[seth70liz76]

CLE 11-15-2
CIN 5-8-0
When CLE traded Del Wilber to NE, I said the best thing that would come of it is Dan Graham would get more AB’s. From the DH slot, he drives in 5, and is showing every indication he is the hitter other clubs thought he could be. Jack Banta gets the W despite surrendering 5 ER in 8 IP—not his strongest outing. Tuffy Rhodes 2B and steals a base, but Don Lang and Johnny Bero have the HR for CIN.

PIT 4-15-1
HOU 3-9-0
When you are a bad team, you just can’t dodge all the bullets. Fred Lasher gives up 10 hits in 5.2 IP, but only allows 2 R. Tim Layana throws 2.1 IP scoreless to bring his ERA under 10.00 for the season. Cue stopper Joe Klink, 13 saves, 4 wins, not an elite guy, but leads are safe in his hands. 2 bloop singles and an Al Heist 3B later, the Spirit have a win they shouldn’t have—and the Summit show why they are in last place.

PHI 3-6-1
NY 4-13-2 10 innings
Craig, you said you’d like tickets to a NY/PHI game—this was the one to be at. Sometimes, the difference between a win and a loss is who has the most bad things happen to them. It was a typical game like we had during the losing streak—Jim Bouton walks 6 in 4.2 IP, but we can only score 2 runs as Bouton is saved by GIDP and me falling back to being too aggressive on the bases. But we nurse that 2-1 lead—keeping the Fever from doing much of anything. So I bring in Gordie Richardson, our Proven Closer™, 2 singles and 2 walks later the game is tied. DH Marvin Lane, a Gene Tenace type hitter (100 walks, 20 HR and 90 Hit potential) dribbles one to Rolando Americo Biancalana—who can’t add to his 288 assists, instead makes his 13th error. 3-2 Fever, with Shawn (Proven Closer™) Barton set to enter the game. So two out (one a man thrown out at the plate because of my aggressiveness) and Dan (3-23 with runners in scoring position) Dobbek steps in. Lefty versus lefty match-up, start packing up the bats. Dobbek hits a line shot past the SS, and now we’re going to extras. Dobbek drops a fly ball in the 10th, but Jeff Terpko gets the fourth out with no problem. A single-ground out-single (Frank Campos extending his hitting streak at the last possible moment) to set up Rolando Americo Biancalana. A Shawn Barton pitch later, we’ve swept the Fever and have pulled ourselves 5 GB, tied with PIT. Keep hope alive brother!

ATL 3-12-2
TUL 7-10-1
ATL starter Ed Acosta can’t get out of the 1st, as a key 2B by Frank Quilici puts the game away early.

TB 4-12-0
LA 1-8-1
None of the Rowdies P have much control (7 BB/2K), but thankfully the Aztecs can only manage singles. TB also had their top 3 batters go a combined 0-13; the rest go 12-24—Earl Robinson’s 4-5, 2 R being a possible “breakout” game for him. Ed Olwine gets his 8th save in his last 10 appearances—he could be worth something in trade.

MEM 1-3-1
CAL 5-10-2
Joe McClain, well on his way to 20 losses, shows even the ugliest duckling has a spark of the divine. 3 H, 0 BB, 0 ER—Better numbers than he has ever had. Way I figure it, he has 16 chances left to lose 10—another victory and he may just lose 19.

NE 2-8-2
FL 5-8-2
It was the Danny Goodwin show! The FL 1B came in with 2 HR and double that by the 5th. NE can’t get any EXBH to spark the offense.

DET 2-10-2
MIN 4-4-1
The Express don’t do a lot wrong, but today they did. Joe Frazier’s 3-run HR, following a Matt Winter SF, cap the 5th inning. This was the only inning the Hits did anything—in fact they only had a hit in one other inning. Dom Zanni want that Frazier AB back, he gets a fly ball out there, then the Express win 2-1.