APRIL 10, 1974
Aaron is back in the line-up today as the Braves try to salvage one game from their 3 game series against the mighty Dodgers. It will be up to Roric Harrison (0-1, 6.00) to try and get Atlanta back on track after a dismal effort yesterday. Aaron, who had the day off, is just 1-for-14 on the season with his only hit being a single in Monday's loss to Los Angeles. He remains at 713 homeruns, one shy of Babe Ruth. The Dodgers will send Tommy John to the mound. The 30 year old lefthander allowed 2 earned runs in a complete game win over San Diego last week. Aaron once again bats fourth in the Braves lineup.
It is another rough start for the Braves as Lee Lacy hits a lead-off double and before the Braves bat for the first time the score is already 2-0 Dodgers. Ralph Garr gets a lead off single for the Braves in the top of the first and is still there with 2 out as Aaron steps to the plate. It is a cool evening in the mid-fifties but there is a bit of a wind blowing out to centerfield. John's first pitch is popped foul out of play by Aaron but the pitcher's focus is certainly distracted by Ralph Garr dancing off first base...Garr drew 3 pick-off throws before Aaron faced his second pitch, which caught the inside corner for strike two. Down 0-2, Aaron swings at the next offering and tops it, sending a slow roller back to the pitcher, who makes the toss to first baseman Steve Garvey to retire Aaron.
Atlanta gets a run back in the bottom of the second as Garr delivers his second hit of the game, an rbi single to score Davey Johnson. It is still 2-1 Dodgers as Aaron bats with 1 out and nobody on in the bottom of the third. Aaron wastes no time, swinging at John's first pitch and sending a high fly ball to centerfield. Jimmy Wynn camps under it and it settles easily into his glove, making Aaron 0-for-2 on the day and just 1-for-16 on the year.
However, not all of the Braves go as quietly as Aaron in the third. With two out, Dusty Baker and Davey Johnson each single and Ivan Murrell hits his first homerun of the season, and 32nd of his career to put Atlanta up 4-2. That lead is short-lived as Ron Cey hits a 2-run shot in the 4th inning to tie the contest up at 4 runs apiece.
The score is still 4-4 when Aaron steps to the plate in the fifth inning after Darrell Evans drew a lead-off walk. There doesn't seem to be as much excitement in the crowd this at bat as fans seem to be starting to wonder if Aaron will ever get another home run. He does get fans out of their seat with a sharp single to left field on the 1-0 pitch but it is clearly not what everyone is waiting for. Ivan Murrell seems to be stealing the show as he delivers a two-out double scoring Evans and moving Aaron to third. The Braves a have chance to bust the game open after Vic Correll draws a walk but pinch-hitter Mike Lum grounds out with the bases loaded to end the inning. Atlanta is now up 5-4 after 5.
The lead is gone quickly as Bill Russell singles in Ron Cey with the tying run off of Braves reliever Buzz Capra in the sixth inning.
Aaron comes up again in the bottom of the sixth, stepping in against John with two out and Ralph Garr, who has 3 hits already today, on third base. Aaron seems to have a little more confidence after his base hit last inning and takes a big cut at the first pitch but just misses. John nips the inside corner with a cutter that is called strike out, although Aaron and the Atlanta bench did not seem to agree with the umpire on that one. Hank is in an 0-2 hole but manages to lay off the next two pitches, that both miss. On the 2-2 pitch, he slaps a grounder headed for the hole but Bill Russell makes a nice play and has time to throw to first to retire Aaron and the Braves in the 6th.
Los Angeles scores two more times in the top of the seventh to go up 7-5 as Willie Crawford hits an rbi single and scores on a triple off the bat of Ron Cey, who is now hitting .579 with 4 homers and 12 rbi's in less than 6 full games.
Pinch-hitter Rowland Office gets one run back for Atlanta in the 8th inning with a solo homerun but we go to the bottom of the ninth with the Braves trailing 7-6. Darrell Evans will lead off, followed by Aaron and Dusty Baker. They will face Los Angeles closer Mike Marshall. Marshall gets Evans to line out to Bill Buckner in left field bring Aaron to the plate once again. Aaron gets ahead in the count 2-0, which is something that has not happened a lot so far this season. He rips a hard grounder down the third base line on the next pitch but it is just foul. The next pitch, a 91 mph fastball, is grounded right at Bill Russell who has no trouble retiring Aaron yet again. Our homerun wait continues.
Dusty Baker popped out to Jimmy Wynn to end the game and the Braves suffered their 5th straight loss.
On the out of town scoreboard:
In the American League Milwaukee blasted winless Cleveland 9-1, Minnesota and Chicago are both 3-1 on the season after the Twins earned an 8-3 victory. Frank Tanana pitched the California Angels past Texas 4-2 and Kansas City beat Oakland 5-2.
National League action saw John Curtis pitch a complete game 3-hit shutout to pace St Louis to an 8-0 drubbing of the Mets. Montreal scored three times in the top of the 10th and then hung on to beat Pittsburgh 9-7. Philadelphia beat the Cubs 4-3. Cincinnati downed San Francisco 6-2 and Houston shutout the struggling San Diego Padres 8-0.