Chuck Tanner NL Baseball

[jacktoast]

The National League race is strictly a three horse race at this time.

Pittsburgh and Houston are now tied for the top spot (27-16) after Houston took game one in Pittsburgh 4-2. (See following game summary). St Louis (25-18) has gone a bit cold, going 5-5 in its last ten games, falling to two games behind the co-leaders.

The Cardinals dropped a one run heart breaker to Colorado 6-5 wasting a chance to pick up a game on one of the two teams ahead of them.

Colorado broke out the big bats getting homeruns from Jack Alexander (4th) with one out in the 1st inning, Mike Noriega (7th) with two outs and one on thanks to an error in the3rd, and Brent Whitehouse's 7th, leading off the 6th inning.

Pop Martin was the winning pitcher 3-4, Kevin Cox (2-3) took the loss.

===============================================================================================================


Chicago Wolves 8 Philadelphia Phillies 3

Don Nichols was knocked around for five runs in the first inning by the Wolves. The hungry Wolves had a RBI triple by Jesse Morales, Morales scored on a single by Shannon Brett. Brett came around to score opn an infioeld out by Rafael Posada, and Ramon Gallaraga topped off the inning with a two run single.

5-0 Chicago after 1/2 inning.

Chicago starter Brett Guerin got the Philas out in order in the bottom of the first, and Nichols' problems continued in the second as he gave up a lead off homerun in the second to Roberto Millan and was taken out.

Line on Nichols; 1+IP 5H 6R (earned) 2BB/0SO I Hr Allowed)

Larry Johnston replaced him an the first batter he faced Jeff Charboneau went back to back with Millan. For Charboneau, it was his 11th homerun, second in NL behind Houston Bob Casian.


7-0 Chicago.

The Phillie bullpen did a creditable job allowing just one run over the rest of the game but aside from Louis Gigon's first of the season in the 9th their offense was non-existent.

Brett Guerin went 7.1 innings for the win (2-4) allowing just three hits and one run walked 5 and struck out six.


==============================================================================================================

San Diego 7 Montreal 3

San Diego is one of four teams with a 19-24 record and now have two straight wins sending last place Montreal to their ninth loss in ten games.

Rod Bunning (4-4) went eight strong inning (7 hits 3 runs 2 walks 9 strikeouts) for the win. Montreal's George Eibel (LP 1-7) got pounded around for 4.2 innings allowing 7 hits and 7 runs, only 5 were earned runs) 3 walks and 7 strikeouts.

Jake Browne homered off Eibel with two on and 2 out in the 5th after Eibel had struck out the first two batters on six pitches he walked Javier Mendoza in front of Browne. Browne ambushed him on the first pitch for his 4th of the season.

Johnny Burns hit his second for Montreal in the bottom half of the inning off Bunning, the 5th allowed by Bunning.

===================================================================================================================

HOUSTON 4 PITTSBURGH 2

The two top teams in the league record wise squared off in Pittsburgh in a tense well played game one of a three game series. Houston took game one by a 4-2 score thanks to some great pitching by Philadelphia cast off Glenn Emslie. Emslie is now 2-0 with Houston with a 1.06 ERA in two starts. he has pitched 17 innings given up 9 hits and 2 earned runs, walked 7 and struck out 11, has not allowed a homerun with Houston (5 w/Phils) and the league is hitting a combined .209 off him.

Lead off man, leftfielder Bucky Ludwig, called up from the minors on July 7th, has hit .344 in 30 games with the Rovers, scored ten runs and driven in 10 (2 Hrs 4 SB). Ludwig hit his second leading off against Rabbit Valentin after seeing nine pitches from the right hander.

1-0 Houston

Houston added two runs in its second at bat off Valentin. Johnson fanned to start the inning. Jay Riley doubled and Dick Moore singled in the run. Moore was caught stealing for the second out. George Barshear singled and stole second. Emslie singled to center driving in a run (Brashear).


Pittsburgh made it a tight game in the 5th. Pinch hitter Pete Hines, batting for Valentin drew the fourth walk issued by Emslie, advanced on an infoeld out and scored on a single by Rodney DeMontreville cutting the leead to 3-2.

It was then that Emslie and the Houston defense began to shine.

In the 6th Matt Lebron single with no one out. Ray Brown hit into a double play started by shortstop Jay Riley and Sanders flied out to Ludwig in leftfield.

The Rovers threw mopre leather on the filed in the 7rth. Dad Cedeno was robbed of a double on a great diving catch by Rick Carey in center field and Ludwing took another potential extra base hit from McKain for the second out with another spectacular diving catch in left. Redmond drew a walk to put the tying run on base (5th), but DeMontreville grounded out routinely to Riley at shortstop.

Emslie got the side out in ourder in the 8th thanks to another blue star play by Riley at short to get Ray Holden for the second out. Riley handled one of his six assists to get out number three as well on a grounder by Libran.

Al Boever took over for Emslie in the 9th and retired three straight for his 16th save.

A pair of tough customers will pitch game two; Allan Connolly (4-1 3.43) for Houston and Don Foytack (5-1 3.35) for Pittsburgh.