Game 67: Ron Kittle and Mike Marshall combine for six hits from the 4-5 slots in the lineup, but their teammates manage only two more hits amongst them, and the Goats take the series opener, 3-2.

Game 68: Hal McRae hits his third home run and Rich Gossage survives a bases-loaded situation of his own doing in the ninth as the Riders even the series with a 5-2 win.

Game 69:  A pitcher's duel goes into extra innings tied at one, then becomes a slugfest. Milwaukee scores three times in the tenth, and then Rich Gossage completely implodes in the bottom half. He allows two singles to start the inning but gets a double play grounder to leave himself one out and three runs from a save. An RBI single is followed by a walk to load the bases.. BOOM. Gart Iorg puts one out of the park, giving the Goats a 6-4 win.

A big home series with Minnesota is next.

Game 70: Minnesota extends their winning streak against us, getting home runs from Kirk Gibson and Mike Schmidt and taking full advantage of a stretch of wildness by reliever Ray Fontenot to take the opener 8-6.

Game 71: Frank Viola gets his first win, holding the Lame Ducks to three hits over eight innings of work in a 6-2 victory. Mike Marshall and Roy Smalley homer for Milwaukee.

Game 72: Mike Marshall homers for the second straight game and the Riders score 10 times in a four-inning span to take the series from Minnesota, 10-5.

We are headed to Atlanta next to take on Georgia Force.

Game 73: Milwaukee falls behind 4-0 in the first, but score in each inning after the second to rout the Force 16-5. Kelly Paris drives in five runs and Hal McRae four. Willie Aikens hits two solo homers; Mike Smithson evens his record at 5-5.

Game 74: Jeffrey Leonard's miscue leads to three unearned runs for Atlanta in the eighth, putting the Riders down 5-4. Ron Kittle and Mike Marshall strike out with two men on base in the ninth to end it, and Atlanta evens the series.

Game 75: Milwaukee takes the series with a 6-4 win, scoring five early runs and holding on; Rich Gossage pitches the ninth for his 17th save.

The Riders sit at 40-35 and are back within five games of Minnesota. Next up, a home series against Cleveland.

Game 76: Ron Kittle hits his 16th home run and drives in four to back another spectacular pitching performance by Frank Viola, who goes eight innings in a 10-1 vcitory over the Saltdogs.

Game 77: Tim Conroy walks all five batters he faces in the eighth inning, helping Cleveland to seven runs that make the score closer than it should have been, but in the end Milwaukee still walks away with a comfortable 15-9 victory. The Riders hit four home runs and steal three bases; Mike Marshall is 4-4 with four runs scored and Andy Van Slyke has four RBI.

Game 78: Three more homers for the Riders and they draw seven walks on the way to a 6-2 win, finishing off a sweep of Cleveland.

We close the first half of the season at New York.

Game 79: Milwaukee draws no walks in this one, but collect 22 hits on the way to a 12-5 win over the Mammoths. Tim Conroy pitches three scoreless innings in relief for his first save.

Game 80: The Riders score six times in the second, sparked by a three-run Bruce Benedict home run, and deal Frank Tanana his fourth loss of the season (against 10 wins), 9-4. Britt Burns allows only two unearned runs in five innings for the win.

Game 81: The Riders take a 5-0 lead in the sixth but it all melts away over the next two innings as the Mammoths knock Frank Viola out of the box in the bottom half and then rock reliever Mike Madden... New York takes the first half finale, 8-6.

The Riders close the first half with a good showing against the East leaders, and are sitting only three games back of Minnesota.

LF Jeffrey Leonard (.331/.364/.555) is the only Rider to make the NL All Star team. The Riders start the second half at home versus Washington.

Game 82: The second half gets off to a poor start as Rich Gossage surrenders the tying run in the ninth and then is responsible for the winning run in the 10th in a 7-6 loss. The Riders threaten in the bottom of the 10th but Mike Marshall flies to left with men on the corners to end it. It's Gossage's third blown save of the season.

Game 83: Craig McMurtry throws seven 3-hit innings at the Riders, who don't even get one hit off two Commando relievers, and Washington clinches the series with a 5-2 win.

Game 84: On the verge of being swept, the Riders take advantage of a one-out error by Commando Enos Cabell in the ninth and rally for three runs to steal a 4-3 decision in the series finale. Damaso Garcia and Tim Raines drive in the tying and winning runs, respectively, with two-out singles.

Interleague play starts with a trip to St. Louis and Houston.

Game 85: Rich Gossage has another meltdown, allowing a three-run homer to Fred Lynn in the bottom of the ninth to give St. Louis a 5-4 victory. It's Gossage's fourth blown save and second in four games.

Game 86: Frank DiPino's return to the big leagues is not much different from when he left... allowing five hits while retiring only one batter, he ruins a great outing by Frank Viola and St. Louis crushes Milwaukee 11-2.

Game 87: It's complete meltdown time for the Rider bullpen as Rich Gossage blows another save and Houston takes the opener in 14 innings, 4-3.

Game 88: Willie Aikens drives in six runs as the Riders finally get an interleague win, beating the Hooligans 13-11 in a slugfest. Jim Gott gets the win in relief, his first of the season.

We host Kansas City next before traveling to Chicago.

Game 89: Although the teams combine for 23 hits, there's not much scoring until Frank DiPino makes his appearance... he allows two runs and the Blues take a 3-2 win.

Game 90: Kansas City scores four times in the first off Britt Burns and rolls to a 13-3 win. Milwaukee falls six behind Minnesota.

Game 91: Frank Viola has a rare clunker of a start (six runs in 4+ innings) but the Riders send the game to extra innings with a run in the eighth... to no avail. Chicago scores in the 10th to win it, 8-7.

Game 92: Bill Madlock drives in three runs, Milwaukee steals three bases, and the Rider bullpen throws four scoreless innings as Milwaukee earns a split with Chicago, winning 5-4.

The Riders head home to face Detroit and Pittsburgh.

Game 93: After Detroit ties the game at two in the fifth, neither team scores for the next four innings, sending the game to overtime (both teams strand runners at third in the ninth). Detroit loads the bases in the 10th but does not score while the Riders go down in order. A double play ends Detroit's 11th and Damaso Garcia leads off for Milwaukee with a single. One out later, he steals second. One out later, an error by Don Mattingly puts him at third for Hal McRae, who singles him home to end it.

Game 94: Detroit scores five times in the first two innings and then hangs on through a late Milwaukee rally to hold off the Riders, 5-4, and split the series.

Game 95: Pittsburgh gets three runs in the first and 4.2 shutout innings from the bullpen in a 6-1 win over the Riders.

Game 96: Frank Viola gets back on track with eight strong innings and Damaso Garcia has four hits and four RBI as Milwaukee turns the tables with a 6-1 win over the Dutchmen.

The Riders head to New York for two games.

Game 97: Mike Marshall hits two solo homers and Rick Sutcliffe goes seven innings for the win as Milwaukee beats the Brakers 5-3. Frank DiPino even throws a scoreless inning.

Game 98: Milwaukee two-hits the Brakers but Bill Madlock's second-inning error gives New York an opportunity that they take full advantage of; a sac fly scores the first run and Braker pitcher Jerry Koosman singles home the second. It's all New York needs as the Riders manage only one (unearned) run themselves; New York wins 2-1.

The Riders return to Milwaukee to host St. Louis and Houston.

Game 99: St. Louis arrives in town ready to hit... and run. They club three triples, two doubles and a homer amongst 18 hits on the way to an 11-2 laugher over the Riders.

Game 100: The Cardinals get seven shutout innings from Alejandro Pena and easily sweep the Riders, winning 5-1.

Game 101: Willie Aikens and Ron Kittle go yard, and the Riders survive another meltdown by Rich Gossage to hold off the Hooligans, 7-6.

Game 102: The Riders score an unearned run in the ninth to send the game to extras, then fall behind in the 14th on Charlie Moore's single. With one out in the bottom half, Dennis Lamp enters for Houston. Bill Madlock greets him with a single, Jerry Mumphrey goes deep. It's Mumphrey's fifth homer of the year and gives the Riders another 7-6 victory.

Milwaukee will visit Kansas City next before hosting the Black Sox.

Game 103: Milwaukee chokes up a 7-2 lead, with Pedro Guerrrero's three-run homer off Ron Reed in the eighth putting KC on top 8-7, but the Riders rally for two runs in the ninth, taking the lead on Rich Gedman's RBI single. Rich Gossage allows a one-out single in the bottom half but retires the side to preserve a 9-8 win.

Game 104: Albert Williams throws seven scoreless innings, Damaso Garcia hits his third home run, and the Riders blank Kansas City 8-0.

Game 105: The Black Sox open the series with Steve Carlton, the Riders with Britt Burns. The results are somewhat expected. Carlton throws seven blanks to win his 15th game and Steve Bedrosian finishes off a 3-0 shutout, snapping the Riders' four-game winning streak.

Game 106: Bruce Benedict's error leads to four unearned runs in the fifth, and the Black Sox finish a sweep of the Riders, winning 9-4 behind Larry McWilliams.

The Riders now travel to Detroit and Pittsburgh.

Game 107: Donnie Hill puts Milwaukee on the board with his first home run of the season and drives home another run during a six-run 5th inning as the Riders beat Detroit 9-6, giving Rick Sutcliffe his 10th win of the season. Rich Gossage pitches the ninth for his 24th save.

Game 108: Ken Forsch allows only a solo home run to Ron Kittle as the Wolverines earn a split with an 8-1 win over Milwaukee and Mike Smithson.

Game 109: Rich Gossage does it again.. Milwaukee hits four home runs but loses it in the ninth as Gossage allows three runs, choking away an 8-6 lead.

Game 110: Bill Madlock homers, doubles, and drives in three to back Britt Burns, who goes six strong innings in a 4-1 Milwaukee win.

The Riders host New York next.

Game 111: The Brakers ambush Frank Viola with five runs in the second, get five more off reliever Jim Gott, and withstand a 13-hit Rider attack to win the opener 11-7.

Game 112: The Riders score five runs in the eighth to rally for a 6-4 victory. Hal McRae snaps the tie with a two-run triple.

The Riders now travel to Oakland and St. Louis.

Game 113: Rich Gedman hits three doubles, but it's Bruce Benedict's two-bagger that decides this one, driving home two runs in the 12th. Rich Gossage pitches a scoreless bottom half to preserve a 7-5 win.

Game 114: Milwaukee gets another extra inning win in Oakland, scoring on a bases-loaded passed ball in the 11th to win it 4-3. Rich Gossage gets his second straight save, giving him 28 for the season. With Minnesota suffering a two-game losing streak, the Riders have moved back within three games of the division lead.

Game 115: Britt Burns has another good outing (six innings, one run allowed) and Bill Madlock has four hits to pace the offense as Milwaukee beats St. Louis 9-2.

Game 116: Ron Kittle hits a three-run homer but it's too little, too late, as the Cardinals beat Milwaukee 6-4.

The Riders will finish off interleague play by hosting these same Oakland and St. Louis teams.

Game 117: Storm Davis continues a nice season by throwing eight shutout innings at the Riders, improving to 10-5 with a 3-0 win. Dan Quisenberry gets his 34th save for the Zoo.

Game 118: Jeffrey Leonard hits a grand slam, Bill Madlock drives in three, and the Riders overcome a poor start by Mike Smithson to beat the Zoo 12-6.

Game 119: Tm Raine, Jeffrey Leonard, and Bill Madlock drive in three runs apiece and the Riders overwhelm the Cards, 15-4. Albert Williams goes seven innings and gets the win.

Game 120: Britt Burns has another rough outing, Jim Gott outdoes him by far (five runs in .1 inning), and the Cards even things out with an 11-8 win.

The Riders return to AL play with a trip to Washington.