Three team battle for first in Russ Nixon NL...

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jacktoast
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Three team battle for first in Russ Nixon NL...

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The National League has a three team race for first place at the moment with Pittsburgh and Philadelphia tied with identical 34-24 record and Milwaukee two games behind with a 32-26 showing for the season.

Montreal (30-28) is four games behind, Houston (29-29) trails by five games, and Los Angeles is six off the pace with a 28-30 record.

Philadelphia 6 Pittsburgh 5

Pittsburgh dropped two of three to Los Angeles in the first of two series on the road, and Philadelphia handed them their second straight loss in game one of three in Philadelphia.

The Pittsburgh bullpen was charged with two blown saves in the game (Britt Hankins and losing pitcher Roy Nye (1-7). Ron Riddle started for Pittsburgh.

Philadelphia's bullpen had trouble holding on to a lead as well. Tug McGraw had a blown save in the 9th inning, as well.

Pittsburgh scored a run in the first inning to take a 1-0 lead off Curt Schilling. Ron Thomas reached on a fielders choice and scored on Syd Hidalgo's two out double.

Thomas involved himself again in the 3rd inning after Bobby Williams singled, Thomas doubled with two outs adding on a second run.

2-0 Pittsburgh.

Philadelphia climbed back to within one run in the 4th inning,

Garry Maddox singled. Riddle issued one of three walks he surrended to Larry Bowa. Lucinski forced Bowa at second, but beat the throw to first putting runners on first and thrid with just one out. Ryan Howard drove in the run on with a bouncer to the first baseman.

2-1 Pittsburgh.

Pittsburgh went back in front by two in the 5th inning on a single by Bobby Williams and a double by Alex Fischer.

3-1 Pittsburgh.

Philadelphia left two men on in the 5th and 6th innings and some outstanding defensive play saved Schilling and Philadelphia in the 8th. First centerfielder Garry Maddox robbed Bake McBride of an extra base hit and left fielder Greg Lusinski took a another extra base potential hit away from Ron Thomas. Hidalgo doubled off Schilling bringing in Madsen who induced a routine fly out by Tommy Alvarez to McBride in right field. The scpre stayed at 3-1 as a result.

Philadelphia mounted a comback in the 8th inning.

Three runs scored on three hits in the inning. Riddle allowed a lead off single to Garry Maddox. Bowa reached on a fielders choice forcing Maddox at second base. Riddle struck out Lucinski swinging for the second out. Ryan Howard spoiled his plans on getting through the inning with a clutch two out double driving in Bowa.

Britt Hankins replaced Riddle on the mound. Riddle's line; 7.2 IP 6 H 3R/3ER 3BB/3SO.

Hankins allowed a two run homerun by Chase Utley, his 7th and the 3rd given up by Hankins this season. Carlos Ruiz popped to shortsop to end the inning.

The three run inning put Philadelphia in front again 4-3.

In a game where no lead lasted very long, Tug McGraw entered to close it out for Philadelphia. McGraw ran into immediate trouble and blew the save.

Willie Russell singled to left..and then stole second before George Hall flied to right field.

Duke Brunio grounded out to third. Pinch hitter Tony Mahoney batted for the pitcher (Hankins) and singled in Russell. Don Hemingway pinch ran for Mahoney. Bobby Williams drove in Hemingway with his fourth hit of the game driving in the second run of the inning putting Pittsburgh back on to 5-4.

J.C. Romero struck out Alex Fischer to end that inning.

'The team with the last at bat was due to win this one and Philadelphia did just that scoring two in the bottom of thbe 9th off Roy Nye, losing pitcher 2-7.

Bake McBride and Mike Schmidt opened the inning with two singles putting runners on first and third ans no one out. John Kruk batted for the pitchers Romero, and singled. McBride scored to tie the game 5-5.

Larry Bowa's soft liner to right field fell in dring in Schmidt with the inning run.

The walk off win chipped one game off Pittsburgh's advantage, now just two games, a sweep would put Philadelphia in front by by two games.

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