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Flyers Weekly, Volume XXIV, Issue 28 - September 27, 1971

After splitting the pair of games with Jacksonville, the Flyers still hold a slim one game lead over the Ospreys entering the final week of play. Three crucial games at Jacksonville begin today, then an off day before the final series of three at Miami.


Last Week's Results

Sept 20 - at ATL - W 8-0

Christopher Horan (7 IP, 4 H, 1 BB, 2 K) will never forget his first big-league victory, as not only does he pitch seven shutout innings but also scores the first two Flyers runs after being hit by a pitch and reaching base on one of Atlanta's four errors. Roger Coomes (1 IP, 1 K) and Chad Williams (1 IP, 2 H) finish off the shutout after a six-run Flyers 8th, including a three-run double by Mike Weber. Jack Lowe is hit by a pitch in the 9th; he is out for the remainder of the season with a broken hand.

W - Horan (1-1)

After the game, the team places Jack Lowe on the 60-day DL and purchases C Matt Thompson [4/2/3] (.269 in 182 AB at A-ball) from Single-A Columbus.

Sept 21 - at ATL - W 7-2

Chris Wayman (3 for 5, 3B, R), Weber (2 for 3, 2B, R) and Valentine Stephens (1 for 4, HR) each drive in two runs, while Matt Kirk (3 for 5, CS) scores twice, finally giving Bill Morgan his fifteenth win, tied for tops in the Eastern Division.

W - Morgan (15-6)
HR - Stephens (12)

Elsewhere, Jacksonville sweeps their two-game series at Norfolk, staying just one game behind the Flyers.

Sept 22 - vs JAX - L 1-3

Ospreys starter George Russell (W, 16-5, 7 1/3 IP, 1 R, 6 H, 2 BB, 6 K) outduels Matt Halstead (6 2/3 IP, 2 R, 1 ER, 7 H, 2 K), though Weber's wild throw to second on a stolen base attempt with two out in the 7th leads to an unearned run. Stephens drives in the sole Flyers tally with a double in the 4th.

L - Halstead (13-4)

Sept 23 - vs JAX - W 7-4

Stephens hits a pair of two-run doubles, while Dale Francis (2 for 4, 2 R), Dave Powell (2 for 4, R) and Russ Roderick (2 for 4, 2 2B, R, RBI) also get two hits apiece. Keith Becker (5 IP, 3 R, 6 H, 5 K) allows two solo shots; Roger Coomes (1 IP) enters with two on and no outs in the 9th to earn his second save, matching his career high.

W - Becker (13-8)
SV - Coomes (2)

Sept 24 - vs MIA - L 3-8

Skipper Jeremy McGrath's ejection in the 5th fails to inspire the bullpen of Jahnke (1 IP, 3 R, 4 H) and Randolph (3 IP, 2 R, 1 H, 1 BB, 2 K) to keep the Meteors from scoring five runs in the final four frames. Bud Fox (5 IP, 3 R, 8 H, 3 K) allows a leadoff single in his first four innings of work, while the Flyers manage just six hits, two by Roderick (2 for 3, RBI).

L - Fox (9-7)

Sept 25 - vs MIA - W 11-7

Mike Sutton goes 3 for 3 with three doubles, scoring three runs and driving in five, while Stephens hits 2 for 3 with three runs and Roderick goes 2 for 4 with an RBI and two runs. Every Flyers position player gets one of the team's fourteen hits on the night. Christopher Horan (4 2/3 IP, 4 R, 7 H, 2 BB, 1 K) cannot quite go five, so Chad Williams (1 1/3 IP) earns his second career win, the first since his original stint with Carolina in 1964. Bill Frazier (0 IP, 3 R, 1 H, 2 BB) does not find mop-up work to his liking, walking two and then giving up a three-run homer in the 9th, throwing just two strikes (including the homer) in eleven pitches.

W - Williams (1-0)

Sept 26 - vs MIA - L 0-6

The Flyers manage just three hits off Meteors' starter George Lair (W, 9-13, 9 IP, 3 H, 2 BB, 1 K), while Morgan (5 IP, 3 R, 2 H, 6 BB, 4 K), Thorn (0 IP, 1 R, 1 H) and Jahnke (2/3 IP, 1 R, 2 H) give up a five-run 6th.

L - Morgan (15-7)

Last week: 4 - 3
This month: 12 - 12
Overall: 94 - 62, 1st, +1 on Jacksonville (Magic Number: 6)


Who's Hot

Russ Roderick
Last 8 games: 10-27 (.370), 0 HR, 5 RBI

Valentine Stephens
Last 7 games: 8-25 (.320), 2 HR, 8 RBI

Who's Not

Alan Bruns
Last 5 games: 2-13 (.154), 0 HR, 2 RBI

Bud Fox
Last 3 games: 0-3, 8.25 ERA, 12 IP

Bill Morgan
Last 3 games: 1-2, 5.40 ERA, 15 IP


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

A three-hit shutout is not exactly the note I wanted to strike heading into Jacksonville... but what can you do?

Talk about a critical series... If we win two out of three, we'll have a two game lead with three to play... but if they win two out of three, it'll be all tied up.

Did you know that 94 wins ties the best Carolina record ever? The 1954 Flyers went 94-68 before losing a one-game playoff at Norfolk.

Overall, I like our chances... wish us luck!