The Akron Beacon Journal from Akron, Ohio • Page 47

Akron Beacon Journal Sports SECTION Wednesday, October 17, 1973 Top Mets 3-2 it II A's Overcome Seaver Win Finley For Series 'Here he goes But then Seaver wasn't throwing as hard in the later innings. He had to rely on his contror instead of his fastball later in the game." As it was, Seaver struck out 12 batters before leaving after eight innings. Many of those strikeouts came in the early going, when the Mets had taken a 2-0 lead on that first-inning outburst. Wayne Garrett hit Hunter's second pitch of the game into the rightfield seats for his second home run of the Series and the Mets scored their second run on a wild pitch by the Oakland ace later in the inning with Millan on third thanks to Staub's hit-and-run single. Seaver, meanwhile, dazzled the A's with a performance that included five straight strikeouts at one point.

But in the sixth inning, the A's scored their first run on long doubles by Sal Bando See A'S, Page F-2 Campaneris, whose single off New York reliever Harry Parker drove home Ted Ku-biak from second base. Earlier, Campy beat a fine throw by New York catcher Jerry Grote to steal second and set up the A's second run. The play was as close as it could be. "I saw second baseman Felix Millan with the toll," said Campaneris, "so I slid to the outside of the bag and hit it with my right foot. I knew I was safe." From second base, it was easy for Campaneris to race home on Joe Rudi's single to right since outfielder Rusty Staub couldn't throw home because of his injured shoulder.

That spoiled a wonderful pitching performance by Met stai ter Tom Seaver. Until that point, the New York ace was in command of the situation with a crackling fastball. "The way he was starting out," said rival pitcher Jim "Catfish" Hunter, "I thought, NEW YORK (iP) Neither cold, nor Tom Seaver nor Charles 0. Finley could stop the Oakland A's from their appointed rounds Tuesday night. And as a result, the American League champions hold a 2-1 lead over the National League's New York Mets going into tonight's fourth game of the World Series.

"We proved what we can do despite the front office," said Oakland third baseman Sal Bando after the A's beat the Mets 3-2 in 11 innings at Shea Stadium's ice box and took the lead in the best-of-seven Series. As if the bone-chilling weather wasn't enough of a detriment (temperatures plunged to 50 degrees and stiff winds whipped the stands), the underdog A's were saddled with a two-run deficit in the first inning against Seaver, one of the best pitchers in baseball. THEN there was the matter about Finley and the roster. Because of their eccentric-owner, the A's could not use a full 25-man roster for the Series. Finley reportedly "fired" Mike Andrews Sunday after the second baseman made two costly errors that led to Oakland's 10-7 loss in Game 2.

His absence, combined with the loss of another player before the Series because of a front-office misunderstanding, cut the A's roster to 23 men. Even the fact that Andrews was on his way back to the A's camp today by order of commissioner Bowie didn't soothe the club's general morale. Many of the disenchanted A's have expressed displeasure with their off-beat owner, who has pulled many stunts similar to the Andrews incident. "I guess we're that good, that we can overcome anything Finley can do to us," Bert Campaneris said outfield star Reggie Jackson. ALTHOUGH Manager Dick Williams didn't have a full crew, he had enough in Bert Campaneris.

The speedy shorts'op helped the A's tie the score 2-2 with a stolen base in the eighth inning, then delivered the winning hit in the 11th inning. "1 felt at the moment that I was going to get a hit," said YOGI BEKRA frustrating evening Jack Patterson High quality snow tires that match the belted tires already on your car. Polyester cord body fiberglass belts for lonq wear and a smooth ride. Unusual Dooms Tom Terrific' KKRR7 gig have scored on the play anyway. It would have taken a great throw to get him.

But the ball was in shallow right and Staub couldn't even try. Even with the excitement of another extra-inning victory, game three of the World Series lost something when first the A's Catfish Hunter and then Seaver exited. "This is the real thing tonight," Fosse had said before the game. "These are the two money pitchers. That makes this game special." Until they were relieved, Seaver and Cat SILVERTOWN TRAILMAKER BELTED IT, IT, I I I V- I II I "There isn't a person in the world who hasn't heard about Tom Seaver.

He's ko good blind people come out to HEAR him pitch." Kfggje Jackson, Oakland A's. NEW YORK Dick Williams, the Oakland manager, was fielding questions after his A's 3-2, li-Jnning win over the New York Mets Tuesday night, and a big grin came over his face when the talk got around to Tom Seaver. "I was thrilled when they took him out," 8aid Williams. "He's super." Super Seaver, Tom Terrific, Jack Armstrong, r'ne All-American boy. He was not around at end of Tuesday's, game, but he was something while he was in there and deserved a better fate.

Before the game, ex-Indian catcher Ray Fosse was standing by the batting cage and opined, "I don't think Seaver will show us anything we haven't seen before." For the most part, however, the A's didn't see very much of the blazers Seaver served up for eight innings. they hit a few, Joe Rudi, Sal Bando and Gene Tenace rapping solid doubles. But 12 A's went down on strikes, Jackson three times, Tenace twice and every other Oakland hitter except Rudi once. A sore shoulder and the feet of Bert Campaneris combined in an unusual manner to deal Seaver the defeat in what otherwise might have been a classic victory. It was in the eighth inning and although Seaver's stuff wasn't as hot as it was earlier, he still had a 2-1 lead.

Then Campaneris singled to start the inning and stole second. It appeared Met catcher Jerry Grote had Campy dead with his throw but the speedy A's shortstop just got a piece of the bag with his foot and umpire Russ Goetz called him safe. THEN CAME Seaver's undoing. Rudi singled to shallow right and Campaneris set sail from second for home. Mets' rightfielder Rusty Staub, playing with an' extremely painful 'shoulder of his throwing arm, was helpless to try throwing out Campy.

He simply "lobbed the ball back to second as Campy tied -the score at 2-2. Seaver, with the Mets desperate for a run to end it in regulation time, was lifted for a pinch-hitter in the ninth and thus his super effort went for naught. Opinion was divided as to whether Campaneris, because of his great speed, might not fish lived up to their billing, battling each other like two champions'are expected to battle. Hunter got off rockily, yielding two runs, including a leadoff homer to Wayne Garrett in the first. But the Catfish blanked the Mets until he, too, went out for a pinch-hitter with the A's running out of time and needing a tying run in the seventh.

With Seaver responding to the challenge, it was baseball and the World Series at its best. It can only be hoped the Series goes long enough so that they can be matched again. OAKLAND manager Williams wouldn't be surprised to see that happen, despite the 2-1 edge his A's now hold. "I'd like to see it end in five games," says Williams, "but I don't really expect it to. Those Mets are too scrappy." Scrappy, that's how many of the A's refer to the light-hitting Mets who believe in miracles as well as their fans.

Their "spirit" coach is ace reliever Tug McGraw, whose iron arm has now worked 10 innings in the three games. After the A's put the first two batters on base in the eighth with the score tied 2-all, McGraw came in and got the next three batters and the home crowd gave him a standing ovation. After he walked into the dugout, he could be seen jumping up and down and screaming something. "What was he saying? "You gotta believe!" said a tight-lipped McGraw afterwards. "That's what I was yelling, that's what I'm thinking on every pitch.

You gotta believe, baby." There were thousands of buttons bearing McGraw's slogan worn by Met faithful in the stands Tuesday. If the power of positive thinking can do it, Miracle No. 2 may be a hit instead of a mvth. plus Fed. Ex.

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Sale Priced drowse feature trade-in sale $2595 Save $5 5 1 aoo SLH2P lighted dial compare at $1995 NORMAL INSTALLATION 24 with trad in Williams Joining Yankees? 9 1 we're the other guys. 4 ways to chargeRevolving Charge, American Express, Master Charge, BankAmericard 1972 and 1973 and the world championship in 1972, has been in the middle in numerous controversies involving his players and the maverick owner of the Athletics, Charles O. Finley. Williams managed Boston Red Sox to the AL pennant in 1967, but was' later fired. players of his decision in a clubhouse meeting at Shea Stadium Tuesday night.

The Oakland manager asked the players to keep the report in the clubhouse. He said if.it were leaked, he would deny it. Williams, who has won the American League West Division title three years in a row, the AL title in NEW YORK Manager Dick Williams will leave the Oakland Athletics after the World Soiies and succeed Ralph as skipper of the New York Yankees, it was reported today. Dick O'Connor of the Palo Alto, Times, here covering the Series, said Williams had info-med the RAVENNA 122 N. Meridian Mon.

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