The Courier-Journal from Louisville, Kentucky • Page 28

4 5 THE COURIER-JOURNAL, MONDAY, APRIL 8, 1974 aron does swiMin no 0 By RON COONS Courier-Journal Times Staff Writer CINCINNATI During the 1934 World Series commissioner Kenesaw Mountain Landis, who wielded considerably more power than anyone who has held the office since, set a precedent by ordering St. Louis outfielder Joe Med-wick OUT of the game because the Detroit Tiger fans were dumping garbage on him. Saturday night Bowie Kuhn, the present czar, ordered Atlanta manager Eddie Mathews to play Hank Aaron in the third game of the season in Cincinnati or suffer very serious consequences. That set a precedent, too. So Aaron, who needs one homer to break Babe Ruth's all-time home run record of 714, played yesterday.

No, he didn't hit a homer. In fact, the 40-year-old slugger didn't touch the ball during his first two at-bats against right-hander Clay Kirby. He was called out on strikes both times on a total of six pitches. He missed three pitches and took the same number. Then in the fifth inning on a 1-1 count, he tapped weakly to third baseman Danny Driessen before leaving the contest in the seventh for defensive purposes.

The Braves won 5-3, thanks to a three- run homer by Darrell Evans in the third and a run-scoring single by Craig Robinson in the fourth. Aaron, who wants to break the record before the home fans, will get that opportunity tonight when the Los Angeles Dodgers invade for a four-game series. The LA pitchers will be southpaw Al Downing tonight, then Don Sutton, Tommy John and Andy Messersmith. The game will be televised nationally by NBC, Channel 3 in Louisville, at 7:15 p.m. CDT.

"I'm definitely going to play tomorrow," Aaron said, with a chuckle, afterwards in the Braves' locker room. "Today Kirby threw me all sliders. He's a good pitcher, especially against right-handers. I was trying to do the best I could. I was upset by my performance, but I'm happy the team won.

"Maybe it will be easier when we get back to Atlanta," he added. "I'm sorry Eddie got caught in the middle." Aaron spent a hectic four days in Cincinnati, including an off day Friday. He tied Ruth's record in the opener on his first swing of the season in his career at-bat (Ruth batted 8,399 times). Hammerin' Hank was constantly hounded by the news media, something Ruth never had to contend with, at least not on this scale. During the Braves' batting practice, with catcher Vic Correll throwing, Aaron had cameras stuck in his face for magazines and newspapers and was photographed from just about every possible angle.

Some people undoubtedly will question Aaron's integrity because he struck out twice yesterday, both times looking. But Reds skipper Sparky Anderson, who refused to comment on Kuhn's edict, said on Saturday, "If you give this man (Aaron) that kind of treatment, you'll ruin the game. He's done nothing wrong. He'll do everything for baseball Monday night. The largest TV audience in his- A lots of but tory probably right to this.

"How could integrity? He's his career. To is, I asked him Wee Reese give me one And Henry he'd autograph Here's a man 20 years. He's stars." The days younger he would be The great chase Will Downing dish up No. 715 to Aaron? There's 13 fewer billy clubs in Cincy Pipy cjvnA will watch him. He has the anyone ever question his been a gentleman all of show you what a guy he if he cared if I had Pee (of Hillerich and Bradsby) of Henry's bats for my den.

told me to send it over and it. I come from nothin'. who's been up here over a good man, not like many white-haired Anderson, who is 17 than Aaron, made it known watching television intently tonight when Henry tries for 715. Relief pitchers outstanding Cincinnati opens a three-game set in San Francisco this afternoon. It will be noteworthy because Roger Nelson, who missed much of the 1973 season because of arm trouble, will start for the Reds.

He underwent surgery during the winter for the removal of scar tissue, and the Reds are hoping he returns to the form which made him 11-6 with Kansas City in 1972. Meanwhile, the extent Aaron has declined in the field was shown graphically in the first and sixth innings. That could be expected of any player his age, however. Cincinnati struck for a run early when Pete Rose led off with a double and Driessen singled. A stolen base and a passed ball put Driessen third, and Tony Perez hit a ball to medium left field.

Aaron backed up a bit, hoping to get some velocity on his throw, but the peg barely got to third baseman Evans, who had no chance to throw out Driessen at the plate. That made it 2-0 Reds in the first. After Evans' three-run clout put the Braves in front, the Reds had a chance in the sixth against knuckleballer Phil Niekro. Joe Morgan singled, and after a force out and another out, Johnny Bench singled to right. George Foster then hit a fly ball to left which Aaron couldn't get.

It turned out to be a run-scoring double. With the tying runs in scoring position, Niekro fanned Concepcion to end the threat. Kirby lasts 5 innings Kirby, who gave up Aaron's 555th homer on April 9, 1970 and No. 707 last Sept. 3, said, "I've had good luck against him.

But I haven't seen him that much because they usually put left-handed batters in there against me." Kirby, making his Reds' debut, lasted just five innings. Again Cincinnati relief pitching was outstanding. In 14 innings Red relievers Clay Carroll, Pedro Bor-bon, Tommie Hall, Nelson and Fred Norman have combined to allow only one hit and three walks. The crowd of 35,588 pushed the at-tendence for the series to 105,445 the first time the Reds have ever had a series attract over 100,000 in April or May. Associated Press After tonight, Al Downing's name may become the answer to the trivia question: "Who pitched Hank Aaron's 715th home run?" Downing will be the starting pitcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers tonight when they visit Atlanta for the first of four games.

What does he think about his task? "Maybe Bowie will order him not to play, that he'll have to rest after a travel day," said Downing. Then taking his tongue out of his cheek, he added, "Sure, I'd like to see him get it but I'll not change my way of pitching to him. I'm certainly not going to walk him or throw four balls over his head. I know I'll be aware of all the hoopla surrounding Henry, but it's his moment, not mine." Cincinnati's Clay Kirby denied Aaron his moment yesterday with a steady diet of sliders. Atlanta Braves manager Eddie Mathews didn't even want to play his superslugger, but commissioner Bowie Kuhn took care of that.

However, in three trips to the plate, Aaron twice struck out, then grounded out to third. "I didn't want him to hit it against me," said Kirby. "It would have made me a star for doing something bad." Which brings us back to Kuhn, who drew no friends in Atlanta for his orders to the Braves management. Kuhn was unavailable for comment. However, one of his aides said the commissioner may reconsider going to Atlanta for opening game ceremonies tonight.

Kuhn will make his decision this morning. So now Aaron takes his quest for baseball immortality to his home park, where he hopes to break the momentous record of Babe Ruth. How does he feel? "I hope it'll all be over with soon and things can get back to normal," said Aaron. As for Kuhn's decision, Aaron said, "I believe the Braves had the right to promote the only thing going for them." Hammerin' Hank revealed a few of the thousands of telegrams which he has received in the past few days. One was from Ruth's widow, wishing him "all the luck in the world." Another came from entertainer Sammy Davis who offered $25,000 for this 715th home run ball.

Davis promised to give the ball to baseball's Hall of Fame. He also got a telegram from Don Drysdale, the former Brooklyn and Los Angeles Dodger pitcher who yielded 17 home runs to Aaron, most of any hurler he has faced. "If it hadn't been for me, you'd still be 17 short," Drysdale's telegram said. Here are some of the reaction after Kuhn handed out his order: Eddie Mathews, Atlanta Braves manager "It's not a street fight. I'm not mad or crying in my beer, but I don't think there's any question I'm resentful.

Still, I accustomed to taking orders, I was brought up that way." Sparky Anderson, Cincinnati Reds manager "I have no right to say anything. What my answer might be, somebody might not like." Atlanta Braves board chairman Bill Bartholomay, standing on the turf in Cincy's Riverfront Stadium "I'd better get off the field before the commissioner fines me $50." With Aaron's historic quest now moving to Atlanta where the Braves play their next 11 games, it took some of the pressure off the security guards in Riverfront. Thirteen extra guards were in left field yesterday, in case Aaron hit the homer and a fight started among fans seeking the ball. If it wasn't enough to begin with, it was "Bat Day" and most of the fans carried miniature bats, just a size larger than the security guards' billy clubs. Chances are the Braves won't have "Bat Day" for a while.

wis.T;'j t-? Associated Press HENRY AARON (left) gives umpire John McSher-ry an unpleasant look after he was called out on strikes in the Atlanta Braves' 5-3 win over Cincinnati yesterday. Aaron later struck out again and grounded out, prolonging his bid for his 715 th homer. Aaron looking Aaron stringing Mazda 1 rotary engine licensed bv NSU-WANKEL. Braves 5, Reds 3 ATLANTA CINCINNATI Player ab rbi Player ab ti rbi Garr rf 4 0 0 0 Rose If 5 12 0 Lum lb 4 1 0 1 Morgan 2b 4 0 2 0 Evans 3b 4 12 3 Driessen 3b 4 2 1 0 Aaron If 3 0 0 0 Perez lb 2 0 0 1 Office cf I 0 0 0 Bench 3 0 2 0 Baker cf 4 110 Foster rf 4 0 1 1 Johnson 2b 4 0 0 0 Concepcion ss .4 0 1 0 Oates 3 0 1 0 Geronimo cf 4 0 0 0 Robinson ss 3 1 1 1 Kirby 1 0 0 0 Niekro 3 110 Kosco 1 0 0 0 Norman 0 0 0 0 Griffey ph 10 0 0 Had 0 0 0 0 Crowley ph 1 0 0 0 Totals 33 5 i 5 Totals 34 3 2 ATLANTA O04 100 000 5 i CINCINNATI 2O0O01 000- 3 0 LOB Atlanta 3, Cincinnati 7. 2B Rose.

Foster. HR-Evans (1). SB Driessen, Concepcion. SF Perez. Pitcher IP ER BB SO Niekro (W, 1-0) 9 9 3 2 2 6 Kirby (L, 0-1) 5 6 5 1 4 Norman 2 0 0 0 0 2 Hall 2 0 0 0 1 3 PB Oates.

2:00. Attendance 35,568. Sports on the air TELEVISION 7 p.m. Baseball, Dodgers-Braves, NBC, Channel 3. 8 p.m.

Basketball, Colonels-Cougars' Ch. 32. RADIO 1:50 p.m.-Reds-Giants, WXVW (1450). 7:55 p.m.-Colonels-Cougari, WHAS (840). 11 p.m.-louisville Downs race, WHAS (840).

Associated Press ATLANTA manager Eddie Mathews, obeying commissioner Bowie Kuhn, had Henry Aaron in starting lineup against Cincinnati yesterday. Time for a miracle Cougars need one to avert Colonels' siveep imm inooucES a mimt mmm warranty. After 14 years of development and almost three-quarter of a million cars on the road, the rotary engine has proven to be so dependable, we now warrant the engine for better than the Chevy Nova with automatic or the Mustang II V-6 stick shift, and far better than the Dodge Dart automatic. This warranty is free with all new LARRY BROWN 'We lost our confidence' rotary-engine Mazdas sold on 50,000 miles or 3 years. Mazda also offers a unique driving experi- ence.

The rotary engine is smooth, quiet, responsive or after March 26, 1974. Mazda now offers a nontransferable warranty that the basic engine block and internal parts will be free and economical. Recent mileage tests by Motor Trend showed on the cars tested that the Mazda RX-4 Hardtop, with standard transmission, gets about the same fuel economy as the Gremlin with automatic, of defects, with normal use and prescribed maintenance, for 50,000 miles or 3 years, whichever occurs first, or Mazda will fix it free. 'Molor Trend Magazine, Morch 74. A breakthrough car deserves a breakthrough warranty.

By KEITH F. OVERPECK Courier-Journal Times Staff Writer After his Kentucky Colonels had won their third game in as many outings with the Carolina Cougars In their best-of-seven American Basketball Association playoff series, coach Babe McCarthy smiled unabashedly when he said, "Certainly we are in an enviable position now. "I would say," he added, "that it would take a miracle for them to beat us four straight games." Actually, the situation may be worse than that for the Cougars: It might take a miracle for them to keep from bowing out of the championship chase when the teams meet in game No. 4 of the first-round series tonight in Lexington (Channel 32 at 8 CDT). When the Cougars take the floor in the University of Kentucky's Memorial Coliseum, ABA history says the chances of their winning are only one in eight.

During past seven-game playoff series in the ABA, one team has won the first three games eight times. Of the losers, only Miami, by beating Indiana in the fourth game of the 1969 Eastern Division final, managed to avert a shutout. There are two good reasons to believe that Carolina will not duplicate Miami's feat. First, Kentucky has plenty of incentive for not allowing the Cougars any room in which to save a little face. "Our series was late getting started it was the last one (of four first-round matches) to get under way," noted 7-foot-2 Artis Gilmore, whose 28.7 points, 18 rebounds and five blocked shots a game are big reasons why Kentucky enjoys the 3-0 advantage.

"Then, too, the tornado Wednesday" which damaged Freedom Hall and re- tonight simply because the Cougars are coming apart at the seams. Although Kentucky won the final regular-season game with Carolina, the Cougars captured the season series seven games to four. "We had a lot of confidence coming into the series," Carolina coach Larry Brown said after Kentucky had coasted to a 120-110 triumph Saturday night in Char-lott, N.C. "But we shot so poorly in the first game in Louisville and lost, then last night really took it out of us." Kentucky won the first game 118-102 and came from behind in the last quarter Friday night in Greensboro, N.C, to take a 99-96 victory despite committing a playoffs-record 37 turnovers. Saturday nigtt, Kentucky raced to a 52-36 halftime lead and, by Brown's admission, that was the ball game.

"We lost our confidence and our poise," Brown said. "The guys are frustrated and we're pressing. We're tightening up and definitely feeling the pressure. On all our cuts across the lane, they're switching off and giving us the 15-foot shots. And we can't hit them.

"But you have pressure in these series, and you've got to be competitors and have confidence in yourself in order to live with it," he added. "We've just got to do something." If the Cougars can regain their form sufficiently to defeat the Colonels tonight, game No. 5 will be played Wednesday in Kentucky. The Colonels are hopeful that repairs to Freedom Hall can be completed in time to play there. Should the repairs require more time, the game will be played either in Lexington or Louisville's Convention Center.

But the Colonels will not select an alternate site until after a determination is made on Freedom Hall probably some time this afternoon. suited in a reshuffling of the playoff schedule "threw us further behind," he added. Since it is almost unheard of in pro sports for a team down 3-0 in a seven-game set to come back for four straight victories, the Colonels almost certainly will advance to the Eastern Division finals against the winner of the New York Nets-Virginia Squires series. Nets favored tonight The Nets, who edged the Colonels for the regular season division crown, are heavily favored to complete a 4-1 victory over the Squires tonight in Uniondale, N.Y. Thus, Gilmore pointed out, Kentucky must win tonight or risk giving the Nets extra days of rest and practice in which to ready themselves for the Colonels.

As far as Kentucky guard Chuck Williams is concerned, the Colonels can't afford to be giving New York the edge. "We played the Nets good all year long, but the playoffs are a different thing," he said. "The series will start at their place, and they'll be ready. It's going to be rough." Carolina's chances appear bleak Kenfuckiana Mazda Broadway at 5th Louisville, Ky. (502) 585-5833.