Boston B's outlast DBacks in 5 game LDS.

GAME 1 - 10/1 - Braves Field - ARI 7, BSN 3
Brian Anderson (4-0, 2.55) went the distance and only gave up 3 runs...all in the 6th, as the Wild Card DBacks jumped out to a 1-0 series lead. Jim Wilson (2-3, 5.40) gave up 6 runs in 6 innings of poor work. David Dellucci banged out 3 hits and Andy Fox had 2 RBI's.

GAME 2 - 10/2 - Braves Field - BSN 3, ARI 2
Omar Daal and Virgil Jester both hooked up in a pitcher's duel as there was no score for the first 4 and a half innings of play. The Braves touched Daal for 2 in the home half of the 5th, when Sid Gordon hit a 2 run shot. The DBacks tied it up int the 8th, when they scored 2 runs with 2 outs thanks to some clutch hitting by Pinch Hitter Kelley Stinnett and some poor fielding (by Jester). The fans were treated to extra frames as the home team won it on a walk off walk to future HOF'er Eddie Mathews.

GAME 3 - 10/4 - The BOB - BSN 12, ARI 8
A wild and wacky one at "The BOB" saw the Dbacks slam Boston's ace, Warren Spahn (4-3, 2.95) for 6 runs in 6 innings, but still not win. Arizona's starter, Telemaco was downright dreadful, as he yielded 6 runs on 8 hits in only 3 innings of work. With all that said the game was still knotted at 6 going into the 7th, when the visiting Boston B's exploded for 6 runs off of an endless procession of pitiful hurlers. The Dbacks scored solo runs in the 8th and 9th to try to inch closer, but they just ran out of outs. Eddie Mathews was the star of this game with a KOD playoff record of 10 RBI's. Mathews went 3 for 3 with 3 runs scored + 2 walks and 3 homers in this post season game of a lifetime.

GAME 4 - 10/5 - The BOB - ARI 6, BSN 0
Andy "the merchant of" Benes (4-2, 3.62) put the fate of his team's season on his huge shoulders as he tossed a complete game 2 hit shutout. The D-Backs jumped out to a quick 4-0 lead in the first off of Boston's starter, Max Sukont, and never looked back. Devon White had 3 RBI's to pace the offense.

GAME 5 - 10/6 - Braves Field - BSN 4, ARI 2
The series migrated back east for the decisive game 5. Braves Field was packed like it had never been packed before. Boston management contemplated moving the game to Fenway, to increase the gate, but the fans, and finally management decided against the move. The Braves went with Vern Bickford (4-1, 2.84) and the Dbacks went back to game 1 winner Brian Anderson (4-1, 2.98). Anderson, who was outstanding in the opener just didn't have it in this one. The Braves jumped out to a quick 3-0 lead and had Anderson on the ropes in the first. It started well when Sam Jethroe fanned to open the inning. It just went downhill from there when Roy Hartsfield and Sid Gordon singled. Mathews flew out to the warning track in right for the second out and everything seemed to look good for the Dbacks, but Earl Torgeson doubled down the righfield line to score both runners who were on the move with 2 outs. Thorpe singled home Torgeson and just like that the Dbacks were in a deep hole. Meanwhile Bickford was posting goose eggs for the first 4 innings. Then in the fifth Stinnett hit a solo shot to make it 3-1. Jay Bell walked with 1 out and Anderson bunted him over to second for Andy Fox, who hit a clutch 2 out double to make it 3-2. Lee walked and up came Matt Williams. This was the decisive moment in the game. Bickford made the right pitch. Williams hit the ball hard, but Mathews was in the right spot to snare it and end the inning. That is why baseball is a game of inches. As is usually the case in this great game of baseball, the fielding star of the previous inning winds up the hitting star of the following frame. Mathews did just that when he doubled home Hartsfield with 2 outs to make it 4-2, which is all Bickford would need. Arizona would only get 2 more hits over the final 4 innings as Bickford shut the door on them and clinched the right to face the '57 Giants in the NLCS.

ALDS: Twins sweep Pilots in 3

GAME 1 - Sicks Stadium - Seattle, WA - Twins 6, Pilots 5
John Gelnar, who had been the Pilots ace this season got bombed for 4 runs in the opening inning. Seattle fought gallantly to get back in the game and make a go of it, but that 4 run outburst was a hole that was too deep to recover from. George Brunet came on in relief of Gelnar, who only barely escaped the 1st, and kept his team in it by only yielding two solo runs in 5 innings worth of work. Bobby Allison's 3 run shot was the big blow in that opening stanza. after an hour rain delay in between the 5th and 6th innings Seattle finally got on the board with a solo run. All the while Pedro Ramos was cruising. Brunet gave way to Jim "Ball 4" Bouton in the 7th and he kept Minny at bay with 2 scoreless innings. Bob Locker did the same in the 9th. Ramos looked to be tiring in the 8th where he escaped 2 runners in scoring position and 1 out. He would not be as fortunate in the 9th. Steve "Orbit" Hovley led off with a frozen rope to right. Pinch hitter Mike Hegan lined out to right for the first out. Curiously Hegan was called on to hit for MVP candidate Tommy Davis, who seemed to struggle at the plate vs Ramos. Don Mincher, who has been hot down the stretch homered deep to right to make it 6-3. At this point McDevitt got up in the Twins pen. Wayne Comer worked out a walk, but Jerry McNertney popped out to Tuttle at 3rd for the second out as it looked like Ramos had it all under control. Greg Goossen was called on to pinch hit for Gus Gil and he hit a tape measure shot to dead center to make it 6-5. Not playing around anymore, Twins manager Marvin Sik, went to the pen and McDevitt arrived on the scene just in time to get pinch hitter Jim Pagliaroni to ground weakly to short to end it. A laugher turned into a very close contest. The Pilots fell short of their goal, but they did show signs of life.

GAME 2 - Sick Stadium - Seattle, WA - Twins 10, Pilots 6
The Twins again scored in the first. This time Harmon Killebrew singled home Lenny Green. Gene Brabender got Game 1 hero, Bob Allison, to line into a DP that doubled Killebrew off at 1st to limit the damage. The Pilots jumped on Camilo Pascual for runs in the bottom of the 2nd and looked to be in total control. Tommy Davis led off with a single and Mincher followed it up with his 2nd homer in 2 games. Mike Hegan, getting a rare start in right, walked. John Kennedy, hitting in the 7th spot, hit a homer that barely cleared the left field wall to make it 4-1. Minnesota chipped away at Seattle's lead by plating a run in the 4th and the 5th. After striking out the first 2 batters in the 4th Brabender yielded a single to Jim Lemon, who scored as the clutch Billy Martin doubled to the opposite field. Earl Battey singled home Lenny Green to cut it to 1 in the 5th. The Pilots bumped their lead back to 2 when Don Mincher scored on Versalles error at short. It looked for a while like Seattle's 5-3 lead would hold up and the series would get even. That was until the Twins exploded for in the 7th and 8th innings for 3 runs in each. Brabender lost his lead in the 7th and Bouton came on and put the Twins ahead. Bob Locker replaced Bouton and let the game get out of reach. Pascual went the distance in a pedestrian performance, but all he needed to do was be average as his offense pounded out 15 hits. Lenny Green led the way going 4 for 5 with 3 runs scored.

GAME 3 - Metropolitan Stadium - Bloomington, MN - Twins 5, Pilots 4
With their back up against the wall the boys from Ball 4 came out shooting and jumped out to a quick 2-0 lead off of Lee Kralick. Tommy Harper singled and John Kennedy tripled him home. Tommy Davis hit a shot to the warning track and Kennedy trotted home to make it 2-0. In the 4th the Pilots made it 3-0 when Jim Pagliaroni singled home Don Mincher who reached base on a fielding error by Twin second baseman Billy Martin. For the first 4 innings Diego Segui was cruising. Seattle's most versatile pitcher can start or relieve, and he looked to be a starter who didn't need any relief, but then the Twin bats came alive. Minnesota scored 2 in the 5th to cut Seattle's lead to 1. Jim Lemon led off the inning with a homer. Segui lost his composure after Gus Gil booted Billy Martin's grounder. 3 successive Twin singles followed. The key move of the game was when manager Marvin Sik pulled his stater (Kralick) for a pinch hitter (Hal Naragon), who singled home Martin. In the 6th Minnesota tied it up when Killebrew led off with a double and Allison doubled him home. The game remained tied at 4 apiece until the bottom of the 8th when Segui looked to have been in control He fanned the two toughest bats in Minnesota's lineup (Killebrew/Allison), but Jim Lemon managed to double off the wall in left. Billy Martin came up and his Yankee pedigre for being clutch came through again. With a 2-2 count Billy the Kid slammed a long trip off the pole in center to plate Lemon and give the Twins the lead. Don Mincher's (yes he plays for both teams) single scored Martin for an insurance run. Heading into the top of the 9th the Twins now had the luxury of a 2-0 lead in the series and having a 2 run lead with 3 outs to go. Moore started the inning for the Twins and walked pinch hitter Steve "Orbit" Hovley. Tommy Harper popped out to short for the 1st out. Pinch hitter Steve Whitaker walked and Tommy Davis went down swinging for the second out. Don Mincher walked on 4 pitches to load the bases and when Wayne Comer walked to force in a run that was all for Moore. McDevitt came on to close it out and he too couldn't find the plate. With the count 3-2 to pinch hitter Greg Goossen the crowd was silent. Danny McDevitt delivered a borderline pitch which the up called for strike 3. Goossen went down looking and with him so went Seattle's chances. Minnesota did what they needed to do to gain the sweep in this LDS and earn the right to face the Los Angeles Angels in the ALDS. Both teams should be well rested. Minnesota reliever Don Lee pitched 2 scoreless innings in relief of Kralick and earned the win, but had little attention paid to him by the press. Everyone wanted to gather round Martin, who is always good for a quote.

Twinkies hold off Royals to gain playoffs

KC- 61 Minnesota 2, 69-Kansas City 1

Jim Kaat pitched the last game of the season and the playoff game with KC without rest. A rain delay on the last game of the season knocked Kaat out early allowing him to come back to pitch 6 innings giving up two hits and no runs to get the win. Lenny Green walked to lead off the game, with 1 out, Battey singles, Green moves to 3^rd. A WP moves Battey to 2^nd. Killebrew hits a ball to 3^rd, Foy commits the error and Green scores. The score remained 1-0 until the 8^th. Rollins pinch hitting for MN draws the walk. Green doubles and Rollins moves to 3^rd. With 1 out and Battey at bat, Cisco throws a wild pitch and Rollins scores. Moore comes in in the 8^th for Minnesota. Kelly leads off with a double. Adair singles and Kelly moves to third with no outs. Piniella walks to load the bases with no outs. Foy strikes out. Next batter, Fiore hits a blopper to 1^st, Harmon Killebrew catches it, dives to first to double off Piniella. With two outs in the 9^th, Hernandez hits a triple for KC. Kirkpatrick singles and Hernandez scores to make it 2-1. The next batter, Kelly, flies out to end the game and move Minnesota into the playoffs.
--submitted by Marvin Sik--

Add one more game to the KOD8 Regular Season

34 Games completed and the AL still has a tie for the Wild Card slot. We all know what that means ! A play in game between the Minnesota Twins (18-16) & the Kansas City Royals (18-16). KC won the coin flip, so they will host the event at old Municipal Stadium. Neither manager (Marvin Sik or Howard Fortel) has announced their starter, but our reporters suspect that Roger Nelson (2-2, 3.28) will start for KC and Pedro Ramos (2-6, 4.34), on short rest, will most likely start for the Twins.

Minnesota's offense is led by future HOF'er Harmon Killebrew (.286-11-26) and table setter Zoilo Versalles (.307-2-15). The Twins rely on the long ball from guys like Bobby Allison, Earl Battey and Jim Lemon.

KC is a pesky crew that relies on pitching and timely hitting. Lou Piniella leads the AL in hitting with a .376 average. Ed Kirkpatrick (.321-6-16) is the lone source of power for the scrappy Royals.

Advanced ticket sales at Municipal Stadium have been off the charts. Limited seating is available. The winning team has the honor of jumping on a flight to Seattle to play the Pilots in the LDS the following day.

Nats sweep faltering O's in Beltway Series

Prior to the series, Baltimore Manager Edwin Sineath was fired by the organization for, as the press release stated, "A demonstrated lack of maturity and ability to relate to others. A new city needs a manager that is reliable and Edwin unfortunately was not. we were thought of as clowns when we were the Browns and the last thing we want is to perpetuate that image in a new city" Catcher Les Moss was appointed interim player manager, but was specifically told that he would not be retained after the season.

Game 1 Memorial Stadium.
Matt Kutyna, who has been inexplicably missing from the Senator bullpen for the last two series although healthy and on the roster, was given the start. He would be opposed by Joe Coleman. Jim King opened the scoring in the fourth with a two run homer (3). The Orioles would get one back in the bottom of the frame on a sacrifice fly by Neil Berry. That was how the game would remain until the ninth when Bud Zipfel, pinchhitting for Hal Woodeshick stroked a three run homer (1). The Os put a couple of runners on against Mike Garcia, but Dave Sisler came in to finish out the ball game (3 saves, 1.45) Kutyna got the win (3-1, 2.49) Coleman threw a complete game for the O's (3-4, 3.77) Senators 5 Orioles 1

Game 2 Memorial Stadium
Again there was no scoring until the fourth inning. Ken Retzer hit his first homer of the season. Later in the frame, Nats pitcher Bernie Daniels hit his first of the season with a runner on base. He was immediately followed by Chuck Hinton (2) and the Nats held a 4-0 lead. The former Brownies got one back in the bottom of the frame on another Berry sacrifice fly. The Senators came back again in the top of the fifth. A walk to shortstop Bob Johnson was followed by a hit by Retzer. Retzer, though, would twist his ankle rounding first and had to be removed from the game. The injury was not thought to be serious and Retzer would probably be available for the season ending game tomorrow. A couple of passed balls by Clint Courtney made Baltimore manager Moss regret his decision to manage from the bench this game. Bud Zipfel, who responded to his rare start with three singles in the game, knocked in one run and Bobbly Klaus brought another home on a sacrifice fly. Chuck Diering would knock home one run and the game entered the sixth at 8-2. The Senators picked up two more in the seventh on singles by Klaus and Daniels and had a comfortable 10-2 lead. But in the bottom of the 8th Daniels was driven from the mound on a run scoring double by pinchhitter Gil Coan. Cal Abrams drove in a run with a fly out and the Courtney doubled home another. In the bottom of the 9th, the Orioles loaded the bases on a walk and a couple of singles. Pinchhiter Eddie Waitkus slapped a ball off Bob Johnson's glove and the score was 10-6. Than Cal Abrams launched one into the seats for a game tying grand slam (4), the first homer of the season given up by Dave Sisler. In the 10th Danny O'connell had a one out double and Willie Tasby, who had come in as a defensive replacement, singled O'connell home. Sisler made it stand up in the bottom of the frame for the win (2-2, 1.77) Howie Fox took the loss (0-2, 3.72). Senators 11 Orioles 10

Game 3 Griffith Stadium.
Dick Donovan, a disappointment all season long pitched 8 strong innings, giing up only one run but left the game for a pinchhitter, trailing 1-0. In the fourth, after walks to Berry and Oriole starter Duante Pillette, Abrams singled home Berry. That was how it stood until the bottom of the 9th when Gene Green doubled with one out. Hinton came into run and Retzer doubled him home to tie the game. In the bottom of the 10th, Klaus led off with a single but was forced at second by Dave Sisler. Sisler then went to third on Marty Keough's single and out ran the throw home when Danny O'connell hit a shallow fly ball to right. Sisler legs and his arm earned him the win (3-2, 1.61) Fox again took the loss (0-3 4.35) Senators 2 Orioles 1

After the game, Orioles management stated, "We weren't disappointed by Les, he was put in a bad situation. Still he better represented us than would have the other guy. We are sure he will get another chance to manage in the bigs, but right now we need a full time catcher and a full time manager and Moss cannot fill both positions." Les Moss would get another chance to manage fill time in the big leagues, but it would not come for 25 years when he was selected to replace Ralph Houk by the Tigers. However, he would be unceremoniously dumped by Tiger General manager Jim Campbell after only 53 games when Campbell would finally convince his first choice to return to the dugout. Sparky Anderson would then lead the Tigers for 15 years and become the first manager to win a World Series in both leagues. --submitted by Tom "Crash" Davis--

Jints rock Rox and sweep to best record in baseball

The Giants had into Colorado needing one game to clinch the Uecker Division Championship.

Game 1 Mile High Stadium
The Giants came out roaring. Red Schoendienst and Don "Mandrake" Muellar both singled to start the game and Willie Mays stroked his 6th homer to give Ruben Gomez a 3-0 lead. Schoendienst added a solo homer in the second (2) to up the lead to 4-0. Then Ruben Gomez (2-3 4.64) decided to make a game of it. He gave up a two run single to Rockie pitcher Greg Harris (1-0, 4.70) in the second and two run homer to Charlie Hayes (9) in the third. Gomez liked that so much he gave Hayes another in the fifth (10). The Rockies would score three more in the seventh and 4 in the 8th. Valmy Thomas hit a meaningless homer in the 9th (2) for the Giants. Rockies 14 Giants 6.

Game 2 Mile High Stadium.
There must be something about the thin air in Colorado. Schoendienst led off the game with his 3rd homer of the season. The Rockies tied the score in the bottom of the 1st on a Dante Bichette sacrifice fly. Then Bichette grounded out to bring in another run in the 3rd. And then the roof fell in. The Giants tallied 13 times in the 4th. Bobby Thomson led off the innning with his 3rd homer. After three consecutive singles by Thomas, pticher Curt Barclay (6-0, 1.98) and Schoendienst to load the bases, Danny O'Connell hit his first homer of the season. Mays followed with a triple, Ray Jablonski was walked intentionally and Hank Sauer doubled both home. O'Connell would double home another run in the inning and Mays would single home two more. Mindful of Barclay's innings worked, he was removed after 6 and Al Worthington pitched three innings of one hit ball to earn his third save.
Giants 19 Rockies 2

Game 3 The Polo Grounds
The Giants had clinched a tie for the Division and now were looking to win it outright. Armando Reynoso, the Rockies most effective starter this season, would get the start. Ray Crone, who has a had rough season would start for the Giants. Unfortunately for the Rockies, Reynoso had to leave the game in the second inning with arm trouble with the score tied at 1. Bichette has another sacrifice fly in the first and Gail Harris answered with a run scoring single in the bottom of the first. The Rockies picked up another run in the third and again it was Bichette, but this time he actually had a hit. Charlie Hayes drove in a third run with a single in the fifth and that was enough of Crone for the Giants manager. When the sixth inning started, Stu Miller, the Giants most effective pitcher this season, took the mound. The Rockies much maligned bullpen had done a nice job since the second in holding down the Giants offense. But in the seventh, with two out and Thomas on first, Schoendienst tripled. Mueller followed with a single and the game was tied It would remain that way until the tenth. Schoendienst led off the inning with a single but lefty Mike Munoz got Muellar to hit into a double play. Righty Scott Fredrickson came into face Mays but walked him. Fredrickson (1-2, 6.14) tried to keep Mays close but it was like trying to grab smoke as Mays stole his league leading 12th base. Ray Jablonski then singled and Mays' legs churned around third to beat the throw and clinch the Division for the Giants. Stu Miller pitched five innings to earn the win (2-1, 0.52)
Giants 4 Rockies 3
--submitted by Tom "Crash" Davis--

Pilots clinch division title, Schypinski doubles in final KOD AB

9/27 - Municipal Stadium - Kansas City, MO
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.