European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - June 05, 1977, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Sunday june 5, 1977 the stars and stripes Page 17 blazers rip 76ers, 110-104, to Lead in title series 3-2 byjoe Eujuano Philadelphia up the Portland Trail blazers had the Philadelphia 76ers. Off balance in the first half Friday but their fast break attack in the third Quarter really steamroll ered the mixers. The blazers Bob Gross sparked a 40 Point explosion in the third period to carry Portland to a 110-104 Victory Over Philadel phia. The win moved the blazers to within one Victory of their first Aba championship with game six of the Best of seven league finals scheduled sunday in Portland. In the first half we had a Tough time getting started Portland coach Jack Ramsay said although the blazers led throughout the opening 24 minutes we Eckersley just misses witless innings Mark by Fred Mcmane up sports writer Dennis Eckersley 22-year-old Cleveland right hander Friday night came within two outs of the major league record for most consecutive witless innings As the tribe beat the Seattle mariners 7-1.Eckersley, who no fitted the California Angels in his last Start and had not allowed a hit Over the final 7 2-3 innings against Seattle in his previous Outing went 5 2-3 innings before surrendering a Home run to Rookie Ruppert Jones. That hit the Only one the mariners got in the game Lef Eckersley just two thirds of an inning Short of by Young s record of 23 consecutive scoreless  was kind of a scary feeling eckers Ley said. I m just glad it s Over with to Tell you the truth because there s enough Al Roundup pressure As it is trying to go out and pitch let alone not wanting to let anyone hit. I went out there and was just trying to win the game and All of a sudden i pitched three innings pretty Good and so i could t help but think about just pitching 3 1-3  i til Settle for it he said of moving into second place for consecutive witless innings. What else is there it s better than nothing i guess. Disappointed no. Not at All. 1 won. Can t be disappointed when you  Cleveland comfortably in front. Manager Frank Robinson removed Eck Ersley after the sixth inning and let Jim Kern pitch the last three innings. He s got a Long time and hell probably throw another no hitter or two before he s through said  held the mariners witless Over the last three innings to Cam his fifth save. Eckersley is now 6-3.in other american league action. Texas Cun Tinucci on Page is can play better offence. We kept our poise even though we had a shaky beginning. Ramsay was referring to the third period which saw the 76ers come to within one Point at 53-52, before Portland went on a 26-8 spree for an b5-66 Lead going into the final period. Gross scored ii of his 25 Points in the third  the blazers had to withstand a fran tic fourth Quarter comeback by the 76ers, cheered by a screaming sellout crowd. Philadelphia closed within five poems twice before the blazers put the game  knew we could beat them for Ward Maurice Lucas said. It s not just talk. We came out and we did it. It s the Mark of a Good team to keep your  losing coach Gene Shue called the fourth Quarter rally a Good comeback but said the mixers dug themselves a Hole allowing Portland to control the game. It was t Only the third Quarter Shue said. The first half we could t make any thing. We were Lucky to be in the game after the first  Hollins Sank a jumper with 8 24 left in the game to give the blazers their biggest Lead 9149, before the mixers used a pressing defense to get Back into the  Erving and Doug Collins keyed the rally with some help off the Bench from Joe Bryant. Bryant Sank two free throw Sand a jumper to pull Philadelphia within five at 101-96, with 3 26 to play. But Maurice Lucas Sank a jumper and Hollins threw in a Layup to build the Lead Back to nine at 106-96 with 1 55 to play and the blazers were Home , who fouled out Midway through the fourth Quarter was High scorer for the blazers. Lucas added 20 Points to the Blaz ers attack while Dave Twardzik contributed 16 and Hollins 14. Erving led All scorers with 37  blazers saw an la Point first half Lead Cut to one at 53-52. On a driving Layup by George Mcginnis with 8 03 left in the third Quarter. Mcginnis was fouled on the continued on Page 20 braking a fast break Henry Bibby of the 76ers appears to be Aba playoff action at Philadelphia tackling Johnny Davis of the Portland Bibby blazers As the latter was beginning a fast break Friday night during their had attempted a Teal before fall ing in front of Davis. The blazers won 110-104. A photo five shutouts in National league expo Rogers one hits cards 2-0 by Metully up sports writer Steve Rogers rescued his team Friday night and once again it was the enemy hit ters who were left  year the team has not been going that Well so i have a special responsibility Rogers said after his one hitter helped Montreal top St. Louis 2-0, one of five shut outs in the National league. Montreal had lost three in a Row 11 of 12 at Home 13 in a Row at night and needed a Victory Only slightly less than the titanic needed water pumps. Manager Dick Wil Liams was t fancy. He gave the Ball to his  i go out there i feel that extra pressure on  said Rogers. But i know if  get a few runs then i la be Able to hold the opposing , who had stopped Montreal losing streaks of two and 11 games previously this season fanned 10 and allowed Only Mike Tyson s third inning single. I guess i have to say that s the finest game i be Ever  he said. I did t realize i had a one hitter going for me be cause i was More concerned with a Blister 1 had on my  Rogers second career one hitter raised his record to 7-4 and his 83 strikeouts Lead the league. It s an awesome Start for me but i be Only started 14 games and its a very Long Steve Rogers. Rescues his team again season he said. I guess i la get another 25 starts at least. Montreal scored in the first off loser Eric Rasmussen 3-7, on singles by Dave Cash and Chris Speier and a fielder s Choice. Larry Parrish homered in the fifth. In other games Philadelphia blanked new York 1-0, Pittsburgh zipped Chicago 5-0. Cincinnati shut out Houston 4-0, san Diego tipped los Angeles 1-0 in 11 innings and Atlanta swept a doubleheader from san Francisco 5-3,8-7. Phillies  Jim Lonborg and Ron Reed combined Ona five hitter to hand new York its first loss since Joe Torre replaced Joe Frazier As manager four games ago. Ted Sizemore singled in a third inning run that helped Lonborg win for the first time since he suffered an injury in Spring training. Pirates 5, Chicago 0 Dave. Parker s two run single High lighted a three run first inning and cushioned Jim Hooker s five hitter. Chicago a lost three of four since sweeping a three game series from Pittsburgh. Reds 4, astros 0 Johnny Bench s two run Homer and George Foster s two run double helped continued on Page is