Game 61: Cleveland's Gene Tenace hits a two-run triple to spark a four-run 6th inning, and Kent Tekulve stymies the Riders for three innings as the Saltdogs take the opener 6-3.

Game 62: The Riders fall behind early in this one, but things get interesting in the ninth. Trailing 8-1, Milwaukee's first five batters reach base off Cleveland starter Bill Laskey (four hits and a walk). With the score 8-4 and two men on base, Kent Tekulve enters to face Roy Smalley. Smalley greets him with a three-run homer, and suddenly it's a one-run game with three outs still to go. Tekulve gets the next three batters, however, and the Riders lose 8-7.

Game 63: John Montefusco goes six scoreless innings, Ron Reed throws two, and Rich Gossage pitches the ninth to finish a 2-0 shutout win over the Saltdogs as Milwaukee avoids the sweep. Montefusco gets his 10th win of the season.

The Chicago Goats will be in town next as the Riders close this homestand.

Game 64: Britt Burns allows 10 hits and three walks in five innings of work, but somehow limits the damage to three runs. Unfortunately, the Rider offense does even less than that, and the Goats edge Milwaukee 4-3 to open the series.

Game 65: Tony Pena homers in the top of the ninth to extend Chicago's lead to 2-0, but then allows the tying run to score in the bottom half on a passed ball. Richie Hebner moves to second on that play; Shane Rawley enters for Chicago. Hal McRae singles, but Hebner goes only to third. Willie Aikens flies out. Bill Madlock hits one to center.. back, track, gone!!! Riders win 5-2.

Game 66: Bill Madlock hits another home run, but Rich Gedman's error allows three unearned runs to score, and the Goats edge Milwaukee 7-6 to take the series.

The Riders head to San Diego to face the first place Conquistadors, who lead the division by one game.

Game 67: Jim Palmer dominates the Riders in the series opener and the Conquistadors shut us out, 3-0.

Game 68: Milwaukee is shut out again as John Montefusco is outpitched by Geoff Zahn; San Diego wins 4-0 and deals "The Count" his second loss of the season.

Game 69: Milwaukee finally puts some runs on the board and Britt Burns delivers a surprisingly effective start as the Riders salvage the series finale, beating San Diego 7-1 to keep their deficit two games.

Milwaukee returns home to host Minnesota next.

Game 70: Bruce Kison throws four scoreless innings in relief of an ineffective Manny Sarmiento and the Riders take a 6-4 lead into the ninth. Rich Gossage, however, suffers his first blown save of the season, and it's a meltdown of epic proportions. The first four batters of the inning: single, double, walk, walk. A sac fly brings home the tying run; Bob Horner follows with a triple. George Frazier enters and allows another run-scoring hit, giving the Ducks a 9-6 lead. There are no heroics in the bottom half as Bill Caudill retires the Riders in order.

Game 71: Tommy John allows 14 hits in six innings and the Riders don't score until the ninth, blown out by the Ducks 10-2.

Game 72: Milwaukee salvages the finale, winning 8-5 behind Hal McRae and Bruce Benedict, who drive in three runs each. Rick Sutcliffe evens his record at 6-6 despite allowing 16 baserunners in 5.2 innings.

The Riders head to Atlanta to face Georgia Force.

Game 73: The Riders match Atlanta in the hit column with 13, but the Force hits three homers to Milwaukee's two and wins the opener 9-6, pummelling John Montefusco, who drops his second straight decision after starting the season 10-1.

Game 74: Reggie Smith hits two home runs and drives in four, and Britt Burns allows only two earned runs (though seven overall) in five innings, and Milwaukee outslugs the Force 13-7.

Game 75: More fireworks in Atlanta as the Riders have two blown saves (George Frazier and Rich Gossage) but win in the 11th, scoring four times for an 11-7 victory. Tim Raines, Mike Marshall, and Hal McRae have four hits each, accounting for more than half of Milwaukee's 23 knocks.

We return to Milwaukee to face Washington.

Game 76: Washington gets four hits each from Luis Salazar and Ozzie Smith, and 2-9 Steve Mura throws five shutout innings at Milwaukee as the Riders fall 8-1 in the opener, outhit 18-4.

Game 77: Rick Sutcliffe strikes out 10 in eight shutout innings and the Riders blank the Commandos 3-0.

Game 78: Roy Smalley's 5th inning double snaps a 1-1 tie and John Montefusco gets back on track with seven strong innings; Ron Reed and Rich Gossage throw a scoreless inning apiece to preserve a 2-1 win.

The Riders will head to New York to finish off the first half of the season; they have pulled into a first place tie with San Diego.

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Milwaukee puts four players on the AL All Star roster: SP John Montefusco, RP Rich Gossage, 2B Damaso Garcia, and OF Tim Raines.

The Riders will start the second half at home, hosting the East-leading Saltdogs.

Game 82: Rick Sutcliffe apparently did not get enough rest during the All Star Break; Cleveland scores 6 times in the second, Sutcliffe walks an amazing TEN batters in 3.1 innings, and the Saltdogs rout the Riders 11-2.

Game 83: Montreal gets revenge, putting up four runs in the first and riding another strong outing from John Montefusco to a 10-1 win over Cleveland. Montefusco improves to 12-3.

Game 84: Six scoreless innings by Britt Burns and Ron Reed, plus a four run sixth inning, give the Riders a nice 5-0 lead. Things fall apart rapidly from there, however. Cleveland scores three in each of the seventh and eighth innings to take a 6-5 lead. Roy Smalley answers in the bottom of the eighth, driving home two runs with a double to give Milwaukee the lead back. Rich Gossage pitches the ninth for Milwaukee, but not successfully. Lee Lacy scores on Chili Davis' single, tying the game. Gossage strikes out Greg Luzinski for the final out. Jerry Mumphrey doubles to lead off the ninth and moves to third on a fly ball. Willie Aikens delivers a winner, singling off Charlie Lea to make it an 8-7 score.

Interleague play begins now; Milwaukee starts on the road, visiting Houston (44-40) and St. Louis (48-36).

Game 85: Houston's John Lowenstein snaps a 1-1 tie with a two-run homer in the seventh, and the Hooligans add another run two batters later. Milwaukee gets a solo homer from Hal McRae in the ninth but nothing else, dropping a 4-2 decision.

Game 86: Houston scores four in the third and takes a 6-3 win over Milwaukee to sweep this two-game set.

Game 87: St. Louis has a four-run inning in this one, and three relievers pitch a scoreless inning each to hold off the Riders, 7-6. Milwaukee falls two behind San Diego.

Game 88: Milwaukee finally wins an interleague contest as John Montefusco throws seven 4-hit innings and the Riders put three runs on the board in the eighth to wipeout a 1-0 deficit. Gossage walks two in the ninth but keeps them off the board for a 3-1 win. Gossage has 25 saves.

The Riders return home to face Kansas City twice.

Game 89: Kansas City scores three times in the second, hits three homers on the day, and sends the Riders to a 5-3 defeat.

Game 90: Milwaukee rallies for a 5-4 lead in the fifth, but consecutive run-scoring triples by Larry Bowa and Von Hayes in the eighth lift KC to a 7-5 win.

The Riders hit the road again for two at Pittsburgh; they manage to stay within two of San Diego despite this recent slump.

Game 91: Dick Ruthven nearly single-handedly beats the Riders, throwing seven scoreless innings and collecting two hits, including a double, at the plate. Pittsburgh rolls to a 6-0 win over Tommy John (now 6-9).

Game 92: Another close game goes the wrong way; Milwaukee scores twice in the eighth to take a 4-3 lead, but George Frazier gives those back in the bottom half, his fifth blown save of the season, and Pittsburgh holds on for the 5-4 win. Frazier is now 4-7.

The Riders return home to face Detroit and New York.

Game 93: The Riders get spectacular pitching, from both John Montefusco and the bullpen, and finally beat Detroit 2-1 in the 12th when Bill Madlock leads off the inning with a walkoff home run.

Game 94: Roy Smalley's error leads to three unearned runs and recently hard-luck Britt Burns takes another loss as the Destroyers parlay that favor into a 5-2 win.

Game 95: For once it's the Riders putting up a crooked number, scoring four times in the sixth. With Manny Sarmiento throwing seven scoreless frames and Rich Gossage available to shut the door in the ninth, it's enough for a 6-2 Milwaukee victory.

Game 96: Milwaukee takes an early lead and ices things with an 8-run eighth inning, finishing off the Brakers 14-2. Tommy John goes eight innings and improves to 7-9.

Back on the road for two in Chicago.



Game 97: Jerry Mumphrey drives in six runs and Rick Sutcliffe goes eight innings as the Riders defeat the Black Sox 10-4 at Comiskey.

Game 98: Chicago overcomes a 4-1 deficit with three in the seventh, and both teams score once in the eighth, so we head to extras tied at five. And it's pretty boring for a while. In the 14th, the Black Sox bring in Tom Seaver to pitch. Willie Aikens, with two down, hits a solo home run to put the Riders on top. Rich Gossage was already in the game, having pitched the thirteenth, and retires the side in order to end the game.

The Riders return home to face Houston and St. Louis.

Game 99: Britt Burns backslides, allowing six runs in six frames, and loses his 10th game of the season as the Hooligans take a 7-3 win at County Stadium. Houston's Jim Beattie gets his 10th win of the season.

Game 100: Jerry Mumphrey snaps a 1-1 tie in the bottom of the ninth with a pinch-hit double to lift the Riders to victory. Manny Sarmiento allows only an unearned run in six innings, but Sammy Stewart gets the victory after pitching the top of the ninth.

Game 101: St. Louis bludgeons Tommy John, scoring nine runs in three innings of work (John allows 12 hits and three walks) and rolls to a 12-5 win.

Game 102: St. Louis scores early again, scoring twice in the first and twice more in the second, then holds off the Riders for a 5-4 win. Montreal steals four bases but squander a bases-loaded, none out situation in the seventh, getting only one run home.

We travel to Kansas City for two before returning home to face Pittsburgh.

i bet some people really look forward to

• Ability to minimize forums you don't care about

That really hurts, dude.