In the first game of a doubleheader, Seattle C Bob Stinson ties a major-league record by allowing two Baltimore batters to reach base on catcher’s interference. The Birds win, 7 – 6, then complete the sweep, 11 – 3.
In Pittsburgh, a 4th-inning call results in a 34-minute rhubarb during the Pirates-Reds game. With Buc runners on first and third base, a 3-1 pitch to Omar Moreno is called a ball, but Johnny Bench throws to second base ahead of the runner from first, Lee Lacy, who is attempting to steal. Lacy is called out by Dick Stello even though Moreno has just received a walk (therefore entitling Lacy to the base), and walks off the bag. He is then tagged out by Dave Concepcion, precipitating the argument. The subsequent protest is rejected by National League president Chub Feeney, and the Pirates’ 6 – 5 loss is upheld.
Going deep off A’s hurler Mike Morgan at Fenway Park, Red Sox first baseman Carl Yastrzemski becomes the 18th major leaguer and seventh in the American League to hit 400 home runs. ‘Captain Carl’ will end his 23-year career with 452 homers.
1979 – At Wrigley Field, the Reds and Cubs complete a game suspended on May 10th because the Cubs had to catch a plane. That contest was tied 7 – 7 after nine innings. Both teams score in the 11th and the Cubs win in the 18th on a run-scoring single by Steve Ontiveros. The Cubs then win the regularly-scheduled game, 2 – 1, with Willie Hernandez getting the victory.
On July 22, 1979, future Hall of Famer George Brett clubs three home runs and piles up five RBIs against the Texas Rangers. Brett’s power surge, part of a 23-home run season, lifts the Kansas City Royals to a 7-6 win. @ET-DC@eyJkeW5hbWljIjp0cnVlLCJjb250ZW50IjoicG9zdF90YWdzIiwic2V0dGluZ3MiOnsiYmVmb3JlIjoiTGVhcm4gTW9yZSBhYm91dCB0aGUgdGVhbXMsIHBsYXllcnMsIGJhbGwgcGFya3MgYW5kIGV2ZW50cyB0aGF0IGhhcHBlbmVkIG9uIHRoaXMgZGF0ZSBpbiBoaXN0b3J5IGp1c3QgY2xpY2sgdGhlIHRhZ3MhICAiLCJhZnRlciI6IiIsImxpbmtfdG9fdGVybV9wYWdlIjoib24iLCJzZXBhcmF0b3IiOiIgfCAiLCJjYXRlZ29yeV90eXBlIjoicG9zdF90YWcifX0=@
1979 – Houston rallies for a 7-6 victory in St. Louis as Jose Cruz singles home Julio Gonzalez in the ninth for the game-winner. Terry Puhl homers. Enos Cabell and Jeff Leonard chime in with three hits apiece. Joe Sambito tosses two scoreless innings of relief for the win. It’s just their second win in their past 14 games, shrinking what was a ten-game division lead two weeks ago down to four games.
In the first of two at Wrigley Field, the Reds roll over the Cubs, 12 – 1, behind Bill Bonham. Johnny Bench ties the National League record by collecting five walks and Dave Concepcion hits an 8th-inning grand slam off Willie Hernandez to put the score in double digits. The Cubs come back in the second game to win, 8 – 4.
Rusty Staub, a spring holdout who got off to a slow start, is traded by Detroit to his former team Montreal for a minor league player to be named later.
At Los Angeles, Steve Garvey saves the Dodgers from a defeat by belting a two-run homer in the 10th to tie, and another two-run homer in the 11th by Bill Russell wins it, 6 – 5, over the Expos. Montreal takes the lead in the 11th when Rodney Scott drives in a run with his 5th straight hit. Dave Patterson wins his first major league game, while Manny Mota has a single for the 139th pinch hit of his career.
New York Yankees president Al Rosen resigns after a year and a half on the job. Rosen continually found himself in disagreements with Billy Martin and George Steinbrenner.
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