1970 Great Eight League

Through Game #22.

Game Results:

Baltimore 3 Boston 11

WP-Gary Peters (4-1) LP- Dave McNally (2-1)

HR- Paul Blair (1); Billy Conigliaro 2(4), Reggie Smith (6), Rico Petrocelli (2),

George Scott (4).

Gary Peters picked up a complete game win, improving to 4 and 1, In addition, the Red Sox “Over the Wall Gang” belted five home runs, two by Billy Conigliaro, as Boston crushed Baltimore, 11 to 3.

New York 5 Minnesota 3

WP- Mel Stottlemeyer (2-3) LP- Jim Katt (1-2) SV- Jack Aker (4)

HR-Paul Ratliff (1)

Minnesota was the first to score, getting a run in the bottom of the first. The Yankees would answer with two in the top of the second and would never trail after that, as they went on to win, 5 to 3.

Oakland 8 Los Angeles 1

WP- Chuck Dobson (2-0) LP- Don Sutton (0-4)

HR- Bert Campaneris (3), Reggie Jackson (7); Willie Davis (2)

The Athletics have been playing a lot better lately. They used a six run, seventh inning to roll over the Dodgers’ eight to one. Reggie Jackson smacked a three-run clout, as part of the big inning. I should note that there was a pitching scheduling mix up in this game. I had Claude Osteen scheduled to pitch and he already has an extra start, whereas Don Sutton had missed a start. That’s why Sutton started this game.

Pittsburgh 2 Cincinnati 6

WP- Jim Merritt (1-2) LP- Steve Blass (1-3)

HR- Jose Pagan (2)

Cincinnati’s Jim Merritt’s first win was a complete game, 6 to 2 gem. True, he gave up a home run and double to Jose Pagan and a second double to Willie Stargell, but after that, he was literally unhittable. He retired the last fifteen batters he faced. Pittsburgh’s Steve Blass was as bad as the pitcher he would become in 1973, not the ace he still was in 1970. In the fourth inning, he allowed four hits and two walks. An error by Gene Alley didn’t help the cause.

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

Recap:

Boston has increased their lead to 2 games over Baltimore and Cincinnati, who are now tied for second place. The Yankees are the final first division club and the only other one at .500 or above. Los Angeles and Minnesota are fading. Oakland is improving, having won three straight, while Pittsburgh has dropped three in a row. The result of which is that the A’s and Pirates are now tied for last place.

Bobby Tolan of the Reds has conceded first place in the batting race to Tony Oliva of the Twins. Reggie Jackson has heated up to tie Johnny Bench for the home run lead, though he still leads the league in strikeouts with 26. Five starters have an ERA under 2.00.

Game 23 Schedule and Projected Starters:

Los Angeles (Foster 3-0, 5.11) at Cincinnati (McGlothin 3-0, 3.44)

Minnesota (Blyleven 1-3, 4.82) at Boston (Siebert 2-1, 4.31)

New York (Bahnsen 1-2, 7.16) at Pittsburgh (Veale 1-3, 4.78)

Oakland (Odom 0-3, 8.06) at Baltimore (Cuellar 2-0, 2.52)