Category: POPs S2

Schmidt’s HR the Difference as Wizards Win 5th Straight

Los Angeles Dynamos starter, Tom Seaver, made one mistake, and Mike Schmidt took him deep for a 2-run home run in the 2nd inning. Seaver would finish with a complete game, allowing 8 hits while striking out 11. But he also picked up his 2nd loss of the season, as the St. Louis Wizards topped LA 2-1. Steve Carlton was just as good, allowing 7 hits and striking out 6. The sole Wizards run came on a Hank Aaron solo homer. Aaron came to the plate in the 9th with 2 men on and 2 outs, but Rich Gossage came in and struck him out to end the game. Aaron finished 3 for 4. The Wizards have now won 5 straight after a slow start to get to 6-6. Despite a 1.82 ERA, Carton is just 2-2.

Wizards @ Dynamos – 4/13/23

Boston 1st to 10 Wins on 10th Inning Walkoff

Pedro Martínez and Gaylord Perry matched each other for 9 innings, but in the end, the Boston Splinters became the 1st team to 10 wins with a 10th-inning walk-off to beat the New York Swats 3-2. Martínez allowed RBI singles in the 4th to Carlton Fisk and Alan Trammell, but allowed just 2 other hits in his 9 innings of work, striking out 8. Perry struck out 9, but allowed 10 hits, including an RBI single to Harry Heilmann in the 8th to tie the game 2-2. New York left runners on 2nd and 3rd with no outs in that inning when Joe DiMaggio grounded back to Perry, Paul Molitor struck out, and Roberto Alomar grounded out to end the inning. In the 10th, Satchel Paige walked Wade Boggs to lead it off. Tris Speaker followed with a liner into the corner that took an odd bounce to score Boggs. The loss drops New York to 3-9.

Swats @ Splinters – 4/13/23

Marichal Shuts Out Docs, Hoots Take Over 1st Place

In his 1st start, Houston Hoots starter Juan Marichal allowed just 2 runs but lost 2-1 against the Chicago Docs. This time, he wasn’t going to let that happen again. Marichal allowed just 3 hits, shutting out the Docs 13-0. He didn’t allow a hit after the 2nd inning, and just two baserunners after that inning. Rick Reushel struggled against the Hoots. The Hoots batted around in the 3rd inning, scoring 5 runs. In the 6th, Reuschel bobbled one and then allowed back-to-back singles to end his night. Orel Hershiser took over and finished a rough inning, allowing home runs to Jeff Bagwell and Eddie Mathews. Houston notched 17 hits in the game. Bagwell finished 2 for 3 with 2 walks and 3 RBI. Six of Houston’s regular starters are hitting over .300. The victory moved the Hoots into 1st place in the National League.

Hoots @ Docs – 4/13/23

Ryan Tames Rockets, Improves to 3-0

Nolan Ryan improved to 3-0, allowing just 6 hits and 2 runs while striking out 9 to top the Detroit Rockets 7-2. Hank Greenberg hit a 3-run home run off David Cone in the 2nd inning that proved to be the difference. Cone allowed 4 runs on 6 hits in 7 innings. Eddie Collins added a 2-run triple in the 8th off Luis Tiant. Oakland won despite Reggie Jackson and Lou Gehrig being on the bench. Both players are expected to return to the lineup tomorrow. Tony Oliva was 2 for 5 in his 1st start, while Jim Rice was 1 for 5 with 2 RBI. The Rockets started the season hot, but are now 6-7.

Jacks @ Rockets – 4/13/23

Home Runs Ground Rockets

Four home runs were all the Oakland Jacks needed to come from behind and top the Detroit Rockets 11-8. Jimmie Foxx broke a scoreless tie in the 4th with a solo homer off Frank Tanana. Detroit tied the game 1-1 in the bottom of the 4th, but Hank Greenberg hit a 3-run shot, helping Oakland take a 5-1 lead into the 6th. Dick Allen and Mark McGwire went back-to-back for the Rockets against Lefty Grove to cut the lead, and 4 straight base hits in the 7th chased Grove and gave Detroit an 8-6 lead. But Dan Quisenberry couldn’t hold it, blowing his 2nd save of the season. Mickey Cochrane and Reggie Jackson went back-to-back for the Jacks against Quisenberry in the 9th to take an 11-8 lead. Mariano Rivera pitched a perfect 9th for his 2nd save of the season. Oakland is now 5-7, while Detroit has dropped to 6-6.

Jacks @ Rockets – 4/12/23

Docs Overcome 7 Errors, Top Hoots 9-8

The Chicago Docs overcame 7 errors, topping the Houston Hoots in the 10th inning with a walk-off double by Keith Hernandez. Cole Hamels had one bad inning, allowing 5 runs in the 4th, most thanks to a bases-loaded double by Rogers Hornsby. Down 6-0, Chicago struck back against Pete Alexander, with Joey Votto and Sammy Sosa hitting back-to-back solo homers in the bottom of the 4th. The Docs then put up 7 straight base hits with 2 outs in the 5th to take an 8-6 lead. Sloppy play nearly cost Chicago, who made an error in each of the last 5 innings, but only led to two unearned runs. While Jim Edmonds made one of those errors, he also completed two flyball double-plays, throwing out runners to end the 6th and 7th innings. Billy Wagner couldn’t complete the save in the 9th, allowing one of those earned runs on an Eddie Mathews single that tied the game in the 9th. But facing Jesse Haines, Hernandez ended it with his double with two men on. Houston and Chicago are now tied for 1st in the National League at 7-5. Sosa finished 3 for 5 with a homer, double, and 2 RBI. Buster Posey was 4 for 5 to increase his average to .370. Dave Bancroft went 4 for 5 in the losing effort.

Hoots @ Docs – 4/12/23

Wizards Win 4th Straight After Rough Start

After a 1-6 start to the season, the St. Louis Wizards have won 4 straight. Today they completed a sweep of the hot Chicago Docs. Robin Roberts took a 3-hitter into the 8th before allowing home runs to Buster Posey and Barry Bonds, but still picked up his 1st win of the season with a 5-3 victory. Dwight Gooden had one bad inning, but it was enough. Gooden walked 4 straight batters to start the 5th, then allowed back-to-back doubles to Stan Musial and Larry Walker. He still struck out 7 and allowed just 6 hits in 8 innings. Rich Gossage earned his 1st save of the season for the Wizards. Joey Votto doubled in his 1st Baseball Maelstrom at-bat, and finished 1 for 4. The loss drops Chicago to 6-5 and 2nd place in the National League behind the Houston Hoots.

Docs @ Wizards – 4/11/23

Rockets, Swats Combine for 26 runs in Slugfest

Miguel Cabrera was 3 for 4 with 2 home runs, 2 walks, and 6 RBI, as the Detroit Rockets topped the New York Swats in a 17-9 slugfest. With a tired bullpen, Swats starter Bullet Rogan went 7 innings, allowing 14 runs on 14 hits. Roger Clemens allowed 5 earned runs in 7 innings for Detroit. Babe Ruth got the New York offense started with a 3-run homer in the 1st inning, but Detroit struck back in the 2nd and 3rd innings. Bobby Veach was 2 for 4 with 2 doubles and 4 RBI for Detroit. American League teams are hitting near .300 through 11 games. Detroit is now 6-5, while New York has dropped to 3-8. The teams also combined for 30 hits and committed two errors each.

Rockets @ Swats – 4/11/23

Gibson Keeps Houston Pitching Run Going

Bob Gibson started the season lasting just 6 innings, allowing 7 runs. Gibson now has two straight complete games. Today, he allowed just 5 hits and struck out 9 in a 7-1 Houston Hoots victory against Don Drysdale and the Los Angeles Dynamos. This is the 10th straight game , after that Opening Day start, that Houston starters have lasted at least 8 innings. After scoring a run in the 1st, LA only had one other inning where they had a runner in scoring position, and that was when Gibson hit Ron Santo and Cristóbal Torriente back-to-back in the 6th. Willie Stargell led the offense, going 2 for 3 with a double and his 4th home run of the season, driving in Houston’s 1st 3 runs in the 5th. Ernie Lombardi was 3 for 4 with a homer filling in for Ted Simmons. With the win, Houston is now 7-4, while Los Angeles has fallen to 4-7.

Hoots @ Dynamos – 4/11/23

Jacks End Splinters’ Winning Streak at 9

The Oakland Jacks ended the Boston Splinters’ winning streak at 9 games, with a 13-4 win. Bob Lemon allowed 3 runs on 8 hits in 8 innings. He also struck out 7. Despite this, Lemon’s control struggles continued, as he walked 8 batters. The Jacks hitters were relentless against Dennis Eckersley, who allowed 9 runs on 12 hits in just 5 innings. Walter Johnson retired 10 straight hitters in relief before walking in 2 runs in a 4-run 9th. Hank Greenberg led the offense, going 3 for 5 with 3 RBI. Carlton Fisk was 2 for 4 with his 1st home run of the season in the losing effort. Boston entered the day riding a 9-game winning streak after losing on Opening Day. They still lead the American League with a 9-2 record. Oakland is 4-7.

Jacks @ Splinters – 4/11/23