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Flyers Weekly, Volume XXIV, Issue 21 - August 9, 1971

After sweeping Atlanta and being swept in Tampa, the Flyers are now three games in back of Jacksonville. The club visits Atlanta for four and Miami for three before returning home next week.


Last Week's Results

Aug 2 - vs ATL - W 3-0

Bud Fox (7 IP, 2 H, 2 BB, 3 K), George Thorn (2/3 IP, 1 H) and Justin Randolph (1 1/3 IP) combine to three-hit the Flames, while Dale Francis goes 2 for 4 with a double, scoring twice.

W - Fox (4-3)
SV - Randolph (1)

Aug 3 - vs ATL - W 5-2

A fifty-one minute rain delay cannot douse the Flyers bats, as four of their thirteen hits come in a three-run 8th that breaks a two-all tie. Matt Kirk (2 for 5, R, 2 RBI) and Alan Bruns (2 for 2, R, RBI) are two of the five Carolina starters that get a pair of hits on the night, while Thorn (2 IP, 1 BB, 3 K) strikes out the side in the 7th and pitches an uneventful 8th to earn the win.

W - Thorn (4-0)
SV - Hodgkins (28)

Aug 4 - vs ATL - W 15-3

A very successful Batting Glove Day for the Flyers, who put up four in the 1st, two in the 3rd, four in the 5th and five in the 7th to finish their sweep of the Flames. Every Flyers position player collects one of the team's twenty hits, led by Jack Lowe (3 for 5, HR, 4 RBI), Mike Weber (3 for 5, HR, 3 RBI) and Alan Bruns (3 for 4, 2B, 2 R, 2 RBI). Bill Morgan's (6 IP, 3 R, 2 ER, 6 H, 2 BB, 8 K) twelfth win of the year ties him with Tampa's Derrick Real (12-4) for the most in the division.

W - Morgan (12-4)
HR - Kirk (11), Weber (13), Lowe (1)

Aug 5 - OFF

Aug 6 - at TAM - L 0-1 (12)

A sellout crowd of 41,952 at Teflon Field sees an old-fashioned pitcher's duel between Matt Halstead (8 IP, 2 H, 3 K) and Tampa's Don Tapper (7 IP, 6 H, 1 BB) end in a draw, then Kevin Hodgkins (2/3 IP, 1 R, 3 H) gives up three singles in the 12th for his sixth loss of the year.

L - Hodgkins (3-6)

After the game, Chris Wayman is activated from the DL, and Darrel Robinson is demoted to Winston-Salem after hitting 6 of 29 (.207) since July 1.

Aug 7 - at TAM - L 5-8

Though the Flyers score four in the top of the 7th to tie the game at five, Justin Randolph (1 2/3 IP, 3 R, 4 H, 2 BB, 2 K) allows two Tomahawks to score in the bottom half of the 7th and another in the 8th for the second straight bullpen loss. Carolina manages just five hits, compared to twelve for Tampa. Francis goes 0 for 4 with two whiffs, snapping his hitting streak at nineteen games.

L - Randolph (9-4)

Aug 8 - at TAM - L 4-5

Bud Fox (4 IP, 5 R, 8 H, 1 BB, 3 K) is hit hard, and Robin Houston (1 2/3 IP, 1 H, 1 K) leaves in the 6th with back pain as the Tomahawks edge the Flyers for the three-game sweep. Chris Wayman goes 2 for 4 with a run and two RBIs, and Alan Bruns leads off the 7th with his first big-league homerun in 307 career at-bats, but Tampa pitchers Brett Thomas (W, 9-6, 8 IP, 4 R, 9 H, 6 K) and Vince Morgan (SV, 19, 1 IP) do not allow another Carolina baserunner in the final three frames.

L - Fox (4-4)
HR - Bruns (1)

Robin Houston, diagnosed with back spasms, is put on the DL for an estimated seven week recovery. Leftie Bob Lamb [5/10/2] (1.73 in 26 IP at AAA, WHIP 0.92) is purchased from Winston-Salem to take Houston's spot.

Last week: 3 - 3
This month: 4 - 3
Overall: 65 - 46, 2nd, -3 of Jacksonville


Who's Hot

Alan Bruns
Last 6 games: 9-17 (.529), 1 HR, 4 RBI

Mike Weber
Last 5 games: 7-20 (.350), 1 HR, 5 RBI

Jack Lowe
Last 5 games: 6-17 (.353), 1 HR, 4 RBI

Matt Halstead
Last 4 games: 3-0, 0.67 ERA, 27 IP

Bud Fox
Last 4 games: 2-1, 2.63 ERA, 24 IP

Who's Not

Russ Roderick
Last 6 games: 4-25 (.160), 0 HR, 2 RBI


A Closer Look - Carolina

Carolina pitchers rank second in ERA (3.50) and third in both opponent's average (.255) and runs allowed (445). Matt Halstead (10-3, 2.33, WHIP 1.07), Keith Becker (7-6, 3.73, WHIP 1.11) and Bill Morgan (12-4, 3.86, WHIP 1.21) are still cruising along, while Bud Fox (4-4 in 12 GS, 3.33, WHIP 1.31) has kept the game close in most of his starts. John Jahnke (1.60 in 67 2/3 IP, WHIP 1.11) and George Thorn (1.71 in 58 IP, WHIP 1.16) have been the stars of the pen; Kevin Hodgkins (3-6, 28 SV, 9 BS, 4.18, WHIP 1.34) leads the league in both saves and blown saves.

The Flyers rank second in batting (.276) but fifth in scoring (536). A look at the regular lineup, now that everybody is healthy again:

CF Matt Kirk (.306, 11 HR, 47 RBI)
2B Russ Roderick (.307, 3 HR, 45 RBI)
C Mike Weber (.306, 13 HR, 55 RBI)
RF Dale Francis (.271, 12 HR, 55 RBI)
LF Steven Robinson (.307, 8 HR, 69 RBI)
SS Dave Powell (.302, 4 HR, 51 RBI)
1B Chris Wayman (.316, 4 HR, 35 RBI)
3B Alan Bruns (.333, 1 HR, 21 RBI)


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

Not a great start to this road trip, especially by the bullpen. If this keeps up, you should expect some big changes when Coomes returns off the DL in about three weeks.

Robin Houston's injury does not help either. He's just the mop-up man, but he has thrown well in that role all year long, posting a 3.19 ERA in 59 1/3 innings with a WHIP 1.18. Having a second lefty in the pen could be beneficial, though...

Chris Wayman has hit 3 for 7 with three RBIs in the two games since his return. Maybe I'll have to move him up in the order...

Personally, I think a trip to 36-75 Atlanta is just what the doctor ordered... wish us luck!