GAME 1 - Senators 3, Pilots 1
Bennie Daniels stiffled the Pilots all day. The lone blemish was a solo shot by Tommy Harper in the 5th. The Nats scored in the two quick runs (1 each) in the first 2 innings to stake Daniels to a lead. In the first Pilot starter, Fred Talbot, decided to give away more free passes than a nerd serving as a hall monitor. The final walk, to Hinton, with the bases loaded platted Danny O'Connell. In the second Bob Johnson scored on a Gene Green fielder's choice. Dhuck Hinton hit a solo shot in the 5th to finish the scoring as Daniels cruised to a complete game victory.9/24
GAME 2 - Pilots 8, Senators 7
The Nats jumped out to a quick 2-0 lead of the marginally effective Diego Segui. Two RBI singles by Jim King and Hinton staked Gabe Gabler to a lead, which he would quickly relinquish in the 3rd when Mr. Clutch, Tommy Davis singled home John Kennedy and Tommy Harper. The top of the 4th saw the floodgates open up as the Pilots plated 5 and chased Gabler from the hill. At that point the game looked over, but with teams of this magnitude games are NEVER over. With a 7-3 lead in the 8th the Pilots looked assured to win, but that was until Bob Locker forgot how to get anyone out. With 2 out Jim Bouton was called on to put out the fire, but all he could do was toss more kerosene on it in the form of a game tying RBI double by Danny O'Connell. With the score knotted at 7 Tommy Davis led of the top of the 9th with a liner off of replacement third sacker Harry Bright,
which he turned into a circus and landed Davis on first and Bright a big E-5. Reliever Dave Sisler lost track of Davis, who easily pilfered second. He then lost track of the hitter Don Mincher, who wound up walking. With runners on 1st and 2nd Wayne Comer layed down a perfect sac bunt to move them both into scoring position. Rightfielder Mike Hegan was then give an intentional pass in hopes of getting an inning ending DP. Steve Hovley was called upon to pinch hit and he delivered a long sac fly to right to put the Pilots up 8-7. Dooley Womack, who replaced Bouton in the 8th, was able to get the first 2 batters out easily. Gary "Ding Dong" Bell was called upon to nail the final out and he did just that. Hinton lined out to Mincher at first and the Pilots took this wild and wacky contest by 1.9/25 - Sicks Stadium - Seattle, WA
GAME 3 - Pilots 4, Senators 3
Unlike other sports, which are played weekly or 2 or 3 times a week baseball is played everyday, and with that a player has a chance to atone for the sins of his previous performance rather quickly. It is a game of redeeming qualities. Today Jim "Ball 4" Bouton experience just that sort of metamorphosis. Yesterday he took part in blowing a 4 run lead, which thankfully his mates recovered from. Today he had the opportunity to hold down the fort and save the day until his offense could get on track. The Pilots jumped out quickly to a 2 run lead that they carried until the 6th. John Kennedy hit a solo shot in the 2nd and Tommy Davis singled home Tommy Harper, who just prior swiped another bases to add to his league leading total. Pilot spot starter Bob Meyer was the victim of some timely Senator hitting and a crucial Harper error. Meyer ran out of gas and didn't finish out the 6th. His 5 scoreless innings were erased by 2 runs in the 6th. The game stayed tied until the top of the 7th when John O'Donoghue was victimized by a 2 out Wayne Comer error in center off a single by Hinton, which scored Bob Johnson all the way from first. Clouds of darkness are commonplace in Seattle, but this cloud looked to be the one to rain on the Pilots pennant chances. Neither team scored in the 8th. Bouton, who had come on in relief of
O'D, got 2 quick outs in the 9th before yielding a long double to Hinton that barely missed going out. A wild pitch allowed Hinton to move to 3rd with 2 outs. A hit by Danny O'Connell, would have given the Nats a much needed insurance run. The ground out back to the box did not. The Pilots entered the bottom of the 9th needing a run to tie. Washington starter Joe McClain was on a roll of 5 scoreless innings. Nobody was up in the Washington pen. Kennedy led off and weakly grounded out to 3rd. Mike Hegan was summoned to pinch hit for Bouton and he had an excellent 7 pitch at bat that culminated with a clean single to right. Tommy Harper followed with a rope down the left field line that ended up in an easy two bagger, which put runners on 2nd and 3rd with one down. Up stepped lefty John Donaldson, who did not miss a beat. On McClain's first offering Donaldson jumped all over it and hit a one hopper off the right center wall to score both runners and win the game for the Pilots.
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