Expos split four games with Phillies

June 27, 1969 - Expos 5  Phillies 1
Righthander Steve Renko (1-0) debuts by throwing a complete game four hitter.  Renko allowed only one unearned run while walking three with nine strikeouts.  Montreal shortstop Bobby Wine drove in two of the runs.

June 28, 1969 - Phillies 9 Expos 2
Philadelphia secondbaseman Cookie Rojas hit a grand slam while driving in six as the Phillies romp.  Johnny Briggs added a two run homer.  Phillies lefty Woodie Fryman (10-2) went 8 and two-thirds to earn the win.  Fryman struckout 11 Montreal hitters.  Expo starter Bill Stoneman (1-10) was knocked out with two out in the fourth inning.  He allowed eight runs of which five were earned in three and two-thirds innings of work.

 June 29, 1969 - Expos 4  Phillies 3 (13)
With two out in the ninth and Montreal trailing 3-1, Jose Herrera singled and Adolfo Phillips deposited John Boozer's offering into the left-center field bleachers for a game tying homer.  The score remained tied at 3 until Kevin Collins two out solo homer in the bottom of the 13th ended the first game of the twin-bill.  Gary Waslewski (2-1) picked up the win with three scoreless innings of relief.

June 29, 1969 - Phillies 7  Expos 0
Lowell Palmer (1-0) threw 8 and one third scoreless innings as Philadelphia cruised by Montreal.  Phillies leftfielder Johnny Briggs hit his seventh home run while scoring three runs and driving in three.  Jerry Robertson (3-2) suffered the setback allowing seven runs, of which five were earned on nine hits in 5 and two-third innings.

Cubs Shuffle the Cards By Taking Four Straight

The Cubbies, off to a horrible start to the 1969 season, sweep four from St. Louis at Wrigley, bolstering their confidence by defeating the defending champs.

Game One: Cubs 3, Cards 0

Kenny Holtzman pitches his best game of the year, improving to 6-9, by going 8 innings with 10 strikeouts and shutting down the Cards' offense on six hits. Don Kessinger leads the charge in a game featuring no extra base hits, going three for five and driving in a run.

Game Two: Cubs 2, Cards 1

Bill Hands keeps up the dominating pitching for Chicago, allowing only a triple by St. Louis's Vada Pinson as the only Cardinal hit. His complete game masterpiece (with a gamescore of 84) is helped by an RBI single in the 8th by Randy Hundley that breaks a 1-1 tie and makes a loser of the Cardinals' Dave Guisti, who is now 6-3.

Game Three: Cubs 2, Cards 1 (11 innings)

Another low scoring game, this one features overpowering performances from the Cards' Bob Gibson and the Cubs' Fergie Jenkins. Gibson strikes out 10 and Jenkins 11 in 11 innings of work. But Gibson finally tires in the 11th, loading the bases for Chicago with two outs. Cards' reliever Joe Hoerner comes in and uncorks a wild pitch to win it for Chicago. Jenkins wins his 8th, but Gibson drops to an ugly 3-11 despite pitching well this year.

Game Four: Cubs 6, Cards 4

The Cardinals take an early 3-0 lead off Chicago's Dick Selma, and St. Louis spot starter Mudcat Grant is cruising along by striking out nine with only one walk. But the Cubs bats wake up in the eighth inning as they score five times on six hits in the inning, including back to back doubles by Ron Santo and Ernie Banks that knock out Grant. Phil Regan again has a rocky outing but only allows one Chicago run to gain the win in relief.

Bums Thrive in HotLanta

GAME ONE – Orlando Cepeda singled in the B8 to score Sonny Jackson, lifting Atlanta to a 3-2 win in the opener. Rico Carty contributed 3 hits. Los Angeles loaded the bases in the T9 before Paul Doyle (2) came on to fan Willie Crawford.

GAME TWO – Jim Lefebvre (3) swatted a 2-run homer highlighting a 4-run 6^th for LA as the Dodgers evened the series with a 5-1 win. Wes Parker drove in a pair of runs with sac flies. Don Drysdale (4-3) pitched 6 innings for the win.

GAME THREE – Claude Osteen (11-3) was magnificent on the mound and at the plate. He scattered 11 hits over 9 innings as the Dodgers beat the Braves 4-3. He helped himself with 2 hits and an RBI. Willie Davis added 3 hits. Phil Niekro fell to 10-5.

GAME FOUR – Bill Singer (11-4) tossed the second consecutive complete game for the Dodgers as they finish off the Braves 7-4 in the series finale. Andy Kosco (3 RBI) and Parker (3 hits) were the hitting stars. 

Cubs, Pirates Split a Four Gamer

The struggling Cubs cool down the streaking Pirates, taking the first two games of the series. But the Pirates powerful offense and bad Chicago pitching conspire to give the Pirates the next two.

Game One: Kenny Holtzman two-hits the Pirates in a complete game win, subsequently ending Matty Alou's 22 game hitting streak and Roberto Clemente's 14 game streak. Billy Williams' homer in the first off Bob Moose is the only scoring. Chicago 1, Pittsburgh 0.

Game Two: Williams goes three-for-four and Willie Smith drives a fifth inning three run homer to key the Cubs to a win. Cubs 5, Pirates 2.

Game Three: Chicago appears to be in control again, with a two run lead going into the ninth behind an 11 strikeout performance from Fergie Jenkins. But reliever Phil Regan blows the save in the ninth, as the Pirates score three that includes a Richie Hebner homer and a scratch single from Freddie Patek that gives the Bucs their first lead. Pirates 6, Cubs 5.

Game Four: The Pirates offense maintains its momentum, scoring eight runs as Clemente and Stargell both homer off Dick Selma and Dock Ellis goes the entire way. Pirates 8, Cubs 4.

Les Expos Take Trois from the Bad News Cubs

Chicago continues its nightmarish year, dropping to 26-43 and to last in the NL East by losing three of four to the expansion Expos, who look like a contender rather than a new team against the slip-sliding Cubs (who have only won two of their last 10).

Game One: Mon 1, Cubs 0

Jerry Robertson outduels Bill Hands in a game featuring only five base hits (four by the Expos). Rusty Staub's RBI double in the first is the only scoring.

Game Two: MON 5, Cubs 2

Fergie Jenkins continues to struggle after a stellar 1968, dropping to 7-10 while allowing 10 Montreal hits. Mack Jones leads the scoring with two RBIs and a double behind a wild but effective Howie Reed (1-0).

Game Three: Cubs 11, MON 3

Don Kessinger stops the pain for one game by going four-for-four with four RBIs with two doubles (he now has 15 on the year), as the Cubbies win big and batter Montreal starter Gary Waslewski.

Game Four: Mon 13, Cubs 9

Montreal jumps all over Cubs spot starter Archie Reynolds in the second game of the doubleheader, scoring nine runs in Reynolds' 3.2 innings of work. The Cubs attempt a late comeback, knocking out the Expos' Mike Wegener but have too big a hole to climb. Bob Bailey is the hitting hero with two doubles and three driven in.

Giants-Braves Battle Even

GAME ONE – Mike McCormick (5-3) and Frank Linzy (4) combine on a 4-hit shutout as the Giants blank the Braves 1-0. Willie McCovey’s (12) 4^th inning blast was the lone run.

GAME TWO – Rico Carty (2) and Orlando Cepeda (12) each hit 2-run home runs as Atlanta evened the series with a 6-2 win. Phil Niekro (10-4) went the distance to reach double figures in wins.

GAME THREE – Juan Marichal (11-1) was simply magical in a 3-0 whitewashing of the Braves in the lid-lifter of a Sunday DH. The Dominican Dandy surrendered just 3 hits. McCovey (13) and Jim Ray Hart (1) cracked back-to-back taters in the 6^th.

GAME FOUR – Atlanta gained the split in the twin bill and the series with a come-from-behind 4-3 win. Linzy (3-3) failed to hold the lead for the Giants, surrendering a game-tying wild pitch and an RBI single to Sonny Jackson in the 8^th. Pat Jarvis (5-3) started and won for the Bravos. Paul Doyle (1) got the save. 

Stros - Braves Split Wild Series in HotLanta

GAME ONE – In a battle of aces, Larry Dierker (6-7) went the distance for the Astros and Phil Niekro (9-4) struggled mightily to control his knuckler (9 walks). Houston won the DH opener 10-4 with Sandy Valdespino (5 hits) and Doug Rader (4 RBI) the hitting stars.

GAME TWO – The ‘Stros explode for 6 runs in T9 and sweep the Monday DH in Atlanta. Denis Menke doubled and homered with his 3 hits and drove in 3 runs. Marty Martinez also had 3 safeties. Fred Gladding (6-1) notched the win in relief.

GAME THREE – Cecil Upshaw (2-4) hit for himself in B10 and singled in Bob Aspromonte to give the Braves a 4-3 win. Tony Gonzalez, Rico Carty and Bob Didier all had 3 hits as Atlanta squandered numerous opportunities earlier in the game.

GAME FOUR – Henry Aaron (18) sent the die-hard fans home happy with a 2-run walk-off HR in B14th on a wild, steamy not in HotLanta. The Braves won 8-6, but not before the two clubs combined for 29 hits (Atl. 15) and 27 runners LOB (Hou. 17). Milt Pappas (5-6) faced 1 batter, got him to hit into a DP, and earned the win. Felipe Alou had 4 hits for the home club. Martinez equaled that mark for the visitors.

Pilots Cruise by Chicago

GAME ONE – Billy Wynne (1-0) tossed 8 1/3 innings of shutout ball in his first start of the 1969 season to lift Chicago to a 1-0 win over the Seattle Pilots. Wilbur Wood (7) retired the final two hitters for the save. The Navs managed just 3 hits total. Wynne also scored the only run of the contest when he trotted home on a Carlos May infield out in the 3^rd. Mike Marshall (2-10) was the hard-luck loser.

GAME TWO – Mike Hegan singled in Jerry McNertney (4 hits) in the 12^th to hand Seattle a 5-4 win in the led-lifter of a DH on the South Side of Chicago. Bob Locker (1-0) was the winner in relief. The two teams combined for 25 total hits, but just 1 extra-base hit; Bill Melton’s double in the 8^th which tied the game at 4-4.

GAME THREE – Don Mincher’s (16) 2-run blast in the 5^th was the difference maker in a 6-4 Pilots win for a DH sweep. Mincher got a cookie from tiring former teammate Gary “Ding Dong” Bell and crushed it to RF. Diego Segui got the W in relief with Jim Bouton (2) going the final two frames for the save.

GAME FOUR – Marty Pattin (6-4) scattered 4 hits over 9 innings cruising to an easy 11-0 win as Seattle took 3 of 4 from the ChiSox. Pattin fanned 7 and walked no one. John Donaldson went 3-5 with 3 RBI to pace the offense. Chicago’s defense helped out with 4 errors. 

O's Fly Past White Sox

GAME ONE – The visiting Orioles piled up 16 singles to defeat the White Sox 6-4 on a rainy night in Chicago. Mark Belanger led the way with 3 knocks. Mike Cuellar (8-1) grabbed the win on the mound; Gary Peters (6-4) the loss. Carlos May donned the Golden Sombrero with 4 strikeouts. 

GAME TWO – “Beltin” Bill Melton’s (12) 2-run blast in the B9 evened the series as the ChiSox walked off with a 6-4 victory. Baltimore had plated 3 runs in the 8^th to take a 4-2 lead with Paul Blair’s 2-run single being the biggest blow. Chicago’s response in the 9^th began with back to back doubles by Bob Christian and Woodie Held off Jim Palmer (5-2). Ron Hansen pinch ran for Held and scored on a Tommy McGraw single. One out later, Melton ended it.

GAME THREE – Dave McNally (9-4) went the distance allowing just 1 run on 3 hits as the O’s took the DH opener 4-1. McNally helped himself offensively with 2 hits, and RBI and a run scored. Dave Johnson chipped in 3 hits. 

GAME FOUR – The Orioles sweep the double header taking an early 6-1 lead and cruising to a 12-6 win. Chico Salmon (3 hits) and Clay Dalrymple (2 hits) led the offensive attack with a homer each and 3 and 4 RBI, respectively. Melton and Ed Herrmann went yard for the Pale Hose on a windy day in Chitown.

Braves Take Two from Cubs

GAME ONE – “Hammerin Hank” (15) sent the Atlanta folks home with smiles on their faces with a 3-run blast in the 10^th inning. The Braves won 6-5 over the Cubs. The Aaron homer ended a wonderful game that saw Bob Tillman (7) answer Randy Hundley’s (4) 9^th inning solo HR in the B9 to send the game to extras tied 3-3. In the T10^th Willie Smith (3) cracked a 2-run shot, only to be trumped the O Henry.

GAME TWO – Phil Niekro (9-3) fanned Ron Santo, Ernie Banks and Willie Smith in the 9^th to preserve a 3-2 Braves win. Niekro K’d 11 for the game and walked just 1. Orlando Cepeda (10) blasted a 2-run homer in the 5^th for the game winner. Bill Hands (5-8) was the tough luck loser for the Cubs.

GAME THREE – The Cubs showed no mercy on rookie starter Garry Hill (0-1) plating 8 runs in the first two innings. The shell-shocked rookie was seen leaving the ballpark still in his uniform. He was never heard from again. You can look it up. Randy Hundley and the powerful Paul Popovich had 3 hits apiece. Hundley and Billy Williams (3-run HR) had 3 RBI each. Dick Selma (3-1) was the beneficiary on the mound for Chicago as the Cubs went on to an 11-6 win. Cepeda had 3 hits and knocked in 4 runs for the Bravos.  

Pale Hose Sweep Tribe

GAME ONE – PH Woodie Held (1) smacked a Jack Hamilton (0-4) fastball over the RF wall for a 5-3 walk-off winner for the White Sox. Bill Melton’s (10) 3-run blast in the 2^nd gave the Pale Hose their other runs. Cal Peterson’s 1^st inning double plated a pair for the Indians, The tying run was an unearned run in the 8^th.

GAME TWO – A wild and windy day on the South Side of Chicago saw the Sox blow away the Tribe 22-8. Five baseballs went flying out on a 30+ mph jet stream to RF. Tommy McGraw, Luis Aparicio and Gail Hopkins went deep for the Sox. Ray Fosse and Ken Harrelson had dingers for Cleveland. McGraw and Pete Ward banged out 4 hits each to lead a 20-hit ChiSox attack. Carlos May (5) and Buddy Bradford (4) had 9 RBI between them. Chicago had 3 2B, 3 3B and 3 HR. The home club put crooked numbers on the board in every inning except the 2^nd and 3^rd when they were blanked. Lou Klimchock had 4 of the visitors’ 16 hits. Wilbur Wood (1-3) earned his first win of the year with 3 1/3 innings of relief.

GAME THREE – The White Sox complete the sweep as McGraw singled home Bobby Knoop (3 hits) in the 10^th for a 5-4 victory. Cisco Carlos (2-1) got the win in relief. Hawk Harrelson homered for the Tribe.

The Big Red Machine Paints the Cubs Blue

Cincinnati shows off its powerful offense and gets just enough pitching to take the series 2-1 at Wrigley over the Cubs.

Game One: Cin 4, Chi 2
W: Cloninger (5-4)
L: Holtzman (4-9)
S: Granger (7)

Alex Johnson slugs two homers and drives in three of the four Cincy runs, as the Cubs Kenny Holtzman continues to struggle this year. The Reds' Tony Cloninger only gives up two runs despite walking seven, and Wayne Granger sets down the Chicago batters in 2.1 innings of scoreless relief.

Game Two: Cin 5, Chi 2

W: Merritt (4-3)
L: Hands (5-7)
S: Granger (8)

It's Tony Perez's turn to hit two Reds' homers in a game at Wrigley; "Mad Dog" now has 10 on the year. Bill Hands is the latest Cubs' starter to struggle, as he gives up 12 hits in eight innings. Granger works another 2.1 innings of scoreless relief as the tall righty again thwarts Cubs batters.

Game Three: Chi 3, Cin 0
W: Jenkins (7-7)
L: Culver (2-2)

Fergie Jenkins assumes his ace role by stopping the Cubs' slide, pitching a complete game four-hit shutout against the potent Reds lineup. Don Kessinger's double and two runs scored help drive the scoring as the Cubs do enough damage to support Jenkins' outstanding effort.

Bucs - Bravos Split Treasure

GAME ONE – The Pirates used the “Launching Pad” to rocket 4 long balls out against Phil Niekro (8-3) and take the opener 8-0. Willie Stargell, Manny Sanguilen, Jose Pagan (4 hits) and Freddie Patek all went deep. Dock Ellis (4-3) yielded just 4 hits in 8 innings pitched. 

GAME TWO – Orlando Cepeda (8,9) homered twice and drove in 4 as the Braves evened the series with a 10-5 victory. Mike Lum, Sonny Jackson and Clint Didier contributed 3 hits each to an 18-hit Atlanta siege. PHs Carl Taylor and Jerry May went yard for the Bucs.

GAME THREE – Jose Pagan’s 7^th inning 3-run blast was the difference maker as Pittsburgh topped the Braves 6-5 in the lid-lifter of a DH. Matty Alou had a trio of singles. Jim Bunning (4-5) got the W with Bruce Dal Canton (7) adding the save.

GAME FOUR – Henry Aaron hit his 14^th HR of the season among his 3 hits. Bob Tillman (6) cracked a 3-run bomb in the 3^rd as Atlanta split the DH and the series with a 10-4 win. Gil Garrido also had 3 safeties for the victorious Bravos. Milt Pappas (4-5) earned the win. 

Miracle Mets take two from expansion Padres

San Diego Stadium,

Game 1,
The Padres connected for three homeruns off Met rookie right hander Gary Gentry.  Nate Colbert hit his 10th homerun leading off the second inning. Chris Cannizzaro smashed his second dinger of the year to lead off the following inning. Finally Al "The Bull" Ferrera hit a solo shot in the fourth inning. With all the homeruns leaving the park for San Diego, the bullpen had to stave off a ninth inning rally by the Mets. New York scored two runs in the last frame and had the tying runners on base with Cleon Jones coming up. Frank Reberger struck out the young slugger and preserved the win for the Padres.  Padres 5...Mets 4.

Agee's homerun downs Padres

Game 2,
Jerry Koosman has been stellar so far this year for the surprising Mets. Things did not change in this game as Koosman was spectacular. The young left hander gave up only 4 hits and one run. With Koosman mowing them down, he still needed help from this offense. San Diego was leading 1-0 to begin the ninth inning when Rod Gasper singled and scored when Tommie Agee smacked a deep homerun to left center to give the Mets a 2-1 lead. That was all Koosman needed as he shut down the Padres the rest of the game.  Johnny Podres was the hard luck loser as he sinks to 1-6. Koosman improves to 5-1. Mets 2...Padres 1.

Game 3,

Seaver wiffs 11 Padres

Mets ace Tom Seaver has been up and down. Today he was up...way up! He was simply overpowering as he struck out 11 Padres and did not allow one friar to touch home plate.  Met catcher J.C. Martin went 3 for 5 with 2 RBI to lead a New York 13 hit attack to improve the Mets record to 27-24. Seaver evens his record at 5-5 while Al Santorini falls to 4-2....Mets 7...Padres 0

Long Ball Grounds Pilots as Orioles Sweep Through Seattle

Game 1: Baltimore 5 Seattle 2: WP McNally (8-3)  LP Bell (3-4)
Game 2: Baltimore 3 Seattle 2: WP Palmer (5-1) LP Brabender (1-6)
Game 3: Baltimore 5 Seattle 2: WP Cuellar (7-1)  LP Barber (4-3)

The Baltimore Orioles amassed 23 hits and 7 home runs over 3 games to help sweep the Seattle Pilots at Memorial Stadium.  The 3 game series saw Frank Robinson rip 3 homers (one in each game) to collect 14, 15 and 16 on the season.  Brooks Robinson added 2 to his total as well.  The Orioles got complete games from all their starting pitchers.  7 of Baltimore's total Runs came in the first inning of play.  Seattle did make it close in game 2 as Ex-Oriole Gene Brabender gave up 3 first inning runs only to shut down the Baltimore hitting machine after that.  However, a 2 run 2nd inning for the Pilots would not be enough to catch the Eastern Division leaders.  Baltimore improves their record to 43-12 and Seattle drops to 22-29.