Game 1:
After having scored 36 runs in the final two home games of the '77 regular season, the Brewers head to Detroit to face the lowly Falcons and the bats go cold. Journeyman starting pitcher Ted Watson, who has had a few cups of coffee in the WPK in the past few years, improves to 3-0 with a 2.70 ERA (and 1.13 WHIP) in his 4 starts since being brought up to the Falcons as part of the September roster expansion. (He had been acquired last January in a trade with the Houston Cavaliers.) Tough loss for
John Weaver (8-7, 4.23) who gave up 3 runs (2 earned) on 5 hits over 6 innings.
Bobby Erbakan went 2 for 4 in the loss and
Brett Taranto hit his 39th double.
But while the Brewers were losing so were the reeling Spinners. So no damage in the standings.
Game 2:
More of the same in game 2, but even fewer runs for both teams. Great start for
Matt Helm, who gave up just 1 run on 3 hits in his 6 innings pitched.
RodRod's 12th homer of the season gave the Brewers a 1-1 tie in the 5th inning and the score remained there through the regulation 9 innings. But in the bottom of the 10th, former Brewer Garrett Farrar came in to pinch-hit with 2 outs and a runner on third base and he stroked a line drive single to left field to end the game and give the Falcons another win.
Walter Hackler (4-2, 2.84) took the loss (though the Farrar hit was against lefty reliever
Victor Colon).
Bobby Erbakan was again 2 for 4 and hit his 37th double.
But again, L.A. lost and the Brewers magic number is down to 1.
Game 3:
And with the team needing just one win (or an L.A. loss) to clinch another MGL pennant, staff ace
Sadahige Kawasaki was sent to the hill for his final regular season start of 1977. And
Kawasaki (17-8, 2.62) did exactly what he needed to, lasting 8 scoreless innings, giving up 4 hits while striking out 7 and walking 1.
Tim Shore pitched the 9th for his 28th save.
Joe McPhillips (.323/.401/.540) went 2 for 4 and hit his 20th double, driving in all 3 of the runs in the game. He also stole his 17th base.
And with the victory the Brewers are once again heading to the Kinsella Classic Series. As it turns out they wouldn't have needed the win as the L.A. Spinners continue to limp to the finish line, having lost 4 straight games.
