GAME 1 - Pilots 6, A's 3
Joe Schultz's boys finally got to "pound those Budweiser's" in a celebratory mode as they clinched the division title. Big Gene Brabender (5-1, 2.81) tossed 7 2/3 innings of 3 run ball. The Pilots opened the scoring in the first when who else but Tommy Harper walked and stole second. John Donaldson, who had 3 RBI's on the day singled him home to break the ice. It looked like KC's starter, Artie Portocarrero (2-3, 5.13) was settling into a groove when Seattle exploded for 3 runs in the top of the 5th. Portocarrero got himself in trouble by walking 3 of the first 4 batters he faced. On the day he'd give up 8 intentional passes in as many innings of work. Harper and Donaldson delivered RBI singles and Seattle was comfortably up 4-1...or so they thought. In the 6th the A's mounted their own attack by dropping 3 runs of their own on Brabender. Portocarrero helped his own cause by singling with one out. Suitcase, Harry Simpson, fanned for the second out and the inning looked to be nothing special until Vic Power slammed a tape measure shot to left to make it 4-2. Brabender was obviously unnerved and the old pro Enos
"country" Slaughter took full advantage of it with a homer of his own to cut Seattle's lead to 4-3. The next 2 innings were tension filled for the Pilots who were hoping to win this game and clinch early in order to rest their weary starters. The top of the 9th would be a pleasant gift for the Pilots who had 2 outs when the most unlikely candidate to get a hit, Ray Oyler, blooped a single to right. Mike Hegan, who was pinch hitting for the pitcher, worked out a hard fought walk from an 0-2 count. The next 2 batters followed suit and were issued free passes to force in a run. Tommy Davis singled in a second run and just like that a tenuous 1 run lead was now a 6-3 game. Diego Segui came on in the 9th to earn his 6th save of the season as the Budweiser began to flow.9/28
GAME 2 - A's 6, Pilots 5
As a reward for clinching all but 2 of the Pilot regulars (Harper & Mincher) got the day off. Marty Pattin tweaked his shoulder in the 2nd inning and by virtue of precautionary measures he too got the day off. Rookie Skip Lockwood pitched 6 uninspired innings in relief and yielded 5 runs, but the Pilots were still tied going into the bottom of the 9th when the Suitcase Harry Simpson (3-5 on the day) doubled home Suder for a walk off win. Rookie Danny Walton went 3 for 4 for the Pilots and increased his average to .429 in limited action.9/29 - Sicks Stadium - Seattle, WA
GAME 3 - Pilots 17, A's 8
Mike Marshall went the distance and pitched rather well until his mates exploded for 11 runs in the 6th and he flat out lost interest. Vic Raschi tossed 5 decent innings for KC and left up 3-2. KC's dreadful bullpen corp of Harrington and Fricano were torched for 15 runs in just 2 innings of combined work. In a game that had
numerous hitting stars reserve Dick Simpson stood out with a 3 for 5, 5 RBI day. He also had a grand slam that pretty much blew the cabin doors of the KC A's. Jerry Schypinski ended his KOD career with a pinch hit double in the 6th. The Pilots will await the outcome of the Royals/Twins play in game to see who they will host in the ALDS.
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