[GrimmyDee]

Dodgers Lose Sixth In A Row
Friday, May 20, 1977
With the loss today to the Pittsburgh Pirates sedning them to their sixth consecutive defeat, the Los Angeles Dodgers drop to third place in the NL West, less than a week after taking the division lead from Cincinnati.

"We just picked a bad time to have a cold spell." Dodgers manger Tom Lasorda said. "It happens. We got up there once and we'll do it again. I am not worried about this team at all."

Odell Jones (2-0, 2.95 ERA) shuts down the Dodgers offense, holding them to five hits while also striking out five. Jones even helped his own cause by hitting a double in the thrid inning and scoring the Pirates first run on a two-run single from Dave Parker (.296, 30 RBI).

"Would you believe I was going for the line?" said Jones after the game. "People may not beleive this, but I am much better than my average (.200) indicates. If I had enough at-bats, I could bat seventh or eighth on most teams."

When told of these comments, Pirates manager Chuck Tanner had this to say.

"He's dreaming."

Don Sutton (3.06 ERA) takes the loss and drops to 4-4 for Los Angeles, as he gives up seven hits and all three runs while getting five strikeouts.


American League News
The six game winning streak of the Indians comes to an end, 2-0, at the hands of Kansas City and pitcher Andy Hassler (4-2, 1.44 ERA) who shuts out the Tribe on five hits. Wayne Garland (5-3) takes the complete game loss for Cleveland.

The woes of the Tigers continue as Jorge Orta (.246, 4 HR, 21 RBI) drives in four runs on three hits and scores twice while Wayne Nordhagen (.220) scores two runs of his own on his trio of hits to give Chicago a 11-3 triumph. The loss is Detroit's sixth in their last eight games and had dropped them to fifth in the AL East.

Rick Dempsey (.233, 1 HR, 5 RBI) hits a grand slam and Eddie Murray (.341, 5 HR, 26 RBI)adds a three-run shot as the Orioles crush New York 12-2 in Yankee Stadium. Mark Belanger (.243) has three hits and scores twice while Ken Singleton (.368, 16 RBI) drives in two runs and scores two times on his three hits for Baltimore. Ross Grimsley (3-5, 6.88 ERA) gets the complete game win, scattering nine hits. Reggie Jackson (.338, 28 RBI) hits his league-leading 10th home run for the Yankees.

Texas get three consecutive singles from Jimmy Sexton (.250), Mike Hargrove (.200) and Roy Howell (.284, 15 RBI) off of reliever Jerry Garvin (1-1, 5.40 ERA) and closer Pete Vukovich to beat the Blue Jays 5-4 and hand Toronto their first loss in extra innings (6-1) and second one-run loss (13-2). Al Woods (.286, 12 RBI) hits four singles and starter Jeff Byrd (2.05 ERA) strikes out 11 hitters in seven innings, getting no decision in the loss.

California scores six runs in the first five innings thanks to two solo home runs from Bobby Bonds (.237, 8 HR, 22 RBI) then withstand a late Twins rally to win, 6-5. Bonds has three hits on the day while Butch Wynegar (.303) performs the deed in the loss. Larry Hisle (.255, 24 RBI) drives in two runs on three hits before being forced to leave the game with a knee injury in the seventh.

Steve Braun (.262) goes 4-for-4 and Dave Collins (.343, 16 RBI, 26 SB) adds three more, but Seattle falls to the Athletics 13-4 as Manny Sanguillen (.280, 15 RBI) drives in four runs on three hits, Billy North (.208, 8 RBI, 16 SB) drives in three and Pete LaCock (.191, 8 RBI) hits a pair of RBI doubles. Seattle leaves 12 men on base as a team, as they only score four runs on 14 hits.

American League Scores


National League News
Pittsburgh's Odell Jones (2-0, 2.95 ERA) sends the Dodgers to their sixth consecutive defeat as he shuts them out on five hits while striking out five. Don Sutton (4-4, 3.06 ERA) takes the loss, giving up three earned runs on seven hits with five strikeouts of his own. The loss drops Los Angeles to third in the NL West, less than a week after taking the division lead from Cincinnati.

With their 9-6 win over the Cardinals, San Francisco moves into second place in the NL East and just a 1/2 game behind the Reds for the division lead. George Thomasson (.282) drives in his NL-leading 31st RBI and scores two runs with three hits for the Giants and Bob Knepper (3-1, 4.23 ERA) gives up four runs (two earned) on five hits in eight innings, striking out five to get the win.

Philadelphia goes 14 innings before getting away with a 2-1 win over the Astros as Davey Johnson (.271, 10 RBI) singles home Mike Schmidt in the top of the inning for the winning run. Jim Lonborg (2.80 ERA) gives up five hits in nine innings for the Phillies while Ken Forsch (1.76 ERA) goes 7 2/3 innings giving up five hits, but neither pitcher gets a decision. Tug McGraw (1-0, 3.00 ERA) throws three scoreless innings to get the win.

National League Scores


Injuries

LF Larry Hisle (.255, 7 HR, 24 RBI) is expected to miss about 2 weeks with a damaged meniscus (knee). He is placed on the 15-day disabled list. CF Willie Norwood (.236, 2 HR, 22 RBI - AAA) recalled from Triple A Tacoma. Lyman Bostock will be moving over to LF with Norwood covering the CF spot.

Contract Signings

CF Derrel Thomas (.295, 13 RBI) signs a 1-year contract extension worth a total of $140,000.

Major Transactions

SP Andy Hassler is activated from the disabled list. MR George Throop (0-0, 3.68 ERA, 7.1 IP) demoted to Triple A Omaha. The Hassler Effect is immediate as he shuts out the Indians on five hits.

Short Season Single A Update
Jamestown Expos (23-16) at Batavia Trojans (21-18)

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E Jamestown 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 6 0 Batavia 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 2 5 0 WP: Rafael Lara (2-2, 2.57 ERA) LP: Sandro Duarte (1-3, 2.60 ERA) SV: Miguel Holguin (3) POG: Rafael Lara 8 IP, 5 H, 1 ER, 7 K Attendance: 2,640 The loss gives us our second 3-game losing streak of the year.

First the good news - we outhit Batavia 6-5 with Richard Adams (.302) getting two of them for us good guys. The bad news however, was another managerial faux pas as I pulled starter Jeff Bradley (3.03 ERA) after 6.2 innings as he allowed just four hits and one earned run. While Sandro Duarte didn't pitched poorly, he did give up the game-winning home run to Manuel Luna (.226, 15 RBI) in the eighth inning. Home Runs: JAM: None BAT: Manuel Luna (4)