Plug-a-lug LUG!! AL vs NL CJBL

[Crackerjack]

Who da real senior league?

Game #4 Crackerjack AL v NL Challenge

Keep On Pushin' - NL batters pressure AL with relentless attack

The National League scored in each of the first four innings, six runs in all, to defeat the American League 6-3 to tie the AL-NL Challenge at two games apiece.


The runs came steadily during the early part of the game starting with back to back hits by the AL's Tony Gwynn, who doubled, and Tim Raines, singaling home Gwynn for a quick1-0 lead against Philadelphia starter Dennis Eckersley. The NL responded against White Sox starter Ed Figueroa with back-to-back doubles by Paul Molitor and Jack Clark to tie the game. The runs continued in the second and third for the NL as Bernie Carbo singled, stole second and scored on a Dickie Thon single and George Brett doubled and eventually scored on a grounder to short giving the NL a 3-1 lead after three innings. The AL's Robin Yount tripled home Dave Henderson and scored the tying run on a Ryne Sandberg double in the top of the fourth. But, the NL attack continued after two NL batters reached on a fielder's choice and a throwing error when Jim Rice double to left wich ended the game for Figueroa. Reliever Jose DeLeon's first batter, Paul Molitor, singled home Rice extending the lead to the eventual 6-3 final.

After the early shakiness, both teams held tight, with the AL bullpen, deLeon and Quisenberry, pitching four an two thirds of scoreless ball. For the NL, Eckersley settled down only allowing a pair of doubles in separate innings before Tom Hall finished the game for his second save of the series.

Game Notes:
Tim Raines has hit safely in all four games...AL batters are showing more patience than the NL. The AL has thirteen walks to the Nl's three...Both enches are having a rough time pinch hitting. The AL is two for eleven, while the NL has gone zero for seven. Three pinch hitters have struck out and none have walked. Only Seattle's Rance Mullinks and Milwaukee's Carlton Fisk have pinch hits. Currently, game five starters are set to be Vida Blue, the game one winner against Bert Blyleven.

[Crackerjack]

series now tied 3-3

Wilted - Milt Wilcox's pitching melts AL bats in 6-1 win.


Montreal pitcher Milt Wilcox avenged a terrible game two start and Jim Rice blasted a two run homer to help the National League pull into a tie in the AL-NL Challenge.

Wilcox couldn't get out of the second, allowing four runs in game two, an 8-0 AL win. This time around he kept the AL batters fooled throughout the game allowing just three hits and an unearned run in seven innings of work. His pitching counterpart, Frank Pastore kept up with Wilcox through the first four scoreless innings. The AL did get a leadoff double from Tony Gwynn, but Wilcox rebounded with twelev straight outs. The AL finally got on the board when Robin Yount beat out a grounder and Ryne Sandberg doubled. Yount was nearly thrown out at third, but Rickey Henderson's throw skipped into Yount's foot and richoceted into the dugout for the game's first run.

Pastore took a perfect game into the fifth, when George Brett and Jack Clark hit a pair of singles and Paul Molitor doubled Brett home to tie the game. With Pastore wearing down in the seventh, the AL brought in Jose DeLeon who got pinch hitter Terry Puhl to line out for the second out of the inning. Rickey Henderson walked, Don Mattingly doubled in two runs and Jim Rice hit his second homer of the season to give the NL a microwave quick 5-1 lead.

The NL bullpen held tough in the 8th and another run was plated in the bottom of the eighth when Rodney Scott singled in Brett. The AL tried to mount a rally, getting the first two runners on against Bob Welch, but Welch settled in and retired the last three batters to preserve the series tying win.

Game Notes:
Through six games, no pitcher has two wins. Only Tom Hall has a second save...Rice's two RBI gave him the NL lead with four...Joe Carter is the only positional player to not get into a game thus far. The AL's Jeff Reardon and Steve Bedrosian have not pitched either. Everyone on the NL squad has played...After hitting second for games 2-5, Paul Molitor was dropped to eighth, responding with a hit in two at bats but made an error in the field.