Pennent Race

[basilrathbonejr]

The American League race has seen a dramatic change with Tampa Bay heating up and winning five straight and eight of ten to vault into first place. This has coincided with Los Angeles and Washington drastically falling off the pace.

Washington has lost five straight and Los Angeles three in a row, Los Angeles' problems began a bit earlier when they were in control of first place and they have had the furtherest to fall. Kansas City somehow has hung onto second place two games behind the red hot Tampa club despite some extremely mediocre play.

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Kansas City 7 Minnesota 3

The A's managed to once again salvage one game of a series coming out on top of seventh place Minnesota 7-3.

Denis Coleman (4-2) once again gave his club a good chance to win going eight innings giving up five hits three runs and striking out five while walking five. Tony Cash pitched a scoreless 9th to finish the game.

Kansas City had seven runs on fifteen hits and committed no errors. Minnesota committed one error and had just three runs on five hits combined off the two KC pitchers.

Kansas City had two big early scoring opportunities that they cashed in on to take a 5-0 lead, something they have not been able to do recently. In the top of the 1st inning Chet Gregg grounded to third base to start the inning. John Mathews singled to left and Bill McCall singled off the pitchers foot. Steve Blue was called out on strikes for the second out but Pat Engle gave up a two out single to right field to Ed Kimsey to load the bases. Engle walked Elmer Riggan to force home a run (Mathews) and rookie Billy Gibbs singled to knock in both McCall and Blue.

3-0 Kansas City.

The top of the 3rd saw the A's go right back to work on Engle.

Steve Blue singled and stole second (11th steal). Kimsey flied out to deep center. Elmer Riggan's drive cleared the left center field fence for a two run homerun, the second of the year for the 36 year old veteran.Catcher Chris Riley reached on a two base error by left fielder Rick Hale but Coleman fanned on three pitches to leave him at second.

5-0 Kansas City.

Red Reinbach made it 5-1 in the 3rd with his 4th round tripper of the season.

Minnesota made a serious run at Coleman in the 6th sending seven batters to the plate. Hale singled to right. Joe Czajkowski walked. Thomas struck out but Coleman walked both Lindeman to load the bases and then Rasmussen to force in a run.

After that Coleman regrouped and got Jim Flores to pop out to short, and Candy Regan to ground to short.

Ed Kimsey had his first four hit game of his career to raise his batting average to .308 hit his second homerun of the season in the top of the 7thand Chet Gregg added a run scoring double.

Minnesota picked up a late run as well but Kansas City left the park with a much needed 7-3 victory.