Game 29: The Milwaukee offense doesn't do much but Tommy John throws six shutout innings and the pen allows only one tally in their three frames; Milwaukee beats the Stingers 2-1 in Cincinnati.

Game 30: Bruce Kison has his worst outing of the season and Ron Reed is horrifically bad; the Riders put plenty of runs on the board but fall 13-11 in a game that does not at all resemble the opener.

Game 31: Hal McRae and Mike Ivie account for half of Milwaukee's 14 hits as they defeat Georgia Force 7-5. Jon Matlack pitches into the eighth, allowing only two earned runs, to earn his sixth victory.

Game 32: Rich Gossage continues to have control problems, walking five batters in six innings, and the Riders are shut down by Nelson Briles as the Force evens things up with a 4-1 win.

Milwaukee comes home to face the Mammoths, who share the East division lead at 18-14.

Game 33: Three errors by the Riders lead to five unearned runs, and that's just enough to beat Milwaukee, 5-4. New York allows two unearned runs themselves but that does not even approach Milwaukee's generosity.

Game 34: Milwaukee's division lead is trimmed to a single game over Oakland as they drop a second straight one-run decision to the Mammoths. Fielding is not the culprit in this one (though Hal McRae commits two more errors), but hitting, as Vida Blue tosses a complete game four-hit shutout. New York manages one run against Rider starter Bruce Kison and it's enough.

Game 35: Frank Tanana, starting for the second time this series, pitches a complete game three-hit shutout, sending the Riders away scoreless for the second straight day, as the Mammoths sweep with a 2-0 victory.

The Riders will play Philadelphia and the New York Brakers in upcoming interleague matchups; the two teams currently are third and fourth in the NL East.

Game 36: Milwaukee's slide continues as the Rich Gossage experiment ends with another shelling and another loss, this one 7-4 to the Phillies. With five straight losses, the Riders have slipped back into a tie for the division lead with Oakland.

Game 37: Tommy John is shelled by Philly as he drops to 2-4 in a 7-3 loss. Milwaukee has now lost six in a row, dropped to second place in the division, and looking to shake things up against the Brakers.

Game 38: The Rider offense stays cold, managing only one run at Shea Stadium. Another brilliant performance from Bruce Kison is wasted as the Brakers triumph 2-1 with a run in the eighth off Skip Lockwood.

Game 39: The count reaches eight straight losses as the Riders put 14 men on base, score only four, and allow two unearned runs in a one-run loss, 5-4 to the Brakers.

We return to PL competition with a trip to Fenway to face the Red Sox.

Game 40: The Riders fall back to .500 with their ninth straight loss as yet another lineup version fails to do the job in the wake of a disastrous outing by Rich Gossage (3.2 innings, 6 runs). The bullpen is spotless but the offense is not up to the task. Boston takes the opener 6-4.

Game 41: The skid ends as the Riders put together a four-run seventh inning and get scoreless relief from Ron Reed and Skip Lockwood to beat the Red Sox 5-1.

Game 42: Larry Hisle, the latest Rider leadoff man, and Thurman Munson each hits their third home run of the season to back Tommy John, who pitches seven effective innings as Milwaukee wins a series for the first time in weeks, beating Boston 8-3.

The Riders head to Minnesota to face the Mooseheads, one of the PL's top teams at 27-15.

Game 43: Milwaukee scores five in the first inning, knocking Moosehead starter Jim Rooker out of the box, but then shuts it down for the remainder of the game. Bruce Kison can't hold the lead, exiting during the fifth inning, and Joshua Riffle's sixth error of the season leads to an unearned run off Larry Demery in the seventh to give Minnesota the lead. The Riders leave three men on base in the final two innings and drop a 6-5 decision. Minnesota's bullpen pitches 8.1 scoreless innings.

Game 44: Thurman Munson and Lenny Randle hit home runs to back Jon Matlack, who pitches seven effective innings as the Riders even the series with an 8-4 win. Dave Laroche gets a two-inning save, bringing back memories of Rich Gossage's '75 campaign.

Game 45: Speaking of Gossage, he allows only one run in seven innings as the Riders win the finale 7-1. Joshua Riffle and Jim Wohlford each hits their first triple of the season.

The Riders head home for a series with Central leaders Cleveland (35-10).

Game 46: Milwaukee scores a big win over Cleveland, scoring in the bottom of the ninth after Dave Laroche had allowed the tying run in the top half, his first blown save of the season. Frank Taveras walks to lead off the decisive inning, steals second, and eventually scores on a sac fly from Jerry Mumphrey. Final score: 3-2.

Game 47: Bruce Kison is brilliant, Thurman Munson and Joshua Riffle have two hits and two runs each; Milwaukee beats Cleveland 7-1.

Game 48: Jon Matlack has control problems and the Riders are shut down by Gary Ross; Cleveland takes the finale to avoid a sweep, 7-1.

Milwaukee is back in first place by a game over Oakland as they head into interleague matchups with Los Angeles and San Francisco.

Game 49: A tight battle with LA goes to extra innings as the Sunsets score off Dave Laroche in the eighth to tie the score (Laroche's second blown save of the season). Thurman Munson hits a two-run homer in the 11th and Darold Knowles retires the side in order to save an 8-6 win.

Game 50: Jim Wohlford hits his first home run of the season, driving in three runs, and Richie Hebner contributes two hits and two RBI as Tommy John evens his record at 4-4 with a 9-6 win over LA.

Game 51: Jerry White sparks the offense with three extra-base hits, and the bullpen pitches four scoreless innings in relief of Bruce Kison as the Riders beat Frisco 3-1.

Game 52: The game at Candlestick is another tight affair. Limited to two hits through eight innings, the Riders rally in the ninth to tie the score off Gene Garber, getting a double from Mike Ivie and an RBI single from Larry Biittner. The game remains deadlocked through 12. In the 13th, Hal McRae walks and then steals second with one out. Mike Ivie flies out but Frank Taveras singles to right. Ralph Garr's throw home is late, and McRae scores the lead run. Dave Laroche retires the Storm 1-2-3 in the bottom half and the Riders escape with a 2-1 win.

Milwaukee heads to the East Coast to face Washington at RFK.

Game 53: Rich Gossage, who has struggled recently, throw 7.2 innings of 1-hit ball as the Riders shut out the Commandos 7-0. Milwaukee gets 15 hits, all but one a single, as Gossage improves to 8-4.

Game 54: Tommy John pitches eight 2-hit innings and Mike Ivie is 5-5 with his first home run of the season as the Riders make it two in a row over Washington with a 12-0 victory. Bob Randall drives in three runs as John improves to 5-4.

Game 55: Milwaukee does just enough on offense to edge the Commandos, 3-2, as Bruce Kison improves to 6-2 with six innings of 3-hit ball. Dave Laroche pitches the ninth and earns his 16th save.

Divisional play is back; the Riders start at home with a visit from Kansas City.

Game 56: Jerry Mumphrey breaks a 4-4 tie with an eighth inning double; Dave Laroche needs only nine pitches to retire the side in the ninth to save a 5-4 win.

Game 57: Thurman Munson homers for the second straight day and Rich Gossage pitches seven 2-hit innings as the Riders win 10-1. Larry Hisle adds a three-run homer and Frank Taveras has three hits.

Game 58: Milwaukee hits seven doubles and steals three bases as they roll to an 11-2 win over KC, completing a series sweep. Tommy John allows no earned runs in seven innings and hits a two-run double.

The Riders are headed to Anaheim to face the Angels.

Game 59: Milwaukee scores 10 runs in the first three innings, then holds on for dear life as three errors lead to 10 unearned runs for the Angels. The Riders score single runs in the fifth, sixth and eighth to preserve a 13-10 win. Thurman Munson continues his hot streak with a home run, his eighth.

Game 60: Frank Taveras has three hits, two runs, two RBI, and two stolen bases to help the Riders to an 8-6 win over Anaheim. Jon Matlack tires in the seventh but Ron Reed and Dave Laroche bail him out.

Game 61: Richie Hebner hits two home runs and drives home five as the Riders outslug the Angels, winning for the second straight day by an 8-6 score. Rich Gossage cannot duplicate his most recent brilliant performances but makes it through six innings and picks up his 10th win.

Milwaukee returns home to host Oakland, who has dropped to six games back in the division.

Game 62: Frank Taveras raises his average to .293 with three hits and Larry Demery wins a spot start for the Riders, beating Oakland 8-4. Demery also drives home two runs. Hal McRae homers for Milwaukee.

Game 63: Milwaukee steals seven bases and Tommy John allows only one run in seven innings as the Riders defeat the Zoo 12-1. With the victory, Milwaukee lifts their record at County Stadium over .500 for the first time this season (15-14).

Game 64: Jon Matlack allows only one run in eight innings and the Riders sweep Oakland with a 5-2 win. Dave Laroche gets his 21st save; three Riders have two hits each.

A home-and-home with Houston is next on the schedule.

Game 65: Bruce Kison pitches seven shutout innings and Dave Laroche throws another two.. all necessary as the Riders score only one time on Bob Randall's single, but it's enough on this day. Milwaukee beats Houston 1-0.

Game 66: Milwaukee hits a little better on the return trip to Houston, getting 12 knocks to back Rich Gossage, who allows only one earned run in six innings as the Riders triumph 4-2.

Milwaukee is headed to Motor City to face the Tigers.

Game 67: Tommy John goes seven innings AND hits his second double of the season; Bill Madlock drives home three runs in the first two innings, and the Riders take the opener at Tiger Stadium, 10-2. John improves his record to 8-4.

Game 68: Jon Matlack pitches a complete game, singles, walks, and steals a base as the Riders beat Detroit 9-1. Thurman Munson homers, Jim Wohlford sparks the attack with three hits.

Game 69: The Riders' amazing winning streak ends at 20 as they are stymied on only four hits against Lynn McGlothlen and two Tiger relievers. Bruce Kison has a poor outing, Richie Zisk hits two homers for Detroit, and the Tigers win 6-4.

Milwaukee heads home to host the White Sox.

Game 70: Rich Gossage pitches six solid innings but then falls apart in the seventh; Chicago extends their 3-0 lead to 7-0 and survives a mini-rally by the Riders to take a 9-4 win.

Game 71: Bob Watson's sacrifice fly breaks a scoreless tie in the eighth inning, but Milwaukee answers back in the next half. Jerry Mumprhey singles off reliever Ron Schueler to lead off and then scores the tying run on Richie Hebner's double. Dick Bosman enters, and allows an RBI single to Bill Madlock. Madlock steals second and scores two outs later on Thurman Munson's single. Dave Laroches allows a double and a walk in the ninth but nobody scores and the Riders win 3-1.

Game 72: Bob Randall and Frank Taveras combine for five hits and three RBI as the Riders win the series, taking the finale 7-3. Jon Matlack gets the win and Ron Reed tosses 2.1 scoreless innings for his first save.



Baltimore comes to County Stadium for a three-game set next.

Game 73: Down 4-2, Milwaukee rallies for three in the seventh to take the lead, and could have scored more had Larry Biittner not been thrown out at the plate. Dave Laroche can't hold the lead, however, allowing a Baltimore run in the eighth. In the bottom of the ninth, still tied, Biittner is again involved in a close play on the bases, this time getting into third just ahead of the throw on Richie Hebner's single. Hal McRae follows with a single and the Riders win, 6-5. Hebner finishes with four hits including a double and triple.

Game 74: As we approach the midpoint of the season, Thurman Munson hits his 20th double and 10th home run to lift the Riders to a 9-4 win, their 50th of the season. Bruce Kison improves to 9-3; Ron Reed throws three scoreless innings for a save.

Game 75: Rich Gossage strikes out eight and walks none in seven innings, allowing only three hits. Milwaukee does just enough at the plate to push a couple of runs across and Dave Laroche completes the shutout with two hitless innings as the Riders sweep Baltimore with a 2-0 win.

The Riders head to Yankee Stadium to face the Mammoths.