[Joy in Mudville]

Arlington, Tex.--The law-enforcing Texas Rangers have always been known for last-minute heroics. That wasn't the case in Monday's American League playoffs.

Texas fell one run short during a three-run ninth inning and lost to Baltimore 4-3. Thus, the Orioles completed their three-game sweep of the Rangers and advance to their second Joy in Mudville World Series in the past three years.

Both starters--Doyle Alexander for Texas and Ken Holtzman for Baltimore--pitched well. The Orioles managed to score three runs off Alexander in the fourth. Dick Allen hit a solo home run and Davey Johnson cracked a two-run shot.

Allen hit his second home run in the ninth off Ranger reliever Joe Grzenda. It turned out that Baltimore needed the run more than it thought.

Holtzman gave up a leadoff home run to former Oriole Don Baylor to begin the ninth. After striking out Graig Nettles, Rusty Staub laced a single on a 3-2 pitch.

Holtzman was pulled from the game in favor of right-handed reliever Fred Beene. Hal McRae struck out, but Beene walked Darrell Porter. With the tying run at the plate, left-hander Pete Richert entered the game to face left-handed batting Chris Chambliss.

Texas won this battle as Chambliss cleared the bases with a double into the right-center field gap. Porter slid in just ahead of the relay throw home, and the Oriole lead was 4-3.

With Grzenda's spot in the batting order due, Texas sent pinch-hitter Jay Johnstone to the plate. Richert saved his second game of the playoff by striking out Johnstone on a 2-2 pitch.

Baltimore, losers in last year's ALCS to Oakland in five games, moves on to face either Pittsburgh or Houston in the JIM World Series.

Davey Johnson, just a .247 hitter during the regular season, won the ALCS Most Valuable Player Award. Johnson hit .417 with a home run and five RBIs during the playoff series.

Game ID: 6726 - Monday, October 9th, 1972 - Game Log


Monday, October 9th, 1972
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Baltimore Orioles 0 0 0 3 0 0 0 0 1 4 7 0
Texas Rangers 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 3 9 0


Baltimore AB R H RBI BB K LOB AVG HR RBI
B. Grich SS 4 0 1 0 0 0 0 .111 0 1
K. Singleton LF 4 0 0 0 0 1 1 .125 0 1
D. Allen 1B 4 2 3 2 0 0 0 .364 3 3
D. Evans 3B 4 0 0 0 0 1 1 .100 0 0
J. Grubb CF 4 1 1 0 0 1 0 .273 0 1
D. Johnson 2B 4 1 2 2 0 1 0 .417 1 5
D. May RF 3 0 0 0 0 0 1 .091 0 0
B. Boone C 3 0 0 0 0 0 1 .200 0 3
K. Holtzman P 3 0 0 0 0 1 0 .000 0 0
F. Beene P 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 0 0
P. Richert P 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 0 0
Totals 33 4 7 4 0 5 4

BATTING
Doubles: D. Allen (1, 1st Inning off D. Alexander, 0 on, 2 outs)
Home Runs: D. Allen 2 (3, 4th Inning off D. Alexander, 0 on, 1 out; 9th Inning off J. Grzenda, 0 on, 0 outs) D. Johnson (1, 4th Inning off D. Alexander, 1 on, 2 outs)
Total Bases: D. Allen 10, B. Grich, J. Grubb, D. Johnson 5
2-out RBI: D. Johnson
Runners left in scoring position, 2 outs: B. Boone, D. Evans
GIDP: K. Singleton
Team LOB: 2

FIELDING
Double Plays: 1 (Grich-Johnson-Allen)


Texas AB R H RBI BB K LOB AVG HR RBI
D. Nelson 2B 4 0 2 0 0 0 1 .417 0 0
T. Harrah SS 4 0 0 0 0 1 3 .167 0 0
D. Baylor CF 4 1 1 1 0 0 1 .273 1 1
G. Nettles 3B 4 0 1 0 0 1 1 .364 1 2
R. Staub RF 4 1 2 0 0 0 1 .333 0 1
H. McRae LF 4 0 1 0 0 1 3 .200 0 0
D. Porter C 3 1 0 0 1 0 1 .100 0 0
C. Chambliss 1B 4 0 2 2 0 0 0 .182 0 2
D. Alexander P 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 0 0
a-J. Alou PH 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 0 0
J. Grzenda P 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 0 0
b-J. Johnstone PH 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .000 0 0
Totals 34 3 9 3 1 4 12

a - J. Alou pinch hit for D. Alexander in the 8th
b - J. Johnstone pinch hit for J. Grzenda in the 9th

BATTING
Doubles: G. Nettles (2, 4th Inning off K. Holtzman, 0 on, 1 out) C. Chambliss (1, 9th Inning off P. Richert, 2 on, 2 outs)
Home Runs: D. Baylor (1, 9th Inning off K. Holtzman, 0 on, 0 outs)
Total Bases: H. McRae, G. Nettles 2, R. Staub 2, D. Baylor 4, C. Chambliss 3, D. Nelson 2
2-out RBI: C. Chambliss
Runners left in scoring position, 2 outs: H. McRae, G. Nettles, T. Harrah, J. Johnstone
GIDP: H. McRae
Sac Bunt: D. Alexander
Team LOB: 6

BASERUNNING
SB: D. Nelson (1)

FIELDING
Double Plays: 1 (Nelson-Harrah-Chambliss)


Baltimore IP H R ER BB K HR PI PS ERA
K. Holtzman W (1-0) 8.1 8 2 2 0 2 1 98 65 2.16
F. Beene H (1) 0.1 0 1 1 1 1 0 11 7 27.03
P. Richert SV (2) 0.1 1 0 0 0 1 0 7 4 0.00

PITCHING
Game Score: K. Holtzman 61
Batters Faced: K. Holtzman 32, F. Beene 2, P. Richert 2
Ground Outs - Fly Outs: K. Holtzman 6-16, F. Beene 0-0, P. Richert 0-0
Pitches - Strikes: K. Holtzman 98-65, F. Beene 11-7, P. Richert 7-4
Inherited Runners - Scored: F. Beene 1-0, P. Richert 2-2
WP: K. Holtzman

Texas IP H R ER BB K HR PI PS ERA
D. Alexander L (0-1) 8.0 6 3 3 0 4 2 88 63 3.38
J. Grzenda 1.0 1 1 1 0 1 1 16 11 9.00

PITCHING
Game Score: D. Alexander 62
Batters Faced: D. Alexander 29, J. Grzenda 4
Ground Outs - Fly Outs: D. Alexander 12-7, J. Grzenda 1-1
Pitches - Strikes: D. Alexander 88-63, J. Grzenda 16-11


GAME NOTES
Player of the Game: D. Allen
Ballpark: Arlington Stadium
Weather: Partly Cloudy (56 degrees), wind blowing out to right at 10 mph
Start Time: 7:05 pm
Time: 2:19
Attendance: 34921