1970 Great Eight League

Through Game #44.

Game Results:

Baltimore 5 Oakland 2

WP- Tom Phoebus (1-4) LP- Diego Segui (6-3) SV- Dick Hall (1)

HR- Frank Robinson (6); Dick Green (1)

Previously winless, Tom Phoebus, collected his first victory, in an upset win over Oakland’s Diego Segui, 5 to 3. Frank Robinson had four hits, including a home run.

Boston 1 Minnesota 2

WP- Stan Williams (4-2) LP- Sparky Lyle (0-1)

HR- Harmon Killebrew (6)

The Twins snapped a four-game losing skid by beating front running Boston, 2 to 1, on a walk off home run from Harmon Killebrew. It was a pitcher’s duel between Mike Nagy and Bill Zepp for most of the game. The Red Sox pushed a run across in the seventh, but a crucial error by George Scott, in the bottom of the eighth, allowed Minnesota to tie the game. That set the stage for Killebrew’s heroics in the ninth. He spoiled Sparky Lyle’s night with a towering blow into the seats.

Cincinnati 4 Los Angeles 5

WP- Joe Moeller (2-4) LP- Wayne Simpson (2-4) SV- Pete Mikkelsen (6)

HR- Willie Crawford (2) G.S.; Bobby Tolan (2)

The Dodgers put up a five-spot on Wayne Simpson in the first, capped by Willie Crawford’s grand slam. Then they held on as the Reds chipped away, but in the end, came away with a 5 to 4 victory.

Pittsburgh 3 New York 5

WP- Steve Kline (5-2) LP- Bob Moose (2-3) SV- Jack Aker (7)

The red-hot Yankees logged their fourth straight win, beating Pittsburgh, 5 to 3. They chased Bucs’ starter, Bob Moose off the hill, with a five-run, second inning. Roy White led the Yankee offense with a bases-clearing triple and a pair of singles.

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

Game #44 Recap:

The big news, obviously, is that Baltimore won and Boston lost, thereby putting the Orioles in first place alone, up by one full game. Minnesota and New York round out the first division, but they’d really have to make a push to have any chance.

On the individual side of things, not a lot of changes. Bobby Tolan did increase his lead over his closest rival, Rod Carew, for the batting crown, by .026 points. The home run race remains unchanged. Jack Aker earned his league leading, seventh save for New York.

The next game for the Dodgers will be a required spot start. Sandy Vance will replace Don Sutton on the bump. As all eight teams have filled the requirement, this will be the final spot start of the season.

Game #45. Schedule and Probable Pitchers

Los Angeles (Vance 0-0, 0.00) vs. Baltimore (Palmer 5-3, 2.69)

Minnesota (Perry 4-3, 2.37) vs. Cincinnati (Nolan 4-3, 3.03)

New York (Peterson 2-3, 2.44) vs. Boston (Culp 4-2, 2.09)

Oakland (Hunter 5-3, 3.67) vs. Pittsburgh (Ellis 2-4, 4.26)