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Flyers Weekly, Volume XXIV, Issue 10 - May 24, 1971

Another sweep by a Western Division team puts the Flyers 3 1/2 games out of first. The club has Monday off before taking a nine-game trip West, starting with three at Dallas and three at Memphis.


Last Week's Results

May 17 - OFF

May 18 - vs SAN - L 3-4

A pinch-hit three-run homer by Mark Johnson gives the Flyers a one-run lead in the 7th, but Kevin Hodgkins (2/3 IP, 2 R, 2 H, 1 K) gives up a single and a double with two down in the 9th to tie the game, then John Jahnke allows the game-winning hit, wasting a good effort by Keith Becker (7 IP, 2 R, 8 H, 8 K).

L - Hodgkins (1-1)
HR - Johnson (3)

May 19 - vs SAN - L 2-4

Not a good performance on Batting Glove Day, as Missions southpaw Johnston Sloan (W, 3-2, 8 IP, 1 R, 4 H, 2 BB, 3 K) puzzles the Flyers the entire game. Carolina does score one in the 9th off closer Tim Lesley (SV, 7, 1 IP, 1 R, 2 H, 1 BB, 1 K) and has runners on second and third with nobody out, but Darrel Robinson strikes out looking, then pinch hitter Jeff Harvey hits a blooper that's caught by LF Paul LaFontaine, who doubles pinch runner Matt Kirk off second to end the game.

L - Coomes (3-3)

May 20 - vs SAN - L 1-5

Bill Morgan (7 1/3 IP, 2 R, 5 H, 3 BB, 5 K) gets his first loss after Justin Randolph (1/3 IP, 3 R, 3 H, 1 BB, 1 K) gives up a grand slam to journeyman RF Ed Baker to cap a five-run Missions 7th. Jay Williams (6 IP, 1 R, 2 H, 3 BB, 6 K) and the San Antonio bullpen hold the Flyers to just four hits to complete the sweep.

L - Morgan (4-1)

May 21 - vs HOU - W 4-1

Matt Halstead (7 IP, 1 R, 4 H, 1 BB, 7 K) puts on a pitching clinic, and Kevin Hodgkins strikes out the side in the 9th to break the three-game skid. Kirk, benched yesterday after Wednesday's miscue, goes 4 for 4 with three bunt singles, scoring twice.

W - Halstead (3-3)
SV - Hodgkins (13)

May 22 - vs HOU - L 2-5

A muffed grounder by Alan Bruns at third extends the 4th, and Buffaloes starter James LaFleur (W, 3-0, 6 2/3 IP, 2 R, 1 ER, 8 H, 2 BB) capitalizes with a three-run double off Gene Arndt (5 IP, 3 R, 0 ER, 5 H, 5 BB, 2 K), bringing LaFleur's career totals to six doubles and twenty-five RBIs. Chris Wayman (3 for 3, BB) gets on base all four plate appearances, but no one drives him in.

L - Arndt (2-4)
HR - Sutton (1)

May 23 - vs HOU - W 7-6

A wild Mini Bat Day at State Fair Park as the Buffaloes lose their manager Don Chapman after just one batter, followed by a pair of Houston pitchers coming up with injuries. Becker (6 IP, 5 R, 6 H, 3 BB, 4 K) has a two-hitter through six before the wheels come off in a five-run Houston 7th, putting the Flyers down by one. Carolina scores two with four singles in the 8th, but Houston ties the game at six in the top of the 9th. Finally, Rudy Olson gets his first RBI of the year, hitting a walkoff single with the bases juiced and scoring Wayman for the win in regulation.

W - Jahnke (2-1)

Last week: 2 - 4
This month: 8 - 11
Overall: 25 - 19, 2nd, -3 1/2 of Jacksonville


Who's Hot

Mike Sutton
Last 5 games: 5-15 (.333), 1 HR, 3 RBI

Who's Not

Mike Weber
Last 5 games: 2-13 (.154), 0 HR, 0 RBI

Keith Becker
Last 4 games: 0-1, 6.65 ERA, 23 IP


A Closer Look - Single-A Columbus

Columbus's record of 22-22 is good enough for second place among Eastern Division A-ball clubs. There aren't many noteworthy players at this level just eight days before the draft. Top prospect starter Walt Russell (4-5, 5.48, WHIP 1.87) is struggling to find the form he displayed last year (18-4, 2.87, WHIP 1.35).


The View From The Top (The Manager's Column)

Scoring twelve runs in five games (excluding Sunday) is not going to cut it, even with our pitchers. If only we had a true homerun hitter... every time we hit a tater, it feels like a fluke.

Meanwhile, there'll be a few changes to the lineup. Dave Powell is a great pure hitter, but he can't hit for extra bases or take an extra base anymore, so he drops to sixth. Russ Roderick moves to third on the expectation that he'll start hitting some doubles any day now. Finally, Chris Wayman will be batting second, moving his .347 average and .427 on-base up from the sixth slot.

The bullpen had some hiccups last week that concern me, too. Justin Randolph has given up six runs in his last 2 2/3 innings, but John Jahnke is working a 7 1/3 inning scoreless streak. Some role changes may be in order soon.

Lloyd Mitchell will be off the DL tomorrow, so Rudy Olson will be returning to Winston-Salem just when he was starting to get comfortable. That big hit he got on Sunday was his second this year, so after starting out 0 for 12 with six whiffs, he ends with a 2 for 4 run.

You hate to start a road trip when you're struggling, but on the bright side, we're 7-1 so far against the teams we'll be visiting. So the next ten days wille either be a great turnaround or absolutely brutal... wish us luck!