1970 Great Eight League

Through Game #42.

Game Results:

Boston 11 Pittsburgh 5

WP- Gary Peters (9-1) LP- Steve Blass (1-6)

HR- George Scott (6); Al Oliver (5)

The Red Sox did exactly what good teams must do, that is, beat poor teams. They handed last place Pittsburgh an 11 to 5 shellacking. George Scott had a career day, going 5 for 5, with a home run, double and three singles. He scored three runs and drove in four. Gary Peters earned his league leading, ninth win.

Cincinnati 7 Oakland 6 Twelve innings

WP- Wayne Granger (3-2) LP- Bob Locker (2-4)

HR- Bernie Carbo (5), Tony Perez (8); Sal Bando (8)

The Reds were able to tie the game in the top of the ninth and go ahead to stay in the top of the twelfth, thanks to Tony Perez’s solo homer. Perez knocked in four of the Reds seven runs. Pete Rose had four hits and a walk, in Cincinnati’s, 7 to 6 victory.

Los Angeles 2 New York 3

WP- Lindy McDaniel (4-3) LP- Pete Mikkelson (1-3)

HR- John Ellis (6); Willie Davis (4)

The Yankees stunned Claude Osteen and the Dodgers by putting up three runs in the bottom of the ninth, as John Ellis won the game, 3 to 2, on a three-run, walk off home run. Osteen was two outs away from a shutout win, but he gave up back-to-back singles to Thurman Munson and Bobby Murcer. Osteen gave way to Mikkelson, who retired Jerry Kenny for the second out. That set up the battle with Ellis, who sent a hanging curve into the seats for the game winner.

Minnesota 2 Baltimore 4

WP- Jim Hardin (2-0) LP- Dave Boswell (0-2)

Baltimore got it done, to remain one up on Boston. They trailed the Twins, 2 to 1, after six innings. However, the Twins bullpen let them down. Dave Boswell allowed a Brooks Robinson triple and three singles, as the Orioles scored three runs in the bottom of the seventh and went on to win, 4 to 2.

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

Game #42 Recap:

The top two teams both won, Boston in a blowout over Pittsburgh and Baltimore, in a comeback win over Minnesota, for their fifth straight win. The frontrunners will clash in game #43. The Twins loss was their third in a row, but they remain in third place by themselves. The Reds and Yankees are tied for fourth, while Los Angeles and Oakland are tied for fifth. Pittsburgh remains in last place.

Because the Cincinnati- Oakland game went twelve innings, those teams will have to start the reserves as much as possible in their respective next games.

Bobby Tolan remains the batting leader and boosted his average to .360. He also stole a base to increase his lead in that category to eleven. Don Mincher still holds the home run lead, with 12. Gary Peters won his ninth game and snuck a bit closer to teammate Ray Culp, for the strikeout lead.

Game #43. Schedule and Probable Pitchers:

Boston (Siebert 2-4, 6.66) at Baltimore (Cuellar 5-1, 2.41)

Cincinnati (McGlothin 4-0, 3.80) at Pittsburgh (Veale 2-4, 5.25)

Los Angeles (Foster 4-2, 4.62) at Oakland (Odom 1-4, 6.85)

Minnesota (Blyleven 2-4, 4.09) at New York (Bahnsen 2-4, 6.25)