The Chicago Docs had high hopes when Albert Pujols retired from Major League Baseball and joined the team in the Baseball Maelstrom. But after 8 games with the team, Pujols was hitting just .188 with just one extra-base hit (a double), an RBI, and a walk. That changed today. Pujols reached on an error and scored in the 2nd, but followed that with a solo homerun and doubles in each of his next two at bats against Los Angeles Dynamos starter Don Drysdale. Chicago Docs starter Orel Hershiser carried a 5-2 lead into the 6th, but Frank Robinson homered with 2 on and 2 out to tie the game. The Dynamos took advantage of a couple of Roy Oswalt walks in the 8th to take a 7-5 lead. Pujols faced LA closer Goose Gossage with a runner on and one out in the 9th, but grounded into a double play to end the game. Los Angeles improved to 12-12, while Chicago fell to 8-16.

Chicago @ Los Angeles – 4/25/22

Gaylord Perry allowed just 2 runs and 7 hits in 7 innings, striking out 4, and Cal Ripken provided the offense as the Boston Splinters topped the Detroit Rockets 7-2. Perry carried a 2-1 lead into the 5th against David Cone when Harmon Killebrew hit a bases-loaded Sac Fly and Ripken followed with a 2-run double to break things open. Ripken added another RBI in the 8th. Teammate Carlton Fisk also hit his 5th homer of the season. Cone allowed 6 runs and 10 hits in 6 innings in the losing effort. Boston extended their lead in the American League and is now 13-9. Detroit fell to 12-11. Yesterday’s game was rained out and will be made up tomorrow.

Detroit @ Boston – 4/25/22

Los Angeles Dynamos starter Greg Maddux struggled against the Chicago Docs. Known for his control, Maddux hit Sammy Sosa with a pitch to lead off the 2nd inning. Sosa scored on a Troy Tulowitzki single later in the inning. Tulowitzki led off the 5th inning with a triple, scoring on Jeff Kent’s RBI single. Maddux then walked Todd Helton and allowed a single to Pete Rose to load the bases before walking Barry Bonds to walk in a run. Overall, Maddux allowed 5 runs in 6 innings, allowing 9 hits. Docs starter Curt Schilling also allowed 9 hits, but LA could only plate 3 runs thanks to poor base running. Sammy Sosa threw out Joe Morgan at the plate in the 1st inning, and Jim Edmonds doubled up Eddie Mathews on a flyout in the 5th. Tom Glavine allowed just one unearned run in relief for Los Angeles, while Kent Tekulve and Billy Wagner teamed up for a scoreless 8th and 9th for Chicago. Wagner earned his 7th save of the season. The loss drops Los Angeles to 11-12, while Chicago improves to 8-15, snapping their 4-game losing streak.

Chicago @ Los Angeles – 4/24/22

The Official Baseball Maelstrom All-Star Ballot has been released. With a league comprised of three teams of Hall of Fame players in each league and a team of greats not in the Hall, the All-Star teams are sure to be stacked. But fans are anxious to see the American League face the National League for the first time since the season began. Festivities are expected to begin with the Baseball Maelstrom Homerun Derby. Fans interested in helping to choose the starters can find the ballot here:

https://forms.gle/TSAD9J1wkXzHzdzYA

Heavy rain has postponed today’s game at Fenway Park between the Detroit Rockets and the Boston Splinters. The teams have been battling for 1st place in the American League as the first half of the season approaches. Boston is currently in 1st place by half a game with a 12-9 record. Detroit is 12-10. The Oakland Jacks are close behind at 11-11. The game has been rescheduled for Tuesday (April 26th), which was a scheduled off-day for both teams.

The St. Louis Wizards and Houston Hoots put on a power display in the Astrodome. The teams combined for 28 runs and 40 hits in a game where neither starter Carl Hubbell nor Randy Johnson could get past the 5th inning. The teams traded leads and homers throughout the game. Orlando Cepeda led the way for the Wizards, going 4 for 5 with 2 homers, but Houston’s Ryne Sandberg had the last laugh. The Wizards took a 12-9 lead into the 8th when Jesse Haines allowed a Jeff Bagwell homerun and an RBI single with 2 outs. St. Louis brought in closer Bruce Sutter with 2 men on, but Sutter walked Duke Snider and allowed an RBI single to Arky Vaughan that tied the game. Sandberg followed with a grand slam to give Houston the 16-12 lead. Burleigh Grimes pitched a shaky 9th, putting 2 men on with 1 out before Houston turned to closer Lee Smith, who worked out of the jam for his 6th save. It was Sutter’s 1st blown save of the season. St. Louis is still 18-5 but has lost 2 of their last 3 games to Houston. Houston improved to 9-14.

St. Louis @ Houston – 4/24/22

Oakland Jacks catcher Bill Dickey took advantage of his starting spot in the lineup for the resting Mickey Cochrane. Dickey doubled in his first three at-bats, driving in 3 and scoring twice against New York Swats starter Hal Newhouser. The Jacks scored 5 in the 2nd inning to set the pace. Teammate George Sisler became the first player to triple twice in a game. Meanwhile, Jacks starter Whitey Ford allowed 4 runs in 7 innings to pick up his 2nd win. Things got interesting in the 9th when Oakland reliever Jim Kaat allowed two 2-out singles. Closer Mariano Rivera allowed another, scoring a run before striking out Jimmie Foxx to end the game. Oakland topped the Swats 8-5, handing them their 4th straight loss and dropping them to 9-14. Oakland has now won 3 straight to improve to 11-11.

New York @ Oakland – 4/24/22

Houston Hoots starter Phil Niekro allowed 7 hits in the first two innings before settling down, but that was all the St. Louis Wizards needed. Niekro allowed a 2-run homer in the 2nd to Orlando Cepeda, his 2nd of the season. Three batters later, Ted Simmons added a 2-run double. Those 4 runs held up with Wizards ace Steve Carlton on the mound. Carlton allowed a run in the 1st and a solo homer to Gary Carter in the 8th, but just 5 hits total, while striking out 9 to pick up his 4th win. The Wizards improved to 18-4, while Houston fell to 8-14. Bruce Sutter pitched a perfect 9th for his league-leading 7th save.

Houston @ St. Louis – 4/23/22

Oakland Jacks starter Mike Mussina faced his 2nd straight New York Swats train and once again came out on top. In his last start, it was Walter Johnson. This time, he topped Nolan Ryan in an even more impressive performance. Mussina hurled his 1st shutout of the season, a complete game, allowing 7 hits while striking out 7. New York threatened in the 8th when Wade Boggs hit a one-out single, and Ty Cobb followed with a double. Moose struck out Babe Ruth and got Jimmie Foxx to ground out to end the inning. Swats starter Ryan was nearly as good, allowing a solo homer to Minnie Miñoso in the 3rd. Oakland was poised to score in the 2nd when they loaded the bases with no outs, but Hank Greenberg struck out, and Nellie Fox grounded into a double-play. Both starters went the distance, and both allowed 7 hits and struck out 7. Oakland improved to 10-11 with the 1-0 win, while New York fell to 9-13.

Oakland @ New York – 4/23/22

Chicago Docs starter Rick Reuschel allowed 3 early runs before settling down against the Los Angeles Dynamos. The real story was the dominating game by Sandy Koufax. Koufax hurled a 2-hit shutout, striking out 8. It was the 2nd straight shutout for the lefty ace. Reuschel allowed just 3 runs, 2 of them earned, in 7 innings of work for the Docs. Docs reliever Roy Oswalt had a rough outing, allowing 6 runs and 3 homers before being pulled. Two of those homers came from Eddie Mathews. LA topped Chicago 9-0 with 16 hits. Joe Morgan and Johnny Mize both went 4 for 5. The Dynamos improved to 11-11 with the win, their 3rd straight, while Chicago fell to a league-worst 7-15 with their 4th straight loss.

Los Angeles @ Chicago – 4/23/22