The Los Angeles Dynamos wasted no time in dominating Chicago Docs starter Curt Schilling, hitting 3 home runs in the 1st inning on their way to an 8-5 victory to close to within a game of the St. Louis Wizards. Eddie Mathews hit a 2-run homer to get things going, and then Johnny Mize and Chuck Klein hit back-to-back solo shots just two batters later. The Docs got 2 runs back in the bottom of the 1st off LA starter Don Sutton, but in the 3rd, Mize hit his 2nd homer of the game, a 2-run jack to extend the lead again. Frank Robinson hit LA’s 5th homer in the 4th, and they added another run in the 5th when Klein’s grounder scored Mize, who had reached on a triple. Chicago’s Jim Edmonds hit a 2-run homer off LA reliever Jim Bunning to make it 8-5, but that’s all they would get. Barry Bonds had a chance to be the hero when Goose Gossage allowed 3 singles in the 9th to load the bases, but Bonds grounded into a double play to end the game. Chicago dropped to 11-25.

Los Angeles @ Chicago – 5/11/22

The Boston Splinters scored a run in each of the first 4 innings, started by Ted Williams’ AL-leading 12th home run, but it was a 6-run, 3-homer 6th that sunk the Detroit Rockets’ chances of a 7th straight win and a series sweep. Detroit’s Mark McGwire hit a 3-run shot in the bottom of the 1st off Gaylord Perry, but that would be the only runs the Rockets would score until they scored a run in the 8th and 9th off reliever Lefty Grove. By then, the game was all but over. Detroit starter Dave Stieb couldn’t find his groove against the Splinter lineup, but was only down 4-3 heading into the 6th. Harmon Killebrew led off with a home run, and after Rickey Henderson singled, Tony Oliva hit another. Stieb didn’t help himself when he misplayed a dribbler with 2-outs. Cal Ripken Jr. followed with an RBI double, and Carlton Fisk hit the 3rd homer of the inning to finish him off. The 11-5 win improved Boston to 19-16, but they still trail Detroit, now 21-15. Ripken went 3 for 5 and drove in 3 runs in the game. Detroit’s Ichiro Suzuki was 3 for 5 to extend his hitting streak to 23 games.

Boston @ Detroit – 5/11/22

In what has become a common theme lately, the St. Louis Wizards found themselves playing from behind. The Houston Hoots scored 5 runs in the 3rd off starter John Smoltz thanks to 5 straight base hits. The Wizards got 3 runs back on back-to-back doubles from Larry Walker and Stan Musial in the bottom of the 3rd. Musial hit his league-leading 12th homer in the 5th and St. Louis scored another run in the 6th to close the Hoots lead to one run, but Gary Carter hit a solo homer in the 7th off reliever Fergie Jenkins to give Houston some breathing room. Lee Smith pitched a perfect 9th for his 10th save of the season, as Houston topped the Wizards 7-5. St. Louis’ lead in the National League is now just 1 1/2 games over LA. Houston’s Billy Williams was 4 for 5 with 2 RBI in the game. Bob Gibson did just enough, allowing the 5 St. Louis runs in 7 innings to pick up his 4th win. Houston improved to 16-20, while the Wizards fell to 23-13.

Houston @ St. Louis – 5/11/22

Oakland Jacks starter Bob Feller overcame some wildness and a 1st inning Babe Ruth homerun to top the New York Swats for just his 2nd win of the season. Feller allowed 3 runs on 7 hits, but walked 6 in 8 innings. George Brett’s 3rd inning grand slam off New York’s Bob Lemon would give the Jacks a lead that they wouldn’t give up. The 9-3 win is only Feller’s 2nd on the season, as Oakland improved to 16-19 with the win. The New York Swats fell to 15-21. Reggie Jackson was the only Oakland starter without a hit, as his slump continues.

Oakland @ New York – 5/11/22

After snapping a losing streak yesterday, the St. Louis Wizards were hopeful they were turning things around. But Houston’s Randy Johnson kept the Wizards scoreless through 5 innings, while St. Louis ace Steve Carlton struggled. Hank Aaron drew a walk on a questionable ball four call that nearly got Wizards skipper Tony LaRussa ejected to lead off the 2nd inning. Carlton seemed off his game the rest of the inning, allowing a single to Mike Schmidt, hitting Duke Snider with a pitch, and serving up a 2-run double to Billy Williams. Schmidt hit a 2-run homer in the next inning to give the Hoots a 5-0 lead. Johnson, the league leader in homers allowed, returned to form in the 6th and 7th, allowing homers to Chipper Jones, Pee Wee Reese, and Stan Musial. It was Musial’s NL-leading 11th home run. Hoyt Wilhelm held off the St. Louis rally, and Lee Smith pitched a scoreless 9th for his 9th save as Houston held on to win it 7-5. Carlton allowed all 7 runs in 7 innings and fell to 4-4. Aaron hit his 10 home run for the Hoots, who improved to 15-20. The Wizards are now 23-12, with just a 2-game lead over the surging LA Dynamos.

Houston @ St. Louis – 5/10/22

New York ace Nolan Ryan earned his 1st shutout of the season, allowing just 5 singles against the Oakland Jacks as the Swats won 10-0 close to within 1/2 game on the Jacks to get out of the American League cellar. But it was the New York defense who helped, turning 3 double-plays, one of them in a wild 6th inning that saw Ryan walk 4. Oakland’s Joe DiMaggio went 3 for 4 in the loss. Jacks starter Bert Blyleven allowed 10 hits and 4 runs in 7 innings, including Babe Ruth’s 9 homerun of the season. Ted Lyons had one inning of relief that he wishes he could forget, allowing 6 runs on 4 hits and 2 walks including a 3-run shot to Ken Griffey Jr. New York is just 15-20, while Oakland fell to 15-19.

Oakland @ New York – 5/10/22

Sandy Koufax continued his league dominance, especially his owning of Chicago, hurling a 2-hit shutout to lead the Los Angeles Dynamos to their 6th straight win. It was Koufax’s 3rd shutout of the season. His last 2-hitter was also against the Docs at Wrigley Field. Meanwhile, Los Angeles was efficient, scoring 5 runs on just 5 hits. Chicago starter Jerry Koosman allowed 3 runs on just 4 hits, one of them a solo homer to Johnny Bench, but picked up his 7th loss of the season. Reliever Roy Oswalt allowed a 2-run homer to Willie Mays in the 8th. Koufax struck out a season-high 9 en route to his league-leading 7th win. The win moved LA to within 2 1/2 games of St. Louis. Chicago fell to 11-24 with the loss. They’ll have a chance tomorrow to avoid the sweep.

Los Angeles @ Chicago – 5/10/22

Detroit starter David Cone held the Boston Splinters to 5 hits as the Rockets won a close game to increase their lead in the American League. Boston’s Jim Palmer became the latest pitcher that struggled against the Detroit offense. The Rockets had runners in scoring position in each of the first 4 innings, scoring a run in the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th innings. Cone kept the Splinters scoreless until the 5th when Harmon Killebrew hit a 2-run shot. A Dick Allen error allowed the tying run to score in the 6th, but Bobby Veach hit an RBI double in the 7th for Detroit to retake the lead. Palmer allowed 14 hits and 4 runs over 7 innings. Luis Tiant and Dan Quisenberry held Boston scoreless in the 8th and 9th. It was Quisenberry’s 1st save and dropped his ERA to 0.55. The win gives Detroit a 2 1/2 game lead over Boston in the American League. Ichiro Suzuki singled in the 3rd to extend his hitting streak to 22 games. Bill Freehan was 4 for 4 in the win.

Boston @ Detroit – 5/10/22

The Los Angeles Dynamos stayed hot, topping the Chicago Docs 7-4 to win their 5th straight and keep pace with the St. Louis Wizards in the National League. LA jumped out to a 4-0 lead against Chicago’s Orel Hershiser, scoring a run in the 1st and 3 runs in the 2nd, an inning made worse when Albert Pujols bobbled a sharp grounder. Chicago responded against Greg Maddux with 3 runs of their own, thanks to RBI singles by Willie Davis and Buster Posey. With 2 outs in the 5th, Chicago’s Troy Tulowitzki lined one up the middle that hit Maddux in the ankle. He exited the game and is expected to miss 1-2 weeks. LA opened up their lead in the 6th when Frank Robinson hit a 2-run homer. Goose Gossage struck out all 3 Docs he faced in the 9th for his 7th save. Los Angeles improved to 20-14 with the win, while the Chicago Docs fell to 11-23. LA pitchers struck out 12 while only walking 1. LA’s Eddie Mathews was 0 for 4 with a walk in his first start back from injury since April 27th.

Los Angeles @ Chicago – 5/9/22

Detroit extended their win streak to 5 games, becoming the first American League team to win 20 games, as the Rockets topped the Boston Splinters 8-3. Detroit lefty Frank Tanana allowed just 1 unearned run on 2 hits until the 8th inning when Brooks Robinson hit a 2-run homer. But by then, the game was already well in hand for the Rockets. Ichiro Suzuki hit an RBI double to extend his hitting streak to 21 games in the 3rd inning. Kenny Lofton hit a 3-run homer off Catfish Hunter in the 4th, and the Rockets added 2 more in the 5th. Boston’s Red Ruffing kept Detroit hitless in his 2 2/3 innings of work. Detroit is now 20-14, and all but one of their starting lineup are hitting over .300 this year. Boston is now 18-15, but still in 2nd place in the American League.

Boston @ Detroit – 5/9/22