Frank Chance League

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Miami BeachComber Notes;

The Miami Beach Combers are now in sole possession of third place but have not unpacked their bags to remain there because they are just one game behind second place Pittsburgh.

The BeachCombers have made a rapid rise in the standings by taking five of six from the first and second place clubs and the first game of a three game set in San Francisco. San Francisco dropped to .500 (15-15) with their second straight loss, tied with Atlanta, who have lost four consecutive games.

The reversal of fortune for Miami began seven games ago, and since then they have hit fifteen homeruns and batted .272 as a team and the pitching staff with closer Van Wagner being rested for a tired arm has posted a 3.18 ERA.

Fifteen homeruns in those seven games has propelled Miami to second in the league in that category.

Miami 6 San Francisco 3

Miami improved to 10-9 on the road with this victory. They are 12-9 at home and the team is playing with great confidence and is still extremely loose since no too long ago they were considered out of it and going no where.

Miami starting pitcher J.P. Morris gave up two runs on one hit in the forst inning. Morris put himself in the soup by walking Ron Miller with one out. Miller moved up a base on a passed ball on catcher Stan Dietrich. He trouted home one pitch later on Switch hitter Bill Stevens' blast to deep right field. it was the 3rd long ball allowed by Morris in 49 innings pitched and the 5th of the season for Stevens giving him 18 runs batted in.

2-0 San Francisco

Miami broke out the big bats in the top of the secoind inning hitting two homers off Giants starter Reese Parson.Ricky Hamner hit a solo shot, his 9th, and Paul Diehl hit a two run homerun, his 6th, off Parson to put Miami in front 3-2.

Miami hit Parson hard again in the 5th inning to go ahead 5-2. Pitcher J.P. Morris singled and came in to score on a triple by Yo-Yo Robert. Dave Lind's RBI single, scoring Roberts from third base, was the end for Parson, the losing pitcher 5-3. Parson gave up two homeruns (6 allowed) in 6IP 4H 3R/2ER 3BB/2SO).

Left hander Wade Everitt replaced him on the mound and walked Lipscomb but got Hamner to ground into a 4-6-3 double play, to end the inning.

Miami added another run off Everitt in the 6th inning. Paul Diehl doubled off Everitt with one out and Chuck Koski followed with another two bagger to score Diehl.

Left hander David Waldren replaced Everitt, and gave up a soft single to left field, that moved the runner, Koski, to third base. Both runners were left on when Roberts grounded out to end the inning.

6-2 Miami.

San Francisco pulled one run back in the bottom of the sixth. Morris walked the lead off batter, Bill Stevens. Stevens moved o second base on a wild pitch by Morris and cored on a two-base throwing error on second baseman Ricky Hamner.

6-3 Miami.

Zip Boris struck out the side for San Francisco in the 8th inning.

Don Harkness who had been hit hard in recent outings came in to pitch three scoreless innngs for his first save. Harkness did not allow a hit walked one and struck out thre, the last batter in the eight inning and the first two in the 9th.

Morris got the win, he is now 2-2 with a 4.59 ERA. His line for this game; 6IP 4H 3R/2ER 3BB/2SO 1WP 1 HR Allowed (3rd in 49inings pitched).