PL PLAYOFFS, ROUND ONE

GAME 1: at Milwaukee

Vida Blue vs. Tommy John

Tommy John runs into trouble immediately, allowing hits to two of the first three batters he faces, but escapes with no damage. Milwaukee gets a break in the second when Butch Hobson's two-out error puts Ted Sizemore on to load the bases; Frank Taveras follows with a bases-clearing triple and Len Randle singles him home. Riders lead 4-0 after two.

Mike Ivie doubles home a run in the third and John gets into a groove. The Milwaukee starter goes the distance, pitching a 5-hit shutout, as the Riders win the opener 6-0. Larry Hisle steals three bases for the Riders.



GAME 2: at Milwaukee

Dock Ellis vs. Lary Sorensen

Len Randle leads off the third with a triple and scores on Bill Madlock's single as Milwaukee strikes first. Milwaukee adds another run in the fourth and Lary Sorensen is grooving, pitching seven shutout innings before leaving in favor of Rich Gossage. Gossage pitches a perfect eighth, striking out two, and Larry Biittner drives home an insurance run in the bottom half.

Gossage makes good use of that insurance run to start, allowing three straight hits in the ninth, then walking consecutive batters to load the bases. Rusty Staub strikes out and Skip Lockwood enters to face Butch Hobson. Lockwood strikes him out and it appears the Riders will dodge a bullet, but Darrell Evans singles to right center. Hal McRae throws home but cannot beat Ken Singleton to the plate, who scores the lead run from second.

Gary Lavelle pitches the ninth for New York. With two down, Larry Hisle walks and Richie Hebner singles. Thurman Munson, author of so many key hits this year, comes to the plate. He fails this time, striking out to end the game. New York wins 4-3 and evens the series, earning a split at County Stadium.



GAME 3, at New York

Jon Matlack vs. Frank Tanana

Matlack has a rough first inning, walking Ken Singleton and then grooving one to Reggie Smith, who clubs a two-run homer. Despite some miscues on the bases, Milwaukee rallies to tie it in the fourth, then takes the lead in the fifth on Jerry Mumphrey's single. Matlack doesn't hold the lead for long, though, allowing a two-run single to Bucky Dent in the next frame.

Down 4-3, it's Milwaukee's turn to stage a rally. Thurman Munson comes through in this one, hitting a two-run single to give Milwaukee the lead. The Taveras-Randle combo then strikes, with Taveras hitting an RBI triple and Randle singling him home.

Dave Campbell works a scoreless eighth and Elias Sosa works around a one-out walk to Singleton in the ninth to preserve a 7-4 win for Milwaukee.



GAME 4, at New York

Bruce Kison vs. Vida Blue

Bill Madlock produces the game's first run with a solo homer in the second; Kison works out of a bases-loaded situation in the second and strands two runners in the fifth. Hal McRae hits a two-run double in the sixth and scores on Mike Ivie's single. Reggie Smith homers for the Mammoths in the bottom half, but Kison leaves after that inning with a 4-1 lead. Milwaukee keeps hitting, scoring single runs in the seventh and eighth and then tacking on four more in the ninth, hitting three consecutive doubles early on.

Richie Hebner commits a one-out error in the ninth but Mike Cubbage bounces into a double play and the Riders advance with a 10-2 victory.

They will face Cleveland in the PLCS.

PATRIOT LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES

GAME 1, at Milwaukee

Dennis Eckersley vs. Tommy John

Milwaukee strikes first, scoring an unearned run in the first after Bobby Grich's error. Cleveland ties the score immediately in the second on Greg Luzinski's leadoff home run, and takes the lead in the third on George Brett's single. Steve Yeager is thrown out at home to prevent an even bigger inning.

Milwaukee strands runners at third in both the third and fourth inning but ties the score at two when Richie Hebner homers in the sixth.

When John walks consecutive batters to load the bases in the seventh, he exits for Skip Lockwood. Brett's sacrifice fly gives Cleveland the lead back. Len Randle singles in the bottom half, steals second, then attempts to steal third as well. Yeager's throw sails into and Randle scores to tie it back up at three.

Tom Paciorek gives Cleveland another lead with an RBI double in the fourth. Brett gives them an insurance run in the ninth and then scores himself to make it a 6-3 game.

The first two Rider batters single in the bottom of the ninth, but Kent Tekulve retires the next three batters to end it. The Saltdogs take a 1-0 series lead.



GAME 2, at Milwaukee

JR Richard vs. Lary Sorensen

After pitching seven shutout innings in his postseason debut, rookie Lary Sorensen is not so lucky facing Cleveland. George Brett and Greg Luzinski each drive in runs in the third to give the Saltdogs a 2-0 lead. Keith Hernandez triples home a run in the fourth and Sorensen is done for the day. Ron Reed replaces him and shuts down the Saltdogs for the next four innings.

The Riders, meanwhile, manage only four hits through six before loading the bases with two down in the seventh. Larry Hisle hits a fly ball to center, but not deep, and Richard escapes with his shutout intact.

But not for long; Richie Hebner leads off the eighth with a home run, putting Milwaukee on the board. Milwaukee puts two more runners on base before Randy Moffitt relieves Richard and ends the rally.

Elias Sosa pitches a perfect ninth for Milwaukee and Moffitt stays in the game for Cleveland. Len Randle leads off with a grounder to third, which Brett bobbles, allowing Randle to reach safely. Bill Madlock then singles, and Larry Hisle is walked to load the bases. Moffitt remains in to face Hebner, who hits a liner to the gap in center for a double. Hisle races around third and scores as Tim Foli's throw is off target. Riders win, 4-3!

Feeling very lucky to have eked out a win at home, the Riders head to Cleveland for the next three games.



GAME 3, at Cleveland

Jon Matlack vs. Ed Figueroa

Milwaukee scores in the first on Charlie Moore's error, but wastes the opportunity to do a lot more, leaving the bases loaded. Steve Yeager homers off Matlack in the bottom half, then drives in the first of two runs in the third as Cleveland grabs a 3-1 lead. Matlack completely falls apart in the fourth, allowing a three-run homer to Steve Yeager. Bill Lee relieves and surrenders a homer to the first batter he faces, Greg Luzinski.

Down 9-1 after six, the Riders begin to rally, scoring three in the seventh, then four more in the eighth. Bill Madlock singles home a run in the top of the ninth to tie the game, but Steve Stone relieves and retires Larry Hisle to end the threat.

Dave Campbell comes in to pitch the ninth for Milwaukee. With one down, Joel Youngblood doubles. Campbell walks Charlie Moore and then retires Tim Foli. Rico Carty singles to ; Larry Biittner's throw home is late and Youngblood slides home under the tag as the Saltdogs take a 2-1 series lead with a dramatic 10-9 victory.



GAME 4, at Cleveland

Bruce Kison vs. Dennis Eckersley

Len Randle leads off with a single, then steals second and goes to third on Steve Yeager's wild throw. Bill Madlock singles him home and the Riders strike first. Yeager then grounds into a double play with the bases loaded to end the Saltdog first... perhaps the Riders are learning to pitch him more carefully.

Randle gets to second the easy way in the third, doubling to lead off. One out later he scores Milwaukee's second run on Larry Hisle's two-base hit.

Bruce Kison then gets into a groove, pitching a few perfect innings before running into some trouble in the sixth. He gets out of the jam without allowing a run and Dave Laroche relieves him for the seventh.

The Riders, meanwhile, are doing no further damage to Eckersley. Laroche pitches two perfect frames and the ninth arrives with a 2-0 score. Eckersley, still strong, retires the Riders in order. Rich Gossage takes over for Milwaukee. He strikes out Greg Luzinski, then retires Yeager and Don Baylor on groundballs to end it. Milwaukee evens the series with a 2-0 win.



GAME 5, at Cleveland

Tommy John vs. JR Richard

Len Randle gets things started again, singling to lead off the game. Larry Hisle homers to put Milwaukee up 2-0.

Tommy John faces the minimum nine batters through three innings but allows a run in the fourth on George Brett's single. The Riders respond with three in the fifth as Len Randle sparks another rally with a single and stolen base. Randle scores one more time, in the seventh, on another Larry Hisle double and the Riders lead 6-1.

Steve Yeager finally breaks out of his mini-slump that frame, doubling home a run after two walks. Skip Lockwood enters but the move is foiled when Hal McRae botches a fly ball. Cleveland scores three times in the inning to narrow the lead to 6-4.

Milwaukee puts two runners on in the ninth but does not score; Lockwood remains in the game and strikes out two of the three batters he faces to preserve the 6-4 win.

The final two games of the series will be played in Milwaukee.



GAME 6, at Milwaukee

Dennis Eckersley vs. Lary Sorensen

Lary Sorensen's day doesn't start well as he allows a single to leadoff hitter Keith Hernandez and then a two-run homer to Rico Carty. Len Randle singles to lead off the first for Milwaukee but is held there for a change. Cleveland then loads the bases in the second but Sorensen strikes out George Brett to escape.

Milwaukee then tries their hand at loading the bases in the second. Frank Taveras singles home a run and then Frank Taveras hits an RBI grounder to tie the score.

Neither team threatens again until the fifth. Milwaukee's Bill Madlock leads off with a single and scores on Larry Hisle's double. Richie Hebner follows with a towering home run to give the Riders a 5-2 lead.

Dave Campbell replaces Sorensen in the seventh and pitches two scoreless innings; Milwaukee manufactures another run in the eighth, and Elias Sosa enters to pitch the ninth. Reggie Jackson flies out to , Jose Baez grounds to second, and Tim Foli flies to . Milwaukee wins, 6-2 and has clinched their second consecutive Patriot League pennant!



The Riders will face an old friend in the World Series... former division rival Oakland won 97 games during the regular season and has defeated the New York Brakers and San Diego Gringos to reach the championship round, having lost only once in the process.

WORLD SERIES, 1977

GAME 1, at Milwaukee

Rick Reuschel vs. Tommy John

Tommy John gets through the first inning without problems, but Frank Taveras commits an error to lead off the second. John picks that runner off but the error seems to unnerve him and the Zoo scores two runs in that inning. Taveras commits ANOTHER error on the first batter of the third. That precipitates a three-run inning and the Riders are down 5-0 before they've even realized they're playing in the World Series.

Taveras partially atones for his miscues with an RBI grounder in the fifth that finally puts the Riders on the board.

Skip Lockwood relieves John to start the seventh and promptly gives up another run, then allows a two-run double to Bake McBride in the eighth. Down 8-1, Milwaukee finally wakes up and stages a rally in the bottom of the inning, scoring six runs on a series of bases-loaded singles, a double, and a hit batter. Larry Biittner, who singled to load the bases as the third batter in the inning, flies to right to end it, leaving three on base.

Charlie Hough pitches the ninth for Oakland and gets three ground ball outs to end it. Oakland wins the opener 8-7.



GAME 2, at Milwaukee

Nino Espinosa vs. Lary Sorensen

Milwaukee had some reason to be encouraged after their rally in the opener, but it's the Zoo that comes out swinging in Game 2. Hal McRae's error in the third doesn't help matters (nor do two bases-loaded walks issued by Lary Sorensen) and the Zoo take a 6-1 lead in the third.

Milwaukee leaves the bases loaded in the third, Oakland puts three more on the board in the fourth, and the rout is on. Oakland makes short work of Ron Reed and Bill Lee before finally resting and scores a convincing 12-2 win in Game 2. Milwaukee now needs to win at least two games in Oakland to have a hope of defending their championship.



GAME 3, at Oakland

Bruce Kison vs. Eduardo Rodriguez

Milwaukee strikes first in this one, getting a two-run homer from Frank Taveras in the third, followed by a Bill Madlock double and Mike Ivie single. Riders lead, 3-0.

Oakland scores on a Willie Randolph sacrifice fly in the fifth, but strands three without further damage. Dan Driessen hits a solo homer in the sixth, then doubles off Rich Gossage with one out in the ninth. Gossage, who had pitched a perfect eighth, then allows a single to Gary Thomasson. Driessen scores and the game is tied. Thomasson is caught stealing and we go to extras.

Neither team generates much of a threat through the first three extra frames. Milwaukee goes down in order in the 13th. Robin Yount leads off the bottom half with a lazy fly ball that Hal McRae can't handle and the Zoo is in business. A grounder moves him to second, an infield single puts him at third with one out. Bake McBride flies to right; Larry Biittner's throw home is on target, but Yount avoids the tag and slides home with the winning run.

Milwaukee loses, 4-3 in 13, and is pretty much doomed, trailing 3-0.



GAME 4, at Oakland

Jon Matlack vs. Jesse Jefferson

Jon Matlack's playoff struggles continue; after retiring the first batter of the game, he allows a single, a hit batsmen, and a two-run double. In the third, Oakland puts two more runs on the board. The Zoo's Jesse Jefferson, meanwhile, is nearly untouchable. Wayne Nordhagen, seeing his first postseason action, homers in the fifth but it's all the Riders can manage in Jefferson's eight innings.

Frank Taveras commits another error in the sixth, leading to three more Oakland runs, and the writing is on the wall. Don Aase pitches the ninth for Oakland; he allows two runners but gets out of the jam and Oakland is the 1977 APL champion, sweeping the Riders out of the World Series, four games to none.

1977 in review.



HITTING

Catcher - Thurman Munson (.348/.401/.530) was superb, scoring 95 and driving in 110. He hit 25 doubles and 22 homers.

First base - Richie Hebner (.292/.380/.477) was very productive as well, scoring and driving in 93 runs in only 411 at bats. He hit 17 homers. Mike Ivie (.303/.352/.451) was the right-handed half of the platoon, driving in 75 in 357 at bats.

Second base - Ted Sizemore (.313/.377/.403) started hot and put up good numbers, scoring 71 and driving in 57 with only four homers. Bob Randall (.246/.273/.316) was a disappointment.

Third base - Bill Madlock (.329/.391/.492) came back to earth a bit after a spectacular '76 but was still one of the league's top third basemen. Madlock hit 30 doubles and 17 homers, scoring 108 and driving in 102.

Shortstop - Frank Taveras (.307/.357/.389) continues to surprise, nearly reaching 100 runs (95) and driving in 75 with almost no power at all (two homers). He stole 58 this year, being caught 28 times.

Outfield - Hal McRae (.296/.366/.503) was not as spectacular as last season but clubbed 56 doubles to go with two triples and 24 home runs. He led the team with 125 RBI and was hit by 14 pitches. His base-stealing was mediocre (16/31) but it's hard to complain much about that.

Larry Hisle (.307/.390/.521) led the team with 121 runs scored (three more than McRae), hitting 45 doubles and 22 homers. His base-running was more frequent than McRae's but no more effective (22/42). He drove in 115 and his 73 walks led the team.

Larry Biittner (.356/.397/.486) bounced back from a subpar '76 to have a monstrous season at the plate. He drove in 82 runs in only 444 at bats, hitting 31 doubles and nine homers. He finished the season on a 12-game hitting streak, his longest of the season.

Jerry Mumphrey (.305/.365/.403) was solid, scoring 95 runs and driving in 63. He did not run the bases nearly as well as he did in '76, converting only 17 of 33 steal attempts. His eight triples led the squad.

Wayne Nordhagen (.365/.391/.529) was a pleasant surprise and really helped the Riders against -handed pitchers this season. In 104 at bats, he scored 17 and drove in 15.

DH - Len Randle (.338/.412/.423) played numerous positions during the season, including 3B, SS, and OF; he found a productive home in the leadoff spot during the second half of the season. He scored 107 times and drove in 79. Another guy whose base-stealing stats (23/44) did not live up to expectations.

Pitchers - With the arrival of the DH era, not much to discuss here. Tommy John was 3-10 and scored three runs in his starts at NL parks.

1977 review (cont.)

PITCHING

Tommy John (17-7, 4.35, 1.31, .278/.314/.401) continued his remarkable comeback from reconstructive elbow surgery. He threw the team's only three complete games and had one shutout. He walked only 46 in 225.2 innings and allowed 20 home runs.

Bruce Kison (14-11, 4.64, 1.38, .268/.324/.446) was a bit inconsistent, largely due to his total of 32 homers allowed in 196 innings. He struck out 115, not a high number but still second on this pitch-to-contact squad.

Jon Matlack (15-5, 5.44, 1.52, .307/.347/.480) was brutal, allowing 224 hits in 175.1 innings but still managed to finish 10 games over .500. He allowed 28 homers, second to Kison, but walked only 43.

Lary Sorensen (14-6, 4.02, 1.23, .243/.295/.335) made quite an impression as a rookie. He allowed only four home runs in 154.1 innings.

Bill Lee (8-10, 4.67, 1.58, .306/.349/.424) did not have a lot of stamina after being out of the rotation for several years but battled valiantly and managed 133 innings in his 32 starts. He was victimized by 16 unearned runs, tops in the rotation, despite having far fewer innings than any other member.

Rich Gossage (0-1, 53/58, 1.28, 0.80, .139/.211/.220) was dominant once again as the team's closer. In 60 appearances he tossed 77.1 innings and allowed only 38 hits.

Ron Reed (10-1, 2/2, 3.16, 1.28, .240/.303/.360) cleaned up a lot of messes during the year and got wins in a number of Lee's starts. He tossed 136.2 innings in 61 appearances.

Dave Campbell (13-6, 0/2, 4.68, 1.61, .270/.350/.424) was not nearly as effective as Reed but was one of six Rider pitchers to record 10 wins. He allowed 13 homers in 90.1 innings.

Dave LaRoche (6-1, 0/0, 4.46, 1.54, .254/.349/.416) allowed 10 homers in 72.2 innings but generally kept things in check.

Elias Sosa (4-0, 0/1, 2.37, 1.02, .190/.258/.319) did a nice job, and Skip Lockwood (8-2, 0/0, 3.47, 1.28, .234/.305/.322) allowed only four homers in 119.1 innings.

1978 Draft

Milwaukee takes a risk, trading its first round pick to San Diego for two second round picks... giving away the #24 pick for #33 and #40.

With the first of those picks, Milwaukee selects young catcher Bruce Benedict; with the second, they grab outfielder Denny Walling. Those two will replace P Dave Campbell, who was released, and 1B Willie Aikens, who will be on the DL this season after injuring his knee during spring training.

1978 preview:

The Riders return substantially the same roster that has won the last two PL championships. As usual, however, there are some concerns.

Bruce Kison is recovering from an arm injury and is unlikely to be a starter this season. At this point the club appears to be planning a four-man rotation with Tommy John, Jon Matlack, Lary Sorensen, and Bill Lee. Matlack and Lee have their better days behind them; Lee was barely adequate last season.

On offense, Thurman Munson injured his wrist during the offseason and is having difficulty generating any power this spring. We may see a return of the young, slap-hitting Munson this season. Bill Madlock has a shoulder injury that is making it difficult for him to make the long throws from third base; it looks like he will be moved to second base this season with Len Randle and Richie Hebner handling the 3B duties.

The bullpen remains strong and the offense still has Larry Hisle and Hal McRae, so the team should be competitive, but they will need some good fortune to take another division title.

1978 Division Preview:

The Riders open at home, facing the Boston Red Legs

Game 1: Jon Matlack gets off to a brutal start, surrendering 14 hits in 5.1 innings. He keeps the ball in the park but Boston puts nine on the board. Milwaukee collects 13 hits themselves but is also held within the County Stadium confines and scores only four times. Boston takes the season opener, 9-4.

Game 2: Tommy John and Boston's Dave Rozema lock up in quite a pitchers' duel; in fact, the game is scoreless after nine even after the two starters have departed. Boston leaves the bases loaded in the 10th; Mike Ivie finally ends it in the 11th with a three-run homer off Sid Monge, giving Milwaukee their first win of the season.

Game 3: Boston doesn't waste any time getting the scoring started in this one, exploding for eight runs in the first inning. Lary Sorensen is charged with seven of them (six earned) before leaving with one out. The Rider bullpen is mostly effective but Ray Burris pitches eight 1-hit innings to make this an easy 10-3 win for the Red Legs.

Milwaukee's first road trip of the season takes them to Montreal to face the 2-1 Loria Lynchers.

Game 4: Bill Lee's first start of the season doesn't go much better than Lary Sorensen's, but the Riders break out their bats for the first time this season and rally for a 13-8 win in Montreal. Thurman Munson and Frank Taveras each has four hits while Hal McRae hits his first home run of the season. Sorensen gets some redemption for his first appearance, throwing three shutout innings in relief after Lee is knocked out of the game in the third. Two prospects get starts in this one; Federico Sanner plays right field and has three hits while Joshua Moby plays first and is 1-5.

Game 5: Jon Matlack makes it to the fourth today before running into trouble; he doesn't retire anyone in the fifth and departs having allowed 10 runs. The offense doesn't even begin to make up that deficit, and the Riders drop a 13-3 game.

Game 6: The young prospects shine again as Robert McSorley and Federico Sanner contribute two hits each and the Riders explode for six runs in the second, putting themselves on the right side of a blowout for a change. Tommy John is brilliant for seven innings and the Riders take the series with a 9-3 win.

Milwaukee returns to County Stadium to start a 10-game homestand with a visit from Washington (4-2).

Game 7: Lary Sorensen pitches very well in his second start, but is no match for Washington's Steve Rogers, who throws eight shutout innings against a prospect-loaded Rider lineup. Lance Rautzhan throws a 1-2-3 ninth for his fourth save of the young season as the Commandos shut out the Riders 2-0.

Game 8: A close game gets away from the Riders at the end as the bullpen suffers a massive failure; Washington scores three in the eighth and four more in the ninth to take a 10-3 win. On the bright side, Len Randle and Larry Hisle each hits their first home run of the season.

Game 9: Jon Matlack finally makes it into the fifth inning, and the young farm kids contribute plenty at the plate as the Riders avoid a sweep with a 7-5 win over the Commandos.

Georgia Force of Atlanta will be in town next.

Game 10: Rich Gossage blows a 6-5 lead in the ninth in only his second save opportunity of the season. The game goes to the 11th, where Frank Taveras leads off with a single. Woodie Fryman walks two batters and the bases are loaded for Larry Hisle, whose fly ball is caught by Claudell Washington but is just deep enough for Taveras to slide home with the winning run.

Game 11: Another failure for Lary Sorensen, who can't get out of the fourth in a 12-8 loss. Sorensen drops to 0-3 on the season. Milwaukee does a respectable job of putting runs on the board despite a power shortage (one extra base hit, a double, for the game).

Game 12: Milwaukee manages only four hits and drops a 4-2 decision when Atlanta scores two in the top of the ninth on consecutive homers by Bob Horner and Gary Alexander. Milwaukee goes down in order in the ninth.

Divisional play will start with a visit from division leader Anaheim, currently 8-4.

Game 13: Thurman Munson has three hits and four RBI as the Riders parlay 12 singles into a 9-3 win over the Angels. Jon Matlack goes eight innings, allowing only one earned run, to even his record at 2-2.

Game 14: Anaheim's Gary Serum shuts down the Rider bats and Skip Lockwod's ERA balloons to 9.00 when he allows three ninth-inning runs as the Angels even the series with a 7-3 win.

Game 15: Milwaukee shows some resilience in this one, scoring three times in the eighth to tie the score, then winning it in the 10th when Larry Hisle singles home Denny Walling. Lary Sorensen gives the bullpen a life by pitching 7.2 innings and Elias Sosa goes the rest of the way to get the win in the 7-6 game.

Game 16: Anaheim's Mike Torrez keeps the Riders off the scoreboard until the ninth, when Denny Walling hits a solo home run. Too little, too late as the Angels earn a split with a 4-1 victory.

The Riders, now 7-9, head west to take on Los Angeles.

Game 17: Bill Madlock and Larry Hisle hit consecutive homers in the first, the Riders score five times in that frame, and Jon Matlack pitches seven 5-hit innings as the Riders win the opener at LA, 7-1.

Game 18: Larry Hisle and Bill Madlock hit three-run homers to bookend the Riders' biggest inning of the season, a 10-run sixth, and the Riders survive some shaky relief pitching to beat the Hilltoppers 11-8. Rich Gossage is called on to get the last out and walks a batter before nailing down his second save of the season. It's only Gossage's third appearance of the season.

Game 19: Milwaukee scores four in the first off Doc Medich and Lary Sorensen makes it stand up. Sorensen goes eight in his first effective start of the season and Rich Gossage pitches a scoreless ninth as the Riders get over the .500 mark with a 4-2 win. Richie Hebner commits three errors and may be seeing more time at 1B than 3B from here on out.

Game 20: Bill Lee squanders a three-run lead in the first inning, allowing four runs in the bottom half of that frame. Milwaukee does not score again, the Hilltoppers score plenty, and the Riders drop back to .500 in a 9-3 loss.

The first round of interleague play sees the Riders facing Chicago and Oakland.

Game 21: A Rider lineup full of prospects produces only six hits; Elias Sosa gives up the winning run in the eighth and the White Sox win at Comiskey, 5-4.

Game 22: Tommy John allows nine hits and three walks in only four innings of work, and the Riders are pounded, 14-6, despite outhitting the White Sox 15-14.

Game 23: Bill Madlock has five hits, including two doubles, and Lary Sorensen pitches his second good game in a row as the Riders snap their skid with a 7-2 win over visiting Oakland. Prospect Mark Daugherty pitches the final 1.1 innings without incident to give the bullpen a rest.

Game 24: Milwaukee falls behind 5-0 after three as Bill Lee struggles yet again. The Riders bullpen then shuts down the Zoo through the eighth and the bats finally come alive. Edwin Kummer hits a three-run homer in the eighth and Milwaukee ties the score with two in the ninth. It is all for naught, however, as Oakland puts a run across in the bottom half off Dave Laroche to take a 6-5 win.

A visit to County Stadium by Minnesota will finish the first round of divisional play.