[GrimmyDee]

In a game with excellent starting pitching from both teams, it was the defensive of the Pittsburgh Pirates that faltered, costing them a win.

Ray Knight opened the 11th inning by drawing a walk off of Pirates closer Kent Tekulve (3-1, 0.60 ERA). After moving to second on a Johnny Bench ground out, Knight took off for third on the first pitch to the next hitter, Steve Henderson (.311). The throw by catcher Ed Ott (his third of the season) was wide of third, skipping off into left field and allowing Knight to score to winning run.

"I hate to admit it, but I was a little surprised he (Knight) took off for third." a somber Ott said afterward. "But that's no excuse. I've made that throw a million times and this one rolled off my hand wrong. It was like a screwball how far it tailed away from Kenny (Macha)."

Ott's error wasn't the only one that contributed to the loss. In the sixth inning, Pittsburgh starter Jerry Reuss (3.20 ERA) was cruising with a 2-1 lead and two out and two men on base when Henderson hit a ground ball that Macha bobbled, then threw wildly to first base - allowing the runner from second to score and tie the game.

Reuss had a very good perfomance, allowing six hits and just one earned run over eight innings while striking out five Reds hitters. Cincinnati starter Fred Norman (2.67 ERA) was equal to the task however, striking out six and giving up two earned runs on five hits through nine innings. Each would end with a no decision.

"Our defense cost us tonight." Pirates manager Chuck Tanner said afterward. "We made three errors tonight. THREE. And those errors cost us two runs. We should have been on a bus back to the hotel with a win tonight."


American League News
Ken Holtzman (2-0, 2.35 ERA) scatters six hits in eight innings to lead the Yankees to a 3-0 shutout of Oakland. Reggie Jackson (.350, 21 RBI) drives in two of New York's three runs. Dick Allen (.286) and Bob Heise (.290) each have two singles for Oakland and Thurman Munson (.266) collects a pair in the win for the Yankees.

In his first start of his career, Don Aase (1-0, 1.98 ERA) makes the Red Sox front office take notice as he throws a complete game five-hitter and beats California, 10-2. Butch Hobson (.289, 4 HR, 13 RBI) hits a three-run blast in the third inning and Bernie Carbo (.259, 4 HR, 14 RBI) follows that up with a grand slam in the fifth - both off of Angels starter Gary Ross.

Mickey Stanley (.188) scores three runs on four hits - including two doubles - and Ron LeFlore (.309, 11 RBI, 14 SB) drives in four with his three hits for Detroit, but it isn't enough to beat the Brewers as they fall 7-5. Cecil Cooper (.280, 12 RBI) hits two doubles and a single for while Don Money (.268, 14 RBI) drives in three runs for Milwaukee in the win.

Dan Ford (.347, 10 RBI) scores three runs, doubles and hits a three-run home run as part of a three hit day to lead Minnesota to a 9-4 win in Toronto. The Twins hit two doubles, a single and a Roy Smalley (.265, 7 RBI) triple to go along with Ford's two-run home run in the five-run, fifth inning that blows the game open.

Kansas City manages just four hits on the day, but utilizes their speed to manufacture three runs in the sixth inning to steal a 4-2 win from the Rangers. Two walks, three stolen bases, a John Wathan (.263, 13 RBI) RBI single and a George Brett (.273, 14 RBI, 7 SB) RBI double is all offense needed as the Royals steal seven bases off of Texas catcher Bill Fahey.

American League Scores



National League News
Mets starter Tom Seaver (2-2, 3.04 ERA) takes a no-hitter into the sixth and finishes with a two-hit shutout with six strikeouts in defeating San Francisco, 7-0. Catcher John Stearns (.264, 1 HR, 8 RBI) hits a home run and two doubles to drive in three runs to lead the New York offense. Seaver also doubles in the game, scoring the Mets first run on a Lynn McGlothen (1-1, 2.95 ERA) wild pitch.

Both Atlanta's Dick Ruthven (1-2, 3.74 ERA) and the Cubs' Dennis Lamp (1-1, 2.11 ERA) throw five-hit complete games, but it is Chicago who puts the runs on the board as they score on a Bobby Murcer (.276, 4 HR, 9 RBI) solo home run and an RBI double by Brian Downing (.244, 13 RBI) to give the Cubbies a 2-0 win. Willie Montanez (.314) hits two doubles in the loss.

Bob Boone (.326, 13 RBI) comes within a SINGLE of hitting for the cycle while scoring three runs as the Dodgers hold on to defeat Boone's former team, 9-6. Reggie Smith (.324, 22 RBI) drives in three, including two on his seventh home run on the season as Phillies starter Larry Christenson (0-4, 7.26 ERA) gives up four or more runs for the fifth time in six starts. Lee Lacy (.279, 16 RBI) doubles and homers for Philadelphia in the loss.

National League Scores



Contract Signings

MR John Curtis (0-0, 0.00 ERA) signs a 3-year extension worth a total of $2,763,000. He will earn $921,000 a year through 1980.

Short Season Single A Update
No Games Scheduled