Game 124: Oakland ends Milwaukee's seven-game winning streak, clubbing three doubles in a four-run third inning off Jon Matlack and holding on to win 5-3 behind Rick Reuschel. Thurman Munson's home run is the offensive highlight for the Riders.

Game 125: Oakland produces another three-double, four run inning, this one off Tommy John in the opening frame, and Ray Bare holds the Riders at bay in a 6-4 decision.

Game 126: Bruce Kison single-handedly prevents a sweep, pitching eight 3-hit innings to lead the Riders to a 7-0 win in the series finale. Mike Ivie, Bill Madlock, and Jerry Mumphrey drive in two runs each.

The Riders are off to Detroit to face the Tigers.

Game 127: The Tigers ambush the Riders, pummelling Rich Gossage for 11 hits in four innings and ending the game with 17 hits. Pat Zachry pitches a complete-game 4-hitter for Detroit, and the Tigers rout Milwaukee 11-1 at Tiger Stadium.

Game 128: Larry Demery makes a spot start and pitches six shutout innings, adding a two-run single to drive in the game's first runs. The pen adds three more zeroes and the Riders win 3-0.

Game 129: Jon Matlack allows solo homers in the second and fourth, putting the Tigers up 2-0. Matlack then gets one run back with an RBI single in the fifth. That's all the Riders manage through the seventh, however. Frank Taveras doubles to lead off the eighth but advances only to third as the next two batters are retired. Richie Hebner singles him home to tie the score. Darold Knowles tosses a scoreless bottom half, and Hal McRae walks to lead off the ninth. He moves to second on a single by Larry Hisle and then to third on a fly ball by Bob Randall. Jim Wohlford follows with another fly out.. just deep enough. McRae slides in just ahead of Richie Zisk's throw and the Riders take a 3-2 lead. Dave Laroche strikes out the first two batters in the ninth, then walks Carlos May. Prospect Hack Markovich pinch hits and flies out to right. Riders win!

Milwaukee returns home to face the White Sox.

Game 130: Starters Tommy John and Pat Dobson each allows six runs; the Riders manage to score two unearned runs off the White Sox bullpen to take an 8-6 lead after eight. Dave Laroche allows singles to the first two batters in the ninth, then retires the next two. He walks Gene Tenace to load the bases, but strikes out Mark Belanger to clinch an 8-6 win.

Game 131: Dave Laroche escaped trouble in the opener; he is not so lucky in the second contest. Up 1-0 after eight, the Riders bring Laroche in to close it out. Richie Hebner's error allows the leadoff man to reach, and things cascade from there. Laroche retires two of the next three hitters but then allows a two-run double and an RBI single to give the White Sox a 3-1 lead. Hal McRae and Bill Madlock hit consecutive two-out doubles in the bottom half to make it a 3-2 game, but Bob Randall flies out to end the threat.

Game 132: Tom Seaver works his usual magic against the Riders, throwing a complete game for his 23rd victory. It's not a close one, thankfully; Bruce Kison gets beat up and the White Sox win 6-2.

The Riders head to Washington to face the Commandos.

Game 133: Milwaukee clinches a .500 record by defeating the Commandos 5-4 in the opener behind Jon Matlack. Larry Hisle hits a three-run homer in the first and an RBI single in the third. Matlack goes seven for his 15th win and Dave Laroche pitches the final two, earning his 39th save. Hal McRae is 4-4, raising his average to .355.

Game 134: Hal McRae has three more hits, and Jim Wohlford matches him. The Riders commit four errors but offset the impact with 15 hits and give Tommy John a 7-2 win. John improves to 13-5.

Game 135: Hal McRae puts three more hits on the board, giving him 10 for the series, and Rich Gossage throws eight 2-hit innings as the Riders win 3-1.

Milwaukee will host Baltimore next (44-91).

Game 136: Bill Madlock hits a three-run homer in the third, erasing a 4-1 deficit, and Thurman Munson breaks the tie in the fifth with an RBI single, his 99th RBI of the season. Ron Reed and Dave Laroche provide three scoreless innings out of the pen and the Riders win the opener 6-4. Bruce Kison survives a shaky start and wins his 17th game.

Game 137: Frank Taveras reaches 50 stolen bases with two thefts, and Jon Matlack makes it through eight innings to improve his record to 16-12 in a 6-2 win over Baltimore.

Game 138: Tommy John shuts down the Brown Brewers to earn his 15th win; Milwaukee collects 15 hits, six of them doubles, in an 11-2 win. Jerry Mumphrey and Bill Madlock drive home three runs each.

Milwaukee heads to New York to face the Mammoths.

Game 139: The Riders' performance this season against top teams like the Mammoths doesn't leave much hope for the postseason. There are no encouraging signs in this game, as the Mammoths score three times in the first off Rich Gossage and the Riders are shut down by Frank Tanana. Tanana pitches eight shutout innings and records his 25th win of the season. Milwaukee puts two runners on base in the ninth but doesn't score and loses 4-0.

Game 140: The top three hitters in Milwaukee's lineup have two hits each to pace an 11-hit attack as the Riders even the series with a 6-3 win. Milwaukee has only singles, but cluster them effectively. Dave Laroche throws two scoreless innings for his 43rd save.

Game 141: Milwaukee fails to get an extra base hit for the second straight game and this time it costs them. Jon Matlack tries to limit the damage as much as he can, but he allows 11 hits and four runs in six innings; New York takes the finale 5-1.

The Riders have upcoming series with Boston, Minnesota, and Cleveland before finishing with divisional competition.

Game 142: The opener against the Red Sox is a colossal disappointment. The Riders collect 17 hits (all but two of them singles) and strand nearly all of them. Still, they hold a 4-2 lead after seven. Dave Laroche walks the first two batters he faces in the eighth, then gives up consecutive singles. Lead down to one run, bases loaded, no outs. It looks like he recovers after that, striking out the next two batters. Jim Spencer pinch hits for Boston.. Laroche's first pitch is slammed out of the park for a grand slam. Milwaukee loads the bases in the ninth but Jim Wohlford flies out to end it. Boston wins, 7-4. It's Laroche's sixth blown save of the season.

Game 143: Frank Taveras reaches base five times, scoring three, and Thurman Munson (finally) drives in his 100th run of the season as the Riders bounce back for a 10-4 win over Boston. Ron Reed gets the win in relief of Rich Gossage, improving to 8-5.

Game 144: Larry Demery makes a spot start for the Riders, and allows two runs through five innings, but trails 2-0 when he leaves. The Milwaukee bats stay silent until the eighth; with two down they rally off Sparky Lyle. Jim Wohlford's walks is followed by consecutive RBI doubles, tying the score. Dave Laroche is shaky in the ninth, loading the bases with one out, but escapes without damage. Larry Hisle triples to lead off the bottom half for Milwaukee; the next two batters ground out and strike out, leaving him at third. Frank Taveras is walked to force the Riders to pinch hit for Laroche. Jerry White singles, Hisle scores, Milwaukee wins 3-2.

The Riders host Minnesota next.

Game 145: Milwaukee's recent power outage continues as they fail to collect an extra base hit but they make up for it by coaxing nine walks from the Moosehead pitching staff. Bruce Kison scatters seven hits and the Rider pen throws three scoreless innings as the Riders take a 7-2 win in the opener. Hal McRae has three hits; Kison gets his 18th win.

Game 146: Jon Matlack helps his own cause, driving in the first run of the game, and goes seven innings, striking out eight, as the Riders beat Minnesota 6-2. Matlack gets his 17th win; Thurman Munson hits his 20th home run.

Game 147: Milwaukee clinches the division title, pounding out 22 hits (in 43 at bats) to beat Minnesota 11-3. Hal McRae has four more hits; Tommy John improves to 15-5.

A trip to Cleveland is next on the schedule, where the 101-46 Saltdogs await.

Game 148: Rich Gossage throws eight scoreless innings and Frank Taveras hits his second home run of the season as the Riders deal JR Richard a rare loss, 4-1 in Cleveland. Gossage improves to 18-12 while Richard is now 27-5.

Game 149: Cleveland hits four home runs and Dennis Eckersley outpitches Bruce Kison as the Saltdogs even the series with an 8-3 victory. Larry Hisle drives in all three Milwaukee runs.

Game 150: The Riders can't keep up with the Saltdogs; Jon Matlack fails in his bid to become the third 18-game winner for the Riders as Cleveland takes the series finale 6-3.

The final round of divisional play has arrived; Milwaukee will start it by hosting Kansas City.

Game 151: Kansas City's pitching staff is worn down after a long season; the Riders show no mercy in the opener, pounding out 22 hits in a 16-2 blowout. Tommy John pitches eight shutout innings and improves to 16-5. Milwaukee hits eight doubles and four home runs.

Game 152: Kansas City scores three runs in the first off Rich Gossage, but the Riders get two back in the bottom half on Jerry Mumphrey's first home run of the season. Gossage cruises after that, but Milwaukee can't touch 18-game winner Dennis Leonard either.. the score is still 3-2 after seven. Milwaukee finally ties the score in the eighth and Darold Knowles pitches a scoreless ninth. Larry Biittner leads off the ninth for the Riders with a pinch hit single, then advances to third on Frank Taveras' hit. Mike Ivie, who had entered the game on a double switch earlier, singles home the winner.

Game 153: Wayne Nordhagen drives in his first two runs of the season and Mike Ivie hits his second home run as the Riders beat KC 11-2 behind Jon Matlack, who wins his 18th game. Hal McRae has two doubles, giving him 44 for the season.

Game 154: Mike Ivie homers for the second straight game, Wayne Nordhagen has two doubles and three RBI, and the Riders send KC starter Francisco Barrios to his 20th loss as they defeat the Blue Sox 11-4. Bruce Kison goes six innings for his 19th win. Larry Demery gets a three-inning save for the second straight game.

With 97 wins, the Riders head to Anaheim to face the Angels.

Game 155: Both teams get 11 hits but the Riders get five 2-out RBI in beating Anaheim 10-4 behind Tommy John. Thurman Munson drives in five runs and hits one of four Milwaukee doubles.

Game 156: Rich Gossage's bid for his 19th win is derailed by the Angels, who get home runs from Rowland Office and Jim Rice to back Mike Torrez, who pitches a complete game shutous. Anaheim wins, 5-0.

Game 157: Jon Matlack strikes out 10 in six innings and Bill Lee throws three shutout frames for his second save of the season as the Riders score a 13-1 victory over the Angels. Frank Taveras has five hits; Hal McRae and Thurman Munson three each.

Game 158: Milwaukee wins its 100th game of the season, getting five solid innings from spot starter Larry Demery and two doubles from Jim Wohlford to beat the Angels 5-2.

Milwaukee will close the season at home, hosting Oakland.

Game 159: Richie Hebner becomes the third Rider to reach double digits in home runs, blasting his 10th of the season, and the Riders beat the Zoo 10-6 in the series opener. Bruce Kison fails in his bid for his 20th win, however, as the Riders don't take the lead for good until the seventh, with Ron Reed having pitched the top half of the inning. For the second straight day, both Bill Madlock and Frank Taveras steal bases. Jerry Mumphrey drives home three.

Game 160: Tommy John has a rough outing; Dave Parker and Robin Yount drive in two runs each for the Zoo and Oakland beats Milwaukee 6-4. Bill Madlock hits his 15th home run for the Riders, passing the 100-RBI mark.

Game 161: Milwaukee blows an early 5-0 lead but manages to win it in the ninth, getting a sacrifice fly from pinch hitter Jerry White to bring home Frank Taveras with the winner. Taveras walked, stole second, and went to third on an infield single by Jim Wohlford.

Game 162: Jon Matlack wins the season finale, going eight innings and allowing seven hits with no walks, as the Riders beat the Zoo 8-2. Matlack becomes the Riders' only 20-game winner this season. Bob Randall has three hits, including two doubles, and three RBI.

The Riders finish 103-59 and garner a few awards for the trophy case:

Dave Laroche is fireman of the year.

Thurman Munson and Bill Madlock win Silver Slugger awards at catcher and third base.

Munson and Larry Hisle (LF) win Gold Glove awards.

Madlock and Hal McRae tie for second in the league with .370 batting averages.

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The Riders will face Chicago in the first round of the playoffs. Milwaukee was 5-7 against the White Sox this season, but only 1-5 in the second half. Tom Seaver has historically been very tough on us.

Division Round



Game 1, at Milwaukee

Tom Seaver (27-7) vs. Jon Matlack (20-14)

Milwaukee threatens in the second but gets nothing, then with two down in the third Chicago starter Tom Seaver connects for a home run off Matlack. Hal McRae gets that run back, leading off the fourth inning with a home run. Jerry White then walks and steals second and third. With two down, Matlack gets some revenge, singling home White to give the Riders a 2-1 lead.

Matlack strands Chicago baserunners in each of the next three innings and Bill Madlock extends the Rider lead with an RBI double in the seventh. After three straight hits to open the eighth, Matlack exits for Dave Laroche, who walks one of four batters but gets out of the inning without surrendering the lead.

Laroche allows a one-out pinch-hit single to Mick Kelleher in the ninth but retires the next two batters to save a 3-2 series opening victory.



Game 2, at Milwaukee

Doug Bird (14-8) vs. Tommy John (17-6)

The story of Game 2 is pretty short.. Chicago's Doug Bird walks a man in the second inning, but allows no hits to the Riders until Mike Ivie connects for a pinch-hit homer in the eighth. Ron Schuler picks up from there, retires the last four batters, and the White Sox even the series with a 3-1 victory. Tommy John walked the first three White Sox batters in the sixth, which paved the way for a three-run rally that decided the game.



Game 3, in Chicago

Bruce Kison (19-8) vs. Tom Seaver (27-7)

Tom Teriffic returns to the mound for Game 3. Both pitchers are sharp; Kison pitches six 1-hit innings and Seaver allows four hits and two walks in eight. Neither team scores in regulation and the game goes to extras tied at zero.

Stan Thomas relieved Seaver after eight; he allowed a two-out walk in the ninth and surrenders a two-out double to Richie Hebner in the 10th. Larry Hisle grounds to short to end the threat.

Rich Gossage starts the 10th for Milwaukee. He doesn't fare well. Kevin Bell greets him with a double, and Von Joshua follows with a single through the middle. Hisle's throw home is off target and Bell scores the only run of the game to give the White Sox a 2-1 series lead.



Game 4, in Chicago

Larry Demery (6-3) vs. Pat Dobson (20-10)

Milwaukee finally finds some offense, getting four hits in a five-batter span in the fifth to break a 1-1 tie. Doubles by Thurman Munson and Bill Madlock are key in the outburst.

Starter Larry Demery commits an error in the sixth that brings home a Chicago run, trimming the lead to 4-2. Larry Hisle gets that run back in the seventh, singling home Thurman Munson.

Ron Reed allows consecutive RBI doubles in the eighth, making it a one-run game, and strands runners at the corners. Dave Laroche pitches the ninth and retires the side on 10 pitches, setting up a pivotal Game 5.



Game 5, at Milwaukee

Doug Bird (14-8) vs. Jon Matlack (20-14)

Chicago goes back to Doug Bird, who completely dominated the Riders in Game 2. The strategy works again; Bird allows five hits and no runs in seven innings of work. The White Sox get two unearned runs in the fifth off Matlack and score another run in the sixth, giving Bird a 3-0 lead.

Stan Thomas relieves Bird in the eighth. Jerry Mumphrey singles to lead off, and Larry Hisle grounds into a fielder's choice. Thurman Munson doubles, scoring Hisle and putting the Riders on the board. Hal McRae singles. Bill Madlock singles. 3-2. Jerry White bloops a double towards center... two runners score, Riders lead 4-3. Thomas is done.. one out later, Ted Sizemore singles and the Riders have an insurance run.

Dave Laroche is a bit tired but takes the mound to try to close it out. Von Joshua singles. Rob Sperring walks. Laroche digs deep.. he strikes out Mark Belanger. Felix Millan bounces one to third... Madlock scoops and goes to second.. DOUBLE PLAY! RIDERS WIN!!!!

Milwaukee advances to the League Championship Series, where they will face Cleveland.