MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 1974
A light schedule with just two games in each league. The Los Angeles Dodgers saw their lead over Cincinnati in the NL West shrink to just 1 game after the Dodgers fell 4-3 at home to Hank Aaron and the Atlanta Braves. Pinch-hitter Vic Correll hit a sacrifice fly in the top of the ninth to make a winner out of Carl Morton (10-19, 4.90). Tommy John (12-7) took the loss in relief of Don Sutton.
The only other National League saw St Louis beat Pittsburgh 5-4 in 13 innings. The loss leaves the Pirates at 91-62, good for a 1 game lead on Phladelphia in the NL East.
A Milwaukee-Cleveland doubleheader was the only thing on the American League schedule. The two clubs split the games as Milwaukee took the opener 6-5 while the Indians claimed the nightcap 7-4. George Scott hit his 29th homer of the season for the Brewers in the second game.
TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 24, 1974
A busy schedule today with my main focus being on Baltimore where Al Kaline begins the night 1 hit shy of 3000 and needing one more homerun for #400 of his career. Kaline will DH and bat third for the Tigers. He will face veteran Dave McNally (16-13, 3.47) while Detroit counters with Vern Ruhle (3-5, 6.07).
McNally is dominant in this contest, allowing just 4 hits as he goes the distance, shutting out the Tigers 3-0. Kaline was 0-for-4 with a strikeout and grounded into two double plays. Despite winning the game, the Orioles were officially eliminated from the AL East race after the Yankees dumped Boston 9-2 to clinch the division.
California extended it's lead over Oakland in the American League West to two games. The Angels beat Kansas City 3-1 in 10 innings while the A's lost 11-8 to Minnesota, also in 10 innings. Nolan Ryan (17-8) did not get a decision in the Angels win but did pitch 8 innings of 4-hit ball. Rudy Meoli's run scoring double in the top of the 10th proved the difference. In Oakland, Steve Brye's bases loaded triple in the top of the 10th off of Rollie Fingers led the Twins to victory. Harmon Killebrew homered for Minnesota in the win, his 15th of the season and 561st of his career.
Both National League divisions now have a tie at the top of the standings. Philadelphia outslugged the Mets 10-7 to improve to 91-63 on the year, and tied with Pittsburgh for first place in the East Division. The Pirates were shutout 5-0 by John Curtis (15-9) and the St Louis Cardinals. Phil Niekro (16-12) outpitched Andy Messersmith (21-14) to give Atlanta a 2-1 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers. The loss, coupled with Cincinnati's 4-1 win at home over Houston, leaves both clubs tied for the NL West lead at 96-59.
TODAY'S SCOREBOARD
AMERICAN LEAGUE
New York Yankees 9 Boston 2
Boston 4 New York Yankees 2
Baltimore 3 Detroit 0
Milwaukee 4 Cleveland 1
California 3 Kansas City 1 (10 inn)
Minnesota 11 Oakland 8 (10 inn)
NATIONAL LEAGUE
Montreal 5 Chicago 3
Chicago 7 Montreal 0
Cincinnati 4 Houston 1
Philadelphia 10 New York 7
St Louis 5 Pittsburgh 0
Atlanta 2 Los Angeles 1
San Diego 7 San Francisco 6 (10 inn)