May 8
San Diego resigns
Rollie Fingers (2-0,6 SV,6.08 ERA) to a 1-year extension worth $1,060,000.
Already reeling from the loss of RF
Ken Griffey, the Reds were dealt another blow when C
Johnny Bench (.207,5 HR,14 RBI) collided with Pirates 2B
Rennie Stennett while trying to break up a double play and suffered a pinched nerve in his neck. Doctors expect Bench to be miss 3-4 weeks of action. The Reds won the game, 10-3.
California closer
Dick Drago (2-2,2.53 ERA) finally wins a game in the 9th as Boston reliever
Tom Murphy (0-1,3.38 ERA) throws 2 wild pitches to
Dave Chalk, allowing
Tony Solaita to score the go ahead run.
Fred Lynn (.407,15 RBI) has 3 hits for the Red Sox and is hitting over .400 for the year.
Chicago scores 4 times in the top of the ninth, then hold on as the Indians plate 2 in the bottom of the inning to win 5-3.
Oscar Gamble (.264,12 RBI) hits the eventual game winner, a double with the bases loaded off
Tom Buskey (6.27 ERA) that scored 3 runs. White Sox DH
Wayne Nordhagen (.367) has 4 hits, including a double and a RBI in the 9th.
Bobby Grich (.268), subbing for the injured
Duane Kuiper, has 3 hits for the Indians in the loss.
Jose Cruz (.275,20 RBI) hits a 2-out single in the top of the 9th off
Al Hrabosky (0-1,3.86 ERA) to give the Astros a 6-5 win over the Cardinals.
Bake McBride (.379,21 RBI) and
Tony Scott (.306) each had 3 hits for the Cards in the losing effort.
Mark Lemongello (3.60 ERA) runs his record to 6-0 with the win.
Reserve 2B
Ted Sizemore (.250) singles home
Larry Bowa and
Garry Maddox in the top of the 10th off
Elias Sosa (2-1,5.40 ERA) to lead the Phillies over the Dodgers 4-3. Dodgers starter
Tommy John (2.02 ERA) goes 9 innings, giving up just two earned runs before turning over to Sosa.
Twins pitcher
Dave Goltz (2-3,5.20 ERA) pitches a complete game 2-hitter in a 6-1 victory over the Blue Jays.
Jim Mason (.176,3 HR,12 RBI) was the only Blue Jay to touch 2nd base as his solo shot in the 6th provided Toronto's only scoring. Goltz would strike out 11 while walking 2 and RF
Glenn Adams (.336,5 HR,12 RBI) would hit 2 solo home runs of his own in the win.
Giants RF
Jack Clark (.351) singles in the 6th inning off Mets reliever Craig Swan to extend his hitting streak to 25 games. The Giants will lose the game 5-4.
Buffalo Battlecats (12-23) at Lake City Moths (22-13)
Buffalo 1
Lake City 9
W: Jason Carter (5-1) L: Terry Wise (1-4)
HR – LC: Daniel Jones (2)
POG: Jason Carter (LC) 7.2 IP, 7 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 6 K
This game was an actual pitchers duel until the 5th, when we started to pound on Wise. We scored 5 more times in the 7th to build a 9-1 lead, then had my catcher Jared White back out in LF and utility infielder Miguel Tirado playing CF to try and build some experience there. Played recently sent down SS Shawn Osorio for the 1st time today and he responded, going 2-4 with a double. We have like 15 shortstops on the roster so it is difficult to find him playing time, but it looks as if he will earn it.
May 9
American League - Player of the Week: (May 1 - May 7
CF Fred Lynn (BOS)!
He batted .500 (12-24), with 0 HR, 4 RBI, 4 runs scored, 3 doubles and a triple.
American League - Player of the Week: (May 1 - May 7)
RF Reggie Smith (LA)!
He batted .500 (10-20), with 3 HR, 7 RBI, 5 runs scored and a 1.000 SLG.
San Diego resigns LH reliever
Dave Tomlin (1-0,1 SV,0.56 ERA) for 1 more year worth $776,000.
Eric Rasmussen (4-2,2.95 ERA) pitches 8 innings of 3-hit baseball to outduel Cincinnati rookie
Paul Moskau (5-2,2.09 ERA) as the Cardinals beat the Reds 2-0 in Busch Stadium. Rasmussen strikes out 6 while walking only 1 while Moskau goes the distance in the loss, giving up just 4 hits and 2 earned runs.
May 10
Cleveland resigns backup 1B
Bill Melton to a 1-year extension worth $124,000.
1B
John Mayberry (.244,6 HR,12 RBI) goes 3-for-4 including a duo of 2-run home runs to lead Kansas City over California, 9-7. LF
Hal McRae (.269,2 HR,13 RBI) adds a solo home run of his own as part of his 3-hit day.
Bobby Bonds (.193,11 RBI) collects 3 hits for the Angels, including his 4th homer of the year.
Paul Splittorff (2-3,4.44 ERA) gets the win after giving up 6 runs in 8 2/3 innings.
Lake City Moths (23-13) at San Bernadino Marlins (12-24)
Lake City 6
San Bernadino 1
W: Mike Haynes (4-2) L: Frank Hinton (2-5)
HR – SB: Jose Fernandez (1)
POG: Mike Haynes (LC) 8.2 IP, 7 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 9 K
Another hard fought game which we were losing 1-0 for 6 innings. A bases clearing double by John Kennedy opened the flood gates for us as we managed to score 5 runs in the final 2 innings to blow it open. Mike Haynes came 1 out away from a complete game but I had him on a strict 120-pitch limit. Still he had 9 strikeouts and no walks while giving up just 7 hits.
May 11
Reggie Smith (.333,26 RBI) led a hit parade in Stade Olympique as he went 4-for-5 while scoring 4 runs and driving in 3 in a 14-6 bashing of the Expos.
Davey Lopes (.314) added 3 hits of his own as every Dodger in the starting lineup not named
Lee Lacy had a base hit.
Andre Dawson (.302) managed 3 hits in a losing effort for the Expos.
37-year old
Carl Yastrzemski (.292,22 RBI) hits his 345th career home run, a 3-run blast in the top of the 11th inning off
Pablo Torrealba (1-1,5.79 ERA) to give the Red Sox a 8-5 victory over Oakland. The game winning shot was Yaz's second of the game and 7th of the year and he stands just 1 homer shy of Dick Allen and 28th place on the all-time list.
Rodney Scott (.193) and
Jeff Newman (.275) have 3 hits apiece for the A's as the Red Sox were outhit as a team, 16-13.
An RBI double by
Rico Carty (.282,13 RBI) followed by an RBI single by
Buddy Bell (.282,17 RBI) with 2-out in the bottom of the 9th off Milwaukee closer
Bob McClure (2-2,2 BS,1.17 ERA) sends the Indians home with a 5-4 win. Bell and catcher
Ron Pruitt (.207) each have 3 hits for the Indians while Milwaukee CF
Von Joshua (.250) goes 4-for-4 in the loss.
Lary Anderson (1-0,2.16 ERA) pitches 2 scoreless innings to get the win.
Jeff Burroughs (.263,14 RBI) hits a 2-run double in the top of the 10th off Pirates reliever
Pete Mitchell (1-1,3.46 ERA) to give Atlanta a 6-4 win.
Barry Bonnell (.273) and
Gary Matthews (.288) each have 3 hits to help the Braves cause. Pirates pitcher
Jerry Reuss goes 2-for-2 to raise his average to .308 and hits his 1st home run of his career.
Tim Whitfield (.293,2 HR,18 RBI) pinch hits for pitcher
Bob Knepper (2-4,4.44 ERA) with 2 outs and sends the second pitch he sees from
Steve Carlton over the left field fence to give the Giants a 2-1 win over the Phillies. Carlton (2-3,3.61 ERA) will finish up, striking out 9 and walking 2 for his 3rd complete game and Knepper goes 8 innings to get the win, with 5 strikeouts and walking one.
Lake City Moths (24-13) at San Bernadino Marlins (12-25)
Lake City 4
San Bernadino 2
W: Josh Thomas (3-3) L: Leonardo Rosales (1-3)
HR – LC: Ben Ball (2)
POG: Josh Thomas (LC) 7 IP, 8 H, 2 ER, 6 BB, 6 K
I must admit, I am getting spoiled with my starting pitching and I know it is only a matter of time before most of these guys are playing up in AA Lincoln. Thomas had some control issues so San Bernadino had plenty of baserunners, but somehow Thomas got out of the almost every jam. We were a doubles machine as 4 of our 7 hits were of the 2 bagger variety. I'll give props to San Bernadino 1B Tomas Randin who did manage 3 hits against us.
May 12
Atlanta's
Andy Messersmith (2-4,3.42 ERA) gets his 2nd win of the year with a complete game shutout over the Pirates, 6-0. Messersmith gives up 6 hits while striking out 6, walking 2 and hits his 1st home run in the 9th inning off
Larry Demery (5.23 ERA), the 5th of his career.
After making a fantastic catch in which he collided with CF
Hector Cruz in the 9th inning, Cardinals LF
Jerry Mumphrey (.228,2 HR,9 RBI) was helped from the field unable to put weight on his left leg. After the game, the injury was diagnosed as a damaged meniscus (knee) and will keep Mumphrey off the diamond for at least 2 weeks.
Lake City Moths (25-13) at San Bernadino Marlins (12-26)
Lake City 9
San Bernadino 2
W: Derek Todd (3-3) L: Jesus Garcia (4-5)
HR – LC: Daniel Jones (3)
POG: Daniel Jones (LC) 2-4, R, 6 RBI, 2B, HR
Losing again until the 6th, when we scrapped together a couple of runs to take a 3-2 lead. From then on it was the Daniel Jones show as he hit a bases clearing double in the 7th and a 3-run home run on the 9th to provide our the rest of our scoring for the day. Derek Todd pitched great, going 8 1/3 innings and I cannot say enough about our starting pitching. Of course, these are games we should be winning, but a quality start is a quality start.
May 13
San Francisco resigns a trio of pitchers: reliever
Charlie Williams (0-0,0.96 ERA) gets a 3-year extension worth $306,000 at $102,000 per, closer
Gary Lavelle (0-1,0.64 ERA) signs up for 3 more years at $815,000 a year ($2,445,000 total) and starter
Jim Barr (5-1,3.19 ERA) gets a 7-year deal worth $9,632,000 at $1,376,000 a year.
Steve Rogers (3-3,2.91 ERA) gives up just 2 hits, but a 2-out, 2-run home run to
Greg Gross (.289,2 HR,12 RBI) in the 8th inning proved to be the difference in a 2-1 Montreal loss to Chicago.
Mike Krukow (3-3,3.27 ERA) and 3 relievers:
Donnie Moore (1.23 ERA),
Willie Hernandez (0.82 ERA) and
Bruce Sutter (4.35 ERA), shut down the Expos on 5 hits and 1 unearned run.
Glendale Locusts (20-19) at Lake City Moths (26-13)
Glendale 1
Lake City 3
W: Bob Crouch (3-1) L: Bob Hicks (2-1) S: Will Combs (2)
HR – None
POG: Bob Hicks (GL) 7.2 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 7 K
Here is a bunch of interesting facts about this game. First off, it is the first time that 3 players with the same name have ever started in the same game. Seems as if Glendale have a DH named Javier Garcia as well - all unrelated. On the related front, Glendale starter Bob Hicks is the older brother of our very own Jim Hicks. After fanning Jim in the 1st inning, Bob would drill his brother in the back in the 5th. Jim would get a measure of revenge by stealing 2nd and later scoring on a double by Daniel Jones. Our starter, Jason Carter would have elbow trouble and need to leave the game in the 4th, so I used my well rested bullpen of Crouch, Tommy Malone and Combs to finish off the win.
May 14
Kent Tekulve (0-1,3.38 ERA) agrees to stay in Pittsburgh for another year after agreeing to a $549,000 deal. The Pirates also resigned reliever
Grant Jackson (2-0,4.22 ERA) to a $67,000, 1-year extension.
Just 1 day after signing an extension to stay with the Giants,
Jim Barr (6-1,2.73 ERA) shuts out Reds on just 4 hits in a 2-0 win and spoiling another superb performance by Cincinnati phenom
Paul Moskau. Moskau (1.85 ERA) pitched 7 1/3 innings and allowed just 3 hits before giving way to
Mario Soto (0-1,4.91 ERA), who rewarded his efforts by giving up 1 run each in the 8th and 9th innings.
Jack Clark (.355,14 RBI) singles and drives in a run in the 8th inning off of Soto, breaking a scoreless tie and raising Clark's hitting streak to 30 games.
Philadelphia shuts down the Padres 4-0 as
Jim Lonborg (1-1,3.08 ERA) and
Gene Garber (11 SV,1.32 ERA) combine on a 4-hitter.
Richie Hebner (.311,16 RBI) collects 3 hits and
Mike Schmidt (.225,8 HR,22 RBI) adds 2 home runs to power the Philles offense.
Rollie Fingers (2-1,5.51 ERA) makes his 1st start in 4 years and takes the loss - but pitches well, giving up 1 earned run and 2 hits in 3 innings of work. Fingers replaced
Bob Owchinko, who was put on the 15-day disabled list earlier this week.
Milwaukee scores a run in each of the last 3 innings, the last coming on a walkoff home run by
Sal Bando (.188,3 HR,8 RBI) leading off the bottom of the 9th off of closer
Steve Foucault (3-1,3.86 ERA) to lead the Brewers to a 3-2 win over Detroit.
Glendale Locusts (20-20) at Lake City Moths (27-13)
Glendale 7
Lake City 5
W: Pedro Camacho (3-5) L: Bobby Charles (0-2) S: Jose Fernandez (3)
HR – GL: Chris Bolden (4) LC: Javier "The Catcher" Garcia (2)
POG: Chris Bolden (GL) 2-3, 2 R, 1 RBI, HR, BB
You would think I would have a pretty good chance to have a perfect 7 win week against a .500 team like Glendale. You would think that having Danny Patterson on the mound would virtually assure us of a win. You would think. Patterson finished the 1st, but complained of a sore arm in the dugout afterward and could not go on. Bobby Charles came on and pitched decent considering the short notice but nowhere near Patterson-esque. Patterson's injury along with the injury to Jason Carter leaves us with just 3 starters and Charles, who is more of a long reliever than a starter.
Major League Standings
Through May 14, 1977
Code:
AL East W L PCT GB G L 10 Streak POW LW
Detroit Tigers 20 13 .606 -- 33 5-5 L3 5 5
Boston Red Sox 18 13 .581 1.0 31 6-4 L1 7 6
New York Yankees 18 14 .563 1.5 32 4-6 L3 12 7
Milwaukee Brewers 18 15 .545 2.0 33 5-5 W3 9 10
Toronto Blue Jays 17 17 .500 3.5 34 9-1 W4 8 13
Baltimore Orioles 14 16 .467 4.5 30 5-5 L2 20 15
Cleveland Indians 13 20 .394 7.0 33 5-5 L2 23 21
AL West W L PCT GB G L 10 Streak POW LW
Texas Rangers 20 12 .625 -- 32 7-3 L2 2 3
California Angles 19 16 .543 2.5 35 5-5 W2 10 12
Chicago White Sox 17 15 .531 3.0 32 5-5 W2 11 16
Minnesota Twins 16 16 .500 4.0 32 2-8 L4 22 14
Kansas City Royals 14 18 .438 6.0 32 6-4 W2 19 24
Oakland Athletics 14 18 .438 6.0 32 8-2 W2 16 22
Seattle Mariners 11 26 .297 11.5 37 2-8 W1 25 26
NL East W L PCT GB G L 10 Streak POW LW
Philadelphia Phillies 19 11 .633 -- 30 8-2 W2 1 2
St. Louis Cardinals 19 13 .594 1.0 32 7-3 W2 4 9
New York Mets 19 15 .559 2.0 34 7-3 W1 6 4
Pittsburgh Pirates 15 17 .469 5.0 32 5-5 L1 18 17
Chicago Cubs 13 18 .419 6.5 31 6-4 W3 21 23
Montreal Expos 11 19 .367 8.0 30 3-7 L5 24 20
NL West W L PCT GB G L 10 Streak POW LW
Houston Astros 20 12 .625 -- 32 5-5 W1 3 1
Cincinnati Reds 17 15 .531 3.0 32 2-8 L2 15 8
Los Angeles Dodgers 17 16 .515 3.5 33 5-5 L1 14 18
San Diego Padres 19 18 .514 3.5 37 3-7 L4 17 11
San Francisco Giants 16 16 .500 4.0 32 5-5 W4 13 19
Atlanta Braves 9 24 .273 11.5 33 5-5 L2 26 25
Single-A Standings
Through May 14, 1977
Code:
North W L PCT GB G L 10 Streak POW LW
Tampa Blitz 28 13 .683 -- 41 6-4 W1 1 1
Spokane Cloverleafs 26 15 .634 2.0 41 7-3 W1 3 3
Valle Arroyo Seco Vendetta 22 19 .537 6.0 41 7-3 W4 10 16
Saint Petersburg Pioneers 20 21 .488 8.0 41 1-9 L2 18 12
Garland Sapphires 18 23 .439 10.0 41 5-5 L1 17 15
Stockton Wild Cats 18 23 .439 10.0 41 4-6 L4 23 14
Monte Vista Annihilation 15 26 .366 13.0 41 5-5 L1 24 24
South W L PCT GB G L 10 Streak POW LW
Gallipolis Crows 24 17 .585 -- 41 7-3 W5 4 10
Henderson Neons 24 17 .585 -- 41 6-4 L1 8 8
Fort Wayne Crowns 19 22 .463 5.0 41 5-5 L2 15 18
Fremont Llamas 19 22 .463 5.0 41 6-4 W4 14 21
Putney Mudhens 18 23 .439 6.0 41 3-7 W2 19 20
Red Lake Falls Current 18 23 .439 6.0 41 4-6 L3 21 19
Santa Ana Skuas 18 23 .439 6.0 41 4-6 W1 16 17
East W L PCT GB G L 10 Streak POW LW
Lake City Moths 27 14 .659 -- 41 7-3 L1 2 4
Staunton Bluefins 25 16 .610 2.0 41 5-5 W1 5 5
East Los Angeles Hippos 24 17 .585 3.0 41 6-4 L1 9 6
Fountain Hills Lobsters 24 17 .585 3.0 41 6-4 W1 6 2
Delavan Cyber Rays 22 19 .537 5.0 41 2-8 L1 13 9
Manti Carnivores 14 27 .341 13.0 41 3-7 L3 25 23
West W L PCT GB G L 10 Streak POW LW
Baton Rouge Liberators 22 19 .537 -- 41 6-4 L1 11 7
Horton Geese 22 19 .537 -- 41 8-2 W5 7 11
Glendale Locusts 21 20 .512 1.0 41 6-4 W1 12 13
Modesto Rancheros 17 24 .415 5.0 41 5-5 W1 20 22
Buffalo Battlecats 16 25 .390 6.0 41 5-5 W3 22 26
San Bernadino Marlins 12 29 .293 10.0 41 1-9 L7 26 25