St. Louis Wizards starter John Smoltz became the latest pitcher to shut down the Los Angeles Dynamos offense. Just one day after the Wizards clinched the NL pennant, they pulled ahead late to continue the LA losing streak. The teams traded solo homers by Willie McCovey and Willie Mays, but in the 7th, the Wizards offense finally got to Don Sutton. Ted Simmons and Ron Santo started the inning with back-to-back doubles to take the lead. A few batters later, Tony Gwynn’s 3-run double sealed the game. Smoltz improved to 4-1 and the Wizards won their 33rd game of the season. They continue to be the favorites to hold home-field advantage in the World Series. LA has lost 8 straight.

Los Angeles @ St. Louis – 5/25/22

Pedro Martinez kept the Boston Splinters pennant hopes alive, scattering 8 singles and shutting out the New York Swats 5-0 at the Polo Grounds. Martinez also struck out 8. Swats starter Walter Johnson allowed just 5 hits, but 2 of those were 2-run home runs. Lou Gehrig hit the 1st in the 4th inning, and in the 7th Charlie Gehringer hit another. After starting the season rehabbing out of the bullpen, Martinez is 3-1 with a 2.18 ERA. The loss dropped New York to 18-29. Meanwhile, Boston improved to 26-22, just 3 games behind the Detroit Rockets in the American League with 6 games left to play.

Boston @ New York – 5/25/22

Los Angeles Dynamos starter Don Drysdale took a 5-hit shutout into the 7th, but watched his 4-0 lead evaporate as the St. Louis Wizards scored 5 runs, clinching a trip to the World Series with their 5-4 win. Carl Hubbell allowed all 4 LA runs in the 4th inning. Johnny Mize hit a grounder with 2 men on and seemed to be thrown out at 1st, but McCovey was ruled to have pulled his foot. As McCovey argued the call, both base-runners scored. But the Dynamos wouldn’t score again. Drysdale seemed to be cruising until the fateful 7th inning. The Wizards batted around with 5 hits and 2 walks, capped by a 2-out double by Larry Walker and the go-ahead RBI single from Stan Musial. It was a familiar ending for LA, who has lost 7 straight games and 10 of their last 11. They trailed the Wizards by just 2 games at the beginning of that stretch. Now the Wizards will look to secure home-field advantage in the final 6 games of the season.

Los Angeles @ St. Louis – 5/24/22

New York’s Hal Newhouser overcame rough early innings, and the Swats took advantage of control issues from Lefty Gomez and some poor fielding to top the Boston Splinters 7-3. Newhouser allowed 3 runs in the first two innings but settled down, allowing 7 hits in 8 innings of work to pick up his 8th win. Gomez walked 9 in 6 innings. The game was close until Boston’s Biz Mackey’s passed ball was followed by a Frank Thomas error, leading to 2 unearned runs. Ken Griffey Jr. hit a 2-run homer in the 6th to give the Swats some breathing room. It was his 11th of the season. Every game is important for Boston as they try to catch the AL-leading Detroit Rockets. This loss drops them to 25-22, 3 1/2 games behind the Rockets. New York improved to 20-28. Ted Williams was scratched from the lineup but isn’t expected to miss any more time.

Boston @ New York – 5/24/22

Chicago’s Buster Posey hit a grand slam off Houston’s Phil Niekro in the 3rd inning. Willie Stargell hit a solo homer in the bottom of the inning, and just one inning later, Duke Snider tied it up with a 3-run shot of his own. Curt Schilling ran into trouble again the following inning, serving up another 3-run homerun to Billy Williams and a solo homer to Hank Aaron. Schilling did strike out 9. Docs reliever Roy Oswalt struck out 4 more in his 2 innings of work. Only Randy Johnson has allowed more home runs than Schilling this season. Meanwhile, Niekro allowed just the Posey grand slam. Niekro allowed 7 hits in 8 innings, striking out 8 himself. Aaron finished 3 for 4 with an RBI and 2 runs scored. It was Chicago’s 30th loss of the season. Houston improved to 22-26.

Chicago @ Houston – 5/24/22

Detroit starter Dave Stieb held the Oakland Jacks to 2 runs on 7 hits over 8 innings, picking up his 3rd win. Oakland’s Mike Mussina kept the Jacks close, allowing just 3 runs himself, but the Rockets feasted on Oakland relief, scoring 5 runs on 8 hits against Bullet Rogan and Mariano Rivera. Urban Shocker allowed 3 runs in the 9th, but Detroit still won it 8-5. Derek Jeter was 3 for 5 with a home run and 3 RBI in a rare start. The victory improved Detroit to 29-19, a 3-game lead over the 2nd place Splinters. The loss dropped Oakland to 21-26.

Detroit @ Oakland – 5/24/22

Barry Bonds and Buster Posey homered early, and the Chicago Docs pulled ahead late to top the Houston Hoots and win their 5th straight game. Rick Reuschel allowed 5 runs and 13 hits in 7 innings, but the Chicago offense kept pace against Tom Seaver. The Docs put up 3 straight hits in the 8th, with Todd Helton driving in Albert Pujols for the go-ahead run. Kent Tekulve pitched a perfect 8th, and Billy Wagner kept the Hoots scoreless in the 9th for his 10th save. The Docs have won 7 of their last 8 games after being statistically eliminated in the National League playoff race. They improved to 18-29, while Houston fell to 21-26. With the NL wrapped up, these two teams are now playing for individual glory.

Chicago @ Houston – 5/23/22

Detroit Rockets starter Bret Saberhagen won his 8th straight start as the Rockets topped the Oakland Jacks 6-4. This one wasn’t easy, as Saberhagen needed some 9th inning help to get there. Oakland was first on the board with 1st inning solo home runs by Rod Carew and George Brett. Detroit came back with a run in the 5th and two unearned runs in the 6th before Dick Allen hit a homer in the 7th to give Detroit a 4-2 lead. But Álex Rodríguez misplayed a grounder in the 8th with two out, leading to 2 unearned Jacks runs to tie the game. But Detroit got the two runs back in the 9th against Ted Lyons thanks to a Charlie Blackwell RBI single. Tom Henke pitched a perfect inning for his 13th save. Saberhagen leads the Maelstrom with 9 wins. Allen was 2 for 4 with a walk, 2 RBI and 2 runs scored. Jack Morris allowed 2 earned runs in 7 innings, striking out 9 for Oakland. Detroit is now 28-19 and have a 2 1/2 lead over Boston in the American League. Oakland fell to 21-25.

Detroit @ Oakland – 5/23/22

Steve Carlton allowed just 4 hits and struck out 9, shutting out the Los Angeles Dynamos for the 2nd time this season. It was Carlton’s 3rd shutout overall, and it came at a perfect time. The win puts the St. Louis Wizards up 7 games on LA with 7 left to play, just one away from clinching their spot in the World Series. Los Angeles starter Pete Alexander didn’t make it easy. Alexander allowed a leadoff double to Oscar Charleston followed by an RBI single from Tony Gwynn. It was the only run St. Louis would score. Alexander allowed 6 hits in his 8 innings. The Dynamos have now lost 6 straight, scoring just 10 runs over that stretch, and 9 of their last 10. The Wizards will look to clinch tomorrow when they face LA again at Sportsman’s Park.

Los Angeles @ St. Louis – 5/23/22

Nolan Ryan isn’t known for his control, but today he was even wilder than normal. Ryan allowed just 5 hits, but walked 13 as the Boston Splinters topped the New York Swats 8-5 at the Polo Grounds. Gaylord Perry picked up the win for Boston. Perry allowed 4 runs and 7 hits in 8 innings to improve to 7-4. Lou Gehrig was 2 for 3 with a double, triple, 3 RBI, and 2 walks. Boston improved to 25-21, closing the lead on the Detroit Rockets who play later tonight. New York fell to 19-28 as their lack of pitching depth continues to be a burden.

Boston @ New York – 5/23/22