6/10 - Jackson Hits No. 300
Friday, June 10, 1977
Many of the 24,000 who still remained at Yankees Stadium to witness the finish of the Twins crushing of their beloved boys from New York was looking for something - anything - to celebrate. Down 13-2, but were still waiting to see if Reggie Jackson could do something that has only been done 36 other times in the history of baseball - hit 300 home runs.
After giving up two runs on a single to Bucky Dent (.117, 4 RBI) and having the bases full of Yankees, Minnesota reliever Tom Burgmeier was welcomed by Jackson (.307, 19 HR, 47 RBI) as he crushed his fastball 422 feet into the upper deck in right for a grand slam. Even though New York was still down four runs, the Bronx crowd gave Reggie an ovation as he rounded the bases so loud, that you would have thought the Yanks had just won the pennant.
"Reggie's never been a person to call his shots, but Reggie was ticked at the way we were playing." Jackson said afterward. "Reggie came here for a reason - to win ball games and win championships. We can't do that by giving up 13 runs in a game. Yeah, number 300 was nice and Reggie is glad Reggie got to hit it front of the New York fans, but in the end, we lost the game and Reggie doesn't like losing."
Catfish Hunter looked remarkably hittable as Minnesota tagged him for four runs in the first inning thanks in part to a RBI double by Rod Carew (280, 21 RBI) and a two-run home run by Roy Smalley (.219, 6 HR, 19 RBI). Hunter would settle down until the fifth, but Lyman Bostock (.278, 13 RBI) and Butch Wynegar (.274, 21 RBI) would lead off the inning with back-to-back doubles and Larry Hisle (.252, 8 HR, 29 RBI) would follow a Carew intentional walk with a three-run shot the left that put the Twins up 8-1 and ended Hunter's day.
"The top of their order just killed me." Hunter said afterward. "I probably dropped my shoulder a little on my delivery causing my pitches to be higher than where I wanted them."
Bostock has three hits and scores three runs, Carew scores three times and drives in a pair, Hisle drives in four and Smalley drives in three more as the Twins get eight straight basrunners in the fifth inning en route to a seven run inning. The 13 runs are the most given up by New York this season.
Lifetime Jackson is hitting .268 with 1359 hits, 837 runs scored and 871 runs batted in. His 300 home runs places him tied with Philadelphia Phillies great Chuck Klein for 37th on the all-time career list. His 19 home runs, 47 RBI, and .606 slugging percentage this season are all major league leading totals.
American League News
Texas (36-18, 15-7 away, -- GB) at Boston (25-31, 14-14 home, 6.5 GB)
Second baseman
Tim Johnson (.393, 4 RBI, 1 SB) has three hits,
Carl Yastrzemski (.350, 28 RBI) hits a double and a triple and
Jim Rice (.244, 32 RBI) drives in three to lead Boston to a 9-1 win.
Rick Wise (5-6, 4.50 ERA) allows nine hits and one run over eight innings for the Red Sox while Texas starter
Doyle Alexander (6-4, 3.61 ERA) goes just two-plus innings, allowing eight runs (six earned) on seven hits while walking three.
Chicago (22-32, 12-18 away, 14.0 GB) at Baltimore (25-32, 9-15 home, 7.0 GB)
Eddie Murray (.305, 8 HR, 37 RBI) has four hits with a double and a home run, but it is a ninth inning, two-out, three-run home run by
Ken Singleton (.323, 5 HR, 23 RBI) that gives the Orioles a 6-4 comeback win. Chicago had taken the lead in the top of the inning on RBI singles from
Jorge Orta (.247, 28 RBI), who had a three-hit day, and
Richie Zisk (.249, 30 RBI).
Mike Flanagan (3.84 ERA) strikes out five, allowing seven hits and two runs in eight innings in getting a no-decision for Baltimore.
Kansas City (28-25, 8-14 away, 7.5 GB) at Milwaukee (30-28, 14-14 home, 2.5 GB)
Hal McRae (.231, 27 RBI) hits his first home run of the season, a solo shot in the fifth inning that gives
Larry Gura (5-3, 3.29 ERA) all of the support he needs in a 2-0 win.
U.L. Washington (.254, 13 RBI) later adds an RBI single for insurance.
Sixto Lezcano (.278) and
Charlie Moore (.354) combine for four of Milwaukee's six hits.
Gura goes 7 1/3 innings, allowing just five hits in the win while Milwaukee's
Bill Travers (4-4, 2.92 ERA) gives up two runs and five hits in the complete game loss.
Detroit (28-27, 14-16 away, 3.0 GB) at Oakland (20-33, 13-16 home, 15.5 GB)
Vida Blue (2.57 ERA)
goes 10.2 innings for Oakland, allowing seven hits and one earned run and
Dave Roberts is just as good, going 10 innings, giving up a unearned run on eight hits, but both are gone when
Lou Whitaker (.247, 14 RBI) doubles to the gap in right center off of A's closer
Bob Lacey (1-3, 10.95 ERA) to score
Willie Horton from first in the top of the 12th for the 2-1 Tigers win.
Toronto (29-24, 11-14 away, 1.0 GB) at Seattle (23-36, 13-18 home, 15.5 GB)
The Jays score three runs in the fifth on consecutive RBI singles by
Hector Torres (.248, 15 RBI, 2 SB),
Steve Staggs (.215, 16 RBI) and
Otto Velez (.280, 11 HR, 33 RBI) to keep rookie
Jeff Byrd (7-0, 1.83 ERA) perfect with a 4-2 victory - sending Seattle to their fifth loss on thier last six games. It is the eighth time (out of 11 starts) this season
Byrd has allowed two or fewer earned runs in a game.
Cleveland (30-23, 16-12 away, -- GB) at California (35-19, 15-13 home, 1.0 GB)
Tony Solaita (.286, 28 RBI) hits a pair of doubles and
Ron Jackson (.226, 17 RBI) delivers a key two-run double in the sixth inning that proves to be the game-winner and gives
Nolan Ryan (8-5, 2.82 ERA) win number eight, striking out seven hitters while allowing six hits in the 4-2 win and giving the Angels their fourth win in a row. Cleveland RF
Jim Norris (.270) has three hits in the loss.
American League Scores
National League News
San Francisco (29-28, 16-16 away, 6.5 GB) at Chicago (25-30, 13-17 home, 14.0 GB)
Greg Gross has four hits (.240, 18 RBI), including a bases loaded double that helped him amass six RBI on the day in a 17-5 Cubs rout.
Steve Ontiveros (.267, 20 RBI) also has a four hit day (three singles and a double) and scores three runs along with
Jose Cardenal (.258, 22 RBI) and
Bobby Murcer.
Bill Buckner drives in three with three singles for the Cubs while
Rob Andrews (.268) has three base hits for San Francisco in the loss.
Montreal (20-34, 10-17 away, 18.5 GB) at Cincinnati (34-20, 17-10 home, -- GB)
Pete Rose (.243, 24 RBI) hits an RBI double and
Ken Griffey (.304, 2 HR, 22 RBI) follows with a two-run home run in Cincinnati's three run fifth inning to give
Pat Zachry all of the run support he would need against the Expos as they win 5-1.
Dan Driessen (.276, 7 HR, 17 RBI) alos homers as
Dan Stanhouse gives up four hits for Montreal, but all are for extra bases - two home runs, two doubles.
Philadelphia (31-24, 17-13 away, 8.0 GB) at Atlanta (28-30, 17-12 home, 8.0 GB)
Mike Schmidt (.259, 12 HR, 36 RBI) hits two home runs, the last being a two-run shot in the eighth inning that proves to be the decisive runs as the Phillies keep Braves starter
Mickey Mahler winless by defeating Atlanta, 5-3.
Terry Harmon (.302) adds three singles for Philadelphia and
Brian Asselstine (.308) does the feat for the Braves.
Willie Montanez (.308, 4 HR, 17 RBI) and
Freddie Patek (.224, 3 HR, 14 RBI) each hit solo home runs for Atlanta as well.
Jim Kaat (3-2, 4.82 ERA) allows two runs and six hits in 7 1/3 innings for career win #250.
San Diego (21-40, 11-22 away, 16.5 GB) at Pittsburgh (38-15, 20-9 home, -- GB)
Dave Parker (.322) has four hits and scores three runs,
Al Oliver (.299, 29 RBI) hits two doubles and drives in three as part of a four hit day, and
Bill Robinson (.300, 18 RBI) drives in a pair with his two doubles and three hits overall in the Pirates 9-7 win over San Diego.
Dave Winfield (.288, 22 RBI) has three hits and drives in a pair and
Merv Rettenmund (.279, 3 HR, 12 RBI) hits a two-run home run in the loss.
New York (21-37, 10-17 away, 19.5 GB) at Houston (30-25, 15-12 home, 4.5 GB)
Jose Cruz (.270, 12 RBI, 37 SB) hits a double and triple, the latter scoring the go-ahead run in the eighth inning to give the Astros the 4-2 win.
Cruz also steals two bases and scores twice to support the pitching perfomance of
Ken Forsch (6-3, 1.88 ERA), who gives up five hits in eight innings.
John Stearns (.281) hits a pair of doubles for New York and Tom Seaver (4-6, 3.44 ERA) goes the distance in the loss, his fourth loss in his last six starts.
Los Angeles (30-27, 16-16 away, 5.5 GB) at St. Louis (29-26, 19-14 home, 10.0 GB)
Dave Chalk (.230, 9 RBI) hits a pair of doubles, driving in three and scoring three times,
Manny Mota scores three times without recording a hit and
Johnny Oates (.192) also scores a trio of runs as LA crushes the Cards, 12-2.
Rick Rhoden (5-3, 2.84 ERA) gets the complete game win, allowing seven hits and both runs.
Davey Lopes (.262, 25 RBI, 31 SB) adds three hits of his own, scoring twice and driving in a pair while
Reggie Smith (.273, 32 RBI) hits a single and triple in the victory.
National League Scores
News
 | Have announced that they have set their team focus to Win Now. |
Injuries
 | LF Roy White (.177, 2 HR, 16 RBI) is day-to-day for about 4 days with a bruised heel.
Don't expect White to miss any time - Billy Martin would bench him for good if he did. |
| SP Paul Thormodsgard (6-6, 4.31 ERA) is expected to miss about 2 weeks with a strained back muscle.
He is placed on the 15-day disabled list.
MR Bill Butler (5-1, 2.82 ERA - AAA) recalled from Triple A Tacoma
A great start in AAA gets Butler the promotion, but he will need some good performances in the bullpen to stay. |
Contract Signings
 | SP Fergie Jenkins (6-5, 3.69 ERA) signs a 3-year extension worth $2,304.000.
He will earn $768,000 a year through 1980. |
Short Season Single A Playoff Update
Conference Championship Playoff Games
Rockledge Ponies at Batavia Trojans - (Series tied 1-1)
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | | | R | H | E | | Rockledge | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | | | 1 | 7 | 0 | | Batavia | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | | | 0 | 6 | 1 | WP: Jorge Montanio (1-0, 0.00 ERA)
LP: Brooks Edwards (0-1, 1.04 ERA)
SV: Vincente Gil (1)
POG: Jorge Montanio (ROC) 8 IP, 5 H, 0 ER, 4 K
Attendance: 5,056 |
Batavia has runners in scoring position in 5 different innings.
| The brilliant pitching performance of Jorge Montanio overshadowed an equally outstanding outing of Batavia starter Brooks Edwards, who allows seven hits and strikes out eight in 8 2/3 innings. Rockledge's lone run comes in the fifth, when Tanosuke Kumagai (.091) hits a one-out double, moves to third on a single by John Marsh (.444) and scores when Jose Cortez (2 RBI) hits a grounder that Batavia can not turn the double play on.
Home Runs:
ROC: None
BAT: None |
Eugene Emeralds at Salem Senators - (Salem leads 2-0)
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | | | R | H | E | | Eugene | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 2 | | | 6 | 10 | 2 | | Salem | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | | | 2 | 8 | 0 | WP: Pedro Adame (1-0, 1.00 ERA)
LP: Norm Knight (0-1, 6.00 ERA)
SV: None
POG: Pedro Adame (EUG) 9 IP, 8 H, 1 ER, 3 K
Attendance: 4,996 |
Salem starter Norm Knight strikes out 9 but allows 6 ER.
| Eugene finally gets into the win column as they use a powerful pitching performance from starter Pedro Adame to keep the Salem bats quiet and timely hitting from Luis Perez (.182, 3 RBI), who keys a four-run sixth inning with a two-run double to break rhe game open. Taylor Thompson (.300) collects three hits and Augusto Perez (.364, 1 HR, 2 RBI) adds a two-run home run in the ninth inning to avoid a potential sweep.
Home Runs:
EUG: Augusto Perez (1)
SAL: None |