[GrimmyDee]

Thursday, April 7 - Blue Jays Win In Debut

Toronto right fielder Otto Velez (.750, 1 HR, 2 RBI) hits a two-run home run in the bottom of the seventh inning to break a 3-3 tie and give the Blue Jays a win over Chicago in their very first major league game. For the record books, Dave Lemanczyk (1-0, 3.38 ERA) gets the first win in club history, Pete Vukovich (1 SV) records the first save and White Sox second baseman Jorge Orta (.500, 1 HR, 2 RBI) hits the first home run in Exhibition Stadium. It should also be noted that Thomas Langstorm became the first person to eat eight Exhibition Stadium hot dogs in a nine inning game - missing the final three innings while in the restroom when the hot dogs decided they wanted out - very quickly.

Ed Figueroa (1-0, 1.13 ERA) throws eight innings of four hit baseball in a 4-1 win in the season opener at Yankee Stadium over the Brewers. Catcher Thurman Munson (1.000) goes 3-for-3 and Reggie Jackson (.333, 1 HR, 3 RBI) hits his first home run as a Yankee. The first four hitters have all of the Yankees six hits.

Jack Clark (.250, 1 HR, 4 RBI) hits a three-run home run off of Doug Rau (0-1, 16.20 ERA) while Bill Madlock (.750) and Darrell Evans (.600, 1 HR, 1 RBI) each have three hits as San Francisco pounds out 16 hits in a 9-3 win over the Dodgers.

Cubs CF Greg Gross (.500, 1 RBI) sends a one-out single to left field off of Mets reliever Bob Apodaca (0-1, 6.75 ERA) in the bottom of the 12th inning to score Brian Downing from second base to give Chicago a 4-3 win.

Gaylord Perry (1-0, 1.13 ERA) gives up 11 hits, but only lets in one run as he outduels Jim Palmer (0-1, 2.08 ERA) as the Rangers beat Baltimore, 2-1. Texas CF Juan Beniquez (.333) steals four bases off of Orioles catcher Rick Dempsey in five attempts.

Other Scores
American League

Kansas City Detroit

6 3

Cleveland Boston

7 4

California Seattle

6 5

National League

San Francisco Los Angeles

9 3

St. Louis Pittsburgh

2 6

Trades

St. Louis trades 27-year-old 2B Mike Tyson ($60,000 for 1 year) and 22-year-old Double A SP Zhi Joe (Minor League Contract) to Cleveland, getting 25-year old 3B Buddy Bell ($162,000 for 1 year) and 22-year-old Double A SP Mathys Toupin (Minor League Contract) in return.

To Cleveland:

Mike Tyson 1976 Stats

AVG .286

AB 245

H 70

R 26

2B 12

3B 9

HR 3

RBI 28

BB 16

K 34

OBP .326

SLG .455

Zhi Joe 1976 Stats

W -

L -

SV -

ERA -

IP -

H -

R -

ER -

BB -

K -

WHIP -

AVG -

To St. Louis:

Buddy Bell 1976 Stats

AVG .286

AB 245

H 70

R 26

2B 12

3B 9

HR 3

RBI 28

BB 16

K 34

OBP .326

SLG .455

Mathys Toupin 1976 Stats

W -

L -

SV -

ERA -

IP -

H -

R -

ER -

BB -

K -

WHIP -

AVG -

Injuries

CF Jerry Mumphrey is expected to miss about 4 weeks with a torn groin muscle.

Major Transactions

RF Mike Easler optioned to Triple A Columbus. LF Ed Kirkpatrick (.000, 1 AB - AAA) recalled from Triple A Columbus.

RF Ron Pruitt optioned to Triple A Toledo. RF Charlie Spikes (.000, 4 AB - AAA) recalled from Triple A Toledo.

C Steve Swisher designated for assignment and placed on waivers. C George Mitterwald (0-0, 3.68 ERA, 7.1 IP - Majors) was designated for assignment and placed on waivers (from active). C Bill Nahorodny (.167, 6 AB - AAA) contract purchased from Triple A Wichita. C Brian Downing (.136, 1 HR, 6 RBI - AAA) contract purchased from Triple A Wichita. LF Nyls Nyman was designated for assigment and placed on waivers.

MR Randy Wiles was designated for assignment and placed on waivers.

Short Season Single A
Batavia Indians (1-1) at Jamestown Expos (1-1)

Batavia Jamestown

1 3

W: Bill Newton (1-0) L: Eric Huntzinger (0-1) S: Tim Taylor (1)
HR – None
POG: Bill Newton (JAM) 5 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 3 K

Juan Madrigal (.300, 2 RBI) and Alfredo Aranda (.308, 1 RBI) each have two hits and an RBI while starter Bill Newton goes five innings (thanks to that over cautious manager again) of four-hit baseball as we win our first series of the year. Our bullpen has thrown eight scorless innings in the last two games.