1974 SEASON BEGINS!!!!

The Riders start at home against the Washington Commandos

Game 1: Bill Lee gets the Opening Day start for Milwaukee, matched against Washington's Steve Rogers. It's a close battle as both pitchers effectively limit the damage caused by the hits they allow (the teams combine for 21 hits on the day, but only one goes for extra bases). Trailing 1-0 in the bottom of the ninth, Milwaukee gets a one-out double from Mike Lum followed by a game-tying single from Craig Robinson. Orlando Pena enters the game and strikes out the next two Milwaukee batters to send the game to extra innings. Rich Gossage pitches the 10th for Milwaukee but allows three singles in a four-batter span to give the Commandos a lead. Larry Hisle and Richie Hebner lead off the bottom half with singles to put runners on the corners with none out, but the succeeding batters fail to bring the run home with two lining out and Thurman Munson ending the game with a warning track fly ball.

Game 2: The Riders' bats must have been behind in Arizona; they are dominated again, this time by Jim Slaton, who strikes out eight and allows only three hits in his seven innings. Jon Matlack pitches well but suffers a 2-0 loss.

Game 3: Milwaukee finally generates some offense, getting a two-run homer from Richie Hebner in the first and a solo shot from Mike Lum in the second. Fred Norman allows four hits and no walks in seven innings to pick up the team's first win of the season, 6-1.

Our first road trip of the season will take us to Baltimore.

Game 4: Ron Reed cruises through four innings but runs into trouble in the fifth, allowing an RBI single to Cecil Cooper and a three-run homer to Joe Ferguson. Milwaukee had not scored yet, being shut down by rookie Mason Kaplan. Kaplan is on a strict pitch count, however, and early. An error and a homer by Richie Hebner help the Riders get three runs back in the sixth off Bob Forsch. The Rider pen holds until the eighth, when Mike Tyson drives home a run off Dave LaRoche to make it a 5-3 game. After Larry Hisle walks in the ninth, Baltimore brings Eddie Watt into the game. He promptly allows a double to Thurman Munson and a home run to Mike Lum; Riders lead, 6-5! Elias Sosa starts the ninth; pinch hitter Dave Rader singles, pinch runner Dick Sharon steals second, and Cecil Cooper hits another RBI single to tie the game. Rich Gossage enters, walks the first batter, then watches Mike Lum botch an easy fly ball. Bases loaded, one out. Jay Johnstone grounds to short; Gene Michael throws home for the force out. Next batter grounds to third; inning over, we go to extras. Richie Hebner homers in the 10th, his second of the game. Gossage tosses a 1-2-3 frame and the Riders escape with a 7-6 win.

Game 5: Bill Lee has another strong start, allowing only one run in eight innings, and is rewarded with a win this time (barely) as the Riders manage to score twice against Bob Gibson. Bill Madlock homers, his first of the season, and Craig Robinson picks up the second RBI with a single.

Game 6: Jon Matlack tosses eight shutout innings, Ted Sizemore hits two doubles and produces three runs, and Larry Hisle hits his first home run of the season as the Riders defeat the IronBirds, 6-1.

The Riders return home to host the defending PL Champion New York Mammoths.

Game 10: Thurman Munson's bases loaded single in the sixth erases a 2-0 deficit, and AAA outfield prospect Clay Smith follows with his first major league hit, a tie-breaking single. Jon Matlack and Elias Sosa keep the Stranglers in check thereafter and Milwaukee wins, 3-2.

Game 11: Game 2 is a roller-coaster with no scoring until the sixth, when Boston scores off Fred Norman on a groundout. Nate Colbert homers in the seventh to tie it, Tommy Davis commits a two-base error on the next batter, and Mike Lum gives Milwaukee a lead with an RBI single. Tony Perez blasts a two-run double off Elias Sosa in the eighth, giving Boston the lead back. Richie Hebner leads off the ninth with a homer off Sparky Lyle, tying the score. A double play grounder ends Boston's ninth, and Tommy Davis commits another error in the 10th. A sacrifice, a ground ball, and a single later, the Riders lead. Rich Gossage pitches the bottom half, allows a two-out walk, but finishes off a 4-3 win.

Game 12: Ron Reed struggles a bit on the mound, but he hits a two-run double at the plate and the Riders pound out 15 hits to take the finale, 12-6. Clay Smith also hits his first double while Charlie Spikes goes yard for the first time this season.

Milwaukee hosts Anaheim to start this year's divisional competition.

Game 13: Bill Lee is brilliant, allowing only an unearned run in his seven innings of work, but he is matched by the Angels' Steve Busby. The first relievers out of the pen are also sharp, and the game goes to extras tied at one. Dave LaRoche walks the leadoff man in the 10th but retires the next three batters. Gene Michael leads off for Milwaukee and grounds out. Charlie Spikes comes to the plate and blasts a home run to center, giving the Riders a 2-1 win. It's the second straight game in which Spikes has homered.

Game 21: Bill Lee exits after only two innings, allowing three runs to the Loria Lynchers. Skip Lockwood throws six shutout frames to follow him, but Andy Messersmith does not allow the Riders back in the game, winning 3-1.

Game 22: Dusty Baker's two-run homer in the third puts Milwaukee in a 5-1 hole, but the Riders rally back to tie things up in the seventh, then ride superb relief pitching into the 13th before finally scoring the winner on three singles. Final score: 6-5.

Game 23: Fred Norman throws six no-hit innings and Tommy John tosses three shutout frames in relief as the Riders defeat San Diego 6-0. Richie Hebner hits his seventh home run for Milwaukee.

Game 24: It's not Ron Reed's first rough outing of the season, but it does give him his first loss. Reed allows five runs in five innings and the Gringos even the series with a 5-3 win. Larry Hisle has two hits and two RBI to pace a feeble Rider attack.

Milwaukee will host second place Oakland (13-11) to complete the first round of divisional play.

Game 25: Oakland's Gary Thomasson leads off the game with a home run, then doubles home a run in the second. Bill Lee allows six runs in three innings of work and the Riders can't mount a comeback until the ninth, when Charlie Spikes and Bill Madlock hit consecutive homers to make it a two-run game. That's all they can muster, however, and the Zoo takes the opener 6-4.

Game 26: Jon Matlack hits a three-run home run, his first of the season, giving him more than enough runs to pick up his fifth win, 10-2 over Oakland. Craig Robinson also connects for his first home run.

Game 27: Elias Sosa blows his third save of the season, surrendering two Oakland runs in the eighth inning, and the Rider bats are silent after the second inning as the Zoo take a 2-1 series lead with a 4-3 victory.

Game 28: Thurman Munson's three-run homer in the third gives Milwaukee a lead, and four scoreless innings from the bullpen preserve it as the Riders manage a split with Oakland, taking the finale 4-1.

Our next four games will be interleague sets with New York and Chicago.