1982 Atlanta Braves Retrospective

selmaborntidefan

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Mar 31, 2000
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July 22, 1982
Travel day
56-35
1st place
6 games ahead


LITTLE POISON LLOYD WANER DIES AT 76

The Atlanta Braves head to Pittsburgh for a three-game series with the Pirates. Projected starting pitchers are as follows:

Game 1: Rick Camp vs Rick Rhoden
Game 2: Phil Niekro vs Don Robinson
Game 3: Rick Mahler vs John Candelaria

There will be sadness in Pittsburgh as Lloyd Waner, one half of the only pair of brothers inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame, died today in Oklahoma City from complications of emphysema. Waner was 76. Waner was the younger half of the combination known as "Big Poison" (his older brother, Paul) and "Little Poison" that patrolled the outfield of the Pittsburgh Pirates together from 1927-1940. Lloyd's career in Pittsburgh actually lasted one year longer, and thanks to the decline of the quality of baseball in WW2, Lloyd hung around through the end of the war and played for the Boston Braves, Cincinnati, the Philadelphia Phillies, and Brooklyn before ending his career two weeks after the surrender was signed on the U.S.S. Missouri in 1945. Lloyd Waner was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1967.

Only two games in the majors on a light schedule day today. The Chicago White Sox rallied with two 8th inning runs to beat the Toronto Blue Jays, 3-2, in Comiskey Park. And Dave Winfield went 2-for-4 and drove in two runs while Oscar Gamble homered in the Yankees' 4-3 win over the Texas Rangers.
 

selmaborntidefan

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July 23, 1982
Pittsburgh Pirates 6 (W: Rhoden, 6-8)
Atlanta Braves 0 (L: Camp, 7-4)
56-36
1st place
5 games ahead

BERRA AND RHODEN ROUT BRAVES;
RAINES' HR IN 13TH WINS FOR MONTREAL
TWO CLOSERS ENGAGE CLASSIC DUEL

Dale Berra
tripled, singled, and scored 3 times, including a steal of home plate, while Rick Rhoden scattered six hits and pitched a complete game shutout, his first of 1982, as the Pittsburgh Pirates downed the Atlanta Braves, 6-0, at Three Rivers Stadium. Both Berra and Rhoden were struggling recently, Berra with a .183 batting average on June 7, and Rhoden losing his last two starts. But Berra has hits in 18 of his last 22 games while hitting at a .361 clip, raising his season average to .271.

Joe Niekro's eight-game winning streak over the St Louis Cardinals dating back to 1979 is over. St. Louis sent all nine hitters to the plate in the first inning, starting with a single by leadoff batter Tommy Herr and a triple by Lonnie Smith that plated Herr, the first of four runs in the beginning frame. Niekro was gone in the third having given up all six runs in a 6-2 Houston loss to his former teammate, Joaquin Andujar, who went the distance. Andy Hawkins, making his second career start, earned his first career win and complete game with an 11-4 triumph over the Mets. The Padre righty was supported by 15 hits and 11 runs, including 3 off the bat of rookie Tony Gwynn, who made his major league debut just four days ago. Mike Schmidt and pitcher Larry Christenson both drilled two-run homers as the Philles topped the Dodgers and Dave Stewart, 6-3. Keith Moreland's three-run homer with two outs in the top of the 8th carried the Cubs to a 7-5 win over the Reds. Tim Raines led off the top of the 13 with a solo homer to left off Gary Lavelle, who was just entering the game, and Ray Burris closed out the Giants in the bottom of the inning to give the Montreal Expos an 8-7 win over the San Francisco Giants.

It was a tale of two pitcher's duels between both the starters and relievers, and the result was nothing short of amazing. Bob McClure and Paul Splittorff matched each other pitch-for-pitch for 8 innings, and the Brewers and Royals took a scoreless tie into the 9th. When Ted Simmons singled to right, Royals Manager Dick Howser went with his closer, Dan Quisenberry, who leads the league with 23 saves. Quiz immediately collapsed, giving up a two-run bomb to Gorman Thomas that put Splittorff on the hook for the coming loss. Ben Oglivie then sealed the deal with another home run right after Thomas, and while Quiz retired the Brewers, the Royals came to the plate in the bottom of the 9th trailing, 3-0. U.L. Washington singled to lead off the inning and George Brett followed by matching Thomas with a two-run shot that closed the game to 3-2 in favor of Milwaukee. Rollie Fingers, who won the MVP and Cy Young last year, came on and surrendered a single to Amos Otis. Otis moved to second on a productive infield ground out by Hal McRae and then tied the score when Jerry Martin singled him home. Martin then moved to third on a single by Willie Aikens. That's when Frank White laid down a perfect bunt and beat out it out for a single while Martin crossed the plate with the winning run in an epic 4-3 comeback win in Kansas City. Jerry Mumphrey had a three-run homer and Dave Winfield drove in three runs to help the Yankees to a 6-3 win over the California Angels. Dave Righetti, recently recalled from the minors, yielded a run but got his first career save. Solo home runs by Cal Ripken Jr. and Eddie Murray provided the only offense the Baltimore Orioles needed to beat the Oakland Athletics, 2-1. Oakland starter Matt Keough (7-14) allowed only one other hit. Tom Brunansky and Tim Laudner doubled twice, and the Minnesota Twins put up a six-run inning to thump Boston 8-4. Frank Tanana held Detroit to two hits over 6 2/3 innings and got solid relief help from Dave Schmidt, who earned his 5th save as the Texas Rangers toppled Detroit, 3-1. Bill Naharodny's 11th inning sacrifice fly scored Rod Craig and gave Cleveland a 4-3 win over Seattle. Buck Martinez and Lloyd Moseby both hit RBI doubles that helped the Blue Jays compile a 3-run seventh inning en route to a 7-1 win over the Chicago White Sox.

The Baltimore Orioles signed Don "Stan the Man Unusual" Stanhouse to a free agent contract.
 

selmaborntidefan

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July 24, 1982
Atlanta Braves 4 (W: Niekro, 9-3; SV: Garber, 18)
Pittsburgh Pirates 3 (L: D. Robinson, 10-5)
57-36
1st place
6 games ahead

LATE RALLY SAVES ATLANTA;
2-STRIKE BUNT LIFTS METS TO WIN;
RAYFORD'S 13TH INNING HR LIFTS O'S

Chris Chambliss
singled with the bases loaded, scoring two runs, and helping Atlanta stave off what appeared to be certain defeat with a four-run rally in the 7th inning that was enough to beat the Pittsburgh Pirates, 4-3. The Braves entered the inning trailing Pirates starter Don Robinson, who had accounted for the game's only runs with a two-run homer off of Phil Niekro in the third. Robinson had allowed only two hits to that point, but the Braves strung together three singles off the bats of Bob Horner, Bob Porter, and Bruce Benedict to cut the Pittsburgh lead to 2-1. Robinson then threw a wild pitch, putting both runners in scoring position before inducing pinch-hitter Larry Whisenton to fly out. After intentionally walking Claudell Washington to load the bases for Rafael Ramirez, who drew the walk that sent the tying run across the plate. Robinson gave way to reliever Rod Scurry, who gave up the Chambliss hit, putting the Pirates in a 4-2 hole. And while two singles and a sacrifice fly by the soon retiring Willie Stargell plated one run against reliever Gene Garber, the Pirates got no closer. Garber retired the Bucs in order in the 9th to preserve the win. Despite their immense success in 1982, the win lifted Atlanta's record against the Pirates to a mere 4-7, with the season finale tomorrow between John Candelaria and Rick Mahler.

Mike Ramsey drove in two runs while Tito Landrum had an RBI single in a four-run inning that lifted the St Louis Cardinals to a 5-1 win over the Houston Astros. Bob Bailor's shocking two-strike bunt with two outs in the top of the 9th scored Hubie Brooks from third and gave the Mets a 4-3 win over the Padres. Bob Welch scattered 8 hits and struck out 11 in 8 innings, and Steve Howe got his 10th save in the Dodgers 3-2 win over the Phillies. Atlee Hammaker survived home runs by Tim Wallach and Al Oliver as the Giants beat the Expos, 5-2. Johnny Bench connected for a two-run homer to help the Reds end a seven-game losing streak in a 5-2 win over the Cubs.

A two-run homer by rookie reserve shortstop Lenny Faedo and an RBI double by Gary Ward keyed a three-run inning that carried the Minnesota Twins to a 5-3 win over the Boston Red Sox. Sacrifice flies by Alan Trammell and Tom Brookens in the third plus a solo home run by Jerry Turner was enough to give Detroit a 3-1 win over the Texas Rangers. Rookie Floyd Rayford, the last available hitter on the Baltimore bench, socked a solo home run in the bottom of the 13th that enabled the Baltimore Orioles to edge the Oakland Athletics, 5-4. Jerry Mumphrey's bottom of the ninth home run gave the Yankees a walkoff 6-5 win over the California Angels. Hosken Powell's two-run single and Jesse Barfield's three-run homer were the key blows in Toronto's 8-1 crushing of the Chicago White Sox. Mike Moore scattered just four hits for his first career complete game while the Seattle Mariners unleashed a 17-hit attack in the Mariners 9-0 wipeout of the Cleveland Indians. Clinging to a narrow 5-4 lead entering the 9th, Milwaukee rallied for two insurance runs on a single by Jim Gantner, a double by Paul Molitor, and a sacrifice fly by Robin Yount when Molitor moved to third on the throw home. The Brewers beat the Royals, 7-4.

Lin Storti, who played in 216 major league games for the St. Louis Browns in the early 1930s, died today in Ontario, California at the age of 75. No cause of death was given.
 
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selmaborntidefan

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Mar 31, 2000
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July 25, 1982
Pittsburgh Pirates 8 (W: Candelaria, 7-4)
Atlanta Braves 0 (L: Mahler, 8-8)
57-37
1st place
5 games ahead

PIRATES BLAST BRAVES
LEFTY GETS SHUTOUT #50
ROOKIE GWYNN DRIVES HOME WINNER



If the Pittsburgh Pirates could just play a 162-game schedule against the Atlanta Braves two things would happen based on the results this year: 1) the Pirates would have the best record in baseball; and 2) the Braves would have the worst. Pittsburgh ended the year's 12-game series with an 8-4 overall record after trouncing the Braves, 8-0, as John Candelaria scattered four hits, walked none, struck out three and got a complete game shutout. The Pirates battered Atlanta starter Rick Mahler and two relievers for 10 hits and 8 runs, and faced the minimum 27 batters as three of those baserunners were retired with double plays and the other was caught stealing. The rout was so palpable even Steve Nicosia connected for a long ball for only the 8th time in his career. Jason Thompson also homered for the Pirates.

Steve Carlton tossed his 50th career shutout with a 1-0 triumph over the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Manny Trillo tied the major league record for consecutive errorless games by a second baseman and drove home the game's only run with a base hit that scored Bill Robinson in the second. A two out double in the 8th by George Hendrick scored Keith Hernandez with the winning run from first as the Cardinals edged the Astros, 4-3. Three unearned runs, two coming off the RBI singles of Chili Davis and Jack Clark, lifted the Giants to a 3-2 win over the Montreal Expos. Alex Trevino had two hits and an RBI and Bruce Berenyi tossed a five-hitter in Cincinnati's 2-1 over Fergie Jenkins and the Chicago Cubs. He's only been a major league baseball player for six games and 26 at bats, but Tony Gwynn delivered a win, an RBI single that scored pinch-runner Joe Pittman from third in the bottom of the 10th to give the Padres a 3-2 win over the Mets. Gwynn'***** was his 9th in 27 plate appearances (one walk). The rookie is off to a hot start.

John Lowenstein socked two homers and drove in four runs to carry Baltimore to a 6-2 win over the Oakland Athletics. Rickey Henderson stole his 92nd base. Detroit scored 7 games in both ends of a doubleheader and swept the day over the Texas Rangers, 7-2 and 7-6. In both cases, the Tigers rallied with late runs, five in the last two innings of the opener and three in the last two innings of the nightcap to win. Tom Brookens scored on an unearned run to clinch the second game in the bottom of the 9th. Cleveland survived late home runs by Richie Zisk and Al Cowens to beat Seattle, 5-3. Wade Boggs hit his second career homer while Carney Lansford hit his fourth of the season to help Mike Torrez beat the Minnesota Twins on a seven-hit shutout, 5-0. LaMarr Hoyt rode Greg Luzinski's first-inning home run to a 5-3 win over the Toronto Blue Jays, becoming the first AL pitcher with 12 wins this year. Larry Gura and Mike Armstrong scattered five hits - two of them Robin Yount homers - to help the Royals triumph over the Brewers, 7-5, leaving Milwaukee just 1/2 game ahead of Boston in the AL East. Dave Goltz found early trouble and departed with the Yankees holding a 4-3 lead. But Mickey Mahler, brother of Atlanta's starter Rick, dazzled the Yankees with six innings of 4-hit ball, striking out five and earning his first win in the majors since September 24, 1979 in California's 6-4 win over New York.

The Braves have an off day before their longest homestand of the season, 11 games against the three teams closest to them in the standings: 4 with the Padres, 4 with the Dodgers, and 3 with the Giants. If the Braves can get through the next 22 games with anything close to a .500 record, they will likely have faced the toughest challenge to denying them the pennant.
 

selmaborntidefan

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July 26, 1982
57-37
TRAVEL DAY
1st place
5 games ahead


ATLANTA BRIMS WITH ANTICIPATION OF HUGE SERIES

It's safe to say there's never been an upcoming time frame this exciting for fans of the Atlanta Braves ever. Sure, they made the 1969 playoffs and were routed, but this will be an 11-game homestand with a chance to blow a huge hole into the NL West division title race and put it to bed for the rest of the season. A hot streak now like Atlanta had to begin the year could push all the contenders well out of reach. Even playing around .500 should ensure the Braves aren't overly taxed with anxiety. Only a full blown implosion would be cause for concern.

Concerned with making more money, the Braves' front office is making a move. Chief Noc-A-Homa's teepee that occupies 250 or so seats in left centerfield is coming down. With the Braves in the pennant race and their top contenders coming to town - and a Braves ticket turning into a ticket hot enough to match the weather - the teepee will come down to sell those seats for extra money. The chief himself will be reduced to an onfield dance prior to the game while the Monk continues his exhortations atop the Braves dugout. Let's just say these two mascots are not overly fond of one another. Tomorrow also sees the release of a new book entitled, "The Amazing Braves: America's Team" for $3.95 at most Southern booksellers. The Braves and Padres will open their series with a doubleheader tomorrow followed by solo contests on Wednesday and Thursday. The projected pitching matchups are as follows:

Game 1 - Bob Walk vs Tim Lollar
Game 2 - Ken Dayley vs Eric Show
Game 3 - Phil Niekro vs Andy Hawkins
Game 4 - Rick Camp vs Chris Welsh
 

selmaborntidefan

TideFans Legend
Mar 31, 2000
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July 27, 1982
Game1:
Atlanta Braves 9 (W: Walk, 9-7)
San Diego Padres 2 (L: Lollar, 10-5)

Game 2:
Atlanta Braves 8
San Diego Padres 6
10 innings

59-37
1st place
7 games ahead

HUBBARD HOMER, MURPHY CATCH GIVE BRAVES SWEEP;
RYAN WINS 200TH WITH 13 Ks;
RANGERS FIRE DON ZIMMER

Glenn Hubbard
may have been hurt, but he wasn't too hurt enough to end an extra-inning game with a home run. After sitting out Atlanta's 9-2 win in the opening game of a doubleheader with the San Diego Padres, Hubbard asked, begged, and pleaded to play in the nightcap, saying he could play the field because "it only hurts when I swing." Hubbard then proceeded to go 3-for-5, the last hit a game-winning home run in the bottom of the 10th that scored Hubbard and baserunner Jerry Royster to give the Braves an 8-6 win and a sweep in the twin bill. It was a fun day for the Braves, who started the opener with a run in the second and ended the nightcap with a game winner from the little guy. The wins extend Atlanta's lead in the NL West to 7 games and got the homestand off to a good start.

Tim Lollar may have been snubbed at the All-Star Game two weeks ago, but he was anything but in the opener. He faced 14 hitters and gave up two walks and six hits, one of them a two-run homer by Dale Murphy, and left in the 3rd with the Padres down, 4-0. Immediately after Murphy homered, Bob Horner was hit by a pitch. Singles by Rufino Linares and Bob Watson loaded the bases with nobody out, when Bruce Bendict hit into a bizarre double play that scored Horner. Third baseman Luis Salazar forced Linares at third and then threw home, where catcher Terry Kennedy apparently forgot the out at third removed the force play. Kennedy tagged the plate - but not Horner - and retired Benedict at first for what he thought was a triple play but was instead a double play that scored a run. Then in the 5th, the Braves put the game virtually out of reach.

Murphy singled and Horner walked before Salazar's error loaded the bases with nobody out. Watson hit one back to the pitcher that forced Murphy at home - for real this time - and the bases remained loaded when Horner walked to force in a run and build the lead to 5-0. Jerry Royster then hit a sacrifice fly that extended the lead to six runs and starting pitcher Bob Walk, who scattered five hits and made but one bad pitch, singled home another run to extend the lead to 7-0. Perhaps the baserunning tired Walk as he immediately gave up a single to rookie Tony Gwynn and then a two-run shot to shortstop Garry Templeton. But he settled down and allowed no runs and just one more hit and got support from a homer by Rafael Ramirez in the 8th. In a year where he has been erratic, Walk had his best game of 1982. In the nightcap, however, the Padres were more competitive.

Joe Pittman began the second game with a single, stole second, and came home on a single by Gwynn, who moved to third on a single and scored on a sacrifice fly by Kurt Bevacqua, giving the Padres a quick 2-0 lead. Hubbard quickly got one run back when he doubled with one out, moved to third on a wild pitch by Eric Show and then scored on a sacrifice fly. Leading 2-1, Gwynn led off the third with a single, stole his first career base, and cruised home on a home run by Sixto Lezcano, extending the Padre lead to 4-1. A Steve Swisher solo homer made it 5-1. But at that point, the Braves climbed off the deck and struck back.

Hubbard, who only hurt when he swung, singled leading off the fourth and moved to second on a passed ball. But he was thrown out at third when Claudell Washington grounded to shortstop and they got the lead runner. Murphy hit his second homer of the day to cut the lead to 5-3, and Salazar - just as in the first game - made an error that allowed Horner to reach base. Chris Chambliss golfed a Show delivery into the bleachers to tie the game, and Show gave way to rookie Dave Dravecky. He squelched the rally by retiring the next two hitters, and the game began afresh.

Gwynn went all the way to second on outfielder Larry Whisenton's error, moved to third on an infield out and then scored on a single by Rupert Jones to restore the lead, 6-5. But Whisenton giveth and Whisenton taketh away, as he socked a solo homer to tie the game in the 7th, where it remained until the 10th. Bevacqua drew a one-out walk and Rupert Jones hit a shot that for all the world looked like a two-run homer. But Murphy reached over the fence and caught the ball, preserving the lead, and Salazar forced Bevacqua at second to end the Padre threat. That's when Royster pinch-hit for Steve Bedrosian and walked before moving to second on a sacrifice bunt. Hubbard's game-ending home run followed, and the Braves had their sweep. Bedrosian got the win and Gary Lucas the loss.

Nolan Ryan notched his 200th win and struck out 13 Cincinnati Reds in Houston's 3-2 win over Charlie Leibrandt. He is only 107 strikeouts short of breaking Walter Johnson's major league record and at 35 years old can be expected to surpass it next season. Gary Carter's three-run homer in the first inning keyed Montreal in the Expos' 4-3 win over the Chicago Cubs and gave Steve Rogers his 13th win. Three hits by Darrell Porter - his first homer since June 11 plus a single and a double - led a 13-hit attack by the St Louis Cardinals in a 9-4 win over the New York Mets and extended their winning streak to five games. Larry McWilliams and Rod Scurry combined on a three-hitter and Jason Thompson drove home two runs to lead the Pittsburgh Pirates to a 4-0 shutout win over the Philadelphia Phillies. Joe Beckwith, recalled from the minors last week, allowed no hits in 5 1/3 innings of relief of Vicente Romo, who left with a knee injury, and Ron Cey belted a two-run homer to lead the Dodgers to a win over the Giants, 7-3.

In the junior circuit, the Yankees were leading, 5-4, and had the bases loaded with one out. Umpire Mark Johnson then called the first two pitches to Rick Cerone a "ball." When questioned by catcher Lance Parrish - who took off his mask and stood up - Johnson ejected Parrish and when pitcher Jack Morris and manager Sparky Anderson complained, they were tossed as well. Cerone then hit a sacrifice fly off of reliever Dave Tobik that proved to be the difference in a 6-5 win over the Detroit Tigers. Gorman Thomas had two homers and 5 RBIsin Milwaukee's 8-2 win over the Texas Rangers, who fired Manager Don Zimmer earlier in the day. Zimmer agreed to stay in place one more game. Luis Leal tossed a four-hitter for his third straight win in Toronto's 3-1 win over Boston, his sole bad pitch a solo homer by Jim Rice. Oakland drilled California pitching for 5 runs in the top of the first, but it was Don Baylor's RBI single scoring Bob Boone in the 13th that decided the Angels' 8-7 triumph over the Athletics. Dave Edler hit his first two homers of the season, including a grand slam, to lift the Seattle Mariners to a 9-7 win over the Minnesota Twins. Cal Ripken Jr's 2-run home run in the bottom of the 9th just four minutes prior to the mandatory curfew gave the Orioles a 5-3 win over the Chicago White Sox. The game ran up against the curfew thanks to a two-plus hour rain delay. Lee May and George Brett both drilled two-run homers and Kansas City lifted their season-long record against Cleveland to 7-1 with an 8-1 triumph over the Indians.

The Athletics released Fernando Arroyo, and the Braves released John D'Acquisto, who never appeared in a game for Atlanta despite three months on the roster. At 30 years old with a lifetime record of 34-50, his career is likely over.
 

selmaborntidefan

TideFans Legend
Mar 31, 2000
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July 28, 1982
Atlanta Braves 8 (W: Niekro, 10-3; SV: Garber, 19)
San Diego Padres 6 (L: Hawkins, 1-2)
60-37
1st place
8 games ahead

NIEKRO WINS #250 AS BRAVES SWEEP; LA NEXT
ZIMMER REPLACED BY MANAGER HE REPLACED;
MORGAN GETS 1,000TH RBI IN GIANTS WIN

Bob Horner
drilled two home runs that plated 5 RBIs and ageless veteran Phil Niekro scattered 5 hits over 7 innings to become the 34th pitcher in baseball history to record his 250th career win and helped the Atlanta Braves beat second place San Diego with an 8-6 win. The Braves are the first team in baseball this year to 60 wins and after one more game with the Padres, prepare to face the Los Angeles Dodgers, who roar into Atlanta as the defending World Series champions and ten games behind in third place in the NL West. The Dodgers fell to double digits behind the Braves when Fred Breining outdueled Dave Stewart in the Giants' 4-2 win, a game that saw veteran Joe Morgan drive home his 1,000th run.

Just like last night, the final score of the Braves-Padres contest was 8-6. And just like last night, the Padres scored two runs in the top of the first, although this time it was the two-run homer that Rupert Jones barely missed in his last at bat that put San Diego ahead. But rookie Andy Hawkins couldn't hold the lead for even one inning. Rafael Ramirez singled, moved to second on a ground out, scored on a single by Dale Murphy, and Murphy scored when Horner hit his first bomb to give the Braves a 3-2 lead. Hawkins was more successful at the bottom of the lineup than the top, retiring the next five hitters he faced, but with one out in the third, Glenn Hubbard singled and so did Murphy. With a second chance at Horner, Hawkins served up another gopher ball, this one a three-run bomb that put the Braves in front, 6-2, and took the pressure off of Niekro. The Braves added single runs in the 4th, off of Hawkins, and in the 5th off reliver Gary Lucas, building an 8-2 cushion that even Atlanta's shaky bullpen wasn't going to lose, although it appears they tried. The game went into the 9th with the Braves leading, 8-3, and when Al Hrabosky turned a non-save situation into a save situation by walking Terry Kennedy to start the 9th and then gave up a long ball to Luis Salazar that cut the Atlanta lead to 8-5, Gene Garber got the call for his 19th save of the year, although he did allow one more run. The postgame Jumbotron included the phrase "World Serious?" and owner Ted Turner danced on the dugout, drawing a rebuke from Atlanta Manager Joe Torre who said that the race isn't even close to being over and to knock it off.

Earl Weaver returned after serving a one-week suspension for poking umpire Terry Cooney in the eye, and Baltimore prevailed over the Chicago White Sox, 2-1, thanks to back-to-back RBI singles in the sixth by Eddie Murray and John Lowenstein. Every superstitious, Weaver stayed out of the dugout with Baltimore on a hot streak. Don Zimmer managed his last game as head of the Texas Rangers and it was exactly why he got fired, a 3-2 loss to the Milwaukee Brewers that leaves the Rangers 3-14 in their last 17 games. As if that wasn't weird enough, guess who the new manager is? Darrell Johnson, the same manager who took the Boston Red Sox to the 1975 World Series and was fired the next year and replaced by...Zimmer! Dwight Evans socked two homers and had 4 RBIs while Carney Lansford's three-run shot capped a six-run inning in Boston's 9-7 win over Toronto. Trailing 7-3 in the seventh, the New York Yankees rallied with a five-run seventh keyed by Bobby Murcer's homer off the second major league pitch thrown by Bob Jones and edged Detroit, 8-7. Don Baylor and Ron Jackson both had three hits and four RBIs apiece as the California Angels routed the Oakland Athletics, 13-1. Carmen Castillo's first career home run was a two-run shot that broke a 2-2 tie and carried the Indians to a 4-2 win over the Royals behind the three-hit pitching of Rick Sutcliffe. Richie Zisk belted a double and a two-run homer and extended his hitting streak to 15 games in Seattle's 6-2 win over the Minnesota Twins.

Mike Schmidt hit his 16th home run and the Phillies scored 3 runs thanks to two errors as they edged the Pittsburgh Pirates, 4-3. Warren Cromartie and Tim Raines each had 3 hits and drove in one run apiece to lead Bill Gullickson to his 8th win as the Montreal Expos beat the Chicago Cubs, 5-3. Joe Niekro scattered 7 hits and Art Howe laced a two-run double that helped the Houston Astros to a 4-2 win over the Cincinnati Reds. The Cardinals blew an early 4-0 lead but rallied for three seventh-inning runs thanks to Lonnie Smith's triple and Tommy Herr's double in a 7-5 victory over the Mets. Rookie Jeff Keener, who faced only one batter, got his first career win when Bruce Sutter nailed down his 21st save.
 
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