August 16-19 – Atlanta Braves (3) vs. Philadelphia Phillies (1)

August 16 - Opening Day @ Philadelphia

Phillies (0-0) 0 – Braves (0-0) 5

Roy Halladay vs. Greg Maddux

A potential epic pitching duel between two Cy Young winners was in the offering. Alas it was not to be. Greg Maddux held the Phillies to 3 hits in a complete game shutout. Halladay was touched for 4 runs on 10 hits over 7.1 innings. Terry Pendleton led the offense going 3 for 4 and 3 RBIs.

August 17 – Game 2

Phillies (0-1) 0 – Braves (1-0) 6

Cole Hamels vs. Tom Glavine

In another potential pitching classic, the Braves’ Tommy Glavine out-hurled is counterpart and matched Maddux’s 3 hit complete game shutout. Hamels didn’t have is ‘A’ game as attested to Mark Lemke (he must think it’s the playoffs already) solo shot in the Braves 4^th. Fred McGriff also hit a homer and TP led the way with 3 more hits.

August 18 - Game 3 – Home Opener in Atlanta

Braves (2-0) 2 – Phillies (0-2) 4

Steve Avery vs. Kyle Kendrick

Kendrick and 4 relievers kept the Brave’s hitters off balance to get the Phillies their first win of the young season. Jayson Werth had 3 hits and 3 RBIs to lead the offense. Brad Lidge got his 1^st save of the season.

August 19 - Game 4

Braves (2-1) 6 – Phillies (1-2) 3

John Smoltz vs. Joe Blanton

Early on Joe Blanton was channeling Cy Blanton as he held the Braves to 2 hits over the first 5 innings. Unfortunately one of those hits was a 2 run homer by David Justice. Meanwhile John Smoltz was still upset in getting passed over for the home opener start. Looks like it’s time for him to see his psychiatrist. The Phillies led 3-2 going into the bottom of the 6^th. Before Blanton realized he was just another Joe, the first 6 Braves batters reached base and four runs scored highlighted by yet another 2 run homer by Justice. Justice went 2-5 with 2 homeruns and 5 RBIs. Smoltz lasted 8 to get the win and McMichael pitched a 1-2-3 9^th for his 1^st save.  --submitted by Ron Burnette--

Dial M for Offense

GAME 1 - 8/16 - Metropolitan Stadium
Fassero vs Boswell
97-SEA 7, 69-MIN 4

Seattle's offense wasted no time getting itself in full gear with 7 runs in the first 5 innings off of Twin starter Dave Boswell.  Jeff Fassero gave up just 2 runs in 7 innings and Seattle's suspect pen only gave up 2 runs.  Russ Davis was the offensive star going 2 for 4 with 3 RBI's and 2 runs scored thanks to a triple and a homer.

GAME 2 - 8/17
R.Johnson vs J.Perry
MIN 3, SEA 2 (11 inn)
Tied at 2-2 Rich Reese walked to lead off the bottom of the 11th vs Sanders.  After Charlie Manuel hit into a force play George Mitterwald walked to put runners on 1st and 2nd with 1 out.  Rick Renick grounded one through the hole to score Manuel to give the Twins a walk off win.  Without Jim Holt's 2 run pinch hit homer in the 7th the game doesn't even get to extra innings.  A-Rod had his second consecutive 2 hit game as the M's leadoff man, but did not score any runs.

GAME 3 - 8/18 - Kingdome
Kaat vs Moyer
SEA 9, MIN 1
A 6 run outburst in the bottom of the 4th knocked Jim Kaat out of the box.  Seattle's Jamie Moyer was on cruise control giving up just 1 run in 6 innings.  Three Mariners (Joey Cora, Mike Blowers & Dan Wilson) had 3 hit games with Wilson adding a 2 run triple to raise his season average to .500

GAME 4 - 8/19
Hall vs Oliveras
SEA 6, MIN 4
Neither starter had much to offer except runs for the other team.  Seattle once again powered up and outscored the Twins.  Homers from an unlikely source (Joey Cora) and a likely one (Junior Griffey) powered the M's to victory.  Both A-Rod and Cora had 3 hit days as once again the M's posted double digit runs to support fine outings from Sanders and Ayala out of the pen.

'65 Jints take 3 of 4 from '11 Brew Crew

1965 Giants vs 2011 Brewers
Games 1-2 - Miller Field
Games 3-4 - Candlestick Park

GAME 1 - MIL 2, SFG 0
Marichal vs Greinke
When he's home Zach Greinke (7IP / 0 ER) is brilliant.  Zach kept the Giants big bats off stride all day and allowed just 2 hits before giving the ball to K-Rod, who pitched a perfect 8th and John Axford who did the same in the 9th.  The bottom 2 hitters in San Fran's potent lineup (Lanier & Schofield) got their team's only 2 hits.  Milwaukee managed just 2 runs off the Dominican Dandy in the bottom of the 4th when the "Hebrew Hammer", Ryan Braun, led off with a double off the wall in right center.  Marichal, who has always been bugged by the long ball, gave up a 2 run shot to Prince Fielder on a 0-2 count to provide the only scoring for both teams.

GAME 2 - SFG 5, MIL 3
Shaw vs Marcum
The Brew Crew had a 3-2 lead heading into the top of the 8th when Hal Lanier reached first on an error then scored on an error to tie the game.  Jim Ray Hart's 2 run blast in the top of the 9th provided the winning margin for Bob Shaw, who went the distance and gave up just 3 runs (2 earned).  Tom Haller also homered for the Jints.

GAME 3 - SFG 5, MIL 2
Gallardo vs Perry
Future HOF'er Gaylord Perry went the distance allowing just 2 runs, while fanning 8.  The Giants broke a 2-2 tie with 2 in the bottom of the 5th, then added 1 more in the bottom of the 7th.  The "Say Hey Kid", Willie Mays went 2 for 4 with 3 RBI's including his first homer of the season.  Hitting behind him, Willie McCovey walked 3 times and hit a 2 run homer in his only official at bat as Perry cruised to victory.

GAME 4 - SFG 7, MIL 2
Wolf vs Herbel
The Jints finished off the Brew crew by splitting the two games in Milwaukee and sweeping the 2 at Candlestick.  Ron Herbel mirrored what Perry did the previous day and once again Mays (2-5, 3 RBI, 2 R) paced the offense that banged out 13 hits.  Herbel and "Stretch" McCovey were the only the one's from the starting 9, not to get a hit.  An incredible 6 players had 2 hit games as these Giants battered Brewer starter Randy Wolf.

'99 Dbacks split with '99 Stros

ARI99 vs HOU99
Games 1-2 - Astrodome
Games 3-4 - Bank One Ballpark

GAME 1 - ARI 8, HOU 5
R.Johnson vs Elarton
The Big Unit came up small, but the Dback offense bailed him out.  3 runs in the top of the 7th turned a 1 run lead into a secure 4 run lead.  Steve Finley played a tight centerfield for the victors and went 2 for 3 with a triple and 3 RBI's.  Carl Everett was 3-4 for Houston to knock in 3 of their 5 runs in a losing cause.

GAME 2 - HOU 7, ARI 1
Daal vs Hampton
Mike Hampton gave up just 1 run on 4 hits in 7 innings of work before entrusting his 6 run lead to the bullpen.  Daal, while not spectacular, was also the victim of 2 key errors that contributed to 4 unearned runs and hastened his exit.  Hampton also supplied the offensive firepower going 2 for 3 with 2 runs scored and 2 runs knocked in as well as a rare triple hit by a pitcher.

GAME 3 - HOU 5, ARI 0
Lima vs Benes
They headline reads:  "LIMA TIME", as Jose Lima goes the distance with a tidy 106 pitch complete game 3 hit shutout.  Lima spent 6 innings protecting a 2-0 lead before the 'Stros delivered 3 runs in the 7th to put it out of reach in light of the way Lima was dealing.  Rightfielder Stan Javier had half of Houston's 8 hits by going 4 for 4 with 2 runs scored.  Jeff Bagwell had 3 RBI's.

GAME 4 - ARI 5, HOU 1
Reynolds vs Reynoso
Reynoso went 7 1/3 and gave up just 3 hits without yielding a run.  Manager Howie Fortel sensed his hurler was low on octane, so he went to the pen and had Gregg Olson finish it out.  Reynolds went 7 innings for Houston and didn't allow a run in 6 of them.  Unfortunately for him he allowed 5 big runs in the bottom of the 4th.  Once again the start pitcher was also the star batsman.  Armando Reynoso went a perfect 3 for 3 with 1 RBI to earn top start status in a series where both teams broke even.

Week #1: '89 Royals split with '89 Rangers

KCR89 vs TEX89
Games 1-2 - Arlington Stadium
Games 3-4 - Royals Stadium

GAME 1 - KCR 6, TEX 4
Leibrandt vs Ryan
Neither Ryan, nor Leibrandt factored into the decision as both gave up 4 runs.  KC scored 2 in the top of the 9th off of reliever Mielke on a 2 run single by Kevin Seitzer.  Jeff Montgomery pitched a perfect 9th for the opening day save.

GAME 2 - TEX 3, KCR 2
Saberhagen vs Witt
Sabes left the game with a 2-1 lead, but closer Montgomery could not duplicate his perfect outing of the day before to wast a 7 strikeout performance by Sabes.  Texas scored 2 runs in the bottom of the 9th off of Monty for the walk off win.  Julio Franco grounded a single up the middle to score Steve Buechele to tie the game at 2-2.  DH Rick Leach singled to center to score Franco for the walk off win.

GAME 3 - KCR 12, TEX 1
Brown vs Gubicza

A 4 run bottom of the first gave Mark Gubicza a 4-1 lead that only got bigger and better as the game went on.  After a solo run in the 2nd the Royals posted 3 in the 4th and 4 in the 5th to blow the doors off of the Rangers team bus.  KC banged out 17 hits with 4 players getting 3 apiece.  Bo Jackson went 3 for 4 with 5 RBI including the games lone homer.

GAME 4 - TEX 5, KCR 4 (14 inn)
Jeffcoat vs Aquino
The Rangers outlasted the Royals in this classic 14 inning affair to salvage a series tie.  Texas had a tenuous 1 run lead that closer Jeff Russell blew in the bottom of the 9th to force extras.  KC's Tom "Flash" Gordon gave up a 1 out double to Ruben Sierra.  Raffy Palmeiro was given an intentional pass to setup a DP possibility.  Steve Buechele bounced a seeing eye hit through the whole between 3rd and short to score Sierra for the go ahead run.  KC wasn't hoisting any white flags just yet as Danny Tartabull doubled off the wall in right center with 1 out.  Catcher Bob Boone singled to the opposite field, but a hard charging Sierra came up throwing, so Tartabull stayed on third.  Future HOF'er George Brett hit a one hop bullet to second for a routine game ending DP.

Opening Day at Arlington Stadium - GWB throws the Ceremonial 1st Pitch

Politics aside, who doesn't love to see a President, or a former President, throw out the ceremonial first pitch to start a new KOD season.  Since the first series to be played started in Arlington, TX it was only fitting that the former Governor of Texas, who is also the former President of the United States, got to throw out the first ball.  Oh, BTW, did I mention that he was also a former part owner of the franchise ?

  

The 43rd President of the US, George W. Bush, throws out the first pitch

Leron Lee & Jerry Johnson (Cardinals), Ernie Young (Dbacks)

For some unknown reason we omitted Leron Lee and Ernie Young.  Jerry Johnson had  BHNH card, which I added a cap to.  Young could not be found in a Dbacks uni, so I airbrushed his Arizona Fall League Uni instead.