SUTTON COOLS REDS HOT BATS
2nd Straight Shutout for Dodgers Hurler
LOS ANGELES, May 17 (AP) - Don Sutton fired a two-hit complete game
shutout, suppressing the top-scoring team in the National League, to give the
Los Angeles Dodgers a 2-0 victory over the Cincinnati Reds at Dodger
Stadium. It was the second consecutive shutout for Sutton, who blanked the
St. Louis Cardinals on May 11 at Busch Stadium.
The Dodgers, who have had all kinds of trouble scoring runs themselves--the team
is averaging exactly three runs per game--managed to take the lead in the very
first inning against Reds starter Pat Zachry. Dave Lopes led off with a
single to center and stole second base. Bill Buckner struck out, but Dusty
Baker lined a bullet off the glove of Cincinnati third baseman Pete Rose for an
infield single, putting runners at first and third. Steve Garvey followed
with a sacrifice fly to right, scoring Lopes with the game's first run.
Los Angeles added an insurance run in the sixth, with Lopes again the
catalyst. He laced a lead-off single to left and took third when Buckner
followed with a base hit to right. Baker then rolled into a 4-6-3 double
play, but Lopes scored, giving the Dodgers a 2-0 lead.
Sutton essentially cruised into the ninth inning, but then ran into trouble as
he started fighting control problems. He walked Rose on a 3-2 pitch to
start the frame, bringing the potential tying run to the plate. Ken
Griffey flied to right for the first out but Joe Morgan drew the inning's second
free pass, putting runners at first and second. Sutton fanned Johnny Bench
for the second out but then issued his third walk of the inning, this one to
Tony Perez, loading the bases. All three walks came on full counts.
Dodgers manager Walter Alston came to the mound for a discussion with
Sutton. He had Mike Marshall warmed and ready in the bullpen but, after
conversing with Sutton, catcher Steve Yeager and the other members of the Los
Angeles infield, decided to stick with his starting pitcher. Sutton
validated that decision by inducing George Foster to roll into a fielder's
choice, forcing Perez at second base to end the game.
5/17/1976, Cin76-LA 76, Dodger Stadium 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E LOB DP 1976 Reds 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 6 2 1976 Dodgers 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 x 2 5 0 2 0 Reds AB R H BI AVG Dodgers AB R H BI AVG Rose 3b 2 0 0 0 .354 Lopes 2b 4 2 2 0 .214 Griffey rf 4 0 0 0 .355 Buckner lf 3 0 2 0 .344 Morgan,J 2b 3 0 0 0 .406 Baker,D cf 3 0 1 0 .148 Bench c 4 0 1 0 .330 Garvey 1b 2 0 0 1 .347 Perez,T 1b 3 0 0 0 .165 Cey 3b 3 0 0 0 .254 Foster,G lf 4 0 0 0 .286 Ferguson rf 3 0 0 0 .241 Geronimo cf 3 0 0 0 .263 Hale rf 0 0 0 0 .190 Concepcion ss 3 0 1 0 .276 Yeager c 2 0 0 0 .231 Zachry p 2 0 0 0 .125 Russell ss 3 0 0 0 .232 Lum ph 1 0 0 0 .182 Sutton p 2 0 0 0 .000 McEnaney p 0 0 0 0 .000 25 2 5 1 29 0 2 0 Reds INN H R ER BB K PCH STR ERA Zachry L 1-1 7.0 5 2 2 1 6 89 59 1.33 McEnaney 1.0 0 0 0 0 0 10 8 1.59 8.0 5 2 2 1 6 99 67 Dodgers INN H R ER BB K PCH STR ERA Sutton W 4-3 9.0 2 0 0 4 6 126 76 2.64 9.0 2 0 0 4 6 126 76 Cin: Lum batted for Zachry in the 8th LA : Hale inserted at rf in the 8th RBI-Garvey(12). SB-Lopes(6). K-Griffey, Bench 3, Perez,T, Geronimo, Buckner, Baker,D, Garvey, Cey 2, Yeager. BB-Rose 2, Morgan,J, Perez,T, Sutton. SF-Garvey. HBP-Yeager. HB-Zachry. GWRBI: Garvey Temperature: 70, Sky: clear, Wind: left to right at 2 MPH. Attendance: 31,796 Game Time: 2:03