1970 Great Eight League

Game #17.

Los Angeles 1 Baltimore 5

WP- Jim Palmer (3-2) LP- Don Sutton (0-3)

HR- Paul Blair 2 (2), Don Buford (3)

Jim Palmer got the complete game win for the Orioles, allowing one run on five hits, while walking three and striking out seven. Paul Blair had a huge game from the leadoff spot, with a pair of two-run home runs and a single.

Minnesota 2 Cincinnati 3

WP- Gary Nolan (3-1) LP- Jim Perry (1-1) SV- Clay Carroll (2)

Minnesota shortstop, Leo Cardenas committed two errors, one leading directly to a run, as Cincinnati nipped Minnesota, 3 to 2, to keep pace with first place Boston.

New York 2 Boston 3

WP- Ed Phillips (2-1) LP- Lindy McDaniel (2-3)

HR- Reggie Smith (4)

The Yankees six game win streak was snapped by Boston, thanks to a walk off home run by Reggie Smith, in a 3 to 2, Red Sox victory.

Oakland 1 Pittsburgh 5

WP- Dock Ellis (1-2) LP- Catfish Hunter (0-3)

HR- Sal Bando (3), Jerry May (1)

In a battle of tail enders, Pittsburgh got the best of Oakland, 5 to 1. Dock Ellis got his first win, with by far, his best start of the season, a complete game, four hitter. His only mistake being a hanging curve which Sal Bando put into the seats. Pittsburgh had an unlikely hero in Jerry May, who replaced Manny Sanguillen after three innings, due to illness. May smacked a three- run blast, as part of a four run, fifth inning, for the Pirates.

Standings and Leaderboard courtesy of http://www.cardanddicebaseball.com.

Game # 17 Recap:

Cincinnati and Boston both won, keeping the Reds one game back. That sets up a show down as the two teams meet at Crosley Field in week 18. The Red Sox also cooled off the Yankees, who had won six straight games. The first division currently houses, Boston, Cincinnati, Baltimore and New York, while the second division consists of Los Angeles, Minnesota, Pittsburgh and Oakland. Cincy’s Bobby Tolan is throwing his hat into the MVP race. He leads the league in batting average, hits and stolen bases and is in the top five in two other categories. Several star players continue to struggle. Pittsburgh’s Willie Stargell is hitting just, .118, with 17 strikeouts. Similarly, Reggie Jackson of Oakland sits at, .167, with 21 strikeouts, though he does have 3 home runs. The Athletics’ Catfish Hunter and the Dodgers’ Don Sutton are both winless in three starts. Curiously, for the second session of games in a row, the home team has won every game.