SUNDAY APRIL 7, 1974
Aaron is back in the starting lineup as the Braves and Reds prepare for the rubber match of their three game set. Phil Niekro takes the hill for Atlanta where he will face Clay Kirby of the Reds. The 35 year old Niekro, who's younger brother Joe saw some action for the Braves in relief yesterday, was 13-10 with a 3.31 era last year. The 25 year old Kirby joined the Reds over the winter after spending his first 5 years in San Diego where he was 52-81 overall.
Darrell Evans hits a two-out single in the top of the first bringing Aaron to the plate for his latest attempt at equalling the record. Aaron takes the first three pitches with just one in the strike zone to make the count 2-1. He cuts but misses a 90mph fastball from Kirby on the inside corner to make the count 2-2. After Kirby misses inside with a fastball to run it to a full count, the young pitcher catches Aaron off guard as he sneaks a change-up in that Aaron can only watch for strike three.
The Reds take a 2-0 lead in the home half of the first as Dan Driessen launches a 2-run shot after Joe Morgan had reached on a one-out single. Atlanta gets one back in the top of the second when Dusty Baker doubles and then scores on an error by Driessen. The Braves tie the game in the third when Mike Lum hits a solo shot, his second homerun of the series.
Aaron gets his second plate appearance with 2 out in the third inning. Kirby missed with the first two pitches and then gave Aaron a ball to hit. Aaron blasted it down the left field line that brought everyone to their feet. It had the distance but curled foul. Just a loud strike and the count was 2-and-1. Aaron gave the next pitch a ride and it chased Reds center fielder Cesar Geronimo all the way back to the wall but he hauled the ball in and we are still stuck on 713.
The score remains 2-2 as we go to the sixth inning, an inning in which Aaron will lead-off. Hank is 0-for-2 on the day and hitless in 7 at bats so far this season. Kirby gets ahead quickly 0-2 with a foul ball and a called strike. After a ball inside, Aaron swings and misses on a big sweeping curveball and he is fanned for the second time by Kirby today.
Mike Lum leads the 8th inning of with a single for the Braves, who remain tied 2-2, but he is erased on a double play groundout off the bat of Darrell Evans. This brings Aaron to the plate for the fourth time today but his first appearance against Cincinnati reliever Pedro Borbon. Aaron gets behind in the count 1-2 after taking the first 3 pitches. He stays alive by fouling a dribbler through the third base coaches box on the next offering. After Borbon misses high with his next pitch, Aaron lifts a fastball to short center field which is an easy catch for Geronimo. Unless this game goes to extra-innings that is likely the final plate appearance for Aaron today.
Tom House replaces Phil Niekro for the Braves in the 8th. Niekro allowed just 4 hits over 7 and a third innings while House sets the next 5 Reds hitters down in order to send us to the 10th inning with the score deadlocked at 2. Clay Carroll takes over for Borbon in the 10th and is quickly greeted by back to back singles from pinch-hitters Frank Tepedino and Marty Perez which brings the Braves lead-off hitter Ralph Garr to the plate. A fielder's choice erases Perez but puts runners on the corners with 1-out. Mike Lum, who is 4-for-12 in the series with a pair of homeruns steps to the plate and promptly delivers a single up the middle to score Tepedino with the go-ahead run. That sets up runners on the corners and 1-out for Darrell Evans
Evans hits a grounder to Concepcion, who looks Garr back to third base before going to Morgan for the force out at second. So Aaron does get one more at bat, coming to the plate with runners on the corners and 2 away. Nothing comes of it as after swinging and missing at strike one, Aaron hits an easy ground ball to Concepcion, who flips to Morgan to end the inning and leave Aaron in an 0-for-10 slump to start the season.
Trailing 3-2 the Reds bats come alive against Braves reliever Max Leon in the 10th inning. Cesar Geronimo singles and scores the tying run on a 2-out single from Joe Morgan. Morgan scores when Dan Driessen rips a walk-off single in the gap to give Cincinnati the come from behind 4-3 victory. Morgan had an outstanding series, going 5-for-10 with 2 doubles and 2 stolen bases in the 3 game series.
So Aaron returns home to Atlanta where the Braves will begin a 10 game homestand tomorrow night against Los Angeles. He is not only looking for his first homerun of the season, which would tie Babe Ruth, but also his first hit in 10 at bats. Lets see if he has more success at home.
NO-HITTER
I was watching the Oakland-Texas game closely on the out of town scoreboard as Athletics pitcher Vida Blue tossed the first no-hitter of the season and the second of his career. Blue, who turned the trick against Minnesota in 1970, struck out 6 while walking 4 in a 3-0 victory.
Meanwhile the big star of the day offensively was Baltimore first baseman Boog Powell, who homered and drove in 5 runs as the Orioles beat Detroit 10-0 in the second game of a doubleheader. The O's also took the opener by a 13-10 score to even their record at 2-2 on the young season. The only other American League score saw Ron Blomberg homer for the second straight day as the Yankees dumped Cleveland 7-3
In National League action the Mets blanked the Phillies for the second straight day. This one was 4-0 as Jon Matlack went the distance. Los Angeles hammered San Diego 9-3 behind some fine pitching from Andy Messersmith while San Francisco clipped Houston 6-5 as Bobby Bonds and Dave Kingman each homered for the Giants.