The Baltimore Sun from Baltimore, Maryland • 21

RACING SPORTS YACHTS THE SUNDAY SUN BALTIMORE, MP. OCTOBER 6, 1974 SECTION GOLF TENNIS ItASEBALL Orioles beat Oakland, 6-3, in opening play-off game Dodgers defeat Pirates Sutlon hurls 1-hilter for 3-0 victory By ALAV GOLDSTEIN Sun Staff Correspondent By I.OU HATTER Sun Staff Correspondent Oakland A barrage of three Oriole home runs, by Paul Blair, Brooks Robinson and Bobby Grich, powered Baltimore to a 6-to-3 victory over the Oakland Athletics in the American League championship series opener here yesterday. Jim (Catfish) Hunter, an old nemesis who had beaten the Birds seven times in a row, including two Oriole box score BALTIMORE OAKLAND ab bl ab bl Cogglnsrf 4 0 0 Northcf 5 2 10 Blaircf 4 2 2 2 Caninnrlsss 4 0 3 3 Gricli2b 4 2 2 2 RJackson rf 4 0 0 0 TDavisdh 4 0 2 1 Banrlo3b 4 0 10 JPottflllb 4 0 0 0 Rutlilf 4 0 0 Baylorlf 4 0 2 0 Tenace lb 3 0 0 0 BRobinsnSb 4 111 Mangualdll 4 0 1 0 Hendrcksc 4 110 Fossec 2 0 10 Belanger ss 3 0 0 0 JAlouph 10 10 Belangerss 3 0 0 0 JAlou nil 10 10 Cuellarn 0 0 0 0 Trillo pr 0 10 0 Giimsleyp 0 0 0 0 DOreen2b 2 0 0 0 CWnntgn ph 10 10 Hunterp II 0 0 0 IXIonii) 0 0 0 0 KliigersD 0 0 0 0 Paul Blair claps his hands as the plate after hitting a borne he crosses first inning of run in the in Oakland. yesterday's play-off opener Terps slam Syracuse, 31-0 decisions in last October's play-offs, was ripped for 8 of Baltimore's 10 hits before departing in the fifth inning. The Oriole offensive against Hunter, John (Blue Moon) Odom, and Rollie Fingers also featured a double by Grich, two singles by Tommy Davis, another run-scoring single by Blair and a pair of safeties by Don Baylor.

Although far below peak performance, Mike Cuellar emerged with the decision on a nine-hitter in the important first game of the best-of-five series for the 1974 pennant and a berth in the World Series. The 37-year-old southpaw, working with two days of rest for the fourth time this season, required a relief lift from Ross Grimsley In the final inning. He had been aided, too, by a pair of earlier defensive gems by Robinson and Baylor. Manager Earl Weaver summoned Grimsley after the Oakland Coliseum crowd of 41,609 was aroused by Jesus Alou's lead-off pinch single to left and a double to right by Claudell Washington, who was hitting for Dick Green with nobody out. Grimsley in bulipen Grimsley, assigned to relief duty for the play-offs, retired Bill North on a roller to Robinson.

The 24-year-old left-hander then dispatched Bert Campa-neris on a sacrifice fly to right and Reggie Jackson on another bouncer to Robinson at third. Campaneris drove all three runs across for the two-time world champion A's. Before his ninth inning fly, which drove pinch-runner Manny Trillo across in the ninth, the A's shortstop singled North home in the third and again in the fifth. He also cot a hit off Cuellar in the seventh inning. "You still have to win three games in the Weaver said tactfully as he savored the triumph.

"We won the first game last year, too. So I'm not going to let this fool us. On inside pages Racing B2 Trainers cool to Maryland summer program Final averages B(i Other baseball B7. B8, B'l Footbal Bll. B12, B13, B14 Prep football Blf Foreman unhurt in aulo accident in Zaire B17 Hockey BID Golf Bl!) By BOB 1BACB Sunpapers Staf Correspondent Syracuse, N.Y.

After a sputtering start, Maryland lived up to its preseason billing and rolled at will in the second half yesterday en route to a 31-to-0 conquest of oid nemesis Syracuse. It was the first time since 1955 that the Terrapins, now 2-2 on the season, had beaten the Orangemen in drab old Archbold Stadium. But for the first 30 minutes the issue was in doubt as Maryland was able to generate AP Brooks Robinson makes a diving catch of a bouncer off the bat of the Oakland A's Dick Green in the 6th inning of the play-off opener. Robinson, who threw out Green, also hit a home run in the game. THE: B.C.

thrashes Navy, 37-0, for first win of season Morning After By Bob Maisel, Sports Editor only a 7-0 halftime lead after sticking to its predictable ground-oriented attack featuring the running of tailback Louis Carter. Carter carried the ball 18 times for 55 yards in the first two periods and scored Maryland's lone first-half touchdown on a 2-yard run in the first quarter. But at half-time coach Jerry Claiborne put some new wrinkles and a few new faces into the attack and, with the aid of a little luck, the Terps dominated the second half. most every mistake possible in an attempt to comeback. Penalties repeatedly nullified substantial Middie gains.

While the offense was sputtering under quarterbacks Phil Poierer, Mike Yeager and Mike Rohan, the defense was no match for the hard-running Barnette and Esposito, who led the Eagles to 274 yards rushing and their first win in three starts. Navy coach George Welsh was so discouraged by the showing that he promised per sonnel changes before next week's Syracuse game. "When you look out there and see See NAVY, Bll, Col. 1 By BILL FREE Sun Staff Correspondent Pittsburgh Don Sutton, an invincible pitcher since August 16, completely dominated the lusty-hitting Pittsburgh Pirates yesterday with a masterful 4-hit, 3-to-0 victory that gave the Los Angeles Dodgers, a 1-0 lead in the best-of-5 National League championship series. The Dodgers nursed a 1-0 lead through the first eight innings at sun-swept Three Rivers Stadium.

But the way Sutton was disposing of the frustrated Buc batters, it seemed as good as a 10-run advantage. Sutton got some breathing room in the ninth when Los Angeles added 2 runs off Dave Guisti, who relieved the starter and loser Jerry Reuss in the eighth inning. This marked the 10th straight victory for the slender 29-year-old righthander who suffered his last defeat to the Pirates in mid-August. Over the last two months of the season, Sutton spearheaded the Dodgers drive to the Western title by winning 13 of his last 14 decisions. The glib native of Clio, Ala.

had only one uneasy moment. That came In the second inning when, after retiring Richie Zisk and Manny Sanguil-len, he walked Ed Kirkpatrick and. third baseman Ron Cey and then booted Frank Taver-as's ground ball for the first of his two errors. The crowd of 40,368 fans then had its one brief moment of excitement when Reuss, lined a long drive to center that appeared headed for the wall with Dodger centerfielder Jim Wynn playing exceptionally shallow. But Wynn used his speed to catch the ball and that ended the only serious Pirate threat of the game.

"I was playing him too short," confessed Wynn "He's a good hitter for a pitcher. See DODGERS, B6, Col. 4 The box score LOS ANGELES PITXSBt'RtiH ab bi tones 2b at 4 1 0 Bucknf If Wynn cf Garvey lb ernuson rf Oy Russell sa Yeadpr Yeaner Sutton 5 0 10 3 111 4 0 2 0 4 12 1 3 0 0 0 5 2 0 4 0 0 0 10 0 0 3 0 10 smineti Hfbner 3b AOliver cf Starsell If Zls.lt rf 4 0 0 0 3 0 0 0 4 0 0 0 4 0 2 0 4 0 0 0 Saiigllillri 1 0 Krkeatrik lb 3 0 0 0 Taveras sa 5 0 0 0 Taveras ss PuDOVlCh bS Reut-s DParker Dh GlUSti 2 0 0 0 10 10 2 0 0 0 10 0 0 0 0 0 0 Total 35 3 9 3 Total 32 0 4 0 I os AntrlH 010 (H)0 OK 3 I'ittsburgb 0110 000 (HID 0 Oy 2. DP Los Angeles 1. LOB I ds Angeles lo, Pittsburgh 7.

2B Garvey. Buckner. Wynn. Ferguson. IP HER BB SO S'ltton (W.1-0) 9 1 0 1 6 Reufc.s (L.O-1) 7 5 114 3 Gnis'i 2 4 2 2 3 0 HBP bv Sutton (Hebner).

2:23. A Pirates renferfieldrr Willie Garvcy's drive against wall Oakland, Calif. In spite of their great respect for him, the Orioles had a hunch this might be the day they would finally catch up with Catfish Hunter. Subsequent developments proved them right in a 6-to-3 victory which showed once again that there is nothing like the long ball to make the game of baseball look so much easier than it really is. Before the game, Mark Belanger, Andy Etchebarren and Boog Powell sat in front of their lockers talking about Hunter, the man who had beaten them seven times in a row and was just about to face them in the first game of this 1974 play-off series.

"Pitching can't be as easy as he makes it look," said Powell. "His fast ball doesn't rate in the top ten, neither does Ms slider, he hardly ever even throws a curve and he doesn't change speeds. What he does is throw the ball in good spois. get ahead of you and win." "Right," said Etchebarren, "but even when the guy has gotten behind the hitter against us. or when he has made mis-See MORNING AFTER.

B6, Col. 1 Tolal 35 6 10 6 Rallhmire Oakland UP Oakland 1. Tolal 34 3 9 3 iihi no orni mil Oi" inn 3. Oaklanrl 2B Oriel UK Blairl I I. B.Ruhinsunf 1 l.ririrhl 1 1 North.

Cwlmtun. SB -Nurlh. Cuinuaneris. Belanger. SF CHinnaneris.

Cirimsley 1 0 0 0 0 0 4 2-3 8 1) 8 0 3 Odum 3 1-3 1 0 0 0 1 Finwrs 1 1 0 II 0 1 2:29. "That's as good as we've hit Hunter in the last three years. All it means, though, is that we have to win two more." Blair's homer, an opening-inning hoist deep behind the left-field foul pole, was his first ever off Hunter since both became American League regulars in 1965. "I was looking for his fast ball. He happened to get it inside and I was just able to get around on it," said the six-time Gold Glove center-fielder.

"At first, I thought it might go foul." Oakland matched that Baltimore tally in the third. Cuellar issued his second of four walks to Green, who was forced on North's tap to the mound. North, whose 54 thefts topped the league this year, swiped second and raced in on a single through the shortstop hole by Campaneris. After Campaneris stole second and Jackson walked Cuellar got Sal Bando on a pop and Joe Rudi on a force. Oakland never caught up with the Birds again though after Grich's double over the third-base bag and a single to left by Davis in the fourth.

Preceding Ray Fosse's bloop hit in the A's half, Baylor saved a potential Oakland run when he leaped against the left-field wall to snare Angel Mangual's 370-foot fly. Robinson's four-bagger ignited the Orioles' 4-run fifth. The curving liner also played hide-and-seek with the left-field foul pole, dropping barely over the fence at the 330-foot mark. "I quit thinking home run a couple of years ago," Brooks commented afterward, grinning a little. "I was just thinking contact.

I wasn't con-Sec ORIOLES, B6, Col. 4 in 1971 to accept the top execu tive posiuun in uie aiiiumm organization, said of the pos sible sale ot Baltimore American league franchise, "I have heard a rumor to that effect." "But right now," he added, "my only concern is California and" getting a winner there as soon as possible." Despite Cashen's firm denial of the report, the well-placed sources said llial. although no offer as yet has been made for the team, the syndicate is about acquiring the Orioles and is prepared to make a sub stantial oner for Hie franchise which was hrnimht to Balti more from St. Louis in 1954 for $2.5 million. Team's ownership National Brewing Company now owns about 79 per cent of the stock in the Orioles and its president.

Jerold C. Hoffbcrger, is chairman of the board of the company owning the club. Hoflberger has made it plain in the past that the owners of sports teams are interested In making money and he has stressed throughout the year that he is unwilling to sustain losses for any substantial period of lime, The Orioles made $4.1.521 In when Ihrv made thn play- SrcSAI.h, UK, Col. "You might say we came out of hiding," said fullback Alan Bloomingdale, referring to himself, wingback John Schultz, and back-up quarter back Mark Manges, who all played key roles in the impres sive last-half offensive show. Bloomingdale caught four passes from Bob Avellini, including a third-down, 20-yard gainer which set up Maryland's second touchdown.

Bogged down by penalties during much of the opening half, Maryland marched to the Syracuse 22-yard line midway through the third period. Facing a third-and-10 situation Avellini found seven Syracuse players surrounding his pass ing pocket but dumped the ball oft to Bloomingdale. Improvised play "It was a great improvised play," Claiborne said later of the completion which advanced the ball to the Orange 2. Two plays later Schultz scored the first of his two touchdowns from 1 yard out. "I was surprised as hell to see the ball in my face," said Bloomingdale, who had only caught one pass in the first three games.

"My linebacker came by me, I eased up and then there was this brown thing in my hands." Claiborne said the safety valve completion ignited both his offensive and defensive units. In the second half, Syra cuse mustered only three first downs none in the pivotal See MARYLAND, B15, Col. 4 On the surface, what could have been a disruptive week appears to have produced good results, but the only result that matters to Colt fans is in the win column and Baltimore is a 14-point underdog to the highflying Patriots in a game that gets under way at 1 P.M. The two clubs are similar in that both are young, both are building, and both have good but inexperienced talent. But that is as far as the similarities go, The Colts have lost three straight, while the Patriots have won three straight, two against the preseason Super Bowl choices, the Miami Dolphins and the Los Angeles Rams.

The turnabout for the Pa Notre Dame and North Carolina Slate won unimpressively over weaker foes. Texas which was ranked fifth last week faced the prospect of dropping out of the top ten altogether as it was upset 2810 by Kansas. Alabama lopples Jackson, Miss. iflv-llulfback Thomas to get baptism of fire Syndicate reported seeking to buy Orioles By a Sun Stall Correspondent A Annapolis Keith Garnette scored three touchdowns and Mike Esposito rambled for 154 yards yesterday to lead Boston College to a surprisingly easy 38-to-0 football victory over punchless Navy. The Middies, wno nave not scored a touchdown in the last 10 quarters, were once again victimized by their own mis takes and penalties.

A Navy fumble and an interception handed Boston College two touchdowns in the first quarter and the Eagles drove 68 yards for another touchdown in the opening quarter for a 20-to-0 lead. Then, Navy committed al I Stnrgcll catches Dodger Steve in filth inning AP I By CAMERON C. SNYDER Sun Staff Correspondent Foxboro, Mass. Joe Thomas, Colt vice-president and general manager, makes his debut as head coach today as the Baltimore team tries for its first victory of the season against the unbeaten New England Patriots in Schaffer Stadium. Thomas, who became head coach last Sunday when Colt owner Robert Irsay fired Howard Schnellenbcrger after the game against Philadelphia, has tried all week to bring the Colts up to a fighting pitch with shorter practices, shorter class room meetings, a reduced offensive play book, and a new starting quarterback, Bert Jones.

The lop len triots apparently came with the maturing ot quarterback Jim Plunkett, the acquisition of free agent Mack llerron, the continued improvement of Sam Cunningham on oifense, and a surprisingly improved defense. Four of the starting defense-men safely Prentice McCray, cornerback Willie Osley, and linebackers Steve Nelson and Sam Hunt are rookies. The Colts have three rookie defensive starters cornerback Doug Nettles and ends John Dulton and Fred Cook. The Pals have only one rookie on the starting offensive eleven, guard Bill Du Lac. The Colls have none.

There are onlv 14 players See COLTS, Blfi, Col. 2 Willie Shelby scored two touchdowns as Alagama's Crimson Tide sputtered, caught fire nnd outscored Mississippi, 35-to-21, in college football yesterday. After watching with disbelief as Ole Miss turned two third period breaks into a 21-14 lead, the third-ranked Tide struck back with a vengeance to regain control and win the regionally televised. Southeastern Conference bait If. Alabama punched out a 14-7 Oakland, Calif.

A group of non-Baltimore businessmen Is nreoarine to make a substantial offer to buy the Orioles from its current stockholders reliable sources here disclosed yesterday. The group, which reportedly includes a wealthy but un identified Houston automobile dealer, wants to put together a package to acquire tnc unoies and then get Harry Dalton, the Birds' former director of player personnel and current general manager of the Cali fornia Angels, lo head the syndicate, the sources said. "Malicious rumor" The prospective transaction was quickly and firmly labeled a "malicious rumor" by Oriole general manager Frank Ca-shen. "I would say it is not only false but a malicious Cashen said emphatically, "because, if true, it could get Harry' Dalton in trouble. would be impossible be- itnoon li'JW.

hftan frl1(il1i1 tlrith the Angels for the future about trading ball players. There-j fore, he would be in a conflict i of interest at this point in time I if he were In a position to' head (lie Orioles in the near; futurel. Dalton, who quit the Orioles! I Most win, but several strug JOE THOMAS man on the spot idc lead in the first half, then handed Ole Miss two quick third quarter touchdowns. First 'Duma fumbled on its own 15 to set up the tying score. Then Rebel defensive end Gary Turner put Ole miss ahead before 45.5(10 unbelieving fans when he speared quarterback Richard Todd's pitchout on the dead run and sprinted 42 yards to score.

Alabama, aroused al last. Sre TOP TEN, BIO, Cul. 1 Four of the nation's top ten college teams cruised to easy victories yesterday, but others had to struggle and Texas failed entirely In Its bid to remain in the high rankings. Ohio State, Oklahoma, Ne braska, and Southern California obliterated vastly overmatched opponents to justify their place among the elite, but Alabama had to come from behind to beat Mississippi and Michigan, 1.