LA takes 2 of 3 from rivals to the north

LA 7, SF 0

Drysdale (6-4) vs McCormick (3-6)

4-4 plus his 2nd HR of the season

Big D tossed a nice 3 hit shutout vs his rivals from the north.  Wes Parker (4-4) carried the offense with a big 2 run shot to break the ice and some fantastic play in the field.  Not surprising, Torborg was the only member of LA's starting 9 not to record a hit.

SF 5, LA 2

Perry (6-3) vs Singer (3-6)

With 2 out in the top of the first San Fran recorded 5 straight singles to score 3 runs.  Both teams exchanged 2 spots in the 4th and Gaylord Perry cruised to a 5-2 victory.  Willie Mays was 2-4 with a RBI triple, while tracking down at least 3 gappers that a mere mortal would not have even thought of catching.

LA 4, SF 1

Sutton (5-3) vs Marichal (2-8)

Once again the light hitting Dodgers found a way to score runs off the Dominican Dandy.  San Fran opened the scoring in the first on a Dave Marshall RBI single.  That would be all the scoring the Jints would post as Don Sutton got stingy for the next 6 innings.  Jack Billingham and Jim Brewer combined to shut the door.  The Jints had runners on 1st and 2nd with 2 out in the 9th, which facilitated the need for Brewer to come in and put out the fire, which he did by getting Ty Cline to bounce back to the originator to end it.

Reds Down Phillies in Series

May 31, 1968
Nolan vs Jackson
Philadelphia 2 Cincinnati 0
Gary Nolan and Larry Jackson both came today to pitch and neither one deserved to lose. The Phillies got the only run they would need in the second inning without the benefit of a hit. Johnny Callison led off the inning with a fly ball to deep center field that Vada Pinson dropped for a 2 base error. One out latter Callison advanced to third on a wild pitch and came home on a ground ball to second base giving the Phillies a 1-0 lead. The only other run scored in the game was a solo homerun by Callison in the seventh which also happened to be Philadelphia's first hit of the game. Their only other hit was a Roberto Pena single in the eighth. Jackson pitched a terrific game of his own as he tossed a 4 hit complete game shutout striking out 5 and not issuing a walk. After giving up a hit in each of the first 3 innings Jackson retired 19 out of the next 20 batters before giving up a single to Chico Ruiz in the 9th. The only batter he failed to get during that stretch was safe on a Pena error.
June 1, 1968
Pappas vs Fryman
Cincinnati 8 Philadelphia 1
Like Gary Nolan the previous day, Reds pitcher Milt Pappas threw a great game to beat the Phillies 8-1. Unlike Larry Jackson the previous day, Phillies starter, Woody Fryman was horrible and took an early shower after 1.2 innings of work in which he gave up 7 hits and 6 runs. Like Philadelphia in the first game of the series, Cincinnati got all the runs they would need in the first inning when they scored 3 times by putting together 3 singles, a walk and a SF. They duplicated that run production again in the second with 4 singles and 2 walks and took a 6-0 after 2 innings The Phillies only run came in the 5th on a Callison homerun. The Reds added 2 meaningless runs in the 9th on a 2 run double by Lee May. In throwing the complete game Pappas gave up 1 run, 6 hits while walking 1 and striking out 9.

June 2, 1968
Maloney vs Wise
Cincinnati 5 Philadelphia 3
Cincinnati catcher, Johnny Bench, led his team to a win in the get-a-way game for both teams. Bench hit his 16th double of the season in the second and came around to score when Pete Rose did the same. Later in the game, Bench banged a 2 run homerun in the 6th that gave the Reds the lead for good 4-3. They added an insurance run in the 8th when Vada Pinson led off with a single, stole second and scored two batters latter on a Fred Whitfield single. Philadelphia had taken a 3-1 lead after 5 when they scored 2 in the 4th on a pair of singles, a pair of walks, a wild pitch and a SF and 1 in the 5th on a Bill White homerun. After seeing such great starting pitching the first 2 games Maloney and Wise seemed disappointments in this game. Fact of the matter is they both pitched well and both went 6 innings with Maloney giving up 8 hits and 3 runs (2 earned) in getting the win while Wise gave up 6 hits 4 runs (1 earned) and suffered the loss.

Braves Turn Out Astros

Atlanta,

Game 1,

The Braves won the game in extra innings when Felipe Alou scored when pitcher Danny Coombs fumbled a ground ball back to the mound.  Alou had a big day as he banged out two hits and drove in three runs in the victory.  Braves 6....Astros 5.

Game 2,

Another close game however this one was settled in regulation.  Deron Johnson crushed his 4th homerun of the year off Mike Cuellar to lead the Bravos passed Houston.  Ron Reed went the distance to earn his 5th victory of the year.  Cuellar falls to 0-2 and rumors abound that he may be traded to the Orioles.  Braves 4....Astros 3.

Motton Majic! Baltimore Sweeps Washington

Motton Majic.  A grand slam by Curt Motton
was the capper on a 10 hit in 15 AB series for
the Oriole Outfielder.

A little known hero stepped forward for the Orioles this series as Curt Mouton single handedly smashed the Washington Senators and Baltimore stole a 4 game series at Memorial Stdm.  Motton, who was struggling around the Mendoza line for the year stepped forward with 10 hits in 15 ABs including a grand slam and a single shot homer in game 4.  Motton also hit a homer in game 3 and with his 10 total hits has now boosted his season average to a robust .221.  Washington's Frank Howard, after going hitless in the first two games, responded with home runs number 10 & 11 in game 3 & 4 respectively.  With the 4 wins Baltimore has now strung together 8 straight and improves their record to 19-22.  The Senators hit a 7 game skid, dropping to to 19-23.

Braves Top Amazins'

Atlanta,

Game 1,

Ron Reed went the distance to earn his 4th victory of the season. The game was knotted up at one a piece until Tito Francona came to bat in the bottom half of the 6th inning.  Young fire baller, Nolan Ryan was tossing the pill for the Mets and was doing just fine until he hung a curve to Franconca, who crushed it deep into the seats to edge the Mets. Francona's 3 run shot was all Reed needed for the win. Braves 4....Mets 1.

Game 2,

Hank Aaron hit his 10th homerun of the season to lead the Braves past the Mets.  The only offense for New York was Ed Charles. Charles collected 3 of the Mets 4 hits off Atlanta pitching. The Glider's last hit of the game came with 2 outs in the ninth inning and it landed in the seats in right to break up the shutout.  Lefty Dick Kelley(2-4) went eight innings but need relief help from Cecil Upshaw in the ninth. Upshaw earned his 5th save of the year. The loss was credited to Jerry Koosman (2-4). Braves 3....Mets 1.

Game 3,

Two of the league's best right handed hurlers fared against one another in the series finale. Tom Seaver for the Mets and Phil Niekro of Atlanta were not around for the decision as the game went 12 innings before it was decided.  Bob Tillman and Deron Johnson connected for dingers off young Seaver but the Mets rallied for four runs in the 8th inning to chase Niekro and tie the game at 5. The game remained tied until the 12th when the Mets tallied 3 runs capped by a solo blast off the bat of big Ron Swoboda.  Ron Taylor(2-1) earned the victory and the loss was given to Tony Cloninger (1-1)....Mets 8....Braves 5 (10 innings)

Cubs Win Streak Reaches Nine Games

The Cubs sweep the Giants at Wrigley. After a slumbering start to the season, they have won nine in a row. The North Siders continue to pound the home run ball -- Ernie Banks now has nine big flies in May and has had two two-homer games this week. Billy Williams is also on a tear, scorching eight homers this month while hitting .313. The youngster, Kenny Holtzman, has lowered his ERA to 0.89. The Cubs move to 24-19, while the disappointing Giants drop to 17-26.

Game 1: Cubs 1, Giants 0
W: Holtzman (5-1)
L: Marichal (2-7)
S: Regan (6)
MVP: Holtzman (4)

Ernie Banks is having a great month of May.

A true classic. Holtzman and the Giants' Juan Marichal duel. Marichal pitches a no-hitter into the fifth, but "Mr. Cub," Ernie Banks, strokes a double between first and second that gets to the alley. He later advances to third and scores on a groundout. That turns out to be the game's only run. Marichal is great, only allowing three hits in a complete game. But the Giants are frustrated. Holtzman seemingly runs into jams each inning, putting at least one runner on base in seven frames, but the Giants can't capitalize, stranding nine on base and not recording an extra-base hit. Despite his record dropping to 2-7, Marichal lowers his ERA to 2.86.

Game 2: Cubs, 10, Giants 3
W: Jenkins (6-1)
L: Sadecki (3-4)
MVP: Banks (4)

The two major league strikeout leaders clash, with Fergie Jenkins getting the better of Ray Sadecki. Ernie Banks again provides the lift, hitting his ninth and 10th homers and his 14th double, while driving in five and scoring three. Williams hits his eighth. The Cubs are up 9-0 in the eighth before pinch-hitter Willie McCovey hits a three-run bomb, his 10th.

Game 3: Cubs 8, Giants 4
W: Hands (2-3)
L: McCormick (3-5)
MVP: Beckert (2)

It looked like the Cubs' winning streak would finally be snapped. San Fran has a 4-1 lead going into the bottom of the sixth, hanging four on a struggling Bill Hands. Hands also has to deal with a shoddy defense giving up three errors, including a bunted ball that catcher Randy Hundley sails into center field. Giants pitcher Mike McCormick helps his cause with a surprise home run to right on a wind-blown day at Wrigley. But then he starts falling apart in the sixth, as Williams hits his ninth to bring the Cubs within a run. The Cubs score five more in the seventh and eighth, with Glenn Beckert hitting two doubles and everyone else seeming to single off McCormick, who gave up 11 hits. Meanwhile, the Giant bats quiet down, as they can only hit one single after the sixth inning. 

Cubs Take A Game Each from Phils, Bucs

Billy Williams is on a home-run tear.

A strange two-game weekday set at Wrigley with all-PA teams. The Cubs first beat up the hapless Phillies on a Tuesday and then win a tight one on Wednesday vs. the Pirates. The Cubs are finally winning, moving up to 21-19 on the season.

Game 1: Cubs 10, Phillies 3
W: Nye (2-5)
L: Wise (0-5)
MVP: Banks

Young Rick Wise was again victimized in a game that started close but turned ugly. The home runs were flying. The Cubs' power trio of  Billy Williams, Ron Santo and Ernie Banks hit back-to-back-to-back shots to left in the first, followed by a two-run blow from the Phils' Rick Joseph in the top of the second. But then Banks hit another, his eighth, and so did Williams. Rich Nye pitched a four-hit complete game.

Game 2: Cubs 4, Pirates 3
W: J. Niekro (4-3)
L: Bunning (2-3)
MVP: Williams

Billy Williams hit his eighth home run, his third in two days, and Santo also chipped in another big fly, while Willie Stargell hit two of his own (6, 7). The Cubs hang on, even with Joe Niekro struggling with eight hits allowed in 6.1 innings and a 3-2 lead. Cubs reliever Jack Lamabe held down the fort in the seventh and eighth, and Glenn Beckert added an insurance run with a single in the eighth. Phil Regan almost blows it in the ninth. "The Vulture" gave up Stargell's second shot of the game and put men on first and second before Gene Alley grounded out to end it.