Game 142: Cleveland jumps on Lary Sorensen, scoring seven times in the first two innings, and holds off a late Rider rally for a 9-7 win.

Game 143: The Saltdogs score nine runs for the second straight game, this time five of them unearned, but the Riders do not come close to matching yesterday's output, losing 9-1.

Game 144: Terry Kennedy drives in four runs and the Saltdogs edge the Riders 7-6 in 11 innings, taking five wins in this six game "series".

The Riders, after a three-game "homestand", are on the road again, to Chicago to face the Goats.

Game 145: Jerry Mumphrey leads off the 10th inning with a home run and Rich Gossage works out of a two-on jam in the bottom half as the Riders beat the Goats 4-3.

Game 146: The Riders get nothing from the first three hitters in the lineup (combined 0-13) and drop a 3-2 decision in Chicago.

Game 147: Milwaukee scores single runs in the seventh, eighth, and ninth innings to send the game to extras, then wins it by scoring five runs in the eleventh. Final score; Milwaukee 11, Chicago 6.

The Riders return home to face Minnesota (74-73).

Was checking on the updates with your series with Cleveland. Saltdogs have been hot & got lucky in their series with Milwaukee.

Game 148: Tommy John has another rough outing, dropping to 12-12, and the Mooseheads dominate Milwaukee 10-4.

Game 149: Minnesota hits two homers in the first and another in the second off Mike Witt and never looks back, routing the Riders 13-5. Tim Raines steals home in the third inning, one of four for the game, giving him 99 steals on the season.

Game 150: The Mooseheads strike early again, scoring three in the first, but the Riders bounce back this time, rallying for four runs in the bottom half. Energized by the unexpected production, Milwaukee holds on for a 7-5 win to avoid the sweep. Tim Raines steals two more bases and reaches triple digits (101).

Milwaukee heads back on the road to face Washington.

Game 151: Britt Burns tires in the eighth, allowing a two-run homer to Andre Dawson that gives the Commandos a 3-2 win. Dick Tidrow pitches a perfect ninth to preserve Washington's lead.

Game 152: The Riders explode for 17 hits and get a rare easy win, 11-4 over Washington. Steve Comer gets his first win in relief of Lary Sorensen, who falls one out short of qualifying for a win.

Game 153: Tommy John gets beat around for six runs in 4.1 innings and falls below .500 (12-13) as the Commandos edge the Riders 7-6 to take the series.

The Riders will at least finish the season with a nine-game homestand, facing Georgia Force to start it.

Game 154: The Riders explode for seven runs over the fourth and fifth innings and ride that momentum to an 8-6 win over Atlanta.

Game 155: Juan Bonilla's eighth inning error allows the Force to tie the score, but Hal McRae saves the day with a two-out homer in the bottom of the 10th to win it, 2-1.

Game 156: Britt Burns gets through the first two innings without allowing a run but things fall apart from there; Georgia Force scores in each inning thereafter and takes the series with a convincing 12-3 victory.

The New York Mammoths are in town next.

Game 157: The Mammoths may have 100 losses this season, but that doesn't stop them from ripping Lary Sorensen or beating the Riders 8-3.

Game 158: Frank Tanana outpitches Tommy John and the Mammoths beat the Riders 3-1. Tanana improves to 7-17.

Game 159: I guess it's fitting that we would be swept by the Mammoths as the season nears the end.. New York scores six runs in 2.2 innings of Mike Witt's work and clobber the riders 9-5.

We close the season against San Diego.

Game 160: The Riders put some runs on the board but the Chicken bullpen outpitches Milwaukee's and San Diego wins the opener 11-9.

Game 161: San Diego starts a tired Jim Palmer and pays the price as the Riders collect 15 hits and even the series with an 11-4 win. Tim Raines steals his 112th base of the season.

Game 162: The Riders close the season with an 8-6 win, rallying for two in the seventh and two more in the eighth. Rich Gossage pitches the ninth for his 37th save and finishes the season with a 0.00 ERA. Gossage was unscored on in 37 appearances, allowing only 25 baserunners in 35.1 innings. Amazing. But kind of wasted.

The Riders experience a massive blunder in the offseason, failing to protect young starting pitcher Mike Witt and losing him in the draft. Luckily they use the fifth pick of the draft to get Frank Viola, a y starter with some potential. Losing Witt will hurt the franchise for years, however.

Other draft picks include Mike Smithson, another potential starting pitcher, reliever Jim Gott, and OF/1B Mike Marshall.

The 1982 season shapes up to be another struggle for the Riders, whose offense continues to come up a bit short in the power department.

1982 Season Preview

Milwaukee should fare slightly better in the home run department this season, as Roy Smalley looks to join Hal McRae, Bill Madlock, and Willie Aikens as Riders with 15+ home run power. The rotation doesn't have any true aces but is solid throughout. The payrolls tell the story, though, and surprisingly the Riders have an even lower payroll than they did in '81, clocking in at $78.2M

Milwaukee is in the AL West with

Chicago Goats (heybatr34) [$98.5M payroll]
Minnesota Lame Ducks (CRTYonker) [$75.7M]
San Diego Conquistadors (jamarino2) [$97.9M]

Only three teams have less payroll than the Riders.

Milwaukee starts the season at Chicago, facing the Goats.

Game 1: This is not a good sign; Tommy John allows 11 baserunners and six runs in three innings of work; the Goats proceed to blow out the Riders 14-6. Jason Thompson is 4-4 with three home runs; Gorman Thomas has two homers as well.

Game 2: Milwaukee bounces back to win the second game, 7-4, getting home runs from Willie Aikens and Bruce Benedict and three scoreless innings from the bullpen.

Game 3: Chicago takes the series with a 6-3 victory in the finale, getting four hits from Brian Downing and three more from Jason Thompson.

San Diego will be the first visitor to County Stadium this season.

Game 4: Ron Reed and Jim Gott each throw two scoreless innings in relief of Britt Burns and the Riders pound out 15 hits to win their home opener 10-2.

Game 5: Eight Rider starters have at least two hits and Milwaukee bludgeons the Conquistadors 16-4. Tim Raines and Roy Smalley each hit their first home run of the season.

Game 6: Tim Raines homers for the second straight game and the Riders fall just short of double digits, beating the Conquistadors 9-5 to sweep their first home series of the season.

From here we head to Minneapolis.

Game 7: The Riders continue to swing the bats well, collecting 12 hits and three homers, but Rick Sutcliffe is atrocious (11 runs in three innings) and the Riders suffer an 18-6 whipping at the hands (wings?) of the Lame Ducks.

Game 8: Bill Madlock is 2-5 but still manages to strand six baserunners; the Riders lose a 4-3 decision to Minnesota despite owning the hit column 13-10.

Game 9: Milwaukee scores four times in the first but Britt Burns doesn't even get out of the bottom half of that frame, surrendering six runs while getting only two outs; another rout is on as the Riders take a 17-4 thrashing (despite collecting 15 hits.)

The Riders stay on the road, heading to Atlanta to face the Georgia Force.

Game 10: Hal McRae has four hits and two other Riders have three each as Milwaukee tops Georgia Force 7-4 in the series opener. Rich Gossage puts two men on in the ninth but escapes with no runs scoring, earning his third save.

Game 11: The Riders draw 11 walks to go along with 15 hits and Tommy John pitches brilliantly as Milwaukee shells Atlanta 18-1. It's John's first win of the season.

Game 12: Both teams hit three home runs but an error by Atlanta's Bob Brenly proves crucial as the Riders edge Georgia Force 8-7 to sweep the series. Damaso Garcia steals his seventh base and leads the Riders so far this season, though Tim Raines is successful on two of his three attempts to reach six.

The Riders return home to face Washington.

Game 13: The Riders are shut out through eight, but rally for three runs in the ninth to steal the series opener 3-2. Willie Aikens leads off the ninth with a walk and Bill Madlock ties the score with a home run. New reliever Dick Tidrow retires the first batter but then allows consecutive singles to Roy Smalley and Damaso Garcia. Rich Gedman pinch hits for Bruce Benedict and doubles to , scoring the winner.

Game 14: Joe Niekro baffles the Riders, throwing a complete game 2-hitter as the Commandos even the series with a 3-1 win.

Game 15: Ron Washington hits a two-run double in the ninth to break a scoreless tie; Milwaukee cannot answer in the bottom half and the Commandos win the rubber match 2-0. Seven 1-hit innings from Manny Sarmiento are wasted.

The 2-13 New York Mammoths are in town next.