,
Kevin Kouzmanoff hit his first homerun of the season in the third inning and Khalil Greene smacked his 3rd in the fifth inning as the Padres took the second game of the series.  Clay Kirby earned his first win of the the year for San Diego as the Padre offense plated five runs in the 5th inning to push them past Cincinnati. Padres 6....Reds 5.

Cincinnati,
Game 3,
Another close one as the Reds and Padres battled in Cincinnati. San Diego scored single runs in the 7th and 8th innings to knot the game at 4 apiece. However, the game was won by the Reds in the bottom of the 9th when Adam Dunn led off the inning with a tape measure homerun to right field off reliever Butch Metzger.  Reds 5....Padres 4.

KOD16 Series Showdown Between AL Division Leaders

The American League division leaders Balimore Orioles and Los Angeles Angels met for a 3-game series.

August 29; Anaheim, CA

Baltimore 10, Anaheim 9

The Orioles opened a 10-4 lead after 4.5 innings thanks to HRs by Bobby Grich, Cal Ripken Jr and Gus Triandos off of Angels starter Frank Tanana.  But Anaheim answered with HRs of their own by Devon White, Mike Trout and Carney Lansford off of Orioles starter Billy O'Dell (1-0) to pull within 1 run after 7 innings.  With the game turned over to the bullpens, 4 Baltimore relieves managed to protect the lead, with Greg Olson getting the final out to earn the save.  Ripken and Triandos each finished with 4 RBIs.  Three Angels collected 3 hits each, and 9 Anaheim batters had at at least 1 hit..  Despite being out-hit 15-8, the Orioles managed to accumulate more of what really counted - runs.

August 30; Anaheim, CA 

Anaheim 3, Baltimore 1

Angels starter Dean Chance (3-0) got his team back on track, pitching 7.2 innings and allowing only an Eddie Murray solo HR in the 8th inning.  Anaheim chipped away at Baltimore starter Chuck Estrada, scoring single runs in the 3rd, 5th and 7th innings. Garrett Anderson knocked in 2 of the Halos' 3 runs.  Bob Lee pitched a scoreless 9th inning for the save.  

August 31; Baltimore, MD

Anaheim 4, Baltimore 3

The final series game was a back and forth affair.  Dalas McPherson gave Anaheim a  1-0 lead with a double in the top of the 2nd off Baltimore starter Wally Bunker.  But the Orioles answered with 2 runs in the bottom of the 4th off Angels starter Marcelino Lopez thanks to 3 straight singles and a costly Buck Rodgers passed ball.  Anaheim tied the game in the top of the 5th on a Devon White single.  But Baltimore answered again in the bottom half of the frame thanks to a Bobby Grich triple and a Roy Sievers single to take a 3-2 lead.

The Angels tied the game once again in te 8th when Tim Salmon opened the inning with a triple off Jim Palmer and scored when the next batter Adam Kennedy doubled.  Two batters later Kennedy was gunned down at the plate by Orioles right fielder Bob Nieman to keep the game knotted at 3.

The game remained tied after 9 innings, and both teams began thinning out their benches of eligible players. The tie was broken with 1 out in the top of the 11th by a Mike Trout solo HR off Jerry Walker. Once again Bob Lee preserved the win for Jose Arredondo (3-0) and earned his AL league-leading 6th save.    

--submitted by Douglas Zaner--

Zisk and Jones both go 4 for 4!
It's pretty rare when two hitters in the same game go 4 for 4.  Richie Zisk and Garrett Jones each had 4 hits to lead a 16 hit pirate attack as the Bucs downed the Expos 8-1 in the first game of a 3 game series.  Garrett Jones hit his 4th homerun as one of his hits.  The Pirates jumped all over Carl Morton in the first inning as 9 hitters came to the plate and the bucs scored 4 runs.  John Candelaria criused through 8 innings only allowing 1 run while striking out 7.  Matt Capps closed it out pitching a scoreless ninth.

Wakefield's knuckleball has Expos hitters guessing!
Tim Wakefield tossed 8 innings only allowing 1 run as the Pirates took game 2 with a score of 4-1.  The Pirates only got 4 hits with one of them being a Neil Walker homerun.  The Bucs were beneficiaries of Dan Warthen's 7 walks in 5 innings as he allowed all 4 runs.  Mike Gonzalez gave bucs fan a scare in the 9th putting 2 baserunners on but closed it out for his first save.

Pirates complete the sweep winning 6-4.
Steve Rogers allowed 4 runs in the first 3 innings and Dock Ellis came on in relief for Jose Deleon who looked shaky to pickup the win.  Dock was a little high during the game but does his best pitching when on lsd.  Jared Hughes picked up the save and Craig Wilson socked his second homerun of the season.  

M's take 2 of 3 from A's

  

Seattle 3 Oakland 0 
This game could be summed up on the 1st four Seattle batters. Moses singled to open the game. Suzuki flew out Page. Valle singled to move Moses to 3rd. Alvin Davis then homered. From that point on it was all pitching. Game MVP Joel Pineiro went 7 1/3 allowing 2 hits walking 1 with 7 Ks. Romo came on for the hold going 1 inning and Vande Berg on 2/3 of an inning striking out both for the save. Nash went the distance for Oakland taking the loss.

Seattle 6 Oakland 3

Once again Seattle strikes in the 1st. Back to back singles by Amaral and Briley, a groundout by Suzuki advanced the runners and Amaral scored on a flyout by Valle.In the 2nd Archer ran into trouble walking Tartabull and Davis, a sacrifice bunt by Cruz advanced them and Tartabull scored on an Amaral single. In the 6th Seattle blew it open back to back singles Suzuki and Valle and Suzuki scored on a grounder by Brantley when the throw home was late. a double by Tartabull scored both and he scored on a Castillo single. Down 6-0 Oakland got on board with a Cespedes single scoring on a Page double. In the 7th Jackson walked and scored on a Spiezzo triple who scored on a wild pitch. Stoddard got the win went 7 2/3 innings for Seattle, Vande Berg 1/3 and Raphael Soriano Game MVP got the save. Archer took the loss went 7 inning relieved by Pierce

Oakland 6 Seattle 2
Started as a pitchers deul through 4 innings. Seattle opened the scoring on a double by Cruz that scored Valle. With 2 outs in the 5th Oakland came alive Charles singled stole 2nd, Green singled scoring him, Henderson singled moving Green to third, Henderson stole 2nd and they both scored on a McGwire single. Seattle got one back as Castillo doubled and scored on a Suzuki single. In the 7th Game MVP Dick Green homered for Oakland, and Oakland put it out of reach in the 8th as McGwire and Jackson opened with singles, McGwire scored on a Page single and Jackson on a Charles ground out.
Oakland's Blanton went 6 innings for the win with Lacy going 1 2/3 innings, Cook 1/3 and Bailey 1 inning. Hanson took the loss going 7 inning before Schooler went the final 2.
 

The visiting team won all the games, and the Seattle pitchers kept the Oakland A's long ball hitters in check by allowing only a single home run by Green in the three game series. Seattle won the series 2 games to 1.
--submitted Robert Chisholm--