Detroit Free Press from Detroit, Michigan • Page 61

In This Section Sciroil iTvcc Pvcoo section! Sports mi Television Page 4 I 77c nijJe 0 Sports Page 6 ikJljOl LIS Jzl Outdoors nitlt Obre Page ,,,,77. LJ SUNDAY, APRIL 18, 1976 clJZlJ I I 1M11LLIE TIES RECOUP 4 Straight Homers! -if -fry if I i-1 sA- J. I If Altogether 10 major leaguers have hit four homers in a game. The ones who did it, although not in consecutive times at bat, include Pat Seerey in the American League and NL players Ed Delehanty, Chuck Klein, Gil Hodges, Joe Adcock and Willit Mays. Though they didn't set a record, the 24 hits by the Phillies were the most by Philadelphia since 1922.

THE FIREWORKS started in the bottom half of the second, when the Cubs exploded for seven runs, and continued thanks largely to Rick Monday through the fourth, with Chicago stretching its lead to 13-2. In the first four innings, Monday had two home runs and a pair of singles. The Phillies started rolling in the top of the seventh, trailing by nine runs. They scored three in the seventh, five in the eighth and three more in the ninth to take a 15-13 lead. Chicago scored two in the bottom of the ninth to send the game into extra innings and set the stage for Schmidt's record-setting heroics off loser Paul Reuschel.

It was a day when keeping track of the players was no easy feat with or without a scorebook. Philadelphia used six pitch-ers and 21 players in all; the Cubs threw seven pitchers into the fray and used 17 players. Purists may choose to blame the rabbit ball for the barrage, but a 20 m.p.h. wind blowing out from home plate was certainly a contributing factor. Fret Prest Wirt SirvkM CHICAGO Philadelphia's Mike Schmidt set a modern-day National League record with four consecutive home runs Saturday, his last one breaking a 15-15 tie in the 10th inning, as the Phillies outlasted the Chicago Cubs, 18-16, in a marathon featuring nine home runs and 43 hits.

Schmidt, last year's home-run champ in the National League with 38, had one single in his first two trips to the plate, then hit a two-run homer in the fifth inning, a solo shot in the seventh, a three-run homer in the eighth and a two-run blast in the 10th. Schmidt, who started the game with just one homer on the season, wound up 5-for-6 with eight RBIs and four runs scored. "I guess it is just a case of being a little overdue," said the muscular third baseman, who entered the game hitting just .167 with nine strikeouts in 18 at-bats. "I talked to Richie Allen before the game and he just told me to relax and do what I am capable of doing. "I've got my mind right a little bit now," said Schmidt, who before Saturday had only five home runs in his career at Wri-gley Field.

The last National Leaguer to hit four consecutive home runs was Bob Lowe of the Boston Braves, way back in 1894. The feat has been done twice in the American League, by Lou Gehrig of the New York Yankees in 1932 and by Rocky Colavito of the Cleveland Indians in 1959. Schmidt is the seventh player in NL history to hit four home runs in a game. IMiillie Mike Schmidt rounds third on 2d of four onstcutivc homers NEW TIGER LOSES NO-HITTER IN 7( p- irgr jjsw rr, 1 If 1 0 Hits An Roberts gels, 1 Psst Here Are a Couple Oi Sure Money Makers my first time out in a new league this is something I'll savor for a long time." "I knew I had the no-hitler going all the way," continued Roberts, who was supposed to make his first start in a Tiger suit last Sunday in Cleveland, but lost his chance when the game was postponed. "When I got back to the dugout after I walked that guy (Dave Chalk) in the fiftii inning, I said 'There goes mv perfect "Actually, I felt relieved when they got that first hit.

I was getting kind of tensed up until then, and when I get like that I have a tendency to try to get too fine instead of just throwing the ball. Once they got that hit, I relaxed and got my second wind." THE ANGELS' FIRST HIT belonged to Bruce Bochte and was a looping lead-off seventh-inning single to left that landed just in front of Alex Johnson's glove as the Tiger outfielder came charging in. An inning later, Chalk beat out a ground ball to shortstop Tom Veryzer for an infield single and that, plus walks to Chalk BY JIM HAWKINS Free Press Sports Writer ANAHEIM Opening day finally arrived for Dave Roberts and Bill Freehan Saturday afternoon. But it most definitely was worth waiting for. Between the two of them, the California Angels never had a chance.

Roberts, who hadn't pitched in 10 days, was dazzling in his American League debut, allowing the Angi'ls just two belated singles as the Tigers rods home runs fcy Freehan and Aurelio Rodriguez to a well-deserved 2-0 win. And Roberts was the first to admit he was, quite frankly, surprised by his sudden success. After all, he didn't shut out anybody all last year with Houston. "I really didn't know what to expect," confessed the new Tiger lefthander, who held the Angels Imiess until the seventh inning. "I was a little skeptical, especially pifching in this ball park, where the ball carries so well.

"For me to pitch nine innings, and have a two-hit shutout and Rusty Torres, was all the Angels got off Roberts all afternoon. The 31-year-old pitcher', who is supposed to take Mickey Lolich's place in the starting rotation; faced just 29 batters, two more than the minimum, in turning in the first complete game by a Tiger this season. "I was a little nervous before the game," admitted Roberts, who tossed a one-hitter on behalf of the Asfros in 1974. "1 was clobbered pretty good when I pitched against the Yankees in spring training and I was wondering how I was going to adjust to the strike zone in the American League. "The long layoff bothered me, too," said Roberts whose last outing consisted of three exhibition innings against the Boston Red Sox April 7.

"Whenever I have a long layoff, I have a tendency to worry about it a lot. "I was elated just to get the shutout. I've never thrown a no-hitter before in my professional career, not even in the minor leagues." Oddly enough, though, Roberts' first win in the National League, with the San Diego Let us pause for a moment in gratitude to the great voices of the sports airwaves. It was the ol' announcer Van Patrick who alerted me to the dandiest day-by-day wager in baseball. Already, after just two games of the Tigers' new season, I have collected two sodas, though the Tigers have won just once.

Probably I should not clue you and nun a very good thing. But then, it is no fun drinking alone. "What you do," the ol' announcer confided some years back, "is bet that the winning team in any game will score more runs in one inning than the loser scores in the entire game." Right off, you are going to say that is a nutty bet, indeed, so set 'em up. Don't be so sure, because chances are, you will wind up paying, or buying, whatever, over the long run. It happens often, more often than not.

The bet held up. to show you, in the Tigers' first two games, Detroit winning the first, 3-1, on a two-run burst, end then losing, 1-0. I am tempted to tip you to another weirdo bet, although I have not personally checked its reliability. I read about it a tew years back in one of those physical education-psychology ine ineory is cnai a team inai rallies 10 ue ine suuic, men iwill lose, regardless of the sport. Three times out of four, or so it was claimed, the valiant, scrambling team will come away unrewarded.

Stuff like that can destroy many halftime speeches, and coaches will disclaim it, so don't tell anybody you saw it here. Padres, occurred just 30 miles away at Dodger Stadium where he retired the first 18 batters he faced in 1970. THE TIGERS only got three hits themselves but they made them count as Freehan, making his 1976 debut, connected against Angel starter Gary Ross in the fifth inning, and Rodriguez homered against Steve Dunning in the seventh. Of course, from his vantage point crouched behind home plate, Freehan also selected the pitches Roberts threw. "It was only the second time I've caught him," said Freehan, who also missed what was to have been his first start last Sunday and has sat on the bench ever since.

"I really don't know his thinking yet, but I think I know the hit-Please turn to Page 4E, Col. 1 Unrnr Vnirz IF7im Tiffors T.nnrI What brought us to such nonsense was an encounter at the batting cage the other day with Ernie Harwell, the radio voice of the Tigers for going on two decades now. Little does he know the depth of my gratitude. Countless times I have won wagers from kids and adults alike just by listening for a minute to his voice. For instance, we will be riding along in the car and somebody will say, "Turn on the ball game and let's see how the Tigers are doing." So we do that, and Ernie Harwell is saying, "Well, here we are in the top of the seventh inning and I will click off the radio, and announce the Tigers are winning or losing, whatever the case.

Well, I have them all then, you see, DETROIT CALIFORNIA ab bi ab bi LeFlore cf 4 0 10 Collins cl 3 0 0 0 MSlanlev cl 0 0 0 0 Dade II 10 0 0 Horlon dh 3 0 0 0 Bochle lb 3 0 10 Staub rl 3 0 0 0 Mellon dh 3 0 0 0 AJohnson 11 4 0 0 0 LStanlon rf 3 0 0 0 Freehan 3 111 Chalk 3b 2 0 10 ARorirgei 3b 4 1 1 1 Etchbrrn 3 0 0 0 Vervzer ss 4 0 0 0 Torres cl 10 0 0 Sutherlnd 2b 4 0 0 0 Ramiret ss 2 0 0 0 ORoberls 0 0 0 0 Ross 0 0 0 0 Dunning 0 0 0 0 Hartiell 0 0 0 0 VwTm A DeCause Ernie Harwell has not even llLii mentioned a score, or not much at all. I flsl Would I kid you? I have worked it PmiD Harwell several times on such as Ray Lane, who trnie "d5" for eight years was Ernie's sidekick on the broadcast. He wouldn't believe until he paid. There's no trick, really. Listen.

Notice the faint lilt and Total 31 2 3 2 Tolal 26 0 2 0 Detroit 000 010 100- California 000 000 000- 0 Ramiret, Dunning. DP Detroit 2, California 1. LOB Detroit 7, California 2 2 LeFlore. HR Freehan (1), A.Rodriguei (1). Ramlrei.

IP ER BB SO D. Roberts (W.1-0) 2 0 0 2 5 Ross (L.0-1) a 2 1 1 3 Dunning 2 1113 1 Hartiell 1 0 0 0 0 1 1:57. AP Photo Dann Meyvr hurries hack to first base in time to beat pickoff throw to Angeiy Bruce Dochle Saturday enthusiasm in Harwell's voice Lane's, too, when he was with him with the Tigers ahead, or a trace of sadness as they lag. It is there. Faint and vague, but it is there.

Nothing wrong with that, mind you. I just mentiftn it in case you enjoy hustling your friends, too. Ernie Harwell, if you did not know, is something special among sports broadcasters song-writer, historian, author, bit-actor, and as eager a handshaker as any man on the primary campaign trail these days. He has an appealing zestfulness about him, and it follows that he likes almost everything there is about his world. That is remarkable, all things considered.

Ernie Hartvcll Not a Ripper Briefly, I was commiserating with him on the difficulty of Pistons vs. Bucks: It 9s Do-or-Die Time day, he made sure to stash his clothing in the right closet the same one he used the last time the Pistons won a game in Milwaukee. Center Bob Lanier took one look at his room key, then turned to the hotel cterk and politely asked to be removed from BY CURT SYLVESTER Free Press Sports Writer MILWAUKEE With so much at stake, the Pistons obviously are taking no chances. When coach Herb Brown checked into his hotel suite Satur liis job. It is a mighty tough thing, if you think about it, to yap Lions' Reed Is Easter Soloist his favorite room the one he had when the Pistons lost to the Bucks here last Tuesday.

And, in case their superstitions weren't insurance enough, the Pistons even went over fo Milwaukee Arena Saturday afternoon to get a last-chance tuneup for their last chance at the Bucks in the preliminary round of fhe NBA playoffs. Detroit and Milwaukee will meet at 3:45 p.m. (Detroit time) Sunday for the deciding game in the best-of-three series, which will determine who advances to the Western Conference semifinals against defending champion Golden State. The game will be televised nationally on CBS-TV (Channel 2 in the Detroit area) and broadcast on radio by WBRB-AM and FM in the Detroit area. Even with so much to gain, or lose, in Sunday's series finale, the Pistons remained surprisingly loose.

"I don't even want to think about that," grinned Brown, sipping his late breakfast coffee after the Pistons flight into Milwaukee Saturday morning. "AH I want to think about is that they're determined." "I just approach it as anotner basketball game," explained forward Curtis Rowe. "You can't really play if you're all tensed up. It just doesn't work that way." THE PISTONS FIGURE THEY have a couple of things in their favor this time. For openers, Rowe feels the Bucks are due to cool off after shooting 51 percent in the first game and 63 percent in the second.

Moreover, he feels the Pistons' playoff experience should account for something. "The way they've been shooting the ball the last two games, they should be in for some kind of letdown, shooting-wise," Rowe suggested. "But you never can tell. You've just got to go Please turn to Page 2E, Column 4 three hours each day about 162 ball games a season, especially In a year like 1975, and come back for more. There would be temptation among all of us, for sure, to speak out occasionally in dismay, disgust, and maybe worse, and then, of course, there would be a new broadcaster.

"I never get bothered or bored," says Harwell. "Every game is a new game. They are all different and they all have something special about them td keep them interesting. "So even in a losing season like the last, you can find genuine excitement and enthusiasm in baseball." C'mon, now, Ern. Don't push it too far.

"Well, you know, by nature I'm not a controversial guy," he says. "I am not a ripper. I don't believe the fans would want me to be. "There are different ways of saying the same thing so that you really don't offend people but still tell them what's going on. Okay, try it one time "Suppose a guy has made three errors." he says.

"I don't say the guy is having a lousy day. I think the listener will decide that for himself when I mention the guy has made three errors, or struck out four times, or walked nine batters." Anybody who does those things obviously is having a lousy day, but never would Em say such a bad word. "What it comes down to," he explains, "is that I try to be neutral in favor of the Tiaers." Which is okay, I suppose, if you're really listening. the world of sacred music. Reed is the first with a sports background.

One year, the church presented Suzanne Johnson, who was a Miss Illinois and the talent-division winner in the Miss America pageant. Reed was a natural choice for Calvary Baptist. He attends the church while living here during the Lions' season and the church's Rev. Lloyd Livingston is ffie Lion team chaplain. Reed will appear two performances at 5 and 7:30 p.m.

Sunday, supported by the symphony orchestra and the church's 100-member choir, arrayed in a specially-constructed impressive 30-foot "Living Cross." Reed's selections at each performance will include "Because He "I Believe in a Hill Called Mt. "Bring Back the Springtime" and "Jesus, the Son of God." Joe Reed, thrust into the spotlight last fall when injuries to Bill Munson and Greg Landry left him the Lions' No. 1 quarterback, journeyed back to Michigan Saturday to step into the limelight again. This Country Joe, a frequent soloist at church services and a recording artist of sacred songs, will be the featured singer Sunday in the annual Easter concert of the Calvary Baptist Church in Hazel Park. "It's a big thing with us," said Charles Ohman, musical director for the church on North Chrysler just south of 10-mile road.

"We have three major concerts a year in the church and one at Ford Auditorium. We'll do it with a 30-piece symphony orchestra all professionals. "We try to have a national figure of some sort tiere every year," Ohman added. MOST OF THE NAMES are familiar in Joe Reed.