Saturday, July 29, 2017

Games of Saturday, Aug. 16

Seattle               66    47       .584     ---
Chicago             64     46      .581      0.5
Kansas City       58     55      .513      8
California          56     58      .491    10.5
Cleveland          53     60      .469    13
Montreal           53     61       .465   13.5
Philadelphia      53     61       .465   13.5
San Diego         50     63       .442   16


Sunday's games
Seattle (Marshall) at Montreal (Renko)
Chicago (John) at California (Wright)

Seattle 9, Montreal 7: John Donaldson hit a three-run double and Wayne Comer drove in two runs and scored twice himself as the Pilots prevailed in a slugfest. Steve Barber got the win despite allowing five runs in five innings. John O'Donoghue got the last out with the tying run on second for the save.  Gary Waslewski took the loss.

Cleveland 9, Philadelphia 3: Ken Harrelson homered twice and Luis Tiant struck out nine Phillies in a five-hitter. The game was scoreless going into the bottom of the fifth, when the Phillies scored three runs on some bloopers and shoddy Cleveland fielding, but the Tribe responded with five in the top of the sixth, with the Phillies committing a pair of errors. Jeff James took the loss for Philadelphia. 

Philadelphia 9. Cleveland 6: Cookie Rojas hit a three-run homer in the bottom of the first and John Briggs hit a three-run homer in the bottom of the ninth as the Phillies salvaged a split of the doubleheader. Ken Harrelson went 3-for-4 with a double and a walk; he scored a run and drove in one. Bill Wilson was the winner with one perfect inning of relief; Stan Williams, working his fourth inning of relief, was the loser.

San Diego 4, Kansas City 0: Joe Niekro allowed five hits in eight innings for the Padres, while Larry Stahl went 4-for-5 with a run scored and two RBIs and Jose Arcia scored twice. Niekro walked four and struck out two. Mike Hedlund took the loss.

San Diego 6, Kansas City 2: Dick Kelley took a shutout into the ninth inning and finished with a six-hitter. Al Ferrara hit a pair of doubles for the Padres, who scored three runs in the first and three more in the fifth. John Sipin (Padres) and Jim Campanis (Royals) were injured, each will miss two days and remain on the roster. The reeling Royals have lost six in a row.

Chicago 4, California 1 (11 innings): Buddy Bradford hit a three-run homer off Eddie Fisher in the 11th to lift the White Sox to the win. Bill Melton hit a pair of doubles and scored twice, once in the seventh to tie the game and ahead of Bradford's blast. Andy Messersmith fannsed 12 in nine innings, allowing four hits in nine innings. Jim Fregosi homered off Gary Bell in the fourth for the only California run; Bell went six innings and allowed three hits and struck out six. Carlos May came off the inactive list, replacing Angel Bravo; May was promptly injured again (six days) and returns to the inactive list, with Bravo returning to the active roster.

Player of the Day: Ken Harrelson, Cleveland

Tuesday, July 25, 2017

Games of Friday, Aug. 15

Seattle               65    47       .580     ---
Chicago             63     46      .574      0.5
Kansas City       58     53      .527      6.5
California          56     57      .496      9.5
Montreal           53     60       .469   12.5
Cleveland          52     59      .468    12.5
Philadelphia      52     60       .464   13
San Diego         48     63       .432   16.5


Saturday's games
Seattle (Barber) at Montreal (Waslewski)
Cleveland (Tiant and Paul) at Philadelphia (James and Champion), 2
San Diego (Niekro and Kelley) at Kansas City (Rooker and Hedlund), 2
Chicago (Bell) at California (Messersmith)

Seattle 5, Philadelphia 2: John Gelnar allowed one run on three hits in seven innings, striking out seven. Ray Oyler hit a two-run homer in the second inning off loser Woody Fryman, and Tommy Harper added a solo shot off Lowell Palmer in the eighth. Larry Hisle homered off reliever Diego Segui. Jim Pagliaroni was injured for Seattle and must miss the next two days. After the game, the Pilots reactivated Don Mincher and Merritt Ranew and deactivated Dick Simpson and Ron Clark; Simpson and Clark are eligible to return Aug. 26.

Chicago 3, Kansas City 0: Billy Wynne walked the first three men of the game and still survived to throw a seven-hit, five-walk shutout. The Royals had at least two baserunners in each of the first four innings and couldn't push a run across. Bobby Knoop had a two-run double in the sixth inning.

Player of the Day: Billy Wynne, Chicago

Sunday, July 23, 2017

Games of Thursday, Aug. 14

Seattle               64     47       .577     ---
Chicago             62     46      .574      0.5
Kansas City       58     52      .527      5.5
California          56     57      .496      9
Montreal           53     60       .469   12
Cleveland          52     59      .468    12
Philadelphia      52     59       .468   12
San Diego         48     63       .432   16


Friday's games
Seattle (Gelnar) at Philadelphia (Fryman)
Chicago (Wynne) at Kansas City (Bunker)

Montreal 5, Cleveland 4: The Expos scored three unearned runs in the seventh inning to tie the game, then got a walk-off single from Ron Brand in the ninth. The Indians scored three runs in the first, highlighted by a two-run homer by Ken Harrelson, and made it 4-0 after two. Steve Hargan shut out the Expos for five innings before Coco Laboy's homer led off the sixth. Don Shaw picked up the win and Dick Ellsworth took the loss in relief.

Seattle 5, Philadelphia 4: The Pilots got two-run homers from Tommy Davis and Greg Goossen to overtake the Phillies. Dick Allen hit a three-run homer in the first off Gene Brabender, but Brabender then held the Phillies scoreless through the sixth, and the Pilots got two in the fourth off Grant Jackson and three more in the sixth. Jim Bouton, Mike Marshall and John O'Donoghue combined for three innings of three-hit, one-run relief.

Chicago 14, Kansas City 2: Bill Melton hit a three-run homer in the first inning and drove in two more in the ninth with a double as the White Sox batted around twice in routing the Royals. Melton went 4-for-5 with a walk and three runs scored. Walt Williams scored four runs, Luis Aparicio scored three and Pete Ward a pair. Gary Peters went seven innings for the win, and Roger Nelson took the loss.

California 7, San Diego 4: Billy Cowan's pinch-hit grand slam with two outs in the bottom of the ninth gave a Angels a dramatic comeback win. Clay Kirby had held the Angels to one run in eight innings, but he was relieved with two outs in the ninth after Rich Reichardt's second RBI triple of the game. Bill McCool gave up a double and two walks and gave way to Frank Reberger, who inherited a one-run lead. Cowan immediately homered. Hoyt Wilhelm got the win with a scoreless inning of relief. McCool takes the loss.

Player of the Day: Billy Cowan, California

Thursday, July 20, 2017

Games of Wednesday, Aug. 13

Seattle               63     47       .572     ---
Chicago             61     46      .570      0.5
Kansas City       58     51      .532      4.5
California          55     57      .491      9
Philadelphia      52     58       .472   11
Cleveland          52     58      .472    11
Montreal           52     60       .464   12
San Diego         48     62       .436   15


Thursday's games
Cleveland (Hargan) at Montreal (Waslewski)
Seattle (Brabender) at Philadelphia (Jackson)
Chicago (Peters) at Kansas City (Nelson)
San Diego (Kirby) at California (Murphy)

Cleveland 8, Montreal 5 (12 innings): Ray Fosse's pinch-hit grand slam off Larry Jaster lifted the Tribe to the win. Dick Ellsworth got the win with two innings of cliff hanging relief; he twice had the winning run on third base, once with one out, the other with no outs, and escaped without allowing the run. Hawk Harrelson homered and scored twice for Cleveland. Carroll Sembera of the Expos was demoted after the game and replaced on the roster by Dick Radatz; Sembera is eligible to return Aug. 24.

Chicago 7, Kansas City 4: The Royals were charged with five errors and failed to make numerous other plays. Gail Hopkins and Pete Ward hit consecutive homers in the first inning off Dick Drago. Mike Hedlund took the loss in relief; Gary Bell got the win with a save from Wilbur Wood. For the White Sox, Tommy McCraw (5 days) and Ken Berry (2 days) were both injured; McCraw will be deactivated and Angel Bravo added to the roster. McCraw is eligible to return Aug. 24.

Chicago 6, Kansas City 4 (10 innings): Luis Aparicio and Walt Williams each had two-out RBI singles in the 10th inning to lift the White Sox to the win. Three of Chicago's runs were unearned. Jack Hamilton got the win with two scoreless innings of relief, and Wilbur Wood threw a perfect ninth for the save. Williams went 3-for-6 with two doubles, a run and an RBI for the Sox.

Seattle 2, Philadelphia 1: Marty Pattin took a no-hitter into the eighth inning and Gus Gil hit a pair of sacrifice flies for Seattle. Dick Allen led off the eighth with a homer for the Phillies only hit of the game. Pattin walked one and struck out five in eight innings. Bob Locker pitched the ninth for the save.

Seattle 12, Philadelphia 2: George Brunet allowed two runs on five hits in eight innings, and the Pilots drew 11 walks. Tommy Harper scored three runs and stole a pair of bases; he was 3-for-5 with a walk. Steve Hovley singled twice, walked twice, stole a base, scored twice and drove in a pair. Jerry McNertney had a three-run double. Dick Allen homered for Philadelphia. Jerry Johnson took the loss. Deron Johnson (Phillies) was injured (10 days); he is deactivated and eligible to return Aug. 24. Cookie Rojas, recovered from his injury, returns from the inactive list early.

California 11, San Diego 1: The Angels peppered three Padres pitchers for 17 hits. Jay Johnstone went 4-for-5 with five RBIs, three runs, a homer and a double. Rudy May went the distance, allowing an unearned run on five hits.  Aurelio Rodriguez (three days) and Tom Egan (two days) were injured for the Angels; both will remain on the roster.

California 4, San Diego 3: The Angels scored two runs off Frank Reberger in the bottom of the ninth to get the doubleheader sweep. Reberger wild-pitched the tying run home after a leadoff triple by Jay Johnstone, then allowed a single, two walks and another single (by Joe Azcue) to end it. Johnstone went 3-for-5 for the game and threw a runner out at the plate. Bob Priddy got the win in relief. The Padres lost both Cito Caston and Nate Colbert for one day to injury; they will remain on the roster.

Player of the day: Jay Johnstone, California

Thursday, July 13, 2017

Game of Tuesday, Aug 12

Seattle               61     47       .564     ---
Chicago             59     46      .561      0.5
Kansas City       58     49      .542      2.5
California          53     57      .481      9
Philadelphia      52     57       .477     9.5
Montreal           52     59       .468   10.5
Cleveland          51     58      .468    10.5
San Diego         48     60       .444    13


Wednesday's games
Cleveland (McDowell) at Montreal (Wegener)
Seattle (Pattin and Brunet) at Philadelphia (Wise and Johnson), 2
Chicago (John and Horlen) at Kansas City (Drago and Butler), 2
San Diego (Santorini and Sisk) at California (May and McGlothlin), 2

Cleveland 8, Montreal 7 (15 innings): Lou Klimchock drove in the go-ahead run to end a back-and forth marathon. Larry Burchart threw 5.2 innings of one-hit shutout relief to earn the win, and Horacio Pina threw a perfect frame in the bottom of the 15th for the save; Claude Raymond, who allowed one run in four innings, took the loss. The Expos raked up six runs in the first five innings against Luis Tiant, but Jerry Robertson was stung for four runs in the fifth, including a two-run triple by Tony Horton. Horton hit a two-run homer in the ninth to put the Tribe ahead, but Mike Paul allowed doubles to Bob Bailey and Coco Laboy to tie the game in the bottom of the inning. Laboy also homered and drove in three runs. After the game the Expos demoted Raymond and activated Carroll Sembera; Raymond is eligible to return Aug. 23.

Player of the Day: Larry Burchart, Cleveland

Wednesday, July 12, 2017

Games of Sunday, Aug. 10

Seattle               61     47       .564     ---
Chicago             59     46      .561      0.5
Kansas City       58     49      .542      2.5
California          53     57      .481      9
Philadelphia      52     57       .477     9.5
Montreal           52     58       .473   10
Cleveland          50     58      .462    11
San Diego         48     60       .444    13


Monday's games
None

Tuesday's game
Cleveland (Tiant) at Montreal (Robertson)

California 7, Cleveland 6: Pinch-hitter Bill Voss opened the eighth with a walk and wound up scoring the go-ahead run on a passed ball, and relievers Hoyt Wilhelm and Ken Tatum made the lead stand up. Sandy Alomar and Jay Johnstone each scored a pair of runs in the first two innings as the Angels built a big lead, but the Indians scored four runs in the sixth to take a 6-5 lead off winner Andy Messersmith. Two of the Angels runs were unearned. Larry Burchart took the loss.

Montreal 5, Chicago 2: Steve Renko allowed two hits and one run in seven innings, and Ty Cline stole a pair of bases and scored twice for the Expos. Gary Sutherland and Coco Laboy each tripled for Montreal. Roy Face got the final two outs after allowing an inherited run to score for the save. Billy Wynne was the loser.

Philadelphia 4, San Diego 1: Woody Fryman allowed one run on nine hits in seven innings for the Phillies, and John Boozer threw two scoreless innings for the save. Tony Taylor singled and doubled, scoring a run and driving in one. The Padres' Walt Hriniak was injured (10 days) and is replaced on the roster by Gary Korb off the emergency list as the second catcher. Hriniak is eligible to return Aug 21. 

Seattle 7, Kansas City 2: Jim Pagliaroni hit a three-run homer in the fourth inning and Wayne Comer a grand slam in the seventh to power the Pilots. Steve Barber allowed one run in five innings for the win, and John Gelnar allowed one run in four innings for the save. Wally Bunker took the loss. Steve Hovley and Mike Hegan, who each drew a pair of walks, each scored twice; Pagliaroni went 3-for-4. The Royal' Pat Kelly was injured (eight days) and will be replaced on the roster by Buck Martinez; Kelly is eligible to retunr Aug. 21.

Player of the Day: Jim Pagliaroni, Seattle

Friday, July 7, 2017

Games of Saturday, Aug. 9

Chicago             59     45      .567      ---
Seattle               60     47       .561      0.5
Kansas City       58     48      .547      2
California          52     57       .477      9.5
Philadelphia      51     57       .472    10
Montreal           51     58       .468    10.5
Cleveland          50     57      .467     10.5
San Diego         48     59       .449    12.5


Sunday's games
California (Messersmith) at Cleveland (Williams)
Montreal (Renko) at Chicago (Wynne)
Kansas City (Bunker) at Seattle (Barber)
Philadelphia (Fryman) at San Diego (Niekro)

Chicago 9, Montreal 2: The White Sox drew seven walks in the first three innings off Gary Waslewski as they took a 6-0 lead. Gary Peters went the distance, allowing nine hits. Leadoff hitters Adolpho Phillips and Luis Aparicio each homered, singled, walked twice and scored twice, but only Aparicio stole a base.

Chicago 7, Montreal 3: Gail Hopkins homered and Pete Ward went 3-for-3 with a triple, two walks and two runs as the White Sox swept the Expos. Don Secrist relieved Joel Horlen in the sixth with the bases loaded and one out; the lefty got a double-play grounder, then threw three shutout innings for the save, allowing just one hit. Bill Stoneman took the loss.

California 1, Cleveland 0: Joe Azcue homered with two outs in the top of the ninth to break the scoreless duel between Tom Murphy and Sam McDowell, Ken Tatum entered in the bottom of the inning to induce a double play grounder to end it. Murphy allowed three hits in 8.1 innings, walking one and striking out three. McDowell allowed seven hits and one walk with nine strikeouts.

Philadelphia 5, San Diego 3: Dick Allen homered to start the Phillies' three-run second, and the visitors never trailed. Grant Jackson went eight innings for the win, allowing two runs on seven hits, one a homer by Al Ferrara. Bill Wilson allowed a run in the ninth but picked up the save. Clay Kirby was the losing pitcher.

Kansas City 7, Seattle 2: Pat Kelly and Mike Fiore homered to open the game for the Royals, and the Pilots never caught up. Roger Nelson allowed just one hit through the first six innings but didn't get an out in the seventh, but Dave Morehead got out of the jam. Lou Piniella and Jim Campanis each hit two-run doubles for the Royals.

Player of the Day: Pete Ward, Chicago