1982 Atlanta Braves Retrospective

[selmaborntidefan]

May 23, 1982
Philadelphia Phillies 2 (W: Ruthven, 3-3: SV: Farmer, 5)
Atlanta Braves 1 (L: Niekro, 2-1)
26-15
1st place
4.0 games ahead

RUTHVEN TOSSES SEVEN NO-HIT INNINGS AGAINST EX-MATES

Dick Ruthven pitched seven no-hit innings, and Ed Farmer earned his 5th save by holding Atlanta's efforts to tie the game to naught as Philadelphia took both the three-game series and tonight's contest by the count of 2-1. Philly banged out 11 hits, but despite the plethora of baserunners never held more than a 2-0 lead over Phil Niekro, who wound up with his first loss of 1982.

Former Braves made Atlanta pay. In addition to Ruthven, who started for the Braves for two-plus seasons and came over in a trade for Gene Garber, the game's first run was scored by Gary Matthews, who singled opening the second and scored on a double by Gary Maddox. Their other run came on small ball in the third inning when Ivan DeJesus singled, moved to second on a Ruthven bunt, moved to third on a single by Bob Dernier and scored on a ground out by Pete Rose. For seven innings, Atlanta had only two base runners, both aboard via walks, but in the 8th the Braves attempted to rally. Bob Horner broke up the no-hitter with a single, moved to third on a single by Chris Chambliss, and scored on Glenn Hubbard's ground out double play that cut the Philly lead to one. When Bruce Benedict singled, Jerry Royster came on as a pinch-runner, and an errant pickoff throw put him on second. But Ken Smith flied out to left, ending the inning and the threat. Although Rafael Ramirez singled with one out, bringing the potential game-winning run to the plate, neither Claudell Washington nor Dale Murphy could deliver. Murphy struck out, ending the game, and the Braves prepare to host the New York Mets.

 

[selmaborntidefan]

May 24, 1982
New York Mets 5 (W: Zachry, 4-1; SV: Allen, 11)
Atlanta Braves 3 (L: Dayley, 1-2)
26-16
1st place
3.0 games ahead

VALENTINE'S 3 RBI GUIDE METS TO 5-2 WIN OVER BRAVES

Since 1975, the Atlanta Braves have been a hapless loser sure to finish in the bottom half of their division if not last. Since 1977, the New York Mets have been - and this escapes most fans - even worse than the Atlanta Braves, a full 25 worse in the standings. And yet in the years since 1975, the Mets have a 47-31 record against the Braves and have taken the season series twice. Tonight, the Mets took (possibly) another step to beating a Braves team better than they with a 5-3 win over rookie starter Ken Dayley, despite the fact it was the Braves who probably played the better overall game. Sometimes, it just works out that way. New York starter Pat Zachry scattered 9 hits over 7 innings plus the first 3 batters of the 8th and struck out two before giving way to Neil Allen, who closed the door on Atlanta's comeback effort by getting Atlanta's two best sluggers, Dale Murphy and Bob Horner, to account for all 3 outs to end the 8th inning. And nary a whimper was heard from the Braves in a 1-2-3 ninth.

The Braves got off to a decent start that should have been better. Brett Butler led off the bottom of the first reaching base on a throwing error by shortstop Tom Veryzer, but he was immediately retired when he was caught stealing. The ramifications were realized when little Glenn Hubbard socked his third home run of the year for a 1-0 lead. Dayley himself led off the third with a single but was caught stealing to again stifle any momentum. He held the lead until the fourth, when he walked George Foster and gave up a two out homer to Ellis Valentine that put the Mets ahead, 2-1. But in the sixth, Dayley tired, giving up three straight singles and giving way to Steve Bedrosian with two runners on. Bedrosian allowed both inherited runners to score by giving up a sacrifice fly to Valentine followed by a Hubie Brooks single and a Ron Gardenhire double. With a 5-1 lead, the Mets cruised except for the hiccup in the 8th. San Diego's win by Tim Lollar (5-0) over the Cubs, 8-2, narrows the gap in the division race to three games.

 

[selmaborntidefan]

May 25, 1982
Atlanta Braves 10 (W: Mahler, 4-3)
New York Mets 2 (L: Scott, 3-4)
27-16
1st place
3.0 games ahead

MURPHY, HUBBARD HRS HIGHLIGHT 8-RUN ATLANTA INNING IN 10-2 WIN;
JENKINS, PALMER, SMITH ALL ACHIEVE CAREER MILESTONES

The Atlanta Braves sent 14 batters to the plate, 9 of whom got hits and eight that scored in a devastating offensive outburst against New York Mets starting pitcher Mike Scott that saw Rick Mahler go the distance by scattering 7 hits while striking out 5 in Atlanta's 10-2 rout of the Mets tonight at Fulton County Stadium. The hitting explosion included home runs by Dale Murphy and Glenn Hubbard, a Mets error that kept the inning going, and it could have been much worse as the Braves left the bases loaded when they made their final out of the barrage. Three Mets pitchers had no answers for the Atlanta attack, which saw the Braves score against all of them.

The Mets took an early lead in the top of the second when Hubie Brooks doubled, moved to third on a single by Wally Backman and then scored on a two-out single by Mookie Wilson to give New York their only lead of the game, 1-0. Maybe the Braves got angry, maybe they didn't. But their response was to unleash their biggest inning of the season. Murphy began the uprising by leading off the inning with a solo home run, his 14th of the season in just 43 games (a season-long pace of 53 if he can keep it going). Bob Horner followed with a base hit and then came all the way around to score on a Larry Whisenton triple. Whisenton himself scored when Bruce Benedict hit a sacrifice fly to center, and it appeared maybe Atlanta's rally would end at a manageable 3-1. But after Rafael Ramirez doubled, Mahler singled, and Claudell Washington doubled Ramirez home, Scott got the hook in favor of Tom Hausman. But, with apologies to Casey Kasem, the hits just kept on coming, as Hubbard greeted Hausman with a three-run home run that lifted Atlanta's lead to 7-1. And still only one out.

Chris Chambliss continued to outburst with a single and then Murphy reached on an error by Brooks, Chambliss safe at second. After Horner struck out, Whisenton ended the scoring with a single, and Benedict took first to load the bases when Hausman hit him with a pitch. Ramirez flew out to deep center to end the explosion, but the game was as good as over. George Foster hit a later cosmetic home run off Mahler, but the Mets never threatened again.

Fergie Jenkins continued building his Hall of Fame resume when he struck out Garry Templeton and became only the seventh pitcher in baseball history to strike out 3,000 batters. Four of the other six pitchers are still active major leaguers: Gaylord Perry, Tom Seaver, Steve Carlton, Nolan Ryan. But the lack of offense from the Cubs cost the veteran as the Padres beat Jenkins and the Cubs, 2-1. Reggie Smith reached a milestone when he led off the second inning with a home run, the 300th of his career. But like Jenkins, Smith's team lost the game as the Cardinals routed the Giants, 8-3. Trailing 3-0 entering the bottom of the eighth, Dave Concepcion singled home two runs and Dan Driessen added an RBI single as the Reds rallied to beat Philadelphia, 4-3. David Palmer, making his first big league start since October 1980, gave up two hits in six innings and Andre Dawson homered twice as Montreal beat Houston, 6-3. Fernando Valenzuela tossed a five-hitter and Steve Garvey broke open a 2-2 tie with an RBI double as the Dodgers beat the Pirates, 5-2.

Milestone night went better in the junior circuit as Jim Palmer, powered by three home runs, went 8.1 innings to beat Texas, 10-3, and earn the 250th win of his career. Kansas City's 7-4 win over Chicago knocked the White Sox out of first as Keith Creel gave up four runs in 5.2 innings to win his major league debut with effective bullpen relief from Dan Quisenberry, who got his 12th save. Tommy John tossed a five-hitter and Roy Smalley and Oscar Gamble homered in New York's 8-0 blowout of Toronto. Von Hayes hit a three-run homer and Larry Sorenson tossed a seven-hitter as Cleveland thumped Minnesota, 7-0. Dave Henderson's infield single scored Joe Simpson from third with two outs in the 9th to give Seattle a walk off 7-6 win over Detroit in a game the Mariners trailed, 6-3, entering the 8th. Dan Meyer snapped out of a 5-for-33 slump and drilled three doubles to tie a club record and spur Oakland to a 10-5 win over Milwaukee. Tim Foli drove in four runs and Brian Downing and Bobby Grich hit back-to-back home runs in California's 10-2 rout of Boston.

The Dodgers released Jay Johnstone, and the Athletics signed pitcher Fernando Arroyo.

 

[selmaborntidefan]

May 26, 1982
New York Mets 6 (W: Swan, 3-1; SV: Allen, 12)
Atlanta Braves 4 (L: Camp, 3-3)
27-17
1st place
3.0 games ahead

BACKMAN'S 3-RUN HR FLIPS GAME AS METS BEAT BRAVES, 6-4;
PERRY WINS 301ST TO SURPASS WYNN

Wally Backman will never forget his first major league home run. Few will, of course, but even fewer will have the immediate impact Backman's did. With his team trailing, 4-3, Backman connected against Braves reliever Rick Camp for a three-run shot with one out in the fifth, capping a four-run Mets inning and finishing off a comeback that saw the Mets down three runs after just one inning. Backman's blow, combined with excellent relief pitching from Craig Swan, lifted the Mets to a 6-4 win over the Braves and clinched the series in New York's favor, 2-1. Neil Allen, who recently blew two saves quite epically, notched his 12th save of the year, second in the NL behind Bruce Sutter and third in all of MLB behind Sutter and Royals ace Dan Quisenberry.

Preston Hanna, who has spent all but one of his years as a Brave primary as a middle reliever, got a rare start tonight and reminded everyone why he's a reliever. Hanna faced ten batters, retiring only three, and gave way to Steve Bedrosian with the go ahead run on base in the bottom of the second despite being spotted a 3-0 lead. Except for walking George Foster in the first, Hanna got through the inning well, and in the bottom of the inning, Atlanta greeted Pete Falcone by picking up where they left off last night, when they battered 3 Mets pitchers for ten runs. Claudell Washington singled, moved to second on a Glenn Hubbard bunt, stole third, and raced home when catcher John Stearns threw wildly in a futile attempt to nail him. Bob Horner walked and Bob Watson golfed a two-run homer into the stands and just like that, the Braves were up, 3-0.

But blessed with prosperity, Hanna faltered. The first three hitters singled, but Hanna caught a break when Gary Rajsich was thrown out at the plate. But when Pete Falcone singled in New York's first run, and Mookie Wilson followed, Hanna was gone, clinging to a precarious 3-2 lead. Bedrosian got the out, and the Braves extended their lead to 4-2 in the bottom of the second when Washington drove home Rafael Ramirez with an RBI single. The lead held until the 5th inning as the Mets power hitters strode to the plate.

Bedrosian walked both Foster and slugger Dave Kingman to begin the inning and end his night, giving way to erratic reliever Rick Camp. There are times Camp pitches quite well, but they are mixed with uneven performances. Tonight, the Braves got the latter. Rajsich singled Foster home to narrow the gap to 4-3, but then Camp induced a grounder by Hubie Brooks that forced the slow-footed Kingman at third for the first out of the inning. That's when Backman, who along with Brooks and Wilson (and minor league #1 draft pick in 1980 Darryl Strawberry) are expected to be the building base of the club's future, connected for his first career home run, a three-run bomb that put the Mets in the lead to stay. Swan, the former ace moved into the bullpen this year, made the lead hold up until Allen came on and gave the New Yorkers a fright by putting the first two batters on in the bottom of the 9th before retiring pinch-hitter Chris Chambliss, Washington, and Hubbard to end the game, 6-4.

Charlie Lea again pitched well, giving up just one hit in Montreal's 4-0 win over Houston. The game was tied at goose eggs entering the 10th when the Expos erupted for four runs against Astros reliever Frank LaCorte, keyed by a Tim Wallach home run. Mario Soto pitched a four-hitter and Cesar Geronimo singled home a third inning run as Cincinnati topped Philly, 2-0. The St Louis Cardinals banged out 17 hits and knocked Giants starter Atlee Hammaker out in just 0.1 inning, Tito Landrum starring with a home run and double in an 8-4 Cards win. Gary Woods hit a two-on, two-out single in the top of the 9th to break a 3-3 tie as the Cubs beat the Padres, 5-3. Dusty Baker crushed a three-run home run in the first for all of the Dodgers runs, and Jerry Reuss combined with Steve Howe to make them stand up in a 3-2 win over the Pirates.

Von Hayes hit a 9th inning solo home run, and Rick Waits and Dan Spillner combined to hold Minnesota to four hits as the Indians beat the Twins, 2-1. Greg Luzinski socked two home runs - numbers 250 and 251 of his career - to carry the White Sox to a 7-4 win over the Royals. Milwaukee got only three hits, two of them solo home runs by Charlie Moore and Don Money, but Rickey Henderson stole three bases and scored three runs himself in Oakland's 7-2 win over the Brewers. Henderson has stolen 45 bases in 45 games, a pace that would obliterate Lou Brock's single-season record of 118 set just eight years ago. Barry Bonnell scored twice and drove in four runs to help Dave Stieb improve his record to 3-5 in Toronto's 7-0 blowout of the Yankees. Rookie Mike Richardt smashed three hits and Johnny Grubb hit his first homer of 1982 to help Texas beat Baltimore, 5-3. Gaylord Perry scattered ten hits over 7.1 innings and gave up two solo home runs but got enough support to top Jack Morris and the Tigers, 4-2. Doubles by Joe Simpson and Al Cowens in the two-run sixth made the difference for the Mariners.

 

[selmaborntidefan]

May 27, 1982
Travel day
27-17
1st place
3.0 games ahead

Only 3 games on the major league schedule today, all in the American League.

Eddie Murray, who missed 9 games with tendinitis, laced four hits including a home run and scored three times as Baltimore thumped the Rangers, 6-0. Sammy Stewart scattered 5 hits and went the distance, striking out two. Milwaukee raced out to a 4-0 lead by the third and then held on for dear life to escape California with a 4-3 win. Pete Vuckovich got his fifth win, and Rollie Fingers got his tenth save. And five balls left the field of play in the Kingdome as Seattle raced out to an 8-0 lead and held on to beat Boston, 10-6. Dwight Evans and Carl Yastrzemski homered for the Red Sox.

 

[selmaborntidefan]

May 28, 1982
Atlanta Braves at Philadelphia Phillies
PPD RAIN
27-17
1st place
3.5 games ahead

Due to rain in the area, both the Atlanta Braves at Philadelphia Phillies and Toronto Blue Jays at Baltimore Orioles were rained out. The Braves and Phillies will make up their game in a doubleheader scheduled for August 30. The O's and Jays will play a twin bill tomorrow.

 

[selmaborntidefan]

May 29, 1982
Philadelphia Phillies 1(W: Ruthven, 4-3)
Atlanta Braves 0 (L: Niekro, 2-2)
27-18
1st place
2.5 games ahead

RUTHVEN EDGES BRAVES, 1-0;
BOTH NIEKROS THROW 5-HITTERS (BUT ONLY ONE WINS)
REGGIE ENDS IT WITH A BANG

Dick Ruthven struck out eight, walked five, and gave up only five hits while not allowing a runner past second base to edge Phil Niekro's stellar effort and give Philadelphia a 1-0 win over the Atlanta Braves. Niekro also surrendered only five hits, but it was a sacrifice fly by Bo Diaz that scored Pete Rose from third base in the sixth inning for the game's only run. The teams will conclude the series tomorrow.

Ryne Sandberg's 13th inning single off Alejandro Pena scored Gary Woods to give the Cubs a 1-0 win over the Dodgers. Gary Carter's three-run homer with one out in the 8th was the death blow that gave Steve Rogers his 7th win in Montreal's 4-1 win over Cincinnati. Jack Clark hit two home runs, including his fourth career grand slam, and drove home six runs as a one-man wrecking crew in the Giants' 9-5 win over the Pirates. Tim Flannery's bloop double over Ken Oberkfell's glove scored Sixto Lezcano, and the Padres added an insurance run off reliever Jim Kaat to clinch a 4-2 win over the Cardinals. Joe Niekro - like his brother Phil tonight - tossed a five-hitter but unlike Phil, it was enough to win thanks to two RBIs each by Ray Knight and Phil Garner as the Astros beat the Mets, 5-2.

Hal McRae went 5-for-5, part of a 19-hit barrage in support of Paul Splittorff that crushed the Texas Rangers, 14-1, and dropped starter Rick Honeycutt to 0-6. Mike Flanagan continued his mastery of Toronto with a five-hitter as Baltimore took the opener, 3-1, but the Blue Jays tore out of the gate with a 5-run top of the first against Scott McGregor before falling behind but recovering to win, 11-10. Alan Bannister singled home two runs and Miguel Dilone hit his first home run since 1979 to end LaMarr Hoyt's personal 14-game unbeaten streak in Cleveland's 5-2 win over the White Sox. Reggie Jackson ended the game with a solo home run in the bottom of the 10th to give the Angels a 5-4 win over the Brewers. Ken Griffey's two-out double in the 9th scored Willie Randolph and lifted the Yankees to a 6-4 win over the Twins. Lance Parrish hit a two-run homer and scored twice to help Detroit beat Oakland, 7-5. Larry Herndon had two steals. Paul Serna's home run leading off the fourth inning sparked a four-run rally that was enough for the Mariners to beat the Red Sox, 4-2. Dave Stapleton homered for Boston.

Erv Palica, who compiled a 41-55 record as a pitcher in a ten-year major league career with the Dodgers and Orioles and served in the Korean War, died at age 54 from a heart attack in Huntington Beach, California.

 

[selmaborntidefan]

May 30, 1982
Philadelphia Phillies 6 (W: Carlton, 6-6)
Atlanta Braves 2 (L: Mahler, 4-4)
27-19
1st place
2.5 games ahead

CARLTON SHINES AT BAT, ON MOUND;
RAY'S HR WINS IT IN 13TH
HENDERSON STEALS 4, HITS 3

Five Phillies doubles, including one by starter Steve Carlton, drove home all six Philadelphia runs, and the tall lefty scattered 8 hits over 8 innings and struck out 11 as the Braves succumbed to the pitching and the hitting, 6-2. The game also featured a balk by both starting pitchers - when is the last time you saw that? - and Atlanta score their first run on a double by Terry Harper. Rick Mahler's struggles continued; if he shuts you out, he wins, but otherwise he's probably going to lose. Of the 22 batters Mahler faced, ten reached base and six scored as he fell to 4-4. The Braves are thus swept in the abbreviated two-game series as they now head to Shea Stadium to face the hapless Mets.

Trailing 5-3 in the tenth inning and one out from defeat, the St Louis Cardinals rallied for a 6-5 win over the Padres that bailed out Bruce Sutter, who once again pitched terribly in relief but got away with it because his team's offense can overcome poor pitching performances. Admittedly, Sutter rarely pitches unless his team is in the lead, but he still gave up 3 straight hits and walked a batter en route to putting the Cardinals in a 5-3 hole. But Gary Lucas blew the save, retiring the first two batters before giving up a single to George Hendrick, a double to Lonnie Smith that scored Hendrick, and a single to Mike Ramsey that tied the game. When Julio Gonzalez was hit by a pitch that put Ramsey in scoring position, Dane Iorg singled him home to nail down the win against rookie Floyd Chiffer, who only pitched to Iorg. Umpire Joe West ejected Padres Manager Dick Williams in the 8th for arguing over an obstruction call. Steve Garvey and Pedro Guererro slammed home runs while starter Fernando Valenzuela scattered 8 hits in the Dodgers' 7-0 whitewashing of the Cubs. Mike Vail hit a three-run homer and Eddie Milner added a two-run shot as the Reds beat the Expos, 7-3. George Foster hit two home runs and Ellis Valentine drove in two and scored two in the Mets' 9-5 triumph over Houston. Rookie Johnny Ray socked his third home run of the season in the bottom of the 13th, clinching Pittsburgh's 7-6 win over San Francisco that took 4 hours and 39 minutes to play, including a 55-minute rain delay.

Jim Gott and Roy Lee Jackson combined for a one-hitter, and Damaso Garcia drove in two runs as the Blue Jays shut out the Orioles, 6-0. It was Toronto's second straight win in Baltimore after they were 1-21 prior to yesterday in Memorial Stadium. Cleveland won their 7th straight as Andre Thornton's three-run home run made the difference in a 4-2 win over the White Sox that gave starter Len Barker his sixth win. Oakland's Rickey Henderson stole 4 bases and had 3 hits as the Athletics beat the Tigers, 10-3, in the nightcap of a doubleheader that saw Detroit win the opener, 5-2. Jerry Remy singled, moved to second on a bunt, and scored on a single by Jim Rice to give Boston a 1-0 lead at the start of the game. John Tudor took that lead until there was one out left in the game - and lost to Seattle, 2-1, when Bobby Brown walked, Richie Zisk doubled him home, and Gary Gray doubled pinch-runner Lenny Randle home off reliever Mark Clear. Willie Randolph singled in the go ahead run in the 10th and Oscar Gamble added a run with a double to help the Yankees beat the Twins, 8-6. Doc Medich scattered six hits and Billy Sample hit two home runs to lift Texas over Kansas City, 8-1.