European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - October 11, 1977, Darmstadt, Hesse Tuesday october 11, 1977 the stars and stripes Page 23 Umpire Jerry Neudecker Calls an emphatic out on Kansas City s George no doubt he s out Brett left after he was was Cut Down by new York second baseman Willie Randolph the third figure in this Ballet like scene from sunday s game. A Knees beat Roy continued from Page 21 this time. Randolph the slender second baseman who Learned his baseball on the sandlot of new York City drilled a Long Fly Ball to Centerfield that scored White with what turned out to be the Yankees winning run. After Thurman Munson grounded out Lou Piniella bounced what looked like a third out grounder to royals third base Man Brett who had accounted for the first two Kansas City runs with his Bat. Now however he gave the Yankees their final run with a wild throw to first base. That made it 5-3 and reliever Sparky Lyle hero of the Yankees do or die Victory saturday nailed Down the Pennant in the Bottom of the ninth getting Pesky Freddie patek to hit into a game ending double play. It was the perfect ending to the see saw Yankees season that often resembled a soap opera drama. The Yankees won it with High drama highlighted naturally by Jackson the benched slugger who had been fighting a playoff slump that caused Martin to yank him out of what could have been new York s last game of the season. Going into the eighth inning new York was trailing 3-1 against Lethander Paul Splittorff who had kept them off balance most of the night. But when Randolph opened with a single Herzog lifted split Torff who left to a standing ovation from the capacity crowd of 41,133 at royals stadium. Doug Bird struck out Munson the Yan Kees Captain but Piniella singled ran Dolph to third. Now with the tying runs on base and a right hander pitching Martin sent Jackson up to Pinch hit for Cliff John son. With a perfect sense of the dramatic Jackson looped a soft single to Center de livering the Yankees second run and making it 3-2. With the tying run in scoring position Herzog brought in Lethander Steve Mingori to pitch. Mingori retired Graig Nettles on a Long Fly to Brightfield and that brought up Chambliss who ripped a shot up the Middle. Second baseman Frank White made a diving backhand Stop and tossed to shortstop patek forcing Jackson and ending the Yankees rally. But the Yankees had one More rally left in their season and it turned out to be the winning one in the ninth. Until then the royals had nursed a Lead which Brett single hand edly provided in the first inning in the midst of what almost was a Brawl at third base. With one out in the first inning Hal Mcrae who had three hits for the royals beat out an infield single against Yankees starter Ron Guidry who was pitching on just two Days rest. Brett then hit a Long drive Over the head of Yankee Cente fielder Rivers. Mcrae raced around the bases to score and Brett Tore into third base colliding with Nettles on a close tag play for a triple. As Nettles stumbled Back there was Contact Between the two players some angry words and then swings. Both benches and bullpen emptied creating an immediate crush of bodies around third base As the pregame tension spilled Over. But it was a typical baseball fight with much pulling and tugging and Little other action. It ended pretty fast considering the traffic Jam that All the players had Cre ated at third base. A moment later Brett scored the royals second run on a groundnut by Al Cowens and Kansas City had a Quick 2-0 Lead. The Yankees nicked Splittorff for a run with two out in the third when Rivers singled stole second and scored on Munson s single. That made it 2-1, but the royals got the run right Back in the third when Mcrae opened with a first pitch double moved to third on Brett s bouncer and scored on a single by Cowens. But that was to be the final run of the season for the royals and the Yankees it turned out were not finished quite yet. Yankees cry tears of Joy continued from Page 21 shouting match that ensued. I went in there and cried Martin said pointing to the manager s office. I had to go in the other room to get away from the players. Maybe everything just caught up with me. It s been a rough season. A Man Ager is human. But it s Worth it though. If this is the result then i la accept All of Munson the normally Gruff and hard nosed Catcher was unable to speak for Sev eral minutes. He and Jackson sat along Side each other and wept together. Then Munson Dazely wandered around the clubhouse overcome by emotion. I m just Happy he said finally. I be been Cut in half All year and i m just Happy to prove i was Able to come out on then he threw his arms around Paul Blair who replaced Jackson in right Field in a daring piece of strategy by Martin and ignited the ninth inning rally with a single. I can t believe it said Blair a Veteran of four world series with the Baltimore orioles. Of i cannot believe it. Never in my life will i Ever forget this. We had so much trouble this year and it really looked like we weren t going to do it. That was the biggest hit i be Ever gotten. Billy went out on a limb for me and i m just thankful i was Able to help him Martin gave a lion s share of the credit to Pitcher Mike Torrez the loser of Friday night s third game. Torrez relieved starter Ron Guidry in the third inning and kept the royals scoreless and the Yankees within Range until he needed eighth inning help from Sparky Lyle the Yankees incomparable bullpen Ace. He gave me All 1 could expect but i thought he ran out of Gas in the eighth Martin said. No i did t run out of Gas said Torrez who griped when he was lifted in the sixth inning Friday night. But we be got one of the Best Relief pitchers in base Ball and this was a different situation. As Long As we win what the hell that Over comes bitterness. Continued from Page 21 vision he asked. I did t say anything to him. I just jumped up and tried to get him. I would have too if they had t mobbed Brett said it Felt like everybody on the Yankee team took a poke at me. Thurman Munson tried to protect me. Thurman was the Only one who was t trying to Hurt Brett said he Slid into third with a Rou Tine slide Khe kind i be used a Hundred times this year. It was t like they had been coming into me with their spikes about three feet Splittorff who won the first playoff game in new York refused to second guess Herzog for lifting him in the eighth inning to bring in right hander Doug Bird to face Munson. He decided to go with the percent Ages Splittorff said. I had faced Munson three times and i d done something differ ent with him every time. We thought maybe i was running out of re axed dodgers agree to fun not for scouting Philadelphia a the National league Champion los Angeles dodgers took a relaxed View sunday night As they watched the new York Yankees defeat the Kansas City royals for a spot in the world series. This resembles our game last night. The Yankees get a Guy on and they can t score mused dodger first baseman Steve Garvey. Minutes later however the Yankees scored three runs in the ninth to Post a 5-3 Victory Over Kansas City to capture the american league Pennant. I know one thing for certain offered dodger manager Tommy Lasorda. It s an exciting Ball the dodgers who won the National league championship by Downing the Philadelphia Phillies saturday night All agreed televised baseball is for fun not scouting. We re not Able to project Over television As far As scouting is concerned la Sorda said As he took in the game with his wife at the Philadelphia Hilton. You always like to see a Friend win admitted Lasorda a close chum of Yankees skipper1 Billy Martin. Prior to the Yankees win he had insisted he did t care As Long As the Best team it la be a Battle of two italian Man agers Lasorda chuckled. Then came the adjectives which were supposed to describe both of them fiery aggressive Lasorda ordered his players to be ready 15 minutes after the Al championship was Over just As soon As we know which Way we Are then it was off to Philadel phia International Airport for the trip to new York. It looks like we re going to the big Apple Lasorda said calmly just before he left his hotel room. That s the players were cautiously optimistic. Any time you meet somebody from the other league usually for the first Lime you re kind of feeling your Way around Garvey said. Of course he added we have a lot of Confidence in
