April 6, 1974
I am back in Cincinnati as the Braves and Reds prepare for the second game of their season opening series. There is increased police presence at Riverfront Stadium amid rumours Henry Aaron has been the target of death threats. Apparently this is something he has had to deal with all winter and likely not the reason, but Aaron's name is conspicuously absent from the Braves starting line-up on this day. The more likely reason is Atlanta ownership wants the record set at Fulton County Stadium where they can benefit financially from a large crowd.
On this day the Braves send Roric Harrison to the mound. The 27 year old was 11-5 with saves for Atlanta last year, a season he split between the rotation and the bullpen. Ivan Murrell, an off-season pick-up from San Diego replaces Aaron in the outfield with the only other change in the Atlanta lineup is Vic Correll replacing Johnny Oates at catcher.
The only change for the Reds from Thursday will be the pitcher as 23 year old Don Gullett, who was 18-8 a year ago, gets the start.
Aaron makes an appearance in the 7th inning as a pinch-hitter for Roric Harrison. He steps to the plate with runners on first and third with one out as the Braves trail Cincinnati 5-2. Don Gullett's first offering is in the dirt for ball one as Johnny Bench does a nice job keeping the ball in front of him to prevent the runners from advancing.
Aaron fouls each of the next two pitches off out of play and he is behind in the count 1-2 while still looking for his first base hit of the season. After taking ball two on a high fastball, Aaron slaps the next pitch down the third base line. Reds infielder Dan Driessen gathers the ball up and makes the toss to Joe Morgan at second to retire Vic Correll. It is not in time for the doubleplay as the 40 year old Aaron gets down the line quick enough to beat out the relay to Perez at first giving Hank his first rbi of the season and cutting the gap to 5-3.
The game ends 5-3 with Gullett going the distance, fanning 6 while walking 1 and allowing 8 hits. Aaron, of course remains at 713 homeruns. His rbi increases his career total to 2134, which is second all-time behind only Ruth's 2217 rbi's.
The days highlights included a couple of great pitching performances from New York hurlers. Tom Seaver tossed a complete game 3-hit shutout as he and his New York Mets blanked Philadelphia 1-0. It was a tough loss to take for Phillies starter Steve Carlton, who allowed just 5-hits and surrendered the game's only run in the top of the ninth inning when he gave up a 1-out triple to Felix Milan and then committed a balk to allow Milan a free pass home. Meanwhile at Yankee Stadium, Mel Stottlemyre threw a 4-hit shutout to pace the Yankees past Cleveland 3-0.
Elsewhere Detroit beat Baltimore 4-3, The White Sox hammered the Angels 7-1 as Ken Henderson hit 2 more homeruns after belting one in the season opener yesterday. Minnesota scored 3 times in the top of the 9th to beat Kansas City 5-2, Milwaukee blasted Boston 8-2 and the Texas Rangers topped Oakland 4-3 as Toby Harrah homered for the second straight game.
Other National League scores saw Willie Stargell hit a 2-run homer while Bob Moose and reliever Ramon Hernandez combined on the shutout as Pittsburgh blanked St Louis 2-0. Tommy John got the win as the Dodgers thumped Randy Jones and the Padres 7-3. Finally Houston doubled San Francisco 6-3.