1982 Atlanta Braves Retrospective

[selmaborntidefan]

June 12, 1982
Atlanta Braves 10 (Niekro, 5-2; SV: Hrabosky, 2)
San Francisco Giants 5 (L: Gale, 2-5)
35-21
1st place
2 games ahead

BRAVES WIN 5TH IN A ROW WITH 10-5 ROMP OVER SF;
CUBS LOSE 12TH IN A ROW;
RIPKEN'S HR CARRIES O'S TO WIN OVER YANKS

Glenn Hubbard drove home four runs and Bob Horner had five hits to power the Atlanta Braves over the Giants, 10-5, in San Francisco to give the Braves their fifth consecutive win. The Braves continue to dominate the NL West, lifting their overall record to 17-3 against the division that includes a 13-0 record in road games. Phil Niekro pitched five shutout innings for his fifth win of 1982, but it was his replacement, Larry McWilliams, who let the Giants back into the game by failing to retire any of the four batters he faced entering the sixth, all of whom scored to narrow the 7-0 score to 7-4. McWilliams saw his season ERA climb to 6.47.

Chris Welsh blanked the Astros on four hits, and Luis Salazar's two-run homer keyed a four-run inning in San Diego's 4-0 win over Houston. The Padres are 9-2 in their last 11. Manny Sarmiento, making only his second start since 1979, scattered six hits and singled home two runs in the Pirates' 9-2 thumping of Mike Krukow and the Phillies. Al Oliver's two-run RBI double highlighted a three-run inning that lifted the Expos to a 7-5 win over the Cubs, the 12th straight defeat for Chicago. Mike Jorgensen and Ron Hodges both homered and Craig Swan had his best outing in two years as the Mets beat the Cardinals, 6-2. Dusty Baker socked a two-run homer and Steve Garvey added a solo shot that was just enough to carry the Dodgers to a 4-3 win over the Reds.

Cal Ripken Jr's bottom of the 8th two-run home run was the difference in Baltimore's 5-3 win over the Yankees. It was the rookie's second homer in two games. Larry Herndon homered and Tom Brookens added a two-run shot to support the nine-hit pitching of starter Milt Wilcox in Detroit's 7-3 triumph over the Brewers. Designated hitter Lamar Johnson's two-out single in the 8th scored Doug Flynn and lifted the Rangers to a 4-3 win over the Twins. Rick Sweet's sacrifice fly scored the game winner and gave Gene Nelson his fourth win in the last five starts as Seattle toppled Kansas City, 3-2. Ken Forsch tossed a 3-hitter and Doug DeCinces drove home two as the California Angels beat the White Sox, 3-0, before the largest crowd to attend a game this season so far at Comiskey Park. Rickey Henderson and Jeff Newman homered while Rick Langford scattered four hits and went the distance in Oakland's 8-1 win over Toronto. Carl Yastrzemski's second run-scoring single broke a 3-3 tie and ignited a Boston rally that lifted the Red Sox to a 6-4 win over the Indians.

 

[selmaborntidefan]

June 13, 1982
Game One:
San Francico Giants 2 (W: Martin, 2-3; SV: Minton, 10)
Atlanta Braves 1 (L: Dayley, 2-3)

Game Two:
Atlanta Braves 5 (W: Camp, 4-3; SV: Garber 11)
San Francisco Giants 1 (L: Hammaker, 3-4)

36-22
1st place
1.5 games ahead

BRAVES GIVE UP 3 RUNS, SPLIT DOUBLEHEADER;
CUBS LOSE 13TH STRAIGHT ON 10TH INNING HR;
BREWERS SMASH 5 HRS IN ROUT OF TIGERS

If you had told the Atlanta Braves this morning that they'd hold the San Francisco Giants to 3 runs in 18 innings across two games, the Braves likely would have thought this meant they had won a sweep of the scheduled doubleheader and extended their winning streak to seven games as well as their road record versus NL West teams to 15-0. But the Giants got a better performance in the opener as Renie Martin went 8.1 innings and scattered 7 hits in San Francisco's 2-1 win. Ken Dayley gave up only 3 hits in 7 innings for the Braves, but combined with his 5 walks it was enough to saddle him with the loss. Each starter made one bad pitch and both were sent flying into the seats on solo shots from Bob Horner and Jack Clark. Clark's proved to be the game winner. The Giants dodged a bullet in the 9th, however, as the Braves found themselves with Dale Murphy at third on a double by Horner and only one out. But Murphy was thrown out at home, and the Giants then faced Claudell Washington with the bases loaded and two outs. The rail thin outfielder flied out to center to end the game and earn Greg Minton his 10th save. Perhaps frustrated by his failure at the end of the first game, Murphy gave spot starter Rick Camp all he would need in the nightcap when he socked a two-run bomb off Giants' starter Atlee Hammaker, which turned out to be enough to win the game. Although the Braves only scored one run with the bases loaded and one out in the fifth, Camp needed little on this day, as he scattered nine hits and got his fourth win of the year.

Tim Wallach homered off Willie Hernandez with two outs in the tenth to lift Montreal to a 5-3 win over Chicago, the 13th straight defeat for the Cubs. Alan Wiggins singled in the tying run in the seventh and then wound up scoring the winning run courtesy of a stolen base and two throwing errors as San Diego closed to with 1 1/2 games of Atlanta in a 5-4 win over Houston. Bruce Berenyi and Tom Hume combined on a six hitter while Alex Trevino drove in two runs and Larry Biittner and Ron Oester drove in one each to earn the Reds a split in the finale of their four-game series with the Dodgers, 4-2. The scheduled games between the Cardinals-Mets and Phillies-Pirates were both rained out and will be made up at a later date. The same happened with the scheduled Orioles-Yankees game in the AL.

Trailing 3-2 after seven innings, the California Angels rallied with five late runs, keyed by Don Baylor's RBI double that was part of a four-run Angels 8th that defeated the Chicago White Sox, 7-4. Geoff Zahn won his 7th decision while Reggie Jackson socked his 10th homer of the year for the Angels. The Milwaukee Brewers socked five home runs, including two off the bat of Gorman Thomas, en route to a 13-5 pounding of the Detroit Tigers. Don Money, Robin Yount, and Ben Oglivie also homered for the Brewers. A two-run seventh inning shot by Tony Armas was the difference as the Athletics topped the Blue Jays, 7-5. Rickey Henderson stole four bases to lift his record-setting pace to 62. Oakland stole six overall, and Toronto Manager Bobby Cox mused after the game, "He's not a base stealer, he's a thief!" The Mariners overcame the shock of a line drive off the head of starting pitcher Floyd Bannister, who recovered and scattered five hits in seven innings to help Seattle beat Kansas City, 7-1. The shot to Bannister came off the bat of Willie Wilson, but the lanky pitcher recovered enough to throw out the speedster at first. The Texas Rangers chased seven runs across the plate in the first inning and took a quick 8-0 lead in a 10-4 home laugher against the hapless Twins. It was Jack O'Connor's second major league start. Thus far in his starts, O'Connor has pitched 5 2/3 innings with a 12.91 ERA.

Randy Bobb, who had a ten-game major league career with the Cubs on 1968-69, was killed in an auto accident today in Carnelian Bay, California. Bobb struck out 3 times in 10 plate appearances and singled off Atlanta starter Ron Reed for his only major league hit.

 

[selmaborntidefan]

June 14, 1982
Houston Astros 9 (W: Niekro, 6-4)
Atlanta Braves 0 (L: Mahler, 6-5)
36-23
1st place
1.5 games ahead

NIEKRO ROUTS THE BRAVES;
DUSTY BAKER'S 11TH INNING HR WINS IT FOR LA;
CUBS END 13-GAME STREAK WITH 19 HITS

Joe Niekro scattered six hits and Denny Walling knocked in three runs, including two on a home run, as the Astros obliterated the Atlanta Braves, 9-0, in the Astrodome. Every starting Houston position player had at least one hit while Niekro went the distance and struck out six while walking only two. At one point, Phil's brother retired 18 of 19 hitters, including 11 in a row. The Astros banged out 15 hits and were 2-for-4 stealing on the night.

Don Robinson struck out ten Mets but Ellis Valentine's two-run home run was enough to lead New York to a 2-1 win over the Pirates. Pete Falcone allowed but five hits through 8 innings before Neil Allen notched his 15th save with a scoreless 9th. Dusty Baker's 11th inning home run was the game winner as the Dodgers edged the Padres, 4-3, before the second largest crowd in San Diego baseball history. Darrell Porter tripled home Ken Oberkfell and then scored himself on Dane Iorg's sacrifice fly to lead St Louis to a 2-1 win over Montreal. The Chicago Cubs won for the first time since May 29 as they rapped out 19 hits but committed six errors in a harrowing 12-11 escape win over the Phillies in a game that saw a 20 mph wind blowing out of Wrigley Field. How weird was it? Pete Rose hit his first home run since June 30, 1980. The Cubs took a 12-7 lead into the 9th and then watched as Philly cut the gap to one thanks to a three-run shot from Gary Matthews followed by Mike Schmidt singling, going to second on a wild pitch, and scoring on two ground outs to cut the lead to one. Bill Campbell got Luis Aguayo to ground into a fielder's choice to end the game, but the fact remains the Cubs blew leads of 6-0, 9-3, and 12-7 before escaping with the win.

Dan Ford drilled a pinch-hit grand slam homer in the 7th that helped break a 4-4 tie and carried the Baltimore Orioles to a 9-4 win over the Milwaukee Brewers. It was Baltimore's sixth pinch-hit home run on the season, and the Orioles are 8-1 in their last nine games. Len Barker threw a complete game gem while Rick Sutcliffe worked into the 9th before being bailed out by Dan Spillner as Cleveland swept the Tigers in a doubleheader by scores of 5-0 and 2-1 to end their five-game losing streak. Andre Thornton hit his 18th homer for the Tribe. Tony Armas hit a third-inning sacrifice fly that decided the game in the third inning, and Rickey Henderson stole his 63th base in Oakland's 4-2 win over Toronto. Paul Splittorff and Dan Quisenberry combined to limit Minnesota to five hits, and George Brett hit a solo homer in Kansas City's 3-0 win over the Twins, who are now 2-22 in their last 24 games. Jim Beattie and Mike Stanton combined on a three-hitter while Bruce Bochte, Al Cowens, and Dave Henderson all hit solo homers in Seattle's 4-0 win over Texas. The Mariners are 5-1 in their last six. Trade rumors are dogging Dave Collins as the deadline approaches tomorrow, but if he leaves, he goes out with a bang. A thus far disappointing outfielder acquired in the offseason, Collins started at first tonight and hit his first home run since August 30, 1981 to carry the Yankees to a 5-1 win over the Red Sox. Ron Guidry, off to his best start since 1978, outdueled Dennis Eckersley to raise Guidry's record to 8-1. Louisiana Lightning struck out 7 and walked 3 while giving up one earned run on a two-out single by Carl Yastrzemski.

 

[selmaborntidefan]

June 15, 1982
Atlanta Braves 7 (W: Walk, 6-4)
Houston Astros 0 (L: Knepper, 2-8)
37-23
1st place
2.5 games ahead

HORNER, WALK LEAD ATLANTA IN 7-0 WIN;
HOYT BECOMES FIRST 10-GAME WINNER;
NORDHAGEN TRADED TWICE IN ONE DAY

Bob Walk scattered four hits and struck out five in a dazzling complete game performance while Bob Horner drove home three runs with a pair of doubles as the Atlanta Braves thumped the Houston Astros, 7-0, to maintain their lead in the NL West. Starter Bob Knepper and four Houston relievers were blistered for 14 hits and 7 runs.

Jerry Reuss continues to shine as he tossed a five-hitter for his 150th career win in the Dodgers' 3-0 win over the San Diego Padres. Los Angeles is 7.5 games behind first-place Atlanta. Rookie Willie McGee's RBI single in the bottom of the 11th broke him out of a 1-for-16 slump and lifted the first-place St Louis Cardinals to a 3-2 win over the second-place Montreal Expos. Bruce Sutter pitched two shutout innings for his fifth win on the season. Every starter for the Pittsburgh Pirates had at least one base hit in a 17-hit barrage against three Mets pitchers that saw the Pirates and Rick Rhoden win, 13-3. Tom Seaver's struggles continue as he faced 11 batters and 8 reached base in San Francsico's 4-3 win over Cincinnati. The loss drops Tom Terrific to 3-7 on the year. Jay Johnstone's third homer of the year sparked the Cubs to their second straight win with an 8-5 triumph over the Phillies at Wrigley Field, the fourth straight loss for Philadelphia.

LaMarr Hoyt became the first big league pitcher to reach ten wins with a masterful three-hit shutout over Oakland, 7-0. Ken Griffey's two-run shot off Mark Clear in the 8th keyed a three-run inning as the Yankees edged the Red Sox, 5-4. Robin Yount hit a two-run home run in the first and later hit a two-run triple in the 8th following a crucial error by rookie shortstop Cal Ripken Jr. to lead the Brewers over the Orioles, 6-3. Gorman Thomas drilled his 13th home run for Milwaukee. Dave Hostetler hit a pair of home runs that drove in three runs and Texas beat Seattle for the first time in 1982 by a score of 5-2. John Wathan had two hits and scored three runs while Kansas City rookie pitcher Bud Black won his first major league game (in his second start) with a 7-4 win over the Minnesota Twins, who fell to 3-23 in their last 26 contests. Jim Clancy scattered five hits and Mike Witt lost it in the 9th as the Blue Jays won, 2-0, on Dave Revering's two-run shot with one out in the top of the 9th over the Angels.

The Giants sold Dan Schatzeder to the Expos. Wayne Nordhagen, who spent parts of the previous six seasons with the White Sox before being traded on April 2, was traded TWICE today in a matter of hours, making three trades for the catcher in about ten weeks. The Blue Jays sent him to the Phillies for Dick Davis and mere hours later, he was traded from the Phillies to the Pirates for outfielder Bill Robinson. And the Yankees signed infielder Rodney Scott as a free agent.

 

[selmaborntidefan]

June 16, 1982
Atlanta Braves 5 (W: Garber, 5-2)
Houston Astros 4 (L: Cappuzzello, 0-1)
10 innings
38-23
1st place
3.5 games ahead

ONE OUT FROM LOSS, BRAVES RALLY TO WIN;
SANDBERG'S 11TH INNING HIT LIFTS CUBS;
VIOLA WINS 1ST BIG LEAGUE GAME

Phil Niekro and Don Sutton have a combined 492 career wins (245 for Niekro, 247 for Sutton), but it was relievers who settled tonight's game in the Astrodome where a solo home run by Chris Chambliss
in the top of 10th against George Cappuzzello proved to be the game winner when Gene Garber navigated a tough bottom of the inning but held on for the save in Atlanta's 5-4 win over the Astros. Houston put the tying run on second with one out but failed with three attempts to tie the score. Houston blew an early 3-0 lead when Sutton and then relievers Danny Boone and Verne Ruhle surrendered runs that forced extras.

Terry Puhl socked two home runs for the Astros off Niekro, providing Houston with 3 of their 4 total runs. But the knuckleballer weaved his way into and out of trouble all night, pitching just well enough to keep Atlanta close. Sutton, meanwhile, struck out seven Braves and moved into tenth place on the all-time strikeout list ahead of legend Cy Young, with 2824 Ks. He was undone by a sequence in the fifth inning that allowed the Braves two runs when Bruce Benedict singled and scored on Randy Johnson's double, and Johnson scored on an error by Ray Knight. Despite giving up only 3 hits, Sutton left with a 3-2 lead that fell apart when Claudell Washington hit a solo shot off Boone in the 8th. With two outs in the 9th, Bruce Benedict singled and gave way to Brett Butler as a pinch-runner. The speedy rookie advanced to third on a single by Rufino Linares and then scored when former Astro Bob Watson delivered a pinch-hit single that tied the game against his old mates. The Chambliss homer sent Houston into the cellar after the Astros have made the postseason each of the last two years.

Andre Dawson's three-run doubled capped a five-run second and sent Montreal well on their way to an 8-3 win over St Louis. Rookie Ryne Sandberg's RBI single with one out in the 11th lifted the Cubs to their third straight win over the Phillies, 7-6. Cesar Cedeno slammed two homers and drove in six runs as the Reds - or more precisely Cedeno - trounced the Giants, 7-3. Bob Welch pitched a three-hitter and Pedro Guererro hit a home run as the Dodgers shut out the Padres for the second straight game, this time by a score of 8-0.

His parents came to see him pitch, and despite the woes of the Minnesota Twins, Frank Viola was up to the task. In the first road start of his three-game big league career, Viola went 7 innings and left with a 3-1 lead as the Twins put aside their struggles for one night to beat the Royals, 5-2. Tom Brunansky's two-run shot in the 8th put the game away for the Twins. Manny Castillo hit a bases loaded two-run double in Seattle's three-run second and Julio Cruz socked a three-run homer to give Gaylord Perry win number 302 in the Mariners' 7-3 win over Texas. Salome Barojas balked in the tying run in the 9th, but Greg Luzinski singled home speedy Ron LeFlore from second to lift the White Sox to a 7-6 win over Oakland. Barojas got the win. A rainstorm with the game tied at 2 in the 9th inning resulted in the Brewers-Orioles game being called off. The game has been moved to the last weekend of the season if necessary. Ken Griffey slugged his fourth homer of the year and Dave Righetti scattered 3 hits as the Yankees won a rain shortened 4-1 triumph over the Red Sox. Bob Boone drove in two runs and Don Baylor slugged a two-run homer as the Angels thumped the Blue Jays, y7-1.

 

[selmaborntidefan]

June 17, 1982
Travel day
38-23
1st place
3.5 games ahead

ANGELS MOVE INTO FIRST

Alan Trammell's error on a hard two-out smash by Gorman Thomas scored Ned Yost in the 11th inning and was enough to give the Milwaukee Brewers a 3-2 win over the Detroit Tigers. The defeat, combined with Boston's 6-3 win over Cleveland dropped the Tigers to 1 1/2 games behind the Red Sox in the AL East. Trammell, who won a Gold Glove in 1980 and made no errors in this season's first 35 games has now committed 7 errors in the last 21 games, this after making only 9 in the entire strike shortened 1981 season last year. Detroit starter Dan Petry worked 10 innings and gave up but two runs on eight hits, but Milwaukee's Mike Caldwell was even better, scattering just four hits over his ten innings, two of those solo home runs by Lance Parrish and Mike Ivie. Rollie Fingers retired Detroit in the bottom of the 11th to pick up his 13th save. The California Angels raced out to an early 8-0 lead on the Blue Jays thanks to a six-run third inning, but Toronto rallied with a four-run ninth and had the tying run at the plate with one out when Lloyd Moseby popped to third and Willie Upshaw struck out to end the comeback attempt. The Angels beat the Blue Jays, 10-8, and moved ahead of idle Kansas City into first place in the AL West. Bobby Grich hit his 8th home run for California. Tony Bernazard committed three errors at second base but knocked in four runs to propel the White Sox to an 11-7 win over Oakland. Rickey Henderson had one attempted steal and was thrown out by Carlton Fisk, the 18th time he's been caught this year. Buddy Bell's three-run double capped a four-run third and helped Texas beat Seattle, 5-1. Karl Pagel strode to the plate in the bottom of the 9th as the potential game-tying run when Cleveland attempted to rally from a 6-0 deficit, but Mark Clear struck him out to notch his 11th save and retain Boston's 6-3 win over the Indians.

Bill Buckner, Jay Johnstone, and Bump Wills all homered as Chicago thumped Montreal, 12-8, to give the Cubs their fifth straight victory following a 13-game losing streak. Cesar Cedeno, hitting .370 since early May, continued his hot streak with a first inning two-run double that helped the Reds top the Giants, 4-2. Charlie Leibrandt won his third game of the season. Gary Matthews drilled two solo home runs, the second in the 11th inning, to end Philadelphia's five-game losing streak in a 4-3 win over in-state rival Pittsburgh.

The Atlanta Braves return home for a seven-game homestand against the San Francisco Giants and Los Angeles Dodgers. The Braves lead the second place San Diego Padres by 3.5, the third place Dodgers by 7.5, and the fourth place Giants by 11.5.

 

[selmaborntidefan]

June 18, 1982
Atlanta Braves 8 (W: Dayley, 3-3; SV: Camp, 5)
San Francisco Giants 3 (L: Martin, 2-4)
39-23
1st place
4.5 games ahead

BENEDICT'S 4 RBIs LEAD BRAVES

Stop me if you've heard this one already in 1982.

The Braves score five quick runs and cruise to a victory as a lesser light has a good game, and the shaky bullpen puts it together enough to ensure a win. It's happened several times this year, and it happened again tonight. Bruce Benedict, Atlanta's light-hitting catcher, went 2-for-4, scored twice, and drove home four runs with an RBI single and a two-run homer, to almost carry the Braves to victory offensively by himself. Starter Ken Dayley got behind in the first thanks to an error, but he managed to get to the sixth and pitch well enough to get his third career win. He was pulled after walking a batter with two outs in the sixth while leading, 6-2, and Rick Camp went the rest of the way and allowed just one run.

 

[selmaborntidefan]

June 19, 1982
San Francisco Giants 9 (W: Lavelle, 4-2)
Atlanta Braves 4 (Garber, 5-3)
39-24
1st place
3.5 games ahead

CHILI'S SLAM BURIES BRAVES

The warning signs are there if anyone wishes to pay attention: the Atlanta Braves are in first place, but their bullpen is shakier than the San Andreas fault. One night after getting some stellar bullpen work from Rick Camp, the Braves were three outs from a 4-3 win over the Giants when San Francisco tied it off closer Gene Garber. As if that weren't bad enough, an error gave the Giants the lead and then just to be sure, Chili Davis launched a moonshot into the night off Steve Bedrosian for a grand slam and to put the game out of reach that just moments earlier the Braves were sure they had in the bag. The Giants scored six runs off the Atlanta bullpen before the Braves could record three outs, and they turned Gary Lavelle from "the guy who stopped the bleeding" into the winning pitcher.

Any fan who went to bed early is surely in shock this morning. One of those normal time passing NL games occurred, where nobody scores more than one run in a particular inning, and neither team takes much of a lead. With the game tied at 3 in the seventh, Rufino Linares connected for his first home run of 1982, and the Braves appeared to be in good shape. Rick Mahler had pitched well, and Garber had closed out the 8th inning for him. But in mere moments, the victory celebration was put on ice - and then put away.

Milt May singled to lead off the 9th and Max Venable replaced the catcher in hopes of scoring the tying run. Champ Summers singled Venable to third, putting runners at the corners with nobody out, and bringing Al Hrabosky into the game in hopes of salvaging the win. Darrell Evans forced Summers at second, but Venable scored to tie the game with one out. After Hrabosky struck out Tom O'Malley, Bob Brenly pinch-hit for Lavelle and singled, Evans going to third on an throwing error by rookie Randy Johnson. A single by Johnnie LeMaster scored Evans, giving the Giants the lead, and not wanting to put the game out of reach with a home run, Atlanta opted to walk Joe Morgan, loading the bases. Steve Bedrosian came on and after falling 2-1 behind Davis in the count, Bedrock watched helplessly as Chili lifted a ball to right field that carried into the bleachers for Davis' first career grand slam and gave the Giants a 9-4 lead, which is how it ended. It was sweet redemption for May to begin the comeback as he had dropped a throw from the outfield that would have nailed Claudell Washington at the plate and netted the Braves their first run...a throw from Davis.

 

[selmaborntidefan]

June 20, 1982
San Francisco Giants 5 (W: Laskey, 6-4; SV: Minton, 11)
Atlanta Braves 3 (L: Walk, 6-5)
39-25
1st place
3.5 games ahead

 

[selmaborntidefan]

June 21, 1982
Atlanta Braves 7 (W: Camp, 5-3)
San Francisco Giants 6 (L: Minton, 3-4)
40-25
1st place
3.5 games ahead

3-RUN 9TH SAVES ATLANTA IN 7-6 WIN;
AARON WANTS INTERLEAGUE PLAY

The Atlanta Braves' bullpen woes are well-established, but lesser known is that their bench is apparently deeper than first imagined. Three consecutive pinch-hitters reached base in the bottom of the 9th to ignite an Atlanta rally and lift the Braves to a 7-6 win over the San Francisco Giants after the vulnerable bullpen and erratic reliever Rick Camp had seemingly let the opponent win another game late. Chris Chambliss' fourth hit of the ninth with the bases loaded scored Claudell Washington from third to seal the Atlanta comeback against Giants reliver Greg Minton and earn the Braves a split in the four-game series. The Braves became the second team in the majors and only team in the NL to reach 40 wins this season as Boston's 5-1 triumph over Detroit ended a few minutes before Atlanta completed their comeback. The two teams were joined by the California Angels, who won on the West Coast hours later.

The Braves scored quickly off rookie Alan Fowlkes when leadoff batter Brett Butler singled to right and then advanced to third on an errant pickoff throw. Washington singled Butler home, but an early Braves rally was squelched when Dale Murphy bounced into a double play. The lead was short-lived as Darrell Evans took a delivery from his former teammate, Phil Niekro, into the bleachers to tie the game at one in the top of the 2nd. Evans scored the Giants' second run in his next plate appearance as he walked and then scored on a Jim Wohlford double that saw Wohlford go to third on a Murphy error. Bob Brenly singled Wohlford home to extend the Giants lead to 3-1. Brenly, the team's catcher, stole second without damage, but the Braves learned nothing as in his next plate appearance, Brenly walked, stole second and then scored on a base hit, putting the Giants up 4-1.

After having a forgettable five innings, all was forgiven when Murphy began the sixth by slamming his league-leading 21st home run, a solo shot that cut the lead to two runs. Bob Horner then doubled, spelling the end for Fowlkes, and Al Holland became the only Giants pitcher to retire Chambliss this night as he induced a ground out back to the mound. But with one out, Brenly was called for catcher's interference, putting Bruce Benedict on base. Randy Johnson singled, scoring Horner and putting Benedict in position to tie the game. Rufino Linares singled, loading the bases, and now Manager Joe Torre had the bases loaded with one out and Butler due at the plate. Fearing a double play, Torre opted to replace the speedy Butler with the slugger Bob Watson, hoping for lighting to strike in the form of a grand slam. Watson hit a ball to center deep enough to score Benedict, but it wound up a double play when Johnson was nailed attempting to advance to third. The game was now tied, but the Braves had blown another chance to blow the game open - and Butler was now on the bench.

Rick Camp came into the game in another long relief role and after retiring the first two hitters was betrayed by the Atlanta defense. Washington's error put Johnnie LeMaster at second and he scored to give the Giants the lead, 5-4, when Joe Morgan singled to right. With two outs in the top of the 9th, Chili Davis again connected for a home run, and it appeared the icing was on the cake as the Giants now led, 6-4. A repeated replacement sequence wound up putting Gary Lavelle against Jerry Royster, and the longtime utility man drew a walk to open the bottom of the 9th. Linares grounded out to short, but Royster, in motion on the play, advanced to second. Pinch-hitter Larry Whisenton then tripled Royster home, and just like that, the Braves had the tying run at third with one out. When pinch-hitter Biff Pocoroba singled Whisenton home, the game was tied, and the Braves had the winning run at first. Needing more speed than a catcher usually has, Glenn Hubbard came on to run for Pocoroba and moved to second when Washington singled past short. Both runners moved ahead when new pitcher Greg Minton threw a wild pitch, leaving the Giants no option but to pick their poison: Murphy or Horner? They opted to walk Murphy, setting up the force at every base with one out. This strategy paid off at first because Horner bounced to short, and Hubbard was forced at home, leaving the bases loaded with two out. But Chambliss, who already had three hits on the night, singled into center, and Washington crossed the plate with the winning run as the Braves escaped with a win, 7-6.

Hank Aaron, who will be inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in about six weeks, opined about the possibility of interleague play in the majors, and he's all in favor of it. The baseball legend said the one regret of his career was not getting to play more games against all-time greats like Mickey Mantle and Ted Williams and baseball should rectify this by moving to at least a limited schedule of interleague games. Aaron noted he had only faced those two guys in All-Star Games or (in Mantle's case) the World Series. He mused about the fact that when he returned to Milwaukee to play for the Brewers in his final two seasons, he got to play in ballparks he'd never been able to visit previously because he was now in the American League. The only game Aaron played in Fenway Park prior to 1975 was when he was on NL All-Star team in 1961. Aaron simultaneously endorsed the idea of MLB saving on travel costs by structuring the leagues geographically - for example, have a Western United States league (or at least a division) that includes teams like the six West Coast teams, the two Texas teams, the two Missouri teams, the Twins, and the White Sox. Aaron's proposal is thoughtful, but it has an immediate obvious problem: the two leagues play a different type of baseball where the pitcher is concerned because the AL has the designated hitter. And while it sounds appealing to say that the NL thus has an advantage because they get to just add a batter, the fact they are not designed for this full-time actually creates a disadvantage unless you have a .280 hitter sitting on the bench a lot in the NL. Most NL staffs will still have an extra pitcher (because they must). One possible way around this would be to expand the rosters by one player each and require the pitching to staff to be a certain number of players. But will the extra player(s) offset some of the money allegedly gained from travel cost saving? It's a thoughtful idea, and it may eventually happen. Right now, however, baseball has to recover from the damage they inflicted on themselves with last year's strike before they make any radical changes.

 

[selmaborntidefan]

June 22, 1982
Los Angeles Dodgers 4 (W: Stewart, 2-4; SV: Howe, 4)
Atlanta Braves 1 (L: Bedrosian, 3-1)
40-26
1st place
3.5 games ahead

INJURED LA STARTER HELPS DODGERS BEAT BRAVES
CAREW'S 25-GAME HIT STREAK ENDS;
ROSE PASSES AARON FOR #2 ON ALL-TIME HIT LIST;
STEINBRENNER WHINES, WILL SEND VIDEO TO LEAGUE OFFICE

Vicente Romo twisted his knee, and Dodgers Manager Tom Lasorda was compelled to replace Romo with his fastball-throwing reliever Dave Stewart in hopes of stopping the fastball-hitting Atlanta Braves. Everything came up violets (roses are red, violets are blue) as the Dodgers topped the first-place Braves, 4-1, largely on the backs - and bats - of Steve Garvey and Dusty Baker. Each hit solo shots, Garvey in the second inning and Baker in the third, while Stewart scattered three hits over five innings and one unearned run thanks to an error by Baker while getting his second win. Atlanta opted to spot start Steve Bedrosian to give their rotation a day of rest, and while he wasn't terrible, he left after five innings trailing, 3-1, and struck out five.

Pete Rose doubled with two outs in the third inning, scoring Ivan DeJesus. The hit, off rookie John Stuper, is the 3,772nd of Rose's glorious career, moving him past Hall of Fame-elect member Hank Aaron and into second place on the all-time hits list. Rose is now 419 hits from tying Ty Cobb as the all-time leader, and 228 hits from reaching the 4,000 mark. He's also 41 years old, so the unlikelihood of him passing the record grows each day. The Cardinals won the game, 3-2, thanks to a bases loaded walk in the bottom of the 8th. Aaron was not present at Busch Stadium to see Rose pass him on the list, but Rose waved it off with the observation that he and Aaron are friends and his bigger disappointment was his son, Pete Jr., was not there. Six years ago today, eventual Cy Young winner Randy Jones tied the major league record by going 68 consecutive innings without walking a batter. Tonight, he walked the first four batters of the game before getting the hook, and three of them scored, leading Montreal to a 4-3 edging of the New York Mets. A throwing error by Luis Salazar scored Eddie Milner with the go-ahead run in a key 3-run rally late that lifted the Cincinnati Reds to a 7-5 win over the San Diego Padres. Vern Ruhle, who alternates between being a fifth starter and a long reliever, tossed a complete game three-hitter to give Houston a 2-0 win over San Francisco. John Candelaria, Dave Parker, and Jim Morrison each had two RBIs while rookie Johnny Ray had three hits and scored twice in Pittsburgh's 9-2 rout of the Cubs.

Rod Carew, he of the seven batting titles, saw his 25-game hit streak end in California's 4-0 shutout loss to Rick Honeycutt and the Texas Rangers. Not a bad hitting streak for a batter who broke his hand earlier this season. The Milwaukee Brewers have caught fire under new Manager Harvey Kuenn, and they jumped out to a 3-2 lead at the end of the second inning - and neither team scored the rest of the way as Pete Vuckovich won his ninth game. Yankee principal owner George Steinbrenner was as hot as the Brewers but for a different reason, complaining that the umpires blew two calls that affected the outcome of the game. His team gets only five hits, and he blames the umpires for his team's loss. Rookie Wade Boggs socked his first major league home run in the bottom of the 11th at Fenway Park to cap a Boston rally and give the Red Sox a 5-4 win over Detroit. Boston was down to their last out trailing by two when Dwight Evans socked a two-run shot off of Milt Wilcox to force extra innings. Julio Cruz stole third and scored on a throwing error by catcher Buck Martinez to lift Seattle to a 6-5 win over fellow expansion team Toronto. Bud Black and Dan Quisenberry combined to limit Oakland to six hits, and "Quiz" earned his 20th save in Kansas City's 2-1 win over the Athletics. Rookie Von Hayes keyed a six-run Cleveland inning with a triple to start it and a two-run single to end it as the Indians held off the Orioles, 8-6. Baltimore starter Sammy Stewart left the game in the second with sore knees. Ron LeFlore snapped a 5-5 tie in the bottom of the 8th with a leadoff home run to give the White Sox their sixth win in eight games, 6-5, over the hapless Minnesota Twins.

The Blue Jays, who just picked up Dick Davis from the Phillies last week, sent Davis back to Pennsylvania in a trade with the Pirates for a "player to be named later."

 

[selmaborntidefan]

June 23, 1982
Atlanta Braves 7 (W: Mahler, 7-5)
Los Angeles Dodgers 2 (L: Valenzuela, 9-6)
41-26
1st place
4.5 games ahead

MAHLER'S HR, 7-HITTER BEAT LA;
EXPOS IN 1ST; TIGERS LOSE 10TH STRAIGHT;
OAKLAND PULLS BATTING ORDER OUT OF HAT, STILL LOSES

Rick Mahler socked the first home run of his major league career and scattered 7 hits while going the distance and striking out 5 as the Braves avenged last night's loss with a 7-2 thumping of Dodgers ace Fernando Valenzuela. After allowing three of the first four batters he faced to reach base - and one to score - Mahler only surrendered one hit until the 9th, when another three-hit sequence netted Los Angeles their last run. Mahler got Ron Cey to bounce into a game-ending 4-6-3 double play and left the mound with his 7th win and fifth complete game of 1982. But perhaps nothing was as surprising as his home run.

After falling behind 1-0 in the first, it only took the Braves five batters to take the lead. Claudell Washington greeted Valenzuela with a double, and Glenn Hubbard attempted to bunt Washington to third and wound up with runners at the corners with nobody out on an excellently placed attempted sacrifice. After Chris Chambliss struck out, Dale Murphy walked to load the bases for Bob Horner, who singled home both Washington and Hubbard to give the Braves a 2-1 lead. Murphy then scored on an infield out, and while the Braves could have had more, they went back into the field with a 3-1 lead. Mahler, as noted, hit his stride, retiring 17 of the next 18 batters and permitting just one walk. By the time Ron Cey broke the seeming spell Mahler had on the Dodgers, the game was hopelessly out of reach, thanks to an Atlanta rally in the sixth.

Valenzuela surrendered four straight singles to Murphy, Horner, Rufino Linares, and Bruce Benedict, which netted the Braves two more runs and spelled the end for Fernando. Rookie Alejandro Pena came on and appeared to have put out the fire when he got Rafael Ramirez to bounce into a double play, bringing Mahler to bat with Linares on and two outs. Mahler was an acceptable 10-for-34 for a pitcher with one career double and 2 RBIs, so Pena likely felt he had the advantage. Trying to get ahead in the count, Pena threw one right across the plate on the first pitch, and Mahler drilled it into the seats for a two-run shot that gave him a 7-1 lead in a game he was dominating on the mound. Mahler later singled in his last at bat. The win leaves the Braves 4.5 games ahead of the Padres and 6.5 ahead of the defending World Series champion Dodgers.

The Montreal Expos, who lost last year's NLCS to the Dodgers in the 9th inning, moved into first place (as predicted in the preseason) with a 5-0 win over the Mets that saw Warren Cromartie sock two homers and starter Steve Rogers scatter 8 hits and strike out 7 in his 9th win. Mike Krukow scattered seven hits and drove in a run while Manny Trillo had 3 RBIs to help the Phillies end a three-game losing streak with 7-1 win over St Louis. The Cardinals are out of first place for the first time since April 15. Junior Kennedy's RBI single in the tenth off of Randy Niemann gave the Cubs a 6-5 win over the Padres, who had just tied the game in the bottom of the ninth. The San Francisco Giants squandered a 6-1 lead, but pinch-hitter Max Venable singled in the winning run in the 8th of a 9-8 Giants triumph over the Astros. Paul Householder socked a two-run homer in the 8th inning and Eddie Milner gunned down the tying run at home plate with a throw that nailed Broderick Perkins and preserved a 5-4 Reds win over the Padres.

Thanks to a 1-7 record in their last eight, Oakland Athletics Manager Billy Martin tried something new by having starting centerfielder Dwayne Murphy draw the starting lineup batting order out of a hat. Given the Athletics have been shut out twice and held to one run two other times, this might not have been the worst idea, although having baseball's best leadoff batter, Rickey Henderson, batting 8th was preposterous. And it didn't work, either. Oakland was shutout for the third time in the last nine games and lost when starter Brian Kingman walked the first two batters of the 9th inning and Hal McRae scored the game's only run as Kansas City prevailed over Outrageous Oakland, 1-0. The irony is that the winning pitcher for Kansas City, Larry Gura, is well-known to be loathed by Billy Martin, so he gained a slight measure of satisfaction and revenge. Detroit lost their 10th straight game in a 10-4 pounding that saw Dennis Eckersley outduel Jack Morris. Detroit in first place seems so May now, doesn't it? Reggie Jackson slammed a two-run homer and Rob Wilfong scored twice and had 3 hits as California remained 1/2 game ahead of the Royals with a 5-3 win over Texas. Three outs from a 3-0 win, Dennis Lamp took the mound in the 9th and walked leadoff hitter Tom Brunansky. It ignited a furious rally as the Twins scored six runs off of three White Sox relievers, the key blow Tim Laudner's three-run home run off relief ace Salome Barojas, and the Twins turned a loss into a win with a 6-3 triumph. Jim Palmer went 7 innings and tied Carl Hubbell for 30th on the all-time list with his 253rd win in Baltimore's 3-1 defeat of Cleveland. Mike Morgan and Goose Gossage scattered five hits and Roy Smalley drilled a three-run homer in the fifth to lift the Yankees to a 3-2 win over the Brewers, ending Milwaukee's seven-game winning streak. Tied at 3 in the 11th, Vance McHenry's pivot to first on an inning-ending double play went awry, and the Blue Jays scored twice to prevail over Seattle, 5-3.

 

[selmaborntidefan]

June 24, 1982
Los Angeles Dodgers 5 (W: Reuss, 9-5; SV: Howe, 5)
Atlanta Braves 3 (L: Walk, 6-6)
41-27
1st place
3.5 games ahead

BRAVE RALLY FALLS SHORT AS LA TAKES 2 OF 3;
TIGERS BEAT O'S TO END 10-GAME SKID;
REGGIE ROCKS ROYALS AND BIG STEIN OPENS HIS MOUTH - AGAIN

The general consensus regarding the success of the Atlanta Braves, both entering the season and now a little more than 40% into the season, is this: the Braves must score early, their starter must go deep into the game, and then hold on for dear life. Putting Atlanta in position where they must come back is the best prescription for defeating them. The Los Angeles Dodgers applied the best Rx tonight at Fulton County Stadium, and behind 7 effective innings by starter Jerry Reuss, the Dodgers prevailed, 5-3, to take the best-of-three series from Atlanta and close to only 5 1/2 games out of first place. The problem, however, is that Reuss pitched 7 effective innings but was still on the mound with two outs in the 9th when Atlanta brought the winning run to the plate in a game they trailed entering the bottom of the 8th, 5-0. Steve Howe needs to thank whomever he worships or shows gratitude that it was Glenn Hubbard and not the next hitter in the batting order, Dale Murphy, who was left standing in the on deck circle at game's end.

Reuss has pitched quite well this year, at times, having tossed two one-hitters. For 7 innings he scattered four while the Dodger hitters made short work of Braves starter Bob Walk, who fell behind two batters into the game when Steve Sax singled, stole second, and scored on a Ken Landreaux base hit. From that moment until the Dodgers knocked him out of the game in the 5th, the only bad pitch Walk made was to leadoff hitter Steve Garvey in the fourth, who put it in the seats for his tenth homer of the season, his 7th in the last 19 games. Atlanta's lone chance at a run until game's end came in the second, when Rufino Linares was gunned down at home plate on an attempted sacrifice fly by Rafael Ramirez. But in the fifth, Walk was gone, leaving the bases juiced for reliever Preston Hanna, who took over with Atlanta down, 4-0, but allowed no further scoring until he weakened in the 7th and walked Dusty Baker, who raced home on Garvey's double. With Reuss working diligently, the game looked to be over when Atlanta began to stir in the 8th. Claudell Washington doubled with one out and scored on Hubbard's base hit. Atlanta's power hitting duo, Murphy and Bob Horner followed, but Reuss got both on fly outs, sending the game to the 9th with a 5-1 cushion. It almost wasn't enough.

Linares led off the 9th with a double and quickly scored on a single by Bob Watson. Reuss then struck out Bruce Benedict and Randy Johnson, needing only one out to seal the win. But when Royster singled, putting two runners on base and bringing up Washington as the potential tying run, Dodger Manager Tommy Lasorda went to his bullpen for Howe. Washington singled, scoring Watson, and bringing up Hubbard as the potential winning run. But Howe got Hubbard to pop out in foul territory at first, and the Dodgers have gone 8-2 in their last ten and picked up 3 games in that time span on Atlanta. Unfortunately for the Dodgers, they lost Derrell Thomas for at least six weeks when he broke his left ankle in a collision with third base coach Danny Ozark.

Gary Matthews hit a home run - maybe - and Ivan DeJesus slugged his first homer as a Philly and drove in three to guide Steve Carlton and Philadelphia to a 10-2 rout of the St Louis Cardinals. Matthews' shot down the left field line appeared to be foul but was ruled a home run by third base umpire Bill Davidson. Charlie Puleo and Mike Scott combined to hold Montreal to 8 hits and snap the Expos' six-game winning streak in a 3-1 Mets win. Tim Flannery's sacrifice fly in the 13th drove in the winning run for San Diego, who blew a 6-0 lead they obtained largely on five errors from the sloppy Cincinnati defense. The Padres won, 7-6. Jack Clark's solo home run in the 10th salvaged a noble effort by rookie pitcher Atlee Hammaker, who went the distance for his fourth win of the year as the Giants topped the Astros, 4-3.

Three bombs from Lou Whitaker, Larry Herndon, and Kirk Gibson ended Detroit's ten-game losing streak in a 7-1 rout of Baltimore. Toby Harrah and Mike Hargrove had 8th inning RBIs that lifted the Indians to a 5-2 win over the Yankees and ended Ron Guidry's six-game winning streak. The Yankee loss also brought forth the wrath of owner George Steinbrenner, who held a meeting with his coaches and demanded extra practice on Monday for a team underachieving. Even before the meeting, his postgame comments made it clear where his mind was: "The guys that are supposed to produce are just not producing. They're not earning their money. The majority of them are bitter disappointments and should be ashamed to take the money they're taking. Maybe we made some mistakes, and if we did, we'll own up to them. Then we have to see who's advising us and make the necessary changes. I think this team needs a lot of practice. And if they need a lot of practice, we'll give it to them. They'll get all they need. I think they need a lot of things. Maybe we're fighting an age factor. Maybe I've waited too long on some guys. I'll tell you one thing, you'll see some of my young kids soon. I'm not against outright releases."

One of the old guys he may have let go too soon, Reggie Jackson, sparked his new club (the Angels) to a 7-2 rout of Kansas City with his fifth home run in seven games (and 15th of the season), capping a six-run inning and extending California's division lead to 1 1/2 games. Oakland's offensive woes continued in a 2-1 loss to Texas as Jon Matlack and Danny Darwin combined on a three-hitter.

 

[selmaborntidefan]

June 25, 1982
Atlanta Braves 5 (W: Niekro, 6-2; SV: Garber, 12)
Cincinnati Reds 2 (L: Berenyi, 5-8)
42-27
1st place
3.5 games ahead

NIEKRO GETS LAST OUT HELP AND WINS, 5-2;
YANKEES RESPOND TO STEINBRENNER;
NORDHAGEN TRADED FOR DAVIS - AGAIN!

He got some last out help from two relievers, but 43-year-old Phil Niekro threw 133 pitches tonight at Riverfront Stadium and took a shutout into the 9th before tiring as the Braves beat the Reds, 5-2, in Cincinnati and raised Niekro's record on the season to 6-2. Niekro was none-too-pleased with his manager, Joe Torre, who is younger than Niekro by about 15 months. Torre praised Niekro's competitiveness and noted it was that asset that has Niekro still on the mound while Torre calls the shots from the dugout. Gene Garber came on to retire Ron Oester on a grounder to first to earn his 12th save.

The Braves spent all night building a lead, picking up single runs in the 1st, 3rd, and 6th innings before chasing Reds starter Bruce Berenyi after four straight hits in the 7th netted Atlanta two more runs for a 5-0 lead. Niekro took the shutout into the 9th and though he walked ageless wonder Johnny Bench, he was one out from a complete game when Larry Biitner doubled Bench home, ending the shutout and Niekro's night. Eddie Milner hit a second straight double, this one off reliever Al Hrabosky, that scored Biitner, and all of a sudden the Reds had the tying run in the on deck circle. But Garber's effectiveness ended any potential comeback by the Reds, and the Braves are now 6-1 on the year against the Reds and 4-0 in Riverfront Stadium. If you don't believe the momentum has shifted, Cincinnati beat the Reds 16 out of 18 times just two years ago, which was Atlanta's best season since 1974 at that time.

Jay Johnstone clubbed a three-run homer and Fergie Jenkins scattered 7 hits as the Cubs upended the Cardinals, 5-3. Dick Ruthven scattered three hits and Bill Robinson walked with the bases loaded in the bottom of the 9th to give Philadelphia a 1-0 win over the New York Mets in the first game of a doubleheader. In the nightcap, George Vuckovich's two-run double was the key blow as the Phillies swept the twin bill, 5-3. Alan Ashby and Tony Scott each had a two-out RBI single that broke a 5-5 tie and lifted the Astros to a 7-5 win over the Dodgers. Tony Pena socked two solo homers and starting pitcher Don Robinson clubbed a two-run bomb himself while scattering 7 hits in Pittsburgh's 4-3 win over Montreal in Game One of their doubleheader. In the nightcap, the Pirates survived a furious five-run Expos rally in the bottom of the 9th as Tim Raines, the tying run at bat, struck out to end the game in favor of Pittsburgh, 9-7. Juan Eichelberger pitched six strong innings and drove home the eventual game winner with an RBI double, leading the Padres to a 3-2 win over the Giants.

George Steinbrenner will no doubt credit himself. After an insulting tirade over a team he feels is underachieving, Steinbrenner's Yankees crushed the Cleveland Indians, 11-3, with a 13-hit barrage that included home runs by Graig Nettles and Roy Smalley. The owner also held a closed door meeting that none of the players will mention, probably on fear of being traded to, well, Cleveland. The Oakland Athletics, 1-9 in their last ten games including a seven-game losing streak, as Dwayne Murphy's RBI double keyed Steve McCatty's first win since returning from the 21-day disabled list in a 6-1 triumph over the Rangers in Texas. Terry Crowley and Cal Ripken Jr.'s sixth inning singles broke the tie and sent the Orioles on their way to a 5-2 triumph over the Detroit Tigers. Dave Henderson hit a sixth inning homer and Jim Beattie and two relievers combined on a four-hitter as Seattle edged the Chicago White Sox, 1-0. Cecil Cooper and Gorman Thomas both drilled two-run homers, part of a 16-hit slugfest in Milwaukee's 9-3 crushing of the Boston Red Sox.

Royals reliever Dan Quisenberry made one of his many humorous jibes before the game and then went out and blew the lead. But then he won the game anyway. Warming up, Quiz noted, "The Angels are the American League All-Stars. That's the problem: the American League All-Stars always lose." In the last 23 All-Star games, the AL is 2-20-1, so he's not wrong on that count. After being spotted a first-inning 3-run lead, Kansas City starter Paul Splittorff gave it up after six innings and turned it over to the submarine pitching reliever, Quisenberry. Spotted a two-run lead entering the bottom of the 8th, Quisenberry gave up 3 hits and 2 runs, the most shocking a solo bomb to Rod Carew, who only had 82 career homers entering the contest. But Hal McRae bailed out Quisenberry in the tenth with a two-run shot, and Quiz made it hold up for an 8-6 Royals win.

Meanwhile comes one of the strangest stories ever involving trades, particularly of players who aren't all that good in the first place. Wayne Nordhagen has been a part-time big leaguer who has appeared in about 400 games over the last six season. Just prior to the start of the season, Nordhagen was traded to from the White Sox to the to the Toronto Blue Jays for third baseman Aurelio Rodriguez.
Then, just ten days ago, Nordhagen was traded to the Phillies in exchange for Dick Davis, a .270 hitting outfielder with no power. On that same day, Nordhagen was then shipped to Pittsburgh in exchange for Bill Robinson. Confused? You haven't seen anything yet.

Three days ago, Davis was traded to the Pirates for the always amusing "player to be named later." Today, the Blue Jays announced their choice: Wayne Nordhagen! Yes, you read that correctly: Wayne Nordhagen and Dick Davis, two major leaguers whose name you couldn't pick out of a hat or identify, have been traded for each other TWICE in the span of ten days (technically a week). It's probably no surprise these trades of nobodies are happening with teams not expected to contend for the World Series. Pittsburgh is still close enough to make a run, but they won't. Toronto, well, wait until 1984, I guess.

 

[selmaborntidefan]

June 26, 1982
Cincinnati Reds 2 (W: Seaver, 4-8; SV: Hume, 16)
Atlanta Braves 1 (L: Dayley, 3-4)
42-28
1st place
2.5 games ahead

REDS BEAT BRAVES ON RARE TWO-ERROR PLAY;
BOSTON SCORES 10 - AND LOSES;
KAAT WINS 280TH AND THREE GAMES GO EXTRAS

Tom Seaver has more starts in the rearview mirror than he does in front of him, but he's still Tom Terrific from time to time. Tonight was one of those as the 37-year-old future Hall of Famer allowed two hits that scored Atlanta's only run in the top of the first and only one hit the next seven innings on his way to a 2-1 victory over the Braves for career win #262. Seaver even benefited - and won - thanks to a bizarre two errors on play rarity that scored Dan Driessen with the winning run on what appeared to be a simple stolen base in the sixth. Braves rookie starter Ken Dayley performed better in his 8th career start than any of the previous 7 and wound up saddled with the loss because his team couldn't score against a legend. The Braves did, however, score first, as they almost always do.

After Seaver retired the first two Atlanta hitters, Claudell Washington doubled. Dale Murphy's single plated Washington, and the Braves were quick out of the gate again, 1-0. But from that moment until the end of the game, the Braves only had two more baserunners. The Reds did hit Dayley harder than the Braves hit Seaver, but they didn't do much with them. In the first two innings, the Reds left four men on base. Then in the third, Ron Oester and Dave Concepcion both singled, and both moved into scoring position when Dayley threw a wild pitch. But the rookie calmed down enough to retire Cesar Cedeno on an infield fly before Paul Householder's sacrifice fly to center scored Oester and tied the game. The Reds thus left another baserunner aboard at the end of the 3rd and two more at the conclusion of the 4th. Householder singled and was caught stealing in the fifth, but in the sixth, Cincinnati finally cashed in when two Atlanta blunders cost the Braves the game.

Driessen opened the inning with a single. When he attempted to steal second, catcher Biff Pocoroba threw the ball into centerfield. Driessen raced to third and would have been nailed at third by Brett Butler's throw except the ball bounced off Bob Horner's glove, and Driessen came around to score and give the Reds all they would need to win. Tom Hume retired the Braves in order in the 9th for his 16th save.

Rarely does a team give up ten runs and win, but it happened tonight at Fenway Park. Ben Oglivie broke a late tie with 18th homer and drove in 3 runs overall as Milwaukee outlasted the Red Sox, 11-10. Former Rookie of the Year John Castino singled with two outs in the 9th to score Gary Ward and lift the Twins to a 4-3 win over Dave Stieb and the Blue Jays. Tim Laudner hit his third career homer. Dave Hostetler, Buddy Bell, and Billy Sample all homered in Texas' 4-3 triumph over Oakland. Ken Griffey broke out of an 0-for-20 streak with a sacrifice fly that scored Graig Nettles and sealed the Yankees' 4-3 win over the Indians in 17 innings. Cleveland led at one point, 3-0. Gary Roenicke's three run homer supported the seven-hit pitching of Dennis Martinez in Baltimore's 4-1 win over the Detroit Tigers. The Tigers are 1-12 in their last 13 contests. Don Baylor's home run with one out in the bottom of the 12th turned a 5-4 deficit to the Royals into a 6-5 win for the Angels. Dan Quisenberry blew the save and took the loss. The White Sox hit five home runs, including a three-run shot by Carlton Fisk, in a 13-5 rout of the Mariners.

Jim Kaat won his 280th career game as the Cardinals swept a doubleheader from the Cubs by scores of 4-1 and 2-1. Kaat beat Lee Smith, making only his second career major league start, in the nightcap. Pittsburgh banged out 19 hits that included and 8-run inning in a 14-5 rout of the Expos, Montreal's fourth loss in a row. Dave Stewart and Steve Howe combined on a five-hitter to beat former Dodger Don Sutton, now with Houston, 4-1. A15th inning single by Broderick Perkins scored Garry Templeton and helped the Padres beat the Giants, 7-5. Reliever Eric Show, who entered the game in the 14th, got the win. The Philadelphia Phillies swept their second doubleheader in two days from the same New York Mets team, 4-3 and 7-4, thanks largely to Mike Schmidt's 8th inning homer in the nightcap.

 

[selmaborntidefan]

June 27, 1982
Atlanta Braves 2 (W: Garber, 6-3; SV: Hrabosky, 3)
Cincinnati Reds 0 (L: Hume, 1-3)
14 innings
43-28
1st place
2.5 games ahead

 

[selmaborntidefan]

June 28, 1982
Houston Astros 6 (W: Ryan, 7-8)
Atlanta Braves 2 (L: Mahler, 7-6)
43-29
1st place
2.5 games ahead

RYAN BEATS BRAVES ON 4-HITTER;
PHILS IN 1ST BUT ROSE HIT STREAK ENDS;
J.R. RICHARD RETURNS - BADLY

Nolan Ryan struck out ten Atlanta Braves and gave up only four hits in 8 innings as the Houston Astros won, 6-2, at Fulton County Stadium tonight in a game delayed 2 hours, 7 minutes by rain. Atlanta's runs came on solo home runs by catcher Biff Pocoroba and outfielder Rufino Linares. Rick Mahler took the loss by surrendering six runs on 7 hits in 5.2 innings to fall to 7-6 on the season.

In the NL East, the Philadelphia Phillies waived good-bye to a deficit that had them 9 games out not long ago as they climbed into first on the strength of Steve Carlton's six-hit complete game win, 1-0, over the former leaders, the St. Louis Cardinals. The game's lone run came in the bottom of the 5th when Bob Dernier singled with one out, stole second, and scored on an RBI base hit by Gary Matthews. Steve Mura pitched well enough to end Pete Rose's 21-game hitting streak but was still saddled with the loss. Steve Yeager drove in three runs with a two-run homer and RBI single while Pedro Guererro added a two-run shot of his own in the Dodgers' 6-4 win over San Diego that gave Fernando Valenzuela his 10th win. Renie Martin tossed a four-hitter and struck out 7 for his third career complete game in San Francisco's 7-1 thumping of the Cincinnati Reds. The Giants gave Martin all he needed by blasting Reds starter Charlie Leibrandt off the mound with a six-run first. Joe Morgan and Darrell Evans homered for the Giants. Leon Durham's two bombs and a triple drove in four runs to lift the Cubs to a 6-4 win over the Pirates.

A five-run seventh keyed by Jerry Remy's bases loaded double lifted Boston to a 9-7 win over Milwaukee, ending a three-game Red Sox losing streak. The win leaves the Red Sox 3 games ahead of the Brewers in the AL East. Rudy Law's three-run double and Steve Kemp's two-run homer were the key blows in a seven-run fourth that saw the Twins rally furiously but fall short of a comeback, 8-7. Rickey Henderson drove in four runs and Dwayne Murphy drilled a three-run homer as the Athletics gave the Royals their third straight loss, 8-4. Henderson currently has 71 stolen bases and is on pace to obliterate the single-season steals record.

Less than two years ago, J.R. Richard was the toast of the baseball, the flame-throwing tall righty with the Astros who led the league in strikeouts in 1978 and 1979 and started the All-Star Game for the NL in 1980. Two weeks later, he suffered a stroke and has not thrown a pitch in a game since. He came back tonight with results that were mediocre at best. He does not possess the velocity that made him one of the most feared pitchers to face, and the stroke appears to have left him with slow reactions to game situations that may require him to make instant decisions. Richard pitched 4 innings for the Daytona Beach Astros tonight against the St. Petersburg Cardinals, throwing 64 pitches and leaving while trailing, 3-1. He was also slow covering first base on a grounder, possessed none of his former velocity, and he's 32 years old, ready to begin the downhill slope from a baseball prime. Still, onlookers admired the simple fact he was standing on a pitching mound again. It will be interesting to see if he develops well enough to return to the big leagues.

The Mariners released Lenny Randle, and the Athletics released Jim Spencer.

 

[selmaborntidefan]

June 29, 1982
Atlanta Braves 6 (W: Bedrosian, 4-1)
Houston Astros 5 (L: LaCoss, 3-3)
11 innings
44-29
1st place
2.5 games ahead

BRAVES RALLY FROM 5-0 HOLE TO WIN IN 11

As noted previously, the success of the Atlanta Braves this season has largely depended upon:
a) get out to a big early lead
b) get 6 innings from your starter
c) hope your shaky bullpen gets 9 outs before the team catches up

The Braves are not built to come from behind, particularly when trailing late by a large lead, but tonight the Braves came to bat in the bottom of the sixth trailing, 5-0, and rallied to tie it with two in the 6th and three in the 7th and then won it in the bottom of the 11th when three straight singles scored Rufino Linares with the game-winning run in a 6-5 Atlanta triumph. Houston hit Atlanta starter Bob Walk early for five runs, including Dickie Thon's first of the year in the first inning, but the Braves rally began with three straight singles in the sixth and a wild pitch by Astros starter Joe Niekro that led to two Braves runs. It was when Houston pulled the tiring Niekro that Atlanta cashed in on the Houston bullpen.

Bert Roberge came on in relief and faced just five hitters. He only retired one, giving up three singles and a walk and Houston was bailed out only by a retiring Brett Butler at third on Glenn Hubbard's two-run RBI single in the 7th that tied the game. Hubbard was he Atlanta star, going 3-for-5 with a run scored, including the game-winning single in the 11th. The win keeps Atlanta in first by 2.5 games over the Padres.

 

[selmaborntidefan]

June 30, 1982
Atlanta Braves 5 (W: Diaz, 1-0)
Houston Astros 4 (L: Knepper, 2-9)
45-29
1st place
3 games ahead

 

[selmaborntidefan]

July 1, 1982
TRAVEL DAY
45-29
1st place
3 games ahead

STEINBRENNER WISHES HE HADN'T SIGNED WINFIELD;
BRAVES BACK TO ATLANTA FOR 10-GAME HOMESTAND;
BIG RED MACHINE IS OFFICIALLY DEAD;
FIDRYCH OUTDUELS RIGHETTI - IN THE MINORS

Well, Mount St. George is erupting again - and again, it's the Yankees who will pay the price for the lack of tact and emphasis on humiliation to NOT achieve his desires. Only 15 months into a blockbuster 10-year, $2.3 million contract, George Steinbrenner is tired of Dave Winfield. Oh, and he wishes he had Reggie Jackson back, too. That's basically what we learned today as the Yankees' principal owner went on one of his childish observationfests today that is supposed to show how "in control" he is but generally shows nothing except how colossally lacking in basic relationships he is. Steinbrenner is involved in a tangle over alleged nonpayment to the David M. Winfield Foundation, and he used his lawyers' "don't mention this" as an excuse to unload on one of baseball's best players, observing it was probably a mistake to sign him, Winfield hasn't done much, and he'd be open to trading the All-Star outfielder.

"What is Dave Winfield as a player? He's an outstanding athlete, but he's not a superstar like Reggie Jackson, who can carry a club. He does everything well...I wouldn't stand in the man's way [if he wanted a trade]...I don't think there's any team that would take him at those prices."

Nostalgia is a helluva drug, and Steinbrenner spent all last year insulting Jackson in a revenge year before refusing to sign him as a free agent. Jackson constantly played the race card, he had repeated conflicts with teammates in New York (even before his arrival), and last summer upon return for the strike, Steinbrenner made this observation......about Reggie:

It’s his head that’s all screwed up. You know what’s eating away at Reggie Jackson? He’s playing in an outfield with the greatest athlete in baseball today. Dave Winfield runs better and throws better and hits for average better. Don’t you think Reggie sees that? Don’t you think he knows that? It eats him alive.

So...in less than a year, Winfield has gone from better than Reggie to not as good as Reggie. Yes, the current stats do show Reggie is having a better year than Winfield, but consider that Reggie is hitting behind to former MVPs (seven-time batting champion Rod Carew and 1979 RBI machine Don Baylor) and in front of a solid hitting Doug DeCinces while Winfield is backed by either 37-year-old Graig Nettles or 38-year-old Lou Piniella. George needs to learn that neither one player nor one manager in and of himself can make your ballclub the best. Imagine if Reggie was on the Yankees teams that won the World Series (1977-78) but didn't have Ron Guidry, Chris Chambliss, Sparky Lyle, or the late Thurman Munson.

The New York Yankees tattooed Moose Haas for six hits and five runs in the first inning and went flat the rest of the way but still prevailed at the end, 5-3, over the Brewers. Texas followed a somewhat similar script, but their big inning was the fourth. Dave Hostetler had four hits and Billy Sample extended his hitting streak to 13 games as the Rangers toppled the Angels, 7-2. Texas starter Frank Tanana observed that if he could be given a five-run inning in every start, he'd never lose a game. Von Hayes drilled a three-run homer and a double to lead Cleveland to a 9-2 win over Baltimore and extend the Indians' winning streak to four games. With the bases loaded and one out in the bottom of the 9th, Kirk Gibson laced a double into right field and turned a 4-3 deficit to Boston into a 5-4 walkoff win for the Detroit Tigers, who had lost 14 of 15 entering the game. Minnesota had not won three games in a row since the first week of the season, but thanks to a Gary Ward homer, a Ron Washington bases loaded triple, and two RBIs by rookie Kent Hrbek, the Twins captured their third win in a row in a 9-2 thumping of the Chicago White Sox. Bruce Bochte's double broke the tie and lifted Seattle to a 4-3 win to give Gaylord Perry his 303rd career win. Scott Sanderson went the distance and scattered six hits, but a lack of Montreal offense and two unearned runs off a Tim Wallach error saddled him (and the Expos) with a 2-1 loss to the Mets. Tony Pena drove in two runs with a single and a triple to lead the Pirates to a 5-2 win over the Cubs.

The Big Red Machine officially died this past weekend. No, the Reds haven't won a World Series now in six seasons, but they've put some contenders on the field and before they were undone by the split season last year that saw them sit home with baseball's best record, they did win the division in 1979. But losing 2 of 3 to an up-and-coming Atlanta Braves team that Cincinnati routinely bludgeoned was the death knell. With the exception of Johnny Bench, who is no longer catching every day, the team that dominated the 1970-76 era is gone. This past weekend just put the tombstone on top of what was becoming obvious.

The Braves head home for a ten-game homestand against the Reds, Pirates, Cubs, and Cardinals before the All-Star Game, to be played in Montreal this year. They also traded Larry McWilliams to the Pittsburgh Pirates for starting pitcher Pascual Perez and a player to be named later.

Former phenom Mark Fidrych outdueled last year's Yankee rookie surprise Dave Righetti, 7-5, in a minor league game between the Pawtucket Red Sox and Columbus Clippers. Righetti was recently sent down while Fidrych is trying to get back to the majors for a last hurrah.